Posted February 1, 200916 yr Forget about today's game, let's all look at the whole picture. Firstly everyone sign up to Chelsea TV and watch the youth team play at Anfield on Thursday night. Secondly, everyone accept like me, we are an ageing squad with no real guidance from anywhere, destined to win nothing this season, even in danger from not making the Champions League next season. Then and only then can we think of Chelsea as we are and what we have to do. At the end of the season we have to sell Drogba, Malouda and Kalou and get shot of Ballack, Deco and Ferreira. We need experience, for that reason Lampard and Terry along with Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, and Carvalho must be kept and maybe Anelka as well. With a fit Essien, Mikel, Bosingwa, Alex and Cech that's enough experienced premiership class players to make up 11 squad players. A splash of youth, Kakuta, Mancienne, Stoch and Di Santo makes 15. Then Roman has to think whether he really wants to be part of Chelsea's future. If so he should open the cheque book in the summer and buy two strikers of the calibre required at the right age with ambition. Benzema is one, maybe the other still could be Robinho. Then a wide player and Frank Ribery is that player. Cover for left back and wide and Zhircov is that player. I'd keep Belletti for squad cover at right back, which makes us 20 and leaves one position for the coming of age figure which is 21 which will send out a message to football that we are back in business. A young midfielder with an engine ... got no one in mind but it has to happen. We have a squad short of pace and invention, heart and true ambition and spirit. We don't need an ageing manager either .... hello Gianfranco Zola !
February 1, 200916 yr So what you're saying is, we need a new manager, and a whole new, expensive and young team, and then we'll be okay? Sounds easy, let's do it.
February 1, 200916 yr Shall we just get relegated now to save us the hassle of slipping slowly and painfully for the next decade? :S
February 2, 200916 yr Great idea mate but unfortunately i feel things will get worse for us . R.A. is still worth 18 billion but refuses to pump any money into the team so my immediate thought is , he has lost interest and he's not excited at the prospect of a transfer market anymore. The future as far as im concerned is grim because we dont have enough quality and were not ready to bring any in. Another transfer market passes us by at a time when we need to improve the squad so that basically says it all. CFC is not fun for R.A. anymore , the desire has gone and i can see certain players looking elswhere because of a lack of ambition by our owner . If our problems are not solved before next season , i can see certain players moving on to other challenges . J.T. i feel will move if he's offered a mega deal which will be a q for Lamps to think similar so both i fear will be gone at the start of next season and Essien could move too. We failed to replace players we sold , Robben, Duff, Guddy, Crespo, players who were a big part of our success and the recent sales of Bridge and Carlo dosent exactly fill me with confidence. Drogs has lost interest too , another player who cant wait to get away so the guts of our great side is disappering. Nothing lasts forever but the ambition being shown by certain individuals within the club sends out negative signals so im not expecting too much from CFC . Maybe we should all get used to it and just hope for the best.
February 2, 200916 yr That last line sums it up clubhappy, IMO the current squad is still better than most of the priemer league teams, so move on a few of the older gentlemen and hope that some youngsters can deliver. Maybe our fate is to be a cup team for a few years, until things start to come together again. But I think we will still be in the mix each year, eventually falling short, but in the mix.
February 2, 200916 yr Our future is very uncertain, every since Jose left we have gone downhill in confidence it's what we have lacked. We are not confident of Roman being at the club for a long time. What you say sounds all good and merry but we are not Man City, we are not the team that goes around and spends big anymore. The EPL title seems a very unlikely now however we still have the FA Cup and CL which is still achieveable, from now to the end of the season we need to show our so called star players that they are not a must start anymore begin to drop them and replace them with the likes of Stoch which will hopefully show more passion from them. Im personally looking forward to getting essien as he has youth and energy, for me ballack/malouda/bosignwa are our 3 main flaws i'd much rather see beletti/deco/stoch play ahead of those. Bosignwa is a awful defender and becomes very lazy when we are behind. Ballack has just simply lost his form and is non existant out there and im not going to comment on malouda.
February 2, 200916 yr Bring in Zola and Clarke. Looks like Carlton Cole has sorted himself out so get him back as well and partner him with Anelka, put Di Santo on the bench. Next season Joe Cole on the left, Stoch on the right, Lampard and Essien in the middle. The defence is fine, we need a backup keeper. Get rid of all the players Star mentions and blood some youth. We will not be at the top for a few years but those of us who have been around for a while are used to that. The key for me is not buying old established stars and following the Wenger model of finding young up and coming stars, which is what we seem to be doing. The only problem with that is we won't see the benefit for a couple of seasons. All I want to see is the players on the park busting a gut for the club. If they don't, they can fark off!
February 2, 200916 yr I think an awful lot of our problems could be sorted by the addition of just one quality player up front. This weekend I watched Madrid struggle against Numancia and the match swung on two pieces of brilliance from Robben. The first set up a goal and the second he scored. I then saw the much vaunted Barcalona play Racing and they were trailing 1-0 looking pretty clueless until Guardiola brought on Messi. Within 2 minutes he equalised and then went on to score a fantastic goal to win it. In both cases the whole difference was one player capable of changing a match. With Anelka, Cole, Malouda, Kalou we don't have anything like that. Chelsea with Messi on the right and Robben on the left and Drogba up front with the rest as is now would be sensational. I know that's not going to happen but we have to find someone who can play that role for us.
February 2, 200916 yr We can't beat (or even hardly score against the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal or Liverpool) and we have a chance in the Champions League? Cheers, Butch
February 2, 200916 yr Liverpoo managed to win the Champions League when they didn't exactly put the Premiership on fire that season. Not that I at present think we can do the same, but it's been done before...
February 2, 200916 yr All very depressing stuff but let us not forget that we are still more than capable of doing something..... well the thought at least keeps me going!! We just need a spark to get us going again..optimist I know. Why are we not attacking teams...we could not even muster a shot until after 70 minutes at Liverpool. Surely we have got to give Drogba a run in the team, it might be just the tonic to get us going again...I know I am on that optimistic trail again!!!
February 2, 200916 yr the future looks good we have a strong squad of players, who are all now with us till the end of the season maybe they will settle now and get on with buisness at hand if players are looking to move in the summer they have a few months to put themselves in the shop window for potential bidders, and the better they play for the chelsea the more wages they are likley to get from another club
February 2, 200916 yr I think we have to consider two ways and means for our future: 1. Refusing new players to strenghten the squad during January transfer window means the Club's stragey is to make a big cut with the end of this season, signing 3 or 4 new star players and selling players like Malouda, Kalou and Drogba or 2. Roman has really lost his passion for the Club and Chelsea Mega-Sales starts at the end of the season.
February 2, 200916 yr Bring back Carlton Cole? why not Sidwell and Parker while we're at it. He's scored 5 goals in the last six games with 4 assists. He is a Chelsea boy and would play with his heart and soul if he got a second chance here. We know what sort of talent he has, it was just wasted by his off field problems. I would rather have him than a player like Messi who will not bleed for the club. As for Parker, I would rather have him than Mikel, but I guess thats just me. While I'm at it, bring back Johnston as well!! :-) Edited February 2, 200916 yr by Dave McD
February 2, 200916 yr People will hate me for saying this, but I think I'd rather have Parker right now than Mikel. And I'd also rather have Johnson than Bosingwa. *hides*
February 3, 200916 yr Ok, lets not get too carried away with what ex players we'd rather have or else we could start talking about Crespo, Gudjohnsen, Duff, Robben, etc. However, I do think this summer will be a big indicator as to what we as Chelsea fans, can expect in the future. It seems that we go through this quite often, we have decent runs, and then end up needing to offload "deadwood!" However, I do think it is important in a transitional period to keep a blend of experience and passion as well as off-loading people who seem to have developed into journeymen. Star, I think your idea is a decent one, and I too would love to see us offload most of whom you have highlighted. At least that should bolster the kitty a little. Then, in the summer, dip into Roman's cash funds (not as heavily as we will have quite a decent kitty from January and summer sales) to bolster the squad with a couple of key signings; mianly wingers and a striker. Then, with the combination of experience (an English backbone), some flair and necessary signings, and add the determination of some youth, I think it is a great recipie for a succesful team. The new signings would energize those already in the squad by showing our intentions. The addition of Youth with energize them as they will be "up" for playing with super-stars and being in the first team. And hopefully the new signings will be energized to show off in a new team, in a new league. Overall, we have an energized team that will hopefully Challenge, and at the same time look like they give a sh*t Scott
February 4, 200916 yr Firstly everyone sign up to Chelsea TV and watch the youth team play at Anfield on Thursday night. I think I'm more looking forward to watching this match tomorrow night than I have done a first team game for ages. Don't know huge amounts about the youth team to be honest. Do we know who is likely to be in the line up? Now Kakuta has broken into first team squad/reserves, does that mean he won't be playing tomorrow? Edited February 4, 200916 yr by Nibs
February 4, 200916 yr we need an youngster hungry as wolf who can kick & score at any occasion. new Crespo / new Batistuta
February 4, 200916 yr QUOTE :However, I do think this summer will be a big indicator as to what we as Chelsea fans, can expect in the future. It seems that we go through this quite often, we have decent runs, and then end up needing to offload "deadwood!" I have posted elsewhere that the "new" Chelsea of no big money signings, loans in instead of out and most importantly blooding the talented youngsters is the Chelsea of the future. Everyone on here seems to expect the heyday to continue and it will not. The (new ?) owner intends to run Chelsea as a business not a Club. To do that the thing must make a profit and must be able to stand on its own feet. At the end of this Season you will see players leave (Drogba, Ferreira, Malouda, Kalou, Belletti plus others) and the wage bill totally slashed. Then and only then will Chelsea have a chance of meeting Kenyon's/RA's business plan. Players coming in, as at virtually every other Premier Club, will be loan signings and the calibre will be determined by how much wages CFC are prepared to pay. These players together with what remains of our expensively assembled squad, will be supplemented by Youth's promoted to the First Team Squad. Guys you must get used to it. Chelsea is changing, even more so in light of the World financial meltdown. I dread to think what will happen if we fail to make the Champions League next season. It is quite simple, If your income is £1 you can only spend that £1, no more. That is the basic premise of Chelsea's business plan and it aint going to change.
February 4, 200916 yr QUOTE :However, I do think this summer will be a big indicator as to what we as Chelsea fans, can expect in the future. It seems that we go through this quite often, we have decent runs, and then end up needing to offload "deadwood!"I have posted elsewhere that the "new" Chelsea of no big money signings, loans in instead of out and most importantly blooding the talented youngsters is the Chelsea of the future. Everyone on here seems to expect the heyday to continue and it will not. The (new ?) owner intends to run Chelsea as a business not a Club. To do that the thing must make a profit and must be able to stand on its own feet. At the end of this Season you will see players leave (Drogba, Ferreira, Malouda, Kalou, Belletti plus others) and the wage bill totally slashed. Then and only then will Chelsea have a chance of meeting Kenyon's/RA's business plan. Players coming in, as at virtually every other Premier Club, will be loan signings and the calibre will be determined by how much wages CFC are prepared to pay. These players together with what remains of our expensively assembled squad, will be supplemented by Youth's promoted to the First Team Squad. Guys you must get used to it. Chelsea is changing, even more so in light of the World financial meltdown. I dread to think what will happen if we fail to make the Champions League next season. It is quite simple, If your income is £1 you can only spend that £1, no more. That is the basic premise of Chelsea's business plan and it aint going to change. So what you're saying is we're gonna turn into Arsenal Edited February 4, 200916 yr by BLUENUT
February 5, 200916 yr QUOTE :However, I do think this summer will be a big indicator as to what we as Chelsea fans, can expect in the future. It seems that we go through this quite often, we have decent runs, and then end up needing to offload "deadwood!"I have posted elsewhere that the "new" Chelsea of no big money signings, loans in instead of out and most importantly blooding the talented youngsters is the Chelsea of the future. Everyone on here seems to expect the heyday to continue and it will not. The (new ?) owner intends to run Chelsea as a business not a Club. To do that the thing must make a profit and must be able to stand on its own feet. At the end of this Season you will see players leave (Drogba, Ferreira, Malouda, Kalou, Belletti plus others) and the wage bill totally slashed. Then and only then will Chelsea have a chance of meeting Kenyon's/RA's business plan. Players coming in, as at virtually every other Premier Club, will be loan signings and the calibre will be determined by how much wages CFC are prepared to pay. These players together with what remains of our expensively assembled squad, will be supplemented by Youth's promoted to the First Team Squad. Guys you must get used to it. Chelsea is changing, even more so in light of the World financial meltdown. I dread to think what will happen if we fail to make the Champions League next season. It is quite simple, If your income is £1 you can only spend that £1, no more. That is the basic premise of Chelsea's business plan and it aint going to change. I hope that happens. Keep some experienced players to guide the youth and bring in any other experienced players where necessary. Could this explain why we have so many young players getting first team experience on loan at other clubs?
February 5, 200916 yr C.L. next season is crucial and at the moment we could struggle to qualify so R.A. needs to invest to secure quaifaction . I can see Scolari going in the summer unless we get top 3 and win a trophy , be it the F.A. Cup but im not sure a high profile manager will want the job unless he can strenghtn the squad .