Dec

Dembele has turned into more of a box to box player getting stuck in at both ends with a high amount of energy. On average he did 3.1 tackles per game, 0.9 interceptions, 1.6 shots and 1.4 key passes at Fulham in the Premier League last year so he is more than capable in the Ramires type role a 4231 would require in order to get the ball from defence to attack.

That is true. The only one I'd like is Dembele as he has turned into a very effective box to box midfielder with Fulham and can be a great back up for Rami as I see Lampard as being on his last legs for Chelsea in a role that needs high energy. For £10m and seeing as he lives in/around Fulham already it seems a great offer for us, just look at his stats (provided by WhoScored.com) - Link.

What did you expect? Both are on international duty and for all we know haven't got permission from their countries to speak with the club. Hulk is currently in Dallas, USA and expected to play against Mexico today at 8:00pm BST, while Hazard was playing at 5:15pm BST yesterday so wouldn't have gotten to Chelsea until about 8pm and that is too late to call a press conference even without doing a medical. Edit: Sorry didn't think my other post came though so I wrote this one, my apologies.

It is jubilee weekend and both Hazard and Hulk are on International duty. Hazard played today so unless it was going to be done after the match then of course he wouldn't sign today (by this time it would be about 9 and too late to call a press conference), Hulk is also with Brazil and expected to play for Brazil against Mexico tomorrow in Dallas, USA.

I reckon if The Mirror is right (which they won't be to be honest) and we get rid of Sturridge we will sign Cisse or Ba (Ba can play LW, which means Marin can be RW back up) as they are pretty cheap release clause wise and if it is true that Torres will be first choice come the start of the season then Roman won't spend big bucks on the likes of Higuain. I've heard a lot of rumours that we want Lukaku to go out on loan to Stoke this year as we couldn't last year due to FIFA rules.

Potential Chelsea transfers I would like - In: Hulk (FC Porto) - £38m Hazard (LOSC Lille) - £32m Marin (Werder Bremen) - £7m Dembele (Fulham) - £10m Ba (Newcastle) - £7m Vidal (Juventus) - £15 to 20m Howedes (Schalke 04) - £10m van der Wiel (Ajax Amsterdam) - £8m Out: Drogba (released) Essien Malouda Ferriera Meireles Benayoun Kalou (released) Boswinga (released) Lukaku (loan) Courtious (loan) McEachran (loan) The squad after this- Goalkeepers: Cech Turnbull Hilario Defenders: Cole Bertrand Terry Cahill Luiz Howedes Ivanovic van der Wiel Hutchinson Midfielders: Vidal Mikel Romeu Ramires Lampard Dembele Hazard Marin Mata Hulk De Bruyne Strikers: Torres Ba Sturridge Piazon Potential line ups (4231) - With Terry and Lampard: Cech vdW-Luiz/Cahill-Terry-Cole Vidal-Lampard Hulk-Mata-Hazard Torres Subs: Turnbull, Luiz/Cahill, Ivanovic, Mikel, Ramires, Marin, Ba Reserves: Hilario, Bertrand, Howedes, Hutchinson, Romeu, Dembele, De Bruyne, Sturridge, Piazon Without Terry and Lampard in XI/Subs: Cech VdW-Luiz-Cahill-Cole Vidal-Ramires Hulk-Mata-Hazard Torres Subs: Turnbull, Howedes, Ivanovic, Mikel, Dembele, Marin, Ba Reserves: Hilario, Bertrand, Hutchinson, Terry, Romeu, Lampard, De Bruyne, Sturridge, Piazon

I can confirm he is following Chelsea, Mata and Luiz on Twitter and can provide a picture if needed. Also I remember reading on Sky Sports they had an interview with Mignolet (Sunderland and Belgian goalkeeper) and he mentioned Hazard signing for Chelsea with our name involved and not just "Champions of Europe".

No Liquidator, the Club World Cup is like the International one in which the winners of the top competition in each continent goes through. The Atletico Madrid game is the "super cup" like the Community Shield.

We need at least one with Terry and Alex aging anyway. The way Ivanovic sometimes pulls to the centre gives me question marks on his position at DR so slide him across as back up then sell Boswinga and buy 2 DRs with Ivanovic there if needed. ---------------------------Torres Mata------------------------------------------------------Sturridge -----------Lampard--------------Merieles/Ramires ----------------------------Luiz-- Cole--------Terry---------------------Alex---------------Boswinga/Ivanovic/? -------------------------Cech That is how I would line us up with Merieles/Ramires covering for Luiz's forward runs, give Torres a run of 15 games or so and then depending on opposition alternate the more attacking Boswinga for the defensive Ivanovic.

He is a defender by trade yes but we have a month where we have to play Mikel or Romeu there if we don't adapt Luiz. As you said many defenders can do well there and Luiz is one of them players that will fit the bill perfectly and become a great player for us in that position, even if we play a slightly negative 5 man backline to give Boswinga/Ivanovic and Cole more freedom to go forward it is better than Mikel.

Sorry but that is not a reason why he wouldn't make a good one but listing a reason why we shouldn't try. Whilst I disagree that McEachran, Merieles and Ramires are holding midfielders anyway in which leaves Mikel and Romeu; neither should be playeing every week. This isn't about mistakes but his playing style. He is young and still adjusting so it will be an easy swap when considering his player style and strongest points. Not only this but he is a defender however so was Drogba as a teenager, should he still be a DR? We have adjusted many players' positions in the past with Ivanovic and Gallas to DCs that have moved to the DR/DL position while at Chelsea and in my opinion as Ivanovic displayed against Bayer it is a different type of game on the wings not in the centre while Luiz has the key atttributes needed for a DMC.

"Ummm .......NO HE FUCKING WOULDNT!!!!" That isn't exactly a good post on any level. I have apologised if this has been bought up before but I don't check this site often and a quick search didn't bring me to anything. While you may use the "I have 1400 posts, you have 30" mindset into it I would like to say I am the owner of a very large Football Manager fansite, so I am not a forum newbie or an idiot as you may think.

Wilson, why not? I accept your opinions if you backed them up but you just look a bit of a cunt (excuse my language) if you don't. I agree Ramires isn't the best player as he is more effective to counter with and play a bit more advanced off the DMC on a potential double pivot with Essien or Luiz (who will be a DMC). I am worried about Essien's fitness and cannot see him lasting a full season again. Meireles is the same as Ramires but perhaps more of a box to box midfielder and McEachran is a deep lying playmaker and not someone to break up attacks. Romeu is promising but too young. That leaves Mikel (who we agree needs to go), Luiz or buy someone like De Rossi to fill the position.

I trust him and think he is a brilliant player, however I do not think Mikel is and would rather see Luiz, Terry and Alex even if it is in a 541 formation than play Mikel.

Apologies if there is other discussions. I did look in the first page and didn't see anything. To replace him in DC we have Ivanovic who against Leverkusen looked like a third DC and left his man totally for their first goal. I personally think this is up to personal preference, I don't see Mikel as a great player and Luiz in DC has his pros and cons however I see Luiz as more of a powerhouse in the mold of Essien but with creative passing too.

Yes a defensive midfield centre (too much FM ). Clever maybe but the way I see it is he has the stamina and tackling/marking. It is an easy transition in my opinion if we make Ramires/Merieles go on a double pivot with him. Intrestingly another option is De Rossi who is on a Bosman in January as he wants £150k p/w but Man City are sniffing around him. I agree he is fine but some of the runs and balls he has played have been genius and if we can exploit that to our advantage and give us an air of unpredictablity without the risks he gives at DC then why not?

I have been watching Luiz for some time with me thinking about his position and if he is better as a DMC than DC and each time he plays it seems to not only reinforce my opinion but get stronger. Now I would like to clarify I am not the biggest Mikel fan and have been wanting a replacement for a while, but the Liverpool game was the tip of the iceberg for me and proves how his Makalele role doesn't suit him due to his movement, reactions, position, passing and stamina. The way we line up now under AvB is very reminiscent of a certain Barcelona with him stating he looks up to Guardiola. I too see the tactic the way forward with Mata-Drogba-Sturridge up front and as proved against Bayer Leverkusen this can be very fluid, however I do not agree with the high line as it doesn't suit Terry's strengths. If we drop this high line then I think it could work better on the team and interestingly the defensive partnership that has kept the most clean sheets happens to be Terry and Alex. Now onto Luiz...with the defensive partnership in mind you have to look at his play to see that his surging runs are a threat but so much so that in the Premier League he leaves a big hole that can be exploited and is exploited by strikers. For me I feel these runs from a DMC position with his passing, movement and vision can be dangerous to any team and give us a bit of unpredictablility that is similar to the way Essien plays but with a more of a playmaker feel to it. Now I realise this will mean Merieles/Ramires playing on a double pivot with him (meaning he goes forward and they cover) but that is something that could work effectively as he links up with Lampard, Mata and Sturridge or even go for goal himself in the way Essien does. Not only this but sometimes he commits silly fouls and with his he won't be the last man and risk a sending off as often and also have support behind him to sweep up anything he misses as he provides the attributes that Mikel doesn't. Now I was planning to show you a lot of heat maps to prove my points but decided against it as all you need to do is watch a video of him compared to a video of Luiz to see how effective he is with his passing, tackling and forward runs. I feel this is the only way to play a great player without risking as much as we do at the moment and also getting rid of our weakest link at the same time. What do you guys think?

Sorry guys Rangers will be playing in their new third kit against us. Source

Sky Sports Source:

How can we win the double then have the board want stability by selling the sub bench that was key to that success and bring no one in and expect Ancelotti to do better? This is disgraceful, Man Utd didn't do it when Ferguson won nothing a few years back and we shouldn't have as if we invested in the squad like we are rumoured to Carlo could have done the same as he did last season and I am sure whoever we bring in won't be used to the English game or not of as high calibre as Carlo.

Cheers CJ. Dave, it took me 10 minutes. Submit it to Chelsea but if you win a free shirt I want it .

If you really want mate you can do it .

Dave - Cheers mate, I like it a lot. TX: True we are establishing a brand but over time, I don't think my idea will ever be implemented but I think it looks better. Just wanted opinions from everyone else and obviously a lot of thought went into the current logo but I honestly don't like how it looks on kits as I prefer a much more simpler style matching the colours on the kit and possibly one to complement in however the gold border for me overdoes it. Thanks for the feedback by the way .

Just for you Dave, mocked it onto the new home kit too : TX: Man U's went through a lot of tweeking and I would imagine ours will go down the same road, don't get me wrong I do like the badge now just I would rather something less overloaded with gold/red.

LDNBlue - I am the opposite, I think that badge looks tacky though I like the tri colour scheme. Dave - Was tempted to mock one of them up, may do it later. What do you think about my badge? Terminator X - I would imagine as styles change the badge will too, not yet though but the current one for me is too colourful as I prefer badges that match kits. I know it was a quick attempt to mock it up and it does the job . I like the yellow, it is our "golden" era (excuse the pun) apart from present day with the 1970 FA Cup.