In terms of Hulk, I cannot say too much as I have only seen him play once or twice, but from what I have seen and read about him, he doesnt seem to be the player we need.
He's not a striker though. Imo, we need a striker (Costa), Left back (Shaw) and a deep lying playmaker (??) to play next to Matic.
In terms of strikers, keep Eto'o, bring back Lukaku + get one. Sell Torres/Ba. Lukaku + new as 1st/2nd choice (depending on opposition/rotation), Eto'o as back-up. Eto'o more likely to be satisfied with that, than Torres or a 2nd purchase. Was watching CTV last night and they did a bit on hat-tricks. Saw a number from a variety of individuals, but if we had a Jimmy-F-H equivalent - someone who could score for fun, that would be handy. Don't need a silky skilled player there (we have enough of them), just someone who is able to get into great positions and score regularly - or at least hit the target and force saves/blocks from the keeper.
I know. He's a wide forward who strikes a lot. Not saying I like him, just that despite all the Jose PR about changing our style, playing high line etc... He basically likes power and pace: Hulk gives that. Jose could probably convert him into a striker anyway. But obviously given a choice: Costa. Plus shaw and Kroos
With the way we play and the attacking midfielders we have, the striker we sign needs to be one with power. Hulk does fit that bill, but all this rumour was about was he was in London for work, which could be anything such as sponsors. Ideally the striker situation is we ditch two and bring two back/in. Diego Costa would be a great signing if we can get him, bullish, poacher with a great work rate, that last part being a main reason Jose would love to get him. Lukaku should be given at least one season as a Chelsea player. He must know he won't start, but he is very young, he should know that he has ten years at the top still and should bide his time. If we signed Costa then he would have 3 maybe 4 years with us and then Lukaku would still only be in his mid 20s. And if he proved productive before that, he would surely muscle, pun intended, Costa out of the first choice role. As for ditching two, Eto'o has no value, but Torres and Ba do and neither will want to play 3rd choice next season. Eto'o could be persuaded however. I think we could fetch nearly 30m for Torres/Ba, which covers Costa. Luke Shaw has to be a certainty, he is a Chelsea fan, we need a left footed left back and he has potential to get bigger and better. I would hate to see us let a player who could become the next Gareth Bale slip through our fingers. If we had Azpi, Ivan and Shaw as 3 players covering the full back position, I would be extremely happy. Shaw would cost us around 20m, maybe more. But Shaw would be on about £50k a week, and we would save a mountain with Cole's contract not being renewed. As for midfield, Toni Kroos is possibly available, it makes sense, he has a lot of great attributes, but you know Jose will tweak him to an even more all round player. Lampard probably has one, maybe two more years left in him and Kroos would be the perfect eventual replacement. 20m again with his contract situation, but I would offset that by selling Mikel to Napoli or someone like that for about 10m, if we can get that. Plus we could fetch a decent amount for both Marin and Moses, who I don't think will be back in Chelsea colours next season. One final piece on the summer from me, and it is hard to write as I love this guy. Petr Cech, I am not sure what will happen with him, as I feel it is the right time to bring Courtois in, I hope Jose can work his magic to get both on board, but Cech has given us ten long successful years, will earn his testimonial and maybe given a chance to play somewhere else. He will always be a club legend, and ideally one more year co-appearing with Courtois would be excellent. But push comes to shove, Courtois has to be the man. He is the new, erm Cech!!!!! My squad for next season would be something like this GK : Courtois, Cech FB : Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Shaw CB : Terry, Cahill, Zouma DM : Matic, Van Ginkel, Ramires, Luiz, Lampard AM : Willian, Oscar, Schurrle, Kroos, Hazard, Salah ST : Costa, Lukaku, Eto'o Thats a 22 man squad, with 5 homegrown players in there including Lukaku, who I believe goes homegrown after his third season registered with us.
I think we'll keep Bertrand as he's good cover and English. Lampard will be gone imo. Kroos won't leave Bayern and if he does it will likely be to Real. Eto'o only had a 12month contract. We will keep Torres.
Cant disagree with any of this. I think there will be a couple of youngsters added to that squad as well. Maybe Piazon and Bertrand. I like Shaw a lot but it's a lot of money to spend on a left back when Azpi has been so good there and we have 2/3 good full backs out on loan as well. I note the comparisons to Bale but Bale only became Bale by playing left wing, not left back where he was average. We already have a world class left winger.
I like this team but i would quite like to see Bertrand in there too. Plus he's homegrown. I also think we'll bring in a Centre Back and Luiz will probably go to Barca, who we'll get I have no idea though but would be more than happy with that squad.
That's pretty much as I see it as well.Cole will need to be replaced, though Bertrand is fine in my opinion and apparently Patrick Van Arnhaldt is in fine form and improved out of sight. One of Chalobah or that young Brazilian on loan at Vitesse is worth a big look in midfield, Lamps is now at the point he needs to leave and enjoy his last year or so at a lower league in the US. Plenty of options, once we get a proper striker, and Costa is my choice, I think we have pretty good cover in the other thin areas. Question is, does Jose, and will he actually bring through any youngsters??
Lukaku is a much better option for you than Hulk, spend the money on Costa, Cavani or even Benzima they are all much better players than Hulk.
Hulk should be better than Nando and wouldn't take astronomical fees to get him. Could be a good backup striker / winger.
Please please please, not Hulk he's an above average player, but just doesnt have what we need. Goalmouth insticnts and a clinical finishing touch. Diego Costa for me with lukaku as back up and a youngster like bamford (or another cheap signee) on the periphery. when we have a real striker next year eto'os pretty poor offerings will really stick out, ew dont need him or his excessive wage bill. Finally unless cole does go, i really dont see the need for shaw. We seem to mostly agree daves playing really well there so i doubt he'd displace him. plus we have a VERY able deputy in ryan bertrand/PVA who simply haven't been given a chance. (slightly off topic here but does anybody else miss RDM's GENUINE disposition to play any player regardless of age or stature if he felt it was right???)
I just dont feel the same way TBH. hes scored two more goals than Nando has this season, which isn't saying a lot. He does have a great work rate but seems to have lost his poaching ability, and scores pretty lucky, scrappy goals these days. Furthermore, the days of judging a player on whether he's better than Torres have long gone, and i dont think any team in or around us (i.e City, Arsenal or Pool) would have somebody of Sam's calibre playing as their second choice striker. (maybe arsenal, but thats cos they're **** lol). Also getting him off the wage bill will help free up money to either keep on one of our old boys or make sure we can offer the best conditions to a shiny new striker. yum.
You can't compare out strikers anymore, Lukaku puts them all to shame given the right confidence and direction. Jose can't ignore the new age Drogba for much longer.
