The only good news is that if Chelsea are focussed on Gerrard and Essien then maybe we can snatch up Mascherano... feeder club or no feeder club, the boy's not stupid... Maka, Gerrard, Lamps and Essien means no CM spot for him. If we are going to go all out and spend a full 25M this summer, I'd be happy, but I cant think of who we'd spend it on. Essien is very unlikely and Gerrard is an impossibility - the only other player in CM who'd have a similar impact would be Baptista and it seems we are not after him (note, I did not say he was just like them, I said he'd have similar impact) and we have not been strongly linked w/ Mascherano either... a DM/CM seems unlikely unless we pull of some cloak and dagger move... LOL - 1 day left in window and we announce the signing of Gattuso and Kaka after parting with 35M (it'd never happen, but now that we are not a PLC we dont have to broadcast our moves so theres a chance we are working on something)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/4627105.stm I don't think Essien is going anywhere this year. I think Gerrard will go to Madrid, after Chelsea's bid has already been turned down, and he's stated that he doesn't want to play for another Premiership team. I really don't know who we are targeting....
I wouldn't think that Liverpool would be keen on selling him to another Prem club. Can they prevent that, legally that is? If they sell him to Madrid for less than Chelsea bid, would they be punished?
I believe you're correct. Of course I'm not sure what Liverpool would be worried about. Gerrard scores a goal on the last day that knocks Liverpool down into second place?
Very true...if England had an anchoring midfielder like Makelele they would be far more effective. The thought of having Makelele sitting behind Gerrard and Lampard is quite a scary thought, as it is probably one of the strongest midfield combos in the world.
but at the same time, that a lot of skilled players who need the ball to be effective. maybe not lamps with his runs, but gerrard, gilardino/drogba, duff, and robben. theres only one ball on the pitch that they all have to share, who's to say that chelsea's ideal 4-3-3 with those players will maximize each players effectiveness and overall cohesiveness?