Thomas Williams

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.

Agreed, our current system just isn't going to work with a poacher, only scores goals kind of striker. Its essential that whatever striker we get, that he can hold the ball up and link up well with Hazard, Mata, and the rest of our midfielders, because our midfield's greatest strength is when they're playing at or even in front of the striker, confusing the defense and keepers. The striker has to be good enough at scoring that he's always too dangerous to not guard to closely, but also good enough at playing a good ball that he can get the easy assist to our AMF stars.

Higuain only if significantly cheaper than Lewan (I want him!) I do think he'd do well here though. Whoever we pick, I really want us to give lukaku a real chance next season if we recall him, meaning on the pitch at LEAST 30-40% of the time. I don't want to get a striker that would prevent that. I think a good, established in the EPL striker on the wrong side of 30 would be best though. His transfer fee would be very low (although wages a bit high) and his need for rest as he got older would allow more and more time for lukaku to play and develop. Hopefully one that could help mentor lukaku as well (drogba would have been close to perfect). We'd also know we'd be able to count on goals from him. Regardless though, if we have both lukaku and Ba next year, I'm much more concerned with our pivot and a replacement for Terry/Cole. That is by far our most pressing matter. Without Lukaku being recalled though, I'd like Chelsea to make big signing of lewan, higuain, cavani, etc. caliber, because Ba won't cut it for a CL and PL winning team (Although I do really rate him, probably more than most members here.)

Most criminally underrated player we have on our team (except by Chelsea supporters). Never has a awful game, always makes the tackles he needs to, gets back very quickly. He always gets in a good position to cross as well, and links up well on that right side. If he improves his passing and crossing a bit, in short time he'll be absolutely world class. Love him, and we got him for so cheap!

The only place you could expect to find the topic so "off target."

I think Poga and Rafael are excellent examples in favor of bringing Chalobah to the bridge, and honestly, could he look any worse in the pivot than Lampard and Ramires? (No offense to those players, I love them).

I do agree that him being overhyped stunted his growth, he was too young to expect regular minutes at Swansea. I think a lot of the fault was that he was British, and the of course the media is going to make every talented British youth look like the next Zidane.

I don't think Chalobah should play here if he doesn't get regular minutes. I don't think any developing player should. You look at young players who play as backup for good teams and those who play as regular starters for worse teams, and 9/10 the ones on the worse teams develop much quicker. Regular experience and playing professional matches is imo by far the best way to grow as a player, I'm sure most of you guys agree. I think playing for a top side is the best way though, even if you're not quite ready and if you start off with a few bad games, but I suppose it's pretty risky if it might cost the team a win.

Kalas is already ready to be a backup for Azpi, he has looked VERY good at Vitesse and I have no doubt he would develop very quickly at Chelsea if played against poor teams to rest Azpi. It would take only a couple games for him to look better than Bertrand, I can guarantee you that. Also, Ivanovic always CAN play RB if we need him too, it's easy for us to forget he was a top 5 RB in the world a couple years ago. Although his lack of pace is a bit concerning, he would serve in a pinch if something were to happen to Azpilicueta, although I think Ivanovic's strength suits him better as a center back.

Toure is not the Gerrard/Giggs/Scholes type player who will be able to play well into his 30's. If we sign him, we'll be complaining about his wages until his contract expires, I guarantee it. If we could sign a 26 year old Toure, I'd be ecstatic, I think he could really do well in the pivot or cover for mata, but that's not the case.

I'm predicting third place, Europa league champions, lose to man united/city in the F.A. cup. Would be ecstatic for 2nd place and winning F.A. cup (don't really care much about EL)

I agree with not signing Falcao. I would rather sign an older, cheaper striker to play with Lukaku. If we sign Falcao or Cavani, I believe we'll lose Lukaku (but I would rather have Cavani if we're going to lose him.) I think our money could be much better spent than on Falcao.

Also, do you guys think Ba would be Ok with being a 3rd striker who hardly, if ever, gets to play? I wouldn't mind getting an older, finished product stiker like Tevez or maybe Villa who could deliver a lot of goals, and then also give Lukaku a lot of playing time as an older striker needs a lot of rest, and just have Ba on the bench as a verryyy reliable 3rd option if we ever needed him. That way Lukaku would grow, we'd have two great strikers, and we'd have money to buy a truly world class player for the pivot, and maybe even a great centre back as well. Just a thought.

If Ba would have put away his chances, he would have rivaled Hazard for MofM. His movement was phenomenal, he was causing all sorts of disruption in the defense, not to mention tiring them out. When you do that to a defense, they can no longer pressure Mata and Hazard closely, and well, you've seen what they're capable of with a little space. I'll take a performance like he did against West Ham any day of week, and don't worry, his striking was unlucky, not a true reflection of him. He was never the most clinical finisher, but on even an average day he'll put one or two of those away easily. His character on the pitch, which he showed in the derby sunday, that's won't change game to game and that's I'm not upset if he fails on a few shots. Not saying he had a great game, but I'm not going to be upset. I still believe he was an excellent 7 million pound signing. I wouldn't have complained with a Torres start, it would be great if we could get him into some kind of form before we sell him summer, and if we get his confidence up, who knows, we could trick some people into thinking he's a good striker. Seriously, I think Torres would shine in a league with easier defenses (e.g. Russia, China, even Spain), because dribbling past mediocre defenders would boost his confidence on a regular basis. But for Chelsea I would always prefer Ba, no matter what his current shooting form is like.

I could actually see a Luiz/Howedes partnership being very very good in a couple years, better perhaps than Luiz Hummels who are both risky players who can get caught out

He's quality for sure, but I don't know if he'd be a very good return on investment, He'll never be a Terry/Vidic/Kompany/Silva that is needed at the centre back poisition at the top clubs in the world. I think that's why we got Luiz, because we believed he could become one of those top 5 in the world CB's. He'd be fine as one of our centre backs, but for the amount of money it would take to bring him over (because of his contract and club loyalty) I think we could do better. I wouldn't be upset if we signed him though, especially if we got a decent price. Significantly better than Cahill IMO.

All of the male on male attraction aside, I have always been impressed with his lower body musculature, it allows him to play stronger than his size and like you said, he is no pushover with the ball and is much stronger than people give him credit for, he only falls when he could get a foul/penalty, lol. Much stronger than mata/oscar which is part of what makes him the most promising to me of the 3.

I hate to say this because Cech is a club legend and I love him, but if you think about what would be best for the club in winning games/trophies it would be to put Thibaut in goal this next season, and then sell Cech (who still has a lot of worth, tons of teams would jump at the chance). Either that or make Cech the backup, but from the games I've seen of athelitco (more than a few) Courtois is verrry close if not at cech's level of play, and I guarantee by end of next season He will be at least equal, and 1/10 as likely to get injured. The chance that Cech could do marginally better for us next season than courtois doesnt even come close to outweighing the risk of losing Courtois and how promising he is looking. On the other hand though, I hate to just tell Cech to fuck off just because its a little better for the club, but then again, isn't that what they're doing to lamps?