Posted July 1, 201113 yr Sky reporting defenders are on AVB's agenda. LINK Skysports.com understands Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has made signing a new British central defender one of this top priorities in this summer's transfer market.New Blues chief Villas-Boas has earmarked the heart of the Chelsea defence as an area of the side that needs strengthening and he is now weighing up his targets. There have been rumours over the future of Brazilian defender David Luiz with Barcelona and Real Madrid both linked with the Benfica man so Chelsea could be in the market for defensive reinforcements. Sources now believe Villas-Boas is drawing up a list of British talent to bolster his defence, which includes Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Birmingham star Scott Dann. Now considering that the boss has said he wants to evaluate the squad first it's probably rubbish. Sky are usually one of the more reliable sources though.
July 1, 201113 yr Surely our defence is the strongest part of the squad? ESPECIALLY central defence!! We have 4 world class centre backs already!...I don't understand this at all!! There's no way Ivanovic, Terry or Luiz are moving on, so unless we've had a good offer for Alex already I don't see any substance to this!
July 1, 201113 yr Read this earlier, did baffle me slightly, especially after his presser and the fact that JT, Alex, Luiz and Ivan are probably among the top defenders in the whole league. I quite like the idea of Cahill, he's a great defender, but I don't want any of those 4 to leave.
July 1, 201113 yr The other day, the media consensus was that Coentraeu was top of AVB's list of targets, simply because he happened to mention him (along with Modric and Falcao) during the press conference. Maybe Skyports understands correctly, but to me it sounds like pure conjecture.
July 1, 201113 yr I would be gutted if we lost Luiz this early on in his time at Chelsea. I cant imagine why Villas-Boas would want to sell him though.
July 1, 201113 yr I would be gutted if we lost Luiz this early on in his time at Chelsea. I cant imagine why Villas-Boas would want to sell him though. He's prob seen more of him than we have. But agree I would be disapointed if he left.
July 1, 201113 yr Can't see us signing a new centre halve unless he plans to use Ivan solely at right back. I really hope Luiz isn't sold.
July 1, 201113 yr He wont sell Luiz, a DM role for Luiz might be something looked upon by the Boas. Is this idea still floating around?
July 1, 201113 yr Including Luiz in that list is so laughable, I don't know why I'm bothering to comment on this article. Might be because I'm waiting for my bus at the moment I guess.
July 1, 201113 yr He wants a BRITISH defender, right? So we could get rid of another BRITISH defender. Your days have probably been numbered, John.
July 1, 201113 yr He wants a BRITISH defender, right? So we could get rid of another BRITISH defender. Your days have probably been numbered, John. Must be because of the terrible last season he had for Chelsea......Oh hang on, he was superb and one of our best and most consistent players.
July 1, 201113 yr The other day, the media consensus was that Coentraeu was top of AVB's list of targets, simply because he happened to mention him (along with Modric and Falcao) during the press conference. Maybe Skyports understands correctly, but to me it sounds like pure conjecture. They also gloss over the fact that he was responding to a direct question (in Portuguese, so I'm not sure what it actually was) that mentioned Coentrao and Falcao by name...
July 1, 201113 yr Bullsh*t article, total bullsh*t We have the best set of defenders in the world, theres no way we are going to be spending on another CB
July 1, 201113 yr Is this idea still floating around? It's still flying around because some would rather see us trying to play Luiz in DM over Mikel. It would give Luiz the safety of not being the last man, whilst still being able to make the interceptions in front of defence and taking the ball into midfield, pushing everyone in front of him forward, rather than watching Mikel intercept (usually very scrappy interceptions, compared to Luizs better timed interceptions) only to pass the ball backwards/sideways, Mikel is their for one reason, to intercept and play safe balls, not exactly the type of football Roman is craving is it ?
July 2, 201113 yr It's still flying around because some would rather see us trying to play Luiz in DM over Mikel. It would give Luiz the safety of not being the last man, whilst still being able to make the interceptions in front of defence and taking the ball into midfield, pushing everyone in front of him forward, rather than watching Mikel intercept (usually very scrappy interceptions, compared to Luizs better timed interceptions) only to pass the ball backwards/sideways, Mikel is their for one reason, to intercept and play safe balls, not exactly the type of football Roman is craving is it ? Think this idea has a lot of potential. Luiz is fantastic at breaking up play and could be really effective in the DM role. He is probably better on the ball than any CB in the league (and many more attacking players too), so wouldn't look out of place in the middle of the park. If the job of the DM is to break up play and play easy balls to more creative players then this is something he capable of doing very effectively. However, if Essien is back to his best the position should be his, with Ramires and Lampard/[new signing] playing just ahead of him.
July 2, 201113 yr If we are to sell Alex there is room for one more but I'd stick with him. One of the most underrated D's in the league.
July 2, 201113 yr Think this idea has a lot of potential. Luiz is fantastic at breaking up play and could be really effective in the DM role. He is probably better on the ball than any CB in the league (and many more attacking players too), so wouldn't look out of place in the middle of the park. If the job of the DM is to break up play and play easy balls to more creative players then this is something he capable of doing very effectively. However, if Essien is back to his best the position should be his, with Ramires and Lampard/[new signing] playing just ahead of him. I've got to say I don't really understand why people persist with this idea of playing Luiz as a defensive midfielder. In a lot of the 4-3-3 battles we face these days in both the Premier League and in Europe, the spare man is often a centre half. Given Luiz is excellent on the ball he is capable of using that to our advantage, stepping into midfield and finding a pass that can open things up for us. Playing him at defensive midfield means we lose that option. I honestly don't have an issue with Mikel or Essien in the holding role, both are capable and in my opinion Mikel has another level to go to yet.
