I expect Ballack to storm the Prem this season. I think 2 seasons workload has Lamps a bit tired and jaded, so I expect Ballack to step up and be the "main man" in our midfield.

Kalou may also surprise a few of us like Robben did a season ago.

Ballack is also pretty tired after the WC.

and i doubt Kalou will get as many games as Robben did last season to show his ability.

However, I think Sheva might just prove to be the key man for us .. sticking away all those chances that Drogba couldnt in the past

SHEVA

__7__

Coming from the Ukraine (originally) via Italy, I'm sure he will love London and his new found privacy.

I can see him being the least affected by the culture change out of all our new signings.

He is also talking the talk, he said in a recent interview that although most foriegn players need a 'settling in' period when they arrive in England, he however insists he will not need any time and will hit the ground RUNNING !

This is the kind of talk i like to hear from a new player.

I reckon Ballack will prove to be the best signing of the players listed. I'm still finding it difficult to forgive him for the dive which won Bayern a penalty though - I hold grudges for a very long time

Shevchenko should also have a great season, based on his record - though much depends on what system Mourinho chooses. I think he may struggle as a lone striker. I've wanted us to sign him for about the last three years - I'm sure he'll be worth the wait.

I've read some good things about Kalou, he sounds very promising. Can play wide right or left, in the hole, or up front. Handy bloke to have on the bench!

It's gonna be a very interesting season 8)

Why is the Duffman on the list??

I voted for Sheva, I reckon if he scores quickly he'll be banging the goals in all season long. I also think this could be a real good season for Joey Cole if he plays enough games.

Why is the Duffman on the list??

It is kinda a make or break season for both Duff and SWP, isnt it??

Why is the Duffman on the list??

It is kinda a make or break season for both Duff and SWP, isnt it??

I guess so, I think we should have cashed in on Duff this summer, because if he doesn't do it again this year his market value will be next to nothing.

bah. best winger on the planet.

also, most assists of the four last season. THE key player for ranieri, and one of the best 4 or 5 players (ahead of robben and cole easily) in jose's first year.

bah. best winger on the planet.

also, most assists of the four last season. THE key player for ranieri, and one of the best 4 or 5 players (ahead of robben and cole easily) in jose's first year.

Robben and even Joey at their best are better than Damian at his best. Maybe not your orthodox wingers but they sure can do a better job.

bah. best winger on the planet.

also, most assists of the four last season. THE key player for ranieri, and one of the best 4 or 5 players (ahead of robben and cole easily) in jose's first year.

I maintain that he was at best average last season, he seemed to have forgotten how to beat a man.

Best winger on the planet!! you're have having a laugh. I don't know who the best winger on the planet is, but I do know it certainly isn't the Duffman

duff, the best winger on the planet.

because, he is capable of doing everything.

jose decided, in his love of stifling defensive football, to turn duff into some kind of defensive player high up the pitch.

jose decided, in his love of stifling defensive football, to turn duff into some kind of defensive player high up the pitch.

At the same time, was able to convert Joey into a top attacking Premiership player who could defend. Blame the player not the manager.

duff, the best winger on the planet.

because, he is capable of doing everything.

jose decided, in his love of stifling defensive football, to turn duff into some kind of defensive player high up the pitch.

You never know we might have Roberto "I scored a freakishly good goal 10 years ago don't you know but now I'm sh*t" Carlos to help out defensively this season. hahahaha noooooooo!!!!!

I would dearly love Duff to prove me wrong, I remember how good he was in his first season especially away at Lazio in the Champions League.

if you had seen duff for ireland and duff for chelsea you would notice that for chelsea he had been instructed to retain the ball rather than take risks (as he did for ROI). which eventually sapped away his form. jose needs to let duff do own thing- he is an intellgent enough player to know how to strike a balance.

if you had seen duff for ireland and duff for chelsea you would notice that for chelsea he had been instructed to retain the ball rather than take risks (as he did for ROI). which eventually sapped away his form. jose needs to let duff do own thing- he is an intellgent enough player to know how to strike a balance.

I admit I havent seen much of Duff for ROI but I have seen Duff at his near best in the season 2004/05(under JM) when he had that formidable partnership with Robben. And I dont think JM changed his tactics specifically for Duff just after an extremely succesful season for the team as well as the player.

then how can you explain essien- that role was being shared around in the first year by players with more attacking instinct, but he brought in yet another defensive midfielder and seemingly decided that we would focus on winning with set peices and waiting for the opponents to make errors.

Duff for ROI and Duff for Chelsea are two entirely different players. Having watched both of them as much as possible I can only come to the conclusion that Duff is playing on a leash for Chelsea. There can be no other explanation other than 'Duff is over awed by the talent around him at CHelsea whereas for ROI he is the main man' however I don't buy that as he has never come across as that kind of bloke.

Also when you watch Duff for Chelsea it is not that he is trying to take players on (or be a winger - that definition is copyrighted by G4) and failing. He is consistently playing a possession game. This is not something a player who has performed in the way Duff did in Jose's first season suddenly starts doing on a whim, this is something a player does because he is being asked to fulfil a role. It is the way many 'wingers' have played in European football for many years and I have no doubt it is the role assigned to Duff.

The fact that Cole has developed in other ways has no bearing on the Duff argument. Jose is building a team in a way that he thinks will win matches, what would be the value in Duff and Cole being developed into the same player?

then how can you explain essien- that role was being shared around in the first year by players with more attacking instinct, but he brought in yet another defensive midfielder and seemingly decided that we would focus on winning with set peices and waiting for the opponents to make errors.

The Essien role was shared around by Tiago, Jarosik and Smertin if I not mistaken. Apart from maybe Tiago(who played a much more defensive role for us than he does for either Lyon or Portugal), I dont think any of those players have more attacking instincts than Essien. So, I can see why JM wanted to bring in Essien who IMO is a better player than all 3 of those players.

On the Duff argument, maybe those of you who see Duff play for ROI know that he hasnt lost any of his attacking talents but from what I saw last season, he wasnt half the player last season to that of season 2003/04 or 2004/05 and I dont think its JM's instructions.

you missed eidur on that list of yours.

and, on occaision, cole.

you missed eidur on that list of yours.

and, on occaision, cole.

hmm..................I remember Eidur playing mostly up front that season and only at the end did he play a few games as a midfielder. Joey either mostly came on as a sub or wasnt very good in that role.

you missed eidur on that list of yours.

and, on occaision, cole.

hmm..................I remember Eidur playing mostly up front that season and only at the end did he play a few games as a midfielder. Joey either mostly came on as a sub or wasnt very good in that role.

He played there as a midfielder most of the time after the Carling Cup final - the last three months of the season, essentially. Including the Barca win, the Bayern win . . .

I think it will be Ballack because we already have a world class player whop plays his position. He will be out to establish himself. Sheva will also have a great season but I dont think he has the same incentive as Ballack does. When we speak of Sheva its always in the context of who will we play up fornt with him. When we mention Ballack its more in the vein of Ballack or Lampard , since they are so similar.

I really hope one of our young players shines, so i picked Obi Mikel, imagine if he plays like robben did when he came back from injury 2 years ago...just another great young talent we could rub in Manure's face!

I think Ballack has what it takes to storm the Premiership, it gives a good opportunity to rest Frank here and there abut I like the thought of them in the same team, Ballack is good in the air and I can see a lot of goals again from midfield, thats good for us as Drogs could have a better season and Sheva just makes it about the most exciting team we have had for a while....if they all can be kept happy and having a good run in all competitions could help as we will get to try a lot of permutations.

I voted Sheva. I think that with the differing skills that all our other strikers offer his style of play will be different alongside each of them. He is acknowledged as one of if not the best striker of our generation and will bamboozle defences with his genius. With the Italian situation I think Hernans possibly going to stay(I hope) and I can't wait to see him and Sheva together like at Milan. Above all else I reckon that he'll give us that goal poacher that I feel we have lacked.

Now go ahead Jose and play 4-5-1 and blow away my hard thought theory.