The Chelsea Thread

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Cant seriously hope to overpower Barca if you struggle with the likes of Benefica. Everything is possible obviously but i wouldnt have my money on it.
 
We owe Barca a win (or a loss whichever way you read it) and I genuinely think we can do it. What Ray Wilkins said was very interesting after the Barca game about pretty much playing route 1 to Drogba and bypassing the midfield. Very good tactic that worked last time we played and hopefully we use it again.
Playing at the Bridge first is a disadvantage which makes me doubt our ability too shut out Barca. We could go to Barca needing 3 or 4 goals if they show the world why they're the best at the Bridge..

It sounds bad but like others I'd love to win via a dodgy penalty/offside goal with the history we have with Barca. I'm also very proud of the history between the two clubs in the past decade at least, guaranteed a great game with lots of goals and controversial decisions providing great debates in the pub!
A Madrid Chelsea final is mouth watering and from my bias point of view a lot more exciting than another Classico!

Can't wait.
 
For all the technical disadvantages Chelsea find themselves at, there are a couple of major advantages they hold over Barcelona. Firstly, there's no pressure. Chelsea are expected to lose, and can just go out and give it their best shot against Barca. If they lose, well, everyone expected that. Barca, on the other hand, have it all to lose, particularly when you think that for once in recent years they're not likely to win the league. Defeat in the semi-finals could well mean a disastrous season by their standards. On top of that, Chelsea have more or less the perfect set of players to face Barca. They've got pace up front in Sturridge and Torres, guile in midfield with Mata, and energetic chasers like Essien and Ramires who can press for 90 minutes, harrying Barca's midfield. Also, their options are much more varied than Barca's, with Drogba the complete opposite type of forward to Torres, John Obi Mikel as reliable a passer as anyone in the world and superb at slowing the tempo of a game if Chelsea get in front, and players like Kalou and Meireles able to slot into a variety of roles as the game demands.

I don't expect Chelsea to win at all. I'm pretty sure they won't win. But, there's a slim chance, and a slim chance is all you need in order to hope.
 
Alcaraz said:
As Subtle rightly pointed out, a lot rests on Essien's performance as he is quite frankly the best DM we have. Romeu is too inexperienced for a game of this magnitude, Mikel too inconsistent and we might as well not play if we intend to start Meirless.

I feel it is absolutely essential to pair Essien with Ramires in the double pivot. Ramires work-rate and stamina will be extremely important as we will need to limit the space Barcelona have in our final third.

Also I would start Drogba over Torres. Barcelona's defence probably deals with strikers in Torres mould every weekend in La Liga. Strikers who are fast, good off the shoulder intelligence and look to run onto through balls. But how many times have they dealt with a striker in the Drogba mould: Strong, ability to outmuscle defenders and hold the ball up and lethal finishing. Only one player plying his trade in La Liga springs to mind in Fernando Llorente.

I feel our chances really rest on which Drogba/Essien shows up. The players they were just a few seasons ago or the players they are now.

My starting line-up:

GK: Petr Cech
LB:Ashley Cole
CB: John Terry
CB: David Luiz
RB: Brainslav Ivanovic
DM: Michael Essien
DM: Ramires
LW: Salomon Kalou
ACM: Juan Mata
RW: Daniel Sturridge
ST: Diddy Drogba
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Don't see how Mikel is incosistent, and IMO he's by some way our best CDM. If everyone's fit I'd go with:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Essien - Mikel - Lampard

Ramires - Drogba/Torres (undecided) - Mata

I would say go 4-2-3-1 but I just think we'd get outnumbered too much.

Also; Ramires and Mata would have to be more RM, LM.

Despite that, I think RDM will go for his favoured 4-2-3-1, but we will have to have lots of energy and everyone tracking back.

My line-up in 4-2-3-1 would be:

Cech

Ivanovic - Luiz - Terry - Cole

Essien - Mikel

Ramires - Mata - Kalou

Torres

Ramires tucking in though, Mata coming deeper, and Kalou playing more LM, but helping close down the defence with Torres.

BlueHeart26 said:
[video=youtube;wp3BPE2lRuY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp3BPE2lRuY[/video]

LOL? Drake? Well better than Bieber anyway.
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Drake:

[video=youtube;1LvOFgStbYM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LvOFgStbYM[/video][video=youtube;rqutk_73i18]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqutk_73i18[/video]

Just as bad as Bieber with Barcelona, Real and Chelsea -__-

Anyway, like a month ago I was going to post what I'd do in the summer, transfer and manager-wise. But I got sidetracked with college work, etc.

I can't be bothered re-writing about the managers, because it was just pretty much what I said before, with the addition of a few younger managers and Blanc and Loew (not sure if I mentioned them or not before) but I'm sure while I haven't been on much they've been discussed.
But, player-wise, I think one player we should REALLY consider buying is Pjanic - we missed on an absolutely bargain there, and at the time I said we should have signed (and even before it was clear he was leaving). Even now, I don't think he would be a massive price, but obviously bigger than before. It's unclear whether or not they'll be in the Champions League next year, so if we don't qualify we still might have a chance of getting him. Or Moutinho, but he's less likely without AVB ( :( )

Hazard - All been said before really, and doesn't need repeating. And Goetze if possible, but I think he's going to move in 2013. Lucas Moura is also a good option, and could be got without CL, IMO.

Herrmann, Griezmann, Susaeta. We could attract any of these 3 IMO, and they're all good. Room for improvement, but still good players. And we're in need of a winger.

We've also been linked with Jordi Alba - a player who I like a lot - but as I have said before; PvA has more than enough quality to be our future left back. But say we sold Cole, and loaned out or sold Bertrand (more likely a loan, to a PL club - he needs to play week-in-week-out), buy Jordi Alba, and keep PvA, then I think it could work really well. Alba can play all down the left, and he could be our first choice LB, but with PvA rotating with him, and then Alba playing quite a bit on the left wing. If we don't sell Cole, though I don't see the point in signing Alba, unless we have the intention of playing him as a left winger, because otherwise, neither PvA or Bertrand would get a chance, unless they're both loaned out, and then when they return one being sold along with Cole. But to me, it seems a bit pointless loaning both out again, one needs a chance.

Obviously a RB is needed to go with Ivanovic. As before, I'd say vdW or Azpilicueta. vdW's been injured a lot and hasn't been at his best, but I still think he's a very good player, and with him rotating with Iva, he would be given time to improve, and not necessarily have to play in big games. vdW's not got long left on his contract though, and said he won't renew it, so we could get him cheap. Azpi meanwhile has proven himself to be ready, and is a very good player. Not sure on what the fee would be, though.

Striker-wise IDK, we'll probably loan out Lukaku it seems, and it looks like Drogba will leave, so I think that will mean we'll sign somebody. There's been talk of Rossi, who I have always liked, and he's a very good player. Apparently he'll be available for a cut-price (rumoured to be returning to Inter though). Then there's the ones we've been linked with all year; Falcao, Higuain, etc. Higuain would want CL, IMO, but Falcao possibly not, both are amazing strikers, but would cost a lot.

I think we could also get a decent player from the PL. Maybe Dembele, Hoilett, Ben Arfa, Sigurdsson (on loan in PL, anyway), etc.

Obviously there's then decisions to made on loans (Courtois, Bruma, De Bruyne, Kalas, PvA, McEachran, Kakuta, Lalkovic, etc.).

But a team of something like this:

Cech/Courtois (most likely Cech)

Iva/vdW/Azpi - Luiz - Terry - Cole/Alba

Mikel/Romeu/McEachran/Pjanic/Moutinho (one DM, then one CM - most likely Mikel and Pjanic/Moutinho as first choice, then Romeu and McEachran as rotation)

Lucas Moura/Hazard/Ramires/Mata/Alba (3 of them - one definitely being Mata, and most likely Ramires, but Rami could go CM instead depending how many attacking options we have. I would definitely have Kakuta as rotation option, De Bruyne best off getting some PL experience, IMO, and then also Kalou as a backup choice depending on whether he signs a new contract)

Torres (hopefully he keeps his form up, but if we sign another top striker, he could lose his place to whoever it may be)

Out:

Malouda, Drogba, Kalou(?), Cole(?), Lampard(?), Cech(?), Bosingwa, Ferreira, Essien(?), Meireles(?), I'd even consider selling Sturridge, but he can be used as a backup/rotation winger/striker. And don't get me wrong, I like all these players, some are even favourites of mine, but change is needed. Would most likely keep Cech and Kalou (depending on how much he wants to play and wage) cole 50/50; depends on stuff I said before (if we get Alba to play LB) and Lampard I would try and offer a new contract with a pay-cut, but he must accept a new role within the team.

And, I don't know about you lot, but I think that would be a fantastic team.

Sorry I've dribbled on, but it was difficult to try and keep it short, much easier in person. Also, it was originally better written, and formatted, but hopefully you can still understand what I'm talking about :)

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Tyton said:
Cant seriously hope to overpower Barca if you struggle with the likes of Benefica. Everything is possible obviously but i wouldnt have my money on it.
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Barca lost to Osasuna earlier in the season, amongst others. They are good obviously but certainly not unbeatable, their defence can be exposed but the hardest part is getting through to their defence. With all the bad luck Chelsea had last time I hope they do one over on Barcelona this time.
 
ChrisBird said:





Drake:

Just as bad as Bieber with Barcelona, Real and Chelsea -__-

​
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omg. Never seen those. now all the words he said sound meaningless.


Azpilicueta, Moura, Hazard - all would be fantastic signings. but for a striker, I'd go for Cavani if we had chance and he wanted to move. Falcao is a good option too. But I think with the right amount of service, Torres will shine. So I think we should stick with him. We should go for RB/winger(s)/playmaker and we are all good.
 
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Team: Cech; Ivan, D Luiz, Cahill, Bert; Ess, Meir; Sturr, Mata, Mal; Drog (c).
- subs: Turn, Bos, Fer, Rom, Mik, Kal, Torres.
 
Chelsea gratefully accept the get out jail free card. Lucky has to be said. Unlucky for Torres too
 
Undeserved, but a cracking goal/assist by Torres at the end. He revitalised the Chelsea attack.
 
Di Matteo is certainly having a lotta luck, bound to run out to be honest, could be embarassing against Barca, getting pulled around by Wigan and fluking a win :P
 
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tough games ahead... I hope we up our game a little bit.
 
Out attack looked much better once Torres was on. He has impressed me a lot since Roberto has been in charge.
 
Loads of rumours flying around that we have made contact with Valencia regarding Jordi Alba. This is a signing that makes sense. Ashley Cole has been poor this season and Betrand is not yet ready to be a first-team regular for us just yet. PVA was **** on his loan to Wigan and has not done very well for Vitesse either.

At only 23, Alba is the sort of signing Chelsea's new transfer policy is shaped to. Young, rucksack of potential and will not cost way over the odds either due to Valencia's financial trouble.

Word is still going around that we are looking at Willian and Jovetic for the summer. Again the sort of signings that make sense for us, both players can play across the 3 in a 4-2-3-1. Again they are young and will not command a astronomical transfer fee.

Were were quite close to getting Willian in January and I was sure we were going to get him in the summer although AVB's sacking has changed all that. Still I am hoping we do bring in either one of these players.

Some quotes out of Lucas Moura's agent that we are still interested. To be fair, Lucas is a signing I will want to stay well away from unless the price is significantly reduced. 40m is too much for him particularly as we can get better value by signing players like Willian and Jovetic.

I am suprised there has been no concrete links with a RB so far. There was some word going around that we were interested in Azipicuelta, Inkoon and VDW. Surpising really considering that RB is one of the positions we definitely have to reinforce this summer.

Also Malouda's shockingly ineffective performance vs Wigan just highlights the importance of him leaving this summer along with Kalou. Cant overstate how important this is.

Looking at our squad, our lack of depth in the attacking front has really cost us this season. Mata's performances have diminished somewhat in the second half of the season and its probably because he has played too many games. Its totally our fault as we just do not have a suitable replacement for him and we cant hope of winning important games without him.

Its really a miracle he has not got injured so far and I am praying it stays that way but this is another problem we must look at this summer. We really need to reinforce our depth along with getting high-calibre players capable of winning us the title without paying over the odds. It will be a delicate summer for us.

Looking on the bright side though, our squad is not as bad as everyone makes out. We got players such as Torres, Mata, Sturridge, Cahill, Ivanovic and Luiz who are well capable of being part of a Premiereship winning squad. Our future looks exceedinly bright with the likes of Romeu, Betrand, Courtois, Piazon and Feruz.

We probably need to add missing jigsaw pieces to the puzzle like a couple of attacking players, RB and possibly a CM but I think we are well capable of challenging for the title next season if these things are done over the summer.
 
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