Thomas Williams

What excites me most about him is that his technique on the ball and passing seems to get better with every passing game. Such improvement is incredible, he is one of those players that REALLY needs game minutes as they help him so much. That's a main reason as to why I almost don't want him to come if we sign a big name striker this summer, because even if we could give him a good bit of minutes here or there, I feel like it couldn't compare to the improvement he'd get from being the the full time striker of a lower end of the table squad. If chelsea do choose to not loan him out next year, I hope they make certain to play him a TON or they'll have to live with themselves knowing they stifled the growth of one of the potential world beater strikers. I believe in general we need to try to emulate United more and incorporate our younger players into the squad. I don't think Cleverly is any better than a bunch of the talent we have out on loan or playing in the U21s and yet United find plenty of minutes for him and they almost beat the points record this year. In general Ferguson isn't afraid to throw a young player to the wolves so to speak and see if he can perform at the top.

I could easily see him getting a decade's worth, he isn't even at his peak yet! It's great to talent, and I think Chelsea has some of the best in the world at the moment.

I think if David had been placed as a CDM from his early career he would be an absolute star at the position by now. I genuinely think that's his true position, and he would have among the best in world at that position. However, that wasn't the case, and instead he is a CB and he will make a very fine CB no doubt. I just feel it's a bit of a waste with his shooting, passing, and dribbling potential, but I don't think it would work for us to try to convert him now.

Well, at least we can't complain that our tail end of the season will be boring! Will anyone else actually be happy/content with our season if we finish 3rd, Lampard breaks the record, and we win Europa? Still an underachieving year, but a decent end considering all of our managerial troubles.

This is close to a perfect formation for me, I like having lampard as a CAM to help ensure he can fire away at their keeper. I have no problems subbing Hazard in at around the 60 something minute, he can handle a lot of playing time would make a big impact late in the game to help get us a goal. If we get down a goal, I would switch Oscar to the pivot for mikel, and put hazard in till we level, then maybe waste a sub on marin to take Hazard back out (as dumb as that sounds, lol).

The fact that he was so successful in the UCL makes me want him less tbh, he's now the epitome of the "flavor of the month" and will likely lose the cheapness that make him so desirable. If he would cost us close to Hazard price or more than I would rather do without him, even though I've always really admired him as a player.

Have you guys noticed when he snakes around or dribblings horizontally across the pitch he is almost impossible to tackle? I wish he would do it more often when is he far down the flanks, if he dribbles horizontally in the box it always seems like to A) set up a good pass, set up a good shot for him, or C) result in him gettting fouled in the box.

I kind of have a good feeling that Arsenal and Tottenham are going to choke here in the final few games, and Chelsea will take third easily. Let's hope I'm right (I definitely can't see Tottenham edging us out). On the other hand, they should better rested, as they don't have this Europa nonsense to worry about.

yes, but it was worth it to have THAT in our trophy cabinet

Do any of you guys want some more experienced players coming in? I love all the young talent, and we're going to have some super stars on our hands, but I wouldn't mind a late 20's finished/closed to finished product on the pitch sometime. I feel like we have no players in their prime besides maybe ramires and mikel (who are some of our most average players IMO)

One of the problems here is that the values on that site are from January (and even then not that accurate). The numbers will be a lot more realistic when they update this summer. Ok mine; In: Messi: 105m Ronaldo: 88m Out: Torres: 24m Hazard: 35m Mata: 37m ramires: 24m Cech: 22m And look 19m left over! Formation would look like this: ----------Turnbull------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------- --Messi-----Ronaldo--

You don't want Hazard in there?

They were mostly joking, and he had found some kind of form, even if only his lowly standards. And it was fun to cheer him on with the mask.

Yeah, I keep forgetting how young he was when they were first hyping him.

If Bale qualifies for "young" then Hazard has that award for sure when he gets to Bale's age

Definitely don't love this signing, but it could be worse. We needed some quality depth in the winger department (only hazard and moses play well there). I was really hoping to get de bruyne back this season, I had visions of a 4-3-3 with ramires-oscar-de bruyne and mata-lukaku-hazard. Like that would ever happen anyway... But even with our 4-2-3-1, I think the team would be a lot better with de bruyne to cover all the AM (he could play on the left, right, or centre with no trouble) and then use the 22 million to put towards a really quality pivot player, like vidal quality or something close, or a towards CB or striker. I'm sure everyone else has said the same thing pretty much or at least thought it.

Don't you have work/school? I hate mid week games because I usually have to miss them for my labs, although I follow the live updates on my phone.

With basic cable in the U.S., we get NO epl games except for the very rare Manchester United game. Even with upgraded cable options you're only going to see the big names (basically the top 5) unless you want to pay out the ass for it. I've found it's just a lot less painless to stream them online, even if the quality isn't all there. I'm living at my University anyway, so I have to accept the television they provide me... But that is ridiculous that you would be unable to watch a Chelsea game on the tele if you're living in london, I assumed EPL would dominate the networks!

I understand we need a CAM like we need a hole in our head, but I'd really like to see oscar move to pivot, and see de bruyne on the right or left along with mata and hazard. He'd also allow us to rest Hazmat (which they've needed all year) and provide something different to the attack. Also, he'll be one of the greatest players in the world in 5 or so years, and there aren't a whole lot of players you can say that about. If we MUST sell him to help our very very week pivot, then I'll oblige I suppose. But I truly think we'll regret it when he becomes a star.

I want to see him in the pivot against lesser opposition, if he puts on some weight with more experience I think he could be defensively sound enough. I think he could definitely be a dlp and use his technical ability to maintain posession instead of dribbling by defenders.

I agree with selling, only because he still has a world class reputation, and I think we could still fetch a pretty penny for him. Because by end of next season I think he'll be marginally better than worthless at his current rate of decline

So true, I love his attitude, I can't think of another player with his humilty. He was what, 3rd highest scorer in the league or something? And still has a smile on his face if Torres is picked ahead of him (even back when Torres was in his worst rut of form). His work rate is always great, even though he has his spells where he can't finish. I'd say he's already earned his 7 million in transfer fee, what he's lacked in goals, he's made up for in moving around defenders enough to allow for HazMat goals.

I definitely agree Lewan is a much better fit and would be much more successful here at Chelsea. I'll admit I have only seen few games of Higuain this year, so I probably overestimate his link up play ability (he did it pretty well in the games I watched). If he's generally worthless outside of scoring, than I would be unhappy with Chelsea signing him.

Although cech may be better, is it worth risking Courtois over another season of Cech? Even if the odds of losing Courtois are relatively small, I feel it's a big risk when Cech is only marginally if not debatably better at the moment.

I believe you mean But in all seriousness, it's hard for me to pick between Juninho and Beckham, but I'd probably have to give it to Juninho because he just gets so much less recognition here in the states.