Cheaper than a Norwegian ref - The Chelsea Transfer Thread

[fernb8]

I am not sure either Ballack or Malouda want to see Deco go because after such a close race throughout the season for Most Disapointing Player- it seems Deco has run away with it down the home stretch.

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

You guys in favor of keeping Malouda now? I think we should unless a really good offer comes. He's been much better lately.

[Kazuma]

A couple of months of good form doesn't make me forget the last year or so of bad form.

[nicephoras]

Malouda is a great option as a third winger, actually. He clearly has the requisite talent. I'd gladly keep him if we could get someone like Ribery.

[fernb8]

You guys in favor of keeping Malouda now? I think we should unless a really good offer comes. He's been much better lately.

see below

A couple of months of good form doesn't make me forget the last year or so of bad form.

agreed, although I would not want to ship him until we land at least some type of suitable replacement. As much as I would love to believe Stoch and Katuka would do a better job, I believe that the signing of Zhirkov may be wise should (hopefully) we sell Malouda.

[okocha1]

Exclusive photos of potential Chelsea recruits (http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/87229302.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19375C05EF07E24E8D66B53B2BC3FC8DFDEE30A760B0D811297)

Hiddink seems excited (http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/87223731.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19375C05EF07E24E8D6747974B1BF9BF08DE30A760B0D811297)

[Kazuma]

Exclusive photos of potential Chelsea recruits (http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/87229302.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19375C05EF07E24E8D66B53B2BC3FC8DFDEE30A760B0D811297)

Can they play on the wing or as a support striker?

[Kazuma]

A couple of months of good form doesn't make me forget the last year or so of bad form.

I'm going to add that while yes he's been in good form, he would be a backup if we do get someone better.

[fernb8]

I'm going to add that while yes he's been in good form, he would be a backup if we do get someone better.

I see no reason to keep Malouda if we add another winger, especially a left sided one at that.

[Blue Celery]

I see no reason to keep Malouda if we add another winger, especially a left sided one at that.

True that. Can we keep his hair?

[Randy36]

Malouda is a great option as a third winger, actually. He clearly has the requisite talent.

If Malouda consistently plays at the level he's at now I believe he has a future at the club. He has the talent and has now adapted to the Premiership game as demonstrated by his recent performances.

Hiddink has shown great faith in him and it certainly has boosted Malouda's confidence and contributed to his marked improvement.

[fernb8]

Hiddink has shown great faith in him and it certainly has boosted Malouda's confidence and contributed to his marked improvement.


I believe you can add Jose, Grant, and Scolari to those who have shown faith in him as well.

[Randy36]

I believe you can add Jose, Grant, and Scolari to those who have shown faith in him as well.

Well it's working with Hiddink!

[Dear_Claudio]

I think he's trying to grow a Ronaldinho type thing. I don't think it's a coincidence Malouda went from the absolute worst player game in, game out to a very useful attacking outlet only once Hiddink came in. It will be a very interesting summer with the futures of seemingly half our squad hanging in the the balance.

GK:
1. Cech
2/3. Hilario/?????

I think Hilario will stick around until he retires. He's a pretty damn good #3 option. We need to get a young option but: a) we've been saying that for a couple years now and b) what young upstart will come sit behind Cech?

RB:
1. Bosingwa

LB:
1. Ash

CB:
1. Terry
2. Carvalho
3. Alex
4. Ivanovic
5. Mancienne

Unbelievable defensive options. Belletti is practically a midfielder now, Ferreira will almost certainly leave. Will we sign a left-back, or leave it to back-up by committe? Will Mancienne stay or go on loan? Will one of Carvalho, Alex or Ivanovic be sold? If so, which one? There's so much talent at the back that it's a good "problem" to have.

CM:
1. Lampard
2. Essien
3. Mikel
4. Ballack
5. Belletti

Surely Ballack will be relegated to being Lampard's back-up next season, and Belletti is getting older (33!). I think we must sign another midfielder, but the question is whether it's a pure d-mid or more of an attacking Lampard replacement. I would prefer to compromise and get a young box-to-box player.

AM:
1. Cole
2. Malouda
3. Kalou
-
Stoch/Sinclair/Kakuta

Is Malouda coming back? Is Kalou coming back? Can Joe Cole stay ********in fit? Even if we keep this whole lot we definitely need another signing. If either Kalou or Malouda goes then we probably need two attackers (not counting strikers). What if both Malouda and Kalou go?

CF:
1. Drogba
2. Anelka
-
di Santo, Sahar

One player needs to be added this group off the bat. If Drogba goes then we need two in. FdS should get a bigger role next season if he can stay fit, Sahar will almost definitely be out on loan again.

IN:
1 midfielder
1-3 wingers
1-2 strikers
maybe a LB
maybe a keeper

OUT:
Ferreira
Deco
who knows who else

[fernb8]

I believe signing a #2 keeper is imperative. Hilario is a solid #3, but if Cech picks up a knock (a common theme over the past few seasons) I do not have a high degree of condifence with Hilario holding down the fort.

I am not sure if need a complete overhaul, as some of the youngsters can step in and think that for the most part I agree with the rationale of Claudio and would look for

- #2 keeper
- striker
- winger
- possible young CM/M

[Kirsten19]

IN:
1 midfielder
1-3 wingers
1-2 strikers
maybe a LB
maybe a keeper

OUT:
Ferreira
Deco
who knows who else

That many newcomers?

That's mean our youngsters such as Stoch, Kakuta, Di Stano and Borini will have less chance. Please no

I'd rather bring in one top class, prosperous striker(Tevez/Dzeko/M.Gomez/ Llorente); One left winger (Zhirkov/A.Young/Capel/Ribery) and one CM (Sneijder/Khedira/Witsel/Defour/Dzagoev)

Best scenario: Dzeko+ Zhirkov+ Sneijder, then promote Di Santo, Stoch, Kakuta, Sahar/Borini and Rajkovic(is he on loan for another season?) to the first team

[Andy F]

Not sure we need another back up for Cech. Hilario has never let us down. Even if we were to bring someone in we'll struggle as no-one of real quality is going to come in and sit behind Cech. Taylor as third should he recover from his head injury, Sebek could also do a job, he's done well in the reserves and seems to have jumped Heimann.

Cech, Hilario

Defence is fine. Would be disappointed to see one of Cech/Alex/Ivanovic leave but I don't feel we would necessarily need to replace them. Would promote Ryan Bertrand as a backup to Cole. If the club aren't prepared to do that then Ferreira will probably stay. Rajkovic must stay away another year for WP reasons.

Bos, Ivan/MM
JT, Alex, Carvalho, Ivan/MM
Cole, Bertrand

Think we will see a few changes in midfield with more outs than ins. Mineiro will be off, Deco too. Would like to bring in a promising youngster as a replacement for what Deco was meant to be. Someone with the ability to open doors and carry the ball, Dzagoev maybe. Would also get Cork involved, he's served his time on loan and deserves to be involved.

Mikel, Cork
Essien, Ballack
Lampard, Dzagoev

Wide players is where we need to strengthen and would be my priority. We've been lacking in wide positions since Robben left and Duff broke. Would love Ribery but can't see it happening. Malouda has impressed me recently but it's not enough for me to particularly care if he left. Similarly with Kalou, I wouldn't go into next season with them as first choice and wouldn't be adverse to one leaving should we bring in the top quality winger we need. Stoch could see more minutes, Kakuta i'd love to be involved but it's obviously going depend on how he recovers from the fracture. Sinclair not good enough for me.

Cole, Malouda/Kalou
An Other, Malouda/Kalou
+ Stoch, Kakuta.

Forward wise is going to depend on who leaves. Anelka will stay but we'd need to replace Drogba with quality should he go. Would love a David Villa, someone with lots of goals in them and a bit of magic. Ideally i'd like Di Santo to play more but he will struggle for minutes if we continue with the one forward. Sahar looks set to leave permanently or on loan.

Drogba, Di Santo
An Other, Anelka

- So, ideally we'd end up with a younger looking squad with extra quality in the final third. Only involves bringing in 3 players, but it's imperative those are of top class. Would provide more opportunities for those breaking through as well.

-Belletti is too much of a hero to leave. Will let him cover everywhere.

- I'd also hugely advocate using the Carling Cup as a development tool. Think everyone would like to see that.

- At the end of the day though the choice of manager is going to have a huuuuge impact on the makeup of the squad. Would be a whole lot easier this if we knew what sort of formation we'd be employing. Fun nonetheless.

IN
Forward
Winger
Young CM

OUT
Mineiro
Deco
Ferreira

[The_ChelseaSupporter]

Not sure we need another back up for Cech. Hilario has never let us down. Even if we were to bring someone in we'll struggle as no-one of real quality is going to come in and sit behind Cech. Taylor as third should he recover from his head injury, Sebek could also do a job, he's done well in the reserves and seems to have jumped Heimann.

Cech, Hilario

Defence is fine. Would be disappointed to see one of Cech/Alex/Ivanovic leave but I don't feel we would necessarily need to replace them. Would promote Ryan Bertrand as a backup to Cole. If the club aren't prepared to do that then Ferreira will probably stay. Rajkovic must stay away another year for WP reasons.

Bos, Ivan/MM
JT, Alex, Carvalho, Ivan/MM
Cole, Bertrand

Think we will see a few changed in midfield with more outs than ins. Mineiro will be off, Deco too. Would like to bring in a promising youngster as a replacement for what Deco was meant to be. Someone with the ability to open doors and carry the ball, Dzagoev maybe. Would also get Cork involved, he's served his time on loan and deserves to be involved.

Mikel, Cork
Essien, Ballack
Lampard, Dzagoev

Wide players is where we need to strengthen and would be my priority. We've been lacking in wide positions since Robben left and Duff broke. Would love Ribery but can't see it happening. Malouda has impressed me recently but it's not enough for me to particularly care if he left. Similarly with Kalou, I wouldn't go into next season with them as first choice and wouldn't be adverse to one leaving should we bring in the top quality winger we need. Stoch could see more minutes, Kakuta i'd love to be involved but it's obviously going depend on how he recovers from the fracture. Sinclair not good enough for me.

Cole, Malouda/Kalou
An Other, Malouda/Kalou
+ Stoch, Kakuta.

Forward wise is going to depend on who leaves. Anelka will stay but we'd need to replace Drogba with quality should he go. Would love a David Villa, someone with lots of goals in them and a bit of magic. Ideally i'd like Di Santo to play more but he will struggle for minutes if we continue with the one forward. Sahar looks set to leave permanently or on loan.

Drogba, Di Santo
An Other, Anelka

- So, ideally we'd end up with a younger looking squad with extra quality in the final third. Only involves bringing in 3 players, but it's imperative those are of top class. Would provide more opportunities for those breaking through as well.

- I'd also hugely advocate using the Carling Cup as a development tool. Think everyone would like to see that.

- At the end of the day though the choice of manager is going to have a huuuuge impact on the makeup of the squad. Would be a whole lot easier this if we knew what sort of formation we'd be employing. Fun nonetheless.

IN
Forward
Winger
Young CM

OUT
Mineiro
Deco
Ferreira
Kalou (or) Malouda

Agree with everything except for Kalou or Malouda leaving. This would only be an option if we bought a true quality winger imo.

Dzagoev is good. :)

[TheDuke]

What really troubles my mind is the Ancelotti thing. I see too many drastic changes and it seems the italian guy wants to bring in some Milan players like Pirlo (over-estimated player, good but damn slow and weak physically), Kaka (he's great but damn fragile) and Ambrosini (man... this guys damn old... I understand we have to become an english version of Milan but, let's keep the age average low, don't want to have a team full of close-to-retirement expensive players. At this point, I didn't like Grant but, in my opinion, he'd do a better job than Ancelotti!

[Andy F]

Yeah I just removed them from the Outs. Definitely agree that i'd only like a sale if quality was brought in.