I'd rather we fixed the problems we have in the middle of the park when Fabregas moves into the hole than sign Cuadrado. Personally I don't rate and I just don't think he is an upgrade on Willian. Makes more sense to try and buy either Illaramendi (Madrid will sell him at a knockdown price once they buy Lucas Silva) or better still Schnederlin from Southampton whom I reckon qualifies as homegrown, and try and shift out Salah and Mikel. Ramires/Oscar can then compete for a role on the right when Fabregas moves up to 10 and/or Willian needs replacing.

 

Or we just do what we've done for most of the season and play with Oscar as the more advanced of the midfield three.

We were in for these guys long before Jose's arrival, and a lot of work was probably in progress.

Yes, Jose would have sanctioned the signings, but I doubt they were his targets.

Fabregas, Costa, Matic, Luis. Those were his targets, in my opinion, and Varane too I suspect.

I have felt for a long time he would target somebody on the right flank and a centre-back.

Regarding Cuadrado, those of you saying he's unpredictable, for my money that's what we're missing on the right flank, a bit of unpredictability.

There is also a rumor that Jose knew he was coming back quite a while before any of us, like before benitez was appointed... Willian Has Jose player written all over him

So we're not signing anyone accoring to Jose.. and Cuadrado doesn't fit in out team.

So we're not signing anyone accoring to Jose.. and Cuadrado doesn't fit in out team.

Rule number one with Jose is the same as rule number one with the doctor (accoring to doctor song)

Edited January 23, 201511 yr by barak81

Jose typically evasive in his press conference, says that if someone goes of course we'll bring someone in.

Basically if any deals fall through, in public at least, he's said he's happy with his full squad. One of the more sensible things he's said recently.

We're signing someone, I think we can be fairly confident of that.

I don't particularly rate this guy that highly. really good in the world cup but in general from what I've seen he's fairly hit and miss.

 

what he does have going for him is that- unlike schurrle or willian- his preference is to play on the right (something I don't think either of the other two ever did consistently before joining).

 

also we're not a side that crosses much anymore and we score very few goals that way- I guess he would add variety to the way we attack.

 

if you look over his career you could argue that wide players is where jose has had the least success in the transfer market so I can't say this is a move I'm all that hopeful about. personally I would prefer if we persist with schurrle and if salah leaves then surely boga could be given a chance?

I don't particularly rate this guy that highly. really good in the world cup but in general from what I've seen he's fairly hit and miss.

what he does have going for him is that- unlike schurrle or willian- his preference is to play on the right (something I don't think either of the other two ever did consistently before joining).

also we're not a side that crosses much anymore and we score very few goals that way- I guess he would add variety to the way we attack.

if you look over his career you could argue that wide players is where jose has had the least success in the transfer market so I can't say this is a move I'm all that hopeful about. personally I would prefer if we persist with schurrle and if salah leaves then surely boga could be given a chance?

The issue with relying on a player like boga for fourth, I feel, is the fact that if Willian or André are injured, he's gonna be getting too much of a weight on his shoulders. I'm not ready to rely on him to come on and change the game the way Andre or Cuadrado would.

This is getting boring now. Hopefully there's some news tonight!

This is getting boring now. Hopefully there's some news tonight!

We were only linked with him about 4 days ago.

I'm with g3.7, he looks just as inconsistent as Willian, schurle etc when I've seen him, though admittedly that's not that many times. I hope we don't swap schurle for him, but wouldn't have too much of a problem if its salah.

Not minding too much now. Cuadrado is an out and out winger so would be quite useful to have on the right

Edited January 23, 201511 yr by MANoWAR

We were only linked with him about 4 days ago.

I'm with g3.7, he looks just as inconsistent as Willian, schurle etc when I've seen him, though admittedly that's not that many times. I hope we don't swap schurle for him, but wouldn't have too much of a problem if its salah.

I know, but transfer rumours always drag on more than they need to. Also, every bloody sports news outlet contradict themselves, so it's a headache knowing who to believe. I think it needs to be cuadrado or no one, as this douglas costa doesn't sound anything like we need, and may as well bring back T-hazard than throw away 16-20 million.

The issue with relying on a player like boga for fourth, I feel, is the fact that if Willian or André are injured, he's gonna be getting too much of a weight on his shoulders. I'm not ready to rely on him to come on and change the game the way Andre or Cuadrado would.

I really can't disagree enough.

 

firstly- I think that for the young players who are deemed potentially good enough to play for us there still has to be a pathway into the squad.

 

secondly- say schurrle and willian are both injured. if we're at home to aston villa, throw boga in. if we're away to southampton then we still have the option of ramires out wide, or remy out wide, or fabregas in the band of 3 attacking players, or switching to 433 etc.

 

4 senior players for two positions sounds like a good thing on paper. but actually salah isn't 2nd choice to play in one specific position. at best his role in the squad is fourth choice to play in two positions. in other words he needs two injuries to even be considered, not one. I don't think putting boga (or someone else from the kids) in that position overburdens them or stretches the squad at all.

 

p.s. when we signed swp he struggled for games under hose in a similar fashion to salah and that was in a squad with robben, duff and joe cole- all more likely to pick up injuries than our current group.

Edited January 23, 201511 yr by g3.7

It looks like Chelsea aren't rising to a few million which they want, it looks like we are going to be stubborn about it and I can't see us getting our way.

 

In other news with Douglas Costa, some rumours of us bidding 20 million but Shakhtar want 30 million, however it's very well known that the player wants to leave. Not sure if it can be believed or not but yes apparently he said Chelsea would be a dream come true.

Considering Costa has come out and said we've made an offer is more believable then Cuadrado's silence and Fiorentina's he's not for sale comment.

I can't say I have seen a ton of Chelsea matches this season but I have probably seen 5 or 6 so far and one glaring weakness I noticed was the right side seemed a little dead. William never seemed to offer much support and it seems like Ivanovic has to do all the work offensivley on that side. Cuadrado would be an instant upgrade and im kind shocked to hear some of you say William or Schurlle would be better. William in my opinion drifts centrally too much to help out and I don't know why Schurrle doesn't play like he does when he is sting for Germany. Cuadrado is no Reus but you can't overlook a pure winger who does nothing but run at defenses with his pace and tracks back like a proper wing back. If this deal happens Chelsea will win the league by April ;)

Willian is the most overrated player I've seen for quite some time who doesn't get criticized despite being sh*t for almost 1 & half a year. People still come up with excuses and defends him because of him being a workhorse and retaining the ball but other than that he does nothing and they ignore the fact that he has a brain fade almost every time he's in the final third can't cross, isn't creative by any means to unlock defence, can't even score a goal from open net.

 

I'd imagine if even Mohmad Salah had been given that much chance that Willian has got he would have done better.

Willian is a good player, good footballer, always has been and he does nothing but work his socks off for the side.

 

It's nothing to do with consistency with Willian, you will always get that standard of performance from him, however he can't seem to raise the bar and produce more. For me I think he gets too much game time, especially when Schurrle has goals and assists to his game, Schurrle brings more variety in the attack. He probably wasn't worth his price I'll agree with that but I'm happy he is here regardless, I don't want him out of the side any time soon but I wish he wasn't starting there and playing 90 minutes almost every game. It would probably help him out if he had less game time, he would know he has to prove a point.

 

When he was benched in his first 3-4 months he was here it was the best we've ever seen him at the club, looked exceptional whenever he came on. As for Cuadrado coming in I have no problems with that, I'm happy we are getting an upgrade on Salah. That space is wasted if Mourinho doesn't want him here.

 

People need to also remember that this doesn't mean we have 3 options on the right side, if anything it's better options to rotate. Schurrle can play just about anywhere he always does the same usual job, he drifts in the centre and looks to get on the ball in wide positions. Willian isn't even naturally a right winger, so he can play just about anywhere also.

Well he looks good on Youtube :)

^ Always felt this way about Willian. The problem with buying Cuadrado this Jan is what happens in the summer when a Sanchez type player is available in the market assuming we loan/sell Salah? We won't be able to buy him because

1. Cuadrado will need a full season ala Willian before we can fully judge him

2. No one will pay close to £20m for Willian

3. No team will offer close to the £20m+ for Schurrie this Jan if he is behind Cuadrado & Willian in the pecking order.

Makes more sense to address the lack of balance in the centre of the park if you take out either Fabregas/Matic, instead of making a panic buy.

Our right wing just couldn't create even 50% of the pressure which comes from Hazard and centrally, because of this oppositions teams tries to shut down Hazard and when that happens our attacking threat becomes ineffective. If we somehow get a winger who can atleast create 50% of what Hazard do, we'll be devastating in the attack and we'll be even more unpredictable.

Edited January 23, 201511 yr by CFCBlue12

From what I've seen of this guy i like. He's very fast, has quick feet, good passing, crossing and a decent shot. Only time will tell if he goes on to do well, but if Jose wants to buy him I'd say there's a good chance. He has had a good record with transfers after all.

Our right wing just couldn't create even 50% of the pressure which comes from Hazard and centrally, because of this oppositions teams tries to shut down Hazard and when that happens our attacking threat becomes ineffective. If we somehow get a winger who can atleast create 50% of what Hazard do, we'll be devastating in the attack and we'll be even more unpredictable.

I thought I was the only one who saw it, in my opinion solving the over reliance on Hazard on the wings is more important that working on central issues. Especially with UCL footy coming soon getting a quality non cup tied player is the best move.

So we're not signing anyone accoring to Jose.. and Cuadrado doesn't fit in out team.

Thats not what he said. The context of his comments were that Cuadrado is a Fiorentina player so he fits in the Fiorentina team ie I dont speak about other teams players

If he came in for Salah I'd be pleased, if he came in for Schurrle I'd be disappointed. 

 

If they both left we'd be pretty short of wingers with us still in 4 competitions.

Our right wing just couldn't create even 50% of the pressure which comes from Hazard and centrally, because of this oppositions teams tries to shut down Hazard and when that happens our attacking threat becomes ineffective. If we somehow get a winger who can atleast create 50% of what Hazard do, we'll be devastating in the attack and we'll be even more unpredictable.

what about using Schurrle on the right instead of Willian?

At least he's more direct with his running and I think he's even faster