I was negative about the appointment at first but I'm pretty excited, he will bring something new to the team. He's got a very big job to reshape the squad though, a lot of players that need shifting and replacing.

Just quoted you about that game in the other thread. Christiensen zouma ake would be a fantastic balance, and all 3 look capable of reaching the very top.

It's a real pity zouma got the injury when he did, as out of the 3 he was best placed to be a real leader, which he still might.

How did Miazga play? Only saw a bit of it last night but he looked fairly tidy. It's difficult to judge until you see them up against men.

 

A first sighting of the American, in a 2-1 win against Leicester, and one that turned out to be eye-catching in many ways. The lad has a real physical presence, is exceptionally good in the air and passed the ball out of defence with unerring accuracy throughout the evening. However, perhaps of greater interest was not so much his no nonsense, uncompromising style, but his adaptation to the position he was asked to play in - on the right side of a back three, alongside Dion Conroy and Jake Clarke-Salter, in a 3-5-2 formation that finally followed in the footsteps of an Under-18s Youth Cup team that’s been pioneering it all season. It was also telling to hear Adi Viveash’s reflections on the game afterwards, saying that the development of the group was in evidence here and it was a match that his side would probably not have won six months ago.  

 

To recap, six long months ago this side were playing a back four and had just suffered three consecutive defeats, against Benfica, Man City and Spurs, whereas this victory was their sixth unbeaten and third league win in the last four, thus begging the question - why change a formation that had seemingly been ‘developed’ into a winning one? Well, I would like to think a compromise was being made, not merely to accommodate Miazga and the rising star that is Clarke-Salter, but also to test them out together in a three in anticipation of a new season during which we will see the 3-5-2 formation used regularly by the first team under a new manager. If so, this first trial run at this level can be said to have been a success going forward, and we need look no further than the opening goal for confirmation - headed in by Clarke-Salter, who got on the end of a Miazga cross. 

 

Admittedly, it was a goal that only brought us level, after Miazga was left isolated too deep and one-on-one with a talented striker, Joe Dodoo, who duly scored - there is a joke in there somewhere, but this was no laughing matter. Nor was it a system failure, merely a long ball and somewhat fortuitous flick on, although it could be argued that it is the unoccupied space available in these wide areas that can be said to be the spanner in any 3-5-2 works. However, measured against this must be the possession and domination we achieved in midfield and I was particularly impressed with the way Clarke-Salter and Miazga made no concession when it came to keeping out a little wider, as opposed to being too narrow, thereby closing the space that is so often the system’s downfall against good quality wingers. 

 

Finally, a word about the lynchpin of the three, Dion Conroy, who returned from injury in Decembers and has been a consistent performer ever since. He’s under contract until 2018 and if he gets a good loan move next season he has every chance of making it at a high level, although the competition for the centre back position at Chelsea is so strong he will find it difficult to make a breakthrough here - good player in the making though he undoubtedly is. Indeed, it only goes to show, with Zouma, Branna, Cahill and possibly JT, Christensen, Hector and Kalas all eyeing central defensive positions in the first team squad next season, you really do have to be exceptionally talented to make the grade at Chelsea these days. Versatility helps too, of course, as Matt Miazga and Jake Clarke-Salter proved last night.            

.

Story is he wants 5 new signings in the summer. 2CBs, a LB, a midfielder and a striker.

 

Bonucci, Howedes, Rodriguez, Pogba, Lewandowski 

Edited March 12, 201610 yr by the special one

Bonucci, Howedes, Rodriguez, Pogba, Lewandowski

Lol. Not a bad list you comprised. Never say never...

Not sure where Dave fits in a 352. Too small to play as a centre back, and doesn't offer enough going forward to play on the right.

 

I don't think Willian fits as a wing back in 3-5-2 either, his positioning and desicion making is not the greatest to cover the entire right side. Hopefully we go for 4-3-3 instead.

If you want a right-wing-back then we still own Cuadrado. However much I love Azpi, he isn't so good that he needs to be selected and have the formation change for him. Neither is Willian.

If you want a right-wing-back then we still own Cuadrado. However much I love Azpi, he isn't so good that he needs to be selected and have the formation change for him. Neither is Willian.

 

You need a formation where you don't have to change out almost every player though. Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic are to slow for a back three and we don't have any good wing backs either, atleast nothing close to what Conte had in "the swiss express" Lichtsteiner. Our central midfield is not even comperable, except Fabregas and Pirlo. 

You need a formation where you don't have to change out almost every player though. Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic are to slow for a back three and we don't have any good wing backs either, atleast nothing close to what Conte had in "the swiss express" Lichtsteiner. Our central midfield is not even comperable, except Fabregas and Pirlo. 

 

I don't agree that you need to choose a formation that fits the current lot perfectly though. We need defenders no matter what, we have potential wing-backs in Kenedy and Cuadrado and we need midfielders to play alongside Fabregas so the rebuild is fairly large no matter what we do. 'I'm happy to let Conte go with whatever he wants because we don't have a recognisable style of play at the moment. 

We both agree that we need defenders and midfielders(box-to-box), but I rather have us play 4-3-3 with Azpilicueta as our right back and have Willian, Hazard, Pedro, Traore and Kenedy as our wide forwards, instead of gambling on Kenedy and Cuadrado as our wing backs in a 3-5-2. 

He's got a hell of a job on his hands if he's coming in

Very exciting prospect of the 352 when we got some solid young CB's and some potential pacey wingbacks. In a few seasons time having a defensive set up of:

 

           Christensen-Zouma-Mizaga

Willian                                              Ake/Kenedy

 

Would be somewhat orgasmic (if they all live up to potential) 

There's no possible way of predicting our team in a few season's time, especially where youth is concerned.

Entertaining conte for a moment and assuming he will start with his preferred 352.

...... Zouma - Terry - Ivan.....

Willian..................... Baba/Kenedy

......... Matic.... Fabreags

.............. Hazard.....

......... Traore...... Costa....

I like this a lot. No room for dave in this, would be a shame!

I like this a lot. No room for dave in this, would be a shame!

 

Surely replace Brana with Dave?

I like this a lot. No room for dave in this, would be a shame!

I'd start him over Ivanovic in there, Terry would need 2 pacey players alongside him.

A step closer.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35810819

 

Antonio Conte: Italy manager to step down after Euro 2016

Why's there two threads?

Why's there two threads?

 

Two Antonio Contes, there's only two Antonio Contes.

Edited March 15, 201610 yr by undertow

 A lot of talk Roma's Director of football, Walter Sabatini, is also in talks with Chelsea to join Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge next season.

Would make a lot on here happy if this is true

A lot of talk Roma's Director of football, Walter Sabatini, is also in talks with Chelsea to join Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge next season.

Would make a lot on here happy if this is true

Honestly don't really care about changes regarding non-playing staff. Just want to see interesting incomings in the summer.

Honestly don't really care about changes regarding non-playing staff. Just want to see interesting incomings in the summer.

 

Aren't they linked? 

Aren't they linked? 

Nevermind ^this^ lesblues, it's the Football Fairy who makes all the signings

Edited March 16, 201610 yr by TheChelseaBlues

Nevermind ^this^ lesblues, it's the Football Fairy who makes all the signings

Exactly. I certainly didn't give a toss who signed Hazard/Mata/KDB/Lukaku/Ballack/Cech/Robben (most thank Ranieri for this,kek)/Drogba/Essien etc. Was just glad to have them.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/7017048/Sooner-or-later-I-will-manage-in-England-Antonio-Conte-all-but-confirms-he-will-be-new-Chelsea-boss.html?

 

Looks like a done deal then.