The Chelsea Thread
- Thread starter Ramires
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Yes, his versatility will be missed especially. If he goes we will definitely need a new winger and CM, otherwise we'll struggle tbh.
Ramires Romeu Mikel Josh(but i like to think he is a #10).. we have cm's (and even Lampard, if hes gonna be a deep lying man now, I **HOPE**!!!!)
we need AM/playmaker;] and a winger. a powerful one. i hope we have chance of buying mata and sneijder. these are the players i want the most atm.
Yes, I agree by CM I meant a playmaker and even though that is the role we need the most if Zhirkov leaves then we will need a playmaker even more because Zhirkov could cover there (or he plays Lamps' position with Lamps moving to playmaker).
And yes, I hope we get Mata with or without Zhirkov we need a new winger, but the same as with the playmaker - if we get rid of Zhirkov, then a winger will be needed even more.
I hope for Mata and I'm undecided atm with playmaker, now that Pastore is PSG-bound. I've said many players I wouldn't mind though; Hazard, Pjanic, Moutinho, Sneijder, Modric (30 mil max.) etc.
---------- Post added at 04:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:20 PM ----------
Zhirkov was asked by Russian media why he was in Russia and said that he is on holiday for the weekend in Moscow. Hopefully that is true, I would link to it but the translation makes no sense.
we should have bid for so many players. im feeling like we should write a letter to Abramovich haha lol.
Something i said should happen if Yuri leaves, only has a year left on his contract and when fit he hasent done enough simple as that. Good luck to the lad though and thanks for the penalty win against the Mancs last season and your wonder strike at Spartak.
---------- Post added at 05:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------
Its not that bad mate.
---------- Post added at 05:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------
Its not that bad mate.
No
I know we've been through this many of times, but I can't believe how much you underestimate how well he's played for Chelsea, when fit and played. Anyway let's not talk about how well (or not) he's played for Chelsea anymore.[video=youtube;JVhwQU2LRN4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVhwQU2LRN4&feature=feedu[/video]
Although we do have one game left of our pre-season i will just write my thoughts up about how i feel so far. So far so good and so Chelsea, when i say that i mean absolutely rock solid at the back having not conceded a single goal as of yet. Will be good to see Ramires and Luiz back at the club and hopefull they can get some minutes against Rangers Saturday. AVB has got us playing quicker and higher up the field which is what we needed last season, and pushing McEachran further forward seems to have payed off and its something Ancelotti got wrong in my eyes. Player who have impressed goes as Brana(machine), JT(when dosent he), Mikel(got his passing range back), Lamps(mainly the later games but looks good further back) and PVA(mini Cole without a doubt). Our striker need to be more prolific and that will come with time or we should go sign a winger who likes to get goals and get to the byline to set up our strikers. All in all i have been very impressed with AVB and the squad and although its only pre-season we have every right to be as confident as ever. UTC!!!
[h=3][/h] Lukaku: "When I do leave, it will not be to be loaned out as Thibaut Courtois has been. I want to go to a club where I can develop further.
"It's not that I just want to be transferred to Chelsea. At the moment, I am patient. I remain at Anderlecht and I am not thinking of a transfer."
"It's not that I just want to be transferred to Chelsea. At the moment, I am patient. I remain at Anderlecht and I am not thinking of a transfer."
Right to clarify Lukaku, I hear alot of you say interest has cooled since AVB took over, it really hasn't.
They've made several bids and Gourlay even entertained the Anderlecht president at the Bridge a few weeks ago to discuss it, don't go thinking that we wont sign him. We have such a stone wall first option because of the yearly fee we pay to ensure that which is extortionate.
Why is Lukaku saying ^ you ask?
He will only move to Chelsea (IMO) when Drogba has left, he wants to have opportunities to impress and wouldn't welcome being loaned out at all (Courtois was not keen on it, but it is Athletico Madrid).
Don't worry.
Zhirkov will be sold I suspect, clearing the way for Bastos (I hope).
^That would be the sensible replacement, to buy a LW/LB to replace Yuri and he's cheap at 13 million euros.
Kaka rumours- Annual summer rumour.
For the 45 million euros Madrid would sell for (cut their losses and run for mark) it's just not viable, I really rate Kaka but it makes no sense investing in him going into FFP.
Interesting to see what targets at CM actually develop.
They've made several bids and Gourlay even entertained the Anderlecht president at the Bridge a few weeks ago to discuss it, don't go thinking that we wont sign him. We have such a stone wall first option because of the yearly fee we pay to ensure that which is extortionate.
Why is Lukaku saying ^ you ask?
He will only move to Chelsea (IMO) when Drogba has left, he wants to have opportunities to impress and wouldn't welcome being loaned out at all (Courtois was not keen on it, but it is Athletico Madrid).
Don't worry.
Zhirkov will be sold I suspect, clearing the way for Bastos (I hope).
^That would be the sensible replacement, to buy a LW/LB to replace Yuri and he's cheap at 13 million euros.
Kaka rumours- Annual summer rumour.
For the 45 million euros Madrid would sell for (cut their losses and run for mark) it's just not viable, I really rate Kaka but it makes no sense investing in him going into FFP.
Interesting to see what targets at CM actually develop.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11668_7076458,00.html
zhirkov to anzhi...
zhirkov to anzhi...
Mata's dad told Arsenal to go back to the office.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7076536,00.html
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7076536,00.html
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Could Kaka Solve Chelsea’s Playmaker Problem?by Paul McKinnon at Tuesday, Aug 2 2011 10:22
As Tottenham continue to reject all Chelsea efforts to sign Luka Modric, reports have suggested the Blues may be turning their attention to Real Madrid’s Kaka. Andre Villas-Boas is in the market for a midfield creator but a move for Palermo star Javier Pastore has also been rebuffed after the Argentine agreed to join the revolution at PSG.
Jose Mourinho might be able to help, then. According to reports, the Special One is looking to offload Kaka as he continues to shape Real Madrid to a side of his own making in this, his second season. If Chelsea have the money, then the question is- does Kaka still have what it takes?
Chelsea
Age
Looking at their midfield, it’s clear Chelsea need to bring in some younger players to freshen matters up. Their two main attacking midfielders, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda, are 33 and 31 respectively. Yossi Benayoun, having returned from injury, is also 31 and while the likes of young Josh McEachran (18) offers plenty of promise, he’s as yet unproven at the top level.
Although Pastore (22) and Modric (25) are substantially younger than Chelsea’s first-team creators, both have plenty of experience at league and international level. Former World Player of the Year Kaka may be 29, but he‘s older than only McEachran of the aforementioned Chelsea players. With a move to Stamford Bridge potentially on the cards, then, how do his stats fare when compared to Lampard and Malouda? Here’s the breakdown:
Passing
Malouda leads the way of the trio with 3.1 key passes per game. Lampard is next up, with 2.2 per game- the pair were one and two for key passes at Chelsea last season. Kaka’s 1.9 key passes is still respectable, particularly when taking into consideration that almost all of his came from open play, while both Malouda and Lampard took plenty corners, and the latter had his fair share of free-kicks, too.
A look at the number of assists the Chelsea duo picked up highlights just why Boas-Villas needs a playmaker. Malouda made a total of 118 key passes last season and picked up a mere 4 assists- this equates to 1 assist for every 29.5 key passes made. Lampard made 53 key passes in 2010/11 and managed 2 assists- he therefore picked up 1 assist for every 26.5 key passes made.
Kaka may have only played 14 games for Real last season but he picked up 4 assists -the same as Malouda- although the Frenchman took part in 38 games. Kaka made a total of 27 key passes in 2010/11, which works out as 1 assist for every 6.75 key passes made- a huge step up from the Chelsea pair and an indication of the quality of his final ball. He also showed better distribution; a fantastic 88% pass accuracy betters Malouda’s 83% and Lampard on 82%
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Dribbling and Shooting
Malouda’s 1.5 successful dribbles per game from wide left saw him joint-top for Chelsea with Michael Essien. While Ramires also impressed with 1.4, he and Essien offered little in terms of goal contribution- they played 62 games between them, scoring 5 goals and making a mere 2 assists. Indeed, factoring in John Obi Mikel’s contribution of 1 assist and Lampard’s 2, the stats show Chelsea’s central midfield assisted 5 of the club’s 69 goals last season, a ridiculously low number.
Lampard’s lowly 0.3 successful dribbles per game are indicative of his role within the Chelsea 4-3-3 as opposed to suggesting a lack of skill; with Didier Drogba the target man, Lampard has perfected the role of arriving late in and around the box to pick up on any knock-downs from the big Ivorian and it’s a ploy that’s served Chelsea well over the years. His game has never been based on an ability to take on and beat an opponent. Kaka’s 1 successful dribble per game is perhaps the biggest surprise here- he is renowned for his dribbling and this stat is the only real negative on show from the Brazilian.
Lampard’s spot-kick and shared free-kick duties see him take the most shots of the trio, with an average of 2.3 shots per game. A total of 55 shots from his 24 games saw him score 10 times, meaning he scored 1 goal with every 5.5 shots. Malouda took part in every Chelsea game last season and managed 1.8 shots per game, which is a total of 68 shots over the campaign. A haul of 13 goals meant he finished as the club’s top scorer, and averaged 1 goal with every 5.23 shots- edging Lampard for clinical finishing.
Kaka made 14 appearances for Madrid and with an average of 1.6 shots per game, had a total of 22 goal attempts in 2010/11. His finishing, however, is easily the most impressive of the three- with a total of 7 goals, Kaka scored 1 goal with every 3.14 shots last season, a clear indication of his (still) outstanding eye for goal.
Real Madrid
Age
A look at the ages of the midfield creators in Mourinho’s squad show Madrid has a far more youthful set-up than Chelsea. Ronaldo is 26, Angel Di Maria 23, and both Mezut Ozil and new signing from Dortmund Nuri Sahin are 22. Kaka, at 29, is the old boy of the group. With plenty of creativity already on hand, Mourinho clearly wants a more dynamic first XI and Kaka looks surplus to requirements in that respect.
Passing
Ozil leads the way for Madrid when it comes to key passes- 3.3 per game in his role behind a lone front man was superb for a debut season. His quality of final ball is highlighted by a fantastic 17 assists, the second best in La Liga behind Lionel Messi’s 18. With a total of 119 key passes (just 1 more than Malouda) he picked up 1 assist for every 7 key passes made.
Ronaldo and Di Maria also weighed in with 11 assists apiece- grabbing 1 assist per 5.9 and 6.36 key passes respectively. Di Maria just edged it for key passes per game of the pair, though, with 2 to Ronaldo’s 1.9. Kaka, also with 1.9 key passes per game, was the equal of Ronaldo and with 4 assists, averaged 1 assist per key 6.75 passes.
In terms of pass accuracy, Kaka was better in possession than any of the other featured Madrid players- only Ozil’s 85% comes close to his 88%; Ronaldo and Di Maria both managed 76% from their roles out wide.
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Dribbling and Shooting
A look at successful dribbles per game show Kaka, with 1, is bottom of the Madrid four here. From a central position, Ozil made 1.2 per game, with Ronaldo’s 2.2 and Di Maria’s 1.9 second and third for Madrid, just behind left-back Marcelo’s 2.3.
Ronaldo was the biggest goal threat in any of Europe’s top five leagues and his shooting stats leave any player faring poorly- a staggering 5.6 shots per game over 34 matches means he took 190 shots at goal in 2010/11. Scoring 40 goals, this equates to 1 goal for every 4.75 shots taken. Kaka’s 1.6 shots per game was the same goal threat as Di Maria and double that of Ozil’s 0.8.
Ozil had the lowest number of shots here- just 29 for the season- but with 6 goals, he found the net once every 4.83 shots, not far off the ratio of Ronaldo. Di Maria had a total of 56 shots- just 1 more than Lampard- but scored 6 to Lampard’s 10, a rate of 1 goal per 9.33 shots, which is the worst of the Madrid quartet.
Kaka’s superb finishing once again stands up against any player here- with 1 goal every 3.14 shots he leads the way. Finishing aside, though, it’s clear to see Kaka’s contribution was not quite up to the rest of Mourinho’s creators and a move away from the Bernabeu to Stamford Bridge may be best for all concerned.
Follow Paul McKinnon on Twitter.com
As Tottenham continue to reject all Chelsea efforts to sign Luka Modric, reports have suggested the Blues may be turning their attention to Real Madrid’s Kaka. Andre Villas-Boas is in the market for a midfield creator but a move for Palermo star Javier Pastore has also been rebuffed after the Argentine agreed to join the revolution at PSG.
Jose Mourinho might be able to help, then. According to reports, the Special One is looking to offload Kaka as he continues to shape Real Madrid to a side of his own making in this, his second season. If Chelsea have the money, then the question is- does Kaka still have what it takes?
Chelsea
Age
Looking at their midfield, it’s clear Chelsea need to bring in some younger players to freshen matters up. Their two main attacking midfielders, Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda, are 33 and 31 respectively. Yossi Benayoun, having returned from injury, is also 31 and while the likes of young Josh McEachran (18) offers plenty of promise, he’s as yet unproven at the top level.
Although Pastore (22) and Modric (25) are substantially younger than Chelsea’s first-team creators, both have plenty of experience at league and international level. Former World Player of the Year Kaka may be 29, but he‘s older than only McEachran of the aforementioned Chelsea players. With a move to Stamford Bridge potentially on the cards, then, how do his stats fare when compared to Lampard and Malouda? Here’s the breakdown:
Passing
Malouda leads the way of the trio with 3.1 key passes per game. Lampard is next up, with 2.2 per game- the pair were one and two for key passes at Chelsea last season. Kaka’s 1.9 key passes is still respectable, particularly when taking into consideration that almost all of his came from open play, while both Malouda and Lampard took plenty corners, and the latter had his fair share of free-kicks, too.
A look at the number of assists the Chelsea duo picked up highlights just why Boas-Villas needs a playmaker. Malouda made a total of 118 key passes last season and picked up a mere 4 assists- this equates to 1 assist for every 29.5 key passes made. Lampard made 53 key passes in 2010/11 and managed 2 assists- he therefore picked up 1 assist for every 26.5 key passes made.
Kaka may have only played 14 games for Real last season but he picked up 4 assists -the same as Malouda- although the Frenchman took part in 38 games. Kaka made a total of 27 key passes in 2010/11, which works out as 1 assist for every 6.75 key passes made- a huge step up from the Chelsea pair and an indication of the quality of his final ball. He also showed better distribution; a fantastic 88% pass accuracy betters Malouda’s 83% and Lampard on 82%
Dribbling and Shooting
Malouda’s 1.5 successful dribbles per game from wide left saw him joint-top for Chelsea with Michael Essien. While Ramires also impressed with 1.4, he and Essien offered little in terms of goal contribution- they played 62 games between them, scoring 5 goals and making a mere 2 assists. Indeed, factoring in John Obi Mikel’s contribution of 1 assist and Lampard’s 2, the stats show Chelsea’s central midfield assisted 5 of the club’s 69 goals last season, a ridiculously low number.
Lampard’s lowly 0.3 successful dribbles per game are indicative of his role within the Chelsea 4-3-3 as opposed to suggesting a lack of skill; with Didier Drogba the target man, Lampard has perfected the role of arriving late in and around the box to pick up on any knock-downs from the big Ivorian and it’s a ploy that’s served Chelsea well over the years. His game has never been based on an ability to take on and beat an opponent. Kaka’s 1 successful dribble per game is perhaps the biggest surprise here- he is renowned for his dribbling and this stat is the only real negative on show from the Brazilian.
Lampard’s spot-kick and shared free-kick duties see him take the most shots of the trio, with an average of 2.3 shots per game. A total of 55 shots from his 24 games saw him score 10 times, meaning he scored 1 goal with every 5.5 shots. Malouda took part in every Chelsea game last season and managed 1.8 shots per game, which is a total of 68 shots over the campaign. A haul of 13 goals meant he finished as the club’s top scorer, and averaged 1 goal with every 5.23 shots- edging Lampard for clinical finishing.
Kaka made 14 appearances for Madrid and with an average of 1.6 shots per game, had a total of 22 goal attempts in 2010/11. His finishing, however, is easily the most impressive of the three- with a total of 7 goals, Kaka scored 1 goal with every 3.14 shots last season, a clear indication of his (still) outstanding eye for goal.
Real Madrid
Age
A look at the ages of the midfield creators in Mourinho’s squad show Madrid has a far more youthful set-up than Chelsea. Ronaldo is 26, Angel Di Maria 23, and both Mezut Ozil and new signing from Dortmund Nuri Sahin are 22. Kaka, at 29, is the old boy of the group. With plenty of creativity already on hand, Mourinho clearly wants a more dynamic first XI and Kaka looks surplus to requirements in that respect.
Passing
Ozil leads the way for Madrid when it comes to key passes- 3.3 per game in his role behind a lone front man was superb for a debut season. His quality of final ball is highlighted by a fantastic 17 assists, the second best in La Liga behind Lionel Messi’s 18. With a total of 119 key passes (just 1 more than Malouda) he picked up 1 assist for every 7 key passes made.
Ronaldo and Di Maria also weighed in with 11 assists apiece- grabbing 1 assist per 5.9 and 6.36 key passes respectively. Di Maria just edged it for key passes per game of the pair, though, with 2 to Ronaldo’s 1.9. Kaka, also with 1.9 key passes per game, was the equal of Ronaldo and with 4 assists, averaged 1 assist per key 6.75 passes.
In terms of pass accuracy, Kaka was better in possession than any of the other featured Madrid players- only Ozil’s 85% comes close to his 88%; Ronaldo and Di Maria both managed 76% from their roles out wide.
Dribbling and Shooting
A look at successful dribbles per game show Kaka, with 1, is bottom of the Madrid four here. From a central position, Ozil made 1.2 per game, with Ronaldo’s 2.2 and Di Maria’s 1.9 second and third for Madrid, just behind left-back Marcelo’s 2.3.
Ronaldo was the biggest goal threat in any of Europe’s top five leagues and his shooting stats leave any player faring poorly- a staggering 5.6 shots per game over 34 matches means he took 190 shots at goal in 2010/11. Scoring 40 goals, this equates to 1 goal for every 4.75 shots taken. Kaka’s 1.6 shots per game was the same goal threat as Di Maria and double that of Ozil’s 0.8.
Ozil had the lowest number of shots here- just 29 for the season- but with 6 goals, he found the net once every 4.83 shots, not far off the ratio of Ronaldo. Di Maria had a total of 56 shots- just 1 more than Lampard- but scored 6 to Lampard’s 10, a rate of 1 goal per 9.33 shots, which is the worst of the Madrid quartet.
Kaka’s superb finishing once again stands up against any player here- with 1 goal every 3.14 shots he leads the way. Finishing aside, though, it’s clear to see Kaka’s contribution was not quite up to the rest of Mourinho’s creators and a move away from the Bernabeu to Stamford Bridge may be best for all concerned.
Follow Paul McKinnon on Twitter.com
Could Kaka Solve Chelsea’s Playmaker Problem?by Paul McKinnon at Tuesday, Aug 2 2011 10:22
As Zonal Marking said. No, he couldn't.
As Zonal Marking said. No, he couldn't.
Think its hard to say either way he needs real playing time again, hes an option but not the best one