http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-...-team-even-if-they-claim-premier-league-glory Have to say, but I agree with everything this article says pretty much. I am not complaining too much, our problem last season was a lack of creativity and penetration in the final third and too a large degree that has been remedied with the acquisitions of Cesc and Costa. But if Costa, Fab, Willian and Hazard are going to be the attacking impetus, then things need to change in the midfield and defence before this team can rival the excellence of our 2005 title winning team, which was like a ruthless machine, swiping aside all comers. First of, and I mentioned this not so long ago in another thread. I think we should ditch the No.10 role completely and revert back to a 4-3-3 formation like that which Jose utilised in his first stint with us. A front 3 of Costa, flanked by Hazard and Willian. In midfield we need Matic, Fabregas and a new midfielder, one that will assist Matic with defensive duties but also help create attacking moves.....a box to box midfielder if you will. Fabregas, for all his innovation in creating goals, is as much use as a chocolate teapot defensively. I would like to see Pogba come and sit in a compact midfield 3 of he, Fab and Matic, and Khedira was mentioned too, if we can get him for free, I would certainly welcome that addition. Defensively, Cahill is very inconsistent, I am sorry, I know there is a 50/50 split on this board when it comes to Cahill, some like him, some dont. Problem for me, and for Chelsea, is that his concentration is also 50/50. I have seen him have some really good games, and I have seen him play like an absolute dope. He needs to cut this inconsistency out of his game sharpish. Zouma is on the fringes and is looking like he may be the business too.
Agree with much of this. I think we definitely need a midfield option and probably another centre half (either by promoting or buying). Zouma needs to be groomed especially with Terry getting older. Dream signings would be Hummels/Varane and Pogba/Verati in these roles I guess. Cheaper options would be Sneiderlin, Milner or Khedira for midfield. As I said on another thread, I'd love us to try and bring Bale back if we were to stick with our current system. Bale left, Hazard central, Willian right behind Costa. We may also have to let a few fringe players go to bring in some money and to allow players like Loftus Cheek, Ake, Bamford etc to be integrated into the squad proper. Obvious potential casualties being Moses, Salah, Mikel, Ramires, Drogba etc Squad management should never sit still and I'm sure the club are on it.
And no this is not a great Chelsea team. I think it is similar in quality to the 2010 double side (not as exciting to watch mind) but not yet on par with the 2004/06 Jose teams.
I've been critical of Cahill, but I've never said we should get rid, just he needed to be dropped for longer. People may hate it but JT had an awful run of form last season at one point and still got picked every game. It happens to all players at some point, the trick is how to stop the rot and not lose the player permanently .
I'll reserve judgement, but if we win the league as well as the league cup will pretty much a nil net spend, overall you'd have to say he's done the business.
Agree. Yes he smashed the league in his first season with us in 04/05 but people forget that Jose spent over £100m net that summer on Drogba, Robben, Cech, Carvalho etc and Ranieiri had spent over £150m net on players the season before that on Duff, Joe Cole, Veron, Makalele, Crespo etc, so our squad had had a **** load spent on it. This time around, Jose has spent next to nothing net wise on our squad. So it is a little unfair to compare in that respect.
Can't disagree with any of that really. We're a central midfielder, central defender and a full back short IMO. Even then our squad doesn't have much depth at all. I reckon we might see 4 or 5 new players in the summer.
I am of the opinion that Jose has not moved on, while the game has. You can't warm up old coffee is a well known fact. The increasing emphasis by Jose to draw rather than try and win, has cost us dearly ,especially in the CL. The way we showed we can play early season suggests it is the coaches instructions and tactics that have us playing the way we now are. Add to that poor subs, too little, too late, too often and playing the core players until they crock or run on empty, suggests to me the Manager has to have a good look at himself and where he's going. The majority of opinion on here says fans are less than impressed with the football and play, despite success. Jose has the skill, the experience and the knowledge to make this team anything. He just needs to forget his win- lose records and put the team 1st.
CP - cant agree more. Jose is the best manager in the world - but perhaps he lost his edge a little due to no title in the last 2 years? He is being overly cautious like last season.. That mentality is good only to get 2nd or 3rd place. Compared with last season, we have a great team; end of!
http://www1.skysports.com/football/...n-may-leave-southampton-if-top-four-bid-fails Would be a cheaper option than Pogba and P.L proven.
Not too bothered by this. Ake isnt going to get any game time with us in the last 9 games this season, we are at the business end of the season and with Cahill, JT and Zouma ahead of him in the pecking order, is it really a good time to throw a kid in at the deep end? At least he will play at Reading and may be ready to step up next season. Me personally, I would love to dump Cahill and get Hummels and go with JT, Zouma, Hummels and Ake as our 4 CB's next year. Flog Cahill partly because we could get decent cash for him (ffp) and partly because he is inconsistent. Though I suspect we will keep Cahill. I just wish he played as well as we know he can, all the time, and not just when he feels like it.
A new midfielder is a must next season. Arguably the only area we really need to prioritise. Pogba would be ideal but oh so unlikely. With that said I am firmly in the drop Cahill camp. I doubt we'd get rid but this guy never was and never will be a top class defender. Put in some great shifts for us but he is scary to watch these days. Zouma all the way for me.
I'd chuck all of Cahill, Ramires, Mikel and Oscar out but we won't do that all in a season. Centre Midfield is priority IMO followed by Centre Back.
