jose and damien.

[srd....]

mourinho reassures duff. (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=226687&CPID=8&CLID=8&lid=&title=Mourinho+reassures+Duff)

so he's saying that duff will get more time,but with intrest from newcastle,for a january move even though they only want to pay around 10mill for him,any thoughs on the possability of this move comeing true.i know newcastle might not be willing to pay the same wages damien is getting here,but if he doesnt start playing more,and robben starts getting more playing time when he comes back,could another loan move be on the cards???

any though's anyone?

[mst77]

mourinho reassures duff. (http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.asp?hlid=226687&CPID=8&CLID=8&lid=&title=Mourinho+reassures+Duff)

so he's saying that duff will get more time,but with intrest from newcastle,for a january move even though they only want to pay around 10mill for him,any thoughs on the possability of this move comeing true.i know newcastle might not be willing to pay the same wages damien is getting here,but if he doesnt start playing more,and robben starts getting more playing time when he comes back,could another loan move be on the cards???

any though's anyone?

I think that barring injury, the first 2 players that you will see sold/loaned out in January will be Mutu and Parker. Even if JM persists in his choice of formation, this should open up more opportunity for Duff and Robben as supporting strikers - especially if Kezman doesn't find his scoring boots. I can't imagine Duff turning down the chance at a league or CL title run this year. Maybe he will ask for an everyday first team spot after the season but he doesn't seem to be one to upset the applecart in midseason.

[BridgeMonkee]

I think that barring injury, the first 2 players that you will see sold/loaned out in January will be Mutu and Parker. .

I think, I seem to be alone here, that Parker has a pretty decent future at the club. I mean he’s only a youngster. He’s the under-study for Makalele and he is playing in one of the best teams in the world. He may go on loan, but he has a future at the club. The two players I just don’t see as fitting are Geremi and Smertin, they are both great players and are both old enough to want first-team football on a regular basis. They could walk in to many other sides in Europe. I think they are the lads that may want to move on in the long-term.

Makalele still has the edge on Parker, but some of Makaleles ball distribution is totally abysmal, If Parker gets a chance to play, and he will, there’ll be a lot of fixtures and there will be injuries. The young lion of Lambeth may just get a place and keep it.

[mst77]

I think, I seem to be alone here, that Parker has a pretty decent future at the club. I mean he’s only a youngster. He’s the under-study for Makalele and he is playing in one of the best teams in the world. He may go on loan, but he has a future at the club. The two players I just don’t see as fitting are Geremi and Smertin, they are both great players and are both old enough to want first-team football on a regular basis. They could walk in to many other sides in Europe. I think they are the lads that may want to move on in the long-term.

Makalele still has the edge on Parker, but some of Makaleles ball distribution is totally abysmal, If Parker gets a chance to play, and he will, there’ll be a lot of fixtures and there will be injuries. The young lion of Lambeth may just get a place and keep it.

I'm with you Monkee - I think he should be given a chance at some point. I think my current frustration is that Tiago doesn't seem to be providing anything more than Parker did last season yet he seems to be a mainstay in midfield in JM's eyes. I won't knock him because everyone should at least get a settling-in period, but I just haven't seen what's so special yet. Hopefully it will come soon. It seems that JM is taking the fast track approach with Tiago and Ferreira and starting them every match so that they adapt to their new teammates faster. Unfortunately this is a double-edged sword as Parker and Johnson must be getting peeved that they don't even figure in the squad. Geremi and Smertin are journeymen by comparison and probably do not harbor the same first-team ambitions as Scotty.

To clarify my previous post, if the current situation exists in January I think Parker will ask to go out on loan for the remainder of the year and Mutu will be sold to a desperate Serie A club. Then again, wtf do I know?

[slipereypete]

I'm with you Monkee - I think he should be given a chance at some point. I think my current frustration is that Tiago doesn't seem to be providing anything more than Parker did last season yet he seems to be a mainstay in midfield in JM's eyes. i have a feeling JM is letting Tiago get aclimated to the EPL and once he feels sastified that tiago can hold his own, you will start to see parker play a lot more. becuase if JM were to put in tiago without any experince he would be in a world of hurt.

[the101er]

One of the most frustrating things to read today (Monday after draw with Spurs) is that Jose Mourinho thinks Damien Duff might be useful to the club as an outside midfielder creating width and scoring chances....

Really? Jose just sorted that out on his own? I mean, this is my frustration with swapping managers. Did he never see Duff play at all last year? Only every Chelsea fan in the world could have told him that about Duff.

I hope you are right that he is blooding some of the Portugese imports so that they won't see their first action in January in the Northeast, but there is already a pretty good, settled core of players at the club.

When Cole, Lampard, Makelele, Duff, Gudjohnsen, Terry, Gallas and Bridge start playing regularly together, Chelsea will start scoring goals. I would bring Drogba into that mix, along with Robben when he is healthy.

The rest are the second team. Yes, I'm missing a right defender and have one too many midfielders, but maybe that's the way they should play. Gallas and Bridge certainly have the pace and Makelele would be solid in front of a back three. Then that gives Lampard and Cole in the middle of thje pitch with Robben and Duff out wide, with Drogba laying balls off to Gudjohnsen.

[Clan]

Well, i'm going to take the point of view that nobody wants to hear.

I think thats all a load of bollox from Mourinho, he's just saying that to the rags to keep the peace and telling Duff what he wants to hear.
I think that Mourinho has made up his mind that Duff doesn't fit into his first 11 and is ideal to have come on late in a game and run at tired defenders, perhaps put in a ball that may get banged into the net, ideal for stretching defenses and keeping the opposition in their own half when we've got the 1 goal lead and he needs to have pressure taken off our defenders.

I can't see him leaving in January, i do agree with Monkee that he'll stick out the year.
But that will be all.

[nicephoras]

Well, i'm going to take the point of view that nobody wants to hear.

I think thats all a load of bollox from Mourinho, he's just saying that to the rags to keep the peace and telling Duff what he wants to hear.
I think that Mourinho has made up his mind that Duff doesn't fit into his first 11 and is ideal to have come on late in a game and run at tired defenders, perhaps put in a ball that may get banged into the net, ideal for stretching defenses and keeping the opposition in their own half when we've got the 1 goal lead and he needs to have pressure taken off our defenders.

I can't see him leaving in January, i do agree with Monkee that he'll stick out the year.
But that will be all.

I'm starting to think that is likely as well. However, I think there's a very real chance Duff's form, when he's included in the side, will force him to reconsider that opinion.

[Clan]

I'm starting to think that is likely as well. However, I think there's a very real chance Duff's form, when he's included in the side, will force him to reconsider that opinion.

One would like to think so.
I, however, think that Mourinho is so far up his own arse that he can't see it.

[nicephoras]

One would like to think so.
I, however, think that Mourinho is so far up his own arse that he can't see it.

Well......he's arrogant, but not stupid. If he can put Duff in without losing face, he'd do it. Since he hasn't said that Duff won't start, so far so good. Are you watching the Pool United game, btw?

[Clan]

Well......he's arrogant, but not stupid. If he can put Duff in without losing face, he'd do it. Since he hasn't said that Duff won't start, so far so good. Are you watching the Pool United game, btw?

Yes - quite a good game - can't give away the score in this thread though, all the teenagers will want my head :p

Yes, i agree he's not stupid, but, i do think he's just now realising how difficult the challenge is that he;s undertaken.
I'm fully convinced that he saw only Man U and Arsenal as teams that could take points of Chelsea, the rest could be beat with tight defenses and the odd goal scored.
The stark reality of just how good the so called 'second tier' teams are is coming back to bite him.

[mst77]

I think that Mourinho has made up his mind that Duff doesn't fit into his first 11 and is ideal to have come on late in a game and run at tired defenders, perhaps put in a ball that may get banged into the net, ideal for stretching defenses and keeping the opposition in their own half when we've got the 1 goal lead and he needs to have pressure taken off our defenders.

I don't think JM will turn Duffer into a 17 mil version of Gronkjaer. At least I sincerely hope not...

[Clan]

I don't think JM will turn Duffer into a 17 mil version of Gronkjaer. At least I sincerely hope not...

Well MST - there could be an argument that he already has.......

[nicephoras]

Well MST - there could be an argument that he already has.......

That's harsh. Duff IS coming off of an injury. That can't be ignored. And we've played 6 games so far. Six! Lets give it a bit of time before we start saying things like that. Mourinho is on record saying he sees Duff and Robben playing together.

[Clan]

That's harsh. Duff IS coming off of an injury. That can't be ignored. And we've played 6 games so far. Six! Lets give it a bit of time before we start saying things like that. Mourinho is on record saying he sees Duff and Robben playing together.

Quite true i must agree.

I'm probably in the minority here, but what the hell, i'll say it anyway.
I think our new manager is going to find out the hard way that continually playing a 'continental' <----yep, there's that word again - type of game in the prem is going to be the bane of this team.
Tight, narrow and up the middle will see us finish in the top 4 no doubt - but it won't win the title.

There - i've said it!

[Rick B]

Quite true i must agree.

I'm probably in the minority here, but what the hell, i'll say it anyway.
I think our new manager is going to find out the hard way that continually playing a 'continental' <----yep, there's that word again - type of game in the prem is going to be the bane of this team.
Tight, narrow and up the middle will see us finish in the top 4 no doubt - but it won't win the title.

There - i've said it!


Clan my old mate, im afraid I said the same thing back in 1997. I was proved wrong (thankfully!!) and unfortunatly, though not this season as I have a bet with Nice..., I think his way will work eventually.

[Clan]

Clan my old mate, im afraid I said the same thing back in 1997. I was proved wrong (thankfully!!) and unfortunatly, though not this season as I have a bet with Nice..., I think his way will work eventually.

Oh come on now Rick - do you really think that grinding out 0-0s at Villa park - where we were clearly the better team and another 0-0 at home to Spurs - where again we were the dominant team - is going to win the title?

We've got to get in behind teams to score, we've got to keep their lines deep in their territory, we've got another Chris Sutton in the making if Drogba doesn't get service, he's spending too much time going out wide to gather the ball.
Over the top from the middle is fine, it'll even work from time to time, unfortunately most of the teams in the Prem are well used to it and can deal with it effectively.Used by itself it's a self defeating tactic.

Another thing is the 'eventually' part - i would bet he doesn't have more than 2 seasons to land major silverware.

[nicephoras]

Quite true i must agree.

I'm probably in the minority here, but what the hell, i'll say it anyway.
I think our new manager is going to find out the hard way that continually playing a 'continental' <----yep, there's that word again - type of game in the prem is going to be the bane of this team.
Tight, narrow and up the middle will see us finish in the top 4 no doubt - but it won't win the title.

There - i've said it!

Possibly true. However, lets see if he'll adapt. I can't imagine he played the same way in Europe that he did in Portugal. Nor do I think he'll do so in England. For example, have any of our players been diving all over the place so far?

[Clan]

Possibly true. However, lets see if he'll adapt. I can't imagine he played the same way in Europe that he did in Portugal. Nor do I think he'll do so in England. For example, have any of our players been diving all over the place so far?

What i find unfortunate about him, at the moment, is that he's hell bent on improving an area that we didn't need improving upon..ie the defense.

That was sorted last season.

What we have now is a ready to run out clone of the Vialli teams of '98/'99. and '99/'00
Super strong at the back but couldn't score in a brothel.

[Trigger]

If you're broke in a brothel it's pretty hard to score ...... I'm just saying like, not like I've been. :eek:

A new coach in a foreign league coming into a team with a great defense, he's doing the right thing now by playing tight and narrow but mid season Jose has to change if he wants the deliver the title and he'll be in a position to too.

Look at the league winners, Blackburn, Utd and of course the great gunners. You have to attack.

My question is when will Jose cut loose ? surely he has to ? and with Drogba, Kezman, Guddy, Cole, Lampard, Tiago and the crowning glory of Duff and Robben wide, well you tell me what team could honestly keep a clean sheet against that. I understand why he's playing as he is now but he has to change, this isn't porto, at chelsea he has superior talent levels then most teams out there and across europe. Imagine Drogba with wingers, that's scarey and the truth is chelsea could keep clean sheets with just the five at the back , the back four and claude holding.