Mourinho's Untouchables

[Guest]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

[The Moos]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

Ballack has improved lately and in our last game he was one of the best in my oppinion.

[Nibs]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

Ballack has improved lately and in our last game he was one of the best in my oppinion.

But that's still a LONG way from being an "Untouchable".

For me, the only untouchables are really Cech (when fit), JT and on current form Drogba. Even the midfield players can all be left out of certain games depending on the opposition.

[barak81]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

Ballack has improved lately and in our last game he was one of the best in my oppinion.

Im baffeled, not just by you, moose but also by severl others, where is this lyalty to ballak coming from? some things i read you'd think some where deffending there very own family!!

Ballak has not been bad this season, he has not been awfull, he has been average. For me there hasnt been a great deal to critises but there hasnt been a lot to rave about either!!

And there in lies the issue, as ive said previously, there are people sitting on the bench who have done the job for us in the past and have performed outstandingly for us in the past, hell there are people at other clubs who could have doen just a good a job if not better!

The end of the day his performances at the moment do not warrent a starting position and cirtainly not a place on any "untouchables list" which by the way i thought was really bad idea to be going on about, that will really do wanders for those who are fighting for a place!!

[The Moos]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

Ballack has improved lately and in our last game he was one of the best in my oppinion.

Im baffeled, not just by you, moose but also by severl others, where is this lyalty to ballak coming from? some things i read you'd think some where deffending there very own family!!

Ballak has not been bad this season, he has not been awfull, he has been average. For me there hasnt been a great deal to critises but there hasnt been a lot to rave about either!!

And there in lies the issue, as ive said previously, there are people sitting on the bench who have done the job for us in the past and have performed outstandingly for us in the past, hell there are people at other clubs who could have doen just a good a job if not better!

The end of the day his performances at the moment do not warrent a starting position and cirtainly not a place on any "untouchables list" which by the way i thought was really bad idea to be going on about, that will really do wanders for those who are fighting for a place!!

The thing is that there's not many midfielders on the bench that had done a good job in the past. Robben is perhaps the only one, but he hasn't been that consistent lately.

Ballack is a world class midfielder but isn't performing to 100% yet. Still, he get's better and better and therefor I want to give him more time. I'm sure Jos? feels the same way. The same thing goes for Sheva.

I'm not saying he's untouchable. In my oppinion there's only a few player who is: Cech, Terry, Lampard and perhaps Drogba.

But that's still a LONG way from being an "Untouchable".

For me, the only untouchables are really Cech (when fit), JT and on current form Drogba. Even the midfield players can all be left out of certain games depending on the opposition.

Yes, Nibs, I agree. And I don't see Ballack as "untouchable". But I feel we should give him more time to get adjusted to the team.

If we can get both him and Sheva adjusted to our team and our league then we will bring home both the Premier League and the Champions League

[Nibs]

Monday afternnon & Bored at work, so thought I'd do this.

Never mind Untouchables, but looking at the squad we have as it stands, if everyone was fit and available again, I've been thinking about who for me, would be a sure starter and would play more or less every match.

That would leave who I would then keep as back up for injuries / suspensions / matches where different formation was required and finally players who I feel don't have a future at Stamford Bridge.

MUST STAY

Cech

Johhno (As long as there are no more toilet seat incidents!!)

JT

Carvalho

Bridge

Maka (Probably last season)

Essien

Lamps

Joe

Robben

Drogba

Back Up

Carlo (Not sure Carlo will hang around for another season)

Hilario (He's not great but he's done okay and how many great no.3 keepers are there?)

Cashley

Boula

Kalou

Mikel

Diarra (not sure if he'll play second fiddle to Maka for yet another season, but we need to find out if he can do it)

GoodBye

Geremi

Paulo (Sorry Loz!)

Ballack (Sorry G4!)

SWP

Sheva

We desperately need another striker and one that can deliver NOW. By that I mean a player that could play alongside Drogba in a 4-4-2 or God Forbid could step in if Drogba is injured / suspended whatever. I would go for Defoe.

We also need more cover for central defence but that is tricky one. When we had Gallas, we had the world's best as back up! Any player now coming in will know that JT & Carvo are first choice and that they are only going to play when they cannot. We are not gonna get another Gallas on that basis and therefore could do with another Huth - a younger player who is prepared to wait for opportunities when they arise. That said, we do have Boula and who would have forecast all three being unable to play at the same time.

My only reservations are SWP & Robben. I'd still love to see both stay at Chelsea for years and both play at the top of their game for us. We need SWP now but only because of the injury situation. IF he did happen to come good and consistently so, then I'd keep him, but I do fear that won't be the case. As for Robben, IF he can stay clear of niggly injuries and show some consistent form then he is a nailed on starter every week.

If not then he would move to the goodbye list and I'd break the bank to get Messi!!!

[bjd]

I don't see Ballack as "untouchable". But I feel we should give him more time to get adjusted to the team.

Agreed but id like to see some passion from him. I expect more from Ballack than what im seeing. (I also really hate that smirk he has when things dont go his way.)

We needed leaders out there on Saturday and our two big name midfielders didnt step up. I said it on Saturday and i will say it again now, Frank aint a captain, give the armband to Drogba.

Also yet again i feel i have to defend Paulo. Judging him at the moment is dead harsh its like having a pop at a leccy for mucking up your plumbing. He is the best right back at the club by miles and i hope and pray that he gets an extended run there when everyone is back fit again - and Id choose him over Johnno any day, particulary as events of the past week show that Johnno still has a lot to learn.

If we had everyone fit again and i had to pick an XI to win a one off game my team would be:

Cech

Bridge

Paulo

JT

Riccy

Maka

Essien

Lamps

Joey

Robben

Drogba

Id be amazed if any other Chelsea fan chose different (maybe apart from my choice of RB, see my Paulo defence above)

Basically our squad isnt as good as it was this time last year. Again i would be staggered if any Chelsea fan would pick Shev, Ballack and Kalou over Duff, Crespo and Guddy,

[Chippy]

I have a real problem with Mourinhos choices as the untouchables, first of all what has Michael Ballack done recently to be considered untouchable, he has been largely ineffective in the chelsea midfield, for me he is stopping players like Arjen Robben from being picked which give us more of an attacking threat as evident against Arsenal and Newcastle.

Furthermore, i have got to say that i would not class all of the starting eleven as untouchable this season especially, i would say that the only untouchables in the team are Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Claude Makelele and Didier Drogba ( i didnt think i would be saying that last season haha!!)

Ballack has improved lately and in our last game he was one of the best in my oppinion.

But that's still a LONG way from being an "Untouchable".

For me, the only untouchables are really Cech (when fit), JT and on current form Drogba. Even the midfield players can all be left out of certain games depending on the opposition.

I think you could add Riccy to those three and you are spot on, JT and Riccy are a very strong pairing when both are fit and I wouldn't rest either of them against decent opposition.

[yorkleyblue]

Generally a very good call Nibs. The only changes I'd make would be to move Mikel and Paulo into the "Must Stay" pile and move Sweep and geremi into the "Backups" pile

BJD is right, you can't judge Paulo harshly based on what he's been asked to do this season, and I agree with whoever said that he's still the best right back at the club, and one of the best in the league.

Geremi is a very steady fill-in for a lot of positions, and doesn't really look that far out of his depth. I admit he's had a few "average" games over the Christmas and New Year, but he's also had some cracking games.

Keep the Faith and KTBFFH

Kev

[Nibs]

The thing with Geremi Kev, is that I too always thought he was useful to have - a good squad player if you like. But the danger with these kind of squad players is that they always end up playing more games than they should. As much as I like him, he really is no right back and the incideent against Liverpool where he completely lost Riise and we had Cech to thank for it not being 3-0 underlines that (not to mention the clearance to avoid the corner that went straight to Crouch on the edge of the box - okay I have just mentioned it!!!)

So I would rather we got a decent player in rather than make do with Geremi who is a "make do kind of player".

[mad_mac]

geremi is a great addition to any squad, but far off being a permanent fixture. He scares me in defence, although he plays there for his country, as I don't think he is a great tackler/tracker.

He reminds me somewhat of Melchiot in his time at Chelsea. Not bad, but I paniced everytime he went for a tackle

Scott

[yorkleyblue]

fair comment Nibs, I'd go with you with all of that

Kev