Non-Chelsea Transfer Pub

[Strike 7,489]

I keep seeing these African and French kids who have the big names, sorry if i can't narrow it down a bit more. However we should start going for players like that, but instead we want to play like Barcelona.

We need physical players, offloading the players like Essien, Alex, Drogba and Anelka and not replacing them with similar players was a mistake. Especially Essien, we really lack an Essien, however i doubt we will ever get another one of them. It's a shame i think we where blessed to have Makalele and Essien, two of the best Defensive Midfielders i have ever seen in my life, gutted that they are gone.

Compare our current midfielders to the ones we used to have... It's quite sad thinking about it really. Though it seems we aren't even bothering about signing anyone, once again it's going to be a huge mistake.

true. no steel in the midfield nowadays. We used to have Makelele Essien Ballack Lampard once upon a time. now we have Ramires, Mikel, Lampard (aged 34) and Romeu. Gulf in class

Ramires runs but has pathetic technique for a central midfielder. Mikel - who, it should be said, is grossly overrated at Chelsea as he is nowhere near Makelele or Essien level. Romeu - another work in progress. Lampard with a drastic drop in mobility

Add to this our defensive problems and the fact that we have one Fernando Torres in attack. Pains me, really...

[Kojo 4,676]

true. no steel in the midfield nowadays. We used to have Makelele Essien Ballack Lampard once upon a time. now we have Ramires, Mikel, Lampard (aged 34) and Romeu. Gulf in class

Ramires runs but has pathetic technique for a central midfielder. Mikel - who, it should be said, is grossly overrated at Chelsea as he is nowhere near Makelele or Essien level. Romeu - another work in progress. Lampard with a drastic drop in mobility

Add to this our defensive problems and the fact that we have one Fernando Torres in attack. Pains me, really...

Spot on, that will always be Ramires's problem, as not been good enough to actually establish himself as a key player. However we need him in our team, because i admire his passion and desire, all those vital goals he has scored and wonders he has produced now and then. He's also been excellent in big games in the past.

Mikel, we all know my opinion on him, in ways i admire the support the Chelsea fans on here give him regardless of them being to delusional at times when he makes mistakes. But the fact is and you summed it up perfectly, he will never be as good as Makalele or Essien, look at his age, he's hardly going to improve, he's never shown signs of being world class either for me as he's never flourished or took his position and actually made it his. The bottom line is, we need better, we can't settle for 2nd best if we are to compete with the top teams. However people can't accept that or let it go, they keep the faith, which i admire but they are also blinded at times, when he makes mistakes they try to pin it on other players, or when we have losses he is never at fault.

Romeu, I still have faith in this one, not now but i think he's the one in 5 year time will end up being excellent, unfortunately not at this club, or Barca either. He seems to be dropping constantly, but he's a good player and he will pick himself up in the future, however it's a lot harder for him to pick himself up here or at Barca, so maybe he will have to move to fulfill his potential. He's having so many injuries, especially when it's his time when he will get played, as Benitez loves Spaniards and shown that he wanted to play him.

[Spike 12,049]

Mikel, we all know my opinion on him, in ways i admire the support the Chelsea fans on here give him regardless of them being to delusional at times when he makes mistakes. But the fact is and you summed it up perfectly, he will never be as good as Makalele or Essien, look at his age, he's hardly going to improve, he's never shown signs of being world class either for me as he's never flourished or took his position and actually made it his. The bottom line is, we need better, we can't settle for 2nd best if we are to compete with the top teams. However people can't accept that or let it go, they keep the faith, which i admire but they are also blinded at times, when he makes mistakes they try to pin it on other players, or when we have losses he is never at fault.

Just appreciate that Makelele was 30 when he joined Chelsea! Age means a bit less for defensive minded players, I reckon, fowards hit their prime at 26-29 but I think defenders peak at 29-33. I'm just holding onto hope that Mikel will peak at 30 rather than 25.

I think his style would be more suited to a 4-3-3. A midfield trio of players like Ramires/Tiote (ball winner), Mikel/Capoue (anchor) and Cabaye/Moutinho (playmaker/box to box) would be perfect.

[Jase 43,479]

Rafa moans about a small squad but doesn't have the sense of recalling Essien or maybe KDB?

Tbf, i don't think there's any good player available to sign for a good price. looks like we'd have to overpay to get any decent talent. hence only Ba has come in. but this is getting crazy. rafa knows about the squad depth problem and still hasn't done anything to rectify it

TBF to him a bit, don't think he has any say regarding transfers at all. It's the board who decides all of this. He might have asked for Essien or De Bruyne etc to return but club rejected it. Who knows? He could and should probably try playing 1-2 youngsters from the academy but don't think he has much authority in regards to the in and out transfers.

[mediator 2,026]

I don't know how reliable this source is, so take it as it :

Chelsea FC lead race to sign Marouane Fellaini before transfer deadline day

They announce "according to l equipe..."

http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Soccer/Chelsea-FC-favourites-to-sign-Marouane-Fellaini-before-the-transfer-deadline-201301240006/

I couldn't not find this on l'Equipe's website btw

[Strike 7,489]

TBF to him a bit, don't think he has any say regarding transfers at all. It's the board who decides all of this. He might have asked for Essien or De Bruyne etc to return but club rejected it. Who knows? He could and should probably try playing 1-2 youngsters from the academy but don't think he has much authority in regards to the in and out transfers.

who is there in the academy now? george saville? feruz? ake? bamford? don't think any of them are ready yet. all our young prospects are out on loan and that is problematic considering our busy schedule

[The only place to be 11,313]

Another Phill Jones...

Huh? Phil Jones is a good player and has the potential to be a great one, once Fergie settles on one position for him and sticks to it. At the moment he's been shifted around the back four and midfield, but he's one of the players I wish we'd got. He has the ability to be a world-class DM in my opinion and could be a future England captain.

But I agree about Zaha. He's got potential but he's a little sloppy at times.

[bushman 2,043]

To say, Rafa has any say in to recall Essien is just plain clueless. Rafa was hired to see the squad through until the end of this season. The board is there to see what the team needs.

Are they so blind & not see that the current team lacks players ?

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Especially Essien, we really lack an Essien, however i doubt we will ever get another one of them.

Wanyama is similar to essien.Obviously not as good but he is young and has very good potential,he could be the beast we need in our midfield.

[Severinb 309]

We really need a winger, striker and midfielder ad maybe a defender! I am really starting to get a little scared hope we can wrap up some deals or recall players!

I would go for benat/fellaini,david villa and ince/ or lens from psv or ola john from benfica!

[bushman 2,043]

I´d go for anybody. However, say bye-bye to the transfer window & wait for the summer one.

[zolayes 14,489]

who is there in the academy now? george saville? feruz? ake? bamford? don't think any of them are ready yet. all our young prospects are out on loan and that is problematic considering our busy schedule

Bruma to stay at Hamburg .. Seems we never get players in on loan ..yet we loan to top Spanish and Italian clubs ,,,,,why no reciprocal dealings???

[The Mak 4,459]

J'aime !

We need a top defending midfielder, and a central defender, lets buy Tioté and Hummels.

That's actually a great idea!

...if they didn't cost a truckload!

I would of fancied us to try and sign Wilfred Zaha. Hes got good potential obviously, typical African forward player very pacey and strong despite having a large but skinny-ish frame. Still very raw but hes he looks to be quite talented. Can play left wing, right wing or through the middle and would be a bit more refreshing compared to Hazard, Marin and Mata trying to pass themselves through teams rather than look to beat players. Similar to Victor Moses, not as far on in his developement but still a good young player. Obviously Moses seems to have better technical qualities and better decision making but I wouldn't say Zaha is really much worse. £10 Million upfront with another £5 million on apperances could be very good for United if he plays well in the PL. Obviously Moses so far was cheaper and has performd in the PL but until we see Zaha in the PL it will be very hard to compare them.

When there's players like Isco floating around for the same price, at the same age, I know who I'd prefer!

I know Zaha is more of a winger, but still, in terms of quality at this particular moment, Zaha wouldn't be near Isco. But this is what is what happens with the inclusion of the 'British/English Premium'.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

Fantasy outcome

Recall Essien, Sign Benat and Isco, Promote Feruz and give him some games - 35mil

[bushman 2,043]

Recently, Rafa has revealed he has held talks with Roman over the possibility of getting more players.

Perhaps, Roman will buy ?

[TopDrogNo.11 1]

Hasn't Rafa told during his first press-conference that one of the reasons why he choose Cfc, that he can win titles with this squad.

Now he's telling us 'We don't have enough depth'.

[bushman 2,043]

Hasn't Rafa told during his first press-conference that one of the reasons why he choose Cfc, that he can win titles with this squad.

Now he's telling us 'We don't have enough depth'.

Perhaps, you should find 5 minutes & look through the current squad, injuries, players in Africa, good luck.

[Jase 43,479]

who is there in the academy now? george saville? feruz? ake? bamford? don't think any of them are ready yet. all our young prospects are out on loan and that is problematic considering our busy schedule

Feruz for one has been scoring many goals for sometime now. Games like against Brentford is a good chance to try him out. So, why not?(not that he will play anyway since he played yesterday for the U21s). Don't forget Piazon was given his chance to play in the 1st team too this season in the League Cup.

[Hutcho 8,443]

I think we will sign someone this week. It would be extremely rare that we wont sign someone in the last week or even the last day. This transfer window is far from over...

[bushman 2,043]

Well, as they say: Roman have mercy on Chelsea.

We have only 5 days left & counting. Meanwhile, Chelsea board & ownership have decided to recall none of 23 players or so on loan. In fact they added Piazon & were actually contemplating sending out Marin.

Perhaps, Hazards suspension should have halted that idiotic thinking.

Once EL reopens no coach whether Jose, Pep or whoever can manage a squad so thin & compete.

If I were Rafa, I would field a team of youth players & hope they get bounce out asap.