Why would we need a new starter? Our starting XI is spot on imo, just need a couple of players to be more consistent and clinical. (Oscar and Willian!)

 

I think we need more quality in depth, our bench has looked rather weak a few times last season.

If you're not moving forward, you're standing still, which is very risky when all of your main rivals are strengthening.

 

True, but I think our squad is young enough that we don't have to take such a massive leap forward, like say City (old squad) and Man Utd (poorer squad that they're used to) do.

 

I think a couple of key back ups, and the likes of RLC coming onto the bench etc, that's still moving forward.

"Scraped by" - Jesus H Christ.

 

 

I do agree that our rivals are strengthening, but they had to.

At this moment it looks like we wont sign a starter and it would look something like this:

IN: Begovic, Falcao, Stones, Rahman

OUT: Cech, Salah, Luis, Drogba

This is how it looks today anyway.

The more and more I see United throwing money around the more I think they are going to come undone. They have several players who aren't going to get the time they want because the new guys will push them out. It has the odour of discontent already. Plus at present an injury to Rooney leaves them with zero firepower up front.

City haven't really fixed last year's problems. Stirling and Delph are additions to an already quality midfield but one has an attitude problem and one is a bench warmer.

Liverpool have bought some interesting players but will suffer from losing Stirling the same way they did when Suarez left, they need to change their style again.

Arsenal have got an excellent keeper but not much else.

Why are we so worried? We won the league by a decent margin and have a settled squad. Spurs proved post Bale that throwing money around isn't the answer...

Van gaal is just hoping it works. He is a very stubborn manager and set in his ways it seems from the outside, and he seems to upset players easily. I see utd becoming unsettled at some point next season, but there's no doubt they will be up there with us and city.

I reckon everyone would agree that there are very few players around who will be able to break into our Starting 11 and that is a problem in itself as quality players will not be willing to come in order to play second fiddle to the starting 11.

 

If we were to focus on how our losses from last season (Newcastle and Tottenham-not counting West Brom as we just seemed disinterested) in one game Matic was unavailable and the other Matic had an incredibly poor game. As good as Fabregas is at times he is our Achilles heel especially when Matic is not on top of his game (or absent). I was actually looking forward to Mourinho bringing in Arunguiz or Witsel to shore up the midfield and Fabregas would challenge Oscar for the no.10 spot as that looks unlikely I would love to see Oscar in the deeper role and Fabregas in the no.10 role.

 

I think Oscar will be better suited to the role than Fabregas solely down to his work rate and I also believe he has the technical ability to play it our from the back. 

The more and more I see United throwing money around the more I think they are going to come undone. They have several players who aren't going to get the time they want because the new guys will push them out. It has the odour of discontent already. Plus at present an injury to Rooney leaves them with zero firepower up front.

City haven't really fixed last year's problems. Stirling and Delph are additions to an already quality midfield but one has an attitude problem and one is a bench warmer.

Liverpool have bought some interesting players but will suffer from losing Stirling the same way they did when Suarez left, they need to change their style again.

Arsenal have got an excellent keeper but not much else.

Why are we so worried? We won the league by a decent margin and have a settled squad. Spurs proved post Bale that throwing money around isn't the answer...

none of their signings look that interesting. This is a team that scrapped to fourth thanks to de gea, and not do Maria or any of their record signings. In fact I'm confident if Liverpool had sturridge they would've got 4th instead. Nothing about van gaal so far impresses.

Liverpool look very good actually. Benteke might get hate but with him, sturridge, couthino and firmino they will definitely get 4th. Arsenal are arsenal and city players know pellegrini is on his way out which might affect their play a bit.

There's nothing about our rivals so far that suggests that we should be afraid.

I disagree.

 

I think that United looked good especially once their players settled in the second half of the season.  Don´t forget they had a massive injury crisis at the start of the year that had it happened to us we wold´ve dropped points.

 

And i disagree with the notion that they´re just throwing money around.  Is that what you said when we bought Fabregas, Costa and Luis?  They did just what we did. They´ve identified needs and solved them.

 

Schneiderlin was the best midfielder in the prem last year (non Chelsea).  I wanted him badly.  I reckon he´ll be a really good signing.  

 

United have a quality midfield and competition for places.  Arguably if it clicks their midfield is better than ours.  

 

Those discounting United are foolish.  They will certainly challenge.  And should teams be hit by injuries or suspensions they are in a better position to succeed than most.

 

 I hope we buy players because if we have to rely on the same 11-13 players it might backfire.

Why would we need a new starter? Our starting XI is spot on imo, just need a couple of players to be more consistent and clinical. (Oscar and Willian!)

 

I think we need more quality in depth, our bench has looked rather weak a few times last season.

That is such a HUGE question mark, that IMO I don't think our Starting XI is the best in the league anymore.  Willian doesn't score goals and Oscar is insanely inconsistent.

That is such a HUGE question mark, that IMO I don't think our Starting XI is the best in the league anymore. Willian doesn't score goals and Oscar is insanely inconsistent.

So which team has improved to the extent that they've made up more than a 10 point gap on us based on signings alone?

Maybe we will have an exciting transfer deadline day, it's been a while since we hade a memorable one.

That is such a HUGE question mark, that IMO I don't think our Starting XI is the best in the league anymore.  Willian doesn't score goals and Oscar is insanely inconsistent.

 

Our starting line up is unlikely to differ much from last season so we can hit the ground running. Manure and Bitterpool will need to bed their teams in, Citeh will waste time tinkering with their line up. Only the Goons look like they have a reasonably settled starting XI with the addition of Big Pete between the sticks. We will be in the mix, we have big game players and a manager who knows how to win those big games -

 

Two from Citeh, Manure and Bitterpool are playing for 4th & 5th place, that's a barrow load of money being spunked on failure for a couple of these clubs.

I think so far our vulnerable squad depth hasn't been addressed, at all? We have had a few like 4 like replacements and are arguably slightly weaker as a result? The 2 x Columbians may well have their own Groundhog Day thread just weeks into the season? I think it's Jose's wounded pride, not wanting to admit to a poor transfer mistake, that is giving Cuadrado another underserved, second chance IMHO. Upgrading the likes of Rambo & Mikel are long, long overdue. Stones would definitely give us a lift, should he come ... hopefully? However, it's been a bit underwhelming so far, methinks ... The Mancs & Liverpool are definitely going for it. AW's usual lack of transfer activity continues to hold the Gooner's back. Although PC acquisition should help close the gap. I think we are still slightly ahead, as favourites but only just ... we could make it easier for ourselves by addressing just a little of the above ...

I think so far our vulnerable squad depth hasn't been addressed, at all? We have had a few like 4 like replacements and are arguably slightly weaker as a result?

 

Lack of squad depth has been addressed though. 

 

RLC is now a full time member of the first team squad and so we now have 5 central midfielders to choose from for two positions. 

 

We used to have the best 2nd choice goalkeeper in the league... Now we have the best 2nd choice goalkeeper in the league. 

 

Drogba as much as I love the man looked shot to bits after 30 minutes... I know eyebrows have been raised over Falcao but it is an upgrade, we've got arguably the best choice of attackers in the league now. 

 

Moses has traveled with the squad on pre-season which means we currently have 5 wingers to choose from whereas last season we had 3. Even if one leaves we've still got more depth. 

 

The 2 x Columbians may well have their own Groundhog Day thread just weeks into the season? I think it's Jose's wounded pride, not wanting to admit to a poor transfer mistake, that is giving Cuadrado another underserved, second chance IMHO.

 

I was surprised as anyone that we went for Falcao but he's here now... Let's not start slagging him off before he's even played a game in a Chelsea shirt. 

 

As for Cuadrado, I'm probably the most vocal on this forum about him not being a good signing but clearly the club don't want to make a significant loss on him only 6 months after signing him. Due to his involvement in Copa America he's unlikely to be up for selection for the opening games of the season. That might mean Moses or Traore get a chance in those opening games coming off the bench and if they impress our £26m man might just find himself down the pecking order by the time he is ready for selection. 

 

Upgrading the likes of Rambo & Mikel are long, long overdue. 

 

Who exactly are you going to upgrade them with? 

 

They've got almost 600 appearances for Chelsea combined and over 100 international caps between them. That's a lot of experience for two players who aren't automatic first choice players and most sides would kill for that level of experience to call on.

 

Okay neither of them are the best players in midfield but then that's why they are squad players and both have never whinged or moaned about their playing time and have always done their best whenever they've played. What more could we ask for? 

 

However, it's been a bit underwhelming so far, methinks ... 

 

So far we've addressed the areas of the team that needed addressing. Cech and Drogba were always leaving and within the first two weeks of the transfer window being open we've secured high profile replacements. 

 

Looks like Luis is off next and if rumour is to be believed we've got a replacement lined up for him too. 

 

Stones would be a massive coup if we pull that signing off, the club are looking at longevity for this squad and with the new left back and Stones Chelsea would potentially have their back 4 sorted for the next 10 years. We've rarely seen that sort of forward thinking since Roman came to Chelsea. I think it's an exciting prospect and interesting approach from the club. 

I think that United looked good especially once their players settled in the second half of the season.  Don´t forget they had a massive injury crisis at the start of the year that had it happened to us we wold´ve dropped points.

 

5 of their 8 losses occured in the second half of the season, including a 3 loss goalless streak after they 'were back' and 'in the title picture' after beating city. 

 

They spent a lot of money because they really, really needed to.

Man U haven't addressed their problem areas yet they have bulkdd out their midfield and attacking midfield which they have 11 players for 5 positions and are even linked to more a bit many imo. Their attack which was an area of issue has actually been weakened as of yet and their defence hasn't been dealt with yet either. De Gea will be unhappy and Valdes is leaving. Obviously there is a lot more time in the transfer window and the likes of Otamendi will vastly improve them also their defence is young and has a good chance of improving.

The squad they have is potentially strong but I dont think LVG is tactically good enough or has the man management to keep that massive squad happy especially if the crowd turns like it did last year. A bad start to the season and it will be LVG out ringing round the ground and the forums.

Saw an article on BBC Sports today saying Jose doesn't think we need to sign anyone...

I believe even if we don't bring anyone further in we still have the best balance of the other contenders in terms of the transition from defence through to attack, the only team I am worried about is Arsenal. I believe they have the most settled team in the league and if somehow they are able to land a half decent striker to compete with Giroud it may just be a shootout between us and them.

 

United and Liverpool have had far too many changes and will require possibly a season or 2 for everyone to gel and Manchester City still need to look at their CB's. 

Even with the massive upgrade we gifted them in Cech, I'm not worried about Arse this season.

I am concerned that Costa will get injured and we'll be starting Falcao or a disgruntled (my take is that he isn't happy here) Remy.

 

I believe even if we don't bring anyone further in we still have the best balance of the other contenders in terms of the transition from defence through to attack, the only team I am worried about is Arsenal. I believe they have the most settled team in the league and if somehow they are able to land a half decent striker to compete with Giroud it may just be a shootout between us and them.

 

United and Liverpool have had far too many changes and will require possibly a season or 2 for everyone to gel and Manchester City still need to look at their CB's. 

 

 

 a disgruntled (my take is that he isn't happy here) Remy.

 

Recent quotes from Remy below, he sounds more than happy to be at Chelsea. 

 

 

"I was happy with what I did last season but I think all the players want more. So I want to play more than last season and score more goals than last season. I will see what will happen in the future. But for me the focus is the same, I want to be better than the previous season.”

 

“I am flattered that clubs were interested in me but I never wanted to leave this club because I feel really good. Yes, of course I want to play more but I’m sure I can play more here.

 

“So that’s my target and I just try to make it happen by working hard and show everybody and the manager that he can count on me. For me, my mind is here and I don’t want to leave at the minute. For so many reasons I want to stay – because we won two titles and I’m sure we’re going to win more titles this season, so for me it is really exciting. I want to be a part of this project and there is no reason for me to leave now.

 

“I know that this season there are a lot of games and I will have my chance and now I have to be ready to be not injured and to be ready at the good time.

 

“Can I be first choice? Impossible is nothing. I know that Diego is a really good striker and scored so many goals so at the minute Diego is ahead, the No1 choice I think. But for me I think in football, things change really quick so I never give up and you never know.”

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/20/jose-mourinho-rules-out-loic-remy-joining-crystal-palace-or-west-ham?

I sure hope that's the truth of the matter but the way things went last season I suspect there was an issue, maybe its resolved (hope so) and he will take the stage now and then for us and get the job done.

In reference to Remy I think Mourinho may try playing him on the right at times next season, I recall Mourinho putting him on the right in the latter part of the season and he drifted inside often giving us a more viable attacking threat than Willian.

 

I am sure he would've played more minutes ahead of Drogba had he not got injured, it was pretty clear that he was a much better attacking option for us than Drogba.

If we could get either Pedro or Griezmann, I'd be happy.

People are worried about Utds spending and it's understandable but just look at Real Madrid and the amount they have spent in the last 7 years and how many League titles have they won? One! Money does not guarantee success

 

Does anyone actually believe that Utds first 11 is better than ours? Even with the amount of cash they have spent in the last few years our first 11 is still easily better

 

They still have major holes in their team. Average CBs and a past his best Rooney as their main forward who has failed to score 20 or more goals in each of the last 3 seasons

 

Not forgetting we have the best manager in world football