Chelsea190512

It seems a lot of people think a full back's best attribute should be his attacking capability followed by his defensive ability. I'm with the defenders should defend first everything else second brigade. As a defender Ivanovic is put simply a brick wall. His attacking ability is very underrated as he does seem to get quite a few goals for a RB. It's almost as if he has been reading the forum and decided to remind everyone why he has been the first choice RB for so long. I do agree that he should be utilised in a central defensive role rather than as a full back as I feel Azpilicueta and Luis are solid defenders and offer more of a threat with their pace when attacking. The main problem with Ivanovic isn't his inability to cross but his lack of pace which means when he does try to push further up the pitch and an attack breaks down he is caught out of position and will struggle to get back but this must be something Jose has prepared for as we see Willian and others dropping back to provide cover.

Absolutely awesome transfer window. Got everything we needed and more. Covered in every position now for a long time bar players not developing as they should but this is a situation every club faces. New striker check. New and competent back up striker check. Creative midfielder and tempo dictator check. World class left back check. Courtois check. Flog Torres check. Have to admit was a little saddened seeing Torres go. Huge understatement to say it didn't work out for him but he's been a hard working player who I wish can regain his previous form and end his career on a high. We now have a well oiled Mourinho machine and there is no doubt failure to win silverware this season would have huge consequences. However this is Mourinho and the man does not know how to lose. On another note the signing of F.Luis intrigues me as with Ivanovic churning out performances as he is currently doing so and Azpilicueta well being Azpilicueta, when and how will he get the chance to break in to the team? It's a 60 game season yes but we know the back 5 aren't as easy to chop and change as it is with attacking players. Interesting how this will pan out as before the season I would have said Luis at LB and Azpi at RB but as things are now if it isn't broken then there is no need to fix it.

Add to that the small fact he looks like he could be Oscar's father makes me like him even more.

Diego costa. Seems to be doing everything I hoped and said he would. His build and stature scream out someone who should be clumsy on the ball and have the pace of a snail but he is the complete opposite. He has great acceleration and is very good with the ball at his feet. He is just as good without it too as he has shown with his willingness to close the ball down and to track back and help the team defensively. Great things are in store this season if we keep him fit. Even in the worst case scenario I have a lot of faith in Remy and even Drogba to perform when called upon.

Very pacey direct forward who can finish with either foot. He'll be more than just second fiddle to Costa and will actually threaten to take the Striker role in the first xi. This guy up front with through balls from fabregas will be beautiful. We have 2 very good CF's in the team now who both have different qualities. Remy is more technically astute and would be an excellent option as a second striker in a game we are trailing but being honest the way Chelsea have looked in our opening games I don't see us trailing many games over the course of the season.

Booked his flight from West London to North? But then again the traffic thesedays in the capital.

Costa seems to be doing exactly what I hoped he would. Also there was a filthy challenge by Alves that he responded to in a bog standard 'You tried to break my leg' manner. So i hope that puts the "he can't control his temper" rumours to bed. One thing that is seemingly going unnoticed is what Costa adds in physicality to the team because let's face it as great footballers as Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Schurrle are, none of them have the same presence in the sense that a defender will think twice about trying it (in a nutshell they're p*ssies). Drogba, Fabregas and Costa are all player who don't take sh*t from defenders and will be the th type of players who are first to run over and defend a teammate when the opposition foul and cause a problem. To reiterate as Mourinho famously wrote in his post match press conference the team needed "Balls" it seems we have them now. I for one cannot wait for next week now! Let the season start.

The three to leave will imo most realistically be Marin, Mikel and Cech. Cech will want to stay and fight, it's in his nature but don't see the need for 3 top keepers. Schwarzer and Courtois is enough.

Let's have Barkley off them.. Ideally I'd like us to sign Bony. But our HG status is still the same is it not?

If lukaku is to actually leave on a permanent basis then I would like to see either Bony or Remy brought in. These are strikers who are proven in the PL. In striker terms Bony is a lot more like Drogba in his younger years then Lukaku who needs open spaces to play to his strengths a lot like Torres.

My last post was Pogba related although on second reading it seems like a general summer transfer overview.

I really like how Chelsea are going about their business. We can compete financially with any team but we choose not to. We're being very sensible in the market and this is impacting the club in a positive way overall. The FFP appears to be a shambles atm but we are still respecting it so eventually when these clubs are sanctioned for their senseless expenditures we will essentially have free runs in the market. We have a nice blend of players with high ceilings who we hope reach their potential and we have a good amount of players who are in their prime and are experienced serial winners. These are the foundations we need to allow us to make a marquee signing or two in the future. For now I feel that our summer transfers are over unless any of the squad leaves and needs to be replaced. I would be more than happy going into the season with this current squad. Anymore signings are a bonus.

But that's the concern, is Drogba still capable of performing in say the champions league or PL if required to? The nurturing Lukaku element of the deal warrants bringing him back anyhow but I'm not completely sold on if he is capable of performing at the level we would expect him to perform at if he was called upon. He has a legacy and he left in the greatest possible way, I wouldn't want to see him unable to perform at a high level again and ultimately disappoint the fans who have such high expectations of him from his previous time here.

Don't see this happening personally would love to be proved wrong though. Great player to watch adds another physical presence to the side, great on the ball and is capable of the occasional screamer. However has a tendency to go missing on occasion but a lot of players do and he's still young. Now the stumbling block - for the price I seriously doubt Mourinho would cough up especially with his recent comments about L.Shaw.

Don't know how I feel about this. We should have been moving forward not looking to ex players to provide. Seems to be a move out of sentiment on Jose's part. Let's hope the focus is on Drogba becoming a coach and less on actual game time. Either way I'm sure Drogba will be able to pop up with a few goals here and there but seems to be a step backwards imo. If anything Drogba will be helping Lukaku develop rather than replacing him. Won't be too impressed if Lukaku leaves now.

No need for Isco. He's best as a #10 but we have a handful of players that are capable of playing that role. If we go 4-3-3 he's pushed out wide in a position he is not most effective. Wouldn't be effective as one of the central midfield 3 either. If he was to leave Madrid i think he'd go Citeh - can be reunited with Demichelis and his old manager Pellegrini.

Cech/Courtois. Azpi - Cahill - JT - Luis Matic Fabregas Ramires Hazard Schurrle Costa Can't decide between the keepers unfortunately. The formation is a 4-3-3. Matic holding and fabregas as the cm with the most attacking license. Some may disagree with the inclusion of Ramires but I feel he adds energy, pace and most importantly work rate. However depending on the opponents i.e a park the bus team then Oscar can be brought in for Ramires. I have also suggested Hazard at RW and Schurrle at LW as I feel having a striker who has the physical presence of Costa it would be a waste to not put crosses into the box that he would most likely get on the end of. Our attacking players are constantly alternating positions anyhow so it's not really a problem.

Scary to think what could have been if we'd signed Aguero. Imo the main transfers we missed out seem to be in the forward department, Aguero, falcao, possibly Lewandowski too - who I rate very highly. Rvp was available for around 25 mil but the club didn't chance it. On a general note the club do seem to make the right call. I also feel that Ballack was never replaced.

Imo the main transfer that would have really took the team to another level is Alexis Sanchez. Awesome footballer. Creative in abundance. Has pace. Great finisher - scores a lot of goals. I've heard the term 'Mourinho player' thrown around a lot and believe me this guy matches it to a tee. His workrate is something else, those of you that were impressed by Chile will have seen this in effect. Sadly he is now at Arsenal, and i feel he will really improve their team maybe not enough to be title contenders but will sure as hell push them in the right direction.

Any completed transfers that we might live to regret.

Chelsea United (no europe don't forget) City Arsenal This is as of now, transfers may change my opinion

I think there's a common misconception that the majority of the Belgian national team are arrogant and cocky so and so's. So anything Lukaku says is usually taken negatively, somewhat unfairly imo. He's still young and he likes to speak his mind sometimes guilty of speaking too much but ffs give the kid a break. He's on holiday and he's participating in training with his old team if anything it seems like a nice gesture and is good to see he remembers his roots.

Sadly I feel that we still have our blue tinted glasses on regarding Drogba. As a coach he would be great - his motivational skills are second to none at Chelsea, ok maybe JT. But as a player at the twilight stages of his career I seriously doubt he would cut it at the top level of the PL and the knockout competitions. He hasn't exactly been causing a storm playing at Galatatasaray so I'm sceptical that he'll be a success again. Would love to be proven wrong but that's how it seems imo.

I agree the "wants to come" is the stand out part of that quote as a sign of Torres wanting to return would be him sacrificing his huge wages for the benefit of the club. Don't see it happening personally. Just wondering, but who do we see replacing Torres if he is to leave.

I know, but he would be the third best attacking option at central midfield. In a game where we would counter attack Ramires is best suited. In a game where we need someone to unlock a tight defence Fabregas is our man. So i don't see how Khedira would fit. Also for the price being quoted I'm completely against it.