The way forward

[waldron]

First - bye bye Geremi and Boula - you weren't up to it.

Second - Malouda for Robben - I'm happy with that

Third - Chimbonda for Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi et al - I'm happy

Fourth - Sidwell as the new Hollins or Bumstead - great

Fifth - Pizzaro as replacement for the Drog and Kalou when Africa calls - ok

Sixth - Ben Haim as a decent reserve for JT and CARVO - ok

Seventh - SWP to go - 50/50

Eighth - Sheva - we're stuck with him, surely he can only get better

Ninth - likewise Ballack

Tenth - Maka's replacement is there - Mikel - and he's bigger and better

[midlandblue]

Have to disagree with your third comment.

[loz]

I also disagree with half the first and all the second.

Robben is a far superior player to Malouda although there is obviously the injury issue.

geremi was up to it, he was up to what he had become, a squad player who filled in very occasionally.

[Lofty]

Fourth - Sidwell as the new Hollins or Bumstead - great

John Bumstead maybe, John Hollins? No chance!

[mez]

..... yes there are definite benefits in the new signings, but do the new guys give us the edge over ManUre, who I think is our only real competitor for the Premiership next season, or are ManUre edging ahead with signings like Tevez? ManUre seem to be throwing money at it, but getting some good players as well who are going to make life in the Premiership difficult for Chelsea ...

Mez

[Liam]

Disagree with the second and tenth. There is no way in my book that Mikel is better than Makalele, not even close.

Shevchenko only getting better is not guaranteed.

I like the rest though.

[loz]

Oops - I didn't spot number 10 - agree with Liam wholeheartedly on that

[midlandblue]

I never agree with No. 10

[g3.7]

maka's a god, an actual, living footballing god. mikel has done well, but people have ogne a little overboard. people have mentioned him as the new zidane and compared him to gullit at desailly!

I'm warming to the idea of malouda partly because, well, you have to, really. I don't think he is close to the player robben is, but he surely has to have something about him (though I still fear we are looking at stuart downing in an england shirt)...

I'd much prefer alves, he's infact probably weaker defensively than chimbonda, but younger, and ?20m for him is better value (he can play wide right also) than ?10m for the frenchman.

sheva... well I think the year will have done him well, but I am not convinced the service will be much better to him- so I expect more goals, and better peformances, but he won't necessarily be prolific. ballack missing pre season would be a bit of a disaster, but even so the second surgery should hopefully rid him of carrying problems throughout the season (likewise sheva)... but he's a player I really don't have many worries about... if he gets in some pre season training and plays, he'll do well.

pretty much agree with the rest though

[evissy]

Third - Chimbonda for Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi et al - I'm happy

Are we still after Chimbonda? Kenyon said that there is nothing to that rumor.

Glen is on his way back, right? He has potential...

Seventh - SWP to go - 50/50

Anything concrete on this? Only read some rumors, but nothing seem like it is going to happen. He should go for his own sake. At this point he's crowded out in the worst way.

[Jimboola69]

First - bye bye Geremi and Boula - you weren't up to it. Bench fodder that never made the position their own, Boula was at times embarassing.

Second - Malouda for Robben - I'm happy with that - I am in two minds. malouda seems good, i think Robben IS better. But the boy is made of glass. I will trust Jose's judgement on this (which is good of me I think)!!!

Third - Chimbonda for Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi et al - I'm happy - Ferri has been a disapointment for me. I like him but he always seems to have a big mistake waiting for us. Diarra looked a good RB for a midfielder. Geremi (see above). Chimbonda is slime, and I do not want him at the Bridge unless he is in the visiting changing rooms or selling programmes.

Fourth - Sidwell as the new Hollins or Bumstead - great - Hollins could make the ball dance sunny!!! Great links man. Sid is bench fodder.

Fifth - Pizzaro as replacement for the Drog and Kalou when Africa calls - ok - He looks half decent in the CAM Cup. But yeah he should play loads after Christmas.

Sixth - Ben Haim as a decent reserve for JT and CARVO - ok - In certain games sure. We need a more mobile guy for when Robbie is crocked though.

Seventh - SWP to go - 50/50 - I guess so.

Eighth - Sheva - we're stuck with him, surely he can only get better - Sure he will do fine. Last chance saloon and all that.

Ninth - likewise Ballack - Aye, true.

Tenth - Maka's replacement is there - Mikel - and he's bigger and better - He is progressing well, but Maka is the daddy. I will agree that he had more bad games last seaon than he has had for many moons. But at times he was just an education to watch. I think we are holding him this year and then he will go on a free.

[Jack]

1) Agree that Boula was pants but Gezza was good character to have around the gaff - no airs about him, did a decent job where and when required.

2) Can't really comment on Malouda - Robben has been frustrating and spectacular in equal measure. We'll see if it's a good swap, although I'd rather have both (see below).

3) Jimbonda can bugger orf - we can do better.

4) Sidwell - another guy I didn't really notice last season. I'm happy to have him on board, another to watch.

5) The Pizza-Man could well shake Sheva out of his slumber, seems like a decent chap, and JT will like his knowledge of the gee-gees! Won't set the place alight but a good addition.

6) Ben Haim - can't be any worse than Boula, can he? My main worry is that we have adequate cover for JT in this guy and Alex, but where is the mobile, quick man to cover for Crazy Ricky?

7) SWP to go would be ridiculous. We kept him through his bad spell and now he's coming good we off-load? I say we keep him, Robben, Malouda, Joey Cole, Kalou and Scott Sinclair and keep the wide positions competitive and fresh all season.

8) Sheva - I have the feeling we've got to the Kezman stage, "c'mon Kezza" and all that. Once the fans start feeling sympathetic it's all over. I hate the politics Sheva has created and my big fear is that he'll be the cause of the final parting of Chelsea and Jose. As far as the football is concerned, looked great at times and woeful at others. If AC Milan want him back we should sell and buy Berbatov!

9) Ballack is a coasting Rolls Royce - only any good down hill but looks great parked in the drive. I fear he'll be worse this season due to this ankle injury - a curtailed pre-season for a lumbering lummox like him is fatal.

10) Maka looks like he needs to be used sparingly for here on in - a little sharpness has gone from his game. I don't see Mikel as a direct replacement, but what a fantastic prospect the boy is.

[callista]

First - bye bye Geremi and Boula - you weren't up to it. Geremi never really made his mark but was not a disaster either as for Boula, he only had to step on to the pitch and I started sweating with nerves.

Second - Malouda for Robben - I'm happy with that. Love Robben when he's not injured which isn't often, attitude for the fight is suspect but any way we are getting both of them! As for Malouda I have a gut feeling he could do well with Jose.

Third - Chimbonda for Ferreira, Diarra, Geremi et al - I'm happy. Not going to happen, Chimbonda not on Chelsea's radar and most don't think he's good enough.

Fourth - Sidwell as the new Hollins or Bumstead - great. I hope Sidwell does well.

Fifth - Pizzaro as replacement for the Drog and Kalou when Africa calls - ok.I'm hopeful about Pizarro and he may as you say wake Sheva from his slumbers.

Sixth - Ben Haim as a decent reserve for JT and CARVO - ok Agreed.

Seventh - SWP to go - 50/50 I don't think he will leave, he doesn't want to and the club I think will give him one more chance to shine. He's such a frustrating player so inconsistent.

Eighth - Sheva - we're stuck with him, surely he can only get better. He can't get any worse.

Ninth - likewise Ballack. Ballack improved for me as the season went on and I feel he could do much better next year. But the ankle op has mucked up his pre-season which bugs me.

Tenth - Maka's replacement is there - Mikel - and he's bigger and better I think Mikel is a real find but needs some work still, Maka is a living legend in that position and Mikel is not designed to be a Maka player I would suggest. I really rate Mikel and I think Jose likes him too. I can see why MU and Chelsea fought over him.

[barak81]

Paulo to stay,more than capable

all the wingersto stay, we'e going to need them

Mikel would be so much better utilised higher up the pitch with his quick feet and mind would terrarise deffences

[High Street Ken]

Mikel would be so much better utilised higher up the pitch with his quick feet and mind would terrarise deffences

I couldn't agree more. His vision would cause havoc around the box plus he has the strength to hold the ball up in danger areas and feed the strikers. I think there are goals in him too.

[yogic]

Eleventh: Joe Cole is Back.

Nuff Said.

[Dorset]

1. The non-believers, who couldn?t find it in themselves to trust Jose?s stated intention to pursue a 4-3-3 policy, have to accept that they were wrong. This, of course, has to be as a result of the evidence of their own eyes, as we place a greater emphasis on attacking football all season, in all competitions.

2. Robben must not be sold, being a major factor relating to point 1, and neither must SWP, being a minor factor in comparison, but nonetheless important in that we will have four wide men competing for places plus, if I had my way, Scott Sinclair.

3. Of the three ?frees? Sidwell has the most difficult job to break into the 1st team, but his development is the most crucial because of Essien and Mikel being called away. He HAS to be better than most of us think he is for the season to be the success we all hope it will be.

4. Ballack?s performances in a midfield three need to be dominant and his injury is a worry for me. Don?t get me wrong, I?m an admirer of his play, but what is needed from him, in the Premier League especially, is a bit more getting hold of the game by the scruff of the neck and a little less outright aggression for its own sake.

5. Maybe we do have defensive and attacking RBs in Paulo and Glen, with Diarra and Tal Ben Haim as cover, but Alves partnering up with a Joe Cole or a Robben would be a mouth watering prospect going forward. I hope we are in for this player, as Star stated some time ago, because it would support the theory that in future we are not settling for a series of one nil ?what we have we hold? type games, as we have done in the past.

6. Mikel becomes the awesome player he threatens to be and in tandem with Essien they allow complete freedom of expression in the opposition?s half. The opportunity for more invention in the last third is one thing, actual creation when there is another - leading to the next point.

7. Obviously playing with flair requires players with flair and we have these in Cole, Robben and Kalou. We have a monster in Didier and, from what we know of him, a shoot on sight, predominantly box-type player in Pizarro. We also have a world class performer in Sheva, but is it wrong to suggest that he has looked out of place so far? This has to change, whether it be through more goals, more involvement, or simply a greater love of the game in a Chelsea shirt. It boils down to signs of commitment second time around and, if it isn?t to be, better that we know now rather than later.

8. The way forward isn?t all about players or formations. Relationships off the park clearly deteriorated last season and the Grant situation hasn?t improved matters this, although any buffer between Roman and Jose might prove to be worth its weight in gold in the long term. Now is not the time to criticise Kenyon (though it might be soon if Frank and JT contracts go pear shaped) but I have to say that the current recruitment policy makes his job an easy one, as the players or their agents seem to beat a path to his door rather than the other way round. Still, at least he didn?t get involved with Joorabchian and, if we were once interested and United also end up missing out on Tevez, I?ll hold my hands up and say he played a blinder by not getting involved in what was, and still is, an unholy mess. All in all you would have got the point by now - everybody get on, please.

[Guest Brian M]

Nice post, Dorset. Spot on.

Though I still would've loved to have signed Tevez...

[Dorset]

Thanks for that, Brian, and nice of you to stop off from giving the Invisible Man a good kicking (is that actually possible?) on the other thread.

[Guest Brian M]

Thanks for that, Brian, and nice of you to stop off from giving the Invisible Man a good kicking (is that actually possible?) on the other thread.

Cheers, Dorset. Sorry to go on in the other thread. It's either that or get on with some real writing. And, as I've always suspected, if Procrastination were an Olympic sport, I could represent my country!

[callista]

Dorset:

6. Mikel becomes the awesome player he threatens to be and in tandem with Essien they allow complete freedom of expression in the opposition?s half. The opportunity for more invention in the last third is one thing, actual creation when there is another - leading to the next point.

I really have faith in Mikel to become as awesome a player as Essien already is. Jose by the sounds of it already recognises what this lad could become, he just needs to nurture him well and give him playing time.

Please lets not waste his talent sitting on the bench in preference to someone say like Ballack and then e gets fed up and demands to be released to another club where he would prove a monster signing.

A lot depends on Jose and giving him more playing time/responsibility and being a little patient when he makes a mistake.

And I am seriously looking foward to seeing Essien in the midfield again.

One thing I have noticed from hearing opposition fans voice their opinions is that just about everyone recognises what a fantastic player we have in Essien - lets use him where he is feared most - MIDFIELD not defense.

Criminal to have him back there, even though he does a pretty good job it has to be said but it reflected very badly on our failed recruitment policy that he was made to play there in the first place.

A lot of players would have kicked up a fuss but not him he got on with it - a real class act.

We hit pay dirt with him big time.