SeB

It's difficult, for me Mikel has to regain his spot in front of the defense, he's too important tactically. Then Ramires is too important to be dropped (Chelsea is poor without him, Chelsea has never been good without a good Ramires for 1 year) and then it leaves the Lampard/Meireles spot. I don't doubt Essien's passing palette, lateral, vertical, long or short... When we look at Scholes' "reconversion" in a more static midfielder, it's a good point to consider. I doubt his speed and speed in his play, we'll come to the same point as we are with Lampard at the moment

I don't agree with this point, for me Oriol and Mikel are really different. Romeu plays quicker and more vertical than Mikel, but really can't afford Mikel's defensive contribution ; Romeu keeps beeing naive in 1vs1, in the air, in his tackles, in his will to anticipate the pass everytime (it's what he was told at Barcelona, but he's not Stan Petrov and even him can miss completely his interception). Romeu covers not like Mikel can, by his will to go forward, he leaves the defense alone sometimes. The answers to many problems we have at the moment, the transition phasis by example, is allowed by Mikel's return in form. Villas Boas made his biggest error so far in wanting to change Mikel's role, right at the start of the pre-season, Mikel is the cornerstone allowing the others (full backs, Lampard and Essien) to shine. Villas Boas was too ambitious in thinking his defensive base and team balance main element could change his way of playing, and we all know what happens in Mikel's personal life for months. Mikel has struggled because of his new role, because of his personal problems and because of injuries... in the same time Chelsea struggled to have a solid and coherent back when we lost the ball. Everyone has to win something with Mikel's return: biggest offensive license for players around, better team balance and coherence, and by than, better results

L'Equipe is not an entirely reliable source like in the past but's it's not the first time they speak about Chelsea and Hazard. Since 2009 Chelsea is the most liked club, we know he's scouted for years and that an informal approach has been made last year. In France, only l'Equipe launches the buzz and for Hazard I think only Liverpool was evoked last summer but that's all We have Lukaku, Courtois and maybe soon Kevin De Bruyne. There are good arguments at Chelsea, and french medias can't stop linking Hazard with us

Tot the credence I would have given them some years ago, L'Equipe has subsequently lost in quality, they want to do exclusives and scoops even without reliable sources... He has the potential, I like what he does for 3 years now. But be careful, he's not yet what medias are claiming at the moment. He really has to gain even more importance in the dynamic of his team, last season it's sad to recognize it but this awful Gervinho footballer was more important in the results (even if he was incredibly unconstant). At Chelsea or Lile I don't care, but he has to pass a step. He does not lack talent or motivation (even if many players are quieter than him when they don't like heavy training sessions, they don't claim it as easily) but for me he has to be an even more important technical leader, he can become it, so that's why I expect that from him

But's it's a scoop ! I used to think the Barcelona's substitutes used to press oranges for whose who plays at half time, my supposition hits a drag: there is no decent substitute bench (they can put a 13 year old on the bench, medias will speak about the marvelous Masia rather than the chronic unability to manage a whole squad with substitutes) and Barcelona's players can press like robots, and so 50 games a year with a little squad rotation Something must go wrong in my reflexion. Otherwise there was a TV documentary about Messi on the French TV (I did not watch it) but it was acted like a melancholic drama... Just pathetic

No, it's already fucking Tottenham's job

Leicester just have maid an offer for Donny's Billy Sharp, around £3m. The guy has to agree personal terms. Leicester really has a fantastic team on the paper, but they carried too much players to get results right to the start I don't agree with the start of your message, I think Liverpool is awful in that domain. Maxi and Downing are incredibly poor in that domain, and so are Henderson and now Kuyt... Let's look at the lack of deliveries that the £35m alcoholic suffers... He's a miserable footballeur, but it takes nothing to the fact that he does not even receive 2 or 3 decent balls per game. Bent is suffering at the moment because his team lacks movement, creates not enough chances... For me it's the same matter than Liverpool at the moment

I'm watching Bolton-Wolves in replay, though I'm disappointing of Jarvis' game, Cahill is pretty good against Steven Fletcher, especially in the air. I don't change my mind from my current position at the moment though @Marvin: Yes they did

According to Martin Lipton, it will be announced tomorrow

But Ivanovic is eying Carvalho's CB spot beside Terry as well as Alex did since 2009. He's dramatically improving at RB but I doubt he could accept to be the permanent RB when we remember the speculation before his new contract. But maybe things has changed and with Luiz + maybe Cahill ; he knows he is more likely to play at RB

I discussed with a Marseille fan too, he said to me he's good in 1vs1 and likes to go forward but needs a player in front of him. Valbuena is a wanker when his team loses possession, Amalfitano is far more interesting and their understanding (with Azpi) is very good. He said also Azpi is a good crosser but can have poor positionning at times, not the best rigors in his defensive runs back. Anyway he said to me he's not Chelsea level yet, and if we could go into the market for a full back I would prefer Palace's Nathaniel Clyne

Shonex, I don't think Cahill has already discussed with Chelsea so far. Technically he just had 3 games in 10 days, away games by example. According to Coyle and Villas Boas, only one meeting took place, and certainly only with one of Cahill's representatives, his agent, to talk with Chelsea. Not necessarly with the presence of Cahill... Transferts doesn't happen in half an hour like the Loserpool scums achieved to make the world believe about Meireles' departure, they really have a certain talent in the timing and the quality of their statements...

Yes, overpaying averages Joe Cole or Kalou for years did (partially) lead the club to adopt Arnesen's youths politic through the 1st team, it cost us at the end of the story. It was not the main reason though, Arnesen's influence and the lobby he reprensented was high at Chelsea... But it's a point to take care of. Our wage bill is diminucing, but slowly. And the importance of this wage bill was maybe a reason for the departure of that much players since 2007, making us playing 3 whole Premier League campaign with only 2 strikers. Anyway there's a moment where we will have to consider changing a bit the contracts offered. Ballack's departure was about a conflict on the amount of years, but basically the contact was based on bonuses and it's clearly the way where we should go, in the same time than offload useless players. Financial Fair Play is coming, even though I'm skeptical about it (no club won't be allowed not to play Champions League football, can't imagine C1 without the likes of Manure, Real, Barcelona etc, economical matters are too high...), the club is clearly at a turning point in his modus operandi.For the first time for years we have a coach who won't be sacked after 8 months with the aim to build something stable. Economical stability is part of that If we have to refuse to sign Cahill for wage demands (even though his agent plays a big role in the apparent "mess", if someone can ask a lot of money it may be him too and mainly... ?), let's go with it. I would only be sad not to sign him for his offensive quality, he's a great forward instinct and his technique is quite brilliant at times. It's on the defensive side of his game that I'm skeptical

How can you say that ? I'm from Tours and I used to see him playing at the Vallée du Cher, this guy has something special. It's the best and healthiest mentality you'll find all round and has a great talent when it comes to challenge, read the game and distribute properly. A lot of people judged him on Szczesny's howler vs Birmingham but his whole season was amazing, especially for a player coming from France and in that special position that is the CB spot. He did well right to the start and without adaptation I watch a lot of games of Koscielny for 4 years now, many from Cahill for 2 years... In terms of distribution and reading of the game and trajectories he's far better than Cahill. Koscielny's sense of anticipation is what makes him win that much challenges, especially aerial ones without being carved from a block of rock. And of course they really have opposite mentalities. In January 2008, Koscielny just made 18 excellent months with Tours in National (3rd Division, 1st non professional) and Ligue 2 and Tours was in the top 6. Nantes wanted him right in January, he said no a first time, they offered him a contract allowing him to stay on loan until the rest of the season. He said no again. Whereas Cahill refuses to extend his contract for 2 years with the only target to leave as soon as possible Bolton Thanks but I did eventually find the whole game on http://www.fullmatches.net/, I want to see the the entire game... for Cahill (was MOTM according to reports) and also Jarvis and Fletcher, my Wolves idols

You can find fantastic stuff on Tumblr, it's even more procastinative than Facebook and Twitter gathered !

Yeah I read it too, I wanted to download Bolton-Wolves but I can't find any links on SoccerShouts or motd2u...

In fact yeah it's the reaction everybody could have in similar situation. Though for me it's not an isolated point with him. For almost 2 years that I focus on him everytime I want or can watch him, I'm often disappointed by his apparent behaviour on and off the field. Look at Coyle's bizarre choices like put Elmander on a flank, Jääskeläinen on the bench whereas fit... Until he recently decided to bench Davies he did not gave the armband to Cahill whereas he could frankly have done it earlier. I see a player who isn't a leader and moan on his team mates, a player who could have extended his contract to help the club who did help him... Maybe I'm wrong, but it's a group of factors that makes me skeptical. And I'm sad to recall me that everytime I watch him the same observations stand out Anyway if he becomes a Chelsea player, I will support him considering he does his job properly, no problem with that. It's just that my personnal feeling for months does not announces the transfer the best ways

Yes it's a fair point When we look at Kalou... But Cahill will be 27 next year, opportunities won't come as easy as the press want us to think... So he hasn't that much opportunities. Or he'll end up like Roger Johnson in a smaller club but with a bigger role than at CFC (without the armband though, I guess...). Except Dann, I don't know who reliable other English players there are in CB position...

It's my point for the moment, he's not a natural leader and I think he needs very good team mates to be better. Not that he did not already perform well in an average team, but he wasn't that good. The Telegraph mentions asks about his role, he seems to want a starter slot whereas Chelsea want him as a backup reforcement. Certainly about his wages, he may ask huge amount money like £80k/week...

He played with the high line with Bolton, I saw it several times, especially in the first half of the season when they played a kind of possession football. But I remember that he was at times bad positionned (himself, not Knight or Steinsson... Cahill does really not shine with his positionning) and that most of his interventions back gave (me) the impression that he was tense with the fear to miss completely the ball. He is not especially fast or lively, more than the average PL CB yes, but not far more

He may be a decent player, I'm not a fan of his mentality. He's not a leader, he moans often, he could have extended his contract in order his club to receive more money... It's like Bosingwa, decent player but really not positive mentality

I don't think he'll play, Gary Hooper did not play for Scunthorpe during his transfer process and before joining Celtic I'm not convinced, everything goes well and the Telegraph wants to make up a controversy. Anyway there is no smoke without fire as we say in French, if there is something true I'm not surprised from him Another Benayoun controversy ? Yes, of course, it was my point. I do agree with others on the fact he was given a harsh appreciation of that Villa game because on some aspects he was in fact very good Sorry to think that a lot of defenders struggles against Heskey, especially for a debut ! To be honest if the deal collapses it won't be the end of the world. Especially because Villas Boas said that there are other targets... and that for 3rd and 4th choices we have a lot of solutions now: Bosingwa, Romeu... and for the future Bruma or Kalas. Chelsea are pushing ahead with plans to sign Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill for £7 million and hope to announce the deal on Sunday. However, there have been a couple of hitches to negotiations. Cahill’s wage demands have caused some surprise at Chelsea, while it is understood the player is also concerned as to whether he will be first-choice in the centre of defence. Bolton are desperate for the deal to go through because they do not want Cahill to leave for free next summer — he is in the last year of his deal — but Villas-Boas is understood to have warned that the England international is not his only option if negotiations are not concluded quickly. The move is expected to go through. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/8983558/Carlo-Ancelotti-set-to-return-to-Chelsea-with-offers-for-Florent-Malouda-and-Alex.html

According to reports (Mirror...) he's having his medical during the weekend and agrees the terms of his contract. So he won't play for Bolton not to be injured during the transfer process Excuse me, but I don't really think that could apply for Cahill who I find not consistent and not enough focused, with too much concentration swings. I hardly imagine a Cahill-Luiz partnership differently from a "best dribbler 20 yard of goal" and "first one to shoot on target/score a goal" contest at the moment to be honest Heskey is a pr*ck but we must admit he's a beast in the air, he is certainly one of the players who wins the most aerial challenges, apart from the fact he simply deflect the ball most of the time. Bruma's game was paradoxal, he struggled against Heskey like many PL defenders does because he really weights on the defence. But that day his distribution was excellent, I'm too lazy to recreate the chalkboard with the Guardian's tool, but it was pretty impressive ; mainly his long balls.

I can't agree more, he became essential in many domains of the play. Defensively his volume of play and his huge amount of good interventions are crucial, offensively he's the one who puts tempo and rythm in the play of the team. Above all I'm fascinated by his ability to give such good through balls in the last tier whereas most of the time he just made a 40 yard run before. Keeping lucidity after repeated efforts during 90mn week after week is just brilliant. And it's really when he's missing that we realize how he's important. No other player gave me the impression so far, except Drogba but he hasn't played as much games as Ramires. Plus, it's noticeable that for some months now he changed a little his way to play, he can be calm and distribute/pass on the width way better than before when his vertical play did contrast with his lateral play. His body balance when he pass laterally changed

Exactly the same for me