10 Mar 2016 12:23:14
Very pleased to see CFC received good feedback for his long article as it shows a passion for the team and I am sure if everyone did the same there would be a great variation in responses. Regarding Courtois who a number of us have felt is not the commanding figure he should be. To me his great strength over Cech is he catches crosses very well which takes pressure of the defence but his shot stopping is not in the same league as Cechs. Rahman and Pedro overal I have always felt were a waste of money and should go and left back is a serious weakness for us. Kenedy is not a left back and if we do not buy anyone I will be disappointed but if not Nathan Ake deserves a shot at the position. Although never a huge fan of Costa for his antics he is the only cutting edge we have and he will be a big miss if he does not start against Everton and given Hazards injury and dismal play, Traore will have a huge weight on his shoulders which leads to Willian. I think he has improved his game tremendously this season but I wish he shot more and he really should have more goals to his credit.
10 Mar 2016 12:38:25
Willian looks dead on his feet to me. Looks very tired. Probably because he's been carrying the team for the whole season.
Costa - you can only get a decent 60-70mins out of him per game. Again looks tired, picking up silly little injuries (which I really do doubt he has in the first place! ) think the majority of it, is in his head
Hazard - hasn't looked interested at least once this season. Ever since Jose said he could be as good as Messi and Ronaldo he's gone backwards and very quickly! The sooner he's sold the better for us.
Courtais - good keeper, not yet great. Has a lot of issues. But don't think the defence swapping and changing helps him.
Cahill - not been good enough this season. Seems to have taken his eye off the game since the birth of his child.
Azpilicueta - I said this earlier this season, his positional play is awful. Constantly out of position, both playing left and right back. Watch/ study him and see how many times he gets caught and you'll understand. Was amazing last season, this season - another whose gone backward.
Mikel - loved Mikel, but I think enough is enough. Too slow and ponderous to get back. No real fight anymore.
Matic - same as Mikel, enough is enough. Been nowhere near good enough this season. Another one who could be sold.
Fabregas - not consistent enough for me. Can't tackle, too lightweight. Either play further forward to utilise his good footballing brain, if not sell on.
Could go on all day. Really could. But just don't feel the squad is good enough or strong enough or deep enough for us to ever compete in 4 competitions for a whole season.
We have 2 choices in the summer - a major clear out 100% needed but we either:
Accept mid-table football for a few seasons while we blood youngsters.
Or
Go out and spend big and I mean £150m-£200m. A new spine is needed. With good back ups. Was so jealous of the PSG bench. That's how we used to be.
That's how we SHOULD be.
Win or lose up the blues!
10 Mar 2016 13:20:24
I don't think anyone here would disagree with that. I would like to see CFC look in the mirror and do some self-criticism and analysis on how the Team has reached this low. You may find the blame goes right through the Business and especially Emenalo.
10 Mar 2016 14:59:16
Agree on most points but I think regarding Mikel he has been reborn under hiddink. I think we all need to take a step back and realise we are not up there with the best teams in world football, so let's not pretend to be. The club are not going to sell half the squad and spend £200m on players. What we need is a manager who can bring the club out of the hole we find ourselves in and play football which is good to watch. We have a team full of attacking players, players who have won world cups, champions league and where not suited to mourinhos way of playing hence him paying the price. So now the club are bringing in a manager in conte who if I'm honest I do not know much about as I don't follow Italian football. I think for this move to bring the club together as one Zola would be a good addition to his back room staff and is also Italian.
I think the club need to seriously think hard about who they buy and sell as a lot of the players sold under Jose have gone on the be top quality.
10 Mar 2016 15:42:04
Yet we won the league with this squad last season? So not sure how you come about we didn't suit Mourinho's tactics.
Mikel is coasting through games at the moment, watch him last night just jog back when PSG were attacking. That annoys the hell out of me. That's why I go on about Loftus-Cheek. Haven't go the fight to bust a gut and get back into position. Just look at Willian when he charges back, that's how i feel all midfielders should be. Fit enough to get up and down all game long. I know it's a long season, but I'd give my right arm, leg, Mrs, Mum, Nan to play football for a living and to play 2/ 3 times a week!
10 Mar 2016 17:07:42
CFCAdam. I agree exactly with all your player assessments and as the season is almost over it is easier to say but a lot of those comments you could see developing as we got home last season. We started struggling in the second half of the year to put teams away and then through pre-season until now, never got going at all. We may be surprised at who we are going to unload voluntarily and those that ask to leave.
11 Mar 2016 12:32:43
Like the others I would like to give my opinion on the positions in the squad even if many are the same as others or you completely disagree it opinion:
GK - Courtois has to stay for me, yes he has had a poor season for his standards but given the potential and his age with the right training could be our keeper for next decade, begovic should go as he is too good for a no.2 10 mill would be a good deal and Amelia will retire, need a new no.2 with Blackman as no.3
RB - I love Dave, yes he has been caught out a few times positionally this year but as a 1 on 1 defender he can be world class and gives license for the other full back to attack so should stay as first choice with blooding in aina as his back up next year as I feel he is ready to step up
CB - Sad for everyone but I feel JT will leave and will e sadly miss what a legend so a replacement needed, if Conte comes in and plays 3 at the back then I feel stones would be great in that formation but not for the price Everton are asking, although unlikely I would like to see varane or marquinhos come in, Cahill for me is past it this year and has looked all over the place at times and should go, Ivanovic looks a different player at CB I was one calling for his head when he played RB but keep him as cover for Zouma who is a future class CB feel bad for him with the injury, players like kalas need to leave as they will never break through but I think Christensen should be recalled as he looks a real talent.
LB - Tricky one for me, Baba offers something with his crossing going forward but not much defensively, he could thrive as a lwb under Conte I believe but think we overpaid for him but is still young, Kenedy looked very good against PSG but feel he is wasted at this position and should be pushed forward but looks promising, definatly need to buy a new one for me maybe someone who is a little more solid a random but someone like Erik pieters who as I live in stoke for university I have watched a lot and has been solid all year but not too sure
DM - Mikel been a long term servant but for years I had wanted to see the back of him yes looks better under hiddink but has always been too slow and a side ways passer for me, I loved matic last year was incredible but looks like he has lost it this year and would be willing to sell, it seems like he trying to hard for me but maybe under a new manager could be his old self, diawara looks a great talent and for me someone like kante could do a great job
CM - Fabregas has found his range and vision again and when he plays like he is is essential to the side but we need to start breeding through RLC as I feel he has the potential to be a future star. Lewis baker and pasalic are also 2 players I like and would like to see do well on loan for another year.
RW - William has been player of the year and has really stepped up with his creativity and final pass should shoot more but only criticism, Pedro for me gives the ball away far too much and try's to always play 100 miles an hour, was ok with the idea of singing him but feel we should get rid, traore for me would be better suited as a winger rather a ST and would be good back up.
CAM - Oscar is similar to matic as he seems to always try to hard, puts in a shift but lacks quality and i think we should cash in on him and get a replacement someone like a Mario gotze, isco, or James Rodriguez would all be great but maybe unrealistic. Would love to see players like Nathan do well and come through one day.
LW - Eden hazard, what has happene to you, last year incredible this year doesn't look bothered, lacks attitude for me and would cash in on him fr around 60 million, kenedy would be a great backup for a new signing like again unrealistic and ed has said won't happen but would love reus think he is clas but also like players like Douglas costa or maybe even mahrez.
ST - Diego costa first had of the season was a get rid not making runs always looking for trouble but under hiddink has shown what a great striker he can be and must stay for me. If failing not too keep him I would love someone like aubameyang to come I if he left but if not a second choice like ighalo or a new young face. Remy should go lacks quality, falcao goes thank god and pato goes, what was the point in signing him haha but would like to see Izzy brown and solanke do well on loan as well.
Manager - I love hiddink and has done well to steady the ship but will retire and is not the long term future for the club, I believed it would always be either Conte or allegri and am happy with Conte coming in but wouldn't have minded an English not as big name like Howe, Hughes or even pardew before palaces awful run but whoever comes in will have good backing a a great squad to work with
COYB!