ShedEnder91

This is an interesting one. I don't think there's much truth in this notion that Emenalo keeps Mikel around because of the innuendo-laden nods and winks that some people make, but in my experience there does seem to be a slight link (not in all cases) between those who would defend both individuals.
 
That's not a dig but an observation and I am quite prepared to be told I'm completely wrong, but the prevailing thought is that both probably shouldn't be at the club in the near future and those who hold the contrary view on both issues often seem to be the same group.
 
That's just something I've gleaned from social media and other avenues. Are these people being contrarians because that's always an attractive stance for some or are we actually scapegoating two valuable members of this club's past, present and future?

Apparently he has a £20 million buyout clause in his contract which, if true, almost makes him a no-brainer.
 
I don't see us getting Vidal which means Nainggolan and one other, and this lad could be it. I'm not one for going overboard after one good season but that price is roughly the same as Imbula (who we should've signed but didn't for whatever reason) and £5 million LESS than we sold Ramires for. 
 
The thought of him and Nainggolan being Cesc's minders in midfield is absolutely mouthwatering.

That's probably a popular view in some parts and I absolutely agree that relying solely on stats is pointless. Stats are a tool and should be used accordingly. Willian works hard but does he actually influence games? Does he influence a game to the point where he is worth £50 million or is irreplaceable? I'd say no.

You sure you're in the right thread?

Im hoping that this season without european football could be a blessing in disguise, should allow conte more time between matches to drill his methods into the players as pre season will be relatively short (as at all clubs) so during the season his methods are still going to be learnt by the players, with no european football that will allow him extra training ground time and if we do as I think most hope/expect ditch the 4231 and go with a new formation then it will be needed.
 
Also with no europa cup as well it should help our chances of bouncing straight back into the champions league which is very important this coming season, personally id be happy with top 4 integrate a couple more youngsters into the squad and having the team play a more expanse game but also has a strong core, I dont think anything major needs to be done to achieve that, just a few clever signings in a few vital positions.
 
If you believe the media reports nainggolan seems like he will be targeted/signed so maybe we could line up like below potentially
 
courtous
azpi zouma jt LB
nainggolan fabregas willian/rlc
pedro costa hazard
 
*LB* not sure who, strong and tactically sound with abit of pace would be my requirements or clone dave :)
 
Not to many changes but you would bulk up the midfield whilst putting 2 work horse around fabregas to do his dirty work and hopefully get the best put of him consistently, youd have willian breaking from the midfield to help attacks but he also has the industry to get back and do his fair share of his defensive work, in a 433 youd not have a gapping hole in the middle of the park all the time and give pedro and hazard more freedom to create/score, I think that would provide a fair amount of balance to the side.
 
rlc should be used more as in the 3 man midfield and hopefully develop enough over next season to seriously put pressure on conte to pick him week in week out, the talent is there it just needs to be used and harnessed by the manager, same as a few other kids we have, id be all for solanke coming back and being used over pato/falcao, costa plays when he is available as the guy is a machine when head screwed on but you can still integrate traore and solanke around him, even in a pairing in a 442!
 
Next year is big in alot of ways we need to get on track and start to use some of our youth products in active squad roles or we will in all likelihood do as man utd did with pogba and lose a gem/s at some point, as our youth team is the best in europe some of them have to be given a chance otherwise losing our promising youngsters will become an annual thing each summer which once started (which looks like it is) will be extremely hard to stop, we have reached the edge of the cliff moment with our youth imho.

I agree, statistics can be an extremely useful tool, but a proper analysis cannot rely entirely upon them.
 
That said, put them in the hands of someone who doesn't understand them and you can end up with some pretty serious misconceptions of how the game works.

I definitely think we should resist any advances but there is a point when you can't say no.

For instance let's say we were offered £80m for that money we could bring in Bale and lets say Donnaruma or Butland as Courtois' replacement. Which doesn't overly reduce our potential for a top keeper and whilst we already have a quality keeper in Begovic won't overly reduce the quality already present whilst bolstering our squad with someone who is first class. Yes Bale coming might be unlikely without CL but you get the point I am trying to make.

Very good player. I'm glad if we have been able to pull this off. Will help our midfield in transition both ways amongst other things.
He has the energy levels we need to play to Cesc's strengths. I think he may also bring Matic back to where he needs to be as well by taking some of the pressure to cover the whole pitch away.

I don't think anyone is dehumanising them but this is the business of football. You're right that the decision ultimately comes down to them but people here will obviously have the needs of the club at the forefront of their thinking.

Oscar and Willian aren't prize assets though (don't tell the Chinese). Oscar could possibly have a future under Conte although that's looking iffy and Willian has never been especially productive. He works hard/runs around a lot but his numbers are quite frankly pathetic.
 
If teams are prepared to pay way over the odds when we have players like Pedro and Cuadrado already in the squad, and youngsters like Kenedy, Musonda, Baker, Boga etc. waiting on the sidelines, I think it has to be looked at seriously.

That's if we need to replace him. If Conte goes 352 then I don't see how he fits in the team anyway.
 
BUT if we remain a 433 team, or even a 442/424 then I think we're overlooking one player - Cuadrado. We own him, he's had an impressive season, Conte apparently loves him and the argument against using him is based almost entirely on 312 league minutes last season isn't it?
 
I just think £50 million is way too much to turn down for a player who is a nice link-up player who might be deceptively productive because he might get a lot of secondary assists.
 
Bear in mind he has just two years left on his contract and will be 28 in August, so the other option is to give a four or five year contract at £120,000 to a player who has scored 3 goals in the league since the start of October. That's one more than Eden Hazard and is still more goals than he scored in the league all last season.

The club clearly, clearly has our best crop of young players in a very long time. Back to back uefa youth league winners, back to back to back fa youth cup winners.
Our next great team should be formed on the backbone of these young players, just as sir Alex had done before.
It would be a shame to waste this opportunity to remove our mediocre talent for high prices and replace them with youth.
A shame, but a very Chelsea thing to do....

Note of the CPO Board Meeting on 4 March 2016.
 
http://www.chelseafc.com/content/dam/cfc/pdf-word-documents/CPO/CPO%20Minutes%20040316%20Final.pdf

While he didn’t get a large amount of game time Cuadrado looked an utterly terrible footballer every single time he wore our shirt. Sometimes it happens with certain players who just can’t adapt or cope with football in a certain league/country.
I’d certainly have Willian even out of position playing for us than Cuadrado, he might have done a better job in Italy but he clearly does have what it takes to make it at Chelsea IMO.

Pretty simple one this.  Sell for 50m.  Willian is exceptional at nothing and pretty good at most things.  But with 50m in the bank we can do some serious business.  We won't see an offer like 50m from anyone else for Willian, probably ever.  We are at his absolute peak for value after this "breakout" season of 11 goals and 6 assists in all competitions (i think this is right, could be off a little).  I know he brings more than goals and assists, but he isn't lighting the world on fire and 50m is great return.  

Izzy Brown will almost certainly never get there, but Cuadrado and Musonda? Charley in particular is way too young to write off yet and has been very impressive. 
 
I'm not entirely sure what the requirements are to be 'near Willian's level' to be honest. I respect his hard work but it's not like he sets the world alight.

Oscar and Willian aren't prize assets though (don't tell the Chinese). Oscar could possibly have a future under Conte although that's looking iffy and Willian has never been especially productive. He works hard/runs around a lot but his numbers are quite frankly pathetic.
 
If teams are prepared to pay way over the odds when we have players like Pedro and Cuadrado already in the squad, and youngsters like Kenedy, Musonda, Baker, Boga etc. waiting on the sidelines, I think it has to be looked at seriously.

All depends who we could replace him with.

I see your point, but I doubt having or not having Ramires would have made any difference for our chances of getting any silverware this season. The board probably couldn't believe their luck and wanted to sell him for that kind of money while they still could.

I've watched him for a while, since he was at Cagliari, and I can say I'm a fan. He's not the most creative of midfielders, no, but he can drive forward with the ball at his feet, has a good shot from distance and can pick a decent pass, not to the level of a playmaker like fabregas, but more along the lines of a box to box player. He's a real energetic box to box player, he'll track up and down the pitch for 90 minutes, and he's a good tough tackler. I suppose if we're looking for direct comparisons, I'd say Kanté at leicester is the closest out there. Or someone like Meireles. In fact I think Meireles is probably the closest fit, though Nainggolan has a bit more about him on the technical side. 

with midfield 3 consisting Matic Fabregas and Nainggolan, i'm confident Matic can regain his form
i think the problem with him was he tried to do too many things in the match: defending, covering Fabregas, and sometimes also joining the attack
with Nainggolan in his side, he won't have to cover for Fabregas alone, and Nainggolan can be the one joining the attack so Matic can stay at the back to focus on defending

i don't remember the multitude of kids that were played under Grant, Scolari, Carlo, AVB, RDM, Fat Rafa...   
The odd game here and there, sure. But nothing of real note. You're right that Jose didn't use the kids much, but nor has anyone else. Zouma is probably the youngest player to have got regular minutes in the last 10 years or so, and who brought him in and played him? Jose.
I'm sure there are a couple of other examples, but it's certainly not like our Youth Players were being integrated rapidly until BAM... Jose came and stopped it all. It's a club issue, not one manager's issue

JT watching the youth team, the only player their, but let's get rid of one of the only players left who really gives a sh*t about the future of this club.

I'm referring to he media and the way some fans are jumping on the lad based on this.
 
I agree that your approach is sensible, but we already do that in some instances.

I agree with that sentiment and Mikel has filled that role.John O'Shea and Phil Neville are good examples of players in similar roles at ManU,SAF though knew when to let go. We as a club are now entering another new period in our existance and there comes a time to let go. Personally I feel that the time has now arrived. If we are happy to standstill or go backwards keep him but if our ambitions are to challenge again we have to let go for the good of both club and player.