107 replies to this topic

[Arq]

I'm not sure how I feel about the Bossy deal. Cam said it brilliantly. Bos is an enigma for us, you never really know what you're going to get.

Problem is, who could/would we get that's better? I know there are better RB's out there, but whether we can get them is another thing.

[comtrend]

Davey Baby, on 03 September 2011 - 12:30 PM, said:

It's a pretty formidable squad, with depth in every department. Defensively we couldn't ask for more, apart from a back-up keeper. We all know a creative midfielder would be nice, but I doubt our pursuit of Modric is over. As for the flanks, I still think we miss genuine width and that's something that will hopefully be addressed. Maybe Kakuta will come good.

I think we missed a trick with Duff. I wrote to the club and suggested it. He's a good player, not the player of old, obviously, and injuries have hampered his playing style, but he could definitely do a job for us, and he's already in West London.

Duff would jump at the chance of joining us, where he was always popular and where he has happy memories. It would be one last hurrah, the chance of challenging for the main prizes and playing in big games. He would fancy his chances of claiming a spot, either on the left or the right (where he plays for Fulham). He would have given us more depth in that department. I'm not saying he would be an automatic first-choice, but he would provide quality back-up to Mata and Sturridge.

He's a team player, has a good attitude, a good work ethic, is experienced and intelligent, and contributes goal and assists. He also links very well with teammates. I have been very impressed with him lately, both for Ireland and Fulham. I think he would have been welcomed back by our lads, and fans.

Suffice to say the club ignored me ..

I dont think we need modric or another creative central midfielder. We could instead use Mata as our central attacking midfielder, where his great vision, movement and passing is more needed. What we really need though  is a couple of very fast wide forwards/flanks. I really doubt Anelka, Malouda and Kalou will be playing for us next season, wich opens up room too hopefully find players simillar to Robben, Ribery, Pato, Hulk etc.

Im still unsure about bosingwa as our starting right back, for me he has problem positioning himself in defence, wich have hurt us on set pieces several times already. Gregory van der wiel would be another option, but his attacking style might give us the same problem.

[Davey Baby]

With the window open, and comings and goings, I thought I'd bump this thread ..

With Anelka and Alex out, and Cahill arriving, we now have only 15 non-homegrowns (we are allowed 17) plus our full quota 8 homegrowns, meaning a squad of 23 instead of 25.

I presume I'm right in classifying Hutchinson as a homegrown as he is over 21, however I was unaware we registered him for the squad prior to the season. Anyway I've included him in our 8. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

We can also field as many U21s as we want, but seeing as Josh is going on loan, that only leaves Romeu and possibly Lukaku who will get any game-time.

25 first-team players then ..

Keepers
Cech
Hilario
Turnbull (HG)

Full-backs
Bosingwa
Ferreira
Hutchinson (HG)
Cole (HG)
Bertrand (HG)

Centre-backs
Terry (HG)
Luiz
Ivanovic
Cahill (HG)

Midfield
Essien
Mikel
Romeu (U21)
Ramires
Meireles
Lampard (HG)

Wingers (I use the term loosely)
Mata
Malouda
Sturridge (HG)
Kalou

Strikers
Drogba
Torres
Lukaku (U21)

Of that squad, five will have their contracts expire this summer, I think. Hilario (rolling contract I believe), Bosingwa, Ferreira, Kalou and Drogba. All possibly going.

Interesting also that we can't purchase any more homegrowns the way things stand, but obviously that just applies to players over 21. I guess that means we won't get Rooney. Cahill was the guy we opted for instead.

Rodwell, for example, would still classify as an U21 player if we sign him this season or next, so that's still possible, as are others.

So come on folks, we have room for two more non-homegrowns ..

Place your bets.

[footballoholic]

Davey Baby, on 14 January 2012 - 02:05 AM, said:

Interesting also that we can't purchase any more homegrowns the way things stand, but obviously that just applies to players over 21. I guess that means we won't get Rooney. Cahill was the guy we opted for instead.

Not sure what you mean. These rules are definitely not mean to restrict home-grown players!

[Katon]

We can purchase more homegrowns if we want; the way it works is there are 25 over-21 slots, of which at most 17 can be foreign-grown, so 15 non-HG and 10 HG would be a perfectly valid squad.

That said, apart from possibly Adam Johnson if City were selling (and there's no evidence they are), it's hard to find a homegrown player who'd significantly improve the squad.

[Davey Baby]

Sorry Katon, footballoholic spotted my deliberate mistake first.

[undertow]

There also other contracts running out in the summer, so more places will free up. Ferreira, Hilario, Kalou...

[big blue]

I know theres still 5 months left and everything to play for this season but with so many contracts up at the end of the season, what will our squad look like on sept 1st? Assuming we lose kalou, drogba, malouda, bosingwa, ferreira, and possibly hilario. we gonna have spend a pretty sum and give some of the youngsters a chance.

Keepers
Cech
Taylor (U21)
Turnbull (HG)

Full-backs
Ivanovic
Azpilicueta? possible £8M signing.
Hutchinson (HG)
Cole (HG)
Bertrand (HG)

Centre-backs
Terry (HG)
Luiz
Chalobah (U21)
Cahill (HG)

Midfield
Essien
Mikel
Romeu (U21)
Ramires
Meireles
Lampard (HG)
Mceachran (U21)

Attacking midfielders
Mata
Hazard (U21)? possible £35m signing
Eriksen (U21)? possible £25m signing
De Bruyne (U21) ? possible £8m signing
Kakuta (HG)

Strikers
Torres
Lukaku (U21)
Sturridge (HG)

This would leave us with a 27 man squad, 10 registered foreigners, with 4 more foreigners under 21. we'd also have 11 homegrown players that would give us more flexibility with future transfers.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------CECH/TURNBULL/TAYLOR

IVANOVIC/AZPILICUETA/HUTCHINSON-----------------LUIZ/CHABOLAH-------------TERRY/CAHILL--------------------------------- COLE/BERTRAND

----------------------------------------------RAMIRES/MEREILES---------------------------------ESSIEN/ROMEU/MIKEL----------------------------------------

HAZARD/DE BRUYNE/---------------------------------------ERIKSENLAMPARD/MCEACHRAN------------------------------------------MATA/KAKUTA

----------------------------------------------------------------------TORRES/STURRIDGE/LUKAKU--------------------------------------------------------------------

Obviously this based on torres actually scoring some goals otherwise sturridge is the main man next year. mceachran may opt for another loan lukaku may go on loan although we'd be lightweight in attack. alot of if's but's and maybe's, but id be confident that with this squad we could challlenge on all fronts for many years while also playing some excellent football.

Edited by big blue, 21 January 2012 - 12:11 AM.