Unfortunately we have to sell those who doesn't wanna stay, with a good price of course.. we need to preserve our pride as a big club.. 

 

I think it's time to rally, spending big isn't always the answer, even more so if leicester can pull it off.. 

 

I'd like too see we improve on our pressing game as well as ball possession, it's really average on those areas.. 

Last quote in this article is from oscar. First player indicatinghe would be open to a move if the new manager wants it.

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2016/3/10/11192430/willian-oscar-chelsea-paris-saint-germain-champions-league-post-match-interview

 

"It’s my opinion that Chelsea are in a transition period. They have to see how they go on and try and regain the lost terrain where Chelsea used to be, that’s true. It was always going to be difficult to get into fourth position. We tried to do our first job, to get out of the relegation zone, but it was a very big gap to go and reach the top four. Chelsea must consider its short-term future and how to handle what happens next. But they’ve known this for a while.”

 

Guus Hiddink (9th March, 2016)

 

So, it is our interim manager who provides the first of many reality checks we [the fans] are likely to receive over the coming weeks. And, as is often the case in Guus-speak, the key sentence in his summation is the last one. Here the delivery is short, sharp and very much to the point - Chelsea have seen the writing on the wall for a while - though it is no consolation to recall the exact moment those words were writ large - namely the day Jose left the building for a second time. Since then the circumstances surrounding his departure have been the subject of much debate, but they are of little relevance now because, quite frankly, we are where we are and the situation must be addressed with the minimum of fuss and fluster, with the future in mind and not the past.

 

Albeit still regarded as mere surmise, we have to assume that the club have not only had a plan in place ‘for a while’ but also a manager to implement it, as without either it would be all too easy to treat this latest defeat to PSG as symptomatic of what has gone before, rather than being what it truly is, the end of an era of single-minded trophy gathering that by rights should usher in a period of team re-growth and regeneration, founded on home grown and loaned out talent and garnished with astute buys that will now have to be made at a level somewhere between topmost floor and bargain basement. The Guardian’s Barney Ronay paints an even broader picture, summing it all up thus …     

  

“In a sense elimination here is also a bookend on the extended first act of Roman Abramovich’s reinvention of the club. Perhaps this mix-and-match fag-end of a Chelsea team will start to fall apart a little now, as it probably should. This is an odd lot of players, with strengths in many areas, shortages in others, a lack of muscle and, above all, an absence of tone-setting, style-setting key players. If Chelsea have run into a cul-de-sac in the last eight months, a team without any obvious direction or pattern of play, this is both a failure of recruitment and a symptom of years of chop-and-change management. Behind it lies the lingering absurdity of 25 players out on loan, with a combined value of something close to £100m.”

 

Correction Barney, it is in fact 31 players out on loan, but hey, what’s another half-dozen more absurdities among friends, especially when they’re cast in The Theatre of the Absurd that our loanee system is fast-becoming? Too right, this whole muddle does need sorting out and, by all accounts, Antonio Conte is the man selected to do it. Truth be told, his chosen leader on the pitch is unlikely to be JT, nor will Branna or Gary Cahill last for much longer, so, unless Azpi stakes an early claim, there is likely to be even further upheaval ahead. For this reason alone, I would suggest that Conte’s priority purchase should be either a central defender or midfielder with captaincy qualities, both areas requiring no-expense-spared surgery anyway. Of course, no longer able to shop at Harrods, this will necessitate a sell-to-buy beginning to Conte’s reign and Edin Hazzard, lost and lacking any sign of leadership, is increasingly looking like that expendable loss leader, right up there on the shelf at the front of the Stamford Bridge megabuck store.

 

Others who may well find themselves propelled through the door marked 'Exit' include either Matic or Mikel (or both in the unlikely event of Pogba being persuaded to join us) and possibly Pedro, if a quality striker, who can fulfil both wide and central roles, is signed. Naturally, Conte will have his own views on these top-end players and he will also make up his own mind on who, out of a whole host of loanees, can make an immediate breakthrough into first team contention - my thoughts on these individuals having been expressed on another thread. But needless to say, all of this is pure speculation based on the premise that this will be his remit and we can but hope it turns out to be the case. In the meantime, I’ll give the last word to Mr Ronay, not so much as an ending to my comments, but more by way of a final prayer that Conte really is going to be the instigator of a new beginning. …    

 

“Antonio Conte is the kind of ruthless, pragmatic manager the club could probably do with as it tries to clear out its closet and re-gear for the next leap forward. Really, though, what Chelsea need is not so much a list of transfer targets as a team, a set of foundations, a way of playing to be grooved and honed. Blessed with an armature of pre-existing champion players – Petr Cech, John Terry and Frank Lampard were all there pre-Roman – the centre has held through the last 12 years of new brooms and revolving-door management. As Guus Hiddink suggested afterwards, something more profound is required from here, after a night that felt like an ending as much as an exit.”

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Edited March 10, 201610 yr by Dorset

I just want to see leaders out on the pitch again. Costa and Ivanovic (despite his poor form) seem to be the only strong characters - to use Brenton Rodgers phrase - in the team. When the going gets tough in games I barely see any others standing up for themselves and attempting to lead the team forward.

 

I think finding leaders should be a recruitment priority in the next transfer window. Arguably our most successful team had Lamps, Ash, Terry, Ballack, Essien, Drogba and Cech. All of who were incredibly strong-willed. 

 

I think Nainggolan and Mustafi are pretty good shouts in that respect and I think they are attainable.

Yep, sign me some players with a bit of mungral c*nt in them and set a good example for the young fellas coming through.

If he's available then we need Cavani.

Also, a real powerhouse cm in the Essien/Ballack mould.

A top class cb like Bonnuci (a Conte fave apparently although difficult to get from Juve)

Lastly we need a replacement for Hazard. We essentially need another Willian. A winger who will run at defenders

Lastly we need a replacement for Hazard. We essentially need another Willian. A winger who will run at defenders

 

Haha just imagine saying that sentence a year ago - everyone would have thought you mad!

Haha just imagine saying that sentence a year ago - everyone would have thought you mad!

I still think he is. Willian doesn't so much run at defenders as dance in their vicinity

Willian infuriated me last year. No doubting his workrate but he just seemed a better defensive version of Pedro. He has fallen back close to that form in recent games but is still a valued team member. But I would definitely not want another Willian in the side.

Interesting post Dorset.

Out of interest where do you think a new set of leaders are going to come from? I think ake is a very natural leader that could come straight into the starting 11 next season, im not sure any of the other players coming through can take on that leadership, certainly not next season anyway.

I do agree we need a centre back and centre midfield though, the only centre back i can think of that is top leader, and also at the right age to warrant a hefty outlay, would be mats hummels.

In midfield the obvious one is pogba, but like you said, we are going to have to find these 2 players outside of that top echelon. So both hummels, and pogba, would be a pipedream.

Don't know why, but it seems that almost everyone here is satisfied with Courtois; while I think he is not as good as he was in Atletico. 

Don't know why, but it seems that almost everyone here is satisfied with Courtois; while I think he is not as good as he was in Atletico.

I think he's been poor since his return but bego is inconsistent too. One will leave this summer I bet

Willian infuriated me last year. No doubting his workrate but he just seemed a better defensive version of Pedro. He has fallen back close to that form in recent games but is still a valued team member. But I would definitely not want another Willian in the side.

I meant a player more in the Ronaldo/Robben mould. Basically what Cuadrado was supposed to be!

I meant a player more in the Ronaldo/Robben mould. Basically what Cuadrado was supposed to be!

We missed out on Douglas Costa and bought Cuadrado instead. What a screw up of epic proportions.

Don't know why, but it seems that almost everyone here is satisfied with Courtois; while I think he is not as good as he was in Atletico.

A lot of people are not satisfied with him. I think he's not who we thought he would be.

courtois does not look confident to me, i think his reputation might of become a burden to him

Don't know why, but it seems that almost everyone here is satisfied with Courtois; while I think he is not as good as he was in Atletico. 

Agreed. Cech is still a better keeper IMO, he gives the defence confidence too.

While Courtois has had a very bad season (similar to all the teammates around him), he has shown he has the talent to be world class. And also he is only 23. Cech had his fair share of howlers when he was young. I am not giving up on him just yet.

While Courtois has had a very bad season (similar to all the teammates around him), he has shown he has the talent to be world class. And also he is only 23. Cech had his fair share of howlers when he was young. I am not giving up on him just yet.

Even though we won PL last seaso, I think he was pretty poor back then too. He didn't have many clean sheets, did he? Almost every match he was conceding goals.

Edited March 10, 201610 yr by Michael440

Even though we won PL last season, I think he was pretty poor back then too. He didn't have many clean sheets, did he? Almost every match he was conceding goals.

 

He had 12 clean sheets in the PL which is 1/3rd of the total games played so pretty good. He was also making some pretty important saves each game to save us points. While not his Atletico level, he still did pretty well in his first season with a new team and new country. I do not remember any goals that we gave up solely due to his error, like what we have been seeing this season. Lets also remember he came back from a pretty big injury this season. 

I don't think we can put much blame on courtois when the defence has been awful. The defence and gk are supposed to trust one another, but atm it seems neither trust one another. Cahill is absymal, but i would keep him in the squad for english quota and he isn't a bad back up, but we should be looking for one or two top defenders.

He had 12 clean sheets in the PL which is 1/3rd of the total games played so pretty good. He was also making some pretty important saves each game to save us points. While not his Atletico level, he still did pretty well in his first season with a new team and new country. I do not remember any goals that we gave up solely due to his error, like what we have been seeing this season. Lets also remember he came back from a pretty big injury this season.

Oh ok I didn't know he had 12 clean sheets. I thought he conceded many goals last season - I was comparing him to Cech.

Edited March 10, 201610 yr by Michael440

Does not really matter how good he was last season or this season, the football world rates Tibo as one of the best around. So if he wants to go to a club with CL football next season there will be takers.

Came late to this again, but another excellent post from Dorset, as we have come to expect, and to see someone correctly using the word "flusters" is a delight!

Does not really matter how good he was last season or this season, the football world rates Tibo as one of the best around. So if he wants to go to a club with CL football next season there will be takers.

Of course.

People saying he is poor need to remember the entire squad have been the same excluding 1 or 2 individuals.

Interesting post Dorset.

Out of interest where do you think a new set of leaders are going to come from? I think ake is a very natural leader that could come straight into the starting 11 next season, im not sure any of the other players coming through can take on that leadership, certainly not next season anyway.

I do agree we need a centre back and centre midfield though, the only centre back i can think of that is top leader, and also at the right age to warrant a hefty outlay, would be mats hummels.

In midfield the obvious one is pogba, but like you said, we are going to have to find these 2 players outside of that top echelon. So both hummels, and pogba, would be a pipedream.

 

Nathan Ake is a good a good shout, big blue, as he could easily nail down a first team place somewhere in defence or in midfield due to his versatility. Obviously, this presupposes a quick nod of approval from Conte and it would normally take time for him to earn that sort of respect, but he does have all the credentials if his performances for Watford are anything to go by. I also like AndyBlue82’s suggestion - Bonucci is top class - such a pity he will have turned twenty-nine by the start of next season. That said, his age might work in our favour if he were to be looking for a lucrative final contract after going out in a blaze of glory by winning another Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, even if getting past Bayern in the CL now looks beyond their capabilities. You could argue that Mats Hummels is similar in ability and slightly younger, but I sense Dortmund will win the Europa League and qualify for the CL that way. If so, he wont want to go anywhere next season.

 

Irrespective of the Conte connection, Juve’s final games of this season are pivotal to any hopes we might have of a potential move, either for Bonucci or Pogba, though I don’t consider him to be captaincy material. Indeed, the link theme is an interesting aspect of all our potential future transfer dealings, not least the possibility of Conte wanting to bid for Marco Veratti, another captaincy candidate, who will have a crucial part to play in Italy’s European Championship campaign. We were linked with him back in January, if memory serves, at a cost of around £60m and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see us try to have him included in any deal involving Edin should PSG want to take Real Madrid on in a straight fight for his services. Real, on the other hand, have no tasty Italian to tempt us with, but they do have Gareth Bale should he hanker for a return to the Premiership.

 

Of course, it is still possible that Conte, once he’s settled in, will suddenly see things differently regarding JT and decide to keep him on for another year, just as he found that Buffon and Pirlo could be central in providing a good blend of experience and youth at Juventus. Ironically, ‘central’ is the operative word here, because a distinct lack of pace means it really is the only place open for John in any 3-5-2 formation and, with Zouma, Cahill and Branna vying for this spot next season, his opportunities will be severely limited to say the least. JT’s one trump card in this pack, apart from legendary status, is the dwindling number of English [home grown] players in the squad, with all of the other [much younger] contenders being long term prospects who have not yet arrived, in every sense of the word. I would put Jake Clarke-Salter, Charlie Colkett and Jordan Houghton [if he is successful taking the loan route via Plymouth] into this category, all of whom could be superseded by Todd Kane if Conte sees fit to bring him back from his loan spell next season, ahead of Wallace. However, as an initial step such as this is almost bound to be based on someone else’s recommendation, I doubt it will be of immediate or great consequence and, even if it was, the chances of a such rapid rise in the leadership stakes being made, with so many other candidates in the running long term, are slim to none.

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