Veron told to shape up!

[starman1994]

Veron told to increase fitness

Originally posted on soccernet.com

Juan Sebastian Veron has been put on an intensive fitness programme at Chelsea following his below-par Champions League performance in the defeat to Besiktas.

The Argentine was left out of the Blues squad for the Premiership win at Middlesbrough after failing to impress as his side slumped to a 2-0 home loss against the Turks.

And a club spokesman confirmed Claudio Ranieri has ordered Veron to take advantage of a free international week to get back to the kind of physical condition he was in when he inspired Lazio to the Italian title in 2000.

'Veron was used to a more intense training regime at Lazio,' explained a Stamford Bridge spokesman.

The former Manchester United star is not in action for Argentina as the next rounds of South American World Cup qualifiers are scheduled for mid-November to coincide with the Euro 2004 play-offs.

Chelsea's next match is a league trip to Birmingham City on October 14 for a game in hand that could see them remove Arsenal from the top of the table five days before they take on the present leaders at Highbury.

Some of you might think that it will be a waste of time..... that he is all but washed up. CR has other plans for him though. I wish him all the best, would love to see Veron in his pre-Lazio days.

[the101er]

I'm getting used to being wound up by the press. Any truth to this story? I doubt it. If Veron isn't in shape now, is one week of intense training going to make him match fit? I'm just surprised the media haven't suggested that SGE will be his personal trainer.

[Wildman262]

How can you get out of shape at that age training every day?

[nicephoras]

Originally posted by starman1994
[b] I wish him all the best, would love to see Veron in his pre-Lazio days.

Er, I think you mean in his pre-ManU days. Veron wasn't too bad for Lazio.

[starman1994]

Sorry lads! You're right nicephoras, it's was his Lazio days which is really pre-ManU days, i got it all mixed up!

He was practically on the ManU bench every match last season. Training and getting 90 minutes of first team matches every week is very different. Look at him right now, that is not the Veron I knew from back when.

He is not match fit, not that he is not physically fit. He needs more games, in the position that he is comfortable and consistently play in that postition.

I dare say that if he gets it for ten games in a row, EPL and CL, he will get his act together. Yup, my head on the chopping board here!

The reality is however, he won't get ten games straight because were talking about CR and his rotation policies!

[Andy Bennett]

Originally posted by Wildman262
How can you get out of shape at that age training every day?
There is a big difference in the level of fitness and mental sharpness that comes from playing regularly and just training. I's not that he's unfit as such - just not as fit as he should be.

[BridgeMonkee]

The Veron issue/problem/dilemma.

My thoughts on the Veron problem is that he’s an awesome player (In my fantasy team). But does he have a purpose in the current Chelsea team? Or rather does he have a full-time purpose in the team?

I like to see Chelsea play a 4-4-2. I think the best two is Mutu and probably Crespo. (Crespo only 60% fit according to CR, still settling into the English game, the English way of life, the best yet to come form him, etc). Anyways the two is another issue and its great to have 4 strikers all scoring and performing and another two out on loan whom are awesome prospects.

Anyways, simply put, I like to see Chelsea play four across the middle. On the left I pencil in Duff straight away, he is awesome, probably our most skillful player. I pencil in Lampard as he is also an awesome player and bursting with the energy and drive that is necessary for the English game. My third midfield player is a defensive mid, which is probably the “Scotsman” Makalele :), but could equally be Petit. That leave a RM/RW role and the best for that position is Geremi/Gronks (could even be Joe Cole). I don’t think Veron works on the right, it is not a good fir for him. So, where do we play the hugely talented and dynamic player Veron? I have watched Veron for years now, and he has always impressed me. Do we start as a 4-4-2 and go to a 4-5-1 later in the game and bring Veron on for the last 20 minutes? What are the options for Veron within the team? As much as I like Veron as a player I don’t see him as a starting regular in this team. As CR moves towards his starting magickal Eleven I just can’t see Veron performing on a week in – week out basis. Even in tough European games I think we’d do better to start as a 4-4-2 and maybe go to 4-5-1 once we have control of the game. In the game against the Turks it was clear that we should have played to our attack minded nature, played to our advantages, started the game with Duff (a winger on the wing).

Veron and Lampard, with no DM? Not really an option for me, even against the so-called lesser teams like Wolve, Villa, Leicester, etc, I think we’ll always need a DM to get shape and consistency in the team.

Play Veron and drop Lampard? No, I don't think so.

[Andy Bennett]

Originally posted by BridgeMonkee
Play Veron and drop Lampard? No, I don't think so.
Agreed.

[starman1994]

This is just a suggestion (that CR will most probably throw out the window anyways, I know). Play a flat 3 at the back. Two wingers, two CMs and a DM with two strikers up front. 3-5-2 attacking and puhlease, no wing backs (Besiktas showed why) !!!!!

Cudicini

Huth Terry Gallas

Gronks Veron Makalele Lamps Duff

Crespo Mutu

I wouldn't drop Lamps for Veron as well but that is how I see them playing together without compromising our attacking options. Our only winning option is to score more goals than the opposition. Simple. Our wingers are fast enough to thread back while Makalele provides central cover for the defense.

[Clan]

Originally posted by starman1994
This is just a suggestion (that CR will most probably throw out the window anyways, I know). Play a flat 3 at the back. Two wingers, two CMs and a DM with two strikers up front. 3-5-2 attacking and puhlease, no wing backs (Besiktas showed why) !!!!!

Cudicini

Huth Terry Gallas

Gronks Veron Makalele Lamps Duff

Crespo Mutu

I wouldn't drop Lamps for Veron as well but that is how I see them playing together without compromising our attacking options. Our only winning option is to score more goals than the opposition. Simple. Our wingers are fast enough to thread back while Makalele provides central cover for the defense.

I have a far simplier solution.

------------------Cudicini---------------------

Johnson------Terry-------Gallas--------Babayaro


Geremi------Makelele------Lampard------Duff

------------Crespo------------Mutu-----------


Abro-whatsisname
Hasselbaink
Gronkjaer
Petit
J Cole

:)

[BridgeMonkee]

Originally posted by Clanblue
I have a far simplier solution.

Babayaro



I'm almost in agreement with you, Mr.Blue.
But Babba? Babba instead of Bridge?

[Clan]

Originally posted by BridgeMonkee
I'm almost in agreement with you, Mr.Blue.
But Babba? Babba instead of Bridge?

Yes.
I have been keeping a close eye on the young Bridge for the past couple of games on the telly.
And, yes, i am fully aware that you can't judge a players worth by the camera angle as it only shows the players around the ball, leaving out all the many runs defenders do to block potential passing lanes etc etc etc.
However, i tend to think that Bridge is a weak link at the back, very much one footed and his continual moving to the outside with the ball to get it on his left peg is causing him and the team many problems as he is being pressed to the side lines when a "big toe and away we go" is called for.
I think he has a problem with pace and continually gets too close to his man allowing an expierenced player to con the ref into a free or penalty with an easy fall over when the inevitable contact is made.

Now, i think Baba is one of those players that has raised his game since the arrival of the new players and actually busts a gut performing these days.
He's still not in a class above Bridge by any means as i think the gap is little enough really.
On current form though i would pick Baba.

Thats not ment to be a put down of Bridge as he's young yet and will continue to improve-more so with Ranieri to tutor him-thats just the way i see it at the moment.

[starman1994]

I get your point clan..... Veron is either useful or if he is not, which is what you're implying I believe, shoulf be offloaded.

I agree that we should play a 4-4-2 which is our strength at the moment. I dare say that we have the capabilities to play any formation, my point was just to justify having both Lamps and Veron on the pitch at the same time without using the 4-5-1 system that limits attacking options.

I agree with your assessments on Babayaro however, he has indeed stepped up his game when the other players were brought in especially Bridge.

Veron should be given a chance to play in the role that we know he would do well in before we axe him for good. 15million should not go to waste IMO.

[Andy Bennett]

I understand what Clan is saying about Bridge/Babayaro but, if there's little difference I would tend to favour the Englishman. Something I've noticed over the years is that some of the foreigners go missing if the team is under pressure or if they're having a bad game themselves.

Maybe a bit xenophobic but I think, whilst it's a generalisation, it's probably also true.

Regarding Veron - whilst I like some of his silky skills I think he may not fit into most starting line-ups. I think many of the premiership players recognise him as someone they can close down quickly and rob the ball from - particularly being follicly challenged as he is.

It maybe requires a bit more experimentation though - we'll have to see.

[starman1994]

Bridge ain't that bad..... I'm don't have anything against the lad..... I like what I've seen so far, he's not there yet completely but the potential to be big is there. He's still young and the more he trains and plays with the rest of the lads, will only improve him further.

Baba has been my choice all this while.... he is more dependable and consistent than Melch is. I have been defending Baba's place in the squad since the first rumours appeared that we wanted Bridge. He is doing fine so it's a good thing that there's competition going on between them.

As for Veron..... the situation is at a point where if CR does not play him in the correct position, we should just let him go. No point leaving Cole out of the first eleven and playing Veron out of position and risk losing more matches as a result. It's time for CR to rethink his prioritisation.

[Clan]

Originally posted by starman1994
Bridge ain't that bad..... I'm don't have anything against the lad..... I like what I've seen so far....


Dear me, i didn't mean it to come across as any withering attack on the young lad.I don't think he's all that bad either, in fact, i think he will be an excellent player after a year or so under the astute tutelage of somebody with Ranieris expierence.Fair play to Strachan and Hoddle, but, they are in a far lower class of managerial capability than Ranieri.
Take his nursing of Lampard for example.
I see him doing the same with Bridge.I just feel that Bridge lacks expierence at the highest level and whilst Babayaro is no Chivu, he is just that tad bit more expierenced.


Originally posted by starman1994
As for Veron..... the situation is at a point where if CR does not play him in the correct position, we should just let him go. No point leaving Cole out of the first eleven and playing Veron out of position and risk losing more matches as a result. It's time for CR to rethink his prioritisation.

Well, even i would still leave Cole out of the first 11 as i would stick with the 4-4-2, the only exception being tough away games in the Champs league in which i would switch to the 4-5-1 option.
The problem with trying to put Cole in is that somebody else in a starting 11, like the one i posted above, would have to be left out.Then we would have a situation similar to Verons.Albeit i think Cole would perform better than Veron if given the chance, that by itself is no reason whatsoever to be in the starting team.
Some hard decisions are going to have to be made to get a settled first 11.

Originally posted by Andy Bennett
I understand what Clan is saying about Bridge/Babayaro but, if there's little difference I would tend to favour the Englishman. Something I've noticed over the years is that some of the foreigners go missing if the team is under pressure or if they're having a bad game themselves.

I couldn't agree more with you.
Going to Ewood park mid-week in february is not the forte of the "overseas" players.Right now though i just think that Baba has the expierence to deal with situations more efficiently than Bridge.
That will all change very soon as Ranieri schools him in the ways and means, that so far in his young career, his previous managers have lacked

[Motterman]

Simple solution: Play Veron is Europe only, have him rest his "injury" during the League.

[starman1994]

The statement on Bridge was just to voice out my support for the lad, soz clan if it had made you misunderstood the motives behind it.


Originally posted by Clanblue
Well, even i would still leave Cole out of the first 11 as i would stick with the 4-4-2, the only exception being tough away games in the Champs league in which i would switch to the 4-5-1 option.
The problem with trying to put Cole in is that somebody else in a starting 11, like the one i posted above, would have to be left out.Then we would have a situation similar to Verons.Albeit i think Cole would perform better than Veron if given the chance, that by itself is no reason whatsoever to be in the starting team.
Some hard decisions are going to have to be made to get a settled first 11.

4-4-2 is what we're gonna see most of the time.... bear in mind though that Cole can start in the Cup matches that Veron can't start in (he'd be an easy target for the teams from lower divisions.)

If we just play Veron in Europe, we're just putting him on the bench 90% of the time then.... or starting him from the bench in the last quarter of the match. We'd end up treating him like ManU then wouldn't we? We either use him or lose him.