Options in our attack ?

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Hulk would be a fantastic buy to be honest, but that would mean less games for the likes of Sturridge.

In his latest interview, AVB said he believes that Sturridge has qualities similar to Hulk...hope he's right...

[Spike 12,049]

In his latest interview, AVB said he believes that Sturridge has qualities similar to Hulk...hope he's right...

At one stage last year didn't Hulk have 20 straight shots at target that all resulted in goals?

[Hysteria 159]

We need some Hazard here.

[Badboy 1,526]

you are suggesting you would like to see SEVEN leave...should be quite a bill to replace them all...and even harder to actually negotiate

ans get suitable replacements

Then we as a club have to realize that we are not going to be serious contenders in the long run. If Roman is unwilling to get rid of certain liabilities like Bosingwa and Alex and a host of others and replace them with young hungry players then we are fucked in the long run. We have to do it all in one transfer window so the new players can get a whole Pre-season in and be up and running for the new season.

[Badboy 1,526]

Anelka???, i think we have far too many strikers, but who could we get exactly?, i don't think we need a second striker, i think we need a good winger. We play a formation of 4-3-3, clearly Torres will be starting as striker, Mata on the left who comes down the centre, and then a second striker on the right wing?, i think we could really do with a winger there to be honest, perhaps if we played with two strikers up front i'll agree with you. But the only one i can think of really is Anelka at the moment, who is a very technical all round player. But he lacks a lot of qualities you suggested there, Hulk would be a fantastic buy to be honest, but that would mean less games for the likes of Sturridge.

I am saying we need a left winger and a right winger plus a second striker. We need options, this is what is wrong with Chelsea fans.... What you must understand is football is a squad game, all we seem to think about is the starting 11. As i have already said we have too many number 9's at the club we need a second striker who can offer us a formation change when we need or an extra option from the bench.

[BlueDutchy 63]

Well, Villas-Boas really sees Sturridge as a right-winger judging by his statements lately. Honestly I'm not sure if he is good enough. He was brilliant in pre-season and he linked very well with Torres. He is a huge talent and has a huge drive towards the goal but he isn't a classic right winger.

We still don't have enough depth in our squad, especially not in the wide positions. I hope Kalou en Anelka leave next season and as far as I know, nobody from the Academy is coming up. So it's important for us to buy some wingers.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Then we as a club have to realize that we are not going to be serious contenders in the long run. If Roman is unwilling to get rid of certain liabilities like Bosingwa and Alex and a host of others and replace them with young hungry players then we are fucked in the long run. We have to do it all in one transfer window so the new players can get a whole Pre-season in and be up and running for the new season.

Zolayes was talking about a mass exodus of players from the club. Seven players at one go with no surety of good replacements could in fact cost the club. This could mean an exit from the top 4, and that that could lead to even worse repercussions...

I agree to the fact that the players you mentioned do need to be replaced. But only... eventually. There's no evidence that we have ready-made replacements for each position.

[Peace. 4,352]

Very good topic, Badboy.

That's a big IF. It's how you win trophies - having your best players playing in a superb form. How can you (a Chelsea supporter) not want your team to win the league ?

He (Badboy) has a point. I also do not want us to win the league this season. Why ? Because it will blind us and the board as well, it will be Ancelotti's first season all over again. If we win, we will think that players like Anelka, Kalou, Bosingwa and Malouda are okay, and can stay here. Well, obviously some of them will leave regardless of our place in the table, but some of them will also benefit of our win and will take this as an advantage to stay around. Futhermore, currently our squad isn't strong enough and some areas lack cruelly of players (creative midfielder comes to mind)... And, if we win, we won't see this situation as if we do not win. I mean, in the case we are champions, we will be like "oh, we lack of playmaker, but we won the league without one, so no need to hurry and get one....", for exemple...

And you need to see the big picture, to think through a long term vision. I'd rather lose today and win all days of the next week than win today and lose all other next days.

Zolayes was talking about a mass exodus of players from the club. Seven players at one go with no surety of good replacements could in fact cost the club. This could mean an exit from the top 4, and that that could lead to even worse repercussions...

I agree to the fact that the players you mentioned do need to be replaced. But only... eventually. There's no evidence that we have ready-made replacements for each position.

The problem is that we wouldn't had need to make a massive exodus if we would have handled the situation properly before, ie get ride of the woodwork progressively. Even this summer wasn't enough. We can't afford anymore to have 30+ years-old player on big wage, and players not at the level. Now we have a lot of those players in the squad, so we'll have to make radical change.

Out of those players : Anelka, Kalou, Malouda, Bosingwa, Alex, Ferreira, (Essien) ; four should be sold, to my eyes.

[Badboy 1,526]

Very good topic, Badboy.

He (Badboy) has a point. I also do not want us to win the league this season. Why ? Because it will blind us and the board as well, it will be Ancelotti's first season all over again. If we win, we will think that players like Anelka, Kalou, Bosingwa and Malouda are okay, and can stay here. Well, obviously some of them will leave regardless of our place in the table, but some of them will also benefit of our win and will take this as an advantage to stay around. Futhermore, currently our squad isn't strong enough and some areas lack cruelly of players (creative midfielder comes to mind)... And, if we win, we won't see this situation as if we do not win. I mean, in the case we are champions, we will be like "oh, we lack of playmaker, but we won the league without one, so no need to hurry and get one....", for exemple...

And you need to see the big picture, to think through a long term vision. I'd rather lose today and win all days of the next week than win today and lose all other next days.

That is exactly my point. The whole reason why we did not buy a play-maker after we won the league was because of the fact that we won the league. The league that we won was far from convincing we won it by an offside goal and by one point as a result. We had 3 attacking players in Drogba Lampard and Malouda who basically saved us from losing points so many times. A lot of fans just looked at the trophy and just thought everything was rosy when it was not, winning trophies is not always a good thing, especially if you change managers like we do.

[emielvdven 4]

I totally agree with selling a few players: Anelka, Kalou, Alex, Ferreira, these would be first on my list.

I think that the defense is oke, JT can play for another year or 2, and then hopefully Bruma has developed into the next superstar! We also have Luiz next to him, Ivanovic for rb and Bertrand or v Aanholt on the left.

I wish we coul've bought modric or nasri last summer, both amazing players. I think better than Mereiles. Mceachran will be given more and more playing time so he'll be ready for full action in a season or 2? Then all we need is a right winger.... Hopefully we will get someone like Hulk, an amazing player, definentely better then Sturridge.

Our youth should me given a chance to i think, so we shouldn't spend to much....

[zolayes 14,489]

to think 7 players could be brought in next summer and gel next pre season is deluded, Next summer we will have Euro Champs ..

so players will be late arriving back ...IMO 3 transfers windows would be a more likely scenario to replace up to 8 players.

[Badboy 1,526]

to think 7 players could be brought in next summer and gel next pre season is deluded, Next summer we will have Euro Champs ..

so players will be late arriving back ...IMO 3 transfers windows would be a more likely scenario to replace up to 8 players.

We could do it in my opinion, we could get money for a few players like Alex Anelka and Bosingwa. I think we will get some money for some of the players, i think Kalou will get a few million too. Zolayes not all of the new players will be starters, this thread is about a squad. We will still have a core of players Like you're Mata's Torres's Ramires's then you add a few to that in the first team and add a lot more onto the bench for a rotation system.

[Kojo 4,676]

I am saying we need a left winger and a right winger plus a second striker. We need options, this is what is wrong with Chelsea fans.... What you must understand is football is a squad game, all we seem to think about is the starting 11. As i have already said we have too many number 9's at the club we need a second striker who can offer us a formation change when we need or an extra option from the bench.

Okay i agree with that, we do need backup, injuries hit us hard last season with our small squad and i think they could hit us again, especially if someone like Mata got injured. We could certainly do with a winger to give us options, United have tonnes of options, they've got many injuries now but still look a good team. A winger who can play on both wings would be good, someone like Pedro who can play both wings, can't see us getting him however. Second striker?, i really don't know who, and could he play in our formation?, it would be very difficult for him to get a game i think, and would they be willing to sit on the bench most games?.

[Madmax 9,219]

The real question is: Does AVB want a right winger?

Well we did put in a bid for de Bruyne, so we can safely say yes. (I'm aware of the proposed loan agreements.)

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Man Utd and Man city will probably out score us this season because of the options they have. We have gone through a transitional period for too long and we have not been brave enough to get rid of old liabilities. John Terry has been a liability for too long and if he was not English people would want him out. We could get much better then Anelka in the market today, a younger striker with something to prove. Lampard does not have the effect on games he used to have and we need a midfielder who can keep us ticking because we have lacked cohesion in midfield since Ranieri we have just hided it fantastically well. Drogba is like Lampard he is coming to the end too which is sad and i think we would be better off if we offered him to Lille for Hazard. I simply don't think we did enough in the summer which is sad.

Well yesterday's game shut you up, eh? Lampard was outstanding and Terry did not put a single foot wrong.