Chelsea Banter Archive July 14 2015

14 Jul 2015 20:14:19
I would be interested in people's comments regarding Fabregas.
I personally think he is a quality player when we are dominating and he is forward laying off pin point passes but when we have to dig in he goes missing and that was never more evident in the latter part of the season when we were digging out results and I would have hauled him off.

14 Jul 2015 20:37:49
In big games I do think he's better at no.10. If we could put Aranguiz of Loftus-Cheek there who also like to get the ball forward and are good passers I think we would be ok.

14 Jul 2015 21:27:05
Think he is a great player but always tails off after Christmas. Need cover/someone to challenge him. Not a scorer of goals so think we need a midfielder in the middle that puts the ball in the net.

15 Jul 2015 12:07:46
RLC isn't ready yet. Maybe a couple of starts in games against lesser sides but he will play in cup games mostly with very few league games. I don't think he started a game for England this summer and Mourinho admitted he was dissapointed with his lack of tracking back. I'd give him a small number of starts in cup competitions but he definitely isn't ready to be an option as an alternative to Cesc or Matic

15 Jul 2015 15:27:10
Great players don't tail off after Christmas.

14 Jul 2015 19:48:45
Hey Ed018, how you doing? Have you heard anything about our targets? Anything new or potential. I'm guessing Charles aranguiz would be our final addition as we won't sign for the sake of it and rightly so. However, I use admit though I think our team is still the strongest in England I can't help but fear we are way behind the likes of Barca, Juve, Munich, Madrid and even Psg in Europe. What do you think and also guys what are your thoughts? Cheers :)

{Ed018's Note - Aranguiz will be a good signing. I don't see a whole lot more happening after that. Maybe Pedro and maybe a replacement if Luis leaves}

14 Jul 2015 20:47:46
Quiet summer for us then if it turns out like that. I don't see the need for Pedro if Cuadrado stays.
Ed, have you seen a lot of Aranguiz? I've never seen him play myself. And if so, do you think he's at the level he needs to be to play for us? I desperately want us to have more midfield control against bigger teams. The sitting back, soaking up pressure and trying to break really makes those games very stressful haha :-)
And oh yeah, is it true that Chelsea are now interested in Otamendi? He'd be a quality signing, especially seeing as Varane won't happen.
Cheers Ed

{Ed018's Note - I've seen him play for Chile maybe 10-12 times and he's always played well. I don't know of any interest in Otamendi}

14 Jul 2015 20:51:30
Hi ed is it still looking likely remy will leave? I think it would be a mistake unless we got a striker in to replace him. He had a better goals per minute than Costa last year!

{Ed018's Note - it's still possible but I havent heard anything recent}

14 Jul 2015 23:26:17
Cuadrado always played well for Colombia, hard to get excited by a player of his age who's never played in Europe.

{Ed018's Note - he's a good player that will add quality depth in that position}

15 Jul 2015 07:56:41
Thanks for that, Ed :-)

14 Jul 2015 17:34:41
Getting a bit worried about how the window seems to be going so far. A risky forward loan, replacement keeper 2 young Brazilians that will be loaned and potentially an ok cm. all our targets for earlier in the window seem like they are not happening no think we are just going down the priority list to target old or pretty average players. Think we should sell Oscar, mikel, Willian, Salah, Moses, Luis and Ramires and buy Isco, pogba Rahman and lacazette. will never understand why we didn't snap up reus in January! The rest of the spots should be filled with youth.

14 Jul 2015 18:21:20
You been on the drink pal?

14 Jul 2015 19:02:42
Haha I understand what your trying to say but this is not Fifa on Xbox. We would all love pogba/greizman etc but sometimes players are priced out of moves by clubs being held to ransom. Plus the players themselves might have their heart set on a move elsewhere like pogba/Barcelona.

14 Jul 2015 19:51:42
Maybe a bit over the tip on outgoings but if you take Willian and ramires from my outs list I think the others on my list we would stand a good chance of getting (excluding pogba)

14 Jul 2015 15:55:41
What do people think about HAZARD as our no.10 In home games against lesser teams? I want to see him there next year. That's why I'd like to see Pedro come in because he can play on either wing because he's both footed. Hazard can be better than what Bale was there when Tottenham switched him to no.10. Then against the bigger teams and away from home we could take Pedro or Willian out of the side for maybe Ramires or Loftus-Cheek who are better defensively.

14 Jul 2015 16:34:40
Personally I have always felt Hazard is a bigger danger running directly at the opposition then coming in from his wing. Defences panic and he tends to pass the ball more which can be his weakness, not passing when he should. The issue that does not sit comfortably with me is Pedro. Why is he suddenly attractive when we wasted money on Saleh and Cuadrado and they are all much of a muchness; I would rather see Traore play in the softer games than waste money on the above but we do need another attacking midfielder and rather than waste money I would pay over the odds if need be for Pogba as he can track back.

14 Jul 2015 16:37:42
He's too good on the wing. When he's out there the oppositions right mid and right back are solely focused on taking him out of the game. Also their centre back will naturally slide out to that side which opens up one on ones for Diego with their other centre half. Also Jose likes to suffocate little teams and in this style he plays a #10 that presses like a blood hound.

14 Jul 2015 17:10:35
Firstly, Hazard doesn't stay on his side and will come central, doesn't matter where he starts. But I do agree that he can be devastating when he's running at the defence through the middle. He did that a lot the last few games IIRC. That run against Arsenal for example was just mesmerising. He'd be great anywhere, left, right or centre. As long as he's with us :-)