Transfer rumours - who's in/out.Fact, fiction and opinions!

[Clan]

Now, Now Clan, I said COVER. Johnson can do the job.
I reckon we should keep to a smaller squad. What’d be nice would be:
Bridge, Terry, Gallas (plays center, CAN also cover RB), Johnson, Samuel, Chivu (plays Centre CAN also cover LB)


*Few bruskis and sore head later Clanblue calms down ;)

Yes, he can cover - only if our regular right full is out as opposed to sitting on the bench like Ranieri has Melchiot do.

Um, think we could afford to being in both Samuel and Chivu?
Wenger says he can't afford, but would like to have, Beckham...he he he, snicker, snicker.

How would this look on opening day.
------------Cudicini----------------

Johnson----Terry----Chivu----Bridge

Beckham---Lampard---Parker---Duff

------Ronaldo--------Gudjohnson---

Bench "A" Bench "B"
Cech Cech
Gallas Samuel
Samuel Robben
Makelele Joachim
Crespo Crespo

[Clan]

Chelsea to bid £40 Million for Beckham (http://www.thisislondon.com/sport/football/articles/10522142?source=Evening)

Why beckham would suit Chelsea (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/sport/football/articles/10532749?source=Evening)

Beckham - buy now, play later (http://www.thisislondon.com/sport/football/articles/10521133)

There's simply just far too much smoke for there not be any fire.

[nicephoras]

*Few bruskis and sore head later Clanblue calms down ;)

Yes, he can cover - only if our regular right full is out as opposed to sitting on the bench like Ranieri has Melchiot do.

Um, think we could afford to being in both Samuel and Chivu?
Wenger says he can't afford, but would like to have, Beckham...he he he, snicker, snicker.

How would this look on opening day.
------------Cudicini----------------

Johnson----Terry----Chivu----Bridge

Beckham---Lampard---Parker---Duff

------Ronaldo--------Gudjohnson---

Bench "A" Bench "B"
Cech Cech
Gallas Samuel
Samuel Robben
Makelele Joachim
Crespo Crespo

Whew - setting your sights mighty high Clan! Beckham AND Joaquin? Nice. Ronaldo being another nice touch, of course. But interestingly enough, no more room for Cole or Veron...........

[Clan]

Milan not interested in Crespo (http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,7-1133505,00.html)

[Clan]

Whew - setting your sights mighty high Clan! Beckham AND Joaquin? Nice. Ronaldo being another nice touch, of course. But interestingly enough, no more room for Cole or Veron...........

Yeah, probably not going to happen i realise - but it's nice to ponder the possibilities eh?

As the squad stands today, there is room for both the enigma and J Cole, given all the games and injuries etc etc etc.
I do believe that this is going to come to a rapid end in the off season though.Parker having won the YPOTY award will see his future somewhat assured at the club.
The arrival of Robben will effectively lock up the left wing, the arrival of whoever will do the same to the right side because i'm going to assume that Gronkjaer will play out the last year in his contract at the very least, if not negotiate a new deal in the summer.

Lampard will play the bulk of the games in the middle leaving only one other place up for grabs.Somebody has to lose out.

Anywyas.
Mutus agent making some noise
http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,7-1133562,00.html

Nothing in there really, just words from him in the rags.
Actually looks like an attention getter really - the one thats saying to Italian clubs "hey - perhaps it's worth looking into"

[Clan]

Lampard wants new deal
http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,7-1133586,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3677863.stm

On the face of it, it would seem that he's not asking for anything out of the ordinary, when the wages of a players like Veron and Crespo are considered.
Best midfield player for us by a long way this season and it would be astonishing if he's not given some sort of renewed deal.

[Clan]

Here's an interesting one...
Mutu out, Nedved and Trez in (http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s342/st51467.htm?fromrss=1)

and...
Back in for Emerson? (http://www.sportnetwork.net/main/s342/st51428.htm?fromrss=1)

[leftwing]

Perhaps it would be simpler if we just kept a list of top players we are NOT being linked to (although the list would be pretty short).

[the101er]

I would argue that Chelsea don't need to sign anyone, change anything, or make a move for any players this summer. Some Chelsea players need to be taken care of so that the team doesn't suffer from the "Galacticos" vs. the "water carriers" mentality that chased Makelele from Real Madrid.

[nicephoras]

Some more fanning of the flames:

Barca would sell Ronaldinho (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=299304&cc=5901)
I would imagine Real would KILL to have him. Maybe they'll ship us Ronaldo and Beckham to get the money for the insane transfer fee it would require?

Chelsea make huge offer for Samuel (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=299303&cc=5901)
Makes sense to me. Perfect replacement for Marcel.

And, finally, we're still after Emerson, apparently. (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=299325&cc=5901)
Can't see any reason as to why we'd need him, if we have Makelele and Parker. If we wanted a pure young holding midfielder, why not buy Hargreaves from Munich? He's British, into the bargain, and Munich has midfielders coming out their ears (much like we do), especially with Schweinsteiger's development.

[Andy Bennett]

I would argue that Chelsea don't need to sign anyone, change anything, or make a move for any players this summer. Some Chelsea players need to be taken care of so that the team doesn't suffer from the "Galacticos" vs. the "water carriers" mentality that chased Makelele from Real Madrid.
Not sure about that last bit but I agree we don't need, or want, to change too much.

The point is that it's not a good idea to have too many players bleating about not playing - it destroys team unity.

So...

We need someone to cover central defense because we can't be sure JT and BillyG will always be available. Also this fella, Samuel, may be as good, or possibly better, than them.

Sorry if it's going to get Clan chewing the Axminster but I also think that BillyG CAN do a job as cover, (nothing more than that), depending on who's in front of him. If he's got Geremi on the right then I think he's probably OK but I accept that that means we won't have someone like Becks or Joaquin there.

I don't think that Parker, YPOTY notwithstanding, is up to it at the moment as an attacking midfielder - I think Cole's a better prospect if that's required anyway.

We need someone on the right. Bearing in mind we've already got Duff and the lad Robben coming, though I think we only need one other player for attacking mid-field on the right because I think that Duff can cover there or for the front of the diamond if we play that formation OR as a floating role if we string five across midfield. I'd take Becks or Joaquin for that, if available.

Only other position is up front. Ronaldo's an obvious one but how about Totti? Isn't he Roma as well, like Samuel? Oh... hang on a minute... on second thoughts no... isn't he the one that dived in the Wc and got sent off? We don't need any more like that.

[nicephoras]

I would argue that Chelsea don't need to sign anyone, change anything, or make a move for any players this summer. Some Chelsea players need to be taken care of so that the team doesn't suffer from the "Galacticos" vs. the "water carriers" mentality that chased Makelele from Real Madrid.

I can't agree with the first part of your analysis. Despite our great season (and we should all just say that out loud before asking for changes), we have rather glaring needs. The right midfield spot has been ********e all season. Veron put in some good performances early on (Newcastle, Lazio, Wolves) but he hasn't been fit since. Parker has been a failure there. Gronks can run, but still couldn't hit the borad side of a barn with a cross. Johnson looked good as a RW, and I wouldn't mind seeing him get a few runouts there (say, in the Carling Cup), but he's our RB, and we're probably not keeping Mario. So we NEED a RW. Pretty badly. Beckham or Joaquin would do. I'd happily settle for Exteberria from Sociedad as well. (I'd add that he'd come cheaper, but these days, who cares?)

Similarly - the last 3 weeks have shown that Desailly is past it. I wish him the best, and he's been brilliant for us over the years, but he is no longer good enough to play as well as we need him to on the highest level. I'm sure that he'll be excellent for a midtable French side, but that doesn't describe us too well. (It describes Liverpool though :p). Samuel would be great. If we can bring in Chivu as well, I'd say do it, and let Babayaro go. Chivu can always get time on the left, and we'd be able to bring in both Roma CBs, so they'd be accustomed to each other already. I wouldn't mind fielding a backline of Chivu-Terry-Samuel-Gallas someday. None of them are old, either.

Finally, as far as strikers - its pretty clear we could use at least one more. JFH isn't as good as he used to be, and we have the cash. A change of one out of four isn't bad. And if Mutu stays, I have a feeling he'll be gone next year in favor of Forsell if he doesn't perform. We shall see.

Cover for RB in the form of someone like Javier Zanetti would be nice, (especially since Johnson can always get some time in as a RW), but not necessary. I think 3 changes are needed, added to Robben and Cech. Consdiering only 2 of these players would be brought in to start, its hardly wholesale.
Oh, and lets keep Zenden and Smertin out on loan. 1)Both have looked good for their sides, 2) Both could be brought in over the winter if we face an injury crisis and 3)neither can play against us. Since we wouldn't get much for them even if we did needed the money, why bother?

[Clan]

I would argue that Chelsea don't need to sign anyone, change anything, or make a move for any players this summer. Some Chelsea players need to be taken care of so that the team doesn't suffer from the "Galacticos" vs. the "water carriers" mentality that chased Makelele from Real Madrid.


Well, i won't say i think you're wrong, but, i won't say i think you're right either...;)

I think we should address the failings that we tried to address this past summer - in among all the other players we brought in.

A right sided midfielder was needed last season and much talked about during the past summer.Opinion on Gronkjaer ranged from those that thought he was good enough to play as a regular, albeit rotated, to those that though he should have been outright arrested for trying to impersonate a footballer.
Geremi was brought in to be the right sided supplement to the Dane.
I think it's quite fair to say it's been a miserable failure, and if a player of proven class like Beckham can be brought in we would be foolish not to pursue him.
Thats one.

A "seasoned, expierenced, proper right fullback is of overriding concern for the team in the off season imho.Melchiot is out of contract and not up to the consistant level of performance we need whilst young Johnson spends the next 2 seasons learning all the finer points of the position.
Thats two.

Hasselbaink is out of contract, a shadow of his former self, up in age and has lost a step in pace.Forssell isn't coming back.We need another striker.
Thats three.

It's also glaringly obvious that Desailly can no longer perform at the highest level, he's had an outstanding career to date and should retire on a high.We need a good replacement.
Thats four.

No new players to come in to make the squad even larger, rather replacements for the names i have mentioned who should/probably will be gone in the off season.

Now, perhaps i should restate my opinion on the Gallas/right full thingy.
It's not that i don't think he's not capable of playing there - he is.
It's the fact that he's stated himself that he doesn't like it, continually drifts inside too much and constantly has to hustle to get back to cover the unmarked man, splits up what i think is the most underrated, and one of the best in Europe, pairing of center backs in himself and Terry--and often done by Ranieri when we had a legitimate right full on the bench.Again, just mho lads.

[Andy Bennett]

I think what the discussion about BillyG at RB shows is that there are some players who CAN play more than one position relatively comfortably. Geremi CAN play RW and holding mid-field role. Personally I think he's better at the holding role and have someone else running the win.

Bearing in mind we're only allowed 5 subs per game, (of whom 3 can be used), it may be necessary to move BillyG out to RB during the course of a game but I don't think we should have to be looking to do it at the start of a game, I think that's what Clan is saying... Am I right? I'd agree with that.

In other words, for the RB slot, we should have young Johnson and another good one as back up, or the other way round, maybe this guy Chivu or whatever. I agree the central defenders are not really guys you want to move about too much.

The only other thing I would say is that it isn't really practical to have 22 international stars, 2 for every position, AND maintain good team unity. There has to be somebody, like young Huth, is simply there for cover and pretty much knows they're probably not going to get too many games.

[Clan]

it may be necessary to move BillyG out to RB during the course of a game but I don't think we should have to be looking to do it at the start of a game, I think that's what Clan is saying... Am I right? I'd agree with that.



Exactly my point.

[Clan]

I see the back pages of the rags - shown on sky sports - are saying that Mourino would like to have Beckham.

Very, very interesting :)

[By-Tor]

Bench "A" Bench "B"
Cech Cech
Gallas Samuel
Samuel Robben
Makelele Joachim
Crespo Crespo

You'd have Julian Joachim on your Bench "B"???? lol

(ok, you mean Joaquin, I know)

[By-Tor]

A right sided midfielder was needed last season and much talked about during the past summer.Opinion on Gronkjaer ranged from those that thought he was good enough to play as a regular, albeit rotated, to those that though he should have been outright arrested for trying to impersonate a footballer.


In all fairness to Gronkjaer, he plays well with the Danish National Team. He just doesn't fit as well with Chelsea.

It's a moot point since Beckham will be on the right next year. Arsenal probably can't afford him.

[BannockBoy]

I can not believe that they will be letting go of their coach. He took at team that has more than half of its players that just signed on to Chelsea. He did an outstanding job taking this "new" team to second in the EPL and the semi's of the Champions League. This shows that he has leadership. Not too many coaches could bring top quality stars (they all have huge egos) to perform so well in so little time.

Real Madrid has the so called best of the best and they didn't do as well as Chelsea. I figure he should coach West Ham and he would easily bring them back to the EPL.

[Andy Bennett]

I can not believe that they will be letting go of their coach. He took at team that has more than half of its players that just signed on to Chelsea. He did an outstanding job taking this "new" team to second in the EPL and the semi's of the Champions League. This shows that he has leadership. Not too many coaches could bring top quality stars (they all have huge egos) to perform so well in so little time.

Real Madrid has the so called best of the best and they didn't do as well as Chelsea. I figure he should coach West Ham and he would easily bring them back to the EPL.
Ranieri has made mistakes but I agree that bringing on a team with few or no stars isn't the same as managing a team of massive egos. I'm not sure about this Mourinho, if that's who we're going to get, but I'm prepared to be pleasantly surprised... hopefully.