I've not been impressed with Chelsea's signings so far. Sure they have the ability to come good but I think the jury's definitely out on whether Costa will be a hit or become another striker who's reputation plummets at Chelsea. Signing Fabregas was funny because it pissed off the Goons but I don't see the sense in it, Mourinho has been squeezing the creative players out or molding them into work horses and Fabregas isn't going to give their defence the protection he wants and if he's pushed higher up the pitch then where does that leave Oscar? All he's done there is upset the balance in his team or added more expensive depth in attack from what I can see. As for City, last season they had the best first 11 in the league, the best squad by a mile and played the best football but they only just won the title, thanks to favours by Chelsea and Palace. If the players they're buying are worth the money then fair enough but the liklihood is their value is inflated and won't actually improve them much, if at all. With Arsenal, I still see a lot of gaps in their squad and a dearth of quality in defence. There is lots of quality in midfield and attack, however but even still, I expect Arsenal's season will be defined by the fortune/misfortune they have with injuries. Even if you add in Bender/Khedira and Debuchy they'll be significantly weakened. At the moment their second 11 is ????; Jenkinson, ????, Vermaelen(?), Monreal; Flamini, Arteta; Chamberlain, Wilshere, Podolski; Sanogo. Chelsea and City could probably put together better 3rd choice sides. Keep Ozil, Sanchez, Ramsey, Koscielny and Mertesacker fit, however and they could be challenging for the title. I'm not saying it's likely that any of them will drop out of the top 4 but I do think it's very possible that they won't be the shoo-ins people expect.
I don't rate Costa as highly as others but I still think Chelsea have the solid foundations to maintain their title challenge. They've got arguably the best defence in the league which will be strengthened by Filipe Luis's potential arrival, with players like Hazard, Oscar, Shirley, amongst others there's enough creativity and goal threat there and then it just requires a striker to also chip in. They could add another striker too as Eto'o is gone, Lukaku and Ba both seem to want out and I'd be surprised if Torres sticks around to play second fiddle. City just seem to always be there or thereabouts now thanks to the Sheikh. A team that has a base of Kompany, Yaya and Aguero, along with about another £250m worth of talent can never really be ruled out, they remain my favourites for the League this season. Mangala is a good CB so you could see a very solid pairing with him and Kompany, Fernando will add a bit of extra quality in midfield albeit likely to play back up to Yaya and Fernandinho but I just don't really see an actual weak point in the City side. Their 2nd string side could probably give a good challenge for a top 6 position. Arsenal I think have an underrated side, Mertesacker and Koscielny are a very good pairing, Debuchy isn't a bad full back and I think playing in a better side we'll see more of his capabilities, Gibbs is injury prone but good when he plays but it's their midfield that is their strongpoint in my opinion. Arteta and Flamini have the experience, you have the pace and skill of Walcott and Oxocube, Ozil on his day is probably the best number 10 (won't be for longer once Eriksen improves ), Ramsay had a great season either side of his injury and Sanchez is an awesome signing. Giroud will get you 10-15 goals which isn't terrible if not ideal for a top 4 side. Donkey face Chesny is the only player I think isn't good enough, he can pull off some decent saves but his concentration is poor and he's too inconsistent, if Arsenal signed a new keeper and possibly a world class striker I think they can be a real force, especially if they add Khedira to their ranks too. The second string you mentioned I don't think is all bad, the only poor players in my opinion are Monreal and Sanogo, the rest as back ups would get into most first teams from about 8th or 9th downwards I'd say.
I wasn't saying any of them couldn't challenge or even win the league, I was just talking about potential weaknesses. With City, they were better on paper last season than they were on the pitch. If Kompany and Aguero put their injuries behind them then I think that could be the catalyst that pushes them on to be the team they should be but it's far from certain. Can't say I remember ever seeing the two players they've signed, maybe they will do well, maybe they won't. The point I was making with Arsenal is that their squad has got a long way to go, even if you include 2 transfers that are expected. I'd also add that Wenger tries to make players play his way, if he insists on making Ozil come deep and doesn't let Sanchez play his natural game then it's a waste of £75mill to buy them.
Chelsea have signed left back Felipe Luis from A Madrid. Thats their tactic sorted for next season, Luis crosses for Costa.
Someone on Twitter posted what their team will look like so far, completely forgot they'd signed Fabregas! ****ing hell they're looking strong.
Mourinho is under pressure as he has to win the title or CL next season or at the very minimum miss out by their skin of their teeth and then without any leeway has to win the CL or Premier league the following year with no fall back to give him more time and he knows that himself.
I think with the squad they now have, a trophy is a must and like you say, I think that trophy needs to be the title or the CL. They've spent about £84m on three players, plus Courtois, Zouma and Lukaku returning from loans (even if the latter one may leave) they have significantly improved what was already a strong side.
"I think with the squad they now have, a trophy is a must and like you say, I think that trophy needs to be the title or the CL." Isn't that the target nearly every year ?? Jose got some "old boy" leeway last season IMHO.
Yeah definitely got leeway and that's why I think it's a necessity more so than a target now. Anything less than a fantastic season with the players he has will be an utter failure.
Not true. He donated it to local Brazilian charities to pay for children's surgeries, increasing it as Germany progressed. He did refuse to shake a FIFA official's hand over his support for Israel, though. The Algeria squad did donate their winnings to charities in Gaza.
A nice gesture (which he can easily afford) but a sad indictment of affairs. Wonder how much the Brazillian Government spent on this orgy of kicking a leather bag around and how many operations on children they could have paid for with it instead.......
Ba is on the verge of joining Besiktas. Debuchy has completed his move to Goonland. Ferdinand's completed his medical at QPR. West Ham have signed Enner Valencia. Napoli have signed Michu on loan. One Direction aren't buying Doncaster.
Please don't mention them on here. I don't mind saying that I was so incensed I was moved to swear. Stupid-haired little t**ts F***ing sacrilege!
I don't mind Levy not spending, provided that he makes it clear to us fans that Poch won't get the sack when, inevitably, we struggle to make top 6.
Bloody hell, we haven't even played a pre-season game and they're already dropping like flies: Sandro and Chiriches left out of the squad for the pre-season tour with a virus and a lower back complaint respectively, joining malaria victim Adebayor.
If genuinely a virus, then that's nothing to worry about. If he is available when they get back, then no problem. However I wonder if it is a diplomatic injury?
