Also our only transfer targets are defenders. We need attackers.

 

I agree that we need atleast one attacking player that can help Hazard create, preferably Reus. I can also see us improving our attacking play with fast defenders that can hold a high line. Add to that a left back and right back playing in their natural position adding width to our attack. At the moment Ivanovic don't do attacking or defending well, while Azpilicueta is forced to hold back to help a slow Terry from beeing isolated in a 1on1.

 

Courtois

Azp---Stones--Zouma--Baba

-------Matic---Fabregas-------

Willian-----Hazard------Reus

--------------Costa--------------

I agree that we need atleast one attacking player that can help Hazard create, preferably Reus. I can also see us improving our attacking play with fast defenders that can hold a high line. Add to that a left back and right back playing in their natural position adding width to our attack. At the moment Ivanovic don't do attacking or defending well, while Azpilicueta is forced to hold back to help a slow Terry from beeing isolated in a 1on1.

 

Courtois

Azp---Stones--Zouma--Baba

-------Matic---Fabregas-------

Willian-----Hazard------Reus

--------------Costa--------------

You cant have 3 of your 4 back line 21 or under, will not work at all

Unless Farbragas get his act together and put in decent defensive work, I don't think the 4231 will work. I think Jose will go back to 433, put a Ramires (hopefully Oscar) in the midfield. I don't think we need an injury prone Reus, who's not going to help with defence either.

You cant have 3 of your 4 back line 21 or under, will not work at all

 

I think it will, but I would rotate Terry for Zouma this season depending on us playing a high defensive line or not. 

It's not just going backwards by not recruiting, it's going backwards by selling players like De Bruyne and Lukaku and replacing them with the likes of Cuadrado and Falcao.

What is the point of recruiting worse players than the ones you let go?

If you're going to sell De Bruyne then you'd better make sure you bring in a Griezmann or a Bale.

If you sell Lukaku then bring in a Pedro or a Benzema.

But don't even think about it if your solution is to bring in Cuadrado and Falcao. That's just nonsense.

It's not just going backwards by not recruiting, it's going backwards by selling players like De Bruyne and Lukaku and replacing them with the likes of Cuadrado and Falcao.

What is the point of recruiting worse players than the ones you let go?

If you're going to sell De Bruyne then you'd better make sure you bring in a Griezmann or a Bale.

If you sell Lukaku then bring in a Pedro or a Benzema.

But don't even think about it if your solution is to bring in Cuadrado and Falcao. That's just nonsense.

Unfortunately this is real life and not Fifa 16. Would the likes of KDB, Lukaku, Griezman and Benzema be content with playing as often as Cudrado and Falcao? Those two left for that specific reason. Lukaku didnt want to sit behind Costa and KDB had a fallout, presumably because Jose prefered Oscar

For what its worth neither of those two replaced KDB or Lukaku anyhow

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by TheChelseaBlues

We can't just spend and not recoup the money, especially dealing with players who didn't want to stay. I thought there were poor decisions to let Mata/Schurlle go, or at least it was short sighted. Very few  complained about that after we won the double, so I guess we shouldn't be complaining after we lost a few games this season.

According to the express we are bringing in 22 year old Germany international CB Rudiger, maybe a diversion for stones who knows...    

I believe, in a long run it's a good thing, we were to be embarrassed in that fashion last night. I could imagine Hazard scoring an equalizer and us defending with our backs against the wall the last twenty minutes and afterwards people would be hailing Mourinho's genius for getting a draw in a tough away game. At the very least, if not the pathetic performance, this result will force our board and manager to rethink their strategy, because too many things have gone wrong so far and this result was coming for some time.

 

We don't have a deep squad and our first eleven regressed. The starters got complacent because there's no real competition for places. Look at our bench for City game and you'll get the idea. Some things can be addressed at the training ground, but I'm afraid we won't see a noticeable improvement without spending serious money on a few new players. Our  rivals spend big, we stand still. If the club doesn't change its approach, it'll be a very long season.

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by abramovich

I don't think we need many signings. A CM and a CB, we just signed a LB and we already have 3 players to cover the RW so not much need for someone else in that position. I don't think world beaters are what we will get right now, but a change in attitude going into games and a tweak of our tactics and player positions is what is really needed most.

You cant have 3 of your 4 back line 21 or under, will not work at all

 

I agree. I don't get why so many have all of a sudden decided JT should be dropped, it seems like a massive knee jerk reaction to me.

According to the express we are bringing in 22 year old Germany international CB Rudiger, maybe a diversion for stones who knows...

Thank god. That guy is a beast. Better than Stones right now and from the looks of it 20m cheaper.

Have we gone backwards? Yes.

 

Do not even try to f**king argue it. We're leagues behind our closest competition it's not even funny.

Last season we had 5 months where we looked electric and took all the early plaudits, but since Febuary we have looked oridnary.

 

The last 22 games of last season, we only won two of those games by more than 1 goal.

And we have won 1 of our last 5 Premier League ties season to season. Home to Sunderland on the last day in May. We've been in stuttering form for some time. We need something better than Cuadrado on the right to take opponents focus off Eden and Cesc.

Have we gone backwards? Yes.

 

Do not even try to f**king argue it. We're leagues behind our closest competition it's not even funny.

Hardly, trophy couple of months ago, couple of games in. Still time for improvement. We have the raw material we just need to reconstruct.

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by Droogba

A lot on here is like giving a live person an autopsy. We may have fallen down, but we're not out.

Hardly, trophy couple of months ago, couple of games in. Still time for improvement. We have the raw material we just need to reconstruct.

 

It is dangerous to look back. The PL trophy in May is almost irrelevant now. Other sides have improved and we clearly haven't and right now in fact look worse. You are right, there is time for improvement and thankfully we have one of the best coaches in the business to make those improvements but the clock is ticking and he needs to start making them now and not continue to show faith in his "untouchables".

New intake will create a new dynamic, time will tell.

I think we all agree we require a FEW new players, Baba joining will certainly help and hopefully released Azpi to the right, condemning Ivan to CB and/or bench. We still need a proper attacking winger to help Eden out and/or central midfielder....

 

The bench is also a worry, we simply don't have anyone to bring on that can be a game changer or provide a spark - we NEED at least two of our young boys on that bench at all time (Kennedy and or RLC spring to mind!)

 

But is 4-2-31 really waht Chelsea need with the squad we CURRENTLY have?? Should we be looking at changing things up at this stage (thought it would happen in pre season, but it hasn't) This is why we are SO predictable in our games, why the opposition skips past our midfield and exposes our aging, flaccid back four - They simply know our routine, our positioning, our tempo!

 

I would like to see 4-1-4-1 (with CURRENT Squad)

 

                     Tibo

 

Azpi       Zouma    JT        Baba

                       

                    Matic

 

          Oscar             Fab

   Willian                         Eden

                 

                     Costa

 

Bench: Beg, Kennedy, RLC, Mosses, Cahill, Remy, Ivan

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by ButchersHook

I think we all agree we require a FEW new players, Baba joining will certainly help and hopefully released Azpi to the right, condemning Ivan to CB and/or bench. We still need a proper attacking winger to help Eden out and/or central midfielder....

The bench is also a worry, we simply don't have anyone to bring on that can be a game changer or provide a spark - we NEED at least two of our young boys on that bench at all time (Kennedy and or RLC spring to mind!)

But is 4-2-31 really waht Chelsea need with the squad we CURRENTLY have?? Should we be looking at changing things up at this stage (thought it would happen in pre season, but it hasn't) This is why we are SO predictable in our games, why the opposition skips past our midfield and exposes our aging, flaccid back four - They simply know our routine, our positioning, our tempo!

I would like to see 4-1-4-1 (with CURRENT Squad)

Tibo

Azpi Zouma JT Baba

Matic

Oscar Fab

Willian Eden

Costa

Bench: Beg, Kennedy, RLC, Mosses, Cahill, Remy, Ivan

How would that formation differ from what we play now? It is a practice exactly how we line up now. 433, 4231, 4141, it changes nothing in reality.

Without the ball we are very much 451, with the ball we 4141.

The only way it would change, would be if both wingers stayed on the half way line with costa when we defend, which would be a proper 433.

New intake will create a new dynamic, time will tell.

Absolutely. Bit we need quality intake, not another has been striker or, god forbid, someone like Cuadrado

Absolutely. Bit we need quality intake, not another has been striker or, god forbid, someone like Cuadrado

Which is why I think Jose made the point that we waited a year for Costa the other day.

Maybe that type of player isn't available now but by next summer they might be?

I would like us to add someone who's good at set pieces. What you guys think of Hakan Calhanoglu? Can play all over attacking midfield, good at both feet, good at shooting from distance...

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_bBeiAM4I

Edited August 17, 201510 yr by BelgradeCFC

i don't think we should continue buying for the sake of it. there comes a time when we need to give chances to the guys we already have at our disposal, but jose needs to start showing belief in those players instead of disregarding them. 

We have JM's select XI.

 

Then we have the rest of the squad, all the many dozens of loanees, plus all the U21's.

 

In between is a mile high concrete wall, with electric fencing and armed guards, and mines scattered on the floor.