Chelsea Banter Archive January 24 2014

24 Jan 2014 21:13:35
I'm not worried at all by Mata leaving. Though he possessed brilliant technique and contributed a significant number of goals for a midfielder, he was a liability defensively. We are a less compact and easier to beat when he plays.

By ignoring Mourinho's instructions to become more defensive-minded, he was effectively saying 'I value my own philosophy about football over the philosophy of the club overall.' At that point, we saw the decline in his playing time, which brings us up to the present day.

While he could get away with this kind of attitude at a lesser club, Chelsea are in the position to pick players who are 'the 5% of the 5%' and truly are the best in their position in the world. Sometimes it's necessary to make these hard decisions in order to get the edge over opponents that, on paper, have as a good as, if not better squads that us (i'm really thinking of Man City here).

All the players Chelsea are now going for, just bought, or returning from loan are tall, strong, athletic and gifted footballer.

Zouma - 6ft 3 tall
Shaw - 6ft 1
Costa - 6ft 2
Barkley - 6ft 2
Matic - 6 ft 4
Lukaku (to come back) 6 ft 3
Courtois - 6 ft 6

The team next year is going to be much more about bullying teams, controlling games with physical presence, coupled with pace and technical ability of the 'three amigos' behind the striker.

Can't wait to see what happens.

I believe that Oscar will get CM position, there will be two amigos running behind CF. Hazard&Willian (Schurrle&Salah ).

I could see us transitioning to a 433 with Oscar playing in the old lampard role.

24 Jan 2014 19:01:43
Ed do you no if were pushing to bring a striker in many thanks

{Ed018's Note - nothing has changed, if the right forward is available for the right price maybe a deal can be done in January}

Hi Ed, looks like Martinez is going to sign a new contract so that would leave costa? Not sure about costa myself but do think we need a new striker. Is there anyone else that you know of that chelsea are interested in?

Great job as always ed your input is much appreciated.

{Ed018's Note - last I knew Costa, Martinez, and Rooney were options. Not sure if things have changed over the last few weeks.}

Ed018 are they options as in they are available or are they just of interest to chelsea

{Ed018's Note - interest at this point, I believe Porto was willing to cash in on Martinez at one point. Not sure if they still are but I don't think many clubs were willing to pay what they wanted}

24 Jan 2014 13:30:07
Hulk now odds on favorite to sign for Chelsea from 12/1 now 11/8

This rumour must go away!

24 Jan 2014 09:24:35
Hulk landed in London early this morning. Hope to god we don't sign him, most over-rated striker on the planet!

24 Jan 2014 01:02:59
The last time I felt this down about a transfer was when Mourinho sold Arjen Robben. As much as I trust Jose, this is going to haunt him! We've just given the best Central Attacking Midfielder in the premiership, our 2 time player of the year to the scum! What the hell are we doing as a club? I could accept this if he was being sold abroad, but to the scum, no way! I'm going to the game on Wednesday v West Ham and I feel that p****d off with Chelsea I'm tempted not to bother! At the end of the day, Chelsea, the club comes first. Players and managers come and go, it's part and parcel of the game, BUT, don't sell your best players to your direct rivals. You'd only see this at Chelsea (and Arsenal). I sometimes question whether our board and management team have got a clue? On a plus side, Salah is a serious player, his potential is incredible! For anyone who hasn't seen him, he's VERY raw, but potentially amazing! His pace is lightning, and he can finish! But back to Mata, I'm disgusted with the way Mourinho has treated him. We're talking about an absolute genius we're selling. Opinions fellow CFC fans please. But don't hate on me about this, there is not a genuine Chelsea fan in the world who is happy about this!

How has Mou treated him badly?

I am not saying I am happy about the transfer, like most I would much prefer that he left to go abroad, but the sale was inevitable, Mata is simply not first choice any more, and is unlikely to be able to force his way back in.

What most people don't consider is his impact since Mou has come back, of the three games we have lost in the prem Mata has started all three, and we needed to bring Mata off against Southampton in order to get the result (Oscar scoring and laying on a goal in that game). In our recent purple patch Mata has not featured once, I can't even remember him coming off the bench.

Mou hasn't treated him badly, he has simply been picking his best team, which doesn't include Mata.

Look man, it's like you said it yourself. Players come and go, they can't stay with us forever. It's sad to see Mata go, but I received an offer of close to (let's assume) 40mil then I'd take it as well. That's crazy good value for a rotation player who quite frankly has not at all played to his usual standards.
In buying Salah, they've already gotten rid of the depth problem so I've got no issue with that. From a business point of view, this is a good deal for us.
The idea of selling to a rival doesn't bother me. If they couldn't get Mata with that Mata, they'd have just bought someone just as good if not better. So either way, they'd have improved.
BTW, I say Ed002 say on another page that Mata didn't fancy a move to Paris and Atletico were probably never going to bid as high as united, so we got the best deal.
It's not going to be fun these first few games to see him run around in red. But you'll get over it, just think of the amazing players we've still got.

Understand what your saying but he not as good as what system we have now in hazard oscar willain and now salah coming in at 21 yr old the future is bright jose is the one to trust mata is a talent but we have plenty more and if a may say so without getting hated on I think there better and I think salah has the gift to be just as good in time.

24 Jan 2014 08:39:59
I feel your pain Nick, good points Jackson I think you just got me over it a little and Nibbly, the only player in those three that is and would always be better than Mata is Hazard, Oscar maybe some day but now, No don't deceive yourself.

P.S. willian, schurrle and salah are, would, could be great players but you all know deep inside no matter how hard you try and cover it, THERE WILL ONLY BE JUAN MATA. R.I.P Mazacar it was great. :) Up Chelsea!

Also think that selling Mata to Manchester United was, and will be proved to be, huge mistake. Not just the loss to Chelsea of or best, most skilful player over last two seasons (now Hazard indeed drawing level), but resuscitating our fiercest rival over last decade or so seems barmy, mind-bogglingly foolish, as he is will lay on so many chances for them and score quite a few himself. Will be horrendously painful to watch. Reading some of the posts has helped a little, but am still feeling sick about this and wondering whether I want to use my tickets on Wednesday night. though in the end I probably will!

Hey. i'm a Sunderland fan so yer probably not interested but Mata is the best player in the league - no doubt. To sell him to your rivals, regardless of the 37mill is a f. in disgraceful mistake. This will bite you in the ass. I can't believe that most of these comments agree with the sale. Unbelievable!
What are you smoking at the bridge?

Appreciate your love for Mata, but he's definitely not the best player in the league.
I'll repeat my point: united would have strengthened their team anyway, with Mata or with another very good player. Financially, it was probably a very good offer, better than anything else the club would have received. It was his wish to go to united, so the club are mature enough to let him go his own way.
Maybe it'll come back to haunt us, but I don't think it will.
Our team will be a lot stronger and more balanced come the end of January than we were at the start.

I can see the point of view from all parties in this deal and the transfer does make sense but I still don't like it.

Think there may be a possibility that this will open the door for Rooney or perhaps even Zaha to come to The Bridge.