Chelsea Banter Archive July 26 2015

26 Jul 2015 23:30:20
So while it is early in preseason, I am becoming a little concerned. We don't need another striker, and we don't need attacking midfielders. Keeper situation is also fine. A defender (Stones?) would be good, but its that centre midfield i'm worried about. Mikel has his uses but he slows down play too much. Perhaps it will mainly be matic-fab with Oscar ahead but we saw what happened last season when they got tired. Mourinho possibly hopes Ramires bounces back this season or maybe plans to use RLC more than expected.

Maybe its easy to say this from the outside looking in; Pogba is who we want but is almost certainly not going to happen. i'm pretty sure most people will agree that Witsel, Song etc are all improvements on Mikel. People might argue that they don't improve the starting 11 with them but what we saw last year is that our starting 11 is great and its more depth in the squad we need. Witsel, or somebody like him who is strong in defence but moves the ball around well would be an improvement. I just don't want to be in the situation come May were we have thrown away the title because we didn't strengthen enough. Man city have shown us that if you don't strength the season after you win the title, you don't win the title that second year.

I will repeat though, if Mourinho plans to use youth more than expected then that's great, but I wait with bated breath.

Perhaps many of you think differently, if you can give me your opinions and put my mind at ease, that would be great too :) haha

27 Jul 2015 07:10:51
I think Stones will sign, it's just a case of negotiating a price right now - second offer going in soon. Baba Rahman looks like the replacement for Luis, which'll bring the age of the squad down.

Mikel is slow on the ball, he isn't the most positive of passers but he's been at the club for the best part of a decade - he's contributed in squads, under multiple managers, winning ten bits of silverwear. I think he's a decent squad player who deserves a little bit more appreciation from some Chelsea fans. Having said that he may well see himself pushed down the pecking order by the growth of RLC even if we don't add in midfield.

27 Jul 2015 07:58:48
In the last few days everyone seems to be homing in on the same issues we have and that is the midfield and another defender. I am not a Rahman fan so we will see what happens with him but you say we don't need an attacking midfielder but then refer to Pogba. Obviously I would like him because he is exactly the right fit, an attacking/defensive midfielder. Mikel's failing apart from age is that he offers nothing offensively and will pass sideways, something we do not need if we are going counter attack quickly. Manchester City's buying power is always worrying but they have had the best squad on paper for three seasons but can never get it to gel, Chelsea's strength.

27 Jul 2015 08:09:04
I completely agree with you. Witsel is available and is exactly what we need. From what I have read, we were close to agreeing a deal but it collapsed at the final stages. If we don't make a signing like that because it falls just outside of our valuation then that could well be proved to be a false economy come next May.

27 Jul 2015 09:46:58
Maybe they decide to stick with Ramires and Mikel because no world class midfielder was available for a realistic price and the club don't want to buy a player that is just decent (in their opinion). Perhaps they'd prefer to wait and see how Pasalic and Van Ginkel perform on loan, as they're both highly talented (I'm especially excited about Pasalic). If we bring in someone like Witsel, then what happens with Van Ginkel next season if he plays really well at Stoke?
I'm sure the club would bring in Pogba or Koke or Andre Gomes (please God, give us Gomes!) if it were possible. But if it's not, maybe they want to stick with what we have and give Pasalic or MVG a chance next season.

27 Jul 2015 10:39:08
Some well balanced thoughts shared above which is nice to see compared with some of the negative drivel often seen on here! I agree that we would all like to see a Pogba or Griezmann or whoever but if the player or selling club won't agree to a move so be it. J, your comments on Mikel are spot on and Jackson, I completely agree with you about the loanees. I do sense Jose would like a couple of new additions in sooner rather than later and personally think Stones and Rahman will sign alongside Charles Aranguiz and that will conclude our summer transfers.

27 Jul 2015 11:52:14
There were some reports apparently that Aranguiz to Chelsea is looking less likely now and that he'd instead join Leverkusen. Maybe if that happens our attention gets turned to Witsel. That would be good :-)

27 Jul 2015 12:53:23
Spot on JKB. We will never all agree but most know where our deficiencies lie. I think many of the players 'associated' with Chelsea are pure paper talk and we may have spoken to agents but as far as offers are concerned I doubt we have made many. I would repeat that the names thrown around would unlikely to have been on any fans 'must have' list at the season end. I am sure like everyone else we have a budget but I do think they would pay what was required for the right player ie: Pogba and I keep going out on a limb by saying I feel there is a surprise waiting for us out there; who, no idea but someone who will add value.

26 Jul 2015 17:11:22
After the game last night it's obvious we still have a lot of pre-season work to do. That's to be expected but I think there some real warning signs there.

Our transition play is still far too slow and lacks precision. Our defence which was the keystone of our success last year is also looking brittle. I do hope that we aren't trying to make do with a small squad that we should be looking to make marginal gains improvements to because of a self imposed financial prudence. City already have a better squad than us and they are constantly looking to improve.

I know that we can't just go out and spend fortunes and have to consider them balance of the squad but there is something not right if we are persevering with the likes of Mikel when he doesn't challenge the first eleven.

I know that Jose has agreed to work within a more constrained spending model this time around but I can't honestly believe that he is happy with our squad as it currently stands.

We still desperately need a Centre Back, a physically imposing central midfielder and an effective goal threat on the wing that can counterbalance Eden.

I'd be interested in the thoughts of others.

26 Jul 2015 19:17:18
Not a bad assessment especially with our transition play which I thought deteriorated in the second half of the season and we gave the ball away far too often. As I have said before I like Willian but I wish he would use his pace and not keep putting his foot on the ball allowing the opposition to get organised. We are all agreed that we desperately need a strong attack minded midfielder but many of the players we have been associated with leave me cold apart from Griezmann and Pogba; none have a great scoring record including the latest, Callejon who is just under a goal every four games. That position is a must. I think our defence has a season left as it stands but take Terry out and the organisation goes out the window so in his absence I would like Azi to be given a captain's chance as Cahill cannot do the job. Therefore I think we may see changes made for the 'softer' games in the defensive area with Zouma and whomever else we buy getting outings. To me the key is getting the ball in the net more often, our defence kept us in a lot of games last year but our midfield/forwards will need to step up their game this year if there is no new blood because it will be a lot (lot) harder.

26 Jul 2015 23:27:07
Spot on Titan mikel is a joke Ramires looks like he's losing his talent more and more every year William just isn't good enough going forward

26 Jul 2015 13:57:49
I'm surprised @ our dealings in d transfer market so far. I hope Mou realises that we won d title last season becuz other teams didn't find their rythm. Remember City were level wit by new year only to falter afta Toure went for African Nations cup and even Aguero's injury. Both Gunners $ United had considerably improved and yet in search of more. Again epl title shouldn't be our only priority as I doubt if dis our current squad can better the likes of Barca, Bayern, Madrid and even Juve. We really need world class CM $ WR to confindently challenge on all fronts.Mou please try to beat your 3rd season dis time by doing d needful. your thoughts will be appreciated. Blue is d colour

26 Jul 2015 12:56:23
Hi ed I have read a lot of news regarding Callejon, is it true we are close to signing him

{Ed018's Note - Callejon is a player Chelsea have had interest in before in the past. I don't know if they are trying to make a move for him or not right now}

26 Jul 2015 10:07:13
Ed(s) with all the comments regarding Raphael Varane am I correct in thinking that at the last major transfer window Chelsea obtained an hours extension until midnight to complete his signing and once that was cleared Real Madrid upped the ante by asking for all expenses and taxes to be paid by our Club and we walked away? The relationship with RM appears to have soured since then.

{Ed018's Note - I do t know the exact details, but yea Chelsea were close to signing Varane in January}

26 Jul 2015 13:23:35
Ed002 mentioned back then that it was close. But I don't think Benitez will want to lose Varane to us. It's a shame, though I've read that he wasn't very impressive last season.
I'd definitely prefer him over Stones, hell I'd even prefer Laporte or Rudiger over Stones.

26 Jul 2015 14:09:57
IIRC, the deal was close but Real Madrid insisted on the associated costs being met for Laporte (who they wanted as a replacement for Varane). the deal fell apart after that.

26 Jul 2015 16:14:16
Unfortunately I don't think Benitez will allow Varane to leave especially not to Jose!

26 Jul 2015 12:03:29
Are we interested in Callejon

26 Jul 2015 16:17:28
Hope so - a midfielder who scores a la Frank.

26 Jul 2015 11:45:47
Azpilicueta has captain written all over him. Would love to see him get the armband if Terry isn't playing this season. This is very high praise but, for me, he is a very, very similar player to Phillip Lahm; who, when playing FB, is one of the best I've ever seen.

26 Jul 2015 13:24:32
I love Azpi so much. I don't know whether he speaks and organizes enough to be captain, but he sure leads by example!