₦airaland Forum

Griffon:
Now that's a Championship winning backline. You seem to be positive on Sandro, that ninja isn't leaving Juve anytime soon.

Are there good left wing-backs out there, as good as Sandro? I have always wanted Ricardo Rodriguez but fvck Emenalo and his side-chick Marina.

I tell you. That is a seriously solid line, with wing backs that could allow Pedro and Hazard unleash hell. I am very positive on Sandro. I haven't found any available LWB that can do a job.

Griffon:
Van Dijk - Luiz - Cahill

This IMHO isn't bad at all for Europe and the league.

Rudiger and Christensen can serve as back-ups.

There isn't really any strong reason to jettison Luiz if Dijk signs. We are trying to bolster this thin squad.

From a technical standpoint, Ibime is right. However, it won't happen. Van Dijk will most likely move to RCB and LCB. The question now remains, what happens to Cahill? For me, if this was true, the best line up will be this

Azpi - Luiz - Van Dijk

Aurier - Kante - Bakayoko - Sandro



If Aurier and Sandro are available alongside Van Dijk, then Chelsea should stop at nothing to make his happen.

airmark:
If conte's brain processes stuffs like this, he is a fool. Zola and dessaily had said morata would struggle with our style, yet we bought him because he scored goals against relegated teams in laliga.
I won't even mind pedro playing as 9, running up and down keeping defenders busy. He may still score more than morata.
We dont need to finish 6th, before we reason brilliantly. I know conte must have cleaned mikel's seat for alvaro, so i'm satisfied.

The Manifestation of Uncontrollable Desperation to prove a weak point.

How dare we go against advice of the all-knowing Zola and Desailly when it comes to Chelsea transfer matters? There and then, we should have known it was the wrong move, once the Oracle spoke.


I would love to know what yourself, Zola and Desailly thought about Alonso when he transferred to Chelsea. Or about Moses at RWB, before anyone thought that was even remotely possible. I really would have loved to see your candid opinion (and Zola's and Desailly's) if you all knew David Luiz would play at the heart of any back-line and lead his team to a title-winning season.


We all love Airmark, Zola and Desaiily for what they did at Chelsea. But when it comes to tactical football, harnessing a team's inconspicuous collective talent, player development and winning titles, I know who I will choose. I will choose the foolish Conte.

diggz:
No wahala.

Meanwhile are you still of the opinion that we are not lacking in squad depth to see us through the season?

You still misunderstand my post. If you look back, you will see I referenced a difference between depth in numbers and depth in quality.
My disagreement was in us being shorter in numbers from last season but I never disagreed with quality.

I think I was the first on this forum to state categorically, that we need upgrades for the positions of Cahill, Matic, Moses, Pedro and Alonso. And I wasn't even advocating selling those players.

diggz:
Lol....I understand. I was only there to witness the fight.

Me sef wan see the fight. I never even read two post, some people don dey talk leaked episodes, the war, somebody died......
I was like naaah. This will end in sorrow.

I will come back after my catch-up

diggz:
Game of thrones

Damn! I cannot go there unfortunately. I have 2 episodes to catch up on.
I will hate myself for ruining it for myself.

Ibime:
Which thread Una dey talk about?

Which thread abeg? But I am sure all posts would have been hidden by now.

BlueAngel444:
How many clubs prized messi?

Hehehe

Unlimited22:
Do you think we should sign Drinkwater??

We should be looking to do way better than Drinkwater.
I wonder why Conte is not looking inwards. Are they all that bad? I hear Pasalic is going on loan again, which is a shame.

BlueAngel444:
Someone said that Chelsea will buy Ox -£25m and Barkley for £30m and use them has wing backs.

Ox -RWB
Barkley -LWB (is this even possible? I thought he was to provide competition for Fabregas)

Nateevs
Lordfalcao
Diggz
Ibime

Not possible. Plus Barkley has a lot to learn to be remotely close to providing competition for Fabregas.

FBS:
my man Nateevs. Seen you been defending Molata like mad. Good one man.

Kids are doing great. Ope ni fun Olorun.

How's you man?

Hehehe Molata!
Doing my best man.

FBS:
With Matic going the other way, I'd asked for Rashidi and even Martial. I like the level of maturity and the coldness they play with. For them, it's just a game.

On Morata - He could be a combo of Lewandowski and Kane but man, he's got a lot of work to do. Plus, Conte berra not play him on the wings. Jose tried with Romelu and it failed.

On Bakayako - let's hope he becomes Babayago l'ona. No nonsense enforcer or whatever it is Conte is planning.

On the team - Pedro get fracture, Mr. Hazard is injured and no one has any idea what version of his play we will get after he returns. The pause and play nonsense or the Hazard against L'arse, ManShiity, Manure, Sotton and Bournemouth? If it is former, why not strengthen that position as well? We need to strengthen the team AND provide adequate competition even for the established players else na 2016 allover again.

We can play 3 at the back in EPL but doubt it will work effectively in the UCL but hey, what do I know!

Hey Vladimir, na you be dis? How have you been man?
How are the kids?

Ibime:
Nateevs & lalaboi, you have mail!

Going by what I have seen so far, the mail was not meant for me. I don't respond to indirect mails anyway.

diggz:
I don't know how you managed to miss the entire point of my post bruv.

We are lacking in squad depth.... simples!! My post was never about players who were actively involved in the title winning season but about bodies we are missing. About body numbers which are not adding up for a team in four competitions this season.

And,you should know it is not just a transfer frenzy when your head coach is busy shouting for everyone who cares to know or hear that he is not ok with the squad given to him to compete in four competitions.

Assuming hazard,pedro and babayoko were to be fit will it change the fact that we need an extra body in the midfield, a back up for alonso or an upgrade for lwb position depending on how much the club is willing to splash or a vital competition for moses? No....I don't think so bruv.

Maybe you should go check the number of players we have pushed out of the club since January last year and compare the numbers to those we have brought in, to see how thin a squad we have come to be.

You are overreacting. You really are. Mikel and Ivanovic left and were replaced with Ola Aina and Chalobah. Ola Aina and Chalobah have since left Ola Aina on Loan) and have been replaced by Fikayo Tomori and Mario Pasalic.

Terry, Ake, Zouma, Matic, Costa and RLC have been replaced with Morata, Rudiger, Christensen, Bakayoko and presumably Musonda, Boga and Lewis Baker. So where is this difference in numbers we are worried about? Have I missed someone? Let me know.


Now if you are worried about quality in depth, then yes, that is a valid argument. But you haven't mentioned that so far. You have only talked about numbers. Even at that, we all know there are still negotiations going on and the club is still trying to bring in more players. In last week or so, we have been linked with Sandro, Sergi Roberto, Renato Sanchez, Chamberlain - players for the exact positions you are saying we are not strengthening.

Let's just chill. We competed for 3 competitions last season with the same squad depth. And we reached two finals. We are not going to win the CL anyway, so why are we fretting?

diggz:
This Sandro transfer is beginning to irritate me like mad. If we cant pay up the money we should look for alternatives ffs!! How long will this transfer drag out?

City seem settled. Spurs are settled. ManU became stronger with matic today but we keep selling without adequate replacements.

Iva,terry,ake,chalobah,matic and costa ( definitely going) are all gone.

Rudiger = Terry
Morata = Costa
Ake. = No one yet
Matic = babayoko
Cholabah= no one yet
Iva = chris

Then the vacuum the arsehole called Kennedy just created for us.

Please the club should do something fast about the situation so we can move on already

Let's calm down a bit mbok. Good Lord! You know we are in transfer frenzy season again, when you start to hear things like Kennedy has created a Vaccum.


Ake was on loan until January. He was brought back for cover but hardly ever used. While I will never be in support of his sale (being a youth proponent all my life), I cannot belong to a party that exaggerates his involvement. Ake might turn out to be world class, as at this moment, the only way to interpret it, is that we didn't lose by selling Ake, instead, we gained £20m by selling.

Neither should we exaggerate the involvement of Terry and Ivanovic. The sales of Chalobah and Traore hurt but come on, their inclusion never made us stronger. Neither did Zouma. They provided depth but not strength in depth. Chalobah, Traore and Zouma are easily replaced by Pasalic, Musonda and Christensen.

I have been a fan of Matic's but I maintained the player we need is a hybrid Matic/Fab. Can Bakayoko become that? It's left to be seen. However, I think Bakayoko can become a better player under Conte. Rudiger is an extra defender and no way Morata is not playing. I don't think we have done badly. The noticeable events about the team are that Pedro, Hazard and Bakayoko are conspicuously out. Their inclusions in top shape would have made a huge difference in Pre-season. I think this is why we are all freaking out. In terms of personnel change, I don't believe we have weakened the squad.

Still not happy selling Matic to United, even if he had to be sold. £40m is good money.

When it comes to outgoings, over the last 5 seasons, there's been some very clever people doing the negotiations.

We've made potentially £120m (expecting Costa £50m in this market) from player sales this open season, spent £130m and the squad looks stronger.

That's good business.

BlueAngel444:
Was having a side chat and this dude goes on and on about how bad Moses is, so I ask name @least five better options for Chelsea RWB...

Mentioned only 3 players

Sergio Roberto, Aurier, and Cedric Soares.

The last name got me thinking though.

Joao Cancelo

BlueAngel444:
Leon Goretzka averaged four defensive actions per game in the Bundesliga last season. Leon Goretzka attempted 1.185 passes in the Bundesliga last season.

In a 3-4-3?

BlueAngel444:
Goretzka will be great in Chelsea midfield our new Ballack, the player is tall and strong.. no.8... Holding on to the ball is strong, defensive contribution is strong Concentration is strong. Gets fouled often, Likes to cut inside and to tackle

Goretzka can be deployed as a defensive midfielder, as well as a left or right winger and in the position of playmaker. What more can you ask of him, plays like Lampard and scholes

For all those attributes, he is a misfit for a 3-4-3.

airmark:
Yes, against leganes, osasuna, granada, deportivo defenders, he tried. Especially as a sub, he was a beauty to watch in the last 15 minutes.

Semantics. You attempted to use your gif to project Morata's inability to shield the ball from behind. Now you are shifting the post to claim that he did it as a sub, against Osasuna, in the last 15mins. Jeeeez!

Can he do it or not?


https://j.gifs.com/wjoOjM.gif

airmark:
When he was talking about mass and acceleration, gif below may be helpful. One of the basic things we learnt in academy as a striker, try to cover the ball from the view/attack of the defender at your back especially when in motion. Hazard did this to coquelin and left him tumbling before scoring that goal. In the gif below, that break would have been more successful if morata quickly did exactly what hazard did. Aguero, lewandowski, suarez all do this, and left defenders crashing at their backs.


[img]https:///media/7-30-2017/5nO3zY.gif[/img]

You mean these?


https://j.gifs.com/wjoOjM.gif


https://j.gifs.com/Q1oQnl.gif


https://j.gifs.com/nZ2BRR.gif


https://j.gifs.com/zmrR6Y.gif

airmark:
You better don't let that affect you. I will lower my expectation once no other striker comes in. Goals win matches, if hazard and co are marked out, is it not the striker that will be looked up to, to do his thing? In 2014/2015,there was a period it was costa delivering points to us with important goals before his injury. Now we will need more bodies upfront to do what costa did then. What is the essence of having a striker who plays ball with his head up with no hunger to score goals? There's a reason he scored just 7 goals in 34 matches in serie a, against these italians who were bullying him today. Do you think epl coaches will not whisper what defenders need to do to curtail his forays? Zidane was not stvpid introducing him when the energy levels of opposing defenders had dropped. Now conte used him in flanks, people were complaining, conte is not stvpid. We have said it here that morata is kinda goal-shy he likes drifting towards the flanks when he cant beat his marker and that reduces his goal threats. He lacks that presence like zola opined. These are facts that some people dont want to hear.

Morata is here now and he needs to be utilised in the way that brings out the best in him and the players around him. No one alive argues that Morata has presence of Costa's ilk. There's no use bickering over it.

What Morata lacks in presence, I believe he makes up for in gameplay. The fact that Costa had to do it on his own at some point, in my humble opinion, is much more indicative of a problem with attacking synergy than it is a positive, (a stick) with which to flog Morata.

I wonder what all the panic is about sef. All the elite teams in Europe don't have a focal point in attack, that attempts to do everything on his own. Instead, they all play with a strong interchangeable attack/forward line, with synergy that makes them formidable as a collective unit. This is what we are gravitating towards. And I don't see the need for the alarms.

Rudiger, Hazard, Bakayoko, Sandro (perhaps), Pedro, Morata - 6 players - will be in the starting 11 come September. And none of them has played more than 60mins already this season. What's the problem gan?

pamcode:
Bro this isn't an exaggeration, I watched his highlights vs Inter and he just seemed to fall to the ground at every tackle and thrust of leg . I want to believe it is because he was always crowded but then I felt there were times he could have still held on to the ball.

You watched the highlights but feel you saw enough to make a judgement. Well, I saw his whole 64 mins and I can confirm you are wrong. More than half the time, he played for a foul. The highlights didn't show you his overall movements, neither did it show you all his touches. And you feel informed?

You are not commending his ability to play on the flanks and run with the ball; which gives us options, should we ever need to throw a few strikers on. His hold-up play was elite-level. He drove through their defence many times with intelligence and many times when he went to ground, he was playing for a foul. You could see he is a striker who plays with his head up, sees the pitch in front of him and makes crucial vertical passes that only midfielders make. All this was there to be seen but you focus on the highlights about him needing more muscle.


He's playing a 3-4-3, perhaps for the first time in his life (or at least in a very long time), not playing in his favourite position, but you guys bring out the sticks and blades because of pre-season performance?

Geez! Some of you are impossible.

Most of these players, at this point in the season, are playing at 60/70% of optimal athletic physical condition. Why can't you just chill FFS and watch a real game in August before you start pulling out the blades?

Exaggeration of a slight issue. Did Morata not play with Italian defenders when he was in Juve? Why are some of us making it look like he never played against many of these defenders before?

afrodoc2:
A tournament like this should be officiated by top class refs not some of these local champions we have been seeing.
Players are not even trying to dive or pull any desperate antics and STILL they are getting so many crucial decisions wrong.

It was atrocious really.

bigkesh:
How is Musonda doing?

He's elevated the attack in my opinion. He's been the brightest in the forward line, since coming on.

Thecassanova:
Kai they've never made a good decision today

It's been shocking really.

Another poor decision

Hehehe.

WTF?

How is Bakayoko, a new signing, injured for this long in PreSeason sef?

Rudiger standing all the time there, on the wrong side of the attacker