Chelsea Rumours Archive August 08 2011

08 Aug 2011 23:07:11
Ed, therse no chance were going to compete with the current players we have on our wings, Malouda and kalou offer us nothing, we are unable to stretch defences aswell as united an say a spurs can. Yet still Chelsea persist with Kalou and Malouda, its never been right ever since we got rid of Robben and Duff, our football was a lot more attractive back then as we were able to create space in the centre of the park for the likes of Lampard and co to work in, this is why now, most of our performances look cagey. I do not understand why we are not investing in a new pair of wingers, perhaps you can shed some light?? {Ed002's Note - I suspect Malouda will stay. Kakuta is to return and the team do not play with wingers per se because of the full backs.}

Where as barca have arguably the most attack minded full back in dani alves on the right with messi ahead of him {Ed002's Note - And Chelsea have a narrower pitch. I appreciate you have no time for many of the Chelsea players but that is the way it is.}

Surely a pitch width problem should not effect us from signing players that can help the team ed surely not {Ed002's Note - I guess I don't see the massive problems that you do. To play with two out and out wingers would be a complete change in style of play - and will need the manager changed as well. This is simply not going anywhere.}

Its not the way it is if we cant compete though ed, and how long do we expect Ivanovic to play at rb, he is good in this position but only defensivley. And he cant be anymore attacking and direct as he is nowas he does not have the pace to go past ppl, this is why we need a world class right winger. Bring in Hazard orsomebody I dnt see the big deal, we need wingers otherwise modric may aswell stay at spurs. {Ed002's Note - I think your expectations are a little to far away from reality. You dislike every player and want everything changed. It is pointless me responding to any more of your posts. Sorry.}

Ed did avb not play with two out and out wingers at porto hulk and whom played on the left? {Ed018's Note - Hulk is not a true winger and did pinch in more to the center while playing on the right. Valera is more of a winger but the system calls for the outside backs to make those runs and provide that width.}

It is not a case of me disliking every player we have ed. I honestly believe we have one of the best defences and forward lines in the world, leaving our attacking midfielders and wingers to pick out. It looks like Lampard is loosing it. But in fact this is mainly due to the squad having no width what so ever. In turn making the center of midfield one big crowded out rush hour. Teams no how to play Chelsea now because of the narrow team we field. If Chelsea simply added a pair of wingers to the equasion, with zip and trickery, it would open up our whole attack. And our performances would be a whole lot more entertaining and effective. Also now with the amount of talent we have up front and all three forwards in torres, drogba and lukaku posessing a vast amount of quality both in the air and on the ground it only makes sense to bring in some players to create them more opportunities and chances to score. {Ed018's Note - Were you complaining about the "width" when we won the double 2 years ago?}

That was 2 years ago ed, I was complaining about us getting knocked out of the CL and PL last season by a team that are far better than us due to the fact that we had nothing to offer in the wide areas. We will not win the PL or the CL with players like malouda and kalou on our wings nxt season, mark my words. {Ed018's Note - we didn't play with wingers that season though, thats my point.}

But as I say things have changed since then and the team quite clearly needs some fresh ideas and attacking talent. Half of the current team are from when Jose was in charge, We have had Malouda and kalou a long time now and for me they have not brought anything to the big games and the big stage, why is it every time we play teams like man united, liverpool and arsenal ect ect we struggle? We need to be bossing teams like this if were guna have success. How do u even expect us to compete against a team like barca? A team we will most certainly have to beat to win the CL, if we cant beat united? and we all seen what barca did to united. {Ed018's Note - its not up to me to decide how we are gonna compete against Barcelona, we have a manger for that. You are looking for answers that you just aren't gonna get. Time to drop this and move on}

Ok well ile leave you with this prediction, The PL will be United's yet again nxt season. The CL I feel will go to Barca or United as we are unable to compete with either as our squad stands. Buying Torres was like buying a ferrari without the wheels my friend. The wheels being the creativity we lack. I hope im wrong but I no im guna be right if we do not strengthen.

One creative midfielder is all we need, and lampard is not loosing it. He was out with injury and missed half the season and he spent the rest of it recovering from it. Yet he still scored 14 goals

08 Aug 2011 22:30:55
Hi ed, couldn't see if you already had covered this: are Chelsea holding off on Sneijder, due to his wage demands? {Ed018's Note - there's no interest and the wages would be a possible reason why}

08 Aug 2011 20:05:00
Eds what do you think of the number of strikers/forwards we have? Is there any interest from other clubs in any of them I think we gave to many {Ed002's Note - There is plenty of time for change still.}

08 Aug 2011 18:51:23
{Ed002's Note - As a general update, there has been a further demand made of those clubs interested in Neymar to ask them to consider the player staying with Santos until after the 2012 Olympic Games in London - and perhaps even to then end of the 2012 Brazilian season in what will be late November or December next year. However, even though Ganso's desire to move to AC Milan looks to be out of the question until perhaps next summer, it looks like the club are prepared to let him move on - possibly due to the lack of financial sponsorship for the player. Although a firm offer exists for Ganso from Anzhi, I somehow doubt his desire to move there. With another suitor, PSG, seemingly out of the loop because of the purchase of Pastore and Barcelona looking like taking the Fabregas route, this leaves a bid from Chelsea as a viable proposition.}

Cheers for this update, its very interesting I was just wondering if you knew what Neymar's position might be? Does he want to move or is he happy to stay? From what i have heard he wants to stay at least untill the club world cup, but is he looking to stay as long as Santos seem to want him to? Cheers for the info, i have been wondering about Ganso Nick. {Ed002's Note - I have no idea what Neymar is thinking. I suspect as a 19 year old it is about girls and acne cream.}

Thanks ed. How financially viable would it be for us to make a move for Ganso? Do you have any info on an 'acceptable' (santos' estimation) bid for the player, or his level of wage demands or significant 'deal' issues? Always grateful. {Ed002's Note - Give me a break.}

Great update and a brave one considering the wave of messages you will recieve about ganso now ed {Ed002's Note - I know - I was going to just leave it and not say anything.}

In your opinion if AVB wanted the player would he be prepared to come to London and also do you think that would give us the upper hand in signing Neymar due to there friendship. Thanks

I've no doubt that other parties will bid for him after the 2012 season. We seem to planning well for the future but I'm worried for the here and now. None of our purchases this close season are good to go. Granted they'll be a very exciting proposition in 2 or 3 years time. So, we are as we were at the end of last season but without Zhirkov and a promising couple of youngsters. I live in hope though......there's still a few weeks to go to bring in some quality to wrestle the Premiership back.

Great post ED, respect you for doing this knowing that Ganso questions will be asked forever now. I like these general updates you have given today and I and most of users would appreciate more of these. Keep up the great work ED

Can I ask Ed002, why is it possible that he will move to Chelsea yet you are so adamant that he would not go to United? The Santos club president has claimed that United are next favourites after PSG. Do you still think it's highly unlikely he will end up in Manchester?

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - There is a chance of Chelsea - not of United.}

Sorry Ed it wasn't the Santos President, it was his agent.

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - Well, there you go then.}

He looks a real talent, but I would kind of worry that he may not settle, although his wage would be reasonably low so it maybe worth a gamble. Ed002, can I ask why you are so adamant he will not join United? Has he told someone that he wouldn't join United? Is it because as far as you know United haven't ever declared an interest in him?

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - Ganso has his heart set on AC Milan, but Milan have a non-EU quota issue if they are to sign him. The quota's can be increased by borrowing from other teams in exchange for players on loan - which seems to me like it should not be allowed, but it is. Chelsea have been keeping a watching brief as they continue their long term interest and have held periodic discussions with Santos about the player. I imagine that the reported Manchester United interestno more than a watching brief and their focus remains elsewhere. They have certainly not spoken with Santos I am told. PSG, Inter Milan and Barcelona have also shown an interest in the player. Anzhi Makhachkala have had a 40M euro bid rejected. I suspect he may stay in Brazil until next year and mover to Milan then.}

Hey Ed002 , thanks for the update keep it up Is Ganso worth 40M euro? {Ed002's Note - It would be guesswork to say what players are worth. It is hard to see how any one player can bring that much financial benefit to a club.}

Thanks for your replyBut I meant whether he is actually that much effective and fits are midfielder bill? (I should have made my self clearer in asking earlier, sorry) {Ed002's Note - Worthy then. I really don't want to try and talk too much about whether a player is good or not - it attracts a lot of discussion from folks with a differing opinion and I really do not have the time to deal with those matters. All in all though, Ganso is a good player.}

08 Aug 2011 17:54:58
we are hearing rumours about lukaku coming to chelsea from the last few months and at that time AVB was not a chelsea manager and now we are buying lukaku when AVB is manager , does it mean that manager dont decide who is coming and who is going out from squad? {Ed002's Note - It is rather more complex than that but AVB will have more input to the process than CA did.}

08 Aug 2011 16:59:00
Hey Ed, do you know if Douglas Costa is being sought after for a central role in midfield or for the left flank? {Ed002's Note - Players are not purchased on that basis. Players are looked at for what they can bring to the squad unless they only play in one position.}

08 Aug 2011 16:30:34
any news down there ov sturridge coming to the toon on loan now u got luka luka naughty player by the way geordie boi 2099 {Ed002's Note - Sturridge will not be going out on loan, sorry.}

08 Aug 2011 15:10:07
hi ed002 and ed018 great work on the site. just wondering if we're still looking for a right back. i hope we are considering bosingwa's defensive incapabilities and ivanovic's unwillingness to play there. is there still interest in the croatian lad srna? cheers {Ed002's Note - There is no interest in Srna.}

08 Aug 2011 13:57:21
Ed Would you see Costa as a replacement for Zhirkov/Malouda eventually?
Surely that still leaves a need for a right sided winger like De Bruyne? {Ed002's Note - Try and see a player as an addition to the squad rather a direct replacement for anyone. I don't suppose de Bruyne would be pleased to be considered to be a right winger.}

08 Aug 2011 13:07:44
With snijder saying he needs to be sold ed, will that push us to go in for him? {Ed002's Note - Er, no.}

08 Aug 2011 12:07:30
Hi Ed002,
Hope all is well, thanks for the update on the de bruyne/costa situation

with real madrid signing altintop and sahin and coentrao this summer, would it be plausible for us to have a reasonable chance of signing Angel Di Maria?
i think he would be perfect to swap with sturridge either side of torres? either him or hazard are my preferred choices and if douglas costa is brought he would have to step up another level whereas as these two players are good enough IMO to perform at the chelsea level straight away

cheers

Dan1CFC {Ed002's Note - Chelsea enquired about Di Maria in a meeting with Real Madrid in Los Angeles on July 16. Then the club were told he was not available, but Chelsea have asked to be kept informed if the situation changes.}

08 Aug 2011 11:39:23
despite offloading the ineffective Zhirkov others like Anelka kalou and malouda still remain??? we need to inject a fresh attacking winger x2 and a playmaker ...where are they the season starts on sunday?? on the plus side Sturridge is in fine form and must not be loaned out he should be regular every week

08 Aug 2011 07:32:31
Morning Ed, just wanted to ask you why is Chelsea signing Lukaku I no he's a good young player but Chelsea already have 4 strikers ..... {Ed002's Note - Two of the existing strikers are over 30.}

Ed, do you believe Sturridge & Lukaku will replace Kalou & Anelka? I think Chelsea could do with an injection of youth. I would play McEachran instead of Mikel too, I would love McEachran at United. It's a shame United didn't get to him first. Sorry for waffling on, but do you believe Anelka & Kalou are out the door?

Sydney! {Ed002's Note - I think the ideal is that both Kalou and Anelka will leave. Another player is being looked at that may see Mikel move on.}

Lukaku i believe will only be competeing with Torres and Drogba for the striker position through the middle. If this is the case and he is 3rd choice for the lone striker then we need a younger understudy and he is perfect. He will challenge them while also learning from them. I think he is a great signing and i look forward to watching him years into the future

Ed Can you give any info on the player you have said we are looking at to possibly replace mikel? {Ed002's Note - It is Fernando, he has been discussed previously.}

Ooo ok thought you meant there was someone new in the frame. Have seen the previous fernando posts. Mikel and
Kalou should be the players at top of list of who to sell.

08 Aug 2011 00:16:30
ED02 what's the situation with Mata folk still think Arsenal will get him for about £26mil? {Ed002's Note - At the moment it looks more likely he is staying at Valencia than moving to London.}