Chelsea thread 2012/2013 season

[Castiel]

Romeu, Bertrand and Mikel are nowhere near the standards set by Cole, Essien or Lampard.

Apart from Mikel, we don't really know that. Essien, Cole and Lampard were all world class players coming to the end of their careers, though Essien's is premature. Bertrand and Romeu are practically kids beginning theirs. Also, Romeu and Mikel are DMC's. Essien was best as a CM (like Yaya for you with licence to come forward) which is the role Ramires fills now.

Essien wasn't world class when we bought him, just highly rated in France. I also think that we're going in a different direction with the next generation Chelsea. A more attacking direction. If our midfield isn't as physically dominating and our defence isn't as intimidating as the 2005+ side, we'll certainly have much more attacking impetus with the likes of Mata, Hazard, Marin, Hulk(?), Torres (if he has turned his fortunes around) and whoever else we bring in.

 

[Ray78]

Romeu, Bertrand and Mikel are nowhere near the standards set by Cole, Essien or Lampard.

Apart from Mikel, we don't really know that. Essien, Cole and Lampard were all world class players coming to the end of their careers, though Essien's is premature. Bertrand and Romeu are practically kids beginning theirs. Also, Romeu and Mikel are DMC's. Essien was best as a CM (like Yaya for you with licence to come forward) which is the role Ramires fills now.

Essien wasn't world class when we bought him, just highly rated in France. I also think that we're going in a different direction with the next generation Chelsea. A more attacking direction. If our midfield isn't as physically dominating and our defence isn't as intimidating as the 2005+ side, we'll certainly have much more attacking impetus with the likes of Mata, Hazard, Marin, Hulk(?), Torres (if he has turned his fortunes around) and whoever else we bring in.

Nah did you watch him against us? Your best bet would of been Falcao but it looks unlikely at the moment. Any news on your new boss yet?

 

[Marvin]

Romeu, Bertrand and Mikel are nowhere near the standards set by Cole, Essien or Lampard.

Apart from Mikel, we don't really know that. Essien, Cole and Lampard were all world class players coming to the end of their careers, though Essien's is premature. Bertrand and Romeu are practically kids beginning theirs. Also, Romeu and Mikel are DMC's. Essien was best as a CM (like Yaya for you with licence to come forward) which is the role Ramires fills now.

Essien wasn't world class when we bought him, just highly rated in France. I also think that we're going in a different direction with the next generation Chelsea. A more attacking direction. If our midfield isn't as physically dominating and our defence isn't as intimidating as the 2005+ side, we'll certainly have much more attacking impetus with the likes of Mata, Hazard, Marin, Hulk(?), Torres (if he has turned his fortunes around) and whoever else we bring in.

OK, we don't know the future! but on what I have seen, they have a long long way to go to match those 3 who are possibly the best players in their position that the Premiership has seen.

Don't wish to run your team down. Pretty pointless when you have 2 trophies from the season. There were lots of gutted Utd fans at work today. Seemed to be more upset about Hazard than City

 

[southern muppet]

Romeu, Bertrand and Mikel are nowhere near the standards set by Cole, Essien or Lampard.

Apart from Mikel, we don't really know that. Essien, Cole and Lampard were all world class players coming to the end of their careers, though Essien's is premature. Bertrand and Romeu are practically kids beginning theirs. Also, Romeu and Mikel are DMC's. Essien was best as a CM (like Yaya for you with licence to come forward) which is the role Ramires fills now.

Essien wasn't world class when we bought him, just highly rated in France. I also think that we're going in a different direction with the next generation Chelsea. A more attacking direction. If our midfield isn't as physically dominating and our defence isn't as intimidating as the 2005+ side, we'll certainly have much more attacking impetus with the likes of Mata, Hazard, Marin, Hulk(?), Torres (if he has turned his fortunes around) and whoever else we bring in.

OK, we don't know the future! but on what I have seen, they have a long long way to go to match those 3 who are possibly the best players in their position that the Premiership has seen.

Don't wish to run your team down. Pretty pointless when you have 2 trophies from the season. There were lots of gutted Utd fans at work today. Seemed to be more upset about Hazard than City

Definitely, when we miss out on a hyped transfer target these days it just means we happened to miss out on that one and will probably sign another by the end of that window in all likelihood. Every time United miss out especially to us or Chelsea, it's symbolic, and it's a part of an ongoing trend.

 

[MSP]

Apart from Mikel, we don't really know that. Essien, Cole and Lampard were all world class players coming to the end of their careers, though Essien's is premature. Bertrand and Romeu are practically kids beginning theirs. Also, Romeu and Mikel are DMC's. Essien was best as a CM (like Yaya for you with licence to come forward) which is the role Ramires fills now.

Essien wasn't world class when we bought him, just highly rated in France. I also think that we're going in a different direction with the next generation Chelsea. A more attacking direction. If our midfield isn't as physically dominating and our defence isn't as intimidating as the 2005+ side, we'll certainly have much more attacking impetus with the likes of Mata, Hazard, Marin, Hulk(?), Torres (if he has turned his fortunes around) and whoever else we bring in.

OK, we don't know the future! but on what I have seen, they have a long long way to go to match those 3 who are possibly the best players in their position that the Premiership has seen.

Don't wish to run your team down. Pretty pointless when you have 2 trophies from the season. There were lots of gutted Utd fans at work today. Seemed to be more upset about Hazard than City

Definitely, when we miss out on a hyped transfer target these days it just means we happened to miss out on that one and will probably sign another by the end of that window in all likelihood. Every time United miss out especially to us or Chelsea, it's symbolic, and it's a part of an ongoing trend.

Lot of them who are still denying that - it wasn't a player for us anyway, we didn't need him, it's not point to sign most expensive players but ones we need etc, etc, etc

 

[Castiel]

There were lots of gutted Utd fans at work today. Seemed to be more upset about Hazard than City

Happens every year. I'm convinced the Glazers are putting a show on to make it seem like United can compete for these names just to appease the fans. That club is nothing but a corporate cash cow and its owners have no interest in investing in it. Before Hazard it was Sneijder, before that it was Ozil, so on so fourth. If they get Kagawa on the cheap it'll probably transpire that they've been courting him for a long time. Its pretty funny how the fans seem to fall for it every single window though.

 

[The Future's Blue]

So the CL is won and the rebuilding begins. Our talisman in Drogba has left, another manager sacked, a new stadium planned, a new era for CFC rolls in. Exciting times ahead.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, you could say ;)

You've been in our position before and know how it feels when they continually talk about the money, that's probably why we don't really have a problem with Chelsea (apart from the Madness shit after the away game; the home game felt good). It was always good watching you chase down the old guard and when you started beating the Rags to the league I became somewhat a Chelsea enthusiast.

Thought you'd be a contender this season but the ups and downs of trying to move people on whilst trying to balance the comp's took a real toll, especially as AVB couldn't fulfill his promise. This season though, even without seeing the manager, I reckon you're gonna move on and push for the league; it will be mighty interesting!

Good luck, beat the Rags and I will start thinking of you lot as our new Derby. It may not be local but it is obvious.

 

[Matty]

You can't say "for every Malouda I give you a Mata. For every Essien I give you a Ramires" and assume that makes sense. You have BOTH options at this point, Malouda and Mata, Essien and Ramires. Yes, if Malouda and Essien leave you'll still have Mata and Ramires, but since when has football been about having 11 players? You need a good, deep squad of players. So replacing the ageing players, whether they be regular starters like Cole, Terry or Drogba, or "squad players" like Malouda or Essien (who still played 62 games between them last season, despite Essien missing a huge chunk with injury) is still vitally important, and a valid issue to raise.

Squad players aren't a problem to replace. The point is that Malouda and Essien, in this example, are clearly not vital players in the team any more. We've got any number of youngsters who I'm sure would relish opportunities to provide the cover than Malouda and Essien find themselves doing now.

Malouda made 43 appearances, that's a larger role than "cover" I'd suggest. Essien made 19, but missed a good proportion of the season through injury so maybe another 10-15 appearances should be added to him to accurately represent a "full season". Although not the first names on the teamsheet they aren't players who make up the numbers by any means. With the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champion's League, Community Shield, European Super Cup and World Club Championship to compete for this season Chelsea will need a very large squad indeed, otherwise injuries and fatigue will take their toll.

Don't get me wrong, I fully expect Chelsea to bear no resemblance to the AVB shambles of a side that played for 2/3rds of last season, they'll qualify automatically for the Champion's League through their league place come May. They'll also be a hell of a lot closer to the title than they were this season. Will they win it? It's a possibility but I just don't see it. If Di Matteo gets the job I don't think he's good enough, he was sacked by West Brom not too long ago so hasn't become a superb manager overnight. If it's someone else then you've got the issue of how will the players react, will it be another AVB debacle? Or a Scolari clusterfuck? Or an Ancelotti success? Who knows.

 

[bluemoondays]

Do Chelsea have to play in a qualifying round for the CL?

If not, does that mean Arsenal have to play one?

 

[Anonymous]

Do Chelsea have to play in a qualifying round for the CL?

If not, does that mean Arsenal have to play one?

i'm sure i read that neither do, i could be wrong though.