Seemed Jose was happy with the squad going into the season.

 

Like-for-like swaps for Cech, Luis and Drogba, plus the introduction of Kennedy and Traore, plus the return of Moses.

 

With RLC and Cuadrado more established than last season, our squad seemed to have more depth, and with the likes of Oscar and Costa rested, Jose seemed more than content.

 

Now we all know we started badly but there seems to have been a dramatic change in policy over the last two weeks.

 

There's no doubt Pedro was a last minute decision and now at the death we're trying to sign Pogba and possibly break the British transfer record in the process.

 

So much for bringing through kids.

 

With Stones handing in a transfer request, it's possible this could be an eye-catching transfer window when it threatened to pass without much action. Our transfer policy prior to the season starting seemed bizarre, with the arrival of Falcao and the lack of interest in a right winger, which was what we were all crying out for, somebody to enhance our attack. We didn't even try for Sterling, a young homegrown player. We were quite content to watch others splash the cash, Jose even accusing them (cheekily) of trying to buy the title.

 

So why the sudden shift and why so late?

 

City have spent £100m on Otamendi, Sterling and others, Utd are spending like it's going out of style, and the line-ups of Barca, Real, PSG and Bayern have A-listers everywhere you look.

 

It seems we've looked at it and decided we can't afford to bide our time, not if we want to compete for the top honours, we have to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. City may well spend another £50m on KDB and where would that leave us? I think they may have forced our hand and caused a change in policy.

 

We sign Pogba and Stones and suddenly we're building a potentially galactico-style team for the future, full of massive names, a definite shift in policy if you ask me. I don't think Jose was thinking along these lines two weeks ago.

 

All of a sudden something's changed. What do you think .. ?

I think you are getting carried away because of the Pogba rumours. Jose said that a couple of players were gonna come in, and with Baba and Pedro, he has kept his word. Stones has been linked with us for a while now, so it should be no surprise. The reason it's taking so long is because we didn't go after him hard enough. If he is still coming, it's a transfer that was already in the books.

 

The Pogba story is just pure nonsense and paper talk. They see we need a midfielder and thus they just make up some link with Pogba. 

The Pogba story is just pure nonsense and paper talk. They see we need a midfielder and thus they just make up some link with Pogba. 

 

Not saying we'll get him but I think we're after him, and I think it's another last minute decision.

 

Of course I could be being played for a fool, wouldn't be the first time.

I think it's a bit of both.

Our start to the season before West Brom was pretty dire and the team looked very 'meh' towards the end of the season and right through to the start of this one. I think. Jose thought after a rest and the champagne being popped we would get back to being that fluent attacking force that stormed the EPL from August to December last season but it became evident that was not going to happen. We needed change, something to give us a push and that's when we moved for Pedro because Jose knew we couldn't pass up on a player like that.

In terms of the middle of the park that's a big issue, RLC was being touted all last season by Jose to be given a important role this season but I can't see any indication this will happen. He brought on Mikel and would use Ramires in the middle before RLC gets mentioned. Who knows what's gone on during pre season and in training, maybe the lad isn't doing enough or maybe Jose lacks the trust in him?

Pogba maybe is a bit of the press trying to fill gossip columns and with the Cesc and Matic partnership looking comical against City then it made sense that we 'could' be in for a box to box midfield star like Pogba. City and United are better teams than last season, before we got Pedro we were just the same or maybe arguably worse with guys like Cech and Drogs leaving plus JT a year older and now struggling at the start of the season.

In short I can see why we'd be looking at things and saying "ok, we maybe need to sort the issues NOW rather than hope we have the answers in the youth ranks (loan players) but also I can see the press using the situation to create false situations like the pursuit of Pogba.

Not really sure whether Jose's comments in regards to be satisfied with the current squad was just a smoke screen while the transfer team were working behind the scenes.  Jose' is experienced enough to know that any title winning team cannot go into the following season without one or two world class editions.  I still can't work out the Falcao deal though, unless he just wants to embarrass LVG, but that seems a rather expensive ego boost. Unless Falcao can contribute I think he will be gone in January.

 

What may have forced Jose's hand is as you suggested, is the spending of our domestic and European rivals. I think Man U have the weaker signings at this moment; whether they 'go big or go home' in their pursuit of a striker before the window shuts who knows, if they don't IMO they will be struggling to make the top 4 and certainly struggle in Europe assuming they get through tomorrow.    

 

I am sure the bean counters have sat down with Roman and worked out the potential benefits of 'going all in' to win both domestic and European competitions; if we do manage to win both the global revenue alone I would think would more than pay for both Pogba and Stones.  I would guess Jose will still off load a couple of players before the week is out.

 

As for the kids, I fear our youth policy, whatever it is I am afraid is in tatters IMO; not because it is run badly but the pursuit of 'winning' comes over and above everything else and there can be no room for error in the upper echelon of the league; unproven players may get bit parts, such as against Wallsall but that is about it.  I don't expect to see any of our young players as a regular starter in the first team anytime soon....the youth program is a business of development and its about buying and selling young players at a profit, as well as contributing to make Academy become self sufficient as a separate business unit.  

 

The Academy is another topic altogether and is no doubt a bone of contention with many CFC fans.  The first team has now driven itself into a catch 22 situation, whereby if they try to embed young players knowing that mistakes will be made, that mistake(s) could be the difference between CL or not, the margins are so fine, the competition within the top 6-8 teams is so fierce that we can no longer think about finishing outside the top 4....the financial implications for failure is now too great, so we have to buy proven high quality players to just to ensure finishing in the top 4....nothing is a guarantee of course  but by making these latest purchases (we hope) will give us an excellent chance to continue ours and Romans pursuit to become the best team in Europe if not Globally....well we can all dream I suppose.

I think you are getting carried away because of the Pogba rumours. Jose said that a couple of players were gonna come in, and with Baba and Pedro, he has kept his word. Stones has been linked with us for a while now, so it should be no surprise. The reason it's taking so long is because we didn't go after him hard enough. If he is still coming, it's a transfer that was already in the books.

 

The Pogba story is just pure nonsense and paper talk. They see we need a midfielder and thus they just make up some link with Pogba. 

From your postings, you take an extremely pessimistic view on transfers being done.  Weren't you claiming that there was no chance of Pedro coming to Chelsea? 

Seemed Jose was happy with the squad going into the season.

 

Like-for-like swaps for Cech, Luis and Drogba, plus the introduction of Kennedy and Traore, plus the return of Moses.

 

With RLC and Cuadrado more established than last season, our squad seemed to have more depth, and with the likes of Oscar and Costa rested, Jose seemed more than content.

 

Now we all know we started badly but there seems to have been a dramatic change in policy over the last two weeks.

 

There's no doubt Pedro was a last minute decision and now at the death we're trying to sign Pogba and possibly break the British transfer record in the process.

 

So much for bringing through kids.

 

With Stones handing in a transfer request, it's possible this could be an eye-catching transfer window when it threatened to pass without much action. Our transfer policy prior to the season starting seemed bizarre, with the arrival of Falcao and the lack of interest in a right winger, which was what we were all crying out for, somebody to enhance our attack. We didn't even try for Sterling, a young homegrown player. We were quite content to watch others splash the cash, Jose even accusing them (cheekily) of trying to buy the title.

 

So why the sudden shift and why so late?

 

City have spent £100m on Otamendi, Sterling and others, Utd are spending like it's going out of style, and the line-ups of Barca, Real, PSG and Bayern have A-listers everywhere you look.

 

It seems we've looked at it and decided we can't afford to bide our time, not if we want to compete for the top honours, we have to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. City may well spend another £50m on KDB and where would that leave us? I think they may have forced our hand and caused a change in policy.

 

We sign Pogba and Stones and suddenly we're building a potentially galactico-style team for the future, full of massive names, a definite shift in policy if you ask me. I don't think Jose was thinking along these lines two weeks ago.

 

All of a sudden something's changed. What do you think .. ?

I am inclined to agree with this with the exception of the club wanting to spend big money on players because the rest are doing so.  I believe Mourinho asked the Board to open the chequebook due to the poor results of the Swansea and Man City matches and knowing that the current team/squad idn't going to to cut it for this season with aging and slow defenders, deteriorating midfield pivot and a lack of a goal threat from the attacking midfielders bar Hazard.  Mourinho couldn't paper over such cracks anymore with poor buys like Falcao and Cuadrado.

I'm glad it's changed. These problems have been glaringly obvious since PSG knocked us out of the CL. 

I pedro was a signing that may have been influenced by the poor results, but we've been after stones all summer.

I have a sneaky feeling we were biding our time with pogba, waiting for United and city to spend there budget before going in hard. I think there is definitely serious interest, there's been too many reports for it to be gossip page filler.

Whether we will get him is a different story though, but with real and barca taking a financial hit with the new tv money deal being split more evenly amongst la Liga, pogba and juve might see our offer as the best they are going to get.

If we manage to pull off stones and pogba in the next 5 days, it will be be our best window yet imo. Certainly after how poor and unplanned it all seemed at the beginning.

another centre mid or two and we're sorted i think, as well as getting stones. i still unsure that pogba is the answer for that huge fee (if true) but if jose is set on him then so be it. i guess pogba would offer us distance shooting and the possibility of goals from midfield which we've been lacking for a while. 

Seemed Jose was happy with the squad going into the season.

Like-for-like swaps for Cech, Luis and Drogba, plus the introduction of Kennedy and Traore, plus the return of Moses.

With RLC and Cuadrado more established than last season, our squad seemed to have more depth, and with the likes of Oscar and Costa rested, Jose seemed more than content.

Now we all know we started badly but there seems to have been a dramatic change in policy over the last two weeks.

There's no doubt Pedro was a last minute decision and now at the death we're trying to sign Pogba and possibly break the British transfer record in the process.

So much for bringing through kids.

With Stones handing in a transfer request, it's possible this could be an eye-catching transfer window when it threatened to pass without much action. Our transfer policy prior to the season starting seemed bizarre, with the arrival of Falcao and the lack of interest in a right winger, which was what we were all crying out for, somebody to enhance our attack. We didn't even try for Sterling, a young homegrown player. We were quite content to watch others splash the cash, Jose even accusing them (cheekily) of trying to buy the title.

So why the sudden shift and why so late?

City have spent £100m on Otamendi, Sterling and others, Utd are spending like it's going out of style, and the line-ups of Barca, Real, PSG and Bayern have A-listers everywhere you look.

It seems we've looked at it and decided we can't afford to bide our time, not if we want to compete for the top honours, we have to keep up with the Joneses so to speak. City may well spend another £50m on KDB and where would that leave us? I think they may have forced our hand and caused a change in policy.

We sign Pogba and Stones and suddenly we're building a potentially galactico-style team for the future, full of massive names, a definite shift in policy if you ask me. I don't think Jose was thinking along these lines two weeks ago.

All of a sudden something's changed. What do you think .. ?

he wasnt happy at the start of the season. he is quoted in late may as saying he wanted new players, a striker, midfielder and defender, to "support his way of working" and to keep competition for places alive..

something happened with the board IMO.. perhaps they told him that he would not be getting funds for players as the squad won the league reasonably convincingly only to then realise that would not be the case. I also think the margin of points between us and city masked a deeper rooted underlying squad issue which had been present since the turn of the year

if you ask me the board have seen hoe shattered and jaded we look.. and have moved to improve in key areas to ensure we can compete.

with no additions I feel the downward spiral may have continued hard and fast

Even if we do manage to sign both Stones and Pogba this window, it has still been a dissapointing start to our season all together for me.

Not in terms of names we bring in of course. Baba, Pedro, Pogba and Stones would be massive. But Pogba would cost a fortune, worst case scenario: he doesn't hit the ground running because he needs to get used to the premier league, his new team and life in London and the media will be on him like dogs on a bone. 
Luckily he's lived in England before, so that could be helpful.

 

For some reason we decided to start pre season a week later than the rest. That seemingly didn't work out, we looked at least a week behind our competition in terms on fitness etc. 

 

I'm not a fan of these late big transfers either, last season we did it the way it should be done. Get the new signings in quick so they can train with the team and get used to them before the season starts. If we were to get Pogba and Stones they need time to acclimatize to their new surroundings and (imo) we would have to start working on a new formation. Pogba for me isn't a pivot player. I don't think it's benificial to start working on a new formation to work in the new boys once the season has already started. 

 

The buys seem a bit like panic buys, I think we got scared of our compition after seeing who they brought in. That leaves us with a ton of work to do, work that should have been done before our first match against Swansea.

 

What I'm trying to say is, I hope the beginning of next season is more like the beginning of the previous one. 

We may look back at the end of the season and think it was a good thing. It forced us to move and sign Pedro and we may be fresher by the end of the season too.

Can I just say aswell I would love us to win a title coming from behind like United always used to.

Edited August 26, 201510 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

I could see us doing this sort of pattern in the future, and from now on.  The one in one out policy.  But maybe every few eyars we actually go otu and splash some cash so to speak 

Maybe Pedro was an unexpected opportunity that popped up but I don't think Chelsea are into last minute panic buys. It's methodical and Mourinho himself alluded to a long term strategy in the transfer market just a few weeks back.

From your postings, you take an extremely pessimistic view on transfers being done. Weren't you claiming that there was no chance of Pedro coming to Chelsea?

I usually am yes, but it depends on the target. Pedro looked very unlikely, especially because everybody was basing their stories on some random twitter message.

But their is a very big difference between signing Pedro and signing Pogba. Pogba is a super star, i believe he is to big of a name for Chelsea and that he will end up at Barca next year. I guess we'll have to wait and see...

I think it's as simple as Jose changing his mind. He was obviously happy with a title winning side, and opted to focus strengthening with 'squad' type players, potential rotation options.

These transfer options, among plenty others no doubt, will have always been in his mind. It's likely our lethargic start just tipped the weight in favour of an expensive addition or two that could upgrade the starting XI.

That, and I think the risks involved with failure were high. We have a decent transfer record, but there has been a few horrors, and any more poor investments would see that reputation drop.

Pedro was an absolute steal in my opinion, applaud the work done by the club. Yet had Oscar been fit the reality is we may still be asking if he will break into the team ahead of him or Willian. And that's a lot of money to spend on a player that doesnt make our strongest XI.

And looking at the current rumoured duo - Stones is ridiculously expensive, and a Pogba deal would be close to a world record, with a league-topping wage to go with. It's easy to see why Jose would be largely quiet about these sort of deals. Lots of room for failure. Lots of potential disruption. Better to keep your cards hidden than to commit and lose out.

So far the in bound players have been offset by the outs. If the club gets Stones and Pogba somehow I would almost expect to quickly see a few out including a big name like Oscar or Willian. Maybe seeing Terry's wages off the books in the summer too.

While they are not Chelsea products, it would represent the clubs recent philosophy of buying young when spending large. Could still bring youth through but that's a hell of a gamble I see Mourinho reluctant to make unless he has been given allowances, and has sufficient motivation, to take a season to try and gel a young team that could build a dynasty like MUFC enjoyed.

I don't think much changed, always felt like we were a little too quiet and thought we were up to something.

 

I think anybody suggesting the first two games had a huge if any impact on our plans for the squad this season are seriously doing the club and management a disservice.

So far the in bound players have been offset by the outs. If the club gets Stones and Pogba somehow I would almost expect to quickly see a few out including a big name like Oscar or Willian. Maybe seeing Terry's wages off the books in the summer too.

While they are not Chelsea products, it would represent the clubs recent philosophy of buying young when spending large. Could still bring youth through but that's a hell of a gamble I see Mourinho reluctant to make unless he has been given allowances, and has sufficient motivation, to take a season to try and gel a young team that could build a dynasty like MUFC enjoyed.

 

On your second point I just don't think we have the luxury of time in the Premier League to field youth products, unless they literally are elite material.

 

Fergie had six years, and spent plenty, while he built his young team before seeing a title. Could you imagine any Top 5/6 manager lasting six seasons without a trophy? Fans, board members, investors just don't have the patience for that sort of thing. And there's no guarantee it would even work. In fact, given the rewards of success, it's probably more cost-effective to spend big on ready-made players at their peak. 

I usually am yes, but it depends on the target. Pedro looked very unlikely, especially because everybody was basing their stories on some random twitter message.

But their is a very big difference between signing Pedro and signing Pogba. Pogba is a super star, i believe he is to big of a name for Chelsea and that he will end up at Barca next year. I guess we'll have to wait and see...

Are there or were there any transfers that you weren't pessimistic about?

I think we wanted to be reserved in terms of money spending, perhaps due to the impending new stadium but the first few games has shown us that we desperately need to spend as everybody has gotten stronger and we've stood still.

I think we wanted to be reserved in terms of money spending, perhaps due to the impending new stadium but the first few games has shown us that we desperately need to spend as everybody has gotten stronger and we've stood still.

Desperately need really? so we go from trouncing the rest of the league to awful in the space of an off season,

Man City have strengthened a little yes and have probably over taken us squad wise but still have Pelligrino as manager 

Arsenal have bought in Cech that is it and have Wenger as manager nuff said

Man U look weaker after there transfers Schneiderlin is good yes but look at the talent they have lost, LVG is still there the nutty owl

Liverpool have strengthened the most and for me are now ahead of Man U. 

But we still have the 2nd best squad and best manager which means a lot look at what Ferguson did with some of his mediocre teams. I also think that City's squad lack a bit of grit and determination as well as team cohesion and consistency which is what all great winning teams need.

We have a few areas which could be slightly improved but so do all these teams

RW; was a major problem for some people and we have sorted that by signing Pedro.

CM; some seem to think we need another strong CM in the side to play with Matic and leave out Fabregas who was arguably one of our best players last year and people would think it unthinkable dropping him 3 months ago. Also there is the option of pushing Fab up further forward to accommodate a new CM but if we did that what happens to Oscar and Willian dropped to the bench? and does anyone else think Oscar should be considered in the deeper role or at least practiced playing there.

 

RB; Ivanovic who was the best RB in the league last year is seen as an issue as he has had a couple of bad games and its all doom and gloom 'legs gone' 'too old' but then again we have signed a LB which should allow Azpi to take RB if needed so is that really a massive problem.

CB;  Terry and Cahill are too SLOW wow. Was that a problem last year? no. Has Terry ever had any sort of pace? no. Has that made him a bad defender? no. and finally is Cahill slow? no, he's actually one of the quicker CB at the main clubs, slow mentally maybe but he's overall speed is quite good. We also have Zouma who has been Immense whenever called upon and Ivan who can play there as well as 3/4 very good young prospects out on loan. 

The problem with the club has not been the signing but the poor management of the off-season and looking out of shape coming into the season also it looks like with have been working on a few different tactical philosophies which have seemed to be too fruitful.

We've also had a hard start to the season with some bad luck thrown into each of the games and yet we have still managed to get 4 points.

It is not all doom and gloom just yet if we are still playing badly come mid September I'd be very surprised.    

 

Desperately need really? so we go from trouncing the rest of the league to awful in the space of an off season,

Man City have strengthened a little yes and have probably over taken us squad wise but still have Pelligrino as manager 

Arsenal have bought in Cech that is it and have Wenger as manager nuff said

Man U look weaker after there transfers Schneiderlin is good yes but look at the talent they have lost, LVG is still there the nutty owl

Liverpool have strengthened the most and for me are now ahead of Man U. 

But we still have the 2nd best squad and best manager which means a lot look at what Ferguson did with some of his mediocre teams. I also think that City's squad lack a bit of grit and determination as well as team cohesion and consistency which is what all great winning teams need.

We have a few areas which could be slightly improved but so do all these teams

RW; was a major problem for some people and we have sorted that by signing Pedro.

CM; some seem to think we need another strong CM in the side to play with Matic and leave out Fabregas who was arguably one of our best players last year and people would think it unthinkable dropping him 3 months ago. Also there is the option of pushing Fab up further forward to accommodate a new CM but if we did that what happens to Oscar and Willian dropped to the bench? and does anyone else think Oscar should be considered in the deeper role or at least practiced playing there.

 

RB; Ivanovic who was the best RB in the league last year is seen as an issue as he has had a couple of bad games and its all doom and gloom 'legs gone' 'too old' but then again we have signed a LB which should allow Azpi to take RB if needed so is that really a massive problem.

CB;  Terry and Cahill are too SLOW wow. Was that a problem last year? no. Has Terry ever had any sort of pace? no. Has that made him a bad defender? no. and finally is Cahill slow? no, he's actually one of the quicker CB at the main clubs, slow mentally maybe but he's overall speed is quite good. We also have Zouma who has been Immense whenever called upon and Ivan who can play there as well as 3/4 very good young prospects out on loan. 

The problem with the club has not been the signing but the poor management of the off-season and looking out of shape coming into the season also it looks like with have been working on a few different tactical philosophies which have seemed to be too fruitful.

We've also had a hard start to the season with some bad luck thrown into each of the games and yet we have still managed to get 4 points.

It is not all doom and gloom just yet if we are still playing badly come mid September I'd be very surprised.    

 

 

Like you I am not pessimistic about our squad.  Nothing has overtly changed since May.  Couple of decent players in and some dross shipped out.

 

The Swansea result was the dud and with 11 on the park 3 points would've been ours.  City can go either way every season these days - was a drubbing but crap happens, no big deal.

 

 Had we been sitting on 6 points after 3 games then most of the *ollocks posted on the www would not have been written.

Sorry buy you seem to be under the impression that we were brilliant for all of last season. Yes, we did win the league easily but from February we were dragged through to the title by Hazard. Costa was injured, Fabregas did nothing, Ivan was getting slower, Willian still couldn't assist or score and Oscar was inconsistent as usual. Not to mention we got a bit lucky in the fact that our challengers were sh*te last season.

 

If you can recall our performances we were riding our luck a hell of a lot, and why? Because we are so predictable in attack, in the second half of the season everyone had figured out that all we know is 'slow build up, pass wide, low cross' and that's exactly how we have started the season, if we had kept with the same team this season then it would have been a 3rd/4th finish.

 

Pedro will prove to be a great and much needed signing and Baba will hopefully come into the team in place of Ivanovic who unfortunately looks to have lost his legs and before I get the whole "He's played against Montero and Sterling" yes, he has, but he's also played against James McClean who made him look terrible aswell. In terms of CB we seem to be playing a higher line than we did last season which for me is a disaster with Terry and Cahill at the back, Terry is still very good but he won't suit a higher line due to the pace we'll need at the back. I don't want Terry dropped but we either defend deeper or drop Terry (which I really don't want to happen).

 

Now we come to CM which for me should be the absolute priority right now over a CB purely because Fabregas is getting mugged off every game there including against teams like West Brom. He's stuggling so much defensively that he's no longer a threat in attack, he should be playing behind the striker while a proper CM should be sitting beside Matic. Matic hasn't started this season well but generally he's top notch and has to be the holding midfielder alone.

 

Every other team up there has challenged and you wanted to go in with the same team next season and I don't buy most of your reasons for why the other teams still won't challenge us, especially when you seem to consider Wenger a sh*t manager, he's still good and if Arsenal can keep their squad fit this season they will give us a lot of trouble. Man City have signed Sterling, Otamendi and about to get KDB, not only does this show that they have ambition to improve, they've already battered us 3-0.

 

So to your 'everything was fine and dandy' approach to this season, I can't get on board with it, sorry. I'm very happy with the business we have done so far because Baba will give us that pace we've missed and Pedro will give other teams a real problem in terms of directness and goal thread, something that Willian doesn't give us, however, we still need a proper CM because for me Fabregas is a real liability in the middle there and if we can get a good CB then I thin that's us sorted.