Wingers

[SeB 1,281]

If we get a true out-and-out right winger then the RB spot is settled as well. Because our left side is so dominant teams just blocked that side and forced us to give the ball to Ivan who they were happy to allow a lot of time and space to, knowing he is not a danger with a ball at his feet. The absence of a right winger in front of him (Anelka) meant that our wide play was very poor indeed.

I add that Bosingwa was awful before January because he didn't have direct support from his right winger in front of him (he was frequently in front of the adverse winger and the left back), because of his knee surgery he lost his stamina and his defensive marks. After January and this game at Bolton where the team played in a 4-4-2 shape in second half, Bosingwa was a bit better because Ramires could help him on the flank, he could block the wing and come back defending.

One of the two solutions to regain Bosingwa at his real level is to allow him a partner who would be a real winger as Zhirkov or Malouda 1 year ago, someone to combine with offensively and someone who could help him back defending. The other solution is for me to extend his contract ; because of it's expiration in 12 months I felt like he wanted to do the maximum to regain confidence from the club. By acting as it he made several mistakes.

So I think if we extend his contract, he would feel more confident

[lionsden 4,689]

I still believe kakuta is more than capable of being our main winger next season even though he operates better as an AMF

[SeB 1,281]

He has to have more rigor to keep his wing, I personally it would be better for him to be loaned somewhere where he could play every week and coming back next season. For me he isn't ready yet

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I think Pastore can play on our wing sometimes if he will come, doesn't he?

[SeB 1,281]

He is not very quick and his stamina isn't as good as a true wing player's but he can play occasionally on the wing

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I can't see why we can't hijack Villa's chase for N'Zogbia, he'd slot right into our team and his ability to dribble and his consistency on either side of the pitch would be ideal. But because he plays for Wigan he is ignored. The fact he plays for a club that just avoided relegation belies the fact that like Rodallega, he is absolute class.

[Beast 85]

Anyone know why AVB put Anelka on the right wing? He was horrible.

[LondonPride1905 236]

We have actually being linked with Adam Johnson :OOOO

Yeah It's the Sun, but still they are correct on this matter.

Andre Villas-Boas has to sign English stars!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3710085/Chelsea-boss-Andre-Villas-Boas-is-on-a-mission-to-buy-top-English-stars.html

[Guest justin_3d]

I can't see why we can't hijack Villa's chase for N'Zogbia, he'd slot right into our team and his ability to dribble and his consistency on either side of the pitch would be ideal. But because he plays for Wigan he is ignored. The fact he plays for a club that just avoided relegation belies the fact that like Rodallega, he is absolute class.

I would take Arda or Nzogbia.

If AVB does not sign a winger, then he will have a hard time in this season.

[5354 204]

I still believe kakuta is more than capable of being our main winger next season even though he operates better as an AMF

Yeah I agree with this.

Might be time for Kakuta to step up if Sturridge can't fill that void.

[lionsden 4,689]

Yeah I agree with this.

Might be time for Kakuta to step up if Sturridge can't fill that void.

After all the promise sturridge showed last season at Bolton, I will be very disappointed if he fails to flourish at Chelsea next season.

[Peace. 4,352]

I add that Bosingwa was awful before January because he didn't have direct support from his right winger in front of him (he was frequently in front of the adverse winger and the left back), because of his knee surgery he lost his stamina and his defensive marks. After January and this game at Bolton where the team played in a 4-4-2 shape in second half, Bosingwa was a bit better because Ramires could help him on the flank, he could block the wing and come back defending.

1 - No, he wasn't awfull because he lacked support, but because he lost the bases of football.

2 - No, in the second part of the season, he wasn't better....

So, if Bosingwa is that poor, it isn't because he ain't got no right winger ahead of him. I could understand this argument for someone else, for exemple if you tell me Ivanovic struggles there sometimes because he has nobody in front of him, I would be agree. But for Bosingwa, that just don't go. Why ? Because he has lost all the bases of football, and thus he became a liability and shouldn't play (or even be on the bench) of a major team like us.

First of all, on a defensive notion. He seems to be unable to track down the opponant, he seems lost, he doesn't have a clue to where position himself to intercep the ball or to tackle.Plus, he always bombs forward but takes too much time to come back. An action which proves my last point is the goal we have conceeded against Stoke City. On this action, Luiz was made the culprit, but actually he had nothing to do there, that was Bosingwa who was missing, he was just covering the portuguese.

Then, on an offensive notion (which is as important as the defensive on, for a full back imo). In the dictionary, his name should be down along side the "headless chicken" definition. All he knows to do is to run in straight line. His crossing ability isn't awful, it is non-existing. I even wonder if he targets a zone when he hits the ball or if he just throws the ball somewhere. When he tries to dribble the opponents easily handle him. When he starts dribbling, he pushes the majority of the time the ball too much and it ends up in the feet of the opponent. Finally, I don't find his decision making very smart...

My words : you can even play Messi ahead of him, nothing will change.

[SeB 1,281]

Don't worry, I do completely agree with you, what I said is for me a part of the explanation why he is so weak since he came back from his injury. He lost all his defensive marks and his stamina, the rythm, he has also a huge confidence issue because he plays as if he wanted to prove again and prove to the others that he has still the level... Finding himself two vs one merely pushed him down, it's not the major explanation for all that

I did not say that he was good in 2nd part of the season, I just noticed that it was a little less worse when Ramires came back helping him. But it didn't prevent him from commiting gross errors of appreciation

When he arrived at Chelsea he was a strainer, he acquired some defensive and tactical rigor quite quickly after that and this injury and the long period of recovery broke his momentum, his rythm

His worries comes from a complete loss of bearings, we have no other solution than keeping him and put him in good conditions this season because there isn't any decent players available on the marker if we want to replace him.

I'm disappointed because he was a player that I liked much, even if he has lost everything that was part of his strength in the past...

Messi would'nt have helped him, just a player who defends on his wing, as Ramires...

[GodZola 630]

I can't see why we can't hijack Villa's chase for N'Zogbia, he'd slot right into our team and his ability to dribble and his consistency on either side of the pitch would be ideal. But because he plays for Wigan he is ignored. The fact he plays for a club that just avoided relegation belies the fact that like Rodallega, he is absolute class.

I said the very same about N'Zogbia & Rodallega just before we played Wigan at home last season - it didn't get any legs then! I was pointing out that they wouldn't cost us a fortune for 2 players that have performed on a regular basis in the PL. Both have pace & score goals in a struggling side, 9.5m for N'Zogbia is a steal for Villa.

I can't see Kakuta getting a run this season apart from a loan somewhere, but I would welcome his inclusion. The boy needs games & experience to take him up a level & I for one think he has the ability but won't prove it playing in the reserves.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We should offer Wigan a loan deal for Kakuta... it wouldn't cost them a thing to replace N'Zogbia then.

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

i agree we need wingers and have for a long long time.

in spite of what is being said we don't look like signing anyone.

so who now are we going to play up front.............................omg any of these.... kalou malouda anelka aint no wide man and then the man himself the drog 30 mins on the left might work..............i quite like sturridge (as a player i mean :541: ) so with what have we've got, what's the front line going to be?

regards: JBD

[Kieran. 6,317]

Drogba would be better on the wing than both Kalou and Anelka.

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

ok so assuming we mean Torres is center who's gunna be on the other wing? sturridge?

Drogba Torres Sturridge.

regards: JBD

[manpe 10,861]

Drogba would be better on the wing than both Kalou and Anelka.

What a waste it would be using Drogba as a winger, how desperate must we be. His full ability comes out as a target man or a free-roaming forward. I would rather have Benayoun, Ramires or even Bosingwa playing as pure wingers. But as it stands, I can't see that happening. I'm pretty sure our main wide players will be Malouda on the left and Sturridge on the right if we don't sign anyone. I'm absolutely sure that AVB knows the need for pure wingers, but I have a feeling there's more to it as why transfers aren't happening at the moment than AVB being simply too optimistic... he was and is too good of a scout to be so blind. That's why he threw Sturridge on the right ahead of Anelka and Kalou, he'd rather convert a promising striker into a winger than play either of them there. He's probably been told by the board that negotiations aren't going smoothly, or that there are financial obstacles (perhaps Kalou and/or Anelka are threatening to pull a 'Bogarde' on us, we don't know).

[Kieran. 6,317]

Well we are desperate. Kalou and Anelka are absolute shit wingers.