Hi all, I haven't posted on a forum for a while (since 606 was closed) so bare with me! Just wanted to put my thoughts accross about the upcoming season and beyond and see what you guys think. Firstly; I'd like to share my opinion as to what next seasons squad should look like with an example of a starting XI. Cech Turnbull Hilario New RB Hutchinson Ivanovic Terry Luiz Cahill Cole Bertrand New CM Lampard Romeu Mikel McEachran Ramires New RW Mata Marin Hazard DeBruyne Torres Sturridge Lukaku Thats 25! And would involve selling/releasing; Drogba, Kalou, Bosingwa (already gone), Essien, Malouda and Ferreira. Thats got to be knocking on £450k off the wage bill and a couple of ££ in transfer fees (maybe enough for Hazard's weaker foot!). The other option would be to keep Essien, Malouda and maybe Ferreira as back up and send McEachran, Hutchinson and DeBruyne out on loan? With players such as; Billy/Connor Clifford, Todd Kane, Lucas Piazon, Gael Kakuta, Tomas Kalas, Jeffrey Bruma, Thibaut Cortois, Jamal Blackman, Ulises DaVilla, Patrick Bamford, Adam Philip, Rohan Ince, Nathan Chabolah, Aziz Deen-Conteh, Milan Lalkovic etc... being used in Carling Cup games.... sorry capital one cup games!! And perhaps *touch wood* CL group games after we've qualified! I don't know too much about these players yet, so I'd be interested in your thoughts on their future's, immediate and long term. As for the 'New RB, CM and RW' which I've mentioned in my squad; I'd like to see Maicon (which looks likely and could be good if one of the younger lads is 1 or 2 years away from breaking through) or Micah Richards or Piszczek. I'd go for Modric, Moutinho or even maybe Joe Allen. And I'd be happy with any of the names which we've been linked with for the RW/CF positions; Hulk, Walcott or Moses. And finally my starting XI (based on what we have right now) Cech Ivanovic Luiz Terry Cole Mikel Lampard Ramires Mata Hazard Torres Let me know what you think......
My ideal starting team for next season would be: Cech Maicon Terry Cahill/Luiz Cole Lamps Ramires Hulk Mata Hazard Torres Now that is a class team!
I know Lukaku is destined for a season long loan somewhere! I also am guessing that we may have different back up for Cech as well!
Even without a new striker, or central midfielder, without Hulk, we still have a pretty good looking squad.Would love to see a Modric, Moutinho type of playmaker, as I think that could make all the difference to our forwards. Either way, it looks like we have lots of options this year with Hazard and Marin
Think your first 11 (if there is such a thing anymore) is pretty much spot on. I'm expecting Mata wide and Hazard in the middle though.
Quite frankly all the posters above should be embarrassed with their lack of knowledge @ Courtois! Played 37 games for Atletico Madrid and kept a clean sheet in the Europa League final as they won 3-0. One of the PL's future GK superstars without a doubt...
And still very young. Will be great to get him to the Bridge ,hopefully end of next season. Wish all our youngsters on loan were at such a good club, playing regularly and learning, which I understand is the whole point of a loan.
And your point is what exactly???? Courtois has agreed a loan for next season so clearly won't be part of next years squad.
Quite frankly Cech was outstanding last season, and personally I see little reason for talking about his replacement just yet. He has been an integral part of our recent success, and is a club legend in my eyes.
These 2 loan spells for Courtois mean we've just about recouped the fee he cost too. More good work towards FFP.
Really?? If so, great bit of business as he'll be an even better keeper with more experience when he returns (arrives!).
Bonetti was brilliant and would've won 50-60 caps had it not been for Banks. He was hung out to dry by Ramsey in Mexico where Ramsey found the perfect scapegoat for his own stupidity!
Hard to compare. Bonetti was fabulous to watch, he really did move like a cat, and his style was really exciting . He LOOKED as if every save was a match winner. Czech is less flamboyant, but equally effective, and maybe, just maybe, is a better all round keeper ,but there's bugger all in it for mine.
