OneMoSalah

Josh McEachran is nothing like Frank Lampard btw BlueLyon.... Anyway there is no doubt the standard of players would be better if football was concentrated on more than winning, look at what it has done for Spain. They found that if they can develop players who are more than comfortable with the ball they can beat anyone no matter if their squad is full of natural winners or not. Their playing style is very simple but very unique, they keep the ball rather than just go direct forcing a chance, to try and create much more clear cut chances and tire the opposition by manipulating the ball, similar to what Villas-Boas tried to do earlier on in the season with our squad. Typical Spanish/Dutch/Portuguese/Brazilian/Argentinian players compared to typical British players are very different, the philosophy of football is very different, while they concentrate on manipulating the ball, in Britain we were used to seeing very direct, route one football. Hence why Villas-Boas' tactics failed at Chelsea because the team is full of older players, who have played a very different game of football to the one he wanted to create. Yes maybe players ego's got in his way as well but still it is very hard for a team who has been used to playing defensively over the years to change their approach to a more free flowing and expansive type of game when they aren't exactly cut out for it in technical ability and perhaps fitness. British players, who are capable of this sort of football are coming through academies, just they aren't getting the chance either unlike in other European and South American countries, where they are giving youth a chance.

Why waste Kakuta by using him as a squad player when he could be on loan developing and starting or being first 11 for us anyway? Plus imo, a squad player is probably better being slightly experienced and slightly older. Kalou for example 26 or 27, got a bit of experience, average player, capable of putting a good shift in when called upon... maybe Lampard could become a squad player next year, if we get a creative midfielder. The same with Sergio Canales, he is young, talented and technically gifted so why waste him when he could contribute straight away? He can't be too bad by the time Real Madrid signed him. He is still showing a lot of promise at Valencia so its not like hes a wasted talent and he is bound to become a international player for Spain in the next few years.

We don't need quick players as much, we need midfield players who can read the game more than anything ie. Mikel, Essien, Meireles and Lampard. Plus Mata is more an attacking midfielder so playing him in the midfield 3 is a risk as its not what hes used to, he will have to be more disciplined in terms of going forwards even though the whole team is going to have to be. Look at what AC Milan did in their home leg, they didn't play a team full of fast players, they went for experience and players who are excellent at reading the game(Seedorf, Antonini, Nocerino, Nesta, Mexes) and if Van Bommel wasn't suspended he would of played for sure. Even though they pressed Barca, they did it together as a unit, that is how it is much more effective. If we can press them as a unit rather than as individuals it will be much more successful. Off topic yes, sorry

Why would we sell him when hes an excellent squad player? Plus on his day he can preform very well. Also people talk about squad depth when teams are trying to win championships and other competitions so it is vital we keep Raul imo. Its not like we have any better midfield options for a squad player anyway... Josh clearly isn't ready by the time hes not getting games at Swansea and Romeu is being overlooked. Pointless giving a promising young player a role as a squad player anyway just going to harm their development.

He suited AVB's ball manipulation philosophy more, personally I reckon thats why Mikel is starting more under RDM because we prefer to counter attack teams now rather than break them down passing the ball like we did under AVB. Anyway I hope Andre doesn't get appointed at a club and try steal him from us

Negredo is a good striker, if this is true I will be quite happy. Great scoring record for Sevilla and Spain so far so not bad business by ourselves if we get him!

If we are wanting a English right back, then its got to be Micah Richards, best English right back these days but hes at City so I doubt he'd move or we could go for young Nathaniel Clyne at Crystal Palace, looks a good up and coming player.

Barca were interested in Cahill?WTFFFFFFFFF

We could land him if we blow Barca out of the water with a bid and wages,Valencia have always sold to the highest bidder, hence why we got Mata and not Arsenal.

Cech Ivanovic Cahill Luiz Bertrand Romeu(if fit, anyone know?)/ Essien Lampard Sturridge Meireles Kalou Torres 4-2-3-1 !

Hes ok, vastly overrated in my opinion, put a few dangerous crosses in against us but he wasn't exactly as good as people made out he is, rather take Hulk/Hazard/Jovetic/Di Maria over this guy any day.

Thats why if we buy Hulk, Iturbe gets games and yous get 30-40 million euros.. and we get Hulk! Everyone wins Anyway the Portuguese Liga doesn't seem too bad, better than the SPL at least! Plus Portuguese teams are actually able to bring through multiple talented youngsters and give them playing time unlike most teams in the PL who buy a lot of youngsters from foreign countries.

Yous dont need Mata in return yous have got Iturbe who is destined to be amazing! Plus Atsu the Ghanaian!

Probably not, that's why I think its unreliable.

The Napoli fans took the 4-1 defeat well, most of the Benfica ones have taken the defeat well except a few of them. Some are still complaining about that penalty tbh it clearly was a penalty so why are they making remarks about UEFA and Platini when it clearly was a legitimate foul...

Just going to be class just to hear "Messi.... pursued by Raul Meireles". Loool

Apparently Roman's representatives met him offering 110k per week on a 5 year deal... don't know how reliable it is but it was on twitter so probably not very reliable.

true, like how we played against QPR with 9 men!

. Do you really think Terry could of got his arms out of the way of that? He was like 2 yards away and the ball traveled at some speed, it wasn't like Essien vs Man City when he put his hands above his head...

We have them were we want them. Hope Kalou and Torres get a goal each in the second half

Should Drogba not extend his contract(likely) and Kalou possibly not either(sadly) then he should stay, maybe not start unless he scores in most of the remaining games this year. Anyway class is permanent, form is temporary... but if he doesn't get sold or score buckets of goals then maybe we should get a top quality striker in! Maybe even give Romelu a chance to rival him for the starting spot.

I actually believe RDM has to be the major contender for it... he has turned it around for us. We were apparently in free fall when AVB was in charge now look at the change.

Two Ramires in the same team is the way forward!!

We should get him back at Chelsea and give Romeu and Mikel tips on how to be as good as him!

wow just discovered theres two topics the same does a mod or admin want to delete one for me loool