So it looks as if both Nic and Drogs will be offloaded on a free at the end of the season. It had to happen at some point and perhaps it will be for the good of Chelsea's future! I hope we get the chance to say a proper goodbye to 2 Chelsea greats! Perhaps the club could arrange a goodbye freindly for them. If Danny and Fernando can match what these 2 guys have done I will be a very happy Blue!
I don't know how true it all is but we'll have had 4 and a half seasons out of Nico (which is a record for him. Seriously, look it up) and though he can be incredibly frustrating he's also provided some great moments. I rate him as one of if not the best finishers I've seen at Chelsea. Look at his goal against Porto at the Bridge last season, that is not easy but he make it look so. Unfortunately, I think his opportunities will become limited from here on in. I think we could do something to try keep hold of Drogba though. I think he could still do a job. His game is built more around his strength than his speed so I don't think age is such a determining factor. And I think he has much to teach the younger strikers. In particular, I am thinking of Lukaku. Still, if Drogba does leave at least I'll have memories of his goals against Liverpool, Barcelona, Everton and the many, many goals against Arsenal.
I'd be more for Anelka staying than Drogba...he fit's into a team, where Drogba almost is the shape the team has to fit into. Don't get me wrong, Drogba has been awesome, but at times he has also been a petulant bell end with little regard for the club.
Blueboy--I would agree about Nic's great finishing, but he'd have some way to go to match Zola and Osgood in that department. I would have said Greaves as well but he is ancient history now! The problem with Drogs as I understand it is that the club have offered him a 1 year extension to his contract and he wants 2 and he wants the same wages ie £130k a week and we want that reduced(EUFA wages bills,breaking even etc).ABV is planning for the future and Drogs is not going to be part of it, much as I regard the service he has given us!
I agree with blueboy about Drog to help with Lukaku's development, but I guess maybe we'll just have to hope he does a fantastic job before the season ends. Both have been great for the club, but it appears a youth movement has begun at the Bridge.
This would worry me a little as Torres still has a lot to prove with us and Danny is just starting out really. Can we afford to let 2 top class strikers leave at the same time? I'd be inclined to maybe let one go this summer and one the next but it may be out of our hands due to contracts etc.
bluemoon - you may have a point about Zola. But Osgood and Greaves I don't really know about. Of course I've seen the footage and heard the stories but I've never felt it right to make any judgements on players I never actually saw in the flesh.
I can see both of them leaving. I was more concerned over the last couple of years, as we didnt seem to have anyone (other than Lampard) who even half-looked like scoring a bunch of goals for us. At some point it's inevietable, and as a club we need to move on and devlop/risk some of the younger players that we are buying and brining through. I would be content not winning anything for a season or 2, provided we can balance the club/squad. Whilst I hate to admit it, Man U have for a long time had a good balance of old-timers, youth & purchased players. We need to improve our mix. My only worry is that Roman will not allow a manager that "bedding-in" period, something that we well and truly need. Good luck AVB
Well said Croc! Long time no see! Its clear to me that AVB is going about the task of re--styling the team to perform easy on the eye football , but at the same time deliver results! No Blue should be upset about that.Whats best about this is our main oppo's cant see what we are building --and between us I see us taking trophies!
I'm not so sure our main opponents can't see what's going on at the Bridge. Some of their supporters, such as can be found on this board, are another matter altogether. I definitely agree, though, at least based on what I've been able to see of this season, that AVB is doing what has needed doing for probably a couple seasons now.
As much as I liked Carlo, and appreciated what he achieved for us I could never quite work out what style he was trying to play! Perhaps his command of the language didn't allow him to explain it properly, so it was all raised shoulders and lifting the eyebrow. But with AVB, you are not left guessing! Its going to be all out attack, attack, attack! I heard Neville comment on MU's performance against us, and in criticising the performance of their defence said "They were a tidal wave coming against us! It could have been 4-4". Long may it continue!
With Carlo to me it felt like he wanted to try to change the way we play, but couldn't make it happen. Not sure why exactly, but he seemed stuck.
I got the impression he wasn't allowed the full reins! He couldn't buy / sell who he wanted, and I sometimes think on team selection he may have been given a heavy steer! I'm beginning to think they may have learned some lessons and are letting AVB do his thing!
Hopefully that's the case, blue, who knows what Carlo would have achieved last season if Wilkins wasn't sacked quarter way through the season AND signed who HE wanted in the summer.
