Great to have Essien back and returning to full fitness but I am not sure we have lacked that imposing and dominating midfielder. We've had that in Ramires When you look at the games we have played this season, who has actually dominated us apart from Liverpool in the opening 45 minutes and City in the opening 25? We dominated Spurs, United and City and pretty much matched Arsenal, Wigan and Liverpool blow for blow but were unlucky, the rest it would be hard to say we were "outplayed" or dominated in the way that City, Arsenal, United, Spurs and Liverpool have all been especially in the big games Much of our problems have been defensive problems, we have actually scored in every league game since the QPR defeat. In fact QPR is one of only 2 games we have failed to score in, Stoke being the other. Clearly we are scoring enough goals (3rd highest scorers) but not keeping it tight enough at the back, Liverpool have only scored 24 goals yet are in a reasonably good position given how average their players are. I'd like to see Bertrand given a chance, and another LB signed as cover, I think Cole has declined rapidly and needs to be challenged for that LB spot. I think of all of us can agree Bosingwa isn't good enough so perhaps a RB is needed too. Whilst JT and Luiz have copped the flak from the media, I actually believe they have been 2 of our better players as well as Brana I think we're a left winger and 2 full backs away from having a title challenging side. Once we sign a proper left winger we can push Mata in the middle where he is most effective, IMO he is wasted out wide
If your interest in Hazard is real, he's got the potential to be one of the best wingers in the world. Also, his agent has recently said that whilst Madrid is a team he likes, he would also be open to a move to England and chelsea would 'interest him'. As for a left-back, Lyon's chairman has said that he's ready to sell Aly Cissokho, I don't know how good he really is, but Arsenal and Liverpool are supposedly looking at him
In my opinion Cole OR Terry has served his time, maybe before when one was making a mistake the other would cover it quite a easily but now both seem to be jittery and it has affected Luiz more than anyone Bosingwa is basically on his last round with us and I would expect to see the back of Bosingwa and Alex soon and 1 of Terry and Cole David Luiz is more than capable of playing all across the back four Cahill and Ivanovic are the experience and I would love for AVB to promote Hutchinson, Bertrand and eventually Chalobah I would expect the 7 to be added to by a CB or LB depending on which of Terry and Cole goes Hazard added to Romeu, Ramires , Mata, Sturridge and Torres would make us have a brand new midfield and attack compared to the Essien, Ballack, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba side that won the double and with Meireles, Mceachran, Lukaku and Piazon supporting instead of Kalou, Deco, Mikel we would have an evolution of younger hungrier talented stars at the bridge with a manager to match
And what are we missing? Mourinho lol. I think we just need one more creative midfielder and then we'll be bang there
Morning guys I'd have thought Cech was worth replacing, he's quite simply not a top 'keeper anymore. Luiz will never be a great centre back, in my opinion so it might be worth pushing him to right back where his runs would be less of a liability.
no,i'm not in love with you lcooper,just at work doing a bit of overtime,but i do like to debate sensibly at times,instead of trying to wind other fans up
He does need replacing in my opinion but we've gave cech a extension so his here till 2017, i think the plan is Courtious will do another season loan with Athletico next season, then go on loan to a Premier League club for a year, then be #2 for a year with runs in cup games then when his ready he'll take over. And you never know mate who would of said Pique would of gone on to become one of the worlds best center backs when he was with Man u? Or Rossi would become a world class striker when he left man u? Many other examples aswell, we don't know whats gunna happen in the future lol
Courtois is looking class for Atletico at the moment, I would even be happy to see him back at the bridge and challenging Cech next season.
Think we need to relax and just take our time with Courtious though, slowly work him in, he even said himself his looking forward to spending another season at athletico after this one so he can gain more and more experience
We can't lose all of them at once and nor should we. However, Terry and Cole are on the slide and we need replacements next season ,that can be fitted in during the next season. Bertrand is one for me, Hutchinson as well, and Van Aarnolt. Start them sooner than later and we may find we don't need to splash out. A great creative midfielder to replace Lamps, and for me we're there. Cech, Terry, Cole, Boswinga, Malouda Drogba are one more season players at best, but I think we've got them pretty well covered with our young on loan players. The midfielder is the hardest. Wesley Sjneider anyone ????????
Well said! Except for the Sneijder part, cost an absolute fortune and the guys getting on a bit himself! For a CM, Moutinho is the man for me!
QPR fan in peace. After watching the highlights on MOTD yesterday, I would say that the only missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle is a Torres goal or three. He was very unlucky not to get two penalities and as for Lampards Goal....that should have been Torres. Sooner rather than later that boy is going to go a goal run, and after the earlier game in the season, he was one player I was glad wasn't playing. I am only hoping that in either the cup game, or return PL game he doesn't find his scoring boots. Cahill a very good signing for you.