2008/9 Season

[Tim]

So, as part of my therapy to deal with the rest of this season, I am going to ignore it for now and take a look at what might happen in the summer.

I know we have had various threads on possible ins and outs, but, looking at the team/management/club as a whole, how, ideally, do you see Chelsea looking at the start of next season.

For me, the list is as follows:

1. Grant out. Nuff said. Who 'in' is the bigger question. I was very, very happy and confident when we got Jose, but don't have that same faith in those who have been mentioned this time round, (Rijkaard, Laudrup, etc) so to be honest I have to reserve judgement on that one for now.

I would love to see Steve Clarke stay, but fear he is on his way, so a replacement who understands the club and can connect with the fans would be good - Franco anyone?

2. By bye Drogba. World class on his day. A tit when he's not in the mood. Bottom line, he clearly doesn't want to be here, and has shown a real lack of respect for the fans and the club with his comments, so as long as we get a BIG transfer fee which we reinvest in a young, hungry striker, I will be happy enough.

3. Frank's future. Undecided at the moment. On the one hand, we'd be mad to let a 20 goal a season midfielder who loves the club leave. On the other, it seems maybe he sees his future elsewhere, and given he hasn't been in top form this season, do we need to let him move on to usher in a new, successful post-Jose Chelsea? My gut feeling is he will go, and that it might just be the right move for both parties, but I would be very very happy if he stays, provided he has to fight for his place.

More to follow, but this is doing me good I think. Less depressed/angry now, that's for sure...

[mad_mac]

Tim, I think that we will see quite a lot of change in the summer. Watching Fox Football Fone in out here in the states, they have a couple English blokes basically sit and talk about all things football, with the majority of the show talking about the EPL. One of the guys, Stephen Coehn, is an avid Chelsea fan, and tonight he siad: "One thing I know, is that Drogba is gone in the summer, for defininte." Not that this is anything new, as we all suspected this to be true, and Star has also posted such a statement.

However, he then went on to say that Carvalho might be a strong possibility to leave, and the Lampard looks as if he will leave to go wherever Jose goes. So, this means that whoever comes in to replace Grant (think he might have let that one slip) will be given 100 million to totally re-shape the team. Also, he stated that Rijkaard is one of the top managers in line to replace Grant in the summer. Although that was not definite, the mian point was that Grant will be gone, and whoever comes in will be given 100 Million to form a new team. No mention by this bloke as to who was coming in, but they did say a mian focus "could" be replacing Lampard. A caller also touted the names of Villa and Huntelaar, again nothing new there

Either way, I think pretty much everything we suspected is coming true. We will see a whole new squad next season.

I also said a while back that we could get Villa quite easily. Valencia are in financial turmoil, so think we could make them an offer without the risk of being "bent over" on the price this time

Not given up totally, and still think we could have a good shot at the CL. But the next season could be very intriguing

Scott

[Oblivion]

All this talk of Lamps leaving has left me with a question: Is there anyone in the squad capable of replacing him? At the moment, I have 2 strong alternatives and one softer option. The 2 strong ones are Joe Cole and Ballack, while the soft alternative is Essien. All 3 have good passing, but Cole and Essien are more mobile. Ballack has had about equal number of off days this season as Lamps has and we've done quite well when it happened, so it won't be a complete shock to the system.

Thoughts?

Anyway, I'm all for Rijkaard to come in. I believe he speaks good English and can work well with Ten Cate. Capable of creating balanced squad and isn't completely daft defensively. However, may have grown a bit spoilt having Eto'o, Ronnie and Messi for practically every game. Still a top coach methinks. As for the players we may bring in (and those on the way out), I don't have much to say, save a "thank you" applaud for Drogba. It was fun while it lasted

Cheers.

[barak81]

Iv never been a big fan of massiv changes, more and evolution person my self.

It goes with out saying we need a manager change but i dont think rickard is the right man at all, not a big fan. unfortunatly i cant really think of any one else, i suppose thats the problem with coming from jose.

Laudrup looks an interesting proposition and based of the type of player he was you would like to think that he'd bring some entertaining football with him as well.

iv also thought about wise and sparky. both have done well so far in managment. not really with the zola idea as just cant see him as a manager. of course id take ruud back in a heart beat!!

as for the players we dont need a hell of a lot wether drogba stays or goes we need another striker, and hunterlar and aguero would be a bit of a dream.

Id also like us to give sinclare some playing time, he's a far better option than malouda and swp. and along with sinclare id like to see us pushing more players from the youth team

[Gem]

All this talk of Lamps leaving has left me with a question: Is there anyone in the squad capable of replacing him?

In a nutshell, for me, no. I don't think there is anyone in world football who is better at what he does than Lamps. I think we've taken for granted (sorry) 20+ goals a season with the same tally of assists, and when he doesn't play, we do not click no question. However, if we change our style of play and don't rely on him so much, then if he did leave in the Summer, we could get a Van Der Vaart type player in... and who knows? I hope he doesn't leave saying that, but if he did and we continue to play 4-3-3 hitting it long, then the hole he'd leave would be massive.

[Mr Chelsea]

2008/2009 we're back on for the quadruple

[BLUENUT]

I'm dreading the summer to be honest. We will lose Drogba, but I don't like the prospect of losing Ricci and Lamp's, or any more of our top players.

Malouda can leave now if he wants to!

Who will be the manager, I think it'll be Hiddink, he's been courted by Roman and will join us after the Euros I'm sure of it.

[Oasis]

For me, the priority has to be to tie down Joe Cole to a long contract which warrants his value to us... i think we'll see the end of Wright-Phillips, Malouda, Drogba, Pizarro, Sidwell, Shevchenko and Wayne Bridge's Chelsea careers.. i'd like to see us invest in a striker of the Ruud Van Nistelrooy mould... another Joe Cole type player to operate on the opposite flank unless Salomon Kalou can work on his end product over the summer... i think there'll be a massive amount of wheeling and dealing at the Bridge over the summer and if players aren't willing to put everything they've got, into playing for Chelsea Football Club to the best of their ability and with 110% commitment, whoever they are, they can go for me

[Tim]

One thing's for sure - we'd better make a strong and decisive move to sort out the management asap, or we'll have trouble attracting some players to the club, however much money we offer them.

We need a settled and united and competent mangement team in place well before the Euro's begin.

[BLUENUT]

Throwing £$£$£$£$£$$£'s at a problem doesn't solve it.

I hope we have someone buying players to fit a certain type of style/formation or game-plan rather than when Roman first arrived and we just spent for the fun of it, this is why I'm dreading the summer.

[Oasis]

Throwing £$£$£$£$£$$£'s at a problem doesn't solve it.

I hope we have someone buying players to fit a certain type of style/formation or game-plan rather than when Roman first arrived and we just spent for the fun of it, this is why I'm dreading the summer.

I think we need flair... the fans aren't happy with the football, thats for sure... and flair costs money in modern football... personally i'd like to see a gaffer come in who's prepared to take a chance on the young we have like Miroslav Stoch, Arsenal haven't been afraid to do it, why should we be, these players won't learn from playing reserve/youth team football.. throw them in at the deep end i say, if they're good enough they won't drown

[Tim]

Arsenal also haven't won a thing for 3 years, so although I take your point and agree with it in theory, it will always have to be a delicate balencing act between youth and experience, rather than putting blind faith in the former, which Arsene insists on doing.

[Gem]

For me, the priority has to be to tie down Joe Cole to a long contract which warrants his value to us...

Joe signed a new 4 year deal in the Summer with a good wage, I believe that was on top of his previous one which had a year left. Therefore... after this season, he is tied down for a further 4 years.

[Oasis]

For me, the priority has to be to tie down Joe Cole to a long contract which warrants his value to us...

Joe signed a new 4 year deal in the Summer with a good wage, I believe that was on top of his previous one which had a year left. Therefore... after this season, he is tied down for a further 4 years.

I still believe it needs extending further, and i think if Avram stays then Joe will leave in the summer

[Mr Chelsea]

the summer will see us linked to everyone who as a half decent game at the euro's

the first thing roman needs to do at the end of the season, is to decide wheather the clueless one (grant) is going or not, this needs sorting out within a couple of weeks of the close of the season

if grant is staying he can then strengthen the squad as he's sees fit, players will then decide if they are staying or not

if a new manager is to come in, he then as time to sell off who he doesnt want, bring in who he wants and get us ready for a major assult on 4 trophies next season

the sooner these things are sorted the better

[ethicalstrategy]

For me, the priority has to be to tie down Joe Cole to a long contract which warrants his value to us...

Joe signed a new 4 year deal in the Summer with a good wage, I believe that was on top of his previous one which had a year left. Therefore... after this season, he is tied down for a further 4 years.

I still believe it needs extending further, and i think if Avram stays then Joe will leave in the summer

Tying Joe down to a long term contact is the least of our worries. He is a good player but no-one is going to build the team around him. The key is to find the right manager. Everything else will flow from that. I hope to god we don't get Rijkard. Just look at him at he moment in Spain. He can't cope with the current problems at Barca and he would have a mess to clear up at Chelsea should he come.

[forbzy]

I think we have reached a real crossroads here and the club needs to decide how best to go forwards. Do they want to keep going in the results first, style second direction and expect to win at least something every season? Or do we start rebuilding? I personally would prefer the latter. Ever since Jose left it looked like we would inevitably lose some of the favourites from his team. Drogs, Lamps, Carvs and maybe more. We also have to cut a lot of the driftwood that has attached itself to the club in the last year or 2. We should bring in a fresh new management team that has the respect of the players and give them time to build a stylish new team. Personally I'd like to see a management team with some connection to the club. How about keeping on Clarkey and bringing in Zola as his sidekick? Laudrup would be a good choice too. Either one would have the respect of the players at least. As far as players are concerned I think we would need to bring a few new faces if we get the expected exodus. But I hope that we also save some space for some of the promising youth at the club too. I'd like to see a blend of the established (Cech, JT, Joe Cole etc.), the new signings who have yet to play (Ivanovic, Di Santo etc.), youth (Kakuta, Sinclair, Mancienne etc.), and a few new faces (Villa, Huntelaar etc.)

I realise that with such a large rebuild we may have to step backwards before we go forwards. But I'm OK with that if the football shows some promise. Unlike the Manc and Scouse fans who occasionally invade these forums I don't need to see us win things all the time. I don't even care if we are in the Champions League every season. We may end up finishing second this season and close to winning 4 trophies but our current squad is soulless and faceless. I just want a team with some character that I can get excited about. If we can win the odd trophy or 2 at the same time then even better. Perhaps that isn't in line with everybody on this forum but I'm pretty sure there are a few others who would agree.

[BlueBosnian]

2008/09 - Grant still our manager! You can mark my words!

F**k!

[Ballack & Blu]

hi folks

Just finished watching BR vMU , OMG ,will most probably lose the prem on GD,what a way to finish

[motorhead]

forbzy,that post was spot on

[Adzio]

Im with you Forzby , I don't care if we go a season without winning a trophy as long as we show signs of improvement in the way we play . I have been totally bored watching us apart from a couple of games for the last two years. Di santo from what i can see and hear looks promising and Sinclair already can not be no worse than Malouda or SWP , Mancienne Would be good cover for defensive areas fullback or centreback .

Lets get some identity back to the club with some young talent not spending 20-30 million on Has beens.

[Tim]

One things for sure, whoever comes in as manager will have to be able and prepared to grab the club by the scruff of the neck and dish out a few home truths to several of the players.

We NEED a united team/squad again, and starting next season with everyone focused and keen to play for CFC is a must. Under Jose you never got the feeling players were just happy to turn up, go through the motions and pick up their pay packets, but seems we've lost that dedication this season.

[Guest]

We may end up finishing second this season and close to winning 4 trophies but our current squad is soulless and faceless.

This is an interesting viewpoint.

I'm not so sure I agree with it, but assuming it is so, is it a reality of modern day football or something more (and specific to Chelsea)?

[TomP]

Next season all hinges on three men, if you ask me. Well, really 4, as Roman gets to make the calls to a certain degree about the other three.

If Grant is still in charge, I can't see us improving on this season. He might get lucky in one of the cups, but I can't see him building a consistant, defensively sound, title-winning side. I just can't. All I can see is a slow slide downwards back to a level where Liverpool have been for the last 10 years - good players, nowhere near the title.

Obviously as a Chelsea fan, I would absolutely love it if we got 2 amazing results in the last 2 matches and one the league, or if we got the Liverpool monkey off our backs in the Champion's League before destroying Barca in the final. But, the dark side to either of these happening is it might buy Grant another year, which is not a good thing for the stability of the current squad.

I think that Frank's future is still very much up in the air, and possibly very dependant on what happens with the manager. He was very much Jose's player, and I get the feeling that he doesn't have all that much respect for Grant. I would imagine the situation would be that if Grant stays, Frank goes.

I think that regardless, we can write off any chance of Drogba staying. He has made his intentions pretty clear since Jose left, and I would be very surprised if he wasn't Jose's first "trophy" singing at AC, Inter or Barca.

Unfortunately for us, these two players have dictated the way we have played for the last 4 seasons. We could afford to play a normally defensive 4-5-1 system because, in short, we had a striker who could play like he was two men, and a midfielder who could score as many goals a striker.

If we lose one or both of them, I just don't think we can keep going with the system we play. It needs Frank and Didier to work properly. I don't think there are any two players in the world who could slot into our system and match what they do.

It will be up to the manager to impose a new system - and if that manager is Grant, I think we will be in a lot of trouble.