Chelsea Banter Archive June 01 2016

01 Jun 2016 18:28:07
OK so I'm going to put down a defender, midfielder, attacking midfielder and striker I would like us to sign and try to keep it, at least semi, realistic.

Defender - Marquinos. It all boils down to if he leaves PSG for regular first team football. If he does leave then we would be in the driving seat and he would easily, for me, be our best option for a new CB.

Midfielder - Nainggolan. He's exactly what our midfield needs - combative, high energy, hard tackler, with technical ability to back it up. Fits the mould of the 'Conte type player' exactly.

Attacking Midfielder - Mkhitaryan. He offers goals in an abundance and chips in with a fair few assists too. Looks destined to leave Dortmund after rejecting new contract offers but there'd be a bidding war for him.

Striker - Lukaku. All of us on here know the deal. He upset some people but others are promoting a return. The press tell us he wants to come back and Conte will happily have him. If the stars could align to make everything work for him to return then it'd make a lot of sense.

Anyone agree? What players would you guys go for?

01 Jun 2016 19:35:33
Defender. Laporte
Midfielder. Kante
Attacking Midfielder. Sterling
Striker. Lukaku.

01 Jun 2016 19:41:59
larporte all but signed for city
why sterling he's done nothing.

01 Jun 2016 20:38:35
If we're being realistic: Higuain, Vidal, Stones.

01 Jun 2016 20:45:59
Marquinhos is too lightweight for theorem use league for me. Although unlikely i'd prefer either Bonucci or Manolas. Nainggolan is definately my choice for CM. Sterling? Haha G8 I thought you put a few decent posts on here but I can't take you seriously now, I'd rather play Kasey Palmer. Morata upfront for me because I can't see Griezmann happening unless he comes as part of a deal involving Costa.

01 Jun 2016 21:10:58
I'll play Fantasy Football Manager!

I'd sell Courtois on the understanding I could sign Butland. as for the list, I'll say.

Defender - Rugani
Midfielder - Nainggolan
Attacking Midfielder - Barkley
Striker - Morata

Probably unrealistic but a couple of English players, a couple of up and coming stars and a bit of experience and energy in midfield.

01 Jun 2016 22:14:25
I love yer Munich.

02 Jun 2016 05:22:09
Defender-Marquinhos. Makes absolutely everything look easy. Reminds me of Tiago Silva in a lot of ways.
Midfielder-Naingollan (assuming Vidal isn't obtainable) . Both of these guys have absolutely everything in their locker and most importantly can run for centuries.
Attacking Mid-I really don't see the need to buy just another attacking mid assuming Griezzman and Reus aren't obtainable. Mkhitaryan is great in the #10 position but I feel this position will go out of style in the next 2 or 3 years and we already have Fabregas as a midfielder that needs defensive protection.
Striker-Lukaku. He has all the physical tools to be an elite striker but will really need to work on his touch. On a side note I think he does have an affinity for the club which I seem to put stock in for most likely naive reasons.

03 Jun 2016 01:30:01
Rudiger
Kroos
Gotze
Aubameyang
Not going to happen but one can wish aha.

31 May 2016 18:19:02
Ed001, I always find your input extremely insightful even if I personally disagree with it. With that said I was wondering what you feel we Chelsea need to improve upon to make sure this year is just a blip? I personally feel we have too many major players (Terry, Fabregas, Hazard) that you have to design a team around, poor form across the board, and a lack of an engine in the midfield. I was hoping you could toss your two cents in and as always thanks for your time and love the site!

{Ed001's Note - firstly I think you need to change your transfer policy and stop looking for players to sell on with all those loans. It is disruptive to the team, which is the most important thing. Every player targeted and bought should be with the aim of improving the team, not making money.

Secondly, you need a ruthless clearout, much as the fans love Terry, for instance, he needs to go for the club to move on. Big stars like him hold back those around him, not on purpose, it is just natural for others to defer to them. You need to build afresh.

The biggest priority for me though, has to be central midfield, you are right about the lack of an engine in there. For me you need a Kante, someone with pace and energy, instead of those slow cumbersome Mikels and Fabregas. Fabregas needs to play with more freedom to be effective, as he is hopeless at getting back and getting into position.

Build the defence around Zouma and Christensen (though I know it looks likely you will lose the latter, which goes back to my first point), and ensure Ivanovic never plays right back ever again.

I think Hazard would be fine with more movement around him up front, as he gets no time or space right now. He was the only player to be worried about last season, so teams were able to shut him out. No good having the likes of Willian alongside him, if there is nobody else providing an attacking threat. I know Willian works hard, but he offers next to nothing in the opposiing third, which is the most important part of his job. That needs to change.

Oh and a striker that actually suits the way the team plays would be good. No more Remys, who don't play in anything like a style that suits Chelsea. Even if Costa stays long term, he needs to be challenged by a potential replacement, not covered by a back up, if you want to see the best from him.}

01 Jun 2016 05:26:32
Much appreciated Ed!
I think Leicester show how important it is to set up a team that play to one another strengths, for instance they only played with two centremids but their centehalves bypassed them by lumping the ball forward for Vardy to have a run at more often then not.
I agree with you on the notion that we've become somewhat of a property holding group that just buys some players that will likely be flipped down the line in the hope that a minority progress to contribute to the first team.
I also am glad you brought up the winger opposite hazard as Willians production came primarily from dead ball situations. It's hard enough to attack a team when they sit back but even harder when they can flood towards one side of the pitch.

{Ed001's Note - actually if you look at what Leicester did, it was the midfielders and wingers that played in Vardy, not the defenders. They were creating space by having energy breaking forward, while Chelsea were the opposite in attack due to a lack of energy and pace. It was not long balls hoofed from the defence to Vardy at all.

If you just hoof it straight away, you get no angle on the ball, meaning it is either a straight up fight with a centre back or it runs through to the keeper mostly. That is why you go wide, to create an angle and make it possible to bend the ball into spaces for forwards like Vardy to run into.}

01 Jun 2016 07:41:31
Totally agree with the points made.

01 Jun 2016 09:39:56
I agree about most of that Ed but not about Terry although he shouldn't be starting he should still be here as third choice. Next year when he probably retires then Christensen needs to come back although you said it being unlikely. We do need an experienced CB there though someone like Marquinhos playing next to Zouma probably wouldn't work as they're too young. Bonucci would be my ideal CB to partner Zouma although it's unlikely just hope Conte can work his magic and convince him then the year after we'd have three quality CB's in Zouma, Bonucci and Christensen.

Spot on about CM. we do need an engine but I think which player we buy depends on the system were going to play. If we're playing a three man midfield it needs to be Nainggolan as he's great defensively but he can also offer something offensively because he has a decent shot on him in which I think Kante doesn't and he's more of a natural DM type whereas I think we just need a box to box player like Nainggolan next to Matic and Cesc.

We do need yo be ruthless though I'm prepared to see Pedro given another season as although inconsistent he does get in good positions and can score goals whereas Willian can't especially from open play. It might not be liked but I'd sell him and Oscar on. m to raise money for a proper player like Griezmann although unlikely. I'd just let Lewis Baker replace Oscar and let him rotate with Cesc I think he showed in the Toulon tournament he needs a chance under Conte.

Ivanovic, Cahill, Mikel, Moses, Marin, Oscar, Cuadrado, Willian, Salah, Remy should be the ones sold IMO. The likes of Tomori can be 4th choice CB.

{Ed001's Note - Kante is not a defensive midfielder in any way shape or form. He is far more than that.}

01 Jun 2016 11:14:17
Yeah personally I do think he's fantastic just with his work rate and tackling just think that Nainggolan is a better passer and shooter of the ball so I thought he would offer us more if we went to 4-3-3.

01 Jun 2016 13:11:12
Ed001: An excellent, unemotional overview hitting the nail firmly on the head. The issue we all have on the forum is for every unemotional statement we make we straight away have an emotional response with who we would like, how we should play and who should go. Ask ten different people the problem and nine out of ten will probably agree and then ask the solution and you would get ten completely different answers.

{Ed001's Note - very good point.}

01 Jun 2016 14:16:00
That's a very good point ed001 about Leicester's style of play that holds true when I look back at some of their highlights. As you said our lack of pace across the board made us incredibly easy to defend.

01 Jun 2016 15:56:12
I don't think Ed001 was talking about speed tk. We have plenty of quick players with pace. It's our speed of ball movement and players creating space for one another, at pace with high intensity, that we lack.

Our players stroll for 70 minutes every game.

01 Jun 2016 15:56:12
I don't think Ed001 was talking about speed tk. We have plenty of quick players with pace. It's our speed of ball movement and players creating space for one another, at pace with high intensity, that we lack.

Our players stroll for 70 minutes every game.

01 Jun 2016 16:49:22
Great point Melbourne and good to see your still popping your head in.

01 Jun 2016 19:40:48
What an epiphany moment Ed002! 99% of what I think.
So, most people are talkink about a defender, midfielder etc. I am talking about new board, technical director and replace Marina who is clearly out of her depth. I will say it once again: Football should come before the business. Is the strategy to become another Liverpool or a top club? Let's hear it please.

{Ed001's Note - Ed002?? I do agree though, the changes need to be right across the board, starting from the top and working downwards.}

01 Jun 2016 00:12:36
Hi guys quick few questions for you all here. If you had the choice for each position who would you pick and if you like why you chose them.

St: lukaku, higuain, morata

Am/ w: mikhtyarian, pastore, griezmann (at the expense of another signing)

Cm: naingollan, kante, verratti

Cb: rudiger, Marquinhos, bonucci, manolas

I'd go for lukaku, mkhityarian nainggolan and rudiger personally but I'd be interested to hear who the rest of you would pick.

01 Jun 2016 02:13:16
Griezmann, Nainggolan and Manolas for me. Love Mkhitaryan but would have to sell Oscar first.

01 Jun 2016 02:16:20
Morata, verratti, greizmann, Marquinhos squad sorted there lol.

01 Jun 2016 03:20:51
morata
greizmann
veratti
bonucci

fancy af

01 Jun 2016 05:29:26
Griezzman (forgoing one of the strikers although we'd need to bring in another with 3 going), naingollan (more proven on the ball than Kante, and although Verrati is better in my opinion he doesn't suit our needs as much), and Marquinhos (absolute gem of a player that looks incredible whenever and wherever he gets the opportunity) .

01 Jun 2016 09:12:12
Morata, Griezmann, Nainggolan and Bonucci.

01 Jun 2016 09:27:43
Higuain (who I think is coming - a major coup)
Griesmann (who will not be moving this summer)
Kante (who I would love to see but we have no interest)
Bonucci ( but unfortunately he won't be moving) .

Still, Higuain, Rudiger, and Naigollain wouldn't be a bad summer!

01 jun 2016 10:55:04
how about stop wasting money and give player a chance

rlc baker bertrand christsean mousonda aina ake

these players are talented players bleed them in along with what's there now!

{Ed002's Note - At least three of those will not be at the club next season - you don't seem to understand about players needing to be ready for teh first team either.}

01 Jun 2016 11:16:16
Bertrand has gone - Aina is out of contract - Ake is not good enough. I do think that Bertrand is at least as good as £20mill Rahman and that Aina will play for England so I think you've got a point - but it is about timing. We won the Prem with Ivan and Aspi as full backs and at the beginning of the season just gone there did not see any reason to change that - “Life. You live it forward, but understand it backward. It is only when you stop and look to the rear that you see the corpse caught under your wheel. ”.

01 Jun 2016 14:16:44
I would take Higuain, Henrikh (for either Oscar or Willian), Veratti and Bonucci.

01 Jun 2016 16:18:36
Ok ed2 I'll blow your reply into space by 2 words Marcos rashford.

{Ed002's Note - Christ you really are an idiot.}

01 Jun 2016 17:40:06
Why?!? You can't come back with a idiotic come back like that when the proof is there! Like I said bleed them in you might get a star.

{Ed002's Note - You have zero idea about the Chelsea players at all. Absolutely zilch.}

02 Jun 2016 03:25:15
Ed, not to come across as confrontational, as I am purely interested, you say pinky has no idea on the Chelsea players at all, do you know which of the younger ones are ready for the first team? (Either in the club's eyes, or in scouts eyes etc.? )
I just feel a lot of us get a bit despondent that we have the best youth team in the country and have done for a few years, but players such as Rashford, who until this season most of us had never heard of seem to make waves for their clubs, whilst out young stars never seem to get a chance?

{Ed002's Note - The players are not ready. As I explained to the moron, a number will not be at the club next season.}

02 Jun 2016 05:33:16
I suppose you knew about rashford then? You can't say they not ready when you don't give them a chance.

{Ed002's Note - It is nothing to do with Rashford.}

02 Jun 2016 11:26:58
Ed002 very very wrong. You can never just tell a player is ready from the academy and Rashford and Kane weigh a lot towards that.

One was a predicted winger and the other not first team quality (during younger days) and look at them now.

You can't say for definite that one of the those lads at the academy couldn't come in next season and be a star. Just no way.

{Ed002's Note - I have no idea why some idiot like you thinks that Chelsea players, who the club determine not to be ready, or in the case of some have turned out to be complete jerks, have anything whatsoever to do with Kane or Rashford.}

02 Jun 2016 14:21:54
Can you maybe clarify exactly what you mean by ready though Ed? I mean as an example, to not include Rashford, Harry Kane before he arrived onto the scene with the Spurs first team had had a series of rather poor loans from what I remember. How is someone like that considered more ready than say, Lewis Baker, who has had a good year in the Netherlands and a great Toulon tournament? Or Chalobah, with his years of loans? I just don't really understand the point of these loans we send our young players on if not to make them ready?
Sorry if I'm coming across as a bit dense, but I feel like a lot of us have these same issues when wondering why our youth players don't get to have significant first team starting minutes.

{Ed002's Note - INo - I am simply wasting my time explaining what the situation is at the club. For some reason you are all obsessing about Rashford and Kane and clearly have little or no knowledge of what is going on at Chelsea.}