Chelsea Thread 2014/15

[Castiel]

Thought Mourinho said that Fabregas would play deeper in midfield? I would have thought that he would put Oscar in the #10 position instead of have Ramires in midfield.

In any case, that team looks very good. Only worry would be losing Costa or Fabregas as then you'll be back to what you had last season - I would try to sign another decently priced striker and midfielder.

He's tried it both ways. That was more of a 433 actually because Fabregas spent a lot of time receiving the ball very deep and picking out our wingers or Costa, as opposed to how Mata used to play for instance much further forward getting between their lines. I suspect he'll go with a 433 in bigger games and omit one of Oscar or Fabregas depending on what we need. I prefer them playing together, and since Oscar also likes to become an extra man in midfield out of possession we may well be able to do it even against the best teams. Both of them press very well. That said Oscar hasn't been in his best form for quite a while now, hopefully he turns it around soon.

I'd say our best team is:

-------- Courtois --------

Azpili - Cahill - Terry - Luis

---- Matic - Fabregas ----

Schurrle - Oscar - Hazard

---------- Costa ----------

Schurrle keeps getting better and better since we signed him, he's just come back from a great WC and he's impressing in preseason despite being the latest back. I think he'll make that spot his own this season. He's much more of an attacking threat than Willian and seems to have superhuman fitness. We also get to play with proper fullbacks who can cross from their sides, last season we couldn't even overload the flanks effectively with a right footed left back. From what I've seen so far Luis is a great crosser. Our midfield 2 is an enormous improvement from how we started last season (Ramires - Lampard). Finally got that alternative to Modric.

All in all we're much stronger, but until Torres is gone we're going to be hugely reliant on Costa's availability. At least we're used to playing with shit strikers should disaster strike.

 

[super_city_si]

I agree with your comments on Schurrle. I thought he looked very good last season and was under used. He'll be even better this year. A few of your players are in their second season of the prem now and know what to expect so that will help too. You have a very strong team and as long as Jose doesn't restrict them too much you'll be a very tough challenger for the title. Its going to be a good 'un!

 

[Marvin]

I agree with your comments on Schurrle. I thought he looked very good last season and was under used. He'll be even better this year. A few of your players are in their second season of the prem now and know what to expect so that will help too. You have a very strong team and as long as Jose doesn't restrict them too much you'll be a very tough challenger for the title. Its going to be a good 'un!

Yes Schurrle hs got better and better.

I really like Chelsea's 2 wide men Willian and Schurrle.

It's one thing having wing men like Robben and Di Maria who are as good as anyone going forward, but if they can defend as well then what a bonus that is.

Chelsea could be formidable but sorry to repeat myself need to stay injury free in central defence and up front where the quality choices look to be minimal (although there maybe young players coming through I don't know about)

Pressure will be on Mourinho this season. Only 1 team can win the League, & it's possible to play very well and come 2nd but would that be understood and accepted?

 

[yeah whatever !!]

I agree with your comments on Schurrle. I thought he looked very good last season and was under used. He'll be even better this year. A few of your players are in their second season of the prem now and know what to expect so that will help too. You have a very strong team and as long as Jose doesn't restrict them too much you'll be a very tough challenger for the title. Its going to be a good 'un!

Yes Schurrle hs got better and better.

I really like Chelsea's 2 wide men Willian and Schurrle.

It's one thing having wing men like Robben and Di Maria who are as good as anyone going forward, but if they can defend as well then what a bonus that is.

Chelsea could be formidable but sorry to repeat myself need to stay injury free in central defence and up front where the quality choices look to be minimal (although there maybe young players coming through I don't know about)

Pressure will be on Mourinho this season. Only 1 team can win the League, & it's possible to play very well and come 2nd but would that be understood and accepted?

I thought the Dippers took it very well....


oh hang on ;)

 

[Castiel]

Yes Schurrle hs got better and better.

I really like Chelsea's 2 wide men Willian and Schurrle.

It's one thing having wing men like Robben and Di Maria who are as good as anyone going forward, but if they can defend as well then what a bonus that is.

Chelsea could be formidable but sorry to repeat myself need to stay injury free in central defence and up front where the quality choices look to be minimal (although there maybe young players coming through I don't know about)

Pressure will be on Mourinho this season. Only 1 team can win the League, & it's possible to play very well and come 2nd but would that be understood and accepted?

I think we're fine in defence. Terry and Cahill will play most games, Cahill doesn't miss many but Terry is getting old and has back problems. We have Ivanovic and Zouma to cover. I was surprised Mourinho sent Kalas on loan because he did very well last season, perhaps he just wants him to get as many minutes as possible this season. Azpilicueta is another one of these people with seemingly unlimited energy and will play most games, so Ivan is adequate cover for both CB and LB - in fact we may have problems giving him enough time since it's hard to leave him out. At RB we've got Luis and youth product Ake (and Azpilicueta). Ake has been very impressive in preseason and may even be pushing Luis for the spot.

As I've said though, we're certainly light on quality up front because Costa can't play every game and is a likely candidate for a few suspensions. One interesting thing yet to be resolved is the GK situation. I really don't see us going into the season with both Cech and Courtois, they're both too good to sit on our bench. I think Cech will leave before the window is closed. Courtois looks better already, his command of the box is unbelievable and he's made some wondersaves in the limited minutes he got in preseason. He makes tricky situations look effortless. He's just our future, and as sad as I'd be to see Cech go, this has to be the time or he'll just waste half a season on the bench. If I'm not mistaken we need the international slot too.

 

[Marvin]

Yes Schurrle hs got better and better.

I really like Chelsea's 2 wide men Willian and Schurrle.

It's one thing having wing men like Robben and Di Maria who are as good as anyone going forward, but if they can defend as well then what a bonus that is.

Chelsea could be formidable but sorry to repeat myself need to stay injury free in central defence and up front where the quality choices look to be minimal (although there maybe young players coming through I don't know about)

Pressure will be on Mourinho this season. Only 1 team can win the League, & it's possible to play very well and come 2nd but would that be understood and accepted?

I think we're fine in defence. Terry and Cahill will play most games, Cahill doesn't miss many but Terry is getting old and has back problems. We have Ivanovic and Zouma to cover. I was surprised Mourinho sent Kalas on loan because he did very well last season, perhaps he just wants him to get as many minutes as possible this season. Azpilicueta is another one of these people with seemingly unlimited energy and will play most games, so Ivan is adequate cover for both CB and LB - in fact we may have problems giving him enough time since it's hard to leave him out. At RB we've got Luis and youth product Ake (and Azpilicueta). Ake has been very impressive in preseason and may even be pushing Luis for the spot.

As I've said though, we're certainly light on quality up front because Costa can't play every game and is a likely candidate for a few suspensions. One interesting thing yet to be resolved is the GK situation. I really don't see us going into the season with both Cech and Courtois, they're both too good to sit on our bench. I think Cech will leave before the window is closed. Courtois looks better already, his command of the box is unbelievable and he's made some wondersaves in the limited minutes he got in preseason. He makes tricky situations look effortless. He's just our future, and as sad as I'd be to see Cech go, this has to be the time or he'll just waste half a season on the bench. If I'm not mistaken we need the international slot too.

I noticed Nathan Ake in your line-ups for the friendlies and I have heard his name before

City have ridiculous amount of cover in central defence: Kompany, Mangala, Demichelis, Nastasic, Boyata & Sagna can do a job there I hear. Clearly overkill. I think your stretched there. Cahill has proved very reliable but Terry and Ivanovic are getting on and both slow. You can't afford to be without Cahill. Of course if Zouma is a success then that should sort that out.

I think most City fans, and neutrals are expecting a City v Chelsea fight. I'd add Arsenal in there too if Ramsey stays fit. City got hurt by injuries last season, but given the signings we look like we now have 2 players for every position from Keeper through to centre-forward. A bit nervous about our start though. We looked miles off the pace at Wembley, and a lot of players only came back last week so it could be a difficult start. Overall it should be OK as the season is a marathon.

 

[Castiel]

Highlights of Costa's preseason. 5 games (usually 45-60 minutes), 4 goals and 2 assists - despite being preseason he's already exceeding my expectations and if he carries this on into the season we'll be worlds better. Meanwhile Torres who has had similar playing time has sulked around as usual, missed 2 open nets and rocketed some more into the stands. I hate to be so critical of him but seeing a real striker in comparison really puts it into perspective. God only knows what happened to him. Costa looks like he's been playing with us for years and brings everything we've been missing up front since Drogba left, Fabregas and Hazard seem to link up with him very well too.

This has undoubtedly been our biggest weakness for a few years and it looks to have finally been addressed. City and Liverpool scored around 30 more goals in the league than us last season. I think it's amazing we finished so close considering you had Aguero and Suarez respectively. Even though Aguero was injured a lot, you had the likes of Toure having a monster season to compensate, not to mention your strong backup in Dzeko, Negredo and Jovetic (all of whom would have been our first choice). All we really had was Hazard and later Schurrle as consistent threats.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_4M7SjMBXE[/video]

 

[terraloon]

Yes Schurrle hs got better and better.

I really like Chelsea's 2 wide men Willian and Schurrle.

It's one thing having wing men like Robben and Di Maria who are as good as anyone going forward, but if they can defend as well then what a bonus that is.

Chelsea could be formidable but sorry to repeat myself need to stay injury free in central defence and up front where the quality choices look to be minimal (although there maybe young players coming through I don't know about)

Pressure will be on Mourinho this season. Only 1 team can win the League, & it's possible to play very well and come 2nd but would that be understood and accepted?

I think we're fine in defence. Terry and Cahill will play most games, Cahill doesn't miss many but Terry is getting old and has back problems. We have Ivanovic and Zouma to cover. I was surprised Mourinho sent Kalas on loan because he did very well last season, perhaps he just wants him to get as many minutes as possible this season. Azpilicueta is another one of these people with seemingly unlimited energy and will play most games, so Ivan is adequate cover for both CB and LB - in fact we may have problems giving him enough time since it's hard to leave him out. At RB we've got Luis and youth product Ake (and Azpilicueta). Ake has been very impressive in preseason and may even be pushing Luis for the spot.

As I've said though, we're certainly light on quality up front because Costa can't play every game and is a likely candidate for a few suspensions. One interesting thing yet to be resolved is the GK situation. I really don't see us going into the season with both Cech and Courtois, they're both too good to sit on our bench. I think Cech will leave before the window is closed. Courtois looks better already, his command of the box is unbelievable and he's made some wondersaves in the limited minutes he got in preseason. He makes tricky situations look effortless. He's just our future, and as sad as I'd be to see Cech go, this has to be the time or he'll just waste half a season on the bench. If I'm not mistaken we need the international slot too.

I noticed Nathan Ake in your line-ups for the friendlies and I have heard his name before

City have ridiculous amount of cover in central defence: Kompany, Mangala, Demichelis, Nastasic, Boyata & Sagna can do a job there I hear. Clearly overkill. I think your stretched there. Cahill has proved very reliable but Terry and Ivanovic are getting on and both slow. You can't afford to be without Cahill. Of course if Zouma is a success then that should sort that out.

I think most City fans, and neutrals are expecting a City v Chelsea fight. I'd add Arsenal in there too if Ramsey stays fit. City got hurt by injuries last season, but given the signings we look like we now have 2 players for every position from Keeper through to centre-forward. A bit nervous about our start though. We looked miles off the pace at Wembley, and a lot of players only came back last week so it could be a difficult start. Overall it should be OK as the season is a marathon.

Ivanovic old & slow?. He`s only 30 and very solid and in truth no slouch

Alongside Ivanovic we potentially have Terry, a top drawer defender despite his age, Cahill who is a far better defender than many thought, Zouma who is an absolute beast, & very quick very young, yes, but a real talent. and youngster who has been given a squad number Andreas Christensen and to top it off there is Mikel who is more than just a competent CD.

 

[prestonibbo_mcfc]

I think we're fine in defence. Terry and Cahill will play most games, Cahill doesn't miss many but Terry is getting old and has back problems. We have Ivanovic and Zouma to cover. I was surprised Mourinho sent Kalas on loan because he did very well last season, perhaps he just wants him to get as many minutes as possible this season. Azpilicueta is another one of these people with seemingly unlimited energy and will play most games, so Ivan is adequate cover for both CB and LB - in fact we may have problems giving him enough time since it's hard to leave him out. At RB we've got Luis and youth product Ake (and Azpilicueta). Ake has been very impressive in preseason and may even be pushing Luis for the spot.

As I've said though, we're certainly light on quality up front because Costa can't play every game and is a likely candidate for a few suspensions. One interesting thing yet to be resolved is the GK situation. I really don't see us going into the season with both Cech and Courtois, they're both too good to sit on our bench. I think Cech will leave before the window is closed. Courtois looks better already, his command of the box is unbelievable and he's made some wondersaves in the limited minutes he got in preseason. He makes tricky situations look effortless. He's just our future, and as sad as I'd be to see Cech go, this has to be the time or he'll just waste half a season on the bench. If I'm not mistaken we need the international slot too.

I noticed Nathan Ake in your line-ups for the friendlies and I have heard his name before

City have ridiculous amount of cover in central defence: Kompany, Mangala, Demichelis, Nastasic, Boyata & Sagna can do a job there I hear. Clearly overkill. I think your stretched there. Cahill has proved very reliable but Terry and Ivanovic are getting on and both slow. You can't afford to be without Cahill. Of course if Zouma is a success then that should sort that out.

I think most City fans, and neutrals are expecting a City v Chelsea fight. I'd add Arsenal in there too if Ramsey stays fit. City got hurt by injuries last season, but given the signings we look like we now have 2 players for every position from Keeper through to centre-forward. A bit nervous about our start though. We looked miles off the pace at Wembley, and a lot of players only came back last week so it could be a difficult start. Overall it should be OK as the season is a marathon.

Ivanovic old & slow?. He`s only 30 and very solid and in truth no slouch

Alongside Ivanovic we potentially have Terry, a top drawer defender despite his age, Cahill who is a far better defender than many thought, Zouma who is an absolute beast, & very quick very young, yes, but a real talent. and youngster who has been given a squad number Andreas Christensen and to top it off there is Mikel who is more than just a competent CD.

How long has Mikel been cross dressing ? Not for matches ? ;-)

 

[Stoned Rose]

Chelsea have won the league once in the last 8 seasons.

They didn't win it 7 times with much better teams than they have now.

Blues really need to stop shitting themselves about them.