Joshyboy

I don't get where the second choice reference came from?

Maicon was/is the best RB in the world, no disagreements there! But I think personally we should aim for someone younger, we're looking to build a squad for the long haul, I mean look at our signings/potential signings so far.. Eden Hazard; 21 Marko Marin ; 23 Hulk : 25 Maicon: 30 I just don't think its what we need, let him play out his twilight in Madrid where he (allegedly) wants to be and lets get PIszczek, Debuchey, Azpilicueta ( a name I still can't pronounce) or even Van Der Weil (but maybe not) Just saying guys, we've got Luiz, Cahill, Bertrand to make up our backline in future seasons so why not keep it young(ish) and fresh with an up and comer?

What what what

This.

I'd snag a couple of Dortmund's players to be honest, I like Kuba, Piszcek, Lewandowski among others and their mostly Poles, looking forward to seeing how it goes for them over the Euro's

See where you coming from, but that's the same as everyone saying Hazard was going to Man City, you don't know until you know... you know?

Anyone heard about this one? Apparently Roman's thinking of making a double swoop for him and Lewandowski, but I really doubt it. I'd like to see Lukasz at the club though, anyone know anything about this guy? He's strong, good tackler, gets forward well and nicks the odd goal. He's a right back but can essentially play all up the right flank, he's experienced (the fact he has won and also defended the Bundeliga title) but really hitting his prime too, at 27 I think it'd be a good investment. He might not be a world beating high profile superstar, but he goes about his job tirelessly and effectively, keep an eye on him in the Poland squad over the Euro's! With Real Madrid apparently interested along with a few other big European teams its times like this we should flex our financial muscle and flash our... champions league winners medals ... :blue scalf:

Does anyone have any idea what's going on with Meireles? Personally I think he's a good squad player, seemed to sufferer second season syndrome, after winning Liverpool's player of the season, he came to the bridge for what I suppose was a modest fee, about 16m and he's put in a shift, no where near as many spectacular goals from distance, no trademark volleys (maybe the one against Man City) but he's certainly come in and filled in as, when and where he's needed. But I remember him being especially sore about AVB's sacking, so do you think he'll hang around or is he off?

I like Modric and what he brings to the pitch, but I honestly don't know if we've got a position for him, he's an attacking midfielder playing in the hole, basically a number 10, in which position we've got Hazard, Mata, De Bruyne and Marin who can all play effectively. I guess we could drop him into a deeper midfield role but that would be something he'd need to adapt to and he really is at his best threading balls through the defence to the strikers playing off the shoulder, more so than an Andrea Pirlo typed player who can spray longballs all over the park effectively. Not to mention we've got John Obi, Lampard, Romeu, Mireles and Essien who can play there, for the money he's going for (and I usually don't give price much thought when we have our own in house billionaire) I'm not sure Its a practical deal to do, if we'd signed him last season he'd be playing in the hole now and we'd have Mata out on the wing and we probably wouldn't have purchased Hazard. TLDR; I'd love to see him at the club, but where would he play? :blue scalf:

I think Hulk along with Hazard, are the signings to start a new era at the club, I honestly do, look at what happened back when we were getting Essien, Flo, Drogba, so on and so forth, a team was built, who's spine hasn't effectively changed, I think Hulk would be the corner stone of our new young and hungry squad, so any price is a bargin, especially for that left foot of his! Man's a machine!

I disagree, If he's offered a project in building a new squad playing a fresh style, with a near bottomless pit of money and with Roman trying to so had to bring him to the bridge you can be sure he'd be given time to rebuild, unlike AVB who had fallen out with everyone at the club so was never going to get any patience. I don't think he'd come for the money alone no I think he needs something to work on, but you say he was so passionate and obsessed with Barcelona, yeah he was and probably still is, but he quit, ontop of which he's asked clubs to "seduce" him, so its not like he's never going to manage again is it? Maybe not this season, but I honestly believe Pep's on his way to the bridge

I didn't realise people were so conflicted on the matter, I think both have their merits and we could argue till the cows come home, but ultimately It's Roman's choice and I think we know who he's going to choose, or be it, not choose, In Di Matteo

Ohhhhh yes

Giggity :eyebrows:

I like RDM, I do, but I don't think he had an awful lot to do with us winning what we did, I think it was more a case of him being a puppet for the "old guard" that's not to say he didn't pick the teams, because I'm sure he did, but I think he was being heavily influenced, at the end of the day a teams only as good as its players and I think RDM more or less gave them free reign and it worked. Whereas Pep would be more of a Mourhinio (I'm not comparing the two, don't worry) In that he dedicates himself to the tactical preperation and prepares everyone 100% ontop of being a bloody good man manager, he's got a kind of air of authority and he's well and truly proved himself to the world so he wouldn't have the same issues as AVB who was pretty much laughed out of Stamford Bridge.

He did say he wants a sabatical yes, he did say he's taking a year off yes, but he also said live to the world in a press conference if someone can "Seduce" him then he could be tempted to "train again" now I realise people may think I'm taking it out of context and he means get back to work next year, but he's already said he's getting back to work next year so why would he say it?

It is all from the media granted, but its a pretty well acknowledged fact Roman is desperate to get Pep into the club, you can understand why, its not one unsubstantiated story its a whole transfer saga in its own right

Said this myself, Peps not a one trick pony, he can do more than tell messi xavi & co to go out there pass the ball between them for 90 minutes and give the ball to Messi at some point so he can go and score a goal, we won't be playing Barcelona football, we'd be playing our own brand of attacking football

I think Pep would be a real presence in the dressing room, he's a great man manager and without Messi (who apparently has quite an ego, although you wouldn't know it) to keep satisfied I think he'd flourish building a new team, Hazard would be his Messi, and he'd hub the team around him and Torres I would think. I don't know If we'd be playing Tiki-Taka football, but who's to say he'd even use the same tacts he used at Barca? Look at other managers, the tactics need to suit the team as much as the otherway around, we've only seen him play Tiki Taka because he's only managed Barcelona remember but I'm certain this guy ain't no one trick pony!

I think Pep would need a season or two to set the team and adapt to England, I mean he's beat Man united a couple of times, he's beat us (Although shouldn't have.) So he knows what he's doing, but with our flock of new attacking players and the defenders who pretty much won the champions league (in the semi's and final) I think we've got a good mix, I think he'd know he can't do an AVB, come in, kick out the veterans and play a highline hoping for the best. I do think we need a new philosiphy though we're still playing our Mourhino-esk way which is starting to get outdated, I mean even Mourhinio himself is playing attacking counterattacking football, but you do what you can with who you've got.

I don't think he had much if any say over that, I don't think anyone was happy about that other than Barcelona's money men, I like him personally, he's driven, determined and he's a sportsman, we beat Barcelona the ugly way and he congtratulated us, realising its just another way of playing the game. Whereas we beat Bayern and their manager C.E.O, players are all having a bitch fit about how unfair he is. Going by what Ibrahimovic said (Although hes a giant arsehole, lets be fair) He might have a few personality faults but who's perfect?

So I know alot of people want Di Matteo to stay on with us and In fairness I think he's earned it as much as anyone. But it looks like we're really pushing for Mr Josep Guardiola, with the intention of him completely overhauling the club, essentially doing what André Villas-Boas was brought into do, but failed quite miserably, I think he was the architect of his own downfall. With Pep we wouldn't have that issue I don't think he's a great man manager, and a very astute tactician, albeit suffering from a bit of tunnel vision prefering to loose sexy than win ugly, something you need to have in this league especially. He created the perfect blend of experienced players and youth in the his Barcelona squads, something we've lacked, we have FA Youth Cup winning players, who, in any other team, might have been given a shot in the first team, even just warming the bench. Pep would come in and see the potential there and move to blend the youth team and the senior team, something we really need. So I ask you, what do you want to see Pep do If and when he arrives? What major changes do you want to see at the club, Immediately or over time? :blue scalf:

I don't think Kalou's a bad player by any stretch of the imagination, I think he's under rated if anything. But I don't think he's right for Chelsea, he's never going to be anymore than a squad player, he can dribble a bit, he can tap the ball into the back of the net but I don't think thats worth giving him a payrise and extending his contract to keep him on the bench, Kalouda need to go in my humble opinion, I think signing Marko Marin was a sign their time was coming to an end. Think he'd shine with Shalke so good luck to him!

I think I missed something...

Hulks coming to Stamford Bridge, I think that much is obvious, the only delay is Porto trying to hold out for top dollar, they know he's going, he knows he's going, lets remember the transfer season isn't even open yet, we've still got months left of the transfer market, I'm not saying it's going to go to deadline day but its VERY early days and we're this close to a deal, its going to happen