aajblue

I completely understand your point here, but only wish I had the time to trawl through the rest of the forum! Apologies

Obviously the plan is to win all 6 competitions we are in, however, realistically I think we are going to have to be somewhat circumspect about our potential and shouldn't burden the lads with unrealistic expectations. The signings we made will not cover up what was a pretty torrid league campaign last season and an occasionally fortuitous but overall deserved CL victory (never get tired of metioning that!). Oscar, Hazard and Marin will surely take time to get up to speed and settle in the PL, perhaps one or two of them will start well, but we musn't jump on their backs too soon - patience is vital. I am optimistic regarding our mid to long term future, but am expecting a tough season this time round. I do think we'll finish top 4 if we get our act together early on, but would be surprised if we make a serious title tilt. There's not many players in the world that leave a club and in their wake leave the necessity of an entire overhaul of attacking strategy - but there's not many players like Didier around! I would be content (not satisfied) with 3rd in the league, latter stages of the CL and of course lifting the Chelsea Cup......or FA Cup as others call it. But fully expect us to be seriously challenging on all fronts next season.

Mikel has now been at the club for 6 years playing an average of just over 25 league games a season and having never scored for us in the league. Around 2007/2008 it looked as though he was developing nicely into a proper player, but 4 years on we seem to still be waiting for him to realise his potential - he's 25 and potential should be realised by this age. I'm not saying he's a poor player, it's just that most people's criticism of him is not based on 1 bad pre-season, nor should people's support of him be based on a few games at the business end of last season. Moreover, we need to look at the bigger picture and assess his Chelsea career, which, I'm afraid, doesn't make good reading.

Is Frank finished? In my humble opinion it's a resounding NO. But my question is this, what has he done wrong in the AM position that has convinced so many people that he has to drop back into a holding role? I don't have to tell people on here about his phenomenal goalscoring record over the past decade......it's literally second to none. I think he's still our best option at the tip of a midfield triangle, (4-2-3-1 really isn't that much differet to the 4-5-1 / 4-3-3 formation we've been playing of late) and he can certainly teach the likes of Oscar, Hazard and Mata more than a thing or two. When did his demise occur meaning he can't play in his best position? I don't remember it......I do remember a certain "not very special" one, trying to make an example of him though. Since then, everyone seems resigned to the fact that he can't play in an advanced role and that he needs to change his game to accomodate his "new" position. Sorry, I just don't buy it. I want to see him wheeling away from goal celebrating double figures of league goals for the 10th season running and I guarantee he'll achieve that if he's played in his natural role, but for some strange reason, I don't think he'll get the chance. Am I missing something? Is his career as the finest goalscoring midfielder in premiership history at an end?

In the early 1960's my Dad played in goal for a Sunday league team. His mate and centre back was getting married to my Mum's cousin. At the engagement party, my folks were introduced as they were the only Chelsea fans in a room full of gooners and spuds......I was born because of Chelsea!! My first game was at the Bridge against Cardiff in 1980....I was 5. It was a very strange game and I remember leaving the Bridge and neither me my folks or siblings knowing the result (pre electronic scoreboards)., until the classifieds came on the radio to which we cheered and flew our scarves out of the windows of our Morris Traveller. I actually got to see Chopper Harris in this game (can't remember too much of him sadly!

What a great forum this is! Some really considered and articulate opinions here......wish I'd found this forum earlier! I'm not keen on moving Sideshow from CB to DM, I believe he's becoming the player we paid so much for and we need his pace at the back. I think we can only hope and pray that eith Mikel changes a few minds (mine included) with a season that he's owed us for so long now, or Romeu becomes the player we thought we'd signed. My greatest hope, however, is that Ess finds the form and fitness that almost gave him cult status at the Bridge. I miss seeing his smiling face tearing up the midfield!

Am I the only one that thinks there's a glaring exclusion from this summer's transfers? I have just joined this forum and this is my first post, so apologies if this topic has been covered (I hope it has). I am reasonably impressed with our signings thus far (time will tell as always when signing youngsters), but I feel our beloved blues have missed the fact that to play 2 holding midfielders, you need a player that can dominate and control the midfield whilst providing protection in front of the defence. I don't see who that player is in our squad. RDM seems to like Frank and John Obi in those slots, but as good an end of season Mikel had, I have been seriously underwhelmed by him over the years. Frank is obviously a legend, and as well as he can adapt to a more withdrawn role, I don't think we'll get the best of him there and I'm not convinced he can play that role with the competence needed to win titles (with so much youth in the attacking midfield roles we have, I actually think we'll need Frank further forward from time to time, teaching the youngsters their trade at the top level). We are then left with Romeu, who has shown little to convince he can rule that position. Young Josh, who does look a real prospect whom I expect to break into the team within 18 months, but he's not ready yet. And finally Essien. Jose once said "90 minutes is not enough for Michael". Whilst I love that quote as it was so true at the time, it grates with me a bit now because we're lucky to get 90 minutes out of him in a season! I would love to see The Bison get back to his indominatable best, but fear we have seen his best days, as he doesn't look as mobile or dynamic as he once did. I hope I'm wrong. We never really replaced Claude Makelele (who could?). Yesterday, Yaya Toure showed us exactly what we need as he bossed the midfield, as did the likes of Maka, Vieira, Keane etc. There are players out there that could do this job for us and are potentially available. Javi Martinez is available and whilst he may cost around £25m, he could be priceless for the formation we are adopting. He would be my first choice. Moutinho is a classy player who likes to run games from the holding role, he's still only 25 and would slot in nicely to our line up. I've heard good things about M'Villa, but also heard he's a bit of a disruptive character, so perhaps we'll leave him out of the equation. Even Nigel De Jong at City would be a great squad player for that role, tough, committed and can play a bit too. Am I wrong in thinking we're a bit lightweight here? If not, then why the hell aren't we doing anything about it?