The Skipper

Without getting too financial on this thread I recommend anyone who has major doubts about our financial situation to read this (written by a United fan, so no bias): http://andersred.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/income-up-costs-down-chelsea-getting-in.html You'll soon come to realise that the club are making steady improvements, and you'll see that we're quite comfortable financially. In the last two years (without the Hazard and Marin signings) we've spent around a net of £140m on 13 players (estimate), but you take away the Torres transfer which is obviously an anomaly and we've spent £90m on 12 players, which is on average £7.5m per player, which isn't too bad. Considering we got Mata, Luiz, Ramires, Romeu, KDB, Cahill and others (mostly youngsters like Lukaku, Courtois, Bamford, Davila) for around £90m you can't say the club haven't brought in quality. Perhaps the Meireles and Benayoun buys were unneeded but it's negligible considering we got 6-7 quality players out of it. So CFC have bought quality, which we are building upon with the signings of Hazard and Marin. If we buy these guys at a young age the need to replace them and bring in quality lessens over the years, which will obviously allows us to make more profit again. As for Theo Walcott and Alex Song getting into our first eleven alongside RVP... I don't think so. Walcott has a case as our right side of attack is basically non existent, but I wouldn't have Song in over Lampard, Mikel or Ramires. As for the other players you've mentioned, they would definitely get games under squad rotation, but not as a guaranteed starter, which was the point I was putting across. Bar RVP and potentially Theo, none of their players would make the first team XI here IMO. Giroud wouldn't either IMO. He'd be a good squad player but I wouldn't have him here over Torres or Sturridge.

Terrific? Triffic? Are you Harry Redknapp in disguise?

Quite hilarious.

So, he'll be managed by Anelka?

You can admire Wenger's transfers, he buys good players yes, but most of them are just about good, not world class. The only player in the Arsenal team that would get into our team is RVP. At the end of the day, money talks, and tbh, we're quite well run as a club, getting closer and closer to breaking even every season. Also, it's not having a long term manager that will make the club be run more effectively. It helps yes, but majority of it is down to the board. Gourlay et al seem to be doing a decent job ATM, I'm personally eager to see the latest financial figures. Giroud and Podolski are both decent players but tell me, would you really have that pair over Hazard and potentially Hulk? The difference in quality is there for everyone to see. It's that difference in quality that wins you trophies. You can admire Wenger's and Arsenal's shrewdness but in my opinion football clubs should strive to win trophies. For example, instead of them signing Giroud and Podolski, they could add a couple of million and purchase Jovetic, which would definitely help more in the hunt for silverware. Winning silverware also brings more revenue in potentially, so the extra millions they spent on Jovetic would be covered. You look at today's Arsenal team, then you look at the Invincibles. The contrast is quite outstanding. Will Giroud and Podolski really give them that extra quality to win trophies on a regular? I don't really think so.

Terry proving he is by far England's best CB. If Rio got picked ahead of JT England would've definitely conceded a lot more, probably even heading home. Ukraine were unlucky tonight though. It's sad to see both host nations out.

That would be interesting. Wouldn't mind that actually. The £4m bid is ideal as well in my opinion as it gives us a platform to build on. If we really wanted to pursue with this we'd only have to offer a couple more million and we'd have a bid accepted.

Yeah, I concur with that. That's just life though I guess!

I don't think so. Anyone that's bought for around £30m, and with the talent Rooney had, no one would say that in my opinion. Only if he flopped maybe. It's pretty similar to Hazard's case, no ones's saying he's too young as its crystal clear the boy has talent. It was the same with Wayne.

Not necessarily true in my opinion. With Meireles next to him, Ramires automatically has more defensive responsibility as Meireles isn't as good defensively. That shackles him indeed, but next to someone like Mikel, Ramires would have a lot more freedom. He'd still do his bit defensively, but he wouldn't have to worry as much, and therefore he'd be another option whilst we're attacking.

The "I love @ladygaga" tweet was quite hilarious.

Valencia would have been a perfect signing for us. Everyone could see the guy was quality, it's not a surprise he went for £10m+ (£15m I think?), which is quite high by Wigan standards. He certainly wasn't cheap.

Moses is a decent player, but I'd be dissapointed if he was bought as our first choice right sided attacker. Granted, Moses does not warrant the same talent as Wayne Rooney did when he was bought for United, so he wouldn't automatically force his way into the team like Wayne did. I'd either want a young, Hazard-esque signing for our right side, or rather go for experience at a good age i.e. Hulk. The right side of our attack has been neglected for too long, we've been trying to fit in square pegs into round holes for too long. We need a proper signing for the right side of our attack for once. IIRC, Moses prefers the left side more as he likes to cut in on his stronger foot? Again, wouldn't mind Moses but will he be given the time and patience here to succeed? I don't think so.

I'm sure you said that in your ideal world you'd have Sturridge, Lukaku and Moses as our lead strikers?

And for your info, no one is writing off Sturridge. I don't see a problem with Torres and Sturridge leading the line as I believe Dan has the quality to displace Fernando if Torres doesn't perform. Just going with Sturridge, Moses and Lukaku into the season is suicidal.

When Wayne Rooney signed for United, United still had RVN and Louis Saha AND Guissepi Rossi competing for the CF role. Going in with Sturridge, Lukaku and Moses as your recognised strikers is mid table ish.

A potential Sturridge, Moses and Lukaku combination leading the line is a massive step down from a potential Torres, Sturridge and Hulk combination. Not good enough for a top four finish at all. Even Newcastle would have a better front line.

Go ahead! Hahaha.

Absolute donuts.

No one should be dissapointed with this appointment. RDM was the best option out there. Yes, his managerial record before he joined Chelsea wasn't excellent but take Pep Guardiola's managerial record before he took over at Barcelona for example. Robbie's story has started off magnificently with us. He's Chelsea through and through. Why can't Robbie be our Guardiola?

I would hate it if we signed him. Hate it.

Yup. Average for Ajax, and he's been exposed at the Euros. Shouldn't be in the squad tbh but we haven't got many better there.

Agreed on most points, but I think Ramires is down for 9 assists on the official CFC website for last year? So that's 10 assists all together if I'm correct, which isn't too bad. We'd be relying on the likes of Hazard, Mata, Torres and potentially Hulk to come up with the majority of the assists, which is fine.

It is quite funny how people were writing him off before today's game, saying they'd rather have Cabaye or whoever.

Stopped reading there. To say Mikel doesn't try enough of those passes is something else, but to say his "long range" passing is poor is bewildering. To then say Romeu could be the answer instead is again quite laughable. Don't want to go off topic as this is the Modric thread and don't want it to turn into one of them Romeu/Mikel debates so we'll just have to leave it there and agree to disagree.