I don't know - I go away on holiday and manage to miss all the big stories on Chelsea! God knows how we'll are from the ban on transfers, but just look at how well we've started - almost makes you remember the last time we started the season unbeaten...!

Firstly, praise has to go to Carlo ancelotti, whose favoured diamond formation has transformed a midfield that appeared less than full-of-life last season into a genuine attacking threat. When even Florent Malouda is notching in the goals then we must be doing something right. In truth, the new formation gives us a balance we didn't have for the last few seasons . In fairness to Mourinho, he was always changing the shape of the team - sometimes even mid-game - to suit the opposition, but Scolari and Grant didn't really take this philospohy to heart.

With Essien anchoring the midfield we have someone who is capable of getting the rest of the team out-of-jail should they make a mistake. Mikel is hard-working, and Ancelotti has even got Ballack running around and chasing the ball like a man possessed. Lampard is the figure-head of the diamond, and has excelled (as he always has done) at supporting the strikers and arriving late into the box.

With a perfect start to the season, its all looking rosy for the boys in blue. Admittedly we used some luck to grab a couple of last-minute goals, but that is exactly what champions Manchester United havebeen doing for the last few seasons - their never-say-die attitude finally seems to have infected the Chelsea team, and we are loving it in Championship-winning form.

And so to the transfer embargo.

The scary thing is that whilst United have come out and said they are completely innocent, have always looked at the contracts in detail, etc, we're hearing some funny noises from Chelsea's Peter Kenyon. I personally think that there is an issue here, and Chelsea may have beena bit over-eager to sign up the best young players. Someone should have checked the contractual issues around Kakuta, and stayed well clear.

I think everyone I've spoken to is in agreement that on appeal Fifa / Uefa will knock the ban down to one transfer window (January 2010) which will obviously have less of an impact on us than having a complete ban on transfers next summer would - we probably wouldn't buy anyone anyway.

Whilst its admirable to sign up al the best young players from all over the wrold, am I alone in wishing that they concentrated on home-grown players instead? This means having an English core to the team, someone the fans identify with, who actually knows about Chelsea.

The other problem with getting the best foreign talent is that invariably they harbour dreams of playing abroad - usually for the big Spanish or Italian clubs - which means that a move away from Chelsea is inevitable - just look at the Ronaldo situation! We could sign the best 10 youngsters from France, Italy and Spain, but by teh time they reach theri peak then their contracts are being re-drawn, and they can go to the club of 'their dreams'.

Overall, a positive start to the season - lets keep it going against Porto!