31 May 2016 18:19:02
Ed001, I always find your input extremely insightful even if I personally disagree with it. With that said I was wondering what you feel we Chelsea need to improve upon to make sure this year is just a blip? I personally feel we have too many major players (Terry, Fabregas, Hazard) that you have to design a team around, poor form across the board, and a lack of an engine in the midfield. I was hoping you could toss your two cents in and as always thanks for your time and love the site!
{Ed001's Note - firstly I think you need to change your transfer policy and stop looking for players to sell on with all those loans. It is disruptive to the team, which is the most important thing. Every player targeted and bought should be with the aim of improving the team, not making money.
Secondly, you need a ruthless clearout, much as the fans love Terry, for instance, he needs to go for the club to move on. Big stars like him hold back those around him, not on purpose, it is just natural for others to defer to them. You need to build afresh.
The biggest priority for me though, has to be central midfield, you are right about the lack of an engine in there. For me you need a Kante, someone with pace and energy, instead of those slow cumbersome Mikels and Fabregas. Fabregas needs to play with more freedom to be effective, as he is hopeless at getting back and getting into position.
Build the defence around Zouma and Christensen (though I know it looks likely you will lose the latter, which goes back to my first point), and ensure Ivanovic never plays right back ever again.
I think Hazard would be fine with more movement around him up front, as he gets no time or space right now. He was the only player to be worried about last season, so teams were able to shut him out. No good having the likes of Willian alongside him, if there is nobody else providing an attacking threat. I know Willian works hard, but he offers next to nothing in the opposiing third, which is the most important part of his job. That needs to change.
Oh and a striker that actually suits the way the team plays would be good. No more Remys, who don't play in anything like a style that suits Chelsea. Even if Costa stays long term, he needs to be challenged by a potential replacement, not covered by a back up, if you want to see the best from him.}
01 Jun 2016 05:26:32
Much appreciated Ed!
I think Leicester show how important it is to set up a team that play to one another strengths, for instance they only played with two centremids but their centehalves bypassed them by lumping the ball forward for Vardy to have a run at more often then not.
I agree with you on the notion that we've become somewhat of a property holding group that just buys some players that will likely be flipped down the line in the hope that a minority progress to contribute to the first team.
I also am glad you brought up the winger opposite hazard as Willians production came primarily from dead ball situations. It's hard enough to attack a team when they sit back but even harder when they can flood towards one side of the pitch.
{Ed001's Note - actually if you look at what Leicester did, it was the midfielders and wingers that played in Vardy, not the defenders. They were creating space by having energy breaking forward, while Chelsea were the opposite in attack due to a lack of energy and pace. It was not long balls hoofed from the defence to Vardy at all.
If you just hoof it straight away, you get no angle on the ball, meaning it is either a straight up fight with a centre back or it runs through to the keeper mostly. That is why you go wide, to create an angle and make it possible to bend the ball into spaces for forwards like Vardy to run into.}
01 Jun 2016 07:41:31
Totally agree with the points made.
01 Jun 2016 09:39:56
I agree about most of that Ed but not about Terry although he shouldn't be starting he should still be here as third choice. Next year when he probably retires then Christensen needs to come back although you said it being unlikely. We do need an experienced CB there though someone like Marquinhos playing next to Zouma probably wouldn't work as they're too young. Bonucci would be my ideal CB to partner Zouma although it's unlikely just hope Conte can work his magic and convince him then the year after we'd have three quality CB's in Zouma, Bonucci and Christensen.
Spot on about CM. we do need an engine but I think which player we buy depends on the system were going to play. If we're playing a three man midfield it needs to be Nainggolan as he's great defensively but he can also offer something offensively because he has a decent shot on him in which I think Kante doesn't and he's more of a natural DM type whereas I think we just need a box to box player like Nainggolan next to Matic and Cesc.
We do need yo be ruthless though I'm prepared to see Pedro given another season as although inconsistent he does get in good positions and can score goals whereas Willian can't especially from open play. It might not be liked but I'd sell him and Oscar on. m to raise money for a proper player like Griezmann although unlikely. I'd just let Lewis Baker replace Oscar and let him rotate with Cesc I think he showed in the Toulon tournament he needs a chance under Conte.
Ivanovic, Cahill, Mikel, Moses, Marin, Oscar, Cuadrado, Willian, Salah, Remy should be the ones sold IMO. The likes of Tomori can be 4th choice CB.
{Ed001's Note - Kante is not a defensive midfielder in any way shape or form. He is far more than that.}
01 Jun 2016 11:14:17
Yeah personally I do think he's fantastic just with his work rate and tackling just think that Nainggolan is a better passer and shooter of the ball so I thought he would offer us more if we went to 4-3-3.
01 Jun 2016 13:11:12
Ed001: An excellent, unemotional overview hitting the nail firmly on the head. The issue we all have on the forum is for every unemotional statement we make we straight away have an emotional response with who we would like, how we should play and who should go. Ask ten different people the problem and nine out of ten will probably agree and then ask the solution and you would get ten completely different answers.
{Ed001's Note - very good point.}
01 Jun 2016 14:16:00
That's a very good point ed001 about Leicester's style of play that holds true when I look back at some of their highlights. As you said our lack of pace across the board made us incredibly easy to defend.
01 Jun 2016 15:56:12
I don't think Ed001 was talking about speed tk. We have plenty of quick players with pace. It's our speed of ball movement and players creating space for one another, at pace with high intensity, that we lack.
Our players stroll for 70 minutes every game.
01 Jun 2016 15:56:12
I don't think Ed001 was talking about speed tk. We have plenty of quick players with pace. It's our speed of ball movement and players creating space for one another, at pace with high intensity, that we lack.
Our players stroll for 70 minutes every game.
01 Jun 2016 16:49:22
Great point Melbourne and good to see your still popping your head in.
01 Jun 2016 19:40:48
What an epiphany moment Ed002! 99% of what I think.
So, most people are talkink about a defender, midfielder etc. I am talking about new board, technical director and replace Marina who is clearly out of her depth. I will say it once again: Football should come before the business. Is the strategy to become another Liverpool or a top club? Let's hear it please.
{Ed001's Note - Ed002?? I do agree though, the changes need to be right across the board, starting from the top and working downwards.}