A new article just out from Chelsea states that Jose is buying and selling players in order to build for the future. In his words to complete the puzzle sooner rather than later without focusing on immediate successes in particular competitions. These certainly are the right noises and there definitely seems to be some method behind the madness. What was the most important, at least in the eyes of Chelsea fans, was this section: 'I want to bring in another two because I like to work with a squad of 22 players. These two will be Academy players, that's the way we're going to do it now in order to open the door for them.' So it seems that the youth at Chelsea, at least in theory, will be getting the chance to progress to the first team and something that should be causing a great deal of excitement. Not only in the ranks of Chelsea fans, but also in the academy. They know if they perform they will get their chance, which will give them extra incentive to stay and work hard. Read the article in full here: http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3636609/title/mourinho-puzzle-building What are your thoughts on this? Justification for the selling of top players or genuine improvement in direction of player development? KTBFFH!
I think he means 2 players from the Academy now not the current loanees who he can't recall. I would imagine Ake and Kalas.
Still think signing Zouma and Shaw would be beneficial to our long term planning. Especially with United circling the latter. There is not a player ready for our first team squad yet in our academy, the ones who are are out on loan
They never will be if they don't get the chance. We moan about not giving them a chance and now when we are going to we start moaning that they aren't ready. Sorry but you can't have it both ways.
All I hope is that he is good at puzzles as we hear from so many managers about 'building a team for the future' , sacrificing competitions etc, They have to realise as supporters we are with our team for life, most of us (I think) don't want to lose a season or two with nothing to show for it whilst building, only to find these managers then move on when it doesn't work and another one comes in with a completely different idea and starts the rebuilding yet again, bringing in yet more new players while we sit around waiting for them to bond. As a supporter I just want to watch good games, with a cup/trophy here and there, and a couple of new players filling gaps when needed. Hopefully Jose intends to stick around for a long time to prove what he can do I do agree about the players coming up through the ranks, this has been something I have felt should have been happening for a long time now, and we have a lot of potential talent just waiting for their chance.
I don't want it both ways, but I also don't want players who are not ready being pushed into the squad. If Jose really had this stance then why let Piazon, Lukaku and Bertrand out on loan, when they are a) good enough b) prepared for top flight football and c) ready. Kalas and Ake have hardly touched our first team squad. They should have been the ones playing out on loan at other Premier league teams. We could have loaned Ake to Villa instead of Bertrand, there would be no doubt of Bertrand being able to play for Chelsea if we had injuries and Ake would get valuable game time experience, with his mistakes due to his age, if any, unlikely to affect our title chances. Ba hardly gets used and now Torres is injured the Lukaku loan looks very stupid, as it has done all season. Jose, as much as I love the guy despite selling a star like Mata to one of the most hated teams in the league from a Chelsea fans standpoint, cannot be coming out with 'I will take players from the academy to make my squad 22 players' when at the beginning of the season he let several players who were better than ones in our original 22 out on loan. I just think the Mata money should continue to be invested, are we to believe that only by keeping the Mata money can we comply with FFP. 54m raised in January with only 33 of it spent. Jose said that no players in or out in this window in January and we have lost 4 with two coming in.
Ake is one of them, that's why Bertrand has gone to Villa cause Jose has Ake down to cover Left Back aswell as Centre Back. Not sure who the other is but you're probably right with Kalas. Actually could be Lewis Baker. Been on the bench a couple of times and got 5 minutes against Derby. Hope it is.
Not likely to happen though is it ? Unless we have no choice (no money or relegated); last player to come through our ranks has been JT a sure sign that short-termism and loan deals have and will always be the preferred option. Furthermore, I dare say that in the current regime of FFP Mata won't be the last quality player we pass on to a domestic rival in order to balance the books.
I'm probably one of very few but i hope Shaw stays at Southampton, or even signs for United. Absolute no need for him, Bertrand (as i often say) is more than good enough and PVA is looking like an excellent player. Yes, i know it's the dutch league but he's playing a massive part in the recent success of Vitesse and i'm hoping it's not gone unnoticed.
All we can do is hope that he sticks to what he said. I don't think Mata was passed on to balance the books I think he was pushed out because he didn't suit.
Less than a week ago Jose also said Mata is not for sale. Never believe what he says, only what he does.
Bang on !!! And there's quite a few others as well. The kids who play in Joses team will fly in on the pigs back.
Jose is hardly going to say "yes, Mata is for sale, he doesn't suit the way we're trying to play and I hope to offload him in the near future" is he!
I think he threw me completely as in the way he worded it then (although I can't remember exactly what he said) . As said before a very clever man with his words. We sometimes read into things how we want them to be I suppose.
