03 Aug 2015 17:26:24
I've just read an extremely good article by Nick Miller on Espn on how we need strengthening. Begovic is a great signing to replace Cech and I'll also be very happy when Rahman signs because that looks as though it will happen. He went into detail about our midfield and attacking midfielders in how we need to improve that area and not just settling for what we have. He says Mikel hasn't fully convinced in the decade he's been here and that Ramires is too much of a liability and I have to agree with him. Loftus-Cheek looks as though he can make the grade here but his time is not yet. I don't mind keeping Mikel for cup matches just because I hope to see Loftus next to him so he has that experience there to help him. But I do think we can improve upon Ramires. He's been a great servant and is good at doing a job but we need an upgrade who can fill in and play beside Matic when he's suspended/injured. For me it has to be Witsel seen as it looks as though he's available. He keeps things simple, he's a good tackler and passer of the ball and he can play centrally it defensive. If we could broker a deal for him that will give me the confidence of regaining the league.
As for AM he states that while Willian and Oscar are very good players they are not what we need to take us to the next level. You look at Barcelona's three of Messi, Suarez, Neymar, Bayern's of Robben, Lewandowski and Ribery and Madrid's of Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo they have it all and we don't have that. We are missing 1/3 of a deadly attack. Hazard and Costa are there but we have nobody else. Willian has a great work rate but he doesn't score enough goals to play out wide while Oscar's inconsistent. We really need that Muller or Sanchez type who can score goals and work which would complete us. Unfortunately it looks like that won't happen this window with no-one available in that position but that should definitely be our main area next summer. If we could sign Stones, Rahman and Witsel I'd be very confident.
03 Aug 2015 18:29:11
Completely agree
03 Aug 2015 19:05:49
Interesting post magical Eden, agree I think we are all being drawn into the fact that we walked the league last season as a good reason not to improve but I for one think we will have shot our selves on the foot if we don't sign someone else in that midfield role. We were the best out of a the bunch who weren't good and in Europe I can't remember when last English teams were so woeful that for me shows how poor we were. While the rest of Europe improves we are content with staging still and we all know doing that in football means moving backwards.
I'm not sure what Jose has planned honestly I'm not bordered in the slightest cause cause of what happened last season I just find it weird that we don't want to build on what is a really great foundation. Still a while left in the window plus we have the best manager in the world so let's see how things go.
03 Aug 2015 20:27:22
Disagree on the Oscar bit as I think he's excellent when properly rested. But agree on the rest. Though I'd wait to sign a new attacking mid/winger until next year (unless of course someone like Reus was an option right now). Cuadrado could still surprise us, and Traore or Moses might as well. But an upgrade on Ramires is necessary IMO.
Witsel is an obvious choice seeing as he's likely to move. Another favourite of mine is Granit Xhaka. Xhaka next to Matic could be an absolute dominating midfield with Oscar in front. A tough player with a sweet left foot and a rocket shot. I like Xhaka a lot! But my absolute preference for central midfield (excluding Pogba as that's near impossible) is Andre Gomes. He's not much below Pogba's level (if at all) and has a similar game I feel. He'll be amazing in the future and is already very very good. So for me it's Gomes, Xhaka, Witsel. That's also the order of preference.
03 Aug 2015 20:42:07
Just had a thought, and it follows on from what someone said recently. Mainly youth players, could it be possibly that, unless the Pogbas of the world became available, the club doesn't want to spend money on certain players in the hope that some of our loaned players reach the grade.
For example, we all kind of agree that Witsel would be a good replacement for Mikel or Ramires - helping us in transition from the back to forward players which still keeping our defensive edge. is it possible that the club see that a unnecessary spending as they hope for Van Ginkel (or Pasalic) to take the space(s)? there are other examples in the forwards. It maybe explains why we are just chasing a CB and LB, we are light there as we are with CM, but we have players who could plug the holes next season. doesn't help us out much this season haha. Just a thought
03 Aug 2015 20:49:51
Sorry but I don't agree with Witsel, for me he is average at best. Although I totally agree that an upgrade is needed in CM, I believe that if Rami and Mikel both go then we should buy. I say this purely because I want to see RLC get game time and with them there he will be a regular by the end of the season. If they both go, go all out and splash the cash for Pogba. Also I know he is injured, but Carvaleo from Sporting Lisbon could be a excellent addition.
I'm sure nothing will change and this season will be similar to last, maybe struggle a bit more in the league but have a better run in Europe. Would be happy to seek revenge on PSG!
03 Aug 2015 21:33:14
Agree with you on Gomes Jackson in all honesty i'd prefer him to Pogba as I feel he does more work off the ball it's a shame he's just signed permanently from Valencia. He also doesn't have Pogba's agent or ego.
I've never seen Xhaka play to be honest or heard much about him. But we do need a player who can shoot from outside the box. How good would we be with a prime Lampard now? I'm hoping Loftus-Cheek can force his way in although it's very unlikely. I don't know why people see him as a defensive midfielder because he's not. He's a proper box to box tank. He needs to be unleashed in a 4-3-3 I think that way we would get the best out of him. I think we could of kept Van Ginkel this year he's a good player who can pass and keep things simple. I'd love Reus though I think once we get that extra goal threat on the RW we can be elite. Such a shame we never signed Sanchez.
03 Aug 2015 21:57:24
Van Ginkel could've replaced Ramires IMO, so I agree that he could've stayed with us, MagicalEden.
And georgebest, that could definitely be true about the club putting some faith in the on loan players. Not too long ago I wrote a similar post myself. Van Ginkel and Pasalic definitely have the talent to make it at Chelsea. Pasalic in particular is very interesting. Not too much hype around him yet he's playing at Monaco now, and hopefully they'll make it to the CL group stages at least. He's got a very well rounded game and plays with a lot of energy. So I could certainly see him replacing Ramires next season.
I'd support the club 100% if this is their way of thinking. Buy world class players/talents if they're available for reasonable prices. Trust the guys we've got if that's not the case.
03 Aug 2015 22:34:21
How you all guys want mikel to stay? He is utterly crap and don't blame me for saying this. I am not the one to slate the players but boy the time mikels steps on the pitch I know something wrong will happen
{Ed018's Note - there isn't one post above yours stating they want Mikel to stay}
04 Aug 2015 08:50:02
Ed 18, I am not talking about this post but even in general people see to like mikel when he offers 0. I would much more prefer loftus to play mikels minutes
{Ed018's Note - well I for one would like to see someone brought in that's an upgrade on Mikel and Ramires.}