Why do they bother, we have the best left back in the world & an up & coming one: http://www.express.c...ll/view/329509?

God I hope we don't sign Pereria. We really don't need him. I thought we'd seen the end of that rumour when AVB left...so hopefully it's just lazy journalism.

He's a RB.

And quality..

He's a RB.

And quality..

No he isn't (to both statements)

He's a RB.

And quality..

I believe you are thinking of Joao Pereira, who had a solid Euro with Portugal at RB and was recently sold to Valenica. The article, however, is referring to Alvaro Pereira, Uruguayan LB who plays for Porto and whom we were linked with under AVB.

That article is laughably bad, by the way.

Edited June 28, 201214 yr by ace

He's not shown anything close enough to justifying why he should stay at the club. I was willing to give him time before passing my judgement on him but enough time has passed for him to play himself into the team post injury and he's been pure sh*t. He doesn't offer anything more to our team that the other CMs at the club can't so he's basically become irrelevant, which is tragic as he used to be a beast and feared but he is definitely a shadow of himself and it's painful to watch him play - he can't run, he can't pass, he can't shoot and isn't as physical as he once was.

Don't agree with all that and if what all you say is the case who in their right mind would give us a good amount for him? Would be better off keeping him and hoping he gets better, you don't lose anything by keeping him around for backup and also for helping the youngsters as well.

No he isn't (to both statements)

Think he got confused with Maxi.

Don't agree with all that and if what all you say is the case who in their right mind would give us a good amount for him? Would be better off keeping him and hoping he gets better, you don't lose anything by keeping him around for backup and also for helping the youngsters as well.

I'd rather sell him for £5-7m and get his wages off our books than keep him (especially as I can see us giving him an extension on his contract if we don't sell him this summer). I don't think he'll be returning to what he once was, or near to it for that matter, on the strength that he's lost the legs and mobility which made him what he was and on top of that he's 29.

Why do people want to get rid of Essien? He's come back from a serious injury, he's going to look rusty as he hasn't even kicked a ball in like a year. Started off really poorly but you could see he got slightly better with each game.

Not to mention we wouldn't get any good offers for him, probably no more than £10m-15m. And that's just being optimistic. Worst case scenario is that he doesn't get back to his old self but still makes a good backup/rotation player. If we sold him and he went back to being his old self (Obviously not the same but close to his old self) I would be gutted and that's something I can see happening.

Slightly better with each game? I noticed the opposite, actually. He put in some solid performances initially and got progressively worse after that. I think he's finished at this level and we'd be incredibly lucky if we could get 10 - 15 MP for him.

I just don't want a Pirlo situation to happen with Essien. They got rid before giving Pirlo a chance. Getting £5m-7m for him and his wages off our books won't make a slight difference to our finances whatsoever. It's not very logical either considering things in football can change very quickly. Like I said before If he doesn't improve then he's still valuable backup (much needed considering the potential amount of games we could be playing), nothing of value will be lost by keeping him.

I just don't want a Pirlo situation to happen with Essien. They got rid before giving Pirlo a chance. Getting £5m-7m for him and his wages off our books won't make a slight difference to our finances whatsoever. It's not very logical either considering things in football can change very quickly. Like I said before If he doesn't improve then he's still valuable backup (much needed considering the potential amount of games we could be playing), nothing of value will be lost by keeping him.

Pirlo hasnt had 3 serious knee injuries in the last 5 season's, his game isn't based on physical attributes, he's 5 years older and was out of contract. You can't compare the 2 situations. Personally I'd sell Michael essien. Fantastic player a few years back but I can't see him dominating midfields in his

Pirlo hasnt had 3 serious knee injuries in the last 5 season's, his game isn't based on physical attributes, he's 5 years older and was out of contract. You can't compare the 2 situations. Personally I'd sell Michael essien. Fantastic player a few years back but I can't see him dominating midfields in his

I was comparing them performance wise, nothing else. Why would I compare both of them as players?

I would rather we let him go on a free knowing that we did all we could than see him leave for next to nothing and potentially get better somewhere else.

I was comparing them performance wise, nothing else. Why would I compare both of them as players?

I would rather we let him go on a free knowing that we did all we could than see him leave for next to nothing and potentially get better somewhere else.

The thing about Pirlo is that he fell victim to Milan wanting to freshen the side (ie. get in younger midfielders in Nocerino, as an example) hence why he was let to go on a free. When he played in that title winning season at Milan last year, he showed his class.

Essien on the other hand barely manages to walk, which just shows how much he's eroded physically. I wouldn't mind letting him go and for him to have a 'Pirlo' season but I don't think something like that will be happening. We should cut our losses here as he isn't Chelsea standard (or an elite European club standard for that matter) and we should take what we can gat (ie. hope a wealthy side wants him as his reputation can still garner some interest/value)

The difference is that Essien's strength was his ability to charge forward and run all day lost at a decent speed, due to injuries he can't do that anymore, Pirlo's strength has always been his ability to pass, something that he hasn't declined at and can still have a couple more years doing it at the top level. Milan got rid of him because they wanted a younger team, more fool them, but with Juventus being my second team all has worked out well.

Francois Piraux ‏@F8Piraux

Sky Italia claiming Inter's Brazilian defender #Maicon is close to signing for Chelsea after series of meetings between the two clubs. #CFC

I'm not a fan of Maicon at all. However, we have Ivanovic as a defensive right back option and Maicon could be a useful attacking option. He can't defend though.

I cant see this being true at all as he doesnt fit with the last half dozen or so transfers we have made or the others we are linked with. They have all been young and hungry players, Maicon isnt.

I cant see this being true at all as he doesnt fit with the last half dozen or so transfers we have made or the others we are linked with. They have all been young and hungry players, Maicon isnt.

But if Roman wants us to be Barca in blue a very attack minded right back flying up the side, becoming more of a right winger, does fit though.

It might make sense if we're thinking that a youth team player, like Todd Kane, is going to be taking up the second RB slot on a full time basis in a year or two. Signing an older player won't hinder his progress too much and we'll have a decent back-up until he's ready.

It might make sense if we're thinking that a youth team player, like Todd Kane, is going to be taking up the second RB slot on a full time basis in a year or two. Signing an older player won't hinder his progress too much and we'll have a decent back-up until he's ready.

I was thinking of that too, it could work. If we sign young RB then no chance for our players from academy. We still have Paulo tho.

SSN just mentioned that Lampard could be on his way to LA Galaxy in a 13m year deal.

SSN just mentioned that Lampard could be on his way to LA Galaxy in a 13m year deal.

As Ive said elsewhere - I just don't see him leaving his kids.

SSN just mentioned that Lampard could be on his way to LA Galaxy in a 13m year deal.

Thats interesting. I guess if Modric would be coming here our midfield would be crowded.

I just dont see Frank leaving us until next summer at least.

Agreed. Maybe in a few years. Plus, his wife is a famous public figure in the UK. That would be alot to give up for both of them.

If/when Frank does move on to new pastures, I hope it will be China along with Drogba and Anelka. It would be great seeing our old boys play in one place.

Not player related but,heard a rumour that the FIFA club world cup in Japan will be the first 'official' competition to feature goal line technology?.

Don't know if true to be honest,but if it is, I wonder what our 'chum' Platini would make of it?.

Didn't you hear? FIFA are all for goal-line technology now that England benefited from it.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sepp-blatter-tweets-goal-line-technology-903673

Didn't you hear? FIFA are all for goal-line technology now that England benefited from it.

http://www.mirror.co...chnology-903673

Thanks for that link,when you read it,it shows in a nutshell the attitude of the 'powers that be'.

They seam unable to differenciate the difference (& importance),between poor refereeing, to an inanimate object like a football, crossing (or not), a chaulked white line.

Fans can, mostly, understand why match officials do or do not book/send off a player for an offence conducted during a hectic game & also fail to award correct offsides etc.But as goals are the number 1 aim of the game,what's their problem with a system that will help them get it right?.