After our win against Sunderland and Arsenal dropping points to Swansea our odds on finishing in the top 4 have shortened in our favour. Don't think Arsenal are good enough they concede far too many goals most in the premier league and have lost 7 games away from home. Chelsea should be more consistent from now on. Also we should look to score a second goal killing the game off rather than defending 1 nil leads. The problem Chelsea have is that with Drogba on ACON duty and Torres off form scoring wise, I can't see where the goals will come from upfront. I will be happy if Chelsea finish 4th this season anything more will be a bonus. AVB has a tricky situation. Will a creative midfielder be key or buy a striker this January?
Think Hazard and De Bruyne will be good buys in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Hazard on the right, like you say Mata in the hole with De Bruyne on the left which allows Torres to play as a loan striker as he dosen't play well with another striker.
I wouldn't touch De Bruyne with a barge pole based on his two crap performances against Chelsea in the group stages. The Belgian league is worse than the SPL and even Lukaku is struggle to make the grade in the first team squad.
De bruynes a bit like Charlie Adam - Average player but stands out in a **** team, main reason i don't want Neymar because the Brazillian league is a joke. What we need is Modric
What about Hamsik instead? Heard that he is interested in playing in England and would consider a move to Chelsea.
I think we're fine without buying a creative midfielder if we play Mata in the center. Romeu has a creative quality in him found in most Spanish youngsters who have trained a Barca. Him and Ramires behind a 3 of Sturridge on the right, Mata in the center, a new left winger and Mr Torres . However if AVB isn't planning on changing the formation, I'd go for Moutinho .
Ramires has been ****ing quality playing out on the right though lately, maybe he could switch to the left? or sturridge could?
Spurs have a very tough run of games now (City away, Wigan, Liverpool away, Newcastle, Arsenal away, United!).
Man Utd have a tough month as well! Spurs have a nice cushion from 5th now so bring it on City have a pretty straightforward run of games after sunday so they could be out of sight by March
I think we can do top 3 Spurs have to have a dip in form some time....starting Sunday when they go to City
Put me down for a creative midfielder as well. Torres is starting to look the goods, and will surely start putting them away. Sturridge has been scoring for fun, Ramires is getting better and better, ditto Romeu, Meireles is a very good reliable player and even Lamps looks as if he's stopped sulking and is getting stuck in. Add Mata to the mix , in the middle behind Torres, we look pretty good. However Moutinho or Hamsik would up the ante a tad. Can't beat sheer class.