The Chelsea Thread

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On the issue of Ba, he is an excellent goal-scorer and no one can really question that. He’s got 10 goals for a Newcastle side that been pretty terrible this year, which is impressive in itself, and last year he was obviously banging them in.

The problem for me is that it’s all he does. He doesn’t really set teammates up a lot, he doesn’t create too much space, he doesn’t contribute too much defensively. Nothing wrong with that: history is full of strikers whose sole focus was getting the ball in the back of the net, which is what we undoubtedly need.

Is that enough though? If he was brought in as our second striker, and he was happy to sit on the bench and play in a lot of cup competitions/vs weaker opposition, then I wouldn’t have any qualms with it. In fact, it would be ****** great! I can’t see him doing that though, and I’m not sure that he’s quite good enough to be our first choice striker. Someone like Cavani (although I still have niggling doubts about him) or Falcao would really make us a force to be reckoned with, whilst Ba is on a level just below that. Both of those players are arguably more limited than the type of forward that is popular today (Falcao more so than Cavani), but they both compensate for their limited natures by being superb in front of goal and offering a good direct threat in addition to their shooting prowess.
 
On the issue of Ba, he is an excellent goal-scorer and no one can really question that. He’s got 10 goals for a Newcastle side that been pretty terrible this year, which is impressive in itself, and last year he was obviously banging them in.

The problem for me is that it’s all he does. He doesn’t really set teammates up a lot, he doesn’t create too much space, he doesn’t contribute too much defensively. Nothing wrong with that: history is full of strikers whose sole focus was getting the ball in the back of the net, which is what we undoubtedly need.

Is that enough though? If he was brought in as our second striker, and he was happy to sit on the bench and play in a lot of cup competitions/vs weaker opposition, then I wouldn’t have any qualms with it. In fact, it would be ****** great! I can’t see him doing that though, and I’m not sure that he’s quite good enough to be our first choice striker. Someone like Cavani (although I still have niggling doubts about him) or Falcao would really make us a force to be reckoned with, whilst Ba is on a level just below that. Both of those players are arguably more limited than the type of forward that is popular today (Falcao more so than Cavani), but they both compensate for their limited natures by being superb in front of goal and offering a good direct threat in addition to their shooting prowess.

I do think Ba puts a shift in though and can link up the play well, it's just how bad Newcastle have been of late that he hasn't really had chance to do that.

I know Torres has had a few good games but I would much rather have Ba, I don't know if anyone else would agree though. Although lets face it £7.5m you can't go wrong really.
 
On the issue of Ba, he is an excellent goal-scorer and no one can really question that. He’s got 10 goals for a Newcastle side that been pretty terrible this year, which is impressive in itself, and last year he was obviously banging them in.

The problem for me is that it’s all he does. He doesn’t really set teammates up a lot, he doesn’t create too much space, he doesn’t contribute too much defensively. Nothing wrong with that: history is full of strikers whose sole focus was getting the ball in the back of the net, which is what we undoubtedly need.

Is that enough though? If he was brought in as our second striker, and he was happy to sit on the bench and play in a lot of cup competitions/vs weaker opposition, then I wouldn’t have any qualms with it. In fact, it would be ****** great! I can’t see him doing that though, and I’m not sure that he’s quite good enough to be our first choice striker. Someone like Cavani (although I still have niggling doubts about him) or Falcao would really make us a force to be reckoned with, whilst Ba is on a level just below that. Both of those players are arguably more limited than the type of forward that is popular today (Falcao more so than Cavani), but they both compensate for their limited natures by being superb in front of goal and offering a good direct threat in addition to their shooting prowess.

To be fair they are more rounded that given credit. They are not Rooney or Van Persie type forwards, but then Chelsea dont really need that. Frankly I'd rather not see you get either.
 
What is Kakuta doing these days? He was meant to be the next big thing. Hope for his sake he isent knocking about in the resies
 
What is Kakuta doing these days? He was meant to be the next big thing. Hope for his sake he isent knocking about in the resies

At Vitesse on loan. Can see him leaving permenant somewhere abroad pretty soon which is a shame he had a lot of potential.
 
Meh, I always said Kakuta was average. Great skill on the ball but offered nothing apart from that.
 
Think we should win the capital one cup now with the teams left in with us. I wont be overly disappointed if we dont but would be alright to win it as we have not done in 5 years now I suppose.
 
Think we should win the capital one cup now with the teams left in with us. I wont be overly disappointed if we dont but would be alright to win it as we have not done in 5 years now I suppose.

Well Arsenal are out, so it might not be that easy to win it after all.
 
Well Arsenal are out, so it might not be that easy to win it after all.

Yeah but Arsenal are basically a ****** version of us this season.

Great goal keeper who makes occasional gaffes? Check
Good attacking fullbacks that seem to forget how to defend every 10 minutes or so? Check.
Young fullback full of potential that needs polishing? Check.
Great centre halves who inexplicably do stupid **** for no reason? Check.
Lack of real destroyer? Check
Ramires? Nope, but they have Arteta.
Tricky wingers who can score? Check.
Tricky Spaniard who is played to exhaustion? Check.
Striker whose form is...err... interesting? Check.

The difference is we have Hazard, Oscar and Mata, whilst they have often field wingers that rely on their finishing and physical attributes to compensate for a lack of real magic.
 
Yeah but Arsenal are basically a ****** version of us this season.

Great goal keeper who makes occasional gaffes? Check
Good attacking fullbacks that seem to forget how to defend every 10 minutes or so? Check.
Young fullback full of potential that needs polishing? Check.
Great centre halves who inexplicably do stupid **** for no reason? Check.
Lack of real destroyer? Check
Ramires? Nope, but they have Arteta.
Tricky wingers who can score? Check.
Tricky Spaniard who is played to exhaustion? Check.
Striker whose form is...err... interesting? Check.

The difference is we have Hazard, Oscar and Mata, whilst they have often field wingers that rely on their finishing and physical attributes to compensate for a lack of real magic.

Neither of you understood my sarcasm? Check.
 
You are right mate I think Leeds are going to give us a really good game especially at their place.
really looking forward to it. When the draw was made we were in **** form and I was dreading it. However now we seem a lot better (minus the loss to Derby, they literally are our bogey team lost 8 times in a row now). Should be a good game. Hopefully take heart from Bradford and really have a go
 
really looking forward to it. When the draw was made we were in **** form and I was dreading it. However now we seem a lot better (minus the loss to Derby, they literally are our bogey team lost 8 times in a row now). Should be a good game. Hopefully take heart from Bradford and really have a go

A Leeds vs Bradford semi would be awesome!
 
really looking forward to it. When the draw was made we were in **** form and I was dreading it. However now we seem a lot better (minus the loss to Derby, they literally are our bogey team lost 8 times in a row now). Should be a good game. Hopefully take heart from Bradford and really have a go

Yes it should be a really good game. Leeds have nothing to lose if they lose the game then they have been beaten by one of the most talented squads in the country, if they win they have caused a cup upset and are into the semis. I can remember a few years back you knocked man Utd out of the FA cup so who's to say you won't cause another upset but of course I really hope you don't ;).
 
After having finished Pep Guardiola's biography by Guillem Balague, I have to say GC was spot on. Mourinho really did crush Pep.

Was a superb read by the way. Highly recommended and there are some interesting excerpts of Roman chasing Pep for the managerial position at Chelsea.
 
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