2005 champions would wipe the floor with 2015 team

[The Brit]

stating the obvious right now, but go back to last season and still think 2005 vintage were a class apart and best team we have ever had...reason this came into my head is I have just tuned into Chelsea TV ahead of Mourinho's presser that starts at 12 and they're showing key goals/action from 2004/5 season...Obviously I watched these games a decade ago at the time, but time can make you slightly forget just how good they really were...watching duff, robben, eidur, dider, jt, lamps etc at their peak, you just think a hypothetical game between 2005 champions and 2015 would see the former run out comfortable winners by two or three goals.

Certainly a debate to be had about how many of the 2015 team would get into the 2005 side.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

That 2005 side was the best PL side ever, we were so hungry and the talent was fantastic.

[drjonesy1994]

I think the only 3 from today's squad that would get in that side would be Dave at left back over Gallas/ Bridge, Hazard over Duff and Matic over Tiago.

 

So i'd line up like this:

 

Cech

Fereira Carvalho JT Dave

Lamps  Maka  Matic

Robben Drogba Hazard

[Zola]

I have always felt the 2005 side would destroy any of the teams we had post 2006 haha.

We had 2 teams effectively.

[Chelsbear]

If the current side played like they did at the start of last season it would be an interesting game.

However on current form (the last 8-9 months) the 2005 side would tear us to shreds.

The only players who would get in from 2015 IMO would be Dave and Hazard, obviously Terry but 2005 Terry would be streets ahead.

[PloKoon13]

Pssh... Hazard is a poor man's Joe Cole.

 

I'm not entirely sure any of the 2015 side would get into the 2005 juggernaut.

[The Brit]

I know many loathe gallas and how he left the club, but I haven't forgotten what a great defender he was and I'd pick him ahead of dave all day long...that late winner against Spurs (i think in 2005-6) makes up for a lot of shortcomings

[jk88]

In 2005 we should've won the Champions league (that ghost goal  ....), we were the best and even beat Barca with prime Dinho and Eto'o. For me, the only players that would get into the team after 2004-05 are: Essien, A.Cole, Azpi and maybe Hazard.

Cech
Azpi Ricky JT Cole
Makalele
Essien Lamps
Robben Drogba Hazard 


 

Edited December 11, 2015 by jk88

[Jezz]

The 2005 team is the greatest team we've ever had! Absolutely dominated the league where they shouldn't have lost a game (sadly we lost to Man City with a penalty). That team was superior to Arsenal's 2003-2004 team despite the fact they receive wider praise and acclamation than our team did.

 

We should have also played in the Champions League Final that year. I'm still convinced to this very day that Luis Garcia's goal didn't cross the line and the referee made the incorrect call. I'm not sure we would have beaten AC Milan in the final as they were a great team in their own right but it was a travesty that Liverpool won the competition that season despite finishing outside the top four in the domestic league.

 

The 2015 team was solid but the 2005 team trumps them all! That team played with such hunger and ruthlessness that it would only take the very best teams to bring them down.

 

I know many loathe gallas and how he left the club, but I haven't forgotten what a great defender he was and I'd pick him ahead of dave all day long...that late winner against Spurs (i think in 2005-6) makes up for a lot of shortcomings

 

It was an unforgettable goal by Gallas in 2005-2006 as you've correctly stated.

 

Edited December 11, 2015 by Jezz

[dkw]

2005 team would comfortably demolish every team in the premier this season. Also would beat all the champions league teams too.

[The Brit]

Another debate...hazard or robben? I know the latter was made of glass...but he destroyed teams in that season in a way that just edges hazard in my opinion...one thing you knew with Arjen would be he'd never slow the game to a stand still and allow defenders to get back into position...but for the dirty blackburn bar steward who broke his foot and meant he wasn't properly fit for cl semi, reckon we would have done Liverpool comfortably and given Milan a real game

[Teritus]

Of course, they were probably the best ever Premier League side. As poor as we are at the moment there'd be no shame in losing to that group, no one else in the league at the moment would beat them either.

[Teritus]

2005 team would comfortably demolish every team in the premier this season. Also would beat all the champions league teams too.

 

It'd be close with Barcelona, but I do think they'd beat Real and Bayern.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Teritus

[GhostOfDembaPast]

Robben must have been truly frightening for opposition fans, managers and players to watch.

Direct, lightening fast dribbler and a ridiculous composure and eye for goal even at full pelt.

Hazard shows glimpses of Robben type play, but he is ponderous in comparison, although he is more refined in other parts of his game.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

I'd take 2005-07 Joe Cole over both, Hazard looks to me like a player whose never going to fulfil his potential and Robben was made of glass. Joe Cole is one of the most underrated players for us ever.

[the special one]

Another debate...hazard or robben?

 

Given he was a key member of the 2005 team I've always felt a greater affinity towards Robben, but if you take the Premier League stats at face value...

 

Robben from 04/05 to 06/07

15 goals, 19 assists

 

Hazard from 12/13 to 15/16

37 goals, 36 assists

[ForeverCarefree]

Another debate...hazard or robben?

 

Robben. 

 

Ignoring his injuries he was nigh on unplayable during his first two seasons with us. 

 

For all his talent I just don't think Hazard has enough games where he grabs it by the scruff of the neck and does his most to carry the team. 

 

But back to the OP, man for man I agree the 2005 team is a far superior side. Would love for us to have a 2nd defender the quality of Carvalho. 

 

Makalele was the ultimate player in excelling in keeping it simple. 

 

Duff, Robben and Cole were so much faster and more direct on the ball than the current attacking midfield. 

 

And a Ballon D'Or runner up Frank Lampard in the middle of the pitch? We can only dream of having a player that good line up for us again. 

Edited December 11, 2015 by ForeverCarefree

[drjonesy1994]

our 05 side vs United's treble winning side??

[Bobbywoodhogan]

our 05 side vs United's treble winning side??

United's treble winning side never gave up but we were super efficient. I think our 05 side would have beaten that team.

[drjonesy1994]

One thing I remember about our 05 side is we had goals in us all over the pitch. Terry, Carvalho and Gallas all got a few for us, Lamps and Didier were our top scorers. Then duffer robben and cole all got a few as well. Not to forget "Mr I only score worldies, Tiago"

[Scott Harris]

2004-2005 is still my favourite Chelsea side ever, i have had picture of the team in my wallet for 10 years

 

They would beat every team in the Premier League now. I also think they would be better than every team in the world now, only Barcelona would be competition. We were world class, and the group of players we had were perfect. I don't think they were just better players than our current lot, but they were mentally stronger too. No matter how hard things got, they would never give up, you would never see that side 15th in the league.

 

We also need to remember that there was a lot more talent in the game back then. There were tons of good defenders, midfielders, wingers and strikers back then. Players like Messi and Ronaldo are 2 of the best players to play the game, but i think if they were at the their peak 10 years ago, they wouldn't score 60 goals a season.                   

Edited December 11, 2015 by Scott Harris

[Floyd25]

If the 2005 team had played the invincibles, then they would have been defeated in the league long before Mike Riley became United's twelfth man. The one loss was because of a dodgy penalty decision and we probably would have won the champions league had Liverpool not scored a ‘goal’ before goal line technology had been invented, shocking decision to allow it anyway, then Eidur misses a sitter which almost hits Carragher's ass.

Edited December 11, 2015 by Floyd25

[mbh]

It was City, not United.

[dkw]

It was City, not United.

I think he meant utd beating arsenal to end there unbeaten run.

[mbh]

My apologies, reading again, it is clear that he means M U & Arsenal.