Chelsea Banter Archive May 12 2014

12 May 2014 15:10:28
When the transfer window opens ed do u expect us to make a formal bid for varane

{Ed002's Note - I cannot answer about timescales.}

Why do we need Varane? Injury prone and we have Kalas and Zouma to come in if needed. I do not understand using some of the transfer money on a player where it could be better spent elsewhere.

I have to agree, we already have two talented young CBs, a great senior partnership, and Christensen playing for the U18s and 21s who is highly thought off, that has to be enough and it is without mentioning Brana.

We don't really need Varane. But I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you can get a player like Varane who is both very young and is on the brink of being world class, you don't hesitate and you get him. He is waaaaay too good to pass up on if the club get a chance at signing him.
A great striker (maybe Costa), Moreno, Varane and a good playmaking CM (Barkley perhaps, or Javi Martinez as he's both good in defense and attack) if Luiz were to leave would make for a fantastic summer in my eyes.

Javi Martinez is too defensive especially next to Matic. Barkley would be a good signing but maybe next summer he's still not proved enough yet. Rakitic would be the perfect choice.

12 May 2014 20:11:18
Barkley not proven? You must be having a laugh mate. Barkley for me all day probably the only player that would make me cry if he went to another team Barkley and Hazard could be the difference for us next season. Barkley should be top priority. Well after a striker.

Are you having a laugh? He's got only 6 goals this season from a no 10 position that's nowhere near good enough for us so what makes you think different mr know it all.

6 goals nowhere near enough?
Silva-7, Nasri-7, Ozil-5, Mata-5.

Take into account Barkley is only 20 and played less minutes then these guys(bar mata) and I'd say its quite good.

Tbh Barkley has proved himself to be a star this season, considering he has been in and out of the Everton team a lot.

My initial concern is that he has been fairly inconsistent this year, possibly a symptom of his age however.

My other concern is where this leaves our current set of players, if he is destined to play behind the striker then one of our 5 attacking mids will surely have to leave, and if he is to play centrally then it limits the possibility of someone like Baker/Ake/RLC coming through next season.

The second is a relatively minor concern but I would like it if our youth was prioritised especially when we have such talent at the moment. You never know how youth will develop but there is every chance that Baker or RLC could develop into a better player than Barkley if given a chance, and the former require no investment whereas the latter would presumably cost upwards of 30mill.

If Mourinho sees Barkley as being part of the starting line-up then try and buy him but I would hate to see us buy Barkley and then not playing him consistently and hindering the potential that he undoubtedly has. There has been enough players coming through academies in England that get bought by bigger clubs that do not reach the potential they have because of poor management.

I really think baker is ready for 1st team next season. He is so gifted he has pass technique free kicks great passing and he is two-footed a real rare quality to have rlc not bad either but I think Baker should be given a chance such potential shouldn't be stifled what you think guys

12 May 2014 13:53:06
All I hear is that we are negative, don't score enough goals etc. But the stats show that we scored more goals, than everyone except the 2 above us & we had as many chances as those 2. The big problem in last few years is, that we can't put our chances away. We need 20 chances to put a goal away normally, where as liverpool & City would score at least 3/4 goals in that amount. It strikes me that we were spoilt when we had Drogba leading the line & the others were in their prime. There's not an awful lot wrong, just the odd player & a few others maturing. Hoping that a few of the youngsters get a chance next year too.

Both teams play with two strikers and what is more important they play on them. Which means finishing pass or cross goes on striker.

There's been rumours of us switching to playing 2 upfront. But the only way that really works is if one of them are quite small and skillfull, ala Suarez, Aguero. Unfortunately I don't think any of the strikers we're looking at have the guile needed to play in that way.

Suarez isn't short, he is like Schurrle who is actually secondary striker. Man.City use to play Negredo&Dzeko quite often. Real Madrid plays Ronaldo and Benzema, Man.Utd plays v.Persie and Rooney. One has to be hold up forward and other one typical striker-energetic, fast.

Plus costa is greedy, don't like to pass

I doubt Falcao will agree with you.

Costa has played with a strike partner most of this season, I actually think if we sign him he needs to play with a partner

Lukaku, Torres and perhaps Cavani if swap deal happens.

Suarez is 5'9" that's pretty short. At least IMO. Ronaldo may not be short but he is creative. Costa only has 4 assists this season. I think if we're going to sacrifice an AM for a 2nd striker they need bring in the creativity we lose.

Cavani, Costa and a younger striker.

Fuser, what do you think about us playing Schurrle off of a main striker?
If not, I think someone like Lavezzi would be great in that support striker role, maybe with Markovic as the understudy to Lavezzi, with Lukaku understudy (if he stays!) to Costa/whoever? Gives us two subs, worst comes to worst and we get an injury, Schurrle could step up (if a Lavezzi was signed) and if even more injuries occurred a more 4-2-3-1 could be deployed (rather than the 4-2-2-1-1 that I guess I'm currently proposing.

Thoughts?

Markovic played rm at Benfica this season.

On the one hand I think it could work, as he played well against Fulham and his goals came from running off the shoulder of the last defender. But then again I think he's better cutting in off the wing. Would be interesting to see in pre-season.
With regards to Lavezzi, I haven't really seen a lot of him to really know whether he could fill that role. But I've always thought of him more as a wide player. Certainly would be quite happy if he joined us though. But I'd imagine more of a 4-3-3 with Costa up top and Hazard and Lavezzi flanking him.
Atm I can't get the idea of Costa playing off of Cavani out of my head to really consider other options aha.

12 May 2014 12:24:58
I would not be bothered if we sold Oscar to be honest and hope we snap the hand off any team that wants luiz

12 May 2014 11:00:25
First thing I'd do is, lukaku for Barkley, cole terry new year deal if
They want, lamps deal as player coach, I'd look to raid teams like Monaco who may need to sell, moutinho Rodriguez falcao may be of some interest, see who wants to leave bayern if any players do, and try toe up the main targets before World Cup as value will sore

12 May 2014 09:00:29
Jose says the spine of the team is there. I have to agree, if cole goes the bring in a left back. I Mikel and Lamps go, maybe use Oscar as bate for Veratti from psg to play along side Matic. Then use Luiz as bate for Fabregas as a new number 10. Then all we need is a new strike force, Lukaku, Costa and one more. I think that would set us up for a red hot season come the end of the summer. Would like to see kalas and Zomra back fill for Terry and Cahill next season too. Ivan, Dave and one other as our wing backs. Hope we can make this happen.

Remember we need a certain amount of homegrown players,

So if two central midfielders leave, get rid of two more (or one and a half I guess) to bring in Fabregas (a direct Oscar replacement basically, who really would be unlikely to come here with the whole arsenal thing) and Verrati, a young unproven player?
I'm so glad you aren't in charge of transfers.

Rowey there is no Arsenal thing he will be coming from Barcelona. He is homegrown player.

Veratti thinks he is better than what he is & loses possession a lot! Fabregas I think would pretty much be like having oscar except fabregas is a great passer who now plays the Barcelona way of football so It wouldn't be a mistake buying him if viable

Rowey, so you don't think Matic, van Ginkle, Veratti and Rami would be enough cover for CM? Not to mention Fabregas who could play there as well. Veratti is young and has experience in the champions leauge with PSG.
I'm glad I'm not in charge of transfers as I would have 100m on the bench like city. But it is only a banter page after all!

I actually don't think that 4 is enough, no. This season we had Mikel, Ramires, Matic, Luiz, Lampard and MvG, and still ended up in trouble in terms of 1 more injury/suspension away from no one on the bench, with Rami sent off, Marco out and lamps struggling earlier in the year. With 4, one long term injury and you're in trouble.

. but yeah, Verrati has played a bit more than I originally thought, I'll give you that.

Fair one mate, you do have a valid point. There is always January if we get into trouble though.

Fabregas, Matic, Khedira, Barkley, MVG. Ramires might be sold or transfered to play right midfielder.

11 May 2014 21:31:24
Manchester United have launched a £27m bid for Southampton's England left-back Luke Shaw, according to ssn. Hope this ain't true?

Can u shed any light on this ed002?

Cheers bud

{Ed002's Note - The expectation remains they will try and sign him.}

Do you reckon cheksea will make any efforts again ed002?

{Ed002's Note - Not at the price Southampton gave Chelsea in January.}

Would be a real shame. to see a top English left back being sold to utd. knowing he a chelsea supporter as well.

I'd hate to see him go to United, any club but them. My brother is a United fan and he'd never stop taunting me over it

27m he can go where he wants.

If Man United's bid of £27 million is accepted by Southampton I would be massively disappointed if Chelsea do not match it. He could be Chelsea's left back for 10-15 years and he has amazing potential. Long term it would be a fantastic buy. Home grown and proven compared to the other players that we have been linked with, it is a no-brainer for me.

I agree with Woody. Considering we have dished out huge amounts of money before for players such as Willian (which could be argued weren't needed) I don't see why we can't for Shaw. He is Homegrown a Chelsea fan and would be with us for 10 years plus. Southampton have interest in both Moses and Bertrand so dangle those two +£20m I'm sure they'd take that. I really just can't get my head around this one. FFS Chelsea!

Luke Shaw is next Garrett Bale. He worths
30m.

Yup. I highlighted in another post the reasons he was worth 12m more than moreno. This will be looked at as a very good deal within 3 years. Heck just look at inflation.

11 May 2014 21:43:12
so, whose glad neither city or liverpool were not able to break our pl goal scoring record of 103 lol? city were just 1 short to equalling it!

That 103 goals seems a long time ago now!

One things for sure, Chelsea will not be beating it during Jose's second stint in charge.