14 Mar 2016 17:28:43
I would imagine I am considerably older than most of the supporters on here and as much as I know there will be players coming in, I am happy to address that at the time because we will be associated with every player with two legs. Here I list my, probably controversial thoughts, on the main players this year.
Firstly, I am still somewhat staggered that an iconic manager like Mourinho can sign a four year deal in the August and be gone by the start of the next year. I hope at some stage we all find out what went on as the demise is staggering even by football's behaviour. Personally I wanted him to stay.
Courtois: His major asset is coming for crosses and catching the ball, something Cech rarely if ever did. That said I think Cech is a far better shot stopper. I was never convinced Courtois really wanted to come back to the club and I would not be surprised if he asked to leave.
Begovic: A useful keeper who we should retain but if Courtois stays I think he will want to go.
Azipilicueta: Should be our permanent right back not on the left but and like the team overall has not been at his best this season. A possible Captain?
Left Back: I said from day one that Rahman was not the answer and I do not think he will make the grade and it was £20m+ wasted. Dragged out of position too easily and trots back when going up the pitch. Kenedy I like, but not as a left back. As he adjusts and matures he could be very useful on the right wing. Left back is a position we need to sort out without any shadow of doubt.
Ivanovic: Dreadful, absolutely dreadful start to the season and I think his poor play impacted the rest of the defence and contributed to their loss of confidence. Improved since moving to what was always his strongest position but still a shadow of the player he was. I would keep him as cover.
Cahill: There has always been something lacking with him. He tries his hardest and has saved us many times with a block but if anyone is going to make a crucial mistake it will be him. Not a leader and I would be tempted to try and cash in.
Zouma: Still raw and hopefully he will come back as good as new. Good in the air and quick but can dwell on the ball and is one that will benefit with John Terry being kept on.
Terry: Never the quickest but a tremendous reader of the game and a superb Captain but his career is coming to a close. I would keep him on because of his qualities and what he can give back, just using him for softer games and as a substitute when we are closing games out. However, a new manager might have a different thought process knowing Terry's strong personality. I would keep him.
Mikel: In fairness he has been useful to us this season but his distribution is slow and often sideways and it is time for us to move him on and for him to probably capitalise on the China league as he deserves a decent finish.
Fabregas: Sublime when we are dominating but under pressure and he goes missing. He is a real dilemma. I would not be sorry to see him leave and he may ask to do so but I would keep him and substitute him more and quicker.
Matic: Another who just seems to have gone completely and at times one of those that looks as if he would rather be anywhere but playing for us. With that in mind, I would sell him as I think we can do better.
Willian: The player of the season adding that bit more to a phenomenal work rate. However, that work rate should be utilised more up front and for a player with pace he can slow play down somewhat. I would like to see him score more than he does in open play and with two decent feet, shoot from outside the box.
Pedro: Like Rahman I was perplexed that we bought him and another £20m+ wasted and his few flashes of brilliance are more than outweighed by the ease in which he is knocked off the ball and giving it away. I have said all along he will go back to Spain.
Costa: I never for a minute thought he wanted to come to Chelsea, I felt he was coerced because AM needed cash. He has done his bit in stages but this temperament of his is too worrying for us and I believe he wanted out before the season started and will be gone as soon as the season ends. He was clearly unfit at the beginning of the season. I for one will not miss him.
Oscar: Whilst we can we should capitalise on a sale. The EPL is far too robust for him and apart from rare flashes of ability he has failed miserably over the last two years and should be sold.
Hazard: The one player that must have disappointed every single supporter and another clearly unfit when the season started. His whole demeanour from day one has been awful and to reach February and have the manager say "he needs to get fit" is a disgrace. A couple of times he has looked so disinterested I am certain he has engineered his substitution and if there are offers from PSG or Real Madrid we should bite there hand off. That said I think his style of play actually suits the EPL better than the other leagues, here defenders commit and he can use his low centre of gravity and quickness over the first five yards to his advantage.
One would assume that Remy, Pato, Falcao and other fringe players will be moved on.
Of the youngsters, Traore, Loftus-Cheek and Aina look the part so far and should be tested more before the season ends and not just for five minutes. We have so many players on loan that needs to be addressed as they 'appear' to be playing well but in poor leagues so difficult to really assess how good they are.
14 Mar 2016 20:08:25
Fantastic post C1915. I agree with virtually everything you have said there.
I think you are right about Courtois not wanting to come and actually play for us after his loan at Athletico Madrid. This is the problem with our loan policy and I fear we'll have problems with Christensen and Musonda who we'll drag back but I'm not convinced they will be dedicated to Chelsea after getting first team chances at other clubs and having a very positive experience in Germany and Spain.
I think that a well utilised loan policy can be positive but our industrial use of it is now looking counter-productive.
14 Mar 2016 20:56:45
Titan: We run our loan side like a business and because it is so large we appear to have lost control somewhat. If we believe in the potential of a player then I would rather see those at Premiership clubs if possible, certainly Championship where they are in competitive games constantly. Abroad even in the top flight the competitive games are few and far between. I think BL will bid for Christensen and we'll let him go.
15 Mar 2016 06:56:54
Yes, I agree. I might be completely wrong but there is more than a hint of personal vested interest in our loan policy. In that the bigger it is the more influential those involved become as it becomes the central tranche of our player strategy.
I unfortunately agree about Christensen. He looks a real prospect and now has top level league experience and Champions League minutes under his belt. That sounds like the perfect loan development but it wouldn't be surprising if Chelsea did bewilderingly let him go. Similarly with Musonda, he has been getting rave reviews for a Betis that were struggling but will that translate into an opportunity at Chelsea?
I almost feel like RLC was the wrong standard bearer for youth development to bring into the first team squad as he doesn't look to have the drive and desire to grab his opportunity. Whereas some others we have sent abroad have done exactly that.
15 Mar 2016 11:53:59
C1915, I agree with everything you write except about Mourinho. I love Jose for his 1st time here but I think Mourinho did great disservice to this club 2nd time around by selling Mata, De Bruyne, Luiz and Lukaku to assuage his ego, by selling Bertrand and Schurrle, by buying Falcao, Rahman, Luis and Pedro, and by not trusting in youth.
As for replacing Rahman, we need look no further than Ake. And while we're at it, persuade Watford to let us but Deeney.
15 Mar 2016 12:35:11
MrsC: Mourinho will always be like 'Marmite' love it or loathe it. Of the players he let go I miss Mata and I think we miss his type of play; I would take him everyday over Fabregas. De Bruyne and Lukaku were temperament issues; both almost demanding they played. They needed time to develop although personally I would not want either back. I was pleased with the Luiz deal as I never thought a) we played him in his rightful position and b) he had a suspect attitude if he was fouled and there was something of Cahill about him, prone to the big mistake. Not a chance Mourinho wanted either Pedro or Rahman. You play those you want. I am with you on Ake as I have always liked him although Troy Deeney will always be a Championship player as far as I am concerned, he is just having one of those seasons where he is noticed and he will disappear next season. I would be staggered if we went near him, mind you we did buy Hector and Djilobodji so what do I know!
15 Mar 2016 18:31:43
I think it's worth remembering that according to interviews post his transfer the suggestion is that it wasn't Jose that wanted to sell Lukaku and he apparently also wanted to keep De Bruyne. It's easy to blame Jose for everything but worth considering that Ed002 has mentioned that the club will not keep players against their will.
16 Mar 2016 22:59:46
Titan, you still believe in Santa?
17 Mar 2016 06:59:32
What's that supposed to mean antibot? Are you saying that all transfer decisions were Jose's alone? From what the Eds say that is not the impression that I have. Yes the manager has input but they are not the only decision maker.
17 Mar 2016 14:37:05
probably they were not, but if manager has no intention to give a player chance to prove himself and btw player had excellent preseason everything is obvious. If I was KDB or Lukaku (and I'm professional football player) no matter how much I am fond of Chelsea I would leave where I can get a chance to play. So it wasn't Roman Abramovich who sold them but that was Mourinho's call in the first place.