The Chelsea Thread

[Snypar]

As Jamie covered above, he wont come unless he is certain of first team football. And you arent getting rid of Anelka becuase he has already stated he will resist any move and will see his contract out, so you have a real problem there

On whether he is ready for Chelsea, he said: "Absolutely. If I'm surrounded by players better than those I'm currently playing with at Anderlecht, I have the ability to adapt quickly and raise my game. I wouldn't play immediately if I join a top European club but I will be in an environment that will make me stronger. I will need a period of adjustment, perhaps a season, before I can compete.

"I don't want to go somewhere to be fifth choice, though. I couldn't. I would say yes to two experienced strikers and a youngster, because that would mean I could develop and get a couple of games."

"Anything can happen at the big clubs. There may be players sold, so they would need me. I am waiting."
In Het Laatse Nieuws, he added: "[Daniel] Sturridge, [Salomon] Kalou and [Nicolas] Anelka would be playing out on the flank, so you have two central strikers - [Didier] Drogba and [Fernando] Torres - but usually only one will play. But even at a club where there are three strikers competing for one place, you'll always play games because those clubs play 70 games in a year.

 

[BlueHeart]

As Jamie covered above, he wont come unless he is certain of first team football. And you arent getting rid of Anelka becuase he has already stated he will resist any move and will see his contract out, so you have a real problem there

So what does anelka's statement have anything to do with Lukaku's first team football?
Lukaku will get his chances, and Anelka will see his contract out sitting on the bench...? what is the problem here? ANelka is no problem for us.

 

[Mike.]

On whether he is ready for Chelsea, he said: "Absolutely. If I'm surrounded by players better than those I'm currently playing with at Anderlecht, I have the ability to adapt quickly and raise my game. I wouldn't play immediately if I join a top European club but I will be in an environment that will make me stronger. I will need a period of adjustment, perhaps a season, before I can compete.

"I don't want to go somewhere to be fifth choice, though. I couldn't. I would say yes to two experienced strikers and a youngster, because that would mean I could develop and get a couple of games."

"Anything can happen at the big clubs. There may be players sold, so they would need me. I am waiting."
In Het Laatse Nieuws, he added: "[Daniel] Sturridge, [Salomon] Kalou and [Nicolas] Anelka would be playing out on the flank, so you have two central strikers - [Didier] Drogba and [Fernando] Torres - but usually only one will play. But even at a club where there are three strikers competing for one place, you'll always play games because those clubs play 70 games in a year.

You forget about Zhirkov/whoever is touted to replace him, and Sturridge plays left or central, very crowded up top

 

[Mike.]

So what does anelka's statement have anything to do with Lukaku's first team football?
Lukaku will get his chances, and Anelka will see his contract out sitting on the bench...? what is the problem here? ANelka is no problem for us.

Convincing Lukaku that he will be above Anelka, as Jamie already said.

 

[BlueHeart]

Convincing Lukaku that he will be above Anelka, as Jamie already said.

exactly. not a problem. If we have a problem convincing him, that will mean we dont know how to do business.
and btw, if we let Emenalo do the talking, we will be a hundred percent rejected. he is a tard.

 

[CJACKO11]

Nicolas Anelka intends to see out the final year of his contract at Chelseabefore leaving the club under the Bosman ruling, potentially for Major League Soccer, on a free transfer next summer.
The veteran France international, a £15m signing from Bolton Wanderers in 2008, has effectively moved down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge following the £50m arrival of Fernando Torres in January. Yet, despite reported interest from clubs in the United States and the Middle East this summer, Anelka remains intent on impressing Chelsea's new manager, André Villas-Boas, in pre-season to convince the Portuguese that he should play a key part in the first team next term.
"I still have one more year, and I am pleased with the work I've done since I came to Chelsea," said Anelka. "I'm still here. I want to stay on until the end of my contract in one year and after that we will see what happens. I have never said I wanted to leave Chelsea. Even if there's an offer from someone else, I don't care because I'm seeing out my contract at the club."
While Chelsea are hopeful of securing Didier Drogba, another player entering the final 12 months of his current deal, on a one-year extension to the summer of 2013, Anelka suggested he would not be seeking to open negotiations aimed at prolonging his own spell at the club. "I'm OK with one year," he said. "That's fine for me. I said in the beginning, when I signed, that I wanted to stay until I finished my contract. I still have one more year and I'm happy."
Anelka's eagerness to stay would potentially influence Villas-Boas' policy in the transfer market this summer given the striking options already at his disposal. While midfield reinforcements such as Luka Modric and, more latterly, Scott Parker have been prioritised, Chelsea have also been vigorously pursuing the Belgium attacker Romelu Lukaku – Paris Saint-Germain have emerged as rivals for the 18-year-old Anderlecht forward – yet they will retain four senior forwards in Drogba, Torres, Anelka and Salomon Kalou.
There is also a desire to retain the England Under-21 international Daniel Sturridge at the club and, indeed, offer him more playing time on the pitch despite interest from Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United to take the striker on long-term loan. "Competition brings out the best in everybody," added Anelka. "When you play for a team like Chelsea you will have to fight for your place. We have a lot of good strikers here. We're going to be fighting this season and the best player will play. That's good for us, good for Chelsea, good for the fans and good for the title, because we want to win it again."

I would personally work on shifting Kalou

If i had a choice i would get rid of Anelka to be fair. Plus people change their minds all the time, if Chelsea sign Lukaku and Anelka gets the feeling he either leaves to get football or stays and hardly plays then he may change his mind.

 

[JDY]

I don't really see a problem here. If Anelka wants to see out his contract then that's fine, Lukaku will have to understand that in his first season he won't get as many opportunities as he would like, but after one year when Anelka is gone and Drogba also likely to leave, he will be one of the main men.

People shot Chelsea down for not having sufficient strength in depth last season and relying too much on the youngsters when the senior players were injured, now we should get rid of a senior player to make way for a youngster? As long as Lukaku is happy with playing around 15-20 games then it should be fine, Anelka wouldnt even affect Lukaku anyway, he would probably be fighting for a place on the left side of the front 3 with Malouda. Judging by pre-season, if Zhrikov stays then he will be backup in a more central area or as a full back.

 

[Snypar]

why am i reading that if we sign lukaku, sturridge will join liverpool... are people really that bored?

 

[Mike.]

why am i reading that if we sign lukaku, sturridge will join liverpool... are people really that bored?

dont worry the season is nearly upon us and the nonsense will soon fade

 

[ChrisBird]

I would personally work on shifting Kalou

Anelka would be easier to convince to leave than Kalou. Kalou has stated several times he will not leave this summer no matter what happens. Kalou won't effect Lukaku's chances imo because Kalou will most likely be on the wing, same for Anelka too.

And I wouldn't rule out us playing 2 up front at times this year either. Possibly a 4-3-1-2 with Torres and then whoever he's playing best with next to him. Would most likely need to get somebody who can play in the hole behind them though, although that's probably Kakuta's best role, but hard to tell what role Kakuta will play next season and whether he'll be loaned out.

 

[CJACKO11]

dont worry the season is nearly upon us and the nonsense will soon fade

Nonsence never fades when your a Chelsea supporter, yes the transfer rumours will fade but then an off the field problem like Terry sleeping with Lampard's dog walker shock or something like that will arise.

---------- Post added at 03:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:46 PM ----------

Anelka would be easier to convince to leave than Kalou. Kalou has stated several times he will not leave this summer no matter what happens. Kalou won't effect Lukaku's chances imo because Kalou will most likely be on the wing, same for Anelka too.

And I wouldn't rule out us playing 2 up front at times this year either. Possibly a 4-3-1-2 with Torres and then whoever he's playing best with next to him. Would most likely need to get somebody who can play in the hole behind them though, although that's probably Kakuta's best role, but hard to tell what role Kakuta will play next season and whether he'll be loaned out.

Thats the point i was going to make, when he brang Torres and Drogba on against Villa he played them both upfront together so if thats the route he wants to go down then another centre forward is a good thing. Maybe Anelka will play that role he did at times last season just behind the 2 strikers, he was immense in that role away at Sunderland if i remember correctly.

 

[ChrisBird]

Kalou and Bertand's birthdays today! Bertrand has turned 22, and Kalou 26. Adding to our ageing squad!

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------

Thats the point i was going to make, when he brang Torres and Drogba on against Villa he played them both upfront together so if thats the route he wants to go down then another centre forward is a good thing. Maybe Anelka will play that role he did at times last season just behind the 2 strikers, he was immense in that role away at Sunderland if i remember correctly.

Yeah he was great against Sunderland. I remember against a few other teams it didn't work though and he was coming way too deep, but maybe AVB can sort that out.

 

[CJACKO11]

Kalou and Bertand's birthdays today! Bertrand has turned 22, and Kalou 26. Adding to our ageing squad!

---------- Post added at 03:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:51 PM ----------



Yeah he was great against Sunderland. I remember against a few other teams it didn't work though and he was coming way too deep, but maybe AVB can sort that out.

Haha excellent quote first of all. And yer at times he came way too deep and took too long starting attacks, if he uses it quicker and dosent come so deep he could play there.

 

[Jamie.]

I would rather Lukaku stayed in Belgium a year. Clearly Anelka's not going to budge, Gourlay wont allow him to be put in the reserves on his wages. Anderlecht just want clarification from CFC on whether it's possible that Lukaku will join now or not and make plans to keep him this summer.

---------- Post added at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:21 PM ----------

Lukaku has essentially signed. 5 year contract and a €21m deal between CFC and Anderlecht. Agent, RSCA president and Gourlay met today in London. Expected to go through early next week, looks like CFC gave him assurances. Someone's going to have to leave.

 

[BlueHeart]

is it a hundred percent done deal? im waiting to be officially confirmed though but still, are u sure?

 

[Mike.]

I would rather Lukaku stayed in Belgium a year. Clearly Anelka's not going to budge, Gourlay wont allow him to be put in the reserves on his wages. Anderlecht just want clarification from CFC on whether it's possible that Lukaku will join now or not and make plans to keep him this summer.

---------- Post added at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:21 PM ----------

Lukaku has essentially signed. 5 year contract and a €21m deal between CFC and Anderlecht. Agent, RSCA president and Gourlay met today in London. Expected to go through early next week, looks like CFC gave him assurances. Someone's going to have to leave.

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------

Lukaku has essentially signed. 5 year contract and a €21m deal between CFC and Anderlecht. Agent, RSCA president and Gourlay met today in London. Expected to go through early next week, looks like CFC gave him assurances. Someone's going to have to leave.

Either that, or someone is about to have a very unhappy season on the bench, either AVB and co clearly convinced him that he will be getting regular games, which is want he needs, as opposed to him being arrogant.

 

[Mike.]

is it a hundred percent done deal? im waiting to be officially confirmed though but still, are u sure?

cant be confirmed until he has a medical

 

[Sid]

Bertrand linked with us for a year, thoughts?

 

[oja20]

Bertrand linked with us for a year, thoughts?

Do him good but PVA is the better of the two, hopefully he'll be Ashley's cover.



Anelka to leave with Lukaku acting as cover would be great business. I'm excited about this deal, he'll be a menace in the prem.

 

[Jamie.]

Expecting it to go through next week when the player comes over. VH outlet in Belgium on top of this saying Romelu will fly in and complete it next week. He cried after he scored tonight and kissed his badge, talk of Kalas joining RSC on loan as well as their youth player loanee as part of the deal.

---------- Post added at 11:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 PM ----------

Lukaku is an absolute powerhouse. The PERFECT prospect for a 4-3-3 formation, got all the attributes a lone striker needs.