Loftus cheek can back up Matic And Traore can back up LB. they are not on loan. Agree that we have stood still this summer which is a mistake, but how else can youth get a chance? It seems we are interested in Rahman at LB and Stones at CB too. Also I haven't seen City or United play this season. They have bought players and, of course, as big clubs they are always contenders, but what is it in particular that impress you about City and United, CP?
Agree with this. United have strengtened midfield but apart from Rooney there is nobody that stands out up front. As for their defence, well nothing has changed. City have bought Sterling and Delph. Would either of them get into our team? I must say that selling Luis is a mistake IMO but maybe Jose is looking at giving youth a chance in Traore. Who knows? We haven't improved the squad though and that's a worry, especially with Europe in mind. The squad is very shallow and we rely on luck with injuries to get by.
Looks like we may still get Rahman. I think our main problem Could be Belng over reliant on Hazard. I'd love Chelsea to have another creative player on the opposite side or an explosive Bale, Schurrle type who can get goals too
Schurrle was a player I rated highly and another one I don't understand us selling. I'd have him over Cuadrado anytime. He'd get goals as well.
Just comming in as an outsider, does it not look to Chelsea fans that Mourinho doesnt look happy? Whenever i have seen him in interviews or on the touchline, he looks slightly depressed/stressed. I worry for chelsea this season, a tough start and not a single win in 90 mins during pre-season. No one knows how long Costa will be out for and his always an injury risk, i just think you look a completely different side without him
Yup, a bizarre move for sure. I understood Mata going, to a degree (though selling him to Utd I don't understand), but selling Schurrle was stupid. I considered him our second best AM after Hazard to be honest. Willian has improved and I think is one to keep but, Salah and Cuadrado are pretty turd. Am willing to give Cuadrado another half season at least, to let him adapt and bed in, but it doesn't look promising. The fact that we have had to bring back ****ing Moses as well! The ****? Now we heard all these reports about how Chelsea will be able to spend X amount in the summer, and how we are fine with FFP. So why no new players? Is it a managerial choice, or has Roman pulled the purse strings tight? To be fair, even though people WUM us about it a lot, not spending money is NOT Jose's usual MO at all, especially not when he is at a club that HAS money. So what's happening. I am not asking for United level spending of £100m+ each window, but our squad could do with slight improvements and more depth if we want to challenge for the PL and CL.
Yeah we definitely seem to be going backwards with regards to Moses etc. We don't need to spend 100m but just a couple of signings a year to keep the squad fresh. Using Zouma as a LB? Wtf is that all about.
Thats what I mean. When it gets to the stage that you are using players out of position, and recalling really mediocre players from loan you had obviously originally intended to flog, and have players of the quality of Salah, Cuadrado, Ramires, Falcao and Mikel in your squad when you have recently sold players of the calibre of Lukaku, De Bruyne, Mata, Cech and Schurrle. It does raise eye brows. (And yes I know selling Lukaku and Cech were kinda out of Jose's hands, I am just saying).
You never know whether Jose is happy or not to be fair. He comes across as happy in interviews I have seen though. I never take a lot of notice of results in friendlies and I hate the trips to the US etc. The players look leggy when they return and travelling through so many time zones must take its toll. Costa is a worry though and Falcao is a huge gamble. Time will tell I suppose.
Exactly. I know we sold Cech to Arsenal as a gesture for his services to the club but we have improved their defence massively for them. Being fair, I never thought Lukaku was at the level required to play for us. Just my opinion.
Not as our first choice striker no, I agree. But as back up yeah, and I know thats precisely why he wanted to leave. My point was just that we have sold some decent players in recent history yet still have a lot of duds in our squad.
I agree. We've sold some very good players recently. The dead wood still seems to be hanging around. Moses, Mikel etc. Thought I read somewhere that Mikel wanted out at the end of last season.
If we get Stones and Rahman they're going to cost us almost 50M and neither of them will start, unless we decide to go with Stones over Cahill. We've always done well getting defenders in who haven't cost loads. Ivanovic, Azpi & Cahill were all under 10M. Even before that Gallas didn't cost much and neither was Cole (although i know he was already proven in this league). We're such a good defensive side and we have the best defensive manager around IMO so we don't need to be spending ridiculous amounts on players who wont make the starting XI. We obviously have money to spend hence the Stones bid but for me our biggest problem is finding somebody to partner Matic and that's what we should be spending money on. We need a couple more defenders but not at the prices above. Costa's hamstring is now a bit of a worry and Falcao is a big gamble which if it doesn't pay off, only leaves us with Remy so i do wonder if we might be on the look out for another striker. As for Traore covering Left Back, he can't. He'll have gained absolutely nothing from the experience against Fiorentina. The guy scores almost 20 goals on loan in a decent league so we put him at ****ing left back in a friendly? We don't look prepared at all but god i hope i'm wrong.
In this day and age and is this league I just dont think the same starting XI can win the league twice in a row, especially with the cracks that have blatantly been left unaddressed. I hope I am wrong though. Sure the squad may have stability and come out even better next season, but they look a bit disinterested, and lots of the fanbase are bricking themselves. There really doesn't seem to be much optimism which is worrying. I think it may be an overreaction but I can see why these feelings are coming about with the other teams having strengthened and our preseason having being shockingly bad. I am quietly optimistic, but nowhere near how I felt last season. I know its a common saying now but if Matic goes, or Fabregas or god forbid Hazard we really will be in trouble - we already look toothless without Costa. One thing I will guarentee is that our defence will be shown up. Got away with a lot last season. I hope we get Stones, and eventually move Azpi over to the right.
United were poor in midfield and have addressed those positions. They have bought Pedro who can score, and they have bought in the dutch defender. City have also bought to cover their weaknesses. I think Utd will be the big movers , and give us plenty to worry about. City when they get shot of the dope who manages them, will be almost unbeatable, and if Guardiola really is next in line, then look out. We have done bugger all about our weaknesses, which are, as I see it, a fit and proper striker, some power and drive in midfield like Essien and Ballack gave us, a left back and a back up left back, a young powerful and attack minded defender. Matic does half the work for the back 4 and we are sunk without him. We once had Dessailly, Le Boueff, Gallas, Le Saux, Carvallho, all good defenders who would and could attack and play would often start from there. Zouma has a go but stops at the half way line, the rest can defend but not attack except speed down the lines, where virtually all our attacks come from.. Our only serious goal threat is Hazard or Costa when fit. Willian is mostly piss and wind with little final reward, as is Rambo, Cuadrado and Moses. I hope Oscar and Cuadrado improve this season which is very possible. We are too predictable and struggle to break down defences because our attack is one dimensional. So while we have remained static, Utd and City and Arsenal have all improved. By how much is the big question.
Getting 1 or 2 solid squad additions would do us wonders. United were so lucky last year to finish in top 4. They will be in dog fight with City / Pool for 4th. Manny getting 1 year extension shows how poor City will be under him this season.
