He does a job yes. But we need to keep in improving every year, our performances in the CL showed that. And he is the one spot in our squad where I think great improvement could be made. And that spot next to Matic is the one spot where I think we could greatly improve. Mikel is okay, but slow and Lazy. Ramires can run all day but cannot pick a pass to save his life and has little skill on the ball. Osar is wasted there as he likes to be further forward. and if we play Cesc there it leaves our defence vulnerable as he will not get back to defend. Thats the one spot where we do not have a player of World class quality who is suited in that position, and is the position I singled out last season as the one that needs filling. I am surprised greatly that Jose hasn't noticed this. Signing Begovic and Falcao to replace Cech and Drogba was all well and good, decent like for like replacements. But that doesnt really improve our team's quality, only maintains it. City and United have both improved, especially United midfield, though i think its a season too early for them to make a title challenge. Arsenal have strengthened their weakest position (GK) with a world class player and will no doubt make a signing or two before season starts. Its already been reported that Wenger has been given a huge kitty to spend on one or two great players. We need to bring something out the hat. I just want one signing, a £40m player who will come in and play there. Our net spend is 0 so far, Falcao was a loan deal and Begovic was £8m, and we got £8m for Thorgan. I know with FFP we are tightening the belt, but a 0 net spend?!
Bodanki I'm certainly not saying that Mikel pulls up trees every game, it's just that he seems to have got the same reaction from the fans (me included) the whole time he has been at Chelsea. Clearly, whatever our thoughts are/have been, successive managers have been more than happy with him. I agree that although we looked good last season, with everyone else improving their 11/squads, we do need to make some progress. We certainly don't need to go and get 5/6 players, but 2 or so would be great. I can see the Stones deal happening at some point. I think someone like Verratti, would be excellent for many years to come (he and Matic would be outstanding) and I guess that another forward may be coming?? As you say, we can't stay still, especially if we fancy a run at both the Premier and Champions Leagues!
I have to admit I'd be surprised to go into the season having not spent anything. We've sold Hazard and Cech and brought in Begovic and Nathan for similar money. We may even be up money wise. Couple that with players like Moses and Mikel, even Cuadrado (I know it's early) and Ramires looking like they'll be in this season's squad and it very much looks like a case of standing still. May be OK for the premier league, though others are improving on paper at least. We are however well off looking serious contenders in Europe and will continue to sit in the next tier of European clubs like say PSG and A Madrid etc behind the big 3 for next season without 1 or 2 top line signings IMO. The squad is generally in good shape but this should be the year to blood a couple of youngsters, bring in a couple of top level players who can go straight into the first team and move on a lot of the fringe players who aren't going to make a big enough impact. I've nothing per se against say Mikel, but his place in the squad just means it'll be even harder for RLC to break in. Signings wise I think Hummels and Koke would have been realistically get able without massive investment. Could have used Luis as a sweetener as well.
Yeah I forgot about the £10m we got for Cech and the £4m we spent on Nathan. So so far we are actually £6m in profit In: Nathan £4m Begovic £8m Falcao (Loan) Total: £12m Out: T Hazard £8m Cech £10m Drogba (Free) Total: £18m Yeah 6 mil profit
We've also signed Pantic but not sure what the fee was. Can't imagine it's more than 6m though. Was Kennedy signed in the last window officially? Certainly a lot of kids bought to be sold on! I noticed yesterday Wallace has moved to a club on loan with an option to buy next season so he's another who literally never even trained with us from what I can tell!
Nah Pantic was free. He only had an 18 month contract with Partizan which he signed in December 2013, which means it would have expired this summer. So no fee. He was immediately loaned to Vitesse anyway and will most likely never even step foot in Stamford Bridge so I didn't count him.
Bet your wage bill has gone up somewhat. Falcao's salary is like a transfer fee (if reports are to be believed), and you aint getting any of that back.
Falcao will be on high money but nowhere near what he was on at United. Jose has confirmed that. His wages for the year will probably be about 8 million. Even an average top 4 player will be on half that. So even if the wage Bill has gone up, I don't think it'll be significant. I'm sure Begovic will be on a lot less than Cech was for instance.
Filipe Luis is gone now too, so lower wage bill and undisclosed fee into the kitty. Jose has said he wants to buy a replacement.
This means, for me, we need at least 2 signings, preferably 3. A CB (hopefully we get Stones), a LB, and a Midfielder.
KDB misses gaping goal with no pressure from Bayern defenders. No wonder City is not pushing ahead. Schurrle never makes starting 11 for Wolfsburg. Designated impact sub much.
Agreed. After all today KDB setup a crazy cross for 'Bendtner' to equalize at 90th min. Wolfsburg went on to win on pens. BTW - Neuver didnt guess not even 1 pen. He is special talent in assisting - but not at that price.
