With it looking increasingly like Jose is heading back I was looking at the current squad and thinking who could be on their way out to make way for a couple of Jose signings. In all likelihood we'll return to a more rigid 433. Defensively I think there won't be too many changes but how do we sort out the middle? Jose bought Mikel and I see him getting the nod as the centre of the 3. Ramires most likely the right side but who do we have for the left? Bertrand is probably the closest we have to what Jose would want. Then the front 3. Mata and Hazard for sure but they will have to play in a less fluid way than currently with Oscar. Whilst they will switch it will be much more Mata left and Hazard right. Then the striker. I don't see Jose wanting Ba,Torres or Lukaku so we'll probably buy there with Lukaku as back up I would hope. Can we off load Torres at his wage? Ba has been a total disappointment but we should get our money back. Not sure where Oscar would fit in. Marin likely off or loaned at least. Romeu as backup to Mikel or will Jose stick with Luiz. Essien will be back and Jose loves him. Moses? And Courtois and De Bryune. Seems there could be quite a lot of movement this summer if it is Jose.
I expect the two that Jose might bring with him could well be Alonso (paired with Oscar?) and Coentrao (LM/LB)...the latter would be a good long term replacement for Cole and fits with Jose bringing former players and especially Portugese ones. Another quite real possibility is Moutinho as a long term replacement for Lampard Wouldn't mind Rooney though, could be quite a partnership with Torres!
Agreed. I'd buy Shaw and loan back for a year. He'll then come in to fight with Bertrand in a year's time when Cole's out of contract. Will help with homegrown rule too.
We need a ballack-esq midfielder for Jose. out: marin, benayoung, Ivanovic (sorry, he's so overrated by majority of our fans), Torres and Ba. in: Lewandowski please, if not then I don't know. Rooney
I can see Cahill going to Liverpool if Mourinho doesn't rate him. It's hard to see who would stay and go, even ones that look like Mourinho players like Mikel might find themselves on their way out if he wants a better quality player. Anyway, it looks like it's going to be a very interesting summer across the board and hopefully a season to match.
be good to see him back in the premier league, but don't be so sure not until the deal is done. None of you will admit it but how many of you believed he could have gone to us when Fergie announced his retirement not so confident he was returning to Chelsea then were you
The only people I've seen question it have been Manu fans. We all knew he'd never go to that ****heap
I think all the out of contract players should be off, and Jose needs until Christmas to sort out some underperformers before showing them the door. Surely the last thing we need is loads of changes AGAIN !! The one thing I don't like about Jose is his not giving youth a chance.We have some stonking youngsters, built up over some time and it would be ridiculous to trash them all, as we so often do.
I wonder if any manager we've had since RA bought us has had any dicision making power on who stays or goes! Roman's mate who lurks deep in the background, Michael Emmanelo is the one who makes all those decisions!
Lots to naturally go (whoever comes in): Essien, Malouda, Benayfuckingyoun, Ferreira (served us well over the years, still making the bench even now) I can see Terry & Lampard getting the 1-year rolling contract (ala Giggs, Scholes) Torres/Ba being sold I'm more worried about some of the young potentials having no place, being pushed out: Lukaku, Josh Mc, DeBruyne, Piazon, Ake, Courtious. Will these guys (amongst others) get a chance. I would be totally satisfied with the "1st" team playing Premiership/European games and the next layer playing every Carling & FA Cup game. In essence, we have enough strength & depth in the squad with the exception of an out-and-out quality striker. I fear we'll end up losing some of the great youth talent we have.
i think Lukaku, Courtious and Cahill will stay and form the spine of the team agree that Lamps and JT will get 1 year rolling contracts
Dortmund's Gundogan would be my choice, either him or Axel Witsel/Vidal I would rather see Cahill sold than Ivanovic. Don't rate Cahill at all, I'm still amazed we kept a clean sheet against Barca with him at the back. Mourinho was the one that brought Mikel to the club and nurtured him. Definitely one of our better players on his day. I agree though it will be possibly the best Summer across the board, after the World Cup Next year prices are going to inflate massively and with FFP round the corner it's likely this will be the last Summer clubs can really splash out.
It's been known in some circles for ages. Nothing can be publicly announced until after the Europa and Copa Del Rey finals but all the Chelsea players and even some ex-players know as do some of the few journalists Mourinho trusts. I disagree with Jose not giving youngsters a chance. Mikel came in at 19 and was playing regularly, he's brought in Raphael Varane at 19 and used him regularly. When Jose was at Chelsea academy was poor and undergoing a massive rebuilding process. If players are good enough, he will use them and that's the way it should be IMO.
We all know Jose only likes quality Waitrose products, and Cahill, Marin and Ba aren't quite class A eggs I'm afraid. Cahill might be retained as squad filler, but our midfield is waay too competitive to carry Marin, and with Lukaku - a Jose-type player - banging loudly on the door making his case, I can't see us retaining Ba either - especially if we sign another striker. Chalobah is also a Mourinho-type player. I am convinced he will add more value than Mikel, and he could be our version of Varane - an 18/19 yr old making regular starts in a Jose Mourinho team. If not, then another loan spell - back to Watford if they succeed in promotion, or to a PL club if not. Eventually he will be brought back to challenge Mikel and Luiz for roles in midfield or defence - sooner rather than later one would hope Van Aanholt - being raved about in Holland and possible better than Bertrand. I'd bring him back and have both challenge for the left back spot, using Ashley Cole sparingly for the big match where experience - remember both can also play slightly higher up the (as we did against Bayern) if we need to be little bit more defensive. Ramirez - he's definitely a class A egg in his own way, but crucially his strength lies in his barnstorming surges forward - is this going to sit with Jose? Take that out of his game and he's a bit redundant in all honesty, so not sure. Luiz - I've posted in another article that Jose will have some problems with this player. He's brilliant, bordering on genius, but takes far too many risks in advanced positions. He's been doing much better recently and needs to learn to continue improving in that aspect. I hope Jose will continue to use him in both midfield and defence as tactics necessitate. In the absence of JT and Lamps - captain will be between Cech and Luiz. Cech - keep. No reason to get rid. Has responded to pressure, still one of the best in the world, has 10 years left in him at the top. Courtois - will have to bide his time I'm afraid, or we do a swap deal + cash for Falcao. Terry - will get an extension. Captain. Ivanovic- Will be kept for his ability to play both CB and RB at a high level, if nothing else Lampard - one year extension. Moses - will probably be kept to take the pressure off Hazard, Mata, Oscar - he's a very good squad player. Jose will work wonders for Hazard, as he did with Joe Cole. Piazon - still just turned 19. I think this kid will turn out better than Oscar, especially if he ever bulks up. Until then, loan - possibly Watford. Same goes for McEachran, another loan season - he has to a Premier League club and prove he can challenge for places. DeBruyne hope we bring him back to really put pressure on Hazard, Mata, Oscar, Moses. Wouldn't swap him for Schurle. That leaves Torres. As long as he keeps working hard, I think Jose will persevere.
Ivanovic has outstanding value as both CB and RB, selling him would be crazy (plus, he is a good goal threat at set pieces) If we got in Rooney (wants to move) and Xabi Alonso (end of contract next year, so would be cheaper than usual), we would win the Champions League next season, for sure: Rooney-Torres Hazard-Alonso-Oscar-Mata Cole-Luiz-Ivanovic-Azpil Cech
We're trying to build a team, and Alonso is the wrong side of 30. Besides, if Real Madrid succeed in landing Bale..... with him AND C.Ronaldo in the same team, you might as well wave goodbye to the champs league whoever you sign. If there is one thing that might pursuade JM to stay at Real is the possibility of playing both in the same team. Scary thought. EDIT: so lets just hope Spuds pip Arse into 4th - that way at least Bale might be better pursuaded NOT to go to Real, and Jose has LESS reasons to stay there.
