16 Oct 2011 18:04:29
Hi ED was just wondering on your opinion about some of our senior players. Drogba yesterday and for some time now for me hasnt looked like that explosive dominant forward he has been for the past 5 years, he seems to have lost that edge of speed and quality he used to have. I also think the same about the legend that is Frank Lampard. He is one of the clubs greatest ever players and one of the all time great scoring midfielders but his lack of pace and dribbling ability at a time where speed and skill are prominant in football these days.
We have Mikel and Lampard who both play very deep, if Lampard had the defensive capabilities of Mikel (Who i dont rate) then i see him being like a Charlie Adam for Liverpool but he doesnt, the ability to strike a ball clean and spray a ball across the pitch isnt enough anymore and i think his age has caught up to him. Both Drogba and Lampard are 33 and both on at least £120k a week which is a huge outlay for to players who i dont feel are what they used to be. I no people will say Lampard scored a hatrick last week but i do feel that is papering over cracks. Come next summer i really feel its time to let go the likes of Drogba, Lampard, Kalou, Ferriera and even Anelka. Together your looking at saving close to £500k a week in wages alone, getting rid of some old talent and freeing up some much needed wage space.
Drogba and Lampard should and will be kept to the end of the season but this should be there last in a Chelsea shirt. As for Kalou sell him in january and try and get as much as possible for him. As for Anelka and Feriera i feel they both can give some valuable cover and are worth hanging on to till next summer.
PB {Ed002's Note - Anelka will certainly be leaving. Kalou is considering his options and Droba will prbably stay one more year. Lampard may decide to leave if he is not getting what he considers to be sufficient game time. But as you say, these players (with the exception of Kalou) are getting a little older and will eventually need to be replaced.}
For some time now? He played pretty well I thought towards the end of last year when Fernando was finding his feet and has not had much of a look in this year. Why put our club legends down? I agree that lampard slows our play down and will need to move on next year but I think drogba offers a lot to the youngsters (as does frank)! Mikel is a DM and in my opinion one of the best in the prem. His role is not to speed up the play. at this rate if mata has a bad game I'd assume you'd want him sold aswell? AVB knows what he is doing so stop getting on every players back and show some support. In AVB We Trust Melbourne CFC