Joshyboy

I don;t think he'll be benched for Torres, I think he's going to play out wide right as an inside forward same as when Falcao was at Porto, Torres will be out first choice striker with Sturridge behind him in the pecking order and Lukaku behind him (if he's not sent out on loan) So with an attacking four of Hulk, Torres, Hazard and Mata we're going to be a force to be reckoned with, I think we've shown we can defend (Barcelona anyone?) So to have such dangerous attacking players up front is going to be so sooooo good for us. Also, I love long shots, nothing more satisfying than someone smashing the ball in from 20-25 yards out and thats what Hulk does, creates goals out of nothing, he can be a real game winner, I think he's perfect for the team.

Well he's a striker who can play on the wing, I'm not trying to wind anyone up but you did just kind of have a stab at some chap because you thought you we're right. He would have excelled as a striker If he was played through the middle like he has been this season, but again, he's in the same position as our Danny, striker pushed out wide.

Hulk is a striker bro, but when Falcao was at the club he was playing as an inside forward, same as Sturridge who is also.. not a winger.

I think the defence is fine myself Cole - JT - Luiz - Brana Proved they can withstand the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, they've played together all season and their a pretty solid defensive unit overall. Midfield needs to be freshened up, I'd like to see us playing at a quicker tempo, myself and John Obi (who in fairness has shone since RDM took the reins) tends to really slow the game down for me, which is fine when your playing in a defensive midfield position, but he never tries anything adventurous, he passes backward and sideways. So a new pairing in the deeper midfield roles would be on the cards for me; Lampard - Ramires ? Romeu (yeah he's still alive) - Lampard? The front four is where we build the attacking game that Roman, and I'm sure a number of the fans wants to see at the bridge this season, they players need to be able to pick a pass, get past a defender and move with some purpose, our tempos always been a bit too slow for me, too many sideways and backward passes, we need someone who can take the initiative and start trying to thread those balls onto the strikers toes or use their twinkle toes to duck past a defender and make an opening for themselves. They need to be intelligent off the ball and deadly on it, something we're lacking when you look at Malouda & Kalou, the players capable of playing that trequistra role or even playing out wide. (In an ideal world) Hulk - Mata - Hazard Upfront, our biggest issue, Nando? Can he still do It? I think any confidence he'd build up over the past few months was probably dashed when he was dropped for the Champs League Final (for good reason) so I think he'd be back to square one, but I, like most other Chelsea fans want to see him back on song and firing on all cylinders, problem is out game has always been too slower tempo'd for his playstyle, look at his an Stevie G's partnership, he'd have balls over the top, or balls to run onto he'd make the most of his pace and finishing playing like that, whereas with us he's playing with his back to goal and having to fashion his own chances, which he's obviously not great at. SO I'd say if we sign someone capable to putting the balls onto his toe when he's playing off the shoulder, keep him, give him 6 months worst case scenario. Torres Sorry about the essay, really quiet day at work!

Jose was alright you know, defensively he was ok, maybe lost concentration sometimes or was too focused on getting forward. Attacking-wise he was... well he was ok again, many a wayward cross but those bursts of pace up the touchline used to heighten the tempo a bit, which lets be honest we needed. Scored a cracking goal at the start of the season, only one I can remember him scoring myself, overall he came in and he did the job we wanted him too. Plus that eyebrow was always good for a laugh! Sure he'll wind up seeing out his last few years at a cushy club like PSG or in Brazil maybe, and I'd wish him all the best.

£83m? No. Worth £25-30? I'd say so, unpredictable, strong, tricky, scorching shot on his left, clinical finisher, play anywhere along the front line. I think he's what we're after, but not as an out and out centre forward.

Lets be honest! He's a bit pants isn't he really? Tapping in isnt a massively impress talent. Not the worst player in the world, been a good servant to the club, actually quite a funny guy. Still a bit pants.

Essien was a beast, a midfield machine, the BISON! But now he's got on a bit in years his chronic (nearly career ending) knee injuries have made him weary of throwing himself into tackles, he doesn't make those lung busting runs all over the pitch any more and he's certainly lost any attacking impetus, he's lost what made him the bison in my opinion. But In Ramires we've got a very similar player, I mean, Rami's doesn't smash in 30 yard ferocious volleys, he doesn't make crunching tackles and really enforce the midfield, but with his bags of energy he's back defending then at the other end scoring vital goals, Barcelona, Liverpool, need I say more? So all In all I think its time for Essien to get off, I'm sure he could make one last pay day with PSG, in China, America, or even with Real Madrid, but I'm pretty sure that interest has waned with recent performances. Thats my opinion anyways!

This is ridiculous, I saw the story myself APPARENTLY we enquired about his availability, hopefully it was just for a laugh, he's terribad. That being said we do need to find a new RB quite desperately, its the one position that's been quite a weakness for us, but Branna has really made that spot his own recently, but he's going to need some backup unless someone wants to take a gamble on Sam Hutchinson, which, given our history, isn't going to happen. Whatever happens keep this afro wearing midget as far away from the club as possible!

Anyone else read that apparently our illustrious chairman Ron Gourlay wants to sign Florent on a long term deal? http://www.dailymail...a-contract.html "Chief executive Ron Gourlay wants Lampard, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda signed on long-term deals by mid-September." I really hope someone has just gotten this wrong, with Marin coming in, Mata, and prospectively Hazard and/or Lucas what are we going to be doing with a has been 30something winger, I think the kindest thing to do would be put him out to pasture let him sit on the bench at PSG or something, he was world class in our double winning season don't get me wrong, but since then he's made a steady decline and I just don't think he's needed any more, at all.

Just to clarify we're talking about Pedro buddy, but I see where your coming from.

Judging by recent performances we're not far off! I wouldn't judge a player on what club he plays for, I'm not a fan of Barcelona especially their referee harassing and Olympic grade diving but they play fantastic football when their mouths are closed and I wouldn't refuse a good player from a crap club. Just saying bro

thats my point hes gone from a starter in the champions league final to a bench warmer, cant imagine hes too happy with that

This is more something I'd like to see than something that has been touted by the media, although with their "sources" its a bit hard to tell whats just speculation anyway... so allow me to speculate. Pedro Rodríguez Ledesma 24 years of age, left or right sided winger who cuts in onto his right, speedy, tricky and very clinical, a Barcelona product and former first teamer, having been pushed aside by David Villa and Alexis Sanchez. If we were to switch to a 4-2-3-1 and start playing to our strengths we could have him out wide left, Mata in the middle and Sturridge on the right, so not only do we get a new goal threat from a new position we also get Mata into his favored CAM role with Danny cutting in from the right and pedro cutting in from the left defenders will be all over the place allowing Mata to slide balls into our striker, who the way our are going right now, remains to be seen. Hes apparently disillusioned with being a bench player with Barca and with him being 24 hes got his best years ahead of him, im not saying he'd come cheap, not by any means, but I think it would be a good buy, I'd like to see an attacking trident of Torres, Mata and Pedro. Once more this is all just speculation but I'd be interested to hear other peoples thoughts? Quick vid so you know what im on about http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpZoXxM0mm0

Noted

So no opinions?

its a forum for transfer discussions, hence...

Has anyone given any thought to the Joe Cole factor? He's playing and training with Eden every day and I'm confident Joe is going to talk us up, over Liverpool at least, I know he didn't exactly leave on the best of terms but I'd definitely expect him to put in a good word. I agree with people saying this Is a Neymar typed situation, but I'm actually REALLY confident this could go through, bearing in mind we've also got the Belgian factor, everything is pretty much set for him to arrive, so lets wait and see I'd take him over Willian any and every day of the week too

Lets hope not!

In my opinion sell Kalouda come the end of the season and bump De Bruyne up to the first team squad, hes won the Belgian League and played In the Champions League so its not like he needs to start in the reserves, maybe see how he fares in pre season first but I really don't think we can afford to send him out again after this season

I think this is a really good idea, it'd take alot of team work and collaboration between the fine folks on TalkChelsea but I don't see why It can't happen and anything I can do to help just let me know! Edit: The missus in my display pic says she'll do what she can to help, although I'm not really sure what she has in mind

Well thats another one down Philipp Prosenik just signed with AC Milan and as far as I can tell its a permanent deal, not our most promising player I must admit but none the less

Merely asking for an opinion, more so of who's going to actually be GIVEN a chance in the first team than who actually DESERVES a chance in the first team

After seeing Gokhan Tore, Slobodan Rajkovic, Jacopo Sala and Kaby leave so far along with a decent number of youth and reserve team players I've forgot to mention, like the chubby looking ginger lad, who do you realistically think is going to make it through our reserve and youth system there's loads of promising talents but I can't see anyone breaking into the team anytime soon. Proud of Sturridge making it into the first team but realistically after we signed him from Man City he was already going to end up In the team sooner or later, Josh isn't getting alot of chances at all and I can't remember the last debut we handed a player, probably Bertrand last season? Bruma's basically gone and hes really in no rush to come back, understandably, capped by a world cup finalist national team but can't get a full game in our back four (which again is understandable) and I'm surprised Kakuta's stuck around this long festering In the reserves. So basically long story short, in the next couple of years who do you see getting into the first team, not just for a five minute run about with two touches of the ball but a real chance to stake a claim to the first team?