Do We Need Another Striker?

[abramovich]

I have been thinking about it for some time and our options upfront don't exactly fill me with confidence.

Drogba is getting older and injuries are catching up with him so he's bound to slow down especially now that he's hit 30. Everybody else is pretty much a gamble for various reasons. Kalou needs to establish himself, Pizarro is useless and is on his way out, Sheva doesn't fit in in England and Di Santo is too young to shoulder too much in his first season as a first team player.

I feel that after Drogba Anelka may be our best bet due to his experience in the PL and overall ability, but his attitude is questionable.

[ozboy]

No doubt about it the striker position is not fixed.

Maybe Anelka will have a better season, however the main hope has to be around Drogba.

[TomP]

I'm not sure what everyone's obsession with players turning 30 is.

I don't think Drogba's going to be any less effective this season as he was previously. He will probably lose a little bit of his pace, but his game has never really been about pace - it is all about power and physicality, which will improve into his mid 30's. If you want some good comparisions, look at Alan Shearer and Cristian Vieri, who were quite similar players, and were at their peak in their early 30's.

I think Anelka looked pretty good in the handful of matches that he played as a striker last season (he played a lot more matches as a wide man) - he was quite unlucky in front of goal if you ask me. He has been a quality striker for years now, and that's not going to change next season. Especially as he won't be as isolated as he was in Grant's side.

These two are going to be our main striking options, so unless we lose one of them, I see no need for further signings. Especially as we still have Sheva's experience, the need to blood Di Santo and Kalou, and possibly Robinho coming in who could play up front if needed (as could Malouda in a crisis).

All that signing another top draw striker (ie. someone like Villa) would do would be to:

1. Severely limit opportunities for Di Santo and Kalou

2. Pretty much end Sheva's career

3. Upset the apple cart - Drogba and Anelka are prize whingers at the best of times. I don't think they would take threats to their position very well.

Edited July 29, 2008 by TomP

[blizeH]

Get rid of Drogba - amazing player, best striker in the world when he actually wants to play. Yet his attitude and age are against him.

Get rid of Pizarro - not good enough

Get rid of Anelka - awful attitude

Leaving only Kalou, Sheva and Di Santo.

Kalou is being used as a winger lately so I wouldn't put him upfront personally, Di Santo looks promising but is still too young, and Shevchenko seems to of never really got going since joining, but maybe that'll change next season, I hope.

One more striker in, with Sheva on the bench, and Di Santo/Kalou/Cole to be used if we're desperate.

IMO.

Edited July 29, 2008 by blizeH

[dreadis]

I honestly believe that we don't need another striker, even when Pizarro leaves. Think about it: DD, Nic, Sheva, Di Santo and Kalou!!! And if Robinho comes we are more than safe in that area as he is perfect as second striker and winger. I feel, with him arriving, we will have the best squad after 4-5 years, with 2 great players for every position!!

CAREFREE

[evissy]

Get rid of Drogba - amazing player, best striker in the world when he actually wants to play. Yet his attitude and age are against him.

Get rid of Pizarro - not good enough

Get rid of Anelka - awful attitude

Leaving only Kalou, Sheva and Di Santo.

Kalou is being used as a winger lately so I wouldn't put him upfront personally, Di Santo looks promising but is still too young, and Shevchenko seems to of never really got going since joining, but maybe that'll change next season, I hope.

One more striker in, with Sheva on the bench, and Di Santo/Kalou/Cole to be used if we're desperate.

IMO.

What is wrong with Anelka's attitude? He was played out of position and he didn't get to show his abilities to Chelsea fans right from the start. I think/hope Scolari will find goals out of Anelka.

Drogba is at the peak of his abilities now and for the next two seasons, at least. He will again be the guy to trust. Injuries are the only worry with Drogs IMO.

My concern is that will Drogba and Anelka find eachother. Hope Deco brings something into this to make it work although we are not quite sure about our formation for the new season. It has been 433 in these training games hasn't it?

Kalou and Sheva get to play if we are to play with two forwards. Problem with Sheva is that he needs to play lot, lot more than he has.

[coombsie]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing. Last season, even with Drogs fit for most of the time, excluding the ANC, he wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders. Lamps, Kalou, Joe all played their part, but it was clear that we were not the free scoring CFC of the past.

Felipe has already said that DiSanto is not ready for the 1st team and is one for the future. Sheva simply MUST move on, Drogs future is uncertain although he is currently our best bet and Kalou is not yet proven. Sinclair has been rushed out to Malaysia for the second part of the tour and whilst I like him as a player I do not yet think he is the finished article either.

Therefore, we really must be looking for another striker. Villa would be my preference although Pavyluchenko or Benzema might suit our needs too.

[coombsie]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing. Last season, even with Drogs fit for most of the time, excluding the ANC, he wasn't exactly firing on all cylinders. Lamps, Kalou, Joe all played their part, but it was clear that we were not the free scoring CFC of the past.

Felipe has already said that DiSanto is not ready for the 1st team and is one for the future. Sheva simply MUST move on, Drogs future is uncertain although he is currently our best bet and Kalou is not yet proven. Sinclair has been rushed out to Malaysia for the second part of the tour and whilst I like him as a player I do not yet think he is the finished article either.

Therefore, we really must be looking for another striker. Villa would be my preference although Pavyluchenko or Benzema might suit our needs too.

Sorry I forgot Anelka, Probably I guess, because Anelka is FORGETTABLE !!!

[Michael]

What is wrong with Anelka's attitude? He was played out of position and he didn't get to show his abilities to Chelsea fans right from the start. I think/hope Scolari will find goals out of Anelka.

I think Scolari can get the best out of Anelka. He has looked good in the first two games of this pre-season tour and I agree that a partnership of Drogba and Anelka would be lethal.

[Nibs]

Think we look light weight up front. Need to get rid of Sheva and Pizza 'cos at the moment I think we turn to them when we are desperate and hope they come good. Get rid and then then we'll have to have better options and not try and flog a dead horse yet again.

I'm gutted we haven't nicked one of the Spurs cast-offs. I would have been happy with any one of Defoe, Keane or Berbatov. Would love to see the Drogba / Anelka partnership come good and it may well do but I have my doubts.

Guess I would add either Robinho or Villa but don't like the idea of a £30m price tag again.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Nibs

[TheWestwayWonder]

If we're gonna do it, I say we do it right:

We have a strong forward in Drogba,

a wiry fast one in Kalou,

an aging but classy one in Sheva,

a raw one in DiSanto,

and a versatile one in Anelka.

Regardless of which of those players I want to see gone, the player we are missing is the small, nimble, PROVEN goal poacher that is in his prime. David Villa is the kind of player that can partner virtually everyone there, save Kalou, and, in theorey, play to their strengths and make them better.

We need the kind of forward who thrives on all the long shots and knocked down crosses we generate. Villa is a shifty, quick little bugger with a thunderbolt of a foot who can make the most from a riccochet at the edge of the box, or from a loose ball on the goal line. That, in my opinion, is what is needed. The kind of all around forward we thought we were getting with Adrian Mutu

[Ballack & Blu]

What concerns me is our strikers didn't perfporm last season,and again lamps and the midfielders backed them up,what worries me is the teams below are going to be not far of us and Man U,the signing of Keane i believe could be the scousers missing piece of the puzzle,cos that guy is Magic,they really stole a march on clubs that were sleeping,how come we never even mentioned him in potentials to buy,spurs will use that money and the sale of Berbatoss to really strengthen,we can't afford to be seen idly standing by.

Also Robinho aint no striker,more of a Ronaldo type,what will he offer that Deco brings and what we have with Coley and Kalou.we need to act like the other teams and strengthen up front or we will be sorry,

I will happily stand corrected if Scolari can help make the strikers score more goals...we need a Torres type....!!!

Edited July 29, 2008 by Ballack & Blu

[TheWestwayWonder]

Random thought: Even Madrid's players are saying they need to sign a forward before the transfer window closes.

With Ruud, Raul, and Higuain already there, one more striker would surely ice out a the 26 year old Javier Saviola.

Should this be our cue to go the cheap route and find a player who is probably bursting at the seams to prove himself to the whole world?

[Elliott]

I think we do, yes.

Fergie is a firm believer of having 4 decent strikers to win the league, and i think he's right.

Looking back to when he said that, he had;

1. Cole

2. Yorke

3. Sheringham &

4. Solskjaer.

By comparison, we now have;

1. Drogba

2. Anelka (So far so good..)

3. Sheva ( :huh: )

4. Kalou / Di Santo?

One more guaranteed goal-scorer is needed, as the last 2/3 strikers on that list, wont be capable of scoring 20+ goals a season.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

I think we do, yes.

Fergie is a firm believer of having 4 decent strikers to win the league, and i think he's right.

Looking back to when he said that, he had;

1. Cole

2. Yorke

3. Sheringham &

4. Solskjaer.

By comparison, we now have;

1. Drogba

2. Anelka (So far so good..)

3. Sheva ( :huh: )

4. Kalou / Di Santo?

One more guaranteed goal-scorer is needed, as the last 2/3 strikers on that list, wont be capable of scoring 20+ goals a season.

A guaranteed goal scorer is very hard to find. Liverpool found one in Torres and Tottenham in Berbatov, but maybe they just got lucky. With Chelsea, we go for strikers that were renowned goal scorers and the only one that's payed off is DD, for me, as Anelka, Sheva & Pizarro have done nothing. We do need a striker, definitely, but it's going to be difficult for us to find someone that will start with a bang and keep it consistent for the years he'll be with us, a la Torres. Will be a challenge to find one, I'm afraid.

[Elliott]

A guaranteed goal scorer is very hard to find. Liverpool found one in Torres and Tottenham in Berbatov, but maybe they just got lucky. With Chelsea, we go for strikers that were renowned goal scorers and the only one that's payed off is DD, for me, as Anelka, Sheva & Pizarro have done nothing. We do need a striker, definitely, but it's going to be difficult for us to find someone that will start with a bang and keep it consistent for the years he'll be with us, a la Torres. Will be a challenge to find one, I'm afraid.

If i was Kenyon, i would slap down £35m in the direction of Daniel Levy.

[Ruh Buh Juh]

Well, us snatching Berbatov from the mancs noses would be very interesting....but I doubt we'll go for him because Kenyon has said Robinho is the only player we're going for now. I hope we do get Berbatov or someone similar though...

Edited July 29, 2008 by Ruh Buh Juh

[gustyheadhunter]

What is wrong with Anelka's attitude? He was played out of position and he didn't get to show his abilities to Chelsea fans right from the start. I think/hope Scolari will find goals out of Anelka.

Drogba is at the peak of his abilities now and for the next two seasons, at least. He will again be the guy to trust. Injuries are the only worry with Drogs IMO.

My concern is that will Drogba and Anelka find eachother. Hope Deco brings something into this to make it work although we are not quite sure about our formation for the new season. It has been 433 in these training games hasn't it?

Kalou and Sheva get to play if we are to play with two forwards. Problem with Sheva is that he needs to play lot, lot more than he has.

think back to moscow and his pen that is what is wrong with le sulk,id be happy to see him never play for us again

[gustyheadhunter]

Well, us snatching Berbatov from the mancs noses would be very interesting....but I doubt we'll go for him because Kenyon has said Robinho is the only player we're going for now. I hope we do get Berbatov or someone similar though...

surley with berba we are gettin the same problems that we have with the drog all over again. he is a moody f**k pot