CHOULO19

I haven't even expressed an opinion about squad depth in this thread other than that I think it's importance is very subjective and I certainly haven't said anything yet about our current squad, so if you are including me in the bold part I have no idea how you have come to that conclusion. My opinion is that having squad depth is crucial to any team competing for several trophies, but there has to be some balance. There are countless factors that affect any teams search for silverware. Having depth and options to rest players and replace injured ones with little change in quality helps you a lot, but having unhappy players which inevitably affects the mood in the dressing rooms hinders you. So it's all about balance for me.

I really wasn't trying to debate with you the importance of squad depth because it's something that can't be quantized and measured and thus the gravity of its importance will always be a matter of opinion. You can't compare two teams and say this one lost the tittle solely because they had less depth than the other. It certainly can play a factor, but there are so many more variables involved between two teams or even between the same team from one season to another. All I was trying to do was answer a couple of specific points in your post. It started with Toronto saying that having this much players as we currently have means that some will inevitably be unhappily rotting on the bench. You tried to disprove that by giving an example about Bayern's squad and I didn't think that it was very logical since Bayern did indeed have players last season unhappily rotting on the bench. Then you pointed to Barcelona and I replied that they didn't have a big squad but on the contrary their squad was too small. So, again, I'm not trying to change your mind about the importance of squad depth; I'm just saying that you can't logically draw that conclusion from the examples you've given above.

Those players were left out of the Barcelona team because their performances were not good enough for the manager. Barca's squad was not a big one, in fact it was one of the smallest in La Liga. They often had to play players out of position because of the lack of cover they had. Does that mean, in order to be a top team like Barcelona you need a thin squad with no back up for players? Of course not. But similarly, just because Bayern had a squad bigger than they needed last season it does not imply that in order to win the treble like them your squad needs to be too big. Squad depth certainly helps you get results over the season; we learned that the tough way last season. But that does not mean that having unhappy players rotting on the bench is synonymous with being a top team. Balance is everything in football.

Let's be fair, at 15, Kakuta was a pretty special talent.

Luckily not against us, though.

Not an expert about this at all, but those links were posted in the thread I told you about: http://beemp3s.org http://mp3skull.com http://www.mp3ye.eu

Coyle's Bolton played some very good football in his first season, that's undeniable. Add to that the fact that Sturridge and Wilshere did extremely well under him and their loans to Bolton were vital to them becoming regulars at better teams.

I think you actually just proved his point because, last season, some of those players barely got a few minutes for Bayern all season.

He certainly can't be the star of our team nor score 30+ goals. But he can, and imo will, play a very important role for the team this season and probably a couple of seasons to come as well.

Coyle's the manager there now, right? His Bolton played some excellent football at times and were incredibly unlucky to go down. If he keeps Wigan playing in a similar manner that Martinez had them playing, I'd love to see Nate go there; he would learn so much there. I worship Zola, but let's be honest, he's no tactical genius.

Alright, I'll give Jose a call and ask him

Tbh, last week's game against Bayern was up there among his best performances for us. His best, for me, is probably last season's 4-2 win at White Heart Lane. Yes, Tottenham's defensing was hilarious, but his movement and link-up that match with Juan and Eden was incredible. All the front four were out of this world in attack that game.

Blues Chick and stop making me do extra work!

That's because YouTube URLs don't work. Check this thread: http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/13209-profile-music/

You could make that exact same post about us and Willian!

Same here. Even if he's going to a rival, I'm delighted to have a player like him in the EPL. Plus he's exactly what united need (besides a good CM) so I'm very glad he chose Arsenal over them

I bet we've secretly renewed Paulo's contract as well

Over some players with quite a lot PL experience? That would be some statement by Southgate.

Yeah and missing half a dozen sitters in your first few weeks with a club doesn't really help your cause. But i really like Giroud. His movement and link-up play is excellent. When on form (in terms of finishing) he's a top striker.

Most keepers with good reflections get over-hyped when, for me, positioning and decision making are far more important. I think that's why Butland is so overrated; he made some excellent-reflex saves in the Olympics and got over-hyped by all of Britain. On topic, I think it's fair to say that Thibaut easily eclipses both.

LOL. Someone's been promised a starting spot

Boro's Steele is ten times the keeper that Butland is. Criminally underrated player.

That makes sense since he takes up an international spot and Blackman doesn't. What still doesn't make sense for me is the decision to renew his contract, though..

I don't agree with the criticism for Jose, being regarding Lukaku or regarding our playing style against united and Bayern, but people should be able to express their opinions freely and be able to criticize even Jose without being called fickle. "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire.

You'll understand when you become older