Shotgun883

I dont think that transitional SEASON is an appropriate term. Transitional period is better. It could be based on playing style but for us its personnel profile. I consider TRANSITIONAL changes to being directly opposed to ORGANIC change. Utd have always been organic under Fergie, getting rid of their players at the right time and changing personnel 1 or 2 at a time (admittedly the last years were different). Keane leaving, Schmeichel, Stam, Van Nistlerooy, P Neville, Wes Brown. All of them had 2-3 seasons left at a decent level but Fergie recognised he could get a similar level younger player in. We on the other hand have waited till it was too late, mainly because we had players on too big a contract (Ferreira for instance) to be able to move on after their sell by date, and have been forced into changing the team completely in the past 3-4 seasons. Cech, Ferreia, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Lampard, Mikel, Ballack, Anelka, Drogba, J Cole > Cech, Azpi, Terry, Ivan, Luiz, Cahill. Ram, Matic, Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Torres The reason we are struggling at the moment is weve had to rip up the squad quite quickly whilst changing managers. We are now coming to the end of the transition and hopefully with one, dedicated manager we are able to are able to manage the squad more fluidly. We also had to do too much too quickly, with the large change in personnel, we also tried to completely change the play style. Utd never had to do that in one go (until this season and look how well thats gone for them)

This is going to be on repeat for weeks if they lose. Come on HULL

I dont doubt that Varane is a very accomplished player who Jose knows... What is in doubt is that spending the astronomical amount of money he would cost improving the best defence in the league (by not a small margin) as opposed to spending a similar amount of cash on improving an area of a team that have scored 30 goals less than the top 2 teams in the league. If we get a decent bid for Luiz or Terry leaves then maybe this is an avenue to assess but weve only just signed Zouma who Jose waxed lyrical about in January and Kalas and Chalobah are very promising players who we still havent given the chance to play yet.

Not sure we have any need for someone at CB. Cahill 28, Ivan 30, Terry 33, Luiz 26, Kalas 20, Zouma 19, Chalobah 19. For a fee of god knows how much, without selling Luiz I really cant see this happening, a non story as far as Im concerned. We have far more pressing problems in the squad to throw 30-40 Million at first.

I like the system BUT I think the ideal situation is making Acadamies in the lower reaches of the FL a more competetive option for younger players to choose to develop and enable to options to move up the ladder later to be more clear. ATM the moment Chelsea or another PL side go in for a young player, see Southampton a few years ago, the club are powerless to allow the players to go, and they DO go almost immediately. I would like to see more mature decision making from these players and have THEM say, NO, Southampton are the better option for MY development. I have no idea how to change this mentality from players, maybe its increase academy funding to allow them to compete on wages but what we dont want to see is Sinclair, Rodwell, Sidwell and many other choosing to rot in the reserves of City and Chelsea instead of having fulfilling footballing careers. Potentially its about limiting the Clubs squads all the way down the tree, making big clubs choose more wisely who they decide to bring into their squad, filtering the talent down the FL rather than being pooled in the top 8. Yes we can only have a PL squad of 25 but we can have 1000 players twiddling their thumbs incase one or two become decent. I would hope this would be a key cornerstone of the B Team Idea.

I think the benefits of having a B Team, who regularly train with and are in constant contact with our A team would benefit US massively; -Ingraining a philosophy throughout our teams, -We have a vested interest in those players, much better than sending them to VItesse and other clubs to play at a similar level but without the interest in their long term future. -Regular play. we wouldnt send McEachran to Middlesborough and see him sit on the bench for half a season. -The Reserve league isnt competetive enough. Negatives for OTHER Clubs -League clubs rely on the loan system, would we be interested in loaning them anymore? -FL youth teams would be barren waste lands, why play for Colchester reserves when Chelsea reserves play at the same level but you have a better chance of playing at a higher level? -Stock piling of players would increase, we could now play a squad of 50 players AND loan out our current amount of players. Rules I think should be included if it goes ahead; -There would have to be a stipulation of no over 23 players in the squad and a limit of 25 named players for the season, who are ineligible for the first team. -Movement between teams could only be done during transfer windows. -Loan players should have to be limited to over that age and maybe 3-4 players out per club in the 18-23 bracket. -No players under YTS contracts, so over 18, they are free to play but not part of the 25 Man squad. -A stipulation of no TV money for the B teams. -No gate profits for those teams, all home profits from games involving B teams should be spread equally as TV money is throughout the league system. This should be about player development not making the rich richer. Personally I dont care too much about the other 91 League clubs, for me a more concentrated, competetive system would be better. Fewer clubs, higher concentration of top coaches in those clubs would be better. Although thats talking as a Chelsea "Top 4" PL fan and im sure league 1 and 2 fans may think a little differently. Saying that though I certainly wouldnt want clubs with years of history being wiped out because a few rich clubs wanted a second team. It would have to be implemented with the current FL clubs futures in mind rather than the myopic concentration on the Ingerlund team.

On Luiz, he has a price, that price is in excess of £25 mil anything less I think Jose is happy enough with him but I can't help but think Barce are lurking and will lure him. If we buy a defender it will be left back but he won't be big money, will be young and he won't be automatic first choice. Dave has already proven we have Ash's replacement and the defense is pretty sound. Add in PVA or Bertrand and we're not screaming out for anyone. I stick by my guns, we will buy 2-3 players maximum and have a net spend of £30 mil ish.

On Luiz, he has a price, that price is in excess of £25 mil anything less I think Jose is happy enough with him but I can't help but think Barce are lurking and will lure him. If we buy a defender it will be left back but he won't be big money and he won't be automatic first choice. Dave has already pr

Not a single on of those players, although stellar Chelsea players scored 20 goals in a season for us. Torres is a flop and has done considerably better than that. Flo and vialli managed a single 19 season each and all of them have a 1/3 ratio. Same as Torres, maybe our expectations have altered a little since the early 90s Zola was more a creative 10 than a strikerAlso I lived abroad until I was 10 and never really followed English football until the mid/late 90s so the PL started in 96 for me.

Im not sure itll affect lower clubs too much, In reality there will only be maybe 8 clubs looking at the prospect, as long as the B team sits at a decent level I dont see an Issue. Id also throw in a sweetner. No TV Money for the B team participant, possibly even allow the visiting teams full profits for all home games. That way the motivation for the B team is purely player development and actually the TV money is shared among the FL clubs as it is now.

Erm, entertaining football or the complete lack of self awareness at 3-0 up, that maybe, maybe its not the time to act like bell ends and forget defence... You choose.

Oops they were Euro from another site... lol. Crespo, lasted what, 1 season before getting home sick and spending the 3 of the next 4 years on loan. although 20 goals in 49 apps shames Torres. Mutu lasted 1 year, scoring 6 times before we sacked him Kezman scored 4 goals in 1 season and left Casiraghi scored 1 goal for us and spent his entire career in the med bay The only strikers we have had in the PL era who have really cut the mustard were Didi, Anelka (when he felt like it), Jimmy and Eidur. Even then most of them only really had 1 or 2 stand out seasons.

Our fingers have been slightly burned over the years Crespo £26M, Shevchenko £32M, Mutu £19M, Kezman £7.5M, Torres £50M, Weah £7.5M for a 32 year old!! Casiraghi £5M, When that was loads!! Sutton £15M,

Just trying to provoke a decent thread. Ive seen (and dont agree with) alot of comments on here asking for Oscars sale, among others. For my 2 cents worth, I agree with the title completely, all those who dont graft to improve and dont reach their potential should be shipped out (not this summer though) If Hazard wants to be a show pony, PSG are waiting for him, Ronaldo has proven work rate and flair can be combined to devastating effect. If Oscar comes back from winning the world cup, ego inflated and thinks that his last 6 months peformances are good enough, Hes welcome to join Kaka on the wasted talent pedastal. Jose expects everyone to strive for 100%, improvement all the time, we give everyone of our players the absolute best chance to develop, excellent facilities, top class coaches, competetive matches, late stage European football, late stages of cups, decent wages, for the back up players, loan opportunities better than most (Courtois, Lukaku, Moses). Admittedly our chop and change at the managerial level doesnt help but I think that under those conditions if you cant suceed you never will. (Sturridge kills my arguement a little)

Reading an article in the DT this morning, what do you think about Jose giving and improve or ship out to Hazard, Oscar and Shurrle? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10807116/Chelsea-manager-Jose-Mourinho-warns-Oscar-Eden-Hazard-and-Andre-Schurrle-improve-or-leave-the-club.html

There isn't a single piece of information in what Jose has said that he hasn't said to Eden 1000 times in training. He said earlier in the season this virtually exactly. Hazard could be the best in the world but he needs to take the steps necessary to hit those highs.

Anyone having a pop at jt for showing emotion has never been HUMAN at any level.

We do look soft in the middle, im sure jose would prefer to be able to play more but we dont have 2 key positions sorted. Someone to partner Matic, who we missed loads last night (3 months and he's already a KEY Chelsea player), able to control the tempo of the game. And a striker who can actually cause defenders probelms. ATM most defenders know they can half heartedly mark Torres/Ba and Etoo out of a game and concentrate on our game changers. We have the requisite creativity, we dont have the solid foundation to allow them to play. Jose will square this for next season, and he'll do it quickly.

He came to us, played well when not injured, we doubled our money for him. Id like to have seen hims tay but he wanted the bright lights of Madrid... Who then spat him out as they do half there players, because they see shinier baubles along the way. Well done Arjen. We certainly have missed someone like him over the years, certainly Duff, SWP were not half the player he has been but hes always been a moody diving toe rag.

I this was Arsenal I would have expected him to miss most of next system too. lol. http://injuryleague.com/injury-league/

I think even the most ardent Terry hater would have to admit that if he missed that game it'd be horrible. 08, then 12 and 13. Has anyone had worse luck?

The problem I can see is that we need to win, Athletico can live wih a score draw. We are two very similar teams in terms of work ethic and discipline, I really think this was the one of the 3 semi finalists we didnt want, Real and Bayern like PSG will try and play against us which would allow us opportunities, Athleti would be different. Theres an addage which is playing in Loserpools favour at the moment, teams dont attack Chelsea because they dont think they can score, we then have a brick wall to break down without the personnel to do it. EVERYONE believes that they can score against Liverpool, mainly because they can, which means they are more lax and Liverpool will outscore them. Bayern and Real will believe, Athleti know they will have to be compact and patient. If they score first we are f**ked, they will shut up shop and theyll do what we did to Liverpool. It will be another close game and the Papers on thursday will be full of "Chelsea play AntiFootball". Heaven forbid that Jose even mentions Athletic parking as much as a bicycle infront of the goal.

Hehe. Used the wrong quote. Apologies, it's been a long day.

I think the Kompany decision was strange although not bad, missed 10 games, but City have a massive points advantage with him as opposed to without. Ivan is a bad ommision IMO been an absolute stalwart. Dave was unlucky. Your on drugs. Lampard has done a job but has been no way near his usual standard and was outclassed by Gerrard, Ramsey, Toure, Matic and Henderson this year. He still offers us something but its less and less about his actions on the pitch im afraid

I dont think Cech will out last Terry, he has about another 2 season in him, by which time Matic would be a solid candidate too, same as Dave although I think Ivan or Cahill are nailed on for it.