So with the Man C epic, i'll say that again, EPIC win under our belt we are all very happy with the team, manager (  ) and various morphing formations...

 

But i was wandering what are our thoughts on the future of the old guard...

 

and by old guard i mean:

 

Cech

Cole

JT

Franky

Mikel

 

Whats best for them? Whats best for Chelsea?

 

Its a tough and somewhat emotional topic for us all... Is it 'fair' to keep some of them warming the bench, as apposed to letting them tackle a new challenge somewhere else...  

 

I for one am still a firm believer in the 'backbone' Chelsea have had for many years... and believe our 'older' boys play a massive role in educating the younger generation - but is it fair to deprive them from potentially moving on...

 

Let me know what you think....

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by ButchersHook

So with the Man C epic, i'll say that again, EPIC win under our belt we are all very happy with the team, manager (  ) and various morphing formations...

 

But i was wandering what are our thoughts on the future of the old guard...

 

and by old guard i mean:

 

Cech

Cole

JT

Franky

Mikel

 

Whats best for them? Whats best for Chelsea?

 

Its a tough and somewhat emotional topic for us all... Is it 'fair' to keep some of them warming the bench, as apposed to letting them tackle a new challenge somewhere else...  

 

I for one am still a firm believer in the 'backbone' Chelsea have had for many years... and believe our 'older' boys play a massive role in educating the younger generation - but is it fair to deprive them from potentially moving on...

 

Let me know what you think...

Cech- Wide debate already, If Courtois wasn't our player would be a no brainer. I would sale him although based on his ability alone its a real difficult call

Cole & Lamps- Bless them both been great players for us. JM clearly doesn't see them as a starters so I cant see their huge wages being justified nor do I see them signing reduced value contracts. Alas for me its thanks you can have a last big pay day but alas not at Chelsea

JT- Without question another year but can not make an exception and offer a contract past the one year

Mikel- Old guard? Hes what 26. Although I do feel his time at Chelsea is fast coming to an end

Terry, Lampard, Cech will all stay next year. Terry and Cech will be first choice in the starting 11. Lampard will be rotated.

Mikel, I think will stay. His style doesnt suit Jose's tactics but he is good as closing games down. Worth keeping him but I could see the club selling him if they got the right offer.

Cole is a goner already I think..

Cech- Wide debate already, If Courtois wasn't our player would be a no brainer. I would sale him although based on his ability alone its a real difficult call

Cole & Lamps- Bless them both been great players for us. JM clearly doesn't see them as a starters so I cant see their huge wages being justified nor do I see them signing reduced value contracts. Alas for me its thanks you can have a last big pay day but alas not at Chelsea

JT- Without question another year but can not make an exception and offer a contract past the one year

Mikel- Old guard? Hes what 26. Although I do feel his time at Chelsea is fast coming to an end

 

Cech is a tricky one indeed, still has the skills as you say, but i feel he SHOULD stay and have Courtois shdow him for a year as a transition period....

 

JT - To stay for sure i believe and shadow Mourinho... His future is BLUE for sure - Not sure if feasible, but would like to have him in something like a Vialli/Gullit role...

 

Cole - A dieu unfortunately

 

And Franky Frank -  A a true conundrum... really dont know and emotions play a MASSIVE part

Edited February 5, 201412 yr by ButchersHook

i read reports, and they make perfect sense, that JT, Frank and Ashley will all be offered 1 year contracts. ideal situation to keep their experience around the squad, and Jose will certainly want them around as they are so attuned to his methods/tactics.

 

Cech should be kept on. whether we want to bring in Thibaut and let them battle it out in pre-season for the umber one spot, or sell/loan courtois, i dont mind. but we cannot sell cech. he has been, and continues to be a great servant, a true leader and an outstanding performer

Frank, Ash & JT are all on big money and if FFP wasn't around or indeed restrictions on squad size I have no doubt that they would all get another year or two on their current terms.

I truth these three players probably cost around £25-£30 million a year or put another way around 15% of the clubs total wage bill averaged out about 5% each.

The original question was posed "What's best for them, what's best for Chelsea". JT`s game has never been about pace alone or having the exceptional levels of energy to enable the player to get back & forward on a regular basis .His strengths really lie elsewhere whereas Ash & Franks games & indeed reputations are, to a greater degree based around the ability to get forward on a far more regular basis & something that is far more difficult with age.

I would hate to see Ash & Farnk no more than bit players, they deserve better than that.

I think it's largely up to the players, John Terry for example - Captain, Leader, Ledgend.  At the moment he's playing as well as ever and so there should be no question, letting him go now would to my mind be complete folly.  But with ageing players generally if they've been with the club for a long time and want to stay, if they're a good influence on the club, the squad and particularly the younger players then we should try to keep hold of them.  But they would need to understand their role within the club and the team, and their wages should reflect that role.  I'd put the likes of Terry and Lamps definitiely in that category - though I think Lamps will fancy a stint in America. 

Mikel, I'd expect would want to be playing regularly for a few year yet so I'd expect it to be better if he were to leave - he's not exactly "the face of Chelsea" either.  It'll be a shame because despite what some on here think he's been a great servant to the club (and he could well prove to be so for a few more years yet).

Cech and Cole, it depends if they'd be happy to see their roles change to one more aligned with supporting the younger players who have taken their position.  Not sure either of them will need or want to stay to do that job.

Terry and Cech are no brainers for me. Still among the best in their positions in the league. They stay. Courtois is putting the squeeze on us contract-wise, but in my view it is up to him to claim the spot from Cech by coming back as number two and proving he deserves it, not a matter of Cech being pushed out. If he doesn't want to do that, Cech is top class and still young and we would get a very handy profit from selling Courtois on.

 

Lampard is still a crucial contributor. Against West Ham we instantly looked a more dangerous team with him on the field. Not a first choice starter every game naturally, but still with a role to play.

 

Cole is in a tougher spot. Harder to get sub appearances like Lampard, I feel when you have accomplished everything, then you don't stick around to sit on the bench.

 

The key thing is that these players have a role in assisting the younger ones along. Note Eto'o constantly cajoling his younger colleagues last night, and his  influence on Hazard as has been reported recently. Similarly Cahill looks twice the player with JT next to him. That process of bringing the younger players on hasn't finished yet. I also think they act as a key conduit between Jose and the other players as well, which has made his transition in easier than it might have been otherwise.