Whatever - The Chelsea Transfer Thread

[Blue Celery]

Yep.

[Wrath]

Dont know if this has been posted but Deco and Carvalho are in negotiations with Inter. Happy for Deco and maybe we have used the best of Carvalho as he is getting more injury prone. And of course this means we get to keep Bane.

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/06/14/Serie-A-Moratti-on-DecoCarvalhoIbrahimovicEtooBenzema/gnid-56981/

[Dear_Claudio]

Also means we have to win the league with Alex. I'm still not won over by him and think Carvs is still the best.

[Ben7021]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it sounded to me like he was saying there were negotiations with Chelsea over buying them, not with the players themselves yet. Carvs may not be gone just yet.

And I am thinking that Ancelotti might prefer Bane to Alex as he did want to buy him this past season.

Bos-Ivan-Terry-Cole
Subs: Alex, Mancienne, Ferreira, Bertrand

would work for me 2 CBs, 2 RBs, 1 LB and possibly Bos for LB as well. We would still have plenty of depth.

[SteelShot]

Also means we have to win the league with Alex. I'm still not won over by him and think Carvs is still the best.

I've seen this comment a lot recently and I would like to know specifically what worries you about Alex? Always up for a good discussion :D

[Wrath]

Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but it sounded to me like he was saying there were negotiations with Chelsea over buying them, not with the players themselves yet. Carvs may not be gone just yet.

And I am thinking that Ancelotti might prefer Bane to Alex as he did want to buy him this past season.

Bos-Ivan-Terry-Cole
Subs: Alex, Mancienne, Ferreira, Bertrand

would work for me 2 CBs, 2 RBs, 1 LB and possibly Bos for LB as well. We would still have plenty of depth.

No, you are right. I was reading it wrong. Anyways i think its inevitable. I really wish we keep him but I guess we just have too many backups and Carvs is getting on the years. I agree he is still the best and I actually rate him more than Terry. But his body is weakening.

[Randy36]

Chelsea has an excellent defensive unit in which Alex played a significant part last season. Hiddink favoured him as as he knew him well from his days at PSV. The Alex - Terry combination proved to be a solid centre back pairing. So why change it?:confused:

[Dear_Claudio]

I've seen this comment a lot recently and I would like to know specifically what worries you about Alex? Always up for a good discussion :D
Too slow, brain the size of a pea at times, not quick enough on the turn, not aerially dominant despite size. I think Alex is a very good defender. However, he isn't great. Carvalho was great last season, right up there with Vidic's 07/08 campaign IMO. Yes, he is getting a little older and had a bad season with injuries. However, Carvs just oozes calmness and class at the back. Alex is not a young player, he'll be 27 in few days. What we saw from him last season is what you're going to get. He never put in a dominating defensive performance, and I struggle to think of a game where I thought, "Wow, Alex was a rock at the back." He started stringing together solid game after solid game when the whole team was hitting its stride under Hiddink. But I don't think he's a cornerstone when Ivanovic could be that player after another year and Riccy already is that player IMO.

Chelsea has an excellent defensive unit in which Alex played a significant part last season. Hiddink favoured him as as he knew him well from his days at PSV. The Alex - Terry combination proved to be a solid centre back pairing. So why change it?:confused:
Because solid doesn't win league titles:confused:

[Bruckner283]

I was going to write concerning Alex: slow, prone to G Johnson-esque mistakes, doesnt have the positional sense or the ability to read the game that a slower player has to do to make up for the slowness (like JT can do) and doesnt exude a sense of calm/leadership that JT/Percy can do. He is a good not great and his only one shining attribute is his rocket free kick. That free kick ability isnt enough to justify a starting place over Percy. That is what I think but I like what Claudio said better.

If I ran the club I would give Percy the offseason to heal from any lingering/nagging injuries. If the injuries continue I would prefer to him to come off the bench when available and then sell him next year. He is TOOOO good a player to offload after a season of injuries especially considering our backroom/medical staff.

[Andy Fox]

Alex is quicker than people give him credit for. I think it was Samuel Etoo that he kept pace with during the first Barca leg, really left me thinking wowsers.

27 is still rather young for a centre back so his age isn't a concern for me at all.

He had a couple of superb games towards the latter end of past season, notably the FA Cup semi where he was imperious.

Would have no qualms if we were to go into next season with him as first choice. For me he's a little like Anelka in that you feel he's never going to win everyone over.

[Andy Bennett]

Alex seems more like the sort of fella that needs to be playing every week and can suffer from confidence if he doesn't. Carvs seems more able to just slot right in. We've got other people and if we get a decent offer for Carvs I'd let him go... but none of this cut price, bargain basement shit, £5m and similar, we normally end up accepting!!! We want at LEAST £12-15m.

[Lamps>Gerrard]

Alex does some less than intelligent things, but you'd be hard pressed to find more than one occasion where his defending really ********ed us over (well, I would be).

[Randy36]

Alex is quicker than people give him credit for. I think it was Samuel Etoo that he kept pace with during the first Barca leg, really left me thinking wowsers.

27 is still rather young for a centre back so his age isn't a concern for me at all.

He had a couple of superb games towards the latter end of past season, notably the FA Cup semi where he was imperious.

Would have no qualms if we were to go into next season with him as first choice. For me he's a little like Anelka in that you feel he's never going to win everyone over.

Spot on!:)

[fernb8]

I will defer my full analysis of Alex to okocha, who will provide some excellent insight, but I will say that Alex had more than his share of howlers and poor performances this season but also had quite a few good games as well, including some very strong games at the back. He was arguably the best CD last season, along with Carvs, but I would not rest my head on the pillow with much ease thinking of Alex being our primary Central Defender upon evidence this season.

In a nutshell- his positioning, pace and strength (yes I remember Carlton Cole making him his bitch this season) were called into question several times this season and imo unless with got at least double digit money (10 mil plus) for Carvs we would be foolish to sell him.

[Andy Bennett]

Yeah, £10m for carvs is about the minimum I'd say. I think Ivan and JT is a better combo than Alex and JT.

[fernb8]

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1773_5379277,00.html

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_5379442,00.html

Tevez talk heating up.

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/06/14/Liga-Yuste-on-Villa/gnid-56983/

now Barca are in for Villa.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5379314,00.html

(sigh)

[Rman3349]

(sigh)

Come now! Let's give a little more love eh? :D

[Kazuma]

Statistically we conceded less with Alex-JT. Weird I know.

Plus, Ancelotti rates Alex as his favorite CB.

[okocha1]

Alex is quicker than people give him credit for. I think it was Samuel Etoo that he kept pace with during the first Barca leg, really left me thinking wowsers.

27 is still rather young for a centre back so his age isn't a concern for me at all.

He had a couple of superb games towards the latter end of past season, notably the FA Cup semi where he was imperious.

Would have no qualms if we were to go into next season with him as first choice. For me he's a little like Anelka in that you feel he's never going to win everyone over.

For 88min against Pool away in our league match, he was ethereal. Really just brilliant. When he puts it all together he is a great prospect and with Ivanovic in the squad I think I can be fine with letting Riccy go. Riccy has been brilliant for Chelsea but his injuries seem to be increasing rather than lessening. He looked a shadow of himself during the 2nd leg against Pool and against Bolton.

[Kazuma]

For 88min against Pool away in our league match, he was ethereal. Really just brilliant.

This. He was pretty much a beast against Pool and don't forget that block he made with his stomach against Man United.

When Hiddink came he was pretty much a rock at the back too.