Chelsea Transfer Thread

[yasik19]

Maka is still our best player on any given day. I think he's still our rock in the middle for another year or two at least. Though it will be nice to give him a rest from time to time in next season.

very true, but i can see a scenario where Diarra is going to be played more and more often over the next 2 seasons.

[jjayg]

very true, but i can see a scenario where Diarra is going to be played more and more often over the next 2 seasons.
I'm not so sure. I think Diarra will get lots of looks against lesser opponents or in games that don't mean as much but I think Maka will still be 'the man' next year. And rightfully so. Though I really like what I've seen from Diarra. I actually like Diarra in Maka's role better then Essien. Essien needs to roam a bit more IMO.

[slipereypete]

I'm not so sure. I think Diarra will get lots of looks against lesser opponents or in games that don't mean as much but I think Maka will still be 'the man' next year. And rightfully so. Though I really like what I've seen from Diarra. I actually like Diarra in Maka's role better then Essien. Essien needs to roam a bit more IMO.
roam? as in go from touchline to touchline more? i think Diarra is still a couple years away from cementing a spot in the 16. With Essien at DM you have a SERIOUS counter-attack threat with Essien, Ballack, Lamps, Cole/SWP, Robben/Duff, and (hopefully) Adriano bombing down on you.

[jjayg]

The system doesn't work as well if the person playing the holding role (maka) begins to bomb down into the final third. One of the things that makes Makalele great is his discipline and efficiency in his role. I think Essien would have a hard time with such a role and at times it would/will cost us. Diarra on the other hand seems to be modeling his game just like Makalele's.

[nicephoras]

Essien in the holding role is for a team built to win 3-1 as opposed to Makelele, with a 2-0. Essien is better offensively and is a much better athlete, but he completely lacks the positioning skill to play a true DM. That's not a slight on Essien - he's just not a DM. He's more like the older Vieira, who was at his best as a box to box player with a holding midfielder like Gilberto next to him.

[jjayg]

Exactly.

[slipereypete]

Essien in the holding role is for a team built to win 3-1 as opposed to Makelele, with a 2-0. Essien is better offensively and is a much better athlete, but he completely lacks the positioning skill to play a true DM. That's not a slight on Essien - he's just not a DM. He's more like the older Vieira, who was at his best as a box to box player with a holding midfielder like Gilberto next to him.
i dont have a problem with that, i guess you could say "completely" if you were to compare him to Maka, but i would take Essien over Gilberto with regards to definsive capabilities.

[BridgeMonkee]

Essien in the holding role is for a team built to win 3-1 as opposed to Makelele, with a 2-0.
Ballacks arrival might mean the end for Eidur?

Maniche has to go. Jarosik was better.

Ballack as a striker? what was that all about? Would that work?

Maybe Jose has some tactical changes for next season?
Going to change the way we play a bit?

[bluemen groupee]

Ballacks arrival might mean the end for Eidur?

Maniche has to go. Jarosik was better.

Ballack as a striker? what was that all about? Would that work?

Maybe Jose has some tactical changes for next season?
Going to change the way we play a bit?Even with a change in tactics (maybe the 4-1-Amoeba), we can't accomodate everybody. Changes are afoot.

We have five attacking positions for

Crespo
Drogba
Lampard
(Ballack)
JCole
Robben
Duff
Essien
Eidur

all with legit claims to start every match. Surely a couple on the list will leave this summer (to state the obvious).

Anyways, I found this Mourinho quote interesting:

'He's very intelligent, tactically very strong and he scores a lot of goals. For me in Europe there's only (England and Chelsea's) Frank Lampard who plays at that level. The two would form a dream pair.'

So, what he's basically saying is he sees Ballack playing more or less the same role that Gerrard was supposed to fill. Essien will be relegated to the bench. Eidur will never see any action (most likely to be sold?).

[yasik19]

Maybe Jose has some tactical changes for next season?
Going to change the way we play a bit?

Cech
PF Terry Gallas WB
Essien Lampard
Cole Robben
Ballack
whoever

?????

[slipereypete]

Jose has said Ballack is meant to combine with Lampard to create "the perfect pair" so i assume this talk of him up front is tosh.

[yasik19]

Jose has said Ballack is meant to combine with Lampard to create "the perfect pair" so i assume this talk of him up fron is tosh.

yeah, i can't wait to see what the new formation will be like.

[BridgeMonkee]

We have five attacking positions for


Crespo
Drogba
Lampard
(Ballack)
JCole
Robben
Duff
Essien
Eidur


Two players for every position - if you include Carlton Cole ;)

[blackjack]

So, what he's basically saying is he sees Ballack playing more or less the same role that Gerrard was supposed to fill. Essien will be relegated to the bench. Eidur will never see any action (most likely to be sold?).

I think Essien wouldn't necessarily be relegated to the bench. I think Maka would play 80% of the games at DM with Essien playing the other 20%, and when Maka's playing you'd see Lamps, Essien, and Ballack rotating a bit, with two of the three playing every game. As far as Eidur, I think he'd stick around, maybe moving back to striker. I could see Drogba and Crespo both going, with Adriano and another young player coming in. That would leave us with Adriano, Eidur, C. Cole, and a youngun as our four strikers. I could deal with that.

[yasik19]

I think Essien wouldn't necessarily be relegated to the bench. I think Maka would play 80% of the games at DM with Essien playing the other 20%, and when Maka's playing you'd see Lamps, Essien, and Ballack rotating a bit, with two of the three playing every game. As far as Eidur, I think he'd stick around, maybe moving back to striker. I could see Drogba and Crespo both going, with Adriano and another young player coming in. That would leave us with Adriano, Eidur, C. Cole, and a youngun as our four strikers. I could deal with that.

i really don't see how you think Essien would play 20% of the time.

[yasik19]

WTF!!!!!:confused: :eek:

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=370812&CPID=8&clid=&lid=2&title=Mourinho+admits+Nedved+fancy

I hope Jose is not going to try to get Nedved to come.

[nicephoras]

WTF!!!!!:confused: :eek:

http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=370812&CPID=8&clid=&lid=2&title=Mourinho+admits+Nedved+fancy

I hope Jose is not going to try to get Nedved to come.

He pretty much says Nedved won't come in the quotes Yasik.

[Clan]

Um...it would seem that he is diverting from his stated belief of not signing stars.

Footsteps of Abramovich?

I did say it could happen.

[yasik19]

He pretty much says Nedved won't come in the quotes Yasik.

yep, i tend to overreact when i post something w/in 30 seconds of reading about it.

[benni...]

In regards to Ballack, I can see you guys doing something like this...


-----------Cech-----------
------Carvalho--Terry-----
-Ferreira--------------Gallas
----------Makalele----------
------Lampard>>>>>>>>>
----------------Ballack------
Cole----------------------Robben
-----------Whoever---------------

With Lampard spraying passes to the wings, and Ballack pressing forward more, to support whoever plays as a striker. Not saying Lampard wont come forward, but probably not as much as Ballack because it seems at times Ballack is playing as a third striker for Munich. Both can inter-change though. Ballack can make some good long passes as well.