₦airaland Forum

Ibime:
^^ I don't mind.

Your boy Scott Sinclair pulling up trees at Swansea.

What chance of copping Nathaniel Clyne to understudy Ivanovic?

I really need a manager confirmed within the next week so he can start working on replenishing the squad. Players don't wanna sign for a managerless team. They need to feel wanted.

What's the story on Michael Mancienne. Are we finally letting dude go?

I am waiting till next season to see what he does in the Prem before I know if I should pull my head out.
Borini is another one. He may be signed by Swansea.


Dangerous trend.
We don't wanna be seen as the club where youth never thrives.

Mancienne to Hamburg? I read a story about how Arnesen was trying to convince Josh, Kakuta, Mancienne and Sturridge to move with him to Hamburg. I dismissed it.


I hope he doesn't succeed.

Ibime:
Whats this schizno about Abramovic handing DD a new and improved contract at the age of 33?

Why not let him see out his last year, then take it from there if he is still good enough at age 34?

Wheres that boy Nateevs. . . . is this the PLANNED strategy you are talking about. . . or not CHAOTIC enough for you?

I did not see an "improved" contract for DD. I only saw a contract extension.
They are still rumours anyway and we have not heard from the club.

It is strategic in the sense that Chelsea are close to wrapping up the deal for Lukaku.
He is in the mould of Drogba but better technical skills. This boy adores Drogba and has looked up to him (Drogba) and aspired to be like him all his life. How about keeping Drogba around "to help" in form of direct influence, guide this boy to potential greatness. Maybe Drogba is being looked at as someone who can evolve into sort of a player coach role. We don't know.

You cannot conclude that only chaos reigns in there. These people also know what they do.
After watching the Barca - ManU final, I can bet Roman sees football in a different way.

Nigerians are so tribal beyond belief.

Somze has bought into the propaganda. What a shame!.

It's looking like the Neymar deal is going down south! . . . . . again!

debosky:
If Citeh want Cesc they'll have to pay more than £50m.

You sound like you know something many of us do not.
Is there any way you can clarify?

Utd fans calling Talksports asking for Fergie to leave.

These guys defy all known conventions of football.

Giggs is doing nada. Very Lazy at the very least. He isn't getting stuck in.
Valencia looks scared. Though they will fall a man less in midfield, I believe this is a game for Nani.
Get Nani on and push them back.

Myself2:
^^^

By jove,how would that scenario possibly play out??

That's to tell you how how much I care less about them.

I cannot care less about both clubs. I hope they both lose.

Ibime:
@ Nateevs,

I'm mobile, so lemme summarise quickly.
Firstly, by signing Annan, Inkoom and Gervinho, I am of course not expecting to keep the other Africans except DD.
Aguero plus Torres is formation destabilising cos it forces you to play 4-4-2, besides none of em can drop deep and link play, meaning the whole team will be lightweight.
Thirdly, of all the targets mentioned, I haven't seen any wingers mentioned. A manager knows where players are needed. 20 scouts could recommend 20 brilliant players, but they may all be strikers. Too many cooks spoil the broth if there's no one to streamline transfer policy, hence Chelseas transfer policy is CHAOTIC and has always been that way since the signing of Sheva in 2006. There's never any hope for the future at Chelsea, just a disjointed team.

Thirdly, Lamps doesn't need to drop deep, although he can. A wiser coach would drop a posession midfielder deep and allow Lamps to continue output further up. There's not many possession midfielders with good output. The deeper lying Modric, Alonso, Valero, Banega type players is the current blueprint for possession ballers. The only nucca I would sacrifice Lamps output for on the market right now is Mario Goetze.

Finally, I hope you remember the hype around Robinho was greater than Neymar even, especially after Robinho beat a player with 12 stepovers in the Libertadores final of 2003 when Santos won it. Sorry to say but everything about Neymar reminds me of Robinho. Too soft to play as a central striker, too lazy to play as a winger, too many skills based on stepovers. I think he can thrive in a team that will carry him, maybe in Spain, but he won't succeed in the Prem! And how come only Chelsea is interested in him? You don't buy an effeminate nukka like him straight from Brazil for £35m. Let him go to Portugal or Holland and toughen up first.

I quite agree with some of your assertions but I will vehemently reject some.

Aguero has all it takes to play in a deep role. Everything it takes. I for one will rather spend that money of Hazard or Juan Mata.

My question is what is so bad in being forced into playing a 4-4-2 anyway? Chelsea always played with 2 strikers from time memorial before Jose came and since then, there seems to be this myth that it's a sin to play anything else than a 4-3-3. That's why I want a technically astute manager who can play anyway. The same reason I do not want Lamps and Drogba playing major roles next season. The moment we them both on the team, we have to play a 4-3-3. It's wrong. With players like Aguero, there's a possibility of switching and effectively for that matter.


I will like to see Lamps dropped to a deeper role. In sort of a 4-2-1-3 shape. A possession midfielder right behind the front 3. Not behind Lamps which effectively means that midfielder has to ping passes and the RF and LF have to hug the touch line always. Ideally you will want wingers in that formation. The problem is there are only a few good wingers in the world today and wingers are only always bothered with throwing a pass in. Which then means you have to play with a DD and you are back to square one. YOUR PLAY IS PREDICTABLE. Now I like to have this option but I like to have it as a switch in Plan.

It's more effective attacking football though to have someone sit behind the front 3 with great skills to split defenses with passes. Ala FAB. RF and LF can drift wide and expect pinging passes from deeper lying Lamps and they can squeeze the attack line and make intelligent runs behind defenders because they are forwards. And they always tend to have a better eye for goal.

Lamps sits with another DM in defense. It seems more of a defensive set-up but it takes away the burden of distribution from Lamps. He can distribute, but then from less tight positions and can always arrive late in the box to take a crack at goal. Of course this is not how we play for 90 mins every 90mins but the option is there.


Neymar is already a better player at 19 than Robinho ever was. That step over shitzo is a myth. Yes he does it. So does Ronaldo and so does Nani. The difference between Robinho and Neymar is that Neymar has a need to be effective. I have watched hours of Neymar at Santos and trust me, this dude is exactly what we need. The physicality of the EPL is always over-rated. Players like Nasri, Modric, VDV, David Silva, Ronaldo were never supposed to ever make it in the PL becauser they looked weak. Apart from Stoke and Blackburn who get in our faces, every other small team parks the bus against Chelsea. You need players who can unlock defenses, you need someone like Neymar.

Like I said earlier, there is no rule in football that suggests that you have to play with Wingers. Neymar is a multi talented player who can play right across the forward line, good with both feet, born to score goals and has a gracious eye for a pass. Now I am not saying he is the greatest thing since sliced bread, neither am I suggesting he is going to hit the ground running but he is only 19. You make it sound like this is all he is ever going to be. With the right management, we can make him into any player we desire. He has the basic technique in abundance to make it anywhere in the world and he has a Brazilian family here (Alex, Luiz, Ramires, Lucaz Piazon) to help and encourage him settle quickly. 

Last time I checked, Juventus were very interested in him. Barcelona were watching and I heard even Real wanted him. How can you even think only Chelsea wants Neymar? This boy is absolutely talented or I may be the dumbest assessor of footballers that ever graced the earth!

And for the record, I want wingers.


Harry Redknapp WILL not become Chelsea manager!

OK. I knew it was only a matter of time we disagree of transfer policies.



Because it's expensive does not mean it is tardy and not strategic. It just depends on how you see it.
How do you know the manager has not ratified the decisions to buy? There's nothing to back that up.
While I agree Roman likes to have an ample input into whatever happens at the club, it is totally wrong to suggest they only, have decided these transfers with consulting Hiddink, assuming Hiddink is the next manager.


You cannot conclude that Chelse are not looking at cheaper options. I can't find a link now but I remember Arnesen talking about Borja Valero and Chelsea's interest. Recently I remember being linked with Ricardo Montolivo and Nuri Sahin; I even reported on a story on here where Emenalo went to Eastern Europe to watch 3 players whose total value may not have come to more than 20m. Christian Eriksen being touted as one of the next best things in Europe now had a trial with Chelsea about 2 years ago if I am right. It didn't work out.

My point is there is nothing to suggest that the board has not been looking at these players you have mentioned. Their respective clubs may be holding out for too much because it's Chelsea involved. Chelsea have a scouting network of 20 people after sacking 17 last year. Are all these guys just earning for nothing? No! They have an input. Yes Roman has tendencies to override their suggestions but at least we are looking at them.

Having said that, there is nothing to suggest that those players you have mentioned will work. We have gone for very cheap options in the past that haven't worked.

Talking about strategy, Drogba, Essien, Mikel will all be leaving in Jan for the ACN and the year after. If you approve of Inkoom and Gervinho and Anaan joining Chelsea, how many squad players do we lose? What's to say the Club haven't seen these players and have decided not to buy any more African players? If true, that's strategic.

Hazard is not cheap.



I also do not understand what you mean by "formation-destabilizing" ? You already know what formation we will play even before we employ a manager?

While I am big fan of Aguero, I am quite sure the club won't be buying Neymar, Aguero and Lukaku in one season. With Torres, Sturridge still in the team and Drogba rumoured to be getting one more year's contract, it won't happen. What I think will happen is Neymar, will come in and walk into the team playing from LF(assuming he settles), Torres will start in the middle and Sturridge will play from RF. Drogba will be relegated to plan B to switch things and rough 'em up when a change is needed.
All this is assuming we stick to a 4-3-3.


Lukaku and De Bryune will be bought and sent on loan. Anelka and Kalou, Bosingwa, Ferriera and Zhirkov will leave.

Lamps will become Plan B or moved deeper into midfield. A creative midfielder will come in.


One of Van Aanholt or Betrand will step up to deputise for Ashley at LB. VDW will be RB and Ivanovic can step in to shore things up if we want to defend well.

Kakuta will be sent on loan for a season. McEachran will slug it out in team A. Nothing will change in midfield except the new dude and Josh!.


For me this is very strategic. Building for the future it seems. Maybe a tad expensive but that doesn't remove the motive. Infact, the only place where I see an overkill is at CB and we will unsettle some players.


All I have said are suggestions based on the rumours I have heard.


Last thing. Sorry Ibime, Neymar is not Robinho!.

I really cannot understand why Arsenal allow Barca use their facilities to train for a competition they were cheated out of.

BlueDiva:
Are we now a dumping ground?
We don"t need Aguero, please!!!

It"s okay, just take away the "Blues for life"

How do you mean buying Aguero is akin to accepting rubbish?



And thanks for that "Blues for life" thing.
I can't stand it.

debosky:
3 strikers on top of £50m Torres? Another maga don pay season is opening up.

Naah! It's not a just a buying process, it's a rebuilding process. If the rumours are to be believed, the oldest of the players we are bringing in is Van Der Weil at 23. All others we are currently being linked with, Lukaku, Neymar, De Bryune, Aguero, Willian are all younger than 23. See it that way and you will understand it is a strategic process rather than the historical Chelsea purchases.

Well after stories that we are certain to land Neymar, Lukaku and Van Der Weil, Aguero said yesterday that he wants to leave Atletico Madrid. Ian McGarry is now reporting that Chelsea bid is imminent and there are reports that we are favourites to land him.


After following for a few days, it appears as though Van Basten is favourite for the Chelsea gaffer job. The bookies have slashed the odds on Van Basten becoming the next boss.


Ian Mcgarry is confident that Roman wants Van Basten with Hiddink as a sort of technical overseer. He also believes that Chelsea are after 5 targets this summer (A RB, 3 Strikers and a creative midfielder) and Roman is prepared to spend up to 150m.

Sacking Scolari mid season, turned out to be a good decision even though I didn't support it then.

Didier Drogba off to Galatasaraay? If true, the offload has begun.

chelseabmw:
I can wait for us to get rid of lampard. . . .I want neymar in my team asap

There's no reason to get rid of Lampard. Plus Neymar is not in to replace Lamps.

Bookies had Carllotti as first manager to lose his job last week.
Now they offering 2/1 to Villas Boas to take over . .


They say the bookies are always right. Fingers crossed.


I hope all these about Van Basten rumours are not true.

MeGaStReEt:
@nateevs

I didnt watch today's game, I know Carlo had issues, the one i noticed very well is, he gets confused and look hopeless anytime we are behind, he can't motivate players, but, overall he was and he is not a bad manager. They should have given him a chance at least for another season, that Roman self too dey vess

This guy earns 5 million pounds a year. He has to be able to know how to motivate on the fly.
You don't pay that amount of money and "hope" he can motivate next year.
And you don't pay that money if he needs Wilkins to help.
Chelsea does not need a manager who is not bad, we a top class manager.
Not a perfect one, but one who gets it right most times.

There is nothing wrong in losing, but you want to bow out knowing you gave it your absolute all.
Now when was the last time you saw this at Chelsea?

Just look for the picture of Roman at SB after last week's game.

MeGaStReEt:
I was angry when we lost out to Man U. But again, I don't think its the right decision to sack Carlo, they should have given him another season to see what will happen, after he won double last season. na wa for Chelsea FC self, deliver or your are gone! anyways I am just a fan, I hope they employ a good manager who will not be afraid to drop Lampard to the bench if he is not performing well.

Goodluck to Chelsea next seaon.

I am not sure he would have been fired anyway.
It's the manner in which we lost that angered people.
We got dispatched by Utd 3 times in 1 month playing football like a relegation side.

Did you watch the game today? If you did, then you know why he was fired.
The way we played today is the way we've played since November.
Lack lustre to say the least. It' our worst form since '02.
Worst performance by any manager since Roman bought the club.

We need stability but sometimes seeking stability with the wrong manager is just as bad as hiring and firing.

Everyone knows me on the Chelsea forum that I am a staunch supporter of stability. However wit regards to Carllotti, especially in the last few months, this decision has become inevitable and one of the best decisions the board has made in a long while.

Among the many fails of Carllotti are:- He not a tactician. He is unable to vary game play for specific match purposes, he is not a motivator, never takes risks, unable to manage a crop of players - not knowing his best 11 and not a believer in youth.

Next season is going to be one of the most challenging seasons ever in the history of the PL. With 7 teams all strong enough to qualify for the top 4, we have to hit the ground running. Waiting to see if things change is risky, we already know how bad they can be. Until Roman went out and splashed the cash, it was relegation form. Even Wolves had more points in the same period than Chelsea. No manager should watch his team collapse like that.

Carllotti has done the best he can.

We need a younger manager. Someone who understands tactics, a motivator, someone who change a game and unafraid to make changes. We need a manager who has the balls to sit Lamps and Drogba when it is needed and field them at the exact time it is needed.


Farewell Ancellotti and thanks for the lovely times you brought to the club. First Manager in our history to win the double.
Thanks.

Ibime:
Lotti will be sacked in a week.

Just wondering if we will be facing next season with Torres as our spearhead.

Brace up man. It's Torres!.
The only thing stopping me from already throwing up is that he may have a good rest in the summer, get fit, reflect on the cause of the sudden demise of his form and perhaps with a new manager who watches hours of videos of how Torres used to be good, may have an insight into how to shape the midfield to produce results.

One more thing, if you believe the reports flying all over the place, Lukaku, Neymar and Van Der Weil have all completed deals to Chelsea. Now this could help Torres. Fingers crossed.


I for one want to see us pushing for world class mid-fielders. If the rumours are true, what we may be pushing for is an overkill in attack. Torres, Neymar, Lukaku, Sturridge, Kalou and there's Lucaz Piazon to join in Jan 2012. (Assuming Drogba, Anelka, Malouda, Zhirkov are all leaving).

Midfield, Wingers please!

All the players who had below par season still get to start in a game this inconsequential . .
How do you expect them to perform always?
Ashley Cole must have started every single PL game bar one.

It's ridiculous. You can't manage that way.
I cannot criticize those who want Carllotti to leave.

Birmingham are down.

FBS:
Lotti does NOT know his players.

I cannot believe how he sees things.
Very insipid performance.
Overly predictable.

Painful to watch.

Josh comes on and things start to move forward.
The question I ask is If Carllotti will bring on McEachran when we are pushing for a goal, how on earth is he not good enough to start?

Blackpool are going down.

Birmingham have scored.
As it stands, Blackpool go down.