robsblubot

it depends on the player really. Some folks only care about money, like Hulk or Neymar for example, others want money AND play at the highest level, like Oscar. They are still professionals though, so we are not going to get anyone by offering less, but we are a competitive club with a competitive squad that can beat anyone anywhere, well except City... BTW, reckon Luiz would sell for 30M easy, one of the few defenders who would. The fact he can cover as a DM increases his value as well.

Sure, just thought that needed emphasizing... like a hell lot more emphasizing... Not much different if Aguero had punched Luiz in the face tbh.

Agreed. Just a minor correction: the ball was not in play at the time of the two-footed lunge; the whistle had already gone. someone should've been banned: either Aguero or Foy, or better yet, both of them.

He is developing well and just needs more games. He's got amazing pace, so he could become an attacking force if and once he learns how to use it.

just to say I disagree with most here and thought Oscar had a good game. I certainly do not expect him to beat defenders on 1x1 as well as i don't expect him to be the one stopping Yaya's runs (that should've been Mickel). He should be our man linking up play from deep while at the same time helping defense which he did very well in the second half once Mickel was gone. Far superior to Mata and Hazard. It was prob the worse I've seen Mata for Chelsea.

How did the linesman miss aguero challenge? Can't understand that. Oscar is a cm and cam at most, but never winger. He just doesn't have the acceleration to beat defender regularly. Giving up on Mickel though. No aggression to match Yaya. Biggest problem for me were the fullbacks spec azpi who did not play well. Ba is a great finisher, but Chelsea need someone who can also play. Like aguero for ex

completely agree... yes Yaya is bossing the midfield, so where has Mickel been?!? Ba is a good sub, but I reckon we have a problem when he starts a game like this for us. We just need better, like City have on the bench! Disagree with most here, Oscar has been the better attacking player, the only one keeping possession.

He needs to improve physically. He can and does try to avoid contact, with quick 1-2s as stated above, but that's not always possible. Players can get away with that in brazil because the refs will stop the game on every bump, but not in the PL. He needs to bulk up a bit and is young enough to work on that.

Fernando from Gremio would be a very good option for the CM/DM position; he's very strong and has excellent technique. He has started for Brazil in the last two matches and is expected to be in the brazil squad for the WC. Napoli are reportedly interested and the price tag would be in the 12m Euros, which makes it a very good deal in my book. BTW, I support Gremio in Brazil and been following this kid for a while, he's only 21.

I honestly think it'd be a mistake to sign Falcao at this point for the reasons you've stated. For the same reason, I'd go for Lewa, because he is already used to playing in a possession side. Cavani seems to be more reliant on pace and spaces, than Lewa.The arguments some make that Falcao will score more goals in a bigger club make no sense to me, as evidence shows otherwise. It is typically more difficult to play for bigger clubs (expectations, opponent's more defensive posture, less counter-attacking).

fair enough, though I tend to think mental traits are exaggerated instead. Especially concerning confidence, it is more of a consequence than a cause. Not long ago, Torres would go down on minimal contact, but recently he has been making runs with pace and power. His confidence will go up as he successfully makes these runs and is able to beat opponents regularly. I do agree, however, that a player who is mentally stronger would be able to cope with these a dip in form far more gracefully than Torres did. Though I still remember what Liverpool (and Benitez) did to him: overplaying him and making him play through a number of injuries.

He does look sharp and it is clear to me that he's regained some of his lost pace... very interesting and surprising. Cautiously optimistic.

Isn't this guy's problem just consistency? 3 games in a row he's been very good! He has had great games, even against strong opposition, so it is something he can do.

OK, so you are all saying he is ready right now?! And that rotating at WBA means he can rotate for Chelsea... wow! BTW, I've watched countless players come and go... you do need to watch them a lot to assess their development, but NOT current ability! I guess we will see next season. CFC_LUCAS: I did no such thing. Just not agreeing with the idea he can have an immediate impact next season for Chelsea.

fantastic give yourself a medal for that. I'll watch him when he is good enough to play with the big boys, not before. ALL I fucking wrote in the original post was that he wasn't ready... being youngster and all. And now you've come full cycle stating what I wrote in the first place. You know he is rotation for WBA! Sitting on the bench for Shane Long. Long who would never make the bench for us. forums... BTW, if you need that much watching to assess ***the current ability of a player*** I'm sorry for you ... for example much can be told by just how a player runs.

I've watched him a few times and just don't see this world beater ppl make him out to be here. I'm obviously wrong though... next season when Lukaku scores 20+ goals for us, then I will come back here and say I was wrong... He won't though.

Good game against Arsenal, though his finishing is nowhere near good enough for Chelsea. Typical of a youngster though as he still has to develop.

Many here are missing a very important point: unless Torres improves drastically, he is unsellable! Unless you consider receiving no money and having to pay over 50% of his ridiculous wages a "sale."

seriously, in all fairness he was absolutely class today. Not talking about those bit of class here and there that he does show, again here and there, without any consistency; today he was class, a threat, interested, active, from start to finish. Like I said before, I'd like to have all the answers like some here pretend to. Is his loss of form permanent? Can he recover some of the lost pace, and athleticism? Lpool rode him hard, but our fitness coaches might know something we don't... or they may know they can get him to some sort of form, just enough so he can be sold. I just don't have that information. So, cautiously optimistic, not necessarily about Torres, but rather that someone at Chelsea know what the fuck they are doing.

no mention to that fantastic assist to torres for the first goal?! That's called class. You know, the game was scoreless by then, so technically, we don't know what'd have happened had he not had that wonderful bit of class... In football all players are involved in the play at all times; so, when we have a defender as skillful as Luiz, that can really become an asset, especially when all other things are equal.

I watched only a few minutes of the match and to be fair, Torres was already playing very well then; he was linking up play superbly and his work rate far above the usual. If he could only regain some of his lost pace...

you clearly rate Falcao very highly (being a fan and all), but Falcao would be too much of a bet for that kind of money. I'd certainly be upset at signing Falcao for that amount of money because we need someone better than him. Because our rivals already DO have better strikers at their disposal: RVP and Aguero (Dzeko would go into personal preferences and characteristics).

Honestly he's not receiving as much criticism as he deserves. Tostao still calls him "supercraque." It's a matter of expectations: is he a good player or a Messi? The media says he's a Messi, and we watch him play, especially against tougher opposition, and he's just a good player. Personally, I think he is more than just a good player; he's got the potential anyway. His dribbling, ball control, all during a full sprint isn't something very common. However, he looks VERY comfortable atm... He's getting the money he'd get in Europe without the effort he'd have to put in were he in Europe. Hopefully the investors behind him will begin to freak out since his contract will run out only in 2 years and his development is pretty much stagnant.

Siem de Jong Looked more like the final product to me, but only watched him a couple of times.

Great post, but it'd still be an expensive gamble. It's 25M minus Torres; I mean, because from a Chelsea's standpoint it would be not having to pay % of Torres wages. Realistically, Chelsea will be paying part of his wages until his contract runs out. Torres was never a very aggressive player, but he had a lot of pace before. Just think 25-30M is just way too much money for only a good player. Perhaps it's time to bet on younger/cheaper players? For ex, with that amount of money you could get 2 22-23 yo highly-rated players. If we are going to go for a 30M player, that's Cavani, not Falcao.