Improvement needed

[Fuller10]

What does Chelsea need to do to improve their premier league games? :mad:

[Fuller10]

I think that they need to start finishing their chances

[Val1]

You need someone good in the air, someone who can finish Duff's crosses. In an earlier thread, I stated that I thought Eidur was the guy to do that, certainly he bedeviled Arsenal last year and I was high on him. But he may not be the guy and I don't think Drogba is the answer either. I think Duff is the best provider in the Premiership, if not the world, and Chelsea are wasting his talents right now. I don't have anybody in mind for you guys to get, but I think Duff's the man and the key to climbing out of 1-0 deficits.

[Walter3000]

You need someone good in the air, someone who can finish Duff's crosses. In an earlier thread, I stated that I thought Eidur was the guy to do that, certainly he bedeviled Arsenal last year and I was high on him. But he may not be the guy and I don't think Drogba is the answer either. I think Duff is the best provider in the Premiership, if not the world, and Chelsea are wasting his talents right now. I don't have anybody in mind for you guys to get, but I think Duff's the man and the key to climbing out of 1-0 deficits.

drogba is definitely the man to finish aerial chances(5 goals in 9 games for us), but hes hurt. everyone else needs to remember how to finish and we will be alright. its one loss, time to move on.......

[The Rage]

Drogba was begining to dial it up before his injury. However, we need more than one player contributing to our goal totals. This may be fantasy, but I think the answer is Gilardino.

[nicephoras]

I don't want Gilardino at all. Italian players have not shown the ability to adapt quickly to the Premiership. He's certainly talented, but has yet to play convincingly on the highest stages. I watched the Italy-Belarus game last week where he was held in check by Belarus, and missed some easy chances. Yes, he scored into an open net, but on a chance only Forlan would spurn. He'd be a great prospect for the future, but not to improve our attack immediately.
The one player I think would be perfect, is unfortunately one player who will not be leaving his side. Adriano (whom I really wanted rather than Drogba). Well on his way to becoming one of the top 4 strikers in the world, along with Henry, Ronaldo and Sheva.

[BridgeMonkee]

I don't want Gilardino at all. Italian players have not shown the ability to adapt quickly to the Premiership. .

Little ugly Sardinian used to play for Chelsea, you might remember him, he adapted rather well and pretty quickly :)

The team is doing well, perhaps Lampard needs a rest so as to find his shooting boots again, but the team/squad is in fairly decent shape.

A striker in the Zola mould is what we need, but in reality how many of them are there out there?

[nicephoras]

Little ugly Sardinian used to play for Chelsea, you might remember him, he adapted rather well and pretty quickly :)

The team is doing well, perhaps Lampard needs a rest so as to find his shooting boots again, but the team/squad is in fairly decent shape.

A striker in the Zola mould is what we need, but in reality how many of them are there out there?

Yes, Zola most certainly did. However, he's the great exception. We got three players form Italy last year. How many of those do we have left? Especially now that Mutu's been a rather bad boy?

[BridgeMonkee]

We got three players form Italy last year. How many of those do we have left? Especially now that Mutu's been a rather bad boy?

Mutu Crespo and ?

Not proper Italians per se eh?
Vialli, Zola, DiMatteo from our recent golden age all did pretty well -

Maybe Del Piero or Totti might want to revive their careers? :)

[nicephoras]

Mutu Crespo and ?

Your favorite lad - Veron. Didn't come from Italy per se, but really - we didn't buy him for his ManU form.

Not proper Italians per se eh?

No, but they do play in that league......more Panuccis and Ambrosettis we do not need.

Vialli, Zola, DiMatteo from our recent golden age all did pretty well - Maybe Del Piero or Totti might want to revive their careers? :)

DiMatteo wasn't exactly a smash, and Vialli was a better coach than a player. Zola, of course, is my favorite Chelsea player. But over the past 5 years there's only player who transferred from the Italian league that has done well in England that I can think of - Cudicini.
As for del Piero - he shouldn't be allowed within our training facilities. Totti's got the talent, and you think at some point he'll come good, but Roma/Italy fans (I'm an Italy fan) have been saying that for half a decade, and we're still waiting.
As I said - Adriano would be my most preferred target. Failing that, Tevez might be nice. A physical Argentine player - I think he could do well in England. After a year in Holland, perhaps.

[lobomojo]

I prefer bringing Cole back in Jan. and keeping Forsell next year, both proven EPL players, though Cole still in the early stages of proving himself. Both would be more patient I think with playing time, then bringing in another overseas ego, who it is questionable about being able to adapt.

I still feel fine about our chances this year with Drogba and Gud as the top two, but a bit concerned after that. Would be nice to have a physical skilled poacher as a back up to Drogba.

Roman did make serious runs for Sheva, Ronaldo as well as Ronahldino and rumours of Adriano, but sadly not all players are available, even to Roman, as one of the jealous lurkers claimed elswhere.

Maybe let Villa take Kez on loan, if he does not heat up by January, or one of the players who it is clear will not see time by late December to get them to agree peacefully, though I do not believe they have a real say in a Cole return.

Also what do you think of Bent, He looks like a promising young player if Kez. does not adapt. I have not given up on Kez yet, I love his fire and attitude and he is not really 100% yet, but not all are suited to the English game.

[Clan]

Aye, i tend to agree that buying is not the way to go.
As the Monkee said, lets try out what we've got.
Can we bring Cole back, i thought we'd told Villa that we wouldn't, don't know if thats a verbal contract or not that can be held binding by the loan rules.

Oh, Nice - i think you're doing DiMatteo a grave injustice ;)

[nicephoras]

Oh, Nice - i think you're doing DiMatteo a grave injustice ;)

Huh. I'll live - unlike Dennis Wise he's unlikely to hunt down my family for any disparaging remarks. ;)

I think we should only buy if, and only if, we have a chance to get a truly world class striker, who's also young. That list, in my mind, is limited to Adriano. Who's tailor built for the English game. Big, strong - perfect for Duff's crosses. Aside from him or Sheva.......I'll pass. Maybe Tevez, but not right away.

[paulo]

tevez yes. He could have an impact like the dimunitive spaniard has had at Arse.

And lets see... BridgeMonkee wants someone in the zola mold... not real tall ...built more like a midfielder... not what the ladies would find attractive (does anyone have a smiley with a gap?)... but supremely creative and innovative in front of the goal... and provides a real match up problem for other teams because marking him tighter means that he pulls more defenders out of position and plays more one-touch balls to teammates.

he's 20 yo (I think) to boot.

Because of the fast-pace of the English game some players take longer to adjust to having so much less space (perhaps because they have (IMO) less patient and less skilled defenders flying into them from all sides). While others thrive at the Prem's fast pace because they already have that speed-of-thought and can capitalize on overzealous tackling by opponents. Zola was that kind of player. He held the ball when he needed to possess it and flicked it to Jimmy Floyd when the defenders were running the other way. Tevez might be that kind of player.

[impalemeplz]

Little ugly Sardinian used to play for Chelsea, you might remember him, he adapted rather well and pretty quickly :)

The team is doing well, perhaps Lampard needs a rest so as to find his shooting boots again, but the team/squad is in fairly decent shape.

A striker in the Zola mould is what we need, but in reality how many of them are there out there?

you are right in a sense. strikers in the zola mould are a dieing breed. (ie not a number 9 but not a number 10 more like a number 9.5)

of the ones that are left out there Raul would come closest to filling this roll and a plus is he does have poaching instincts too. too bad he is a madrid man, otherwise he would b GOOOONE.