The Chelsea Thread

[sunilvk7]

Correction: We haven't actually sold Salah

Glad to see all of them doing well. Chelsea always knew players like De Bruyne and Lukaku will be class. In fact, Wolfsburg president even mentioned that Chelsea staff have 'watched with satisfaction as De Bruyne evolved into the player they always thought he will be'. No complaints at all. It's hard to break into the Chelsea XI now and to see the quality of players who can't break in only shows how far the club has progressed

I heard Fiorentina have option to extend the loan for one more year and a buy clause for fixed price.

De Bruyne is better than Willian and Oscar, I know Willian offers lot tactically running around forever but De Bruyne is better than Oscar and Willian and Mata was also better at least for Chelsea.

Yeah it's a good decision to sell, no point in keeping players for the sake of it when both parties can't come to some sort of agreement. Hindsight and all that, they just sold De Bruyne for peanuts.

 

[Alcaraz]

I heard Fiorentina have option to extend the loan for one more year and a buy clause for fixed price.

De Bruyne is better than Willian and Oscar, I know Willian offers lot tactically running around forever but De Bruyne is better than Oscar and Willian and Mata was also better at least for Chelsea.

Yeah it's a good decision to sell, no point in keeping players for the sake of it when both parties can't come to some sort of agreement. Hindsight and all that, they just sold De Bruyne for peanuts.

Of course it's a huge regret selling De Bruyne. Word is that his attitude wasn't the best while at Chelsea although he seems to have matured and really fulfilled his potential. Word is that Manchester City will be going in hard for him this summer so will be interesting to see how he does in the EPL

 

[sunilvk7]

Of course it's a huge regret selling De Bruyne. Word is that his attitude wasn't the best while at Chelsea although he seems to have matured and really fulfilled his potential. Word is that Manchester City will be going in hard for him this summer so will be interesting to see how he does in the EPL

I don't buy that attitude story. Year and half in Bundesliga and hardly a word on his attitude. I think it was more the case of Chelsea not wanting to risk by playing him. Can't blame though considering how Chelsea have done in last 2 seasons.

Yeah will be interesting to see him in PL. He might replace Nasri but not sure how he does when he is not the main man. At Wolfsburg everything goes through him but same won't be the case at City. I don't think any team will sign him this year though, Wolfsburg are filthy rich and played looks very happy there.

 

[Tezzz]

Dear Diary, today I trolled on the Chelsea thread again. It was a good day.

Shockingly bad day to be honest mate.

 

[Andras99]

Shockingly bad day to be honest mate.

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Subtle]

BTW, thanks for Mata. I was not convinced by him but he is proving me wrong. His last 2 games from wide right are excellent and for some strange reason Mata playing as winger his whole career was ignored and the excuse for his poor performance was he is not a winger but a #10. At least that myth should be put to bed, Mata is an excellent wide player, his passing and movement from wide positions is very good.

I'm not being funny but everyone has known that Mata is a very effective wide player from the day he arrived. He played on the wing at Valencia and he did the same for us in his first season where he was offensively outstanding. He passes, dribbles, shoots and crosses exceptionally well, so his threat going forward from the flanks was never in doubt. I remember a particular game vs City around Xmas time where he was so effective that Toure ended up lashing out at him in frustration. There's also a reason why the three amigos were feared as the league's best band of AMs.

The problem was that he naturally drifted inside a lot from the left, leaving Cole woefully exposed. Look at how many goals we conceded that season from the left flank: we discussed the issue at length in this thread. Although he offered incredible amounts going forward, he was a defensive liability.

That's why, overall, people said he wasn't a great winger. You also have to remember that those claims came towards the end of his career at Chelsea and have to be considered in that context: where the winger that isn't Hazard is expected to put in a lot of defensive work.

 

[Alcaraz]

I don't buy that attitude story. Year and half in Bundesliga and hardly a word on his attitude. I think it was more the case of Chelsea not wanting to risk by playing him. Can't blame though considering how Chelsea have done in last

At Wolfsburg he is the big fish in a small pond and doesn't exactly have to fight for his place. At Chelsea the story was completely different. Also the obvious difference in what the two clubs are fighting for and hoping to achieve at the end of every season. Expectations of him were probably higher at Chelsea than at Wolfsburg which might explain the attitude problems. I really don't see why Chelsea would let go of a player they obviously rated highly

 

[Andras99]

At Wolfsburg he is the big fish in a small pond and doesn't exactly have to fight for his place. At Chelsea the story was completely different. Also the obvious difference in what the two clubs are fighting for and hoping to achieve at the end of every season. Expectations of him were probably higher at Chelsea than at Wolfsburg which might explain the attitude problems. I really don't see why Chelsea would let go of a player they obviously rated highly

We let go of Mata too, who was our best player till Jose arrived. I used to watch KdB at Werder, and he was good even then. I couldn't wait for him to get back to Chelsea.

Jose probably thought he is covered for the positions he could play, and let him go seeing him as the weakest of all we had. Some major screw-ups went through with our AM's last season. Nobody was really worried about these deals because Oscar was in top form, Willian was doing his part, but now we start to regret some of the players we sold. I sure do.

 

[sunilvk7]

I'm not being funny but everyone has known that Mata is a very effective wide player from the day he arrived. He played on the wing at Valencia and he did the same for us in his first season where he was offensively outstanding. He passes, dribbles, shoots and crosses exceptionally well, so his threat going forward from the flanks was never in doubt. I remember a particular game vs City around Xmas time where he was so effective that Toure ended up lashing out at him in frustration. There's also a reason why the three amigos were feared as the league's best band of AMs.

The problem was that he naturally drifted inside a lot from the left, leaving Cole woefully exposed. Look at how many goals we conceded that season from the left flank: we discussed the issue at length in this thread. Although he offered incredible amounts going forward, he was a defensive liability.

That's why, overall, people said he wasn't a great winger. You also have to remember that those claims came towards the end of his career at Chelsea and have to be considered in that context: where the winger that isn't Hazard is expected to put in a lot of defensive work.

I remember that game vs city, Toure just followed his shadow and that was the first time I noticed how good a dribbler Mata is/was,

Re drifting centrally, finally we found a place and system to play him. Van Gaal wants him to drift centrally from right side when we are attacking and stay on the wings when defending. So it's a 4-3-3 attack and 4-5-1 defense. Still I don't expect him to track full back runners like Valencia and Park used to do because he is not a defensive winger.

"Now he is playing as a false right winger and a combination with [Ander] Herrera and [Antonio] Valencia gives him more opportunities so I am very pleased. I am not amazed but I am very happy for him."

At Wolfsburg he is the big fish in a small pond and doesn't exactly have to fight for his place. At Chelsea the story was completely different. Also the obvious difference in what the two clubs are fighting for and hoping to achieve at the end of every season. Expectations of him were probably higher at Chelsea than at Wolfsburg which might explain the attitude problems. I really don't see why Chelsea would let go of a player they obviously rated highly

I think the issue was everyone knew he was talented but he didn't get the chances for numerous reasons. Not all players would be happy to wait for chances if they know they are good enough to start, each player react in their own way. For example Pogba left United because he knew he was good enough. So for few players you have to play them or sell them.

 

[Subtle]

Assuming we don't go for Pogba, what do people think of trying to get Koke in?

 

[sunilvk7]

Assuming we don't go for Pogba, what do people think of trying to get Koke in?

Apparently he rejected move to Barca when his release clause was lower. He wants to stay at Atletico it seems.

 

[Andras99]

Assuming we don't go for Pogba, what do people think of trying to get Koke in?

I'd have any of the two to be honest, but contrary to popular demand, I'd rather have Koke. I will be thrilled if we get any of the two, no matter what.

Anyone seen Kalas perform for Boro? He looked solid when he played for us, and since we need a CB...

 

[Vanjagl]

I think Koke would be closes thing Spaniards have to Lampard. Chelsea needs that kind of a player, every club does more or less. For me, he would fit better at Chelsea than Pogba.

 

[Chelski Shogun]

Anyone seen Kalas perform for Boro? He looked solid when he played for us, and since we need a CB...

I watched the Bournemouth v Boro game from Saturday and he didn't look very comfortable, Kalas gave away the penalty which lead to Bournemouth's 1st goal. However Callum Wilson gave Boro's defence problems throughout the match. From what I've seen I don't think Kalas is ready yet and I can see him spending next season out on loan again.

 

[cfc12345]

Kalas was brilliant in the game against Derby was it??? The game in which Bamford got a brace but from what I see against Bournemouth he had a bad game

 

[Chelski Shogun]

Kalas was brilliant in the game against Derby was it??? The game in which Bamford got a brace but from what I see against Bournemouth he had a bad game

Derby were very toothless in that game, just passing in front of the defence with no real penetration, credit to Boro though they had a game plan and it worked. Still I haven't seen much of him this season, just the odd game so I wouldn't know for sure, but I think he'll be out on loan next season.

 

[sunilvk7]

Btw if new PL rules are implemented as published then how do Chelsea when it comes to 12 home grown players? Rules are changed, player should be signed by the time he is 15 to qualify as HG, so Ake and Christensen won't count as HG.

Checking the squad I could see only 2-3 players who qualifies as HG.

 

[Andras99]

Btw if new PL rules are implemented as published then how do Chelsea when it comes to 12 home grown players? Rules are changed, player should be signed by the time he is 15 to qualify as HG, so Ake and Christensen won't count as HG.

Checking the squad I could see only 2-3 players who qualifies as HG.

I don't think coming up with the names for the list is an issue, the problem is who gets axed from the current one. We have players who've been with the club pretty much since they put on a pair of boots. Even Boga, who is french, joined Chelsea at U-12.

 

[sunilvk7]

I don't think coming up with the names for the list is an issue, the problem is who gets axed from the current one. We have players who've been with the club pretty much since they put on a pair of boots. Even Boga, who is french, joined Chelsea at U-12.

BTW I read it wrong, clubs have 4 more years to address the issue and plenty of time to make necessary changes.

 

[Andras99]

BTW I read it wrong, clubs have 4 more years to address the issue and plenty of time to make necessary changes.

Well in that case I highly doubt any club will have a problem with this new change.