SeB

He's a terrific goalkeeper, I'm a big fan. He's agile even if he's one of the highest goalkeepers of Premier League, of course he's excellent on his line but also in the air and with his foot play (one of the things that impressed me the most). He's one of the most complete goalkeepers out there He's too good to be n°2 at Chelsea that's for sure. Let's see the way Courtois will improve in the future but Begovic is an very good goalkeeper, quite similar to Cech and Courtois with this mix between size and agility I heard weird things about why he's not the 1st choice with his selection. This season he was benched after several mistakes at Bolton when they conceided 5 (he's on fault on two or three goals I don't remember) Turnbull will stay because he's homegrown and he's mentally able to stay the season on a bench. He'll be out of contract next summer, I remember he was signed for 4 seasons in 2009

It may sound strange but I think Drogba's departure was vital as well as it was ineluctable. Drogba used to preformat the offensive animation. When he could play several games in a week in a whole season, it wasn't a problem. But since he's not really able to do so (this season is the best example), his weight and even "vampirization" of the play did not reflect on the goals he scored and his utility in the play. Except in big games but we have to point the fact that Drogba has always been a big game player. I would answer you two things: I think now Drogba left that we'll prefer an on ground playing approach with short service for Torres, short crosses from the wing and combinations with players such as Marin, Hazard... cutting inside. And vertical through deliveries coming from Mata who'll be expected to take the n°10 role, with the crucial necessity to improve his ball protection and don't disappearing from some games anymore (it's not a reproach, it's what one can expect in a first Premier League season) Second point: we're in the end of June, all the brilliant formations we are currently putting on paper with Hazard, Mata, Torres, Hulk etc... can prove to be inefficient at the start of the season and Di Matteo may be tempted to come back (one more time) to basics (4-3-3, even if it's a mess for 2 seasons). We can question Ramires' ability to play in this double pivot beside Mikel. As Mikel has been this season, I think the Ramires case will be one of the major keys if not the key of next season. Not overrating him but so far we haven't won or played well without a good Ramires, one can draw his conclusions from there. At the moment Ramires is "exlcuded" from all formations made up here or elsewhere, or put on a wing. He'll prove by himself how crucial he's whatever formation we want to play. At one stage, Ramires may be a "problem" (crucial whereas not suited to what RdM wants to implement) or a necessity (letting aside a system to include Ramires) I'm skeptical about Di Matteo's ability to do well next season, I'll look closer to his propensity to change thinks back to the wall. If he isn't able to do so, my presentiment will sadly happen whereas if he manages to overcome those problem he faces, he may definitly receive my consideration to the football manager he is (I've a huge respect for what he achieved as a player)

Yes, we can say that but it's a matter of timing rather than height. He's a very good athlete, not only to repeat runs but also to win header with a great detente (is it the right word ? lol) He's only 1.77m in fact

I don't see your point. A club aiming high only purchases finished products. And to be honest, putting aside the exceptions, it's hard to find a defender who'd be mature enough in his play before being ~25 years old : defensively, tactically and with good rythm management (when to go forward, when to keep the ball, when to clear...) Bosingwa was also 26 when Chelsea signed him and yet he was really average tactically when he arrived. It's not like when you promote a young striker to end the games, to start Cup games etc... United's Fabio, Arsenal's Jenkinson or even our own Mikel 5 years ago were often weak links, in big games by example, because they couldn't handle pressure. Because those roles are very important roles on the pitch (I don't mean striker isn't but you rarely lose a game after a striker's individual mistake) and you can't put a young player only for the useless perspective "to promote youth" (especially if you have high targets) You have to know what you want: purchasing "young exciting prospects" (considering that younger the player is, the more it's be assimilated to a bet) and becoming a post-formation club with the aim to sell players 2 or 3 times the price they were purchased. Enjoying a busy Academy and because of the lack of funds, playing youth every week and be condemned to osccilate between the bottom and the top of the table (even in a whole unique season). Or, like Chelsea, purchasing £10M+ players, enjoying sporting success and coming one day to the point to letting go some players for free or a ridiculous fee

It's a quite recent evolution in Football, in the past it was common to see teams (Chelsea until recently by example) playing with a midfield where roles are precisely shared between 2 or 3 players: in the case of 2, there's a DM who does the "windshield wiper" role whereas the other plays as a boc-to-box. In the case of 3, there's a real DM feeding another who relays to a third, creative or box-to-box Double pivot means that there's a two man midfield and that roles aren't really shared. One player is a bit more comfortable defensively and the other, offensively. But the main thing to take into consideration is that both works on their weaknesses at training. Because modern football can't allow a DM to be rash and untidy in terms of passing, we tend toward more complete players. It's a bit like the central defense, it's rarer to see an old fashioned partnership between a solid CB, tough defensively etc... and his alter ego who's quicker and reads better the play, who is in charge of the distribution. Nowadays, CB are expected to be at least average in both parts of the play: purely defensively of course but also tactically and in their distribution. Personally I'm not yet convinced by the double pivot system, especially because modern football is also the emergence of offensive full backs who inbalance the team if nobody except the CB cover them (the axis would be exposed). You expect the two midfielders in a double pivot to work together, cover them mutually ; you can't expect one to stay deep and cover the CBs because in that case, the link between the deep player and the liaison player can't etablish itself. If your double pivot shall stay deep, both players stays deep. The way England played, the tournament was absolutely decent because they conceided 3 goals. But offensively it was poor because there was no link between Gerrard and Young (players too far on the pitch). Carroll provided to be a target, but with Young and Welbeck who are on ground relays and who likes to be feeded by a midfield (to launch counter attacks, especially Young), they couldn't have the service they needed to produce something decent

On a personal plan I was more impressed by Roger Johnson & Scott Dann between 2009 and 2011. The clubs where they went were complete mess, they were often exposed even if they have their wrongs as well (behaviour, drinking sessions for Johnson)

Yes, some people seem to imagine that a football carreer is something rather static whereas it's in constant change. All is matter of opportunities taken, chances given, favorable combination of circumstances ; underlined in the background by an amount of work at training. The player in question showed an quite incredible improvement in all domains of the play but people are still skeptical and argue as if nothing happened at all ? Where's logic there ?

Thank you for your contribution to this thread.

Cahill was far from deserving all the credit he receive in 2010/2011. Morrison's improvement is quite recent in fact, let's see how he'll perform next season. Steven Fletcher does not play regulary for Scotland because of a matter of communication between him & the federation, I don't know about Morrison but I don't take that much consideration to that. As I said just above, for me Cahill was far from deserving all the praise he get in 2010/2011, I watched around 15 Bolton games last season, especially in the 1st part of the season and he had weaknesses, not just because "the team was crap around him" because it wasn't in the 1st part of the season.

No he wasn't, I watched many Bolton games and he was inconsistent, sloppy, poor in several aspects of his game (distribution, covering). He's solid and commited when he's focused, otherwise he used to give me the impression he didn't gave a fuck against lower teams. He seems a very kind guy though Morrison is WBA's best player this season, I don't really see your point. Especially because football and player's careers are made of opportunities to be taken at the right time, Morrison has been allowed a period to shine, I don't understand why it would be a story without future. Players can improve and pass new steps. Excuse me but your remark about the player he was at 21 is stupid, at 21 Drogba just arrived at Le Mans after several spells in amateur football

Yes, in that formation, the same Spurs should be using with Sigurddson behind Sandro-Huddlestone The problem to play McEachran deep is the permanent dilemma of the two aspects of the game: when the team has the ball and when the team has to regain the ball. With the ball, McEachran could be great, finding intervals and accurate deliveries from the deep. But without the ball he's not solid enough, not good enough in terms of tackling and impacting

I think McEachran has to be used like Meireles, in front of two midfielders because he likes to have the play in front of him I doubt he could play "à la Pirlo" in England due to the necessity to have a DM solid defensively in Premier League

In fact I don't really give a fuck but I'm not that surprised to see members "leaving" then coming back the forum, every topic has to be filled with the same generic comments... I use to laugh at Liverpool like everyone else here, but is there really a point to brand every less known player as "Liverpool's purchase" ? Antonio Valencia certainly was a second hand player otherwise, like many others. I don't know from where comes this condescending way of thinking from many Chelsea fans (and other successful clubs as well) James McCarthy is a very interesting player as well, he has an excellent mentality (he's a football addict). I just think Morisson is more creative and that he shots better It's my point, Morrison could be a number two behind Lampard with the view to play 4-2-3-1 Because I've doubts on Ramires' ability to handle that role and because Meireles is better elsewhere. But It's possible (and rather probable) that we'll eventually "cope" with Meireles, this season the team and the space between players/lines were stretched to their maximum and we saw Meireles struggling (like many other would have in that case)

In my wishlist there's a player I really started to like this season, it's West Bromwich Albion's James Morrison. He used to be in Brunt's shadow but after Brunt's injury against Everton on the boxing day, Morrison started to take the play to his account. West Bromwich has mainly played in 4-5-1 this season (as they always did with all possibilities with a 5 man midfield: 4-4-1-1, 4-1-4-1, 4-2-3-1...) and Morrison became crucial in many domains of the play. WhoScored has written a paper about him http://www.whoscored...mproved-Players He can shoot, he can pass, he can give deliveries, he can tackle, he can intercept, he crosses well, he's decisive (5 goals, 5 assists). He's versatile, he can play deep in a 2 man midfield, in CAM, on the left wing. And when he scores he does not fakes, it's often wonder goals, his volleying technique is terrific as well I'm really fond of complete midfielders, it's really my favourite kind if player.* In my opinion James Morrison is really what we can call a player suited for the "double pivot" system. With Di Matteo likely to continue with his 4-2-3-1 and due to Lampard's importance (beside Mikel of course), I think he could be a great purchase (Lampard couldn't play 60 games next year, even in a new deep role different from the typical box to box one). I like Meireles but I think Morisson provides something a bit different, not in terms of creativity but in terms of balance between defensive and offensive duties, volume of play as well (beside the fact Meireles is tricked by his concentration, he loses in lucidity when he has to press, cover a big surface to defend**). And of course Newton and Di Matteo coached him at West Brom, even if he wasn't at the level he's now (due to Brunt's influence) so it's a reason to think that if Di Matteo is unable to know something about Ligue 1's top scorer, he's likely to remember a player he used to coach (and sometimes you see a potential at training you cannot put in the best conditions by playing him because you have results to produce, you cannot change your animation just on a betting). *:I was fond of Stuart Holden last season but with his double injuries I doubt he'd come back to the level he rised to (especially because he was a piece of Bolton's pass & move approach at the start of the 2010/2011 season). He was able to do everything in MF **:Though it's not a fatality, it just shows he's rather a deep lying creative player, really the best in front of two players (like Jordan Henderson). He can play elsewhere but he has weaknesses (but not that dramatic when we know he's regarded as a rotation player, and Meireles really is a decent squad player) Thoughts ?

One central striker and two other (Sturridge & Lukaku) who are young & has to improve ? You want to play a whole season with those 3 ? I though 2008/2009, 2009/2010 and the end of 2010 showed sufficiently the need to have more than a central & a support striker over 30 to pretend to play at least in 3 tournaments. We need a new striker anyway. I'd have liked Giroud but I think Rondon or Steven Fletcher can be decent players to bring to add quantity because we need

I don't usually follow La Liga but Rondon is said to have a goalscoring instinct and to be terrific in the air (where Sturridge is actually crap)

My opinion on the Pastore deal is that Zamparini made a movie, in his own head, and claimed Chelsea was still in the course. Let's be honest, only him was still speaking of a possible Chelsea interest. He's not been the only one doing that througout the years, a lot of presidents, agents etc... spoke about an interest from Chelsea, City, Madrid, Manure etc... only to increase the price tag City and Chelsea were both back to the wall, 30mn before the end of the transfer market, Citeh puts 41m on the table whereas Chelsea only put 35m. Chelsea was reluctant to pay the 200k/week that Agüero asked, understandable. 10% of Hulk's rights are owned by a shell company, a false club in Uruguay (Rentistas), like some other southern-american players. There hasn't been an agreement yet on who'd pay the 5% to the agent. And Pinto Da Costa tries to buy those famous 10%. That's why the negotiations are stuck About Kakuta/Moses, they have opposite mentalities, when Kakuta thinks he's nothing to proves and behave like a child, Moses chosed Wigan whereas many big clubs were scouting him.

"A la Clairefontaine" We already discussed about it, there has been a controversy about envisaging quotas in Academies. One has to be very diplomatical about it because anti-racism is even more unbearable than racism in France

Griezmann is a player who had to play in Spain because he was refused by many youth academies in France due to his height. Our brilliant youth system prefers the athletic compartment to the intelligence of play, the reason why when you play above a certain level, kids are 1.70m at 13. Ben Arfa is well known in France since the documentary which was posted above, 8 years ago Medias can't stop speaking of those ones whereas some others are left without consideraton. Jeremy Mathieu has been "blacklisted" for that (and also because he refused to join Blanc at Bordeaux when he was at Toulouse)

He dives and moans everytime he's touched or tackled with Marseille. He has good stats though, he's one of the best players for Marseille this season. But sometimes he plays on his own or makes stupid choices with the ball With France he's impressive because he plays in 2 touches (like Martin), always moving and providing a passing choice with an inteligent move, putting speed in the game by searching the space rather than the pass toward a static player. He's someone who knows that he won't be given infinite opportunities to play with France contrary to Nasri or Ben Arfa Of course he's not world class, but his behaviour is blameless with France

As a person I don't know, when you're stupid (clues arent rare about it considering his behaviour, quotes when he was in France) you cannot become smarter from the day to the day just after On the pitch it has become comical how often the full back asks him to come back defending. And I don't find anything impressive at all in his play, he's a ball wanker

We have one, Marvin Martin. But at the moment he's a substitute because his stamina is not important enough ; his play is based on constant movement, asking the ball etc... Otherwise in a 4-3-3 with a real DM and a player with an important volume of play he could be interesting. But first of all we have to play players who want the best for the team and not for them. Marseille's Valbuena is hatable, his twin brother who plays with France is completely blameless. I wanted Blanc to play him instead of Valbuena because what was expected from Nasri eventually happened

French TV pundits shot them several times, Nasri when he was unable to reverse or orientate the play, when he was higher than Benzema whereas he was CAM...Same with Ben Arfa as well. I already didn't like them for years, I think I hate them more than ever for the last months. Even more than Downing haha Benzema, like Menez are far from being the worse in those Euros though. I just can't understand how Benzema cannot end the actions in the box, I understand that he likes to ask the ball on the left wing etc... but when there were some crosses and that his presence wasn't required elsewhere than in the box, yet he wasn't there

You can now add the rift with Blanc and Nasri. This moron got substitued around the hour of play, he said to Blanc he didn't understand his substitution because many were even more shite than him. Nasri started to react to that considering how awful he was. (as goes the saying in french: who feels snotty blows his nose) And so then Ben Arfa asked Blanc to come back home according to L'Equipe Diarra (as the vice-captain, one of our best players of the tournament à la Heskey for England in 2010, nobody would have expected him to be one of the "satisfactions") started to reproach things to his team mates, Nasri asked him to speak to him a better way. I want to insult those twats more than ever, they're an absolute shame. And you know what ? I was already fed up with those who asked Blanc to play the "1987 generation" (Nasri, Benzema, Ben Arfa, Menez), I want to punch in the face the Nasri and Ben Arfa fanboys (because there are some, pretending medias are harsh with them etc...)

That's why Wenger wanted Baines or Downing (lol), he already wanted to change the style of play of his team by bringing variation. He expected crosses for those 2. Chamakh was mainly a failed experiment because he never played in 4-4-2 with RvP and because he has no goalscoring instinct, he'd pass back even when on the goalline into the goal. And he's far to kind, especially for a player playing back to goal, he hasn't any vice in his game. But he's an excellent mentality though Podolski keeps his place with the NT thanks to his performances... with the NT. And he only scores goals in qualifiers against Moldavia & co. Never decisive in a big game. And all his play depends of his shoots from distance, even that he didn't managed for months with Germany, all his shots goes wide. Giroud has the goalscorer instinct, I don't worry for him, if he follows his career plan he'll score a dozen goals the 1st season and 20+ the second season