647 replies to this topic

[Spiller86]

If we're trying to move Alex on, it'd make sense to collect a solid homegrown centre half as his replacement. Given the choice between Spuds and us surely he wouldn't be so stupid to take the Pienaar route.

[amART]

Myles_91, on 04 September 2011 - 10:03 AM, said:

Easy....

http://www.guardian....-harry-redknapp

Why would he not want to join a Title challenging team that can compete in the Champio.... Oh

maybe in europa league.

[icecoolguy22]

Why do we need him? The only reason I can think of is for the home players quota, but coping a loss by sell Alex ( most likely) and get Cahill on a huge fee doesn't make much sense

[Spiller86]

The fee is the questionable bit icecoolguy22. He's a free transfer next season, so it'll be down to just how much he will cost in January. Given we have been good to them, loaning a few here and there, he might not cost as much as you think.

[SydneyChelsea]

Spiller86, on 04 September 2011 - 10:25 AM, said:

If we're trying to move Alex on, it'd make sense to collect a solid homegrown centre half as his replacement. Given the choice between Spuds and us surely he wouldn't be so stupid to take the Pienaar route.

I suspect this is the case. Moving Alex on while we can still get a very decent fee (considering he cost us just over 5m) and replacing him with a proven, homegrown counterpart would be a good move on Chelsea part, if a little surprising giving the level of positive forward planning!

[Maverick]

Spiller86, on 05 September 2011 - 12:53 AM, said:

The fee is the questionable bit icecoolguy22. He's a free transfer next season, so it'll be down to just how much he will cost in January. Given we have been good to them, loaning a few here and there, he might not cost as much as you think.

A stright swap wont harm us a lot (assuming Cahil wages are far lesser than Alex) but the question is whether Alex would be fine with that. I would have loved to see Cahill in and Alex to Bayern in the summer but now that it hasn't happened would we be able to sell Alex in Jan (with him being CL cup tied) ? In that case the only team that could be attractive to him would be PSG.

[rahul]

Maverick, on 05 September 2011 - 06:27 AM, said:

A stright swap wont harm us a lot (assuming Cahil wages are far lesser than Alex) but the question is whether Alex would be fine with that. I would have loved to see Cahill in and Alex to Bayern in the summer but now that it hasn't happened would we be able to sell Alex in Jan (with him being CL cup tied) ? In that case the only team that could be attractive to him would be PSG.

Or Malaga.

I think the new money being injected into these clubs is a great opportunity for us to offload some of our less wanted players for a decent amount of transfer fee. Remember 10m for Wayne Bridge? That was probably the best bit of business done by the club since Roman took over. I'm sure they'd take Malouda, Kalou, Anelka in a heartbeat and in return dispense with pretty decent money.

Edited by rahul, 05 September 2011 - 07:05 AM.

[Myles_91]

rahul, on 05 September 2011 - 07:04 AM, said:

Or Malaga.

I think the new money being injected into these clubs is a great opportunity for us to offload some of our less wanted players for a decent amount of transfer fee. Remember 10m for Wayne Bridge? That was probably the best bit of business done by the club since Roman took over. I'm sure they'd take Malouda, Kalou, Anelka in a heartbeat and in return dispense with pretty decent money.

£12m

[Gem]

Would Bruma qualify as home grown? I'd rather give him a chance than splash out silly money for a defender. He's too old to be JT's long term replacement.

[Maverick]

Gem, on 05 September 2011 - 07:42 AM, said:

Would Bruma qualify as home grown? I'd rather give him a chance than splash out silly money for a defender. He's too old to be JT's long term replacement.

As much as we'd like that to happen there has to be a transition phase from JT to Bruma and most likely that would have to be Luiz/ Ivanovic/ Cahill (probably) in the interim to play as the leader in defence.

[u no it makes sense]

The bigger question is why would he join us when we already have 4 or 5 top class defenders. Unless Luiz or Alex are going to be sold.

[Hutch]

u no it makes sense, on 05 September 2011 - 08:17 AM, said:

The bigger question is why would he join us when we already have 4 or 5 top class defenders. Unless Luiz or Alex are going to be sold.

You've gone some of the way to answering your own question. You say "4 or 5 top class defenders": Looking at central defenders that would be JT, Ivan, David Luiz and Alex. And of those, the most likely to be sold, for reasons already discussed, is Alex.

JT also isn't getting any younger, and has had injury problems of his own. Cahill would be aware of this.

Add to that the massive increase in wages, the opportunity to play in the Champions League for a team challenging for trophies, and there's every reason he'd choose us over Tottenham or Arsenal in particular. This is not to say we're actually interested in him, but if we were I can see how such a move would make sense for both the player and the club.

[Andreas]

Would welcome this, class centre back and if we move on Alex then im for it.

[u no it makes sense]

Dont get me wrong i think he is a good talent but im just not sure if he would join a team where he wouldnt be a automatic starter. At Spurs and Le Arse he would start every week.

[Maverick]

u no it makes sense, on 05 September 2011 - 11:49 AM, said:

Dont get me wrong i think he is a good talent but im just not sure if he would join a team where he wouldnt be a automatic starter. At Spurs and Le Arse he would start every week.

Its the same arguement that I have come across for Ramires, Torres, Lukaku etc and all these players went ahead and signed on the dotted line. Reason? They are aware of the fact that football today is about a squad rather than just the starting 11 and if your at a club like ours where we are taking every competition seriously then chances are any player in first team will get 15 + starts. Does that still lead you to believe that Cahill would prefer a club (Spurs/ Arsenal) that guarantees 35 + starts and no ambition?

Edited by Maverick, 05 September 2011 - 11:59 AM.

[coombsie]

I have a feeling that AVB, like the rest of us has been a little alarmed by the first few games this year, where the central defensive partnerships have not exactly looked top drawer (JT included). Then compare to Man Ure who have brought in two top quality English kids to bolster a squad that has seen O'Shea and Browne moved on. He is simply doing the same thing, strengthening with English youth with a bit of quality.

[u no it makes sense]

All will be sorted once Luiz is back. He will keep Rooney in his pocket again.

[Spiller86]

I actually wanted this to happen last January instead of Luiz. I thought him a cheaper option meaning money could be spent elsewhere. Little did I know of course that we would be splashing out on Torres anyway.

As for whether he is a starter, not right now. But of course JT's ongoing nerve issue could be a problem at anytime. I personally feel Ivan is better suited to right back. Some of his decision making while playing in the centre concerns me, making Cahill second rather than third choice. My personal feeling is that it's a great pity we didn't take Star's advice last January and get the jump on Jones. It was interesting that JT said last week that as soon as they saw him after his debut two seasons ago, the players felt we should get him. But he's lost for good now.

[Crystal Phallus]

Won't he be available on a bosman next summer?
It'd be a smart bit of business to get a decent defender for free. I say we should sign him.

[Spiller86]

Yeah he is CP. I don't think he'll be available that long, he'll go in January. It should be us who gets him.