PREMIERSHIP RULES 2010/2011

From this season, all Premier League sides have to name a first-team squad of no more than 25 , Those 25 must include eight who qualify as 'home-grown', although those players can be of any nationality, providing they played for an English or Welsh club for three years before they were 21 . In addition to the chosen 25, clubs can field an unlimited number of players under the age of 21 and any registered player in domestic cup competitions, where the new regulations will not apply , also a revised squad can be named after the January transfer window
- These rules apply only to Premier League matches, not European, FA Cup or League Cup action.

As it stands right now , Chelsea FC have 30 first team players with both Deco and Ricardo Carvalho due for release in the next two weeks . I also expect Franco Di Santo , Scott Sinclair and Sam Hutchinson to go out on loan for the upcoming season with one or two additions to the squad arriving soon . All in all , a healthy enough situation .

As it stands with Manchester City right now ......... they have a current squad of 36 with Mario Balotelli and a few more on their wishlist to come , and with the likes of Shawn Wright-Phillips , Wayne Bridge , Stephen Ireland and Micah Richards looking to be on the way out of Eastlands ......... the homegrown rule will certainly be tested sooner rather than later unless they know of a loophole that no-one else has thought of . Mancini's toughest job will be in deciding which of his millionaires must spend the next few months doing nothing more on match days than watching the action from the stands . That would leave the club to shell out up to £10m in wages before the January transfer window to a group of players expected to do nothing more strenuous than pick up their pay cheques.

With Craig Bellemy resisting a move to Glasgow Celtic , and Robinho due to arrive back any day now ........ they have 6 strikers with Balotelli still to arrive .

Jose Mourinho , a manager known for his man management skills had a great deal of trouble with the young Italian striker Balotelli , and along with Tevez , Adebayour and Robinho ...... I foresee exciting times at Manchester City in the coming months.