BlueLyon

Cavani as expensive option or Remy as cheap option.

He had big support in Hamšik and Lavezzi. The point is how will he do it now, with Lavezzi gone. I still think Falcao is even better, EL final speaks for itself. But sure Levezzi is another great striker that plays in similar system, we are having now, with 3 players behind, no wingers. Hamšik and Lavezzi are similar to possible Hazard and Hulk. But then again, Cavani and Hulk would never join us in this 8 days.

I watched yesterday game and figured this out; If we want to have realy title strong team, four players are must. 1. Reserve RB to rotate with Iva, who could get injured, banned, rested or just playing in CB in case two of our regular CBs get injured. Perfect player would be Azpi for around 10mio. 2. Powerful CM, who will fight for every ball in midfield, similar to Maka, Essien or Toure nowdays. As much I like Mikel and he has improved, he still can, his stamina and speed will never match the ones of Yaya Toure or Essien in past. That means we would require someone strong in MF. I have no idea who could this be. Probably best option is Witsel, but he is quite expensive and lacks of defensive work too much. Tiote maybe. Or we just stick with Mikel and Lamps/Oscar with Essien and Romeu on bench. Lamps meanwhile, has replacement in either Oscar or De Bruyne. NO need for Modric type of player then. What will be improved: well midfield lacks of energy, Mikel cant defend back four enough, because his stamina and speed are too low. With someone capable doing that, we would recived less goals and other pivot (Lamps or whoever, who is more offensivly oriented) would have more time concentratin on attack, because now with Mikel and Lamps, no one is fast enough to run down the midfield, which causes defence lot of problems when opposition attacks. 3. RW, because Rambo is clearly not good there, Danny wont play there and Oscar is not explosive enough to rush down the flank. Hulk is probably too expensive, also big risk. Moses or Ayew for about 10 mio, maybe someone else. What will be improved: clearly we have not single natural winger or at least someone who can play there whole season and gives us some additional options. Hulk is good player, but Im not sure if he would fit well to this passing style we play now. Under Ancelotti, he would fit well, but now not so much. Moses is cheaper and probably similar player, but he is inconsistent and very unexperienced to play him as our main winger. Unfortunely, there are not many other choices left, but Andre Ayew could turn to be great player, his speed, stamina and ball control at same time are missing massively in our current team. 4. Striker. Or we keep playing Torres all season and hope he will explode, or we buy someone like Cavani or Remy. Cavani would probably end problems in attack, but then problem comes; what to do with Torres. Right now, I have feeling team is very happy when Nando scores, specialy Mata would be much dissapointed if Torres leaves or ends up on bench again after all his trying. But he is in this situation for too long and no team will ever be successful if their main striker cant produce goals (except Spain). Torres needs to create goals on his own, not just putting tap-ins and always expect crosses. Huge dillema here. --- Well, RB and some sort of RW will come realisticaly looking for about 20-50mio both. Hulk or Moses + Azpi. Striker would cost another 30mio (Cavani) and since board said they are counting on Torres, this is likely wont happen this summer. CM is either not going to happen, we havent been linked with no one seriously, also Meireles would first have to leave. Also what we realy are missing (Yaya Toure type of player) doesnt ''exist'' right now. Yaya wont join us, Witsel lacks of defensive roles, Tiote is not fast enough, Cabaye or Modric are completely different players and then no one left realy. Or we make 35mio offer for De Rossi, another un-realistic option unfortunely. Looking that our midfield will not be reinforced, we will lack energy in midfield for at least half season, striker probably not comming, we will have to depend on Torres and Danny alone for at least half season. If one of these two gets some super boost up, we will rock, other way there will be seriuos striker problems quite long time for us. And with lack of good striker, there is lack of goals (Mata, Iva, Lamps, Hazard cant just replace striker, even they score couple times), and with lack of goals, we lack of wins. Sure someone like Moses or Hulk could bring difference to Torres, but thats what we hoped before Mata came, then Hazard and Oscar and Torres still cant fullfill all the support he has. Yes, maybe Hulk might bring crosses to Torres who would score then, but that is a big IF. With Azpi and RW hopefuly comming in next 8 days, we will be quite good, but probably not title contenders in the end because of striker and midfield problems. Unless as I said Torres gets beast again, then we will be much better. But that is about 10% to actualy happen.

Torres forgot his luck somewhere on the road between Lpool and London, realy...

With few months of playing, our team will be even more balanced, now they have good ideas, but the positioning is bit uncorrect and ecerything is done in rush, maybe bit more calm down and plan attacks slowely, but good play so far. ...oh we just got goal...too easy, too easy...

Cech was considered as one of best gk around, Ballack was fantastic too, so was Deco and ferreira and...in 2009/10, our squad and style was world class, personaly I wouldnt trade that season and players with either RM, Barca or anyone else. We won against others in big four, making wins 6:0 with ease and had attractive style.

Other clubs make public interest, send offer week later and in next few days player is announced officialy. At chelsea, we are linked with Hulk, Modric, Moses, Cavani, Azpi, Witsel,...whole summer and still no one came in. Always it will happen SOON and then nothing for three weeks, then story repeats. Well...

Turn off comps, wait until 31 aug and then check who joined us. Simple. No more mind fuck just for something you cant control.

Roma rejected 31mio pound bid for De Rossi offered by ManCity. Im sure that Rossi is great player, but already 29 and Plays on CM where players dont cost that much unlike strikers or wingers and 31mio is lot for him. While Martinez is 40...where is the world going.

Yeah, how are we going to get Modric, Hulk and Cavani? I would be happy with one of them, but Azpi, Moses and Witsel looks just fine to me.

Tell me someone why Montoya got starting spot ahead of Azpi in olympic games?

Agree, but take to note that our players need more time to gel and then our play will be more fluid. When you are rebuilding team, they wont play like they are together for 10 years. Maybe Mata and Hazard didnt made many chances, but they sure can. It will take to october, when we will see how good (or bad) our team is. Not just first games.

Luka Modric thread this is, not pub talk.

Problem of creating chances? And Mata, Hazard are on the pitch only for decoration or what? If our striker cant get enough support with players we have behind him, no one can. We have plenty chance creators, only Mata and Hazard made more than 40 assists last season combined. And when speaking of creating chances, one thing is goals and assists, and one chance making pass that isnt assist, but creates open space for our attackers. Here, Moses is very good; he dribbles, pulls defenders on himself and passes to open space.

Sahin hasnt played for a year now while Mvila is probably good, but not THAT good. City has Barry who is nothing special and great Toure. We have Mikel who is good, but too old Lampard. United has crap Carrick and old Giggs. No team in PL has top central midfield realy. Interesting...

I bet Arsenal fans are pissing now on Barca for stealing them Song for low money. I'm pretty sure what you said is known for every club. If you pay huge, you overpay player and everyone thinks your club is ''fake'' for having so much money, while if you buy someone below his actualy price and make things worse for previous club (like Song case), people will blame you for being dirty, low,...Football is becoming different every year, probably on worse. In next five years, prices will go up for another 10 mio.

If both teams would go for real, I think we would loose, but not by big difference.

Didnt Fergie said that they might buy another one only if that paricular player will be available? Baines was always open if Utd would pay enough, while I see Modric in this more and more. Only he is 'wanted' by ManU, but was not available for them, because of move to Real. Now Real stopped talks and Fergie says there might be another one comming. Also Evra was fantastic LB for ages, while their midfield (Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Cleverly) is not realy class anymore. Modric type player sounds much more reasonable, since they were very interested for deep-lying playmaker, but bought none. Kagawa is not such player.

We need a winger that will regulary start games. From the bench, either Oscar, Ramires, Danny, Marin,...can come. If we buy Moses, he will be starter here. Maybe bit risky from beggining, but he will handle it in two months. In our team, there is a strong, explosive player missing, regular starter who will co-work with Hazard and Mata. Moses could be that player. If we buy him only for rotation, who will then regulary play right winger? We have Marin type in Mata and Hazard. Rambo is not good enough to play on wing all season, Oscar is not that fast to rush from the flank. Sure all can play there from time to time, but no one is perfectly suited to play there 40 games or so. Moses would be that guy. Today, he showed great character and profesionalisem by sticking and giving all to Wigan, against opponent that he might join in next few days. He might lack final product (that is the reason for small amount of assists and goals), but he is young and offers different advantages like direct, strong play and good dribbling. I'm sure he will evolve here, BUT only if he plays ENOUGH. In case he will be only a sub, I dont want him here, because his progress will stall, he is expensive for sub and we would still need another RW starter. I hope he join us and then we will see this; Cech Iva/Azpi-Terry/Cahill-Luiz-Cole/Bertrand Mikel/Essien/Romeu-Lamps/Witsel/Oscar Moses/Rambo/Marin-Mata-Hazard Torres/Danny/Remy Great team this would be.

Their game style and club is definately more attractive than ours currently, but if we match numbers (salary,...) with Real and improve them, guaranty him starting spot (something Real definately cant and wont), he would join us I think. Same was with Hazard. BUT the biggest problem is Levy. And there everything stucks. He would be our player last summer already, but Levy stopped it and I'm sure he will do the same this year if we dont offer at least 40mio. That is quite a lot money.

This.

We can offer Meireles and Malouda, but I would keep Danny. Sure it would be nice to see Modric here, but paying 30mio + Danny and Meireles and then we still need winger, Rb AND another striker, I'm not for it. 35mio alone or nothing.

If the board is willing to spend for Hulk or Modric over 40mio, we should easy put those 12mio for Azpi. And Moses. Keep putting those ridiculous fees and Marseile and Wigan will fuck us off, other clubs will pay for them and we will end with Van der Wiel for 15mio...

I dont want Sahin, he is fantastic, but in the end of the year, he would return to real. And I realy hope Nufc keep their squad and finish above Spurs

Along Mikel we need someone technicaly gifted and good passer, but with very good defensive and marking skills aswell. Should be pacey and energrtic aswell. Lamps is too old for that and Rambo doesnt suit there either, he lacks passing and is not that good in defending. Also he goes forward too often. Just get Witsel, Moses and Azpi. Maybe Remy for backup striker and we do it for combined price of 55mio. Much better than getting Hulk or Modric alone for 40+ mio. Time to start looking after alternatives. The only reason Hulk or Modric would fit well is because they are experienced and we have plenty of talent already.