The month of September saw promising signs from the Blues and some excellent individual performances from certain players. Here's your chance to have a say in our poll - and listen to me babble about my choice for September's star player.
First, there is the case for Fernando Torres. Our much-scrutinized Spaniard finally seemed to come to life in September, with two assists in the Champions League against Bayer Leverkusen, a wonderfully cheeky goal against Manchester United and another in our victory against Swansea. Frustratingly, the highs were always followed by lows - missing the open goal against the Mancs and the red card for an utterly stupid foul against Swansea. But still, it's nice to see Torres potentially getting his groove back. He isn't my choice for player of the month, though.
That honor goes to our very own braceface Brazilian. Ramires has come on leaps and bounds since he arrived at Stamford Bridge. I remember thinking last season when he would get on the pitch that he was falling over too easily and getting pushed around, but he occasionally looked like he could provide a good pass. As the 2010/11 season progressed, he started to toughen up. Then came the goal against Manchester City during the second half of last season. To quote Ben Andrews from Chelsea TV, we saw that "he is a Brazilian after all!"
In September, he snagged his first brace for the club and should have plenty more goals already if not for some unpolished finishing. Yes, he too had a big miss against Manchester United. Yet, he is the player I have been most impressed with. His workrate is ridiculous - it is already becoming tradition to expect to see Rami racing forward with the ball at his feet into the oppo's penalty box. It's a marvelous sight, to see someone taking on defenders like that. We've been a bit deprived of that for a while. His passing has also improved, and I can only see the guy getting better and better.
Ramires has certainly made most of us forget that we ever thought the number 7 shirt might be cursed.
What do you think? Have a vote from the selection below, argue your point, or whine at me about who I've left out and not given any credit.