ja1

But another problem is that players will ask for high wages as we have built a reputation as a club that gives high wages out. Now we are trying to lower it while still getting players who will be some of the best in the squad (not Cahill but we will attempt to sign players that fit that description soon) and therefore ask for big wages

Sturridge is on 65k a week and how do you know he wants 80-100k? Welbeck wants the same as Sturridge is on. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill if Sturridge gets higher wages he is on. It would not be on the level Terry or Lampard are on and more likely where Cahill is, and he is more entitled to that than Cahill We have done well in lowering the wage bill in some places. Our best players are all on lower wages than usual. Romeu is on 20k, Ramires, Ivanovic and Luiz all on 40-60k, Sturridge and Mata on 65k. What we've done wrong is giving long term high pay contracts to 31 and 32 year old Drogbas and Lampards and just one word - Torres.

I personally think Coyle and Bolton are overrated in their handling of youngsters. Sturridge and Wilshere, fair enough they did well but they are two very good players and would have done well wherever they went. Kakuta and Weiss, two players who have talent but need more work came back from Bolton having essentially wasted 6 months of progression.

Welbeck wants to be on the same wages as Sturridge

And the recent signing of Omerou :-)

So I have to let what AVB does dictate my opinion? AVB also plays Bosingwa, does that mean he is not having a poor season, has not made mistakes and needs to have competition? Although he has that with Ivanovic. And are you saying it is better for players not playing well at the age of 31 to have NO rests and NO competition. I do not mind no rests if the player is young and a good athlete. I do nod mind no competition if the player is in great form. Cole has neither at the moment. Well he is a good athlete but this heavily ties in with his age

Coke has been average for around 18 months now. Was poor attacking last season but at least he could still defend. Now apparently he's not so good at either. When I say dropped I do not mean he should have been dropped for two months, I mean he should have been dropped for a match. Espiecally after Bertrand impressed Carling Cup. Surely it would be better for Cole, Bertrand and the team short and long term if we rotated them and gave them some competition. I just hate how Cole is seen as an untouchable on the pitch and is therefore seen as an untouchable by fans. He has been poor this season.

And I know which forum OP got this from

Bruma is developing into a monster of a defender. You should watch some Hamburg games before making stupid comments like that. I’ve watched him alot this season and he has been amazing. He is extremely composed, very quick, strong and has so much technical ability for a defender. He loves to join in the attack, a bit like Luiz but he chooses his runs much more wisely. All the Hamburg fans I’ve been talking to say the same, that he is one of the most technical defenders they have had at the club and one of the most talented youngsters playing there at the moment. If you can read German you should head to the Hamburg SV forums to read what the fans say about him. They are all amazed by Bruma’s ability and are constantly talking about if it’s possible that they could buy him from us. A reply from we ain't go no history from yet another person who commented 'Bruma Sucks at Hamburg' probably basing it all on the Villa game last season (where he wasn't that bad). I rate him but unfortunately he will probably leave. However we have plenty of good young CB's at the club so it does not matter TO much

They have also done a Courtois one and hopefully aBruma one is coming next

And Luiz is better than Cahill..

Cole is the most overrated and should have been dropped months ago. Can't believe you don't mention Terry as a good, consistent defender unde the Roman era

Agreed about Everton. Would be good. Not Stoke please, we already know he is strong and tall and that's all Stoke would use. And on his pace Lukaku is not very fast over 5 yards but has a high top speed. Adebayor and Welbeck are the same

Calm down boys

Agreed Slam Dunk. Just let Piazon keep developing and adapting in the reserves. There is no need to rush him into first team action espiecally when he's not even impressing that much (IMO) and he's clearly still adjusting as well. Chalobah on the other hand looks alot closer to the first team and will probably finally make his debut this year..I hope

Agreed, Cahill or no Cahill our best back line is: Ivan Luiz Terry Cole/Bertrand

And Torres was never a dribbler and was only the beat finisher between 07 and 09. From the Chelsea squad alone Drogba and Malouda were better dribblers than him then

And we get 50% of whatever he gets sold for, no buy back clause. That is Rajkovic but Bruma is better than him. Zolayes so you would prefer no academy and no reserve team altogether because you're crying about what has largely been players who have later gone on to be football league players not making it at a title challenging club? What I said earlier about the players who went through the academy before we became a club with real title aspirations, it's clear. Only Bertrand has made it through that, and that's as he's been on loan so many times getting experience. The ones turning 20-21 who look like pushing for a squad place are all foreign talents who came into the academy late. (PVA, Kakuta, Bruma etc.) and only now we see players like McEachran and Chalobah who generally look like making it. Stop looking back and sobbing about it and being so negative and melodramatic. Look forward. The future is bright

Lalkovic is better than Tore.

Drogba and Essien at their best were both very good at dribbling because not only were they fast, had quick feet and excellent balance but they were just so strong and powerful it was hard to knock them off the ball.

McEachran is a good, natural dribbler. Just needs to do a feint or a deep of the shoulder and can glide past the player. I now it is a cliche but it can't be taught. Sturridge does not have this although he is still a good dribbler

Yes I see what you mean. So would I. Ideally Hutch will replace Ferriera in summer. But I don't think this should mean every youngster who comes back to the squad should be a squad player. I don't think the club have made any catastrophically wrong decisions in the selling of youth/loan players recently, that you sometimes see with over clubs. Stoch probably should have stayed and maybe Borini, but I would like to focus that that was the PLAYER leaving the club, not the over way round and TBH I would prefer a player of a mentality to Bertrand. He could have rejected that 4 year contract in summer and gone to be starting week in week out at any team upto Newcastle in quality IMO. But he was willing to stay and fight for a future team place. Stoch was offered a new contract and Borini probably was but Stoch espiecally took the easy way out. Could have stayed and fought for his place at the club but went to an average club where he'd be a starting week in week out. Anyway that doesn't really matter. I would prefer more academy players to be squad players but we just have to choose carefully. However this season and last the club are royally screwing up the treatment of Josh, Bertrand and Sturridge (last season). I hope the former two are all patient till the club/manager see sense as they both should have started alot kore games than they have. So yes the club really has not been best in giving players a chance but I don't think that is all the clubs fault when you look at the quality of some of the players coming out

Cole's pace is so overrated and he I don't think I have ever seen him take on a player in the last 18 months.

Malouda was good at dribbling. Now his pace, acceleration and change of direction is all rubbish so he has to heavily simplify his game to be anywhere close to effective.

And another strange suggestion pops up