Chelsea Banter Archive July 27 2016

26 Jul 2016 19:02:34
Hey Eds are we actually after Mahrez and if we are what are the chances of us actually getting him?

27 Jul 2016 16:19:49
would we need him?

27 Jul 2016 17:24:29
He's a whole lot better than any AM/ winger we have, apart from Hazard. Player like him might not be as big of a necessity as CB, but we could definitely upgrade the position.

27 Jul 2016 18:23:45
Better than Willian? Don't make me laugh.

27 Jul 2016 19:16:26
He is technically better than Willian, not sure what you're on about G8.

27 Jul 2016 19:36:09
Willian G8? Come on man.

27 Jul 2016 19:37:20
G8 are you mad? Mahrez is at least three times better than Willian so stop being biast. Willian's bang average in the final third. He seems to have gained a some what world class reputation by Mourinho lovers because he kept him in his job for a bit longer whilst he turned into a free kick specialist for a bit. Mahrez and Hazard either side of Costa would be quality they both create chances and score goals. As if you think Willian is better LOL!

27 Jul 2016 19:45:26
It doesn't matter who is better, what matters is who fits better. Football is a collective game.

27 Jul 2016 19:52:37
Spot on GargenOfEden. Willian is just above average.

27 Jul 2016 20:37:34
I definitely agree, antibot, the collective is more important than simply putting 11 star players on the pitch and hoping it'll work. However, I can't look past the fact that he presents no danger for the opposing defenses. And that's an issue.

27 Jul 2016 20:49:53
Some of you have short memories. When Willian played as a central attacking midfielder for Shakhtar, he was immense - particularly in the two CL games against us where Shakhtar tore us a new one.

He has a broad skillset, coincidentally some of those qualities fit with being a wide player. that's clearly not his best position however his energy and pace are hard to replace (a bit like Ramires when he was a fixture in the team) so more often than not he finds himself out on the wing.

Mahrez is clearly an outstanding winger however (and it's a biggie for me), his workrate going back the other way isn't great. reminds me a lot of Robben pre-Bayern tbh. With the formation (s) we're looking to play, you can't afford to have the wide men being lazy.

{Ed001's Note - are you sure you aren't the one with the short memory? Willian has always been extremely average.}

27 Jul 2016 20:54:33
Willian is a class act! Don't get all the negativity from our fans. The guy is great on the ball, creates chances and scores goals. Runs himself into the ground every game whether it be attacking or tracking back and helping out our defence . He gets a lot of, in my eyes, undeserved stick from Chelsea fans and I just don't understand it. He would certainly walk into all the starting x1s in the prem and most of europes top elite! If he were to be sold we would certainly miss him.

27 Jul 2016 21:16:34
I'm not a massive Willian fan but I feel you lot are being harsh on him. His work rate is quite brilliant, dribbling on the ball is very good and he has a good delivery. I do feel that with all his attributes he should definitely score and assist more though. As for Mahrez, I'm interested to see how he'll do in the coming season before I judge him as better or worse than one of our better attacking players. And Ed001 that's very harsh on Willian, he was brilliant at Shakhtar and was pretty good last season for us so to call him average is ridiculous.

{Ed001's Note - he was not brilliant at Shakhtar at all. It was a weak league and he was decent, no more. Hard work but no end product. Last season he stood out because everyone else chucked it in, not because he is particularly good. When Willian is your best player, it is no wonder your team is struggling!}

27 Jul 2016 21:22:05
I commend Willian's attitude and his dedication on the pitch. Indeed he runs himself into the ground and gives his all. Trouble is that his all is not good enough to be a starting attacker for our club.
It's not that I want him to be sold per se, but he can't be a full on starter.

27 Jul 2016 21:24:13
As I said, I'm not his biggest fan and I'll admit he was made to look better than some think because of our team performances last season. However he was very good in Ukraine, weak league or not. To call him average is extremely harsh. Perhaps he isn't good enough to start for a team like Chelsea, but he is far from average and would start for the majority of premier league clubs and top clubs in Europe.

{Ed018's Note - I can't think of to many top clubs he would start for}

27 Jul 2016 21:55:20
Jackson, clearly we will never agree on Willian mate. For me, he is vital to us and for some reason, hugely underated on here. Will be interesting to see what Conte thinks. Ed01 and 18 I respect your opinions but again, let's see what a professional manager thinks.

27 Jul 2016 22:06:59
Willian is simply not good enough doesn't create or score enough goals to be an attacking player. Mahrez&oq would be a massive upgrade.

27 Jul 2016 22:07:32
What I've said meant there's no point to compare Mahrez and Willian skills. It really doesn't matter who is individually better.What is important is how players fit into certain tactical approach of certain team. What matters is how those 11 guys on the pitch look together and what they can produce. Belgium was individually much better than Italy, but Italians have managed with their collective quality to completely outplay Belgians. Or how did Wales looked well.
What Antonio Conte managed to achieve with practically half of regular Italian squad was more than amazing.Hopefully he can do the same thing with Chelsea although Chelsea has much better players than Italian national team.

27 Jul 2016 23:18:23
Willian would be ahead of mahrez in my team.

27 Jul 2016 21:33:35
I'm not going to sit here and start naming clubs but there is many that would love to have him. One of those clubs is probably the one which you support. Ed001, I'm interested, would you consider Mahrez as world class after only one outstanding season after an 'extremely average' career before that?

{Ed001's Note - I very much doubt any club in the top half would 'love' to have him. He is nowhere near a top half team's level, hence why you were struggling so badly when he was your outstanding performer. I wouldn't have him anywhere near my team, he is a worse version of Dirk Kuyt. No idea who you have been watching, but it clearly isn't Willian or you have serious bias issues.

Mahrez has not had an extremely average career, perhaps you should educate yourself before trying to be clever, as you are only proving yourself to know little. Mahrez has been starring at every level he played at. The only reason no big club had ever signed was purely because he was so slim and they felt he would be pushed off the ball constantly at the top level.}

28 Jul 2016 04:33:21
Yes, because Mahrez lit up the prem the season before this and the championship before that. I may not be educated on him prior to Leicester, but I watch the lower leagues and he didn't perform to a level which you could compare him to Willian. You're being ridiculous if you think teams in the top half of the table wouldn't want him. As for your comment on Dirk Kuyt, I'd have thought a Liverpool fan would rate him higher since he was a good player. I'm sure you probably think Coutinho is the best thing since sliced bread though.

{Ed001's Note - you really are wasting my time, you have no idea what you are talking about. You are making up lies to suit your pathetic biased agenda. Mahrez was good enough in the Championship to attract interest from the likes of Barca, then good enough again in his first season in the Prem for them to again show interest. Now please stop trying to discuss this, you clearly do not know what you are talking about. Now one day, instead of being a moron, try and find a comment where I have talked about Couts, rather than making up more nonsense to add to the crap you spout on these pages.}

28 Jul 2016 04:43:59
Not sure what your problem is Ed, seems you turn on someone with a different opinion than you. I didn't know Mahrez attracted interest from those teams after his previous 2 seasons in English football, I certainly don't see why. Surely you cannot suggest he was brilliant in his first season in the premier league?

{Ed001's Note - my problem is that made up crap in your head about me, with regard to making up a statement about me that was a complete lie. If you had stuck to discussing the opinions, fine, but do not lie about what I believe in an attempt to make me look stupid. It is pathetic and typical of people who then act all innocent, pretending they don't realise they have just been a complete knob.

Mahrez showed enough to attract some of the best scouting teams around Europe to see him play. His team had little of the ball, but when he got it, he was doing things that lit up the park. Again showing you did not watch Leicester, like you claimed, or you would know this without needing to ask.}

28 Jul 2016 04:53:17
Well I can only apologise for that, it was simply a comment that wasn't meant to cause any offence. But I did watch Leicester Ed and I don't appreciate these little insults as I don't feel I deserve them. If he did get scouted by those teams then I obviously didn't see what they saw- though perhaps that is why they're a scout and I'm not.

{Ed001's Note - it wasn't that it causes offense, it is a lie and irrelevant to the discussion at hand anyway. It is a deflection to twist it to talk about someone totally unrelated like Coutinho for no reason. My opinion on him is nothing to do with my opinion on Willian, so why even mention him or bring him into it? It was clearly an attempt to belittle my opinion, based on nothing but your own prejudices, as you don't even know what I think of Couts.

As for Leicester, it was not just the scouts that loved him, it was the stats guys too.}

28 Jul 2016 05:04:58
I wouldn't say it was a lie, clearly it was a comment that wasn't based on any sort of truth so I wouldn't take it to heart. I respect all the editors opinions, particularly yours, Ed002 and 018, but I feel you shouldn't be so harsh sometimes and you didn't have to get so wound up by my comments. There is no need for little insults.

{Ed001's Note - well it was a lie because it was not true. There was no need to attempt to belittle my opinion if you so respect ours....}

28 Jul 2016 05:14:18
I saw it as if we were having a debate, though my comment on Coutinho was obviously an unnecessary one. Hope you're enjoying the match!

{Ed001's Note - and that was fine, until that. I don't bother with friendlies or internationals. It is the only break I get from football is to give them a wide berth. They are no way of judging players, as both give false impressions. The last time I watched friendlies, Voronin was outstanding. Remember him? One of the worst players I have ever seen in a Liverpool shirt in competitive football!}

28 Jul 2016 05:24:12
I agree on friendlies but I need my Chelsea fix! Moses seems to be that kind of player every preseason before we loan him out and don't hear about him for 9 months! Voronin wasn't the best player but he did have some lovely hair!

{Ed001's Note - Moses is awful, his first touch is terrible, which is the hardest thing to fix, so if they don't have it, you may as well forgot them. Voronin spent more time on the beach than the pitch, his missus did look good in a bikini mind.....}

28 Jul 2016 06:48:42
Whatever people's opinion of Willian is Ed001 made the most telling comment "there is no end product". Forget free kicks of which he had a run of, his crossing is poor, his runs often result in a poor placed pass and his shooting leaves a great deal to be desired. His work rate whilst tracking back is superb BUT we did not buy him for that, we bought him to score and create. His demise at the season end was very poor, whether through tiredness or giving up we will never know.

29 Jul 2016 08:40:45
For the position Willian plays in he should be scoring and assisting more, the only good thing about Willian is that he's quick, all of his other attributes are below par.