Chelsea thread 2012/2013 season

[Danamy]

Doubt they'll win the League with Di Matteo in charge.

Missed this whilst typing, my thoughts exactly.......

See I think the opposite, if they keep him, I think they'll win it, if not they might struggle.

The only way he'll stay is if Red Rom's targets shy away, the Chelsea old guard have already stated they want Di Matteo in charge because they can play him like a puppet.

Believe me when i say Di Matteo hasn't got the rocks to clear out and rebuild Chelsea, it needs someone with thick skin and has the same vision to be backed by Red Rom.

AVB went in to that job with a vision but wasn't backed upstairs once he started ruffling feathers, he is and will be a good manager somewhere else soon that shares his thoughts.

 

[Castiel]

The thing is Castiel although you've purchased a cracking player in Hazard i personally think that your spending big and strengthening in the wrong areas.

Terry getting slower on a weekly basis
Cole relied on too much
Need holding midfielder
Striker to replace Drogba (Hulk hot favourite)

What do you think?

We got Cahill and Luiz to replace Terry and Carvalho respectively. Cole has a season or so left in him but Bertrand has been a revelation at LB. Mikel is starting to mature into an impressive player and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Romeu has also looked assured with Barcaesque passing before his injury.

Striker is a position I'm concerned about though. We have needed width and creativity for a long time now. Since we sold Robben in fact, so I'm delighted that we're finally going for the Mata's and Hazard's of the world. We've been relying on Drogba for years, except that one season that Malouda was great in.

 

[Matty]

The thing is Castiel although you've purchased a cracking player in Hazard i personally think that your spending big and strengthening in the wrong areas.

Terry getting slower on a weekly basis
Cole relied on too much
Need holding midfielder
Striker to replace Drogba (Hulk hot favourite)

What do you think?

We got Cahill and Luiz to replace Terry and Carvalho respectively. Cole has a season or so left in him but Bertrand has been a revelation at LB. Mikel is starting to mature into an impressive player and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Romeu has also looked assured with Barcaesque passing before his injury.

Striker is a position I'm concerned about though. We have needed width and creativity for a long time now. Since we sold Robben in fact, so I'm delighted that we're finally going for the Mata's and Hazard's of the world. We've been relying on Drogba for years, except that one season that Malouda was great in.

If you don't address the right fullback spot I'd be astounded. Bosingwa is gone, Ferreira is out the door, and not very good. Ivanovic is a decent player, but I'd wouldn't have thought he was the best you could do, and what do you do if he's injured or suspended? Chelsea, as many have realised, have a generally quite old squad. Cole, Terry, Cech, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Ferreira, Ivanovic and Mereilles are all 28 or older. Even for someone with Abramovich's wealth that's a lot of spending to replace them all.

 

[Mark - TheBlue]

Gutted about loosing Hazard but glad he's not gone to United and its forced them to go for their second option in Kawaga. If Chelsea get Hulk and its looking tasty for them next season.

 

[Anonymous]

The thing is Castiel although you've purchased a cracking player in Hazard i personally think that your spending big and strengthening in the wrong areas.

Terry getting slower on a weekly basis
Cole relied on too much
Need holding midfielder
Striker to replace Drogba (Hulk hot favourite)

What do you think?

We got Cahill and Luiz to replace Terry and Carvalho respectively. Cole has a season or so left in him but Bertrand has been a revelation at LB. Mikel is starting to mature into an impressive player and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Romeu has also looked assured with Barcaesque passing before his injury.

Striker is a position I'm concerned about though. We have needed width and creativity for a long time now. Since we sold Robben in fact, so I'm delighted that we're finally going for the Mata's and Hazard's of the world. We've been relying on Drogba for years, except that one season that Malouda was great in.

If you don't address the right fullback spot I'd be astounded. Bosingwa is gone, Ferreira is out the door, and not very good. Ivanovic is a decent player, but I'd wouldn't have thought he was the best you could do, and what do you do if he's injured or suspended? Chelsea, as many have realised, have a generally quite old squad. Cole, Terry, Cech, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Ferreira, Ivanovic and Mereilles are all 28 or older. Even for someone with Abramovich's wealth that's a lot of spending to replace them all.

ivanovic is probably one of the best right backs in the league. Malouda, ferreira, Merellies are either leaving or are bit part players, Chech is only 30 I think. Cole terry and lampard can still do a good job. I dont think there situation is as bad as you make out

 

[Salford_Blue]

Chelsea will certainly be up there vying for Top 4, but signing Hazard and Hulk will certainly not draw back 25 points in one season.

Their defence will need to be shored up as I am not wholly convinced with Cahill, Luiz or an ageing and slowing Terry. Ivanovic isn't the greatest as a fullback either and Ferreira and the other RB (forget his name) aren't suitable reserves.

They will miss Drogba immensely and Torres does not look likely to regain his Liverpool form any time soon. Buying big names doesn't always guarantee you success. You need a manager with character to mould them. Last season, there was no pressure in the League, because they dropped away after Xmas and their main focus became the Chumps League.

They are effectively stuck between a rock and a hard place. Employ someone of stature now or wait till Guardiola is available. But you can't have a major overhaul of the squad and employ a manager who can't control them. If Pep decides to leave it another year and they employ an interim, I think it will blow up in their faces.

Just my feelings anyway

 

[Danamy]

We got Cahill and Luiz to replace Terry and Carvalho respectively. Cole has a season or so left in him but Bertrand has been a revelation at LB. Mikel is starting to mature into an impressive player and has come on leaps and bounds this season. Romeu has also looked assured with Barcaesque passing before his injury.

Striker is a position I'm concerned about though. We have needed width and creativity for a long time now. Since we sold Robben in fact, so I'm delighted that we're finally going for the Mata's and Hazard's of the world. We've been relying on Drogba for years, except that one season that Malouda was great in.

If you don't address the right fullback spot I'd be astounded. Bosingwa is gone, Ferreira is out the door, and not very good. Ivanovic is a decent player, but I'd wouldn't have thought he was the best you could do, and what do you do if he's injured or suspended? Chelsea, as many have realised, have a generally quite old squad. Cole, Terry, Cech, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Ferreira, Ivanovic and Mereilles are all 28 or older. Even for someone with Abramovich's wealth that's a lot of spending to replace them all.

ivanovic is probably one of the best right backs in the league. Malouda, ferreira, Merellies are either leaving or are bit part players, Chech is only 30 I think. Cole terry and lampard can still do a good job. I dont think there situation is as bad as you make out

It's up for discussion and it's all about opinion but i'm with Matty on this one, it'll take time along with guidance from someone with a strong head and that's not Di Matteo.

Having said that i think Chelsea will be more of a challenge than the Rags, which is a good thing.

 

[Castiel]

If you don't address the right fullback spot I'd be astounded. Bosingwa is gone, Ferreira is out the door, and not very good. Ivanovic is a decent player, but I'd wouldn't have thought he was the best you could do, and what do you do if he's injured or suspended? Chelsea, as many have realised, have a generally quite old squad. Cole, Terry, Cech, Lampard, Essien, Malouda, Ferreira, Ivanovic and Mereilles are all 28 or older. Even for someone with Abramovich's wealth that's a lot of spending to replace them all.

Who better than Ivanovich? He contained Lavezzi, who tore your right flank open and had Bale in his pocket every time we've met Spuds - to give a few examples. Hugely underrated as an attacker as well. The only thing he doesn't have is blistering pace. He can cross and he can defend. He is hugely underrated as a RB just because he's a CB convert and looks too big to be a RB (though, look at Richards). We do need some depth there though.

Malouda, Ferreria and Essien have not been important players for a few seasons now. But for every Malouda I give you a Mata. For every Essien I give you a Ramires. The squad has been refreshed over a few seasons and the job isn't as large as people seem to think. Even Cech, who has years left in him, has been covered by Courtois.

 

[malg]

Chelsea will certainly be up there vying for Top 4, but signing Hazard and Hulk will certainly not draw back 25 points in one season.

Their defence will need to be shored up as I am not wholly convinced with Cahill, Luiz or an ageing and slowing Terry. Ivanovic isn't the greatest as a fullback either and Ferreira and the other RB (forget his name) aren't suitable reserves.

They will miss Drogba immensely and Torres does not look likely to regain his Liverpool form any time soon. Buying big names doesn't always guarantee you success. You need a manager with character to mould them. Last season, there was no pressure in the League, because they dropped away after Xmas and their main focus became the Chumps League.

They are effectively stuck between a rock and a hard place. Employ someone of stature now or wait till Guardiola is available. But you can't have a major overhaul of the squad and employ a manager who can't control them. If Pep decides to leave it another year and they employ an interim, I think it will blow up in their faces.

Just my feelings anyway

It might just be me here, but the 25 points is a bit of a red herring in my view. I think the Chelsea players done more than a little relaxing at the end of the season. They had the FA Cup and CL Final to think about, and I believe they just went to sleep. I think they will be credible next season. I'll be interested to see how Hazard fits into the Premier League. Amazing how many Blues on here said he was brilliant, then once he says Chelsea he is suddenly unproven in our league.

 

[Castiel]

It might just be me here, but the 25 points is a bit of a red herring in my view. I think the Chelsea players done more than a little relaxing at the end of the season. They had the FA Cup and CL Final to think about, and I believe they just went to sleep. I think they will be credible next season. I'll be interested to see how Hazard fits into the Premier League. Amazing how many Blues on here said he was brilliant, then once he says Chelsea he is suddenly unproven in our league.

Players and manager practically abandoned the league at around March. Our team selections and performances in the league compared to the cups were black and white around that time. He fielded our weakest possible side for Liverpool in the league, days after our strongest in the cup final, for instance. The scoucers played their best side for both. It was clear that RDM and the players had decided to abandon the league and go all in on the cups as we were already too far behind to contend the league. Huge gamble that ended up paying off.