23 Jul 2016 12:52:18
Ok here are some home truths. Only people on denial cannot see that this team is going nowhere. In fact, I will guess that with no furter signings we will end up in the same position. We need major investment and at least 4 new players. Ivanovic, Terry, Mikel, Oscar, Begovic, Matic are not good eonugh for whatever reason. Maybe only as subs. That was that.
{Ed018's Note - I'm gonna say at least 2 players. A center back and a forward.}
23 Jul 2016 13:03:04
Don't be silly. Ivanovic isn't good enough at RB but he's a good CB, whilst Terry is still a very good squad player. Oscar and Matic are both good enough to be in the squad if they can find form. Begovic is a decent backup goalkeeper although hopefully he won't be needed as much as he was last season. Mikel is probably surplus to requirements now and I'd be happy to see Chalobah take his place in the squad. Our squad is definitely good enough to challenge for champions league at the minimum.
23 Jul 2016 13:34:40
Byrabb I totally agree if our aim is to break into the top 4 this season I think we need 2-3 new players top class players, 4-5 if we want to win the league, add another 2 next summer ready for the champions league, so I think 6-7 over a year, to catch up, this team should be ripped to shreds we finished 10th!
23 Jul 2016 14:11:21
We might've finished 10th last season but that was quite clearly a one off. This same squad finished 1st the season before. With the right mentality we're top 4 even without new signings. All a bit pessimistic at the moment and I'm not too sure why! Have some optimism!
23 Jul 2016 14:22:12
Your only as good as your last season,
23 Jul 2016 14:52:51
I agree with that to an extent cat but quite clearly we're better than that and should do far better than that. If you think otherwise then you are either foolish or a pessimist.
23 Jul 2016 15:04:11
They're mostly squad players. The squad is close. 2/ 3 players needed.
23 Jul 2016 15:13:39
Yes we finished tenth but you have to look at the reasons why, failure to prepare the squad for the start of the season, not fit enough and never managed to catch up, failure to recruit adequate players, so far this is improving with still over half the window to go. A manager who was hell bent on picking fights with everyone that ultimately de stabilised the team and moral and confidence dropped. By the time Hiddink came in the damage was done and realistically there was very little to play for. Failure to adopt new tactics and try new formations, no plan B to the play.
The manager and coaching team have been changed, many of the players have had a full summer off so should be refreshed, there is a feel good factor returning to the club, and so far the recruitment has been very positive. Lots of talented youngsters who will hopefully get more of a chance in coming years. I am very optimistic that players like traore, lofthouse cheek and kenedy will have very strong seasons this year. they were in the squad all of last year got some game time here and there, but this season they will be better prepared and ready for the challenge, so will feel like new editions. There are many reasons to be positive. I for one am looking forward to the rest of the transfer window and the start of the season under a new manager with a proven track record of success as a player and a manger and who is not a self centered ego maniac drama queen.
23 Jul 2016 15:46:08
Agree with you on mourinho, if I'm honest I started hating him in the end, he has a self destruct button he pushes.
23 Jul 2016 15:32:54
I don't class my self as a fool or pessimist, more a realist, I'm just looking at other teams, the big European teams and thinking wow we are so far behind them, honestly how many of our starting 11 would get into bayerns starting 11? , madrids starting 11? , Barcelona starting 11, you could make an un biest call and say none would, at very best with my biest hat on, at best you could say hazard would get on bayerns left, courtois in Barcelona and Madrid, let me guess now your going to say 8/ 9 of our players would get in are you, if you even slightly agree that we are light years away form these teams, and by light years I mean 9/ 10 players then you should want to catch them up, the only way sadly is to sign players on the same level, so when I say in my opinion we need 5 players it's not because I hat Chelsea or I don't know what I'm talking about its, because we need to catch up teams domestically and in Europe!
23 Jul 2016 16:37:20
In denial. You sure mate? Lol. We won the league the previous year. Didn't hear people complaining then.
Ivanovic - agree. Not a starter no more. But can still do a job at CB.
Terry - should no longer be guaranteed a starting berth. But with Zouma out, would prefer him to partner a *new CB or Ivanovic rather then Cahill.
Mikel - he does a job mate. That's what he's there to do. Break up play and lay it off. Simple. definitely not a CB though! What was Guus thinking?!?
Oscar - good on his day, but too inconsistent. Rather infuriating at times but still a player is like to keep around.
Begovic - was always going to play back up. He probably didn't expect to play so many games but with the suspension and injuries to Courtais he did.
Matic - didn't turn up like a lot of the top class players last year. Maybe just a blip? Is he going to stick around? I don't know. But he is a good player. Another player who I would like to stick around. But not a huge loss now we have Kante.
23 Jul 2016 16:38:18
The one problem Chelsea have which we never use to have was the lack of depth. I mean top players in depth. We used to have a great bench when JM first came. Now not so much.
23 Jul 2016 15:32:54
I don't class my self as a fool or pessimist, more a realist, I'm just looking at other teams, the big European teams and thinking wow we are so far behind them, honestly how many of our starting 11 would get into bayerns starting 11? , madrids starting 11? , Barcelona starting 11, you could make an un biest call and say none would, at very best with my biest hat on, at best you could say hazard would get on bayerns left, courtois in Barcelona and Madrid, let me guess now your going to say 8/ 9 of our players would get in are you, if you even slightly agree that we are light years away form these teams, and by light years I mean 9/ 10 players then you should want to catch them up, the only way sadly is to sign players on the same level, so when I say in my opinion we need 5 players it's not because I hat Chelsea or I don't know what I'm talking about its, because we need to catch up teams domestically and in Europe!
23 Jul 2016 17:42:20
Hating matic already after one bad season, where the manager was ignorant with players and squad and divided the changing room.
23 Jul 2016 18:50:27
I agree with CFCAdam. Costa would be very close to getting into their teams. As would Azpilicueta and Cesc. Kante after last season also. We might not be at the elite level of those 3 teams but in a few years we can get there. We have more than enough to challenge for the title this season and there will be a few more players coming in this window I'm sure. Surely you can see you're being pessimistic cat?
23 Jul 2016 19:37:35
I could be being pessimistic I suppose, I honestly just don't think we got enough and I don't think we will sign enough to challenge, I believe the Manchester clubs will run away on a 2 horse race, we could get 3 rd or 4 th but come on we ain't Arsenal that's a step forward but nothing to be proud of, I know I keep banging on about the big 3 teams in the world because I'm jealous of there players, signings, the lot, I love Chelsea as much as every 1 on this site but I won't pretend or hope we will win the league, I really want Chelsea to win the league, but I hoestly don't think our starting 11 is good engouh, and neither does conte if he's had a meeting 1 week ago asking for another 5 signings, if I'm wrong or I'm a pessimist then so is conte, if he's been with the squad for 2 weeks, played 2 friendlys and 1 behind closed doors game, and still wants to sign 5 more players what does that say?
23 Jul 2016 22:06:54
Now I'm not saying I want to completely revamp the team and sell everyone because of a Bad season. Yes we finished 10th but it's still the same team as the year before when we won the league. Although I still do think we should make a couple of signings. And replace some players.
Begovic - was brought as a back up goalie, he knew that and still chose to sign, clearly he is alright with it and he probably wasn't expecting that many games last season.
Ivanovic - he can't do the job at RB. Too slow and unaware. Everyone saying he's a good CB, which he is but there are far better ones out there with the likes of Koulibaly and Marquinhos who no one will disagree are far better players than Branna.
Mikel - yeah I know he isn't very good but he does the job. He is in the team to get the ball back and play it out, not to run with it, or shoot or do skills, just win it back. Imo I like him but I think he should move on only because with him there our youth players like Chalobah aren't getting any game time
Matic - we all know how good he is and 1 bad season isn't enough to judge a player. I know he probably had one of the worst seasons out of our whole team but on his day is one of our best players. Tbh he is lazy and slows down the attack a lot but i say give him another season and if he doesn't improve maybe consider selling him
And finally Oscar - I have said he's not good enough for the past 3 seasons now. He can play very well when he wants too but he is too weak and hasn't got the confidence to play to his full potential. We keep saying that he will improve but he never really has and it looks like he's staying another year so I'd try him out in a more deeper role as every other position he's played he hasn't performed consistently.