But Gomes Walker Dawson King Assou-Ekottou Sandro Huddlestone Modric Bale Van der Vaart Adebayor Corluka, Gallas, Kaboul, Kranjcar, Lennon etc as well is really quite close in terms of quality
No but you haven't got Ade yet for a start and whilst that is a good team on papers, I would seriously only take Modric and Bale into our starting 11 (especially given King's injury record). Whilst the 2 sides would be close in a one off match, over the course of the season i'd be suprised if you were near us. Also I think VDV is a fine player but wouldn't fit into our system.
Cech - Probably the best keeper in the Prem. Ivan - nothing special Luiz - Jury still out, goes missing at crucial times Alex - again, not a bad player, but, nothing exceptional Cole - currently the best LB in the Prem, maybe the world Essien - very good player - if you can keep him fit for more than 5 minutes! Ramieres - seems to be improving, but still a bit of hot-head Josh? Sturridge - Good striker. Wouldn't mind having him at Spurs Torres - What's to say. I used to really rate him. But, at the moment, he's the world's most expensive statue Malouda - Good Player on his day However, I still think at least 4-5 of our first x1 would get into your team. The difference will be in what Abramovich is prepared to spend to patch up your ageing squad.
Probably a bit harsh here and there NSIS, but I'd suggest that there's not £100m+ worth of yearly wages difference there. Chelsea are still a step ahead of us, in my opinion, but the spending difference between them and us is bigger than that of us and Hearts. Not great value, for me.
Entirely disagree. I don't rate half of that team, above. Essien is always injured. Torres is currently the world's most expensive statue. Out of that team I would only take a fit Essien, Cole, Sturridge and Torres - if he ever rediscovers where the goal is.
If 5 players could get into our starting 11 that would surely mean we are about equal yet our league positions last season (and beyond) would suggest otherwise. And remember this team doesn't feature 4 of our best players who we still have 2-3 years to replace if need be. Modric would replace one of our midfielders and Bale would get in as a wide player. Who else though? Our defence was best in the league last year so I certainly wouldn't change any of them 5 (including cech).
I wouldn't entirely disagree and I still think we need one of two signings of the creative type to really push on. However I think time will show that Luiz, Ramieres, Lukaku etc were very good signings. Torres maybe not because of the fee but if he plays like he did on Sunday for the rest of the season we will be a threat to anyone. Sometimes it takes the old guard to move on for other players to shine. Look how Rooney flourished when Ronaldo left, Fabregas and RVP when some of the invincibles left etc. Whilst Lampard and Drogba are in the team it will always be difficult for others to really shine through but they will at some point.
Chelsea look pretty strong to me. They had problems with some of their youth players last season, which resulted in a number of them refusing new contracts, as they felt they deserved first team money. That lead to them being sent out on loan, which cost the team in the first half of the season, as they weren't really prepared for it. They still need at least one more creative midfielder and possibly a winger, though Kakuta or Benayoun may see to that position. Cech's back-up is a little suspect, too. Other than that, they don't really have any holes in their squad. They'll be up there at the end, unless Villas-Boas can't handle the job.
Nope. Cudicini is now our third choice keeper, apparently. Did well when he was given a run at the end of the season, but had a couple of dodgy performances in the pre-season games.
Well, for starters, Sandro would almost certainly replace Essien, who is never fit. I would give Walker the nod at RB. Adebayor (assuming we get him) would get the nod over Sturridge. If you say VDV doesn't fit your system - ok. I could also make a case for Lennon, but that'a close call.
Sandro?!?1 He'd be about 4th choice holding midfielder for us let alone ahead of Essien. Walker would get nowhere near the RB slot with Ivan and Bosingwa in our squad. These are established and experienced international players. Walker has a long way to go yet. Sturridge will play wide for us, no way Ade could play that role and he wouldn't get in our side as the lone striker ahead of Drogba, Torres or Anelka. I can still only really see a case for Modric and Bale and even Bale would be subject to him being able to play in a forward 3 as he wouldn't oust our LB. I guess it's all opinions though.
Of course it's all opinions. In my view Sandro has turned into one of the very best holding midfielders around. I should also point out that Walker is on the verge of becoming England's regular RB. I would play him ahead of either of your two. You don't always play a lone striker, you started with two in many games last season. In which case, I maintain Ade would get the nod to partner either Torres or Drogba.
Because personally, I don't care about either of them. Neither do I consider them to be serious rivals to Spurs. Chelsea, on the other hand......
Sandro and Walker are good players with bags of potential. But they have yet to perform consistently at the level of the players you are comparing them with. Sandro for instance can't get into the Brazil squad despite playing in Brazil before signing for you. Rameires on the other hand is a regular for Brazil. Has Walker even been capped for the senior side yet?? If we played 2 up top I still wouldn't have Ade but I'd be tempted with either Anelka or VDV playing with Drogba or Torres.
He's two years younger, almost to the day and he plays a different role altogether. Ramires is definitely not a holding player.
Exactly. Sandro's rival in that place would be Lucas. Walker may not have a full cap, yet. But, he very soon will have - with, I suspect, many more to follow.
