Peace.

The deal has just been officialized :

I voted for the sixth. It has the better design, it is well balanced, the color looks good (the white doesn't really fit..) . At the contrary, I find those which have badge(s), have too much empty spaces.

1 - No, he wasn't awfull because he lacked support, but because he lost the bases of football. 2 - No, in the second part of the season, he wasn't better.... So, if Bosingwa is that poor, it isn't because he ain't got no right winger ahead of him. I could understand this argument for someone else, for exemple if you tell me Ivanovic struggles there sometimes because he has nobody in front of him, I would be agree. But for Bosingwa, that just don't go. Why ? Because he has lost all the bases of football, and thus he became a liability and shouldn't play (or even be on the bench) of a major team like us. First of all, on a defensive notion. He seems to be unable to track down the opponant, he seems lost, he doesn't have a clue to where position himself to intercep the ball or to tackle.Plus, he always bombs forward but takes too much time to come back. An action which proves my last point is the goal we have conceeded against Stoke City. On this action, Luiz was made the culprit, but actually he had nothing to do there, that was Bosingwa who was missing, he was just covering the portuguese. Then, on an offensive notion (which is as important as the defensive on, for a full back imo). In the dictionary, his name should be down along side the "headless chicken" definition. All he knows to do is to run in straight line. His crossing ability isn't awful, it is non-existing. I even wonder if he targets a zone when he hits the ball or if he just throws the ball somewhere. When he tries to dribble the opponents easily handle him. When he starts dribbling, he pushes the majority of the time the ball too much and it ends up in the feet of the opponent. Finally, I don't find his decision making very smart... My words : you can even play Messi ahead of him, nothing will change.

It would be even smarter if he joins an english team on loan this season. Like this, he will be count as homegrown player.

Hum... I'm not sure about this.. I think either Milan or Inter is no more allowed to buy foreigner.

Meh... Another defensiv player. It isn't what we really need. I think we should focus on other kinds of players. Although, he is a good player with a good potential, so if the price is right, why not... But I believe it is another stroy made up by media. Every since Essien has picked up his injury, we're linked with every defensiv midfielder to 'replace' him. And I don't know where they found that we want to replace him...

Shh !! He is here only for 6 months

Well, I am not too excited about him to be honest. From the highlight of his game I have seen so far, he didn't strike me. The only time I've appreciated him was when I saw him at Copa, against Uruguay. To be frank, it is with his passing game I have problems... But of course, he seems to have talent, so I presume his passing game is just raw. Plus, I think we could give some chances to Kakuta instead of buying Pastore. Of course, I won't complain if we get him, that would still be a good addition to the squad. Finally, if we get him, I still hope we can get a player of the like of Modric, who has a very good passing game and who builds the play from a deep position.

Will they also give him the armband to lure him ?

Yes, basically this is it. Pierre Hamon has told (the seven of february, 2009) Chelsea Essien should have 6 more weeks of 'recovery' before join the first team. But Essien has just started to play again 2 weeks later. In the beginning of 2010, Essien went back to do some medical analysis with Hamon. Once again, Hamon has told Chelsea Essien needs 6 weeks before start to play. But, the very next day English made Essien pass another analysis, without inform Hamon. Following these analysis, English decided to operate Essien. And according to Hamon, this surgery wasn't called for. And that was a bullshit made by English. Hope I was clear.

yep, that's Jimi Hendrix ^^

Yeah, defensively he was not that bad... But when he goes forward... I never see someone that weak when it comes to make cross and beat his man. He is just awful offensively.

What a fucking poor cross... He was aiming Torres and the ball end up on the keeper who didn't move from his line...

We have to leave Anelka and Bosingwa in Thailand by any means. The latter man is just an awful footballer, and the baldhead is a sucker who plays like if he was playing with his friend a sunny afternoon for fun.

Bosingwa is the worst crosser of the universe, seriously...

Cech Ferreira - Luiz - Terry - Cole Mikel Ramires - Lampard Anelka - Kalou - Malouda

Agree with everything you've said. The worrying thing is not the performances which have been delivered in those 2 friendly games, it is the fact that our board seems to be happy with the current squad, and doesn't seem in a hurry to get players which are more than needed. I also fear some of the player who should have already be gone will be in the starting eleven (like Malouda, as you said). And I don't know if I am the only one to have noticed that, but Malouda, Anelka and co doesn't seem worried in the slightest about their futur at Chelsea... Agree with the bolded part. Though, I do not find worrying the fact we started our pre-season in the same fashion... When we still have some players (do not need to mention names), no wonder we play the same way as the last season... You've stated a very interesting point here. I can't understand how some players aren't bothered at all. The likes of Malouda, Anelka, Bosingwa, Kalou and Lampard (who is a different case, because he only risks to be benched whereas the other risks to be offloaded) should be worried and move their ass to impress the new manager and convince him that they are more than worth to be in his starting eleven, or at least to be part of his plan(s). At least, if I was in their position I would be scared for my job - because let's be honest, if some players have to go it is them, no doubt (bar Lampard) - and I would try my best to persuade André Villas-Boas that I worth to be entrusted. But no, when I see Anelka and Malouda play, I don't feel any fear coming from them, they are zen. Which I find quite strange, since their job should be on the line. They seem to be guaranted to be part of our upcoming adventure... That makes me wonder, why they don't try to prove they are good enough to stay ? I well fear it is somehow a hint about our board's thought on the squad (ie they don't judge some players need to move on). ---------- Well, what bothers me is not the performances we have seen in those two friendly games. As I've said in another thread, I didn't expect any better from our current squad. What alarms me is that our board does seem to believe the current squad is good enough to be competitive and only needs some adjustment... If that so, their awakening will be painful for them... I know, I know, the Villas-Boas' idea to first look at the team to see what he needs, is good, I am even agree with this. But, for me, that was a no brainer that some players had to go and some players had to be bought the sooner possible... For instance, the whole world knows we atrociously lacked of creativity last year. Now, we only have 3 players in the squad who can be labeled as creative players : Benayoun : he is a quite good player, but let's be realiste, he is just a good squad player.Kakuta : he will never be played in the axis, since our board seems to believe he is a winger. And even if he is played in a central position he is not yet enough good.McEachran : too young to hold the team...That leaves us with only one potential offensive player out of them three. For me, it was logical to buy, at least, one creative midfielder before flying to our pre-season games, on purpose to see whether one new midfielder was enough or not. Finally, I believe that an assessment was not needed to know that some players had to leave.

Wow, it is actually impossible... Giggs has 276 assists ! here the whole article : http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/big-picture/2011-07-20/premier-league-all-time-top-20-assists-tally-whos-made-most-goals?p=19

I am not alarmed by our performance on the pitch. With players such as Anelka, Kalou, Bosingwa, etc... I didn't expect to something better. But what I am alarmed for, is that our board doesn't seem to think we need an overhaul...

Didier Drogba, tralala !

I can't take no more those fuckin' vuvuzelas

Great ! Hope he can top Giggs !

I whish you a good recovery

As I've already said in this thread, he is at Tignes where he is training with France U20 team. After this, he will fly to Colombia to play the International U20 championship.

Even if he has almost signed for them, I think we should let the thread open. Actually, I think we should let the threads open even after the deals (I speak in general) have been officialised. At least for more or less one day. Indeed, I believe it is interesting to see and to discuss about the deal, whether the other club has made a good deal or not, if it is a big loose for us, etc...