The more I come to think on it, Bale is the obvious option to take us to the level with Bayern, Barca and Real. I say that because he is a left footed player who strikes fear the same as Hazard does, but also because of the rumblings that continue in Spain about him, which of course have little to do with his game (12 goals, 5 assists) and far more to do with weird Real politics.

We've a good team now but I do think that a bookend for Hazard is what will launch us to that level again. The rest we're pretty close on. Although I do take Butch's points about Oscar in particular.

Edited March 16, 201511 yr by Spiller86

We need a proper No.10 who could give us 15+ Goals a season, We are clearly not clinical enough and just dont have the composure in the last 1/3rd

 

Goals are needed and we need to start testing keepers which we hardly ever seem to do, I like the suggestion of getting Bale as he would really improve the team greatly

We need a proper No.10 who could give us 15+ Goals a season, We are clearly not clinical enough and just dont have the composure in the last 1/3rd

Goals are needed and we need to start testing keepers which we hardly ever seem to do, I like the suggestion of getting Bale as he would really improve the team greatly

How many number 10's score 15 plus a season?

I think we need to play like we did in that second half yesterday, and we will be a much better side.

I have a feeling jose tried to make some tactical changes following the spurs defeat, and the squad haven't reacted well.

I honestly don't think this squad is that far off, I would us to play a more hung ho style, but it's not mourinho's style.

Bale would put us on a different level, so would rues, but I think the main problem is getting this group of players to play at their optimum consistently.

I fully expect us to improve over the coming weeks with the title in touching distance, and then we can evaluate our options in the summer.

Bale would boost this team significantly but I doubt we would sign him unfortunately.

Our 'first XI' have played 20 of the 28 league games, and they have done a great job to get us where we are today, but we all agree it's gone a bit stale and stagnant.

 

I agree we need a larger squad, with plenty of youngsters in it, all pushing for pitch time and keeping the veterans on their feet.

 

Players like Bamford, RLC, Christensen, Ake, Traoré, Atsu, Baker, Kalas, have them all rotating, see how they get on. With Remy, Zouma, Hazard, Tibo, that will be a lot of youngsters, but we need to start tapping into our younger generation.

Usable rotation options

The more I come to think on it, Bale is the obvious option to take us to the level with Bayern, Barca and Real. I say that because he is a left footed player who strikes fear the same as Hazard does, but also because of the rumblings that continue in Spain about him, which of course have little to do with his game (12 goals, 5 assists) and far more to do with weird Real politics.

 

Id say you are wrong here. Bale has looked dreadful at times this season. But i still think hes a quality player who would improve us considerably.

How many number 10's score 15 plus a season?

I think we need to play like we did in that second half yesterday, and we will be a much better side.

I have a feeling jose tried to make some tactical changes following the spurs defeat, and the squad haven't reacted well.

I honestly don't think this squad is that far off, I would us to play a more hung ho style, but it's not mourinho's style.

Bale would put us on a different level, so would rues, but I think the main problem is getting this group of players to play at their optimum consistently.

I fully expect us to improve over the coming weeks with the title in touching distance, and then we can evaluate our options in the summer.

 

There may not be many no.10's with 15+ goals in them but us as a team we are far too reliant on Costa for his goals, isnt it compelling that ever since goals for Costas have dried up so have our performances.

 

I know traditionally we have been a team which has contributed goals from all over the park but regardless we need more goal threat. People may think we need our defence tightening to the level of the team 10 years back but the truth is football has evolved over that last decade. Teams are more adventurous and more attack minded hence we concede far more goals, the answer is we need to bring in players who can contribute in the last third.

 

I believe we have a very versatile defence which offers us flexibility and we should blood more youth rather than splashing the cash on experienced CB's. We are very wastefule in front of goal and need the investment up top where we have a few more attacking players chipping in with goals on a regular basis.

There may not be many no.10's with 15+ goals in them but us as a team we are far too reliant on Costa for his goals, isnt it compelling that ever since goals for Costas have dried up so have our performances.

I know traditionally we have been a team which has contributed goals from all over the park but regardless we need more goal threat. People may think we need our defence tightening to the level of the team 10 years back but the truth is football has evolved over that last decade. Teams are more adventurous and more attack minded hence we concede far more goals, the answer is we need to bring in players who can contribute in the last third.

I believe we have a very versatile defence which offers us flexibility and we should blood more youth rather than splashing the cash on experienced CB's. We are very wastefule in front of goal and need the investment up top where we have a few more attacking players chipping in with goals on a regular basis.

I think instead of looking for a bigger goal contribution from our number 10, we desperately need more goals from willian and fabregas, who I thought would have scored more.

I think having a week between games should help us get back on form, it gives Mourinho more time to work with the players without pushing them too hard physically.

It has been disappointing the lack of minutes remy, luis, cuadrado, and schurrle have been given this season. I hope next season Mourinho has a squad he can rely on more, as I think mental and physical fatigue has been the main cause for our recent poor performances, and if we played at our peak then we are in the top 5 teams in Europe.

Problem is we've gad weeks between games a lot recently yet the performances have still been poor.

I'd ditch the Brazilians and build a midfield in the Ballack, Lampard mould. I'm fed up with our inability to dominate the midfield. After that i'd let Hazard and Fabregas be 90% creativity and 10% cover and i'd try to find a player who can match Hazard's ability to go past defenders to give us a more balanced attack.

Simple lol

I would like a powerful central midfielder who will strike a ball outside of the area. Play with a middle three like we used to when we had Essien, Makelele and Lamps. Totally possible in March when the transfer window is shut I know...

I would like a powerful central midfielder who will strike a ball outside of the area. Play with a middle three like we used to when we had Essien, Makelele and Lamps. Totally possible in March when the transfer window is shut I know...

Indeed, we already have one... but I'd like a Premier League loan first before he's thrown in, but the potential there is ridiculous.

Indeed, we already have one... but I'd like a Premier League loan first before he's thrown in, but the potential there is ridiculous.

 

I think we need to get past this thing about players always needing PL loans. Loftus-Cheek apparently won't get one, Pogba didn't need one (despite a few United fans at the time insisting he did) and it doesn't always work out.

 

Sometimes you have to be bold and give players with talent a go. It's not like he could be much worse than what we've already got and it's incredibly tricky getting a team who are struggling to stay up or need to develop their own youngsters to give a player who needs support a chance.

 

He had a PL loan at Bradford. Wrong team, wrong environment. 

Loans may improve a player but they very rarely come back ready. They need to be given chances in the first team.

 

I don't think this team does need to go up a level or two. We're top of the league by 6 points with a game in hand, having lost just 2 league games (the next best is 5). The only other game we've lost was against Bradford.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by RichardCFC

Loans may improve a player but they very rarely come back ready. They need to be given chances in the first team.

 

I don't think this team does need to go up a level or two. We're top of the league by 6 points with a game in hand, having lost just 2 league games (the next best is 5). The only other game we've lost was against Bradford.

 

I think we need to go up a level if we want to challenge for the Champions League, and also because the teams below us will probably go up a level too.

 

Man City have arguably dropped a level and that will cost their manager his job and lead to a massive rebuilding task. 

 

Agree with what you say about loaning our players though.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by Blue Daze

I naively thought for a while that if we do win the league this season then Jose might consider introducing some youth next season - was just thinking the pressure would be off; Mourinho's return a proven success; time for a new approach.

 

But in reality, the pressure will never be off and Jose will never take his foot off the "success now" pedal so we will continue with our policy of buying players that we think are ready now.

 

Unlike City, I can't see Roman not wanting to further strengthen what he's got - he seems to watch the game like a fan and I'm sure he's as frustrated as many of us have been with our performances since the New Year.  

Loans may improve a player but they very rarely come back ready. They need to be given chances in the first team.

As long as they have the mental strength from going to bullying Championship midfielders/defenders to possibly being completely bulldozed against Premier League ones in a team that is expected to win then I guess I’d agree. I’d hate for them to get booed off the pitch because a teenager hasn’t won a midfield battle against a Toure-esque player and has been like a passenger against a fellow title rival.

As long as they have the mental strength from going to bullying Championship midfielders/defenders to possibly being completely bulldozed against Premier League ones in a team that is expected to win then I guess I’d agree. I’d hate for them to get booed off the pitch because a teenager hasn’t won a midfield battle against a Toure-esque player and has been like a passenger against a fellow title rival.

 

Our support would never boo a young player. Never.

Our support would never boo a young player. Never.

Okay, I hope you're right.

Without the potential abuse from the crowd though, my first point still stands. Luckily we have a top Manager who can channel any negative feelings a player may have about his player into positive ones so I'm hopeful it wouldn't happen.

Okay, I hope you're right.

Without the potential abuse from the crowd though, my first point still stands. Luckily we have a top Manager who can channel any negative feelings a player may have about his player into positive ones so I'm hopeful it wouldn't happen.

 

I firmly believe that the Chelsea support wants to see young players come through the ranks. We want to sing 'he's one of our own' so I can't see us booing a youngster.

 

We just want the chance. That would invigorate the crowd, seeing someone like Ake or Loftus-Cheek given a game rather than the same old. It requires a leap of faith though and I'm yet to be convinced that Mourinho is the man to do that.

The way people still talk about mceachran I don't think its possible for a youth player to disappoint fans. It takes one league cup game to already be deemed better than mikel so would take about a year and a half before mood turns. 

If you have had a child play football for a team, you'll know that feeling of pride, trepidation and above all, hope. Very similar to how i feel watching a home grown youngster play for Chelsea. If they fail you still stand by them, you want them to get up and go again, it really is very similar.

Edited March 17, 201511 yr by coco

If you have had a child play football for a team, you'll know that feeling of pride, trepidation and above all, hope. Very similar to how i feel watching a home grown youngster play for Chelsea. If they fail you still stand by them, you want them to get up and go again, it really is very similar.

 

Spot on.