Non-Chelsea Transfer Pub

[Reddish-Blue 2,387]

I'm just saying it's a possibility. City, just like us, are desperate to blood youngsters into the first team and unlike Mourinho, Pellegrini is probably less skeptical in using academy players.

If I remember correctly, there was a press conference where Pellegrini said Denayer (young CB) and Iheanacho (young ST) would be promoted to the first team as squad depth.

I haven't seen too much of Iheanacho...but Denayer looks promising

[Unionjack 7,531]

Are we worried about Costas hammy yet again? Ive not seen a thing about him since the game. We are going to be in the shite if it starts playing him up again. WTF DIDN'T HAVE THE OP???

[ulvhedin 508]

Oscar will be used more in the 8, book it.

Thats was being said two years ago, still didn't happen

[cfcs most wanted 657]

[jernej93 565]

It would actually be very good to use Oscar as a Fabregas replacement, Willian on nr.10 and Traore/Moses/Kenedy on the wing

Courtois
Ivanović (Azpi) - Terry (Ivanović) - Zouma (Cahill) - Azpi (Baba?/Ake)
Matić (Ramires/Mikel) - Fabregas (Oscar)

Traore (Kenedy) - Willian (RLC) - Hazard (Moses)

Costa (Remy/Falcao)

but most probably one of Traore/Kenedy is going out on loan

[RhesusReus 219]

It would actually be very good to use Oscar as a Fabregas replacement, Willian on nr.10 and Traore/Moses/Kenedy on the wing

Courtois

Ivanović (Azpi) - Terry (Ivanović) - Zouma (Cahill) - Azpi (Baba?/Ake)

Matić (Ramires/Mikel) - Fabregas (Oscar)

Traore (Kenedy) - Willian (RLC) - Hazard (Moses)

Costa (Remy/Falcao)

but most probably one of Traore/Kenedy is going out on loan

Willian is a terrible #10. Do people even watch Willian when he plays centrally? He offers nothing in the #10 role and only excels when he picks up the ball deep and has space to run into.

[LAM09 6,832]

Willian is a terrible #10. Do people even watch Willian when he plays centrally? He offers nothing in the #10 role and only excels when he picks up the ball deep and has space to run into.

Good to see I'm not the only one with that train of thought. Some think he's amazing in that position and offers so much. They must be watching a different player to me.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Willian is a terrible #10. Do people even watch Willian when he plays centrally? He offers nothing in the #10 role and only excels when he picks up the ball deep and has space to run into.

Explain why a lot of Willian's best games for us came when he's played in the centre?

Explain how he was a lot better when he had more freedom to move to the middle (and the left when switching with Eden) during the second half of last season where he was by far one of our better players?

[RhesusReus 219]

Explain why a lot of Willian's best games for us came when he's played in the centre?

Explain how he was a lot better when he had more freedom to move to the middle (and the left when switching with Eden) during the second half of last season where he was by far one of our better players?

just watch the Crystal Palace home and Leicester away games, and listen to Garry Neville explain it to you better than I can. Short and simple: Willian can't operate under pressure, needs room, and is best when he runs down the channels with the ball. But when he has to play with his back to the defenders, he's pretty useless.

In the Leicester away game, Willian played centrally in the first half, and we were terrible. Leiscter ended up taking a 1-0 lead into half-time. Then, in the second half, Jose makes a change, moves Fabregas further up, Willian deeper, and we start to create.

In the Crystal Palace game, Willian was barely visible. He made no impact at all centrally, none whatsoever.

His best assest is and will always will be running for length with the ball. he can't do that as a #10.

[Unionjack 7,531]

Willian is a terrible #10. Do people even watch Willian when he plays centrally? He offers nothing in the #10 role and only excels when he picks up the ball deep and has space to run into.

But neither does Oscar in offence. They both have great engines and touches of excellence plus are both handy at high up defending but as far as offering assists n goals they neither. really offer enough,

After watching the preseason games upto now the strikers arent being given the ball enough and thats a big problem. And with our central midfield not being creative enough with Cescy not having much room to move he cant get balls forward so he needs help there and we know Rakel (Mikel/Rami) doesnt help much at all. (but I wont go into that as it hurts my brain)

[Barbara 15,149]

Mikel and Ramires staying, also there is still RLC. No way we will sign another CM.

CB and LB only imo.

the problem in midfield is not having enough people, is not having good enough replacement for Matic - which we don't.

I think we need it more than we need a CB, and of course, we need a LB

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

the problem in midfield is not having enough people, is not having good enough replacement for Matic - which we don't.

I think we need it more than we need a CB, and of course, we need a LB

In a world were Mikel, RLC and Ramires are actually considered as options of a top team, not having enough numbers is never the problem. We probably need a backup for both, Fabregas and Matic. Even though I agree that we looked even more helpless without Fabregas. Matic probably is the only player who can offer the kind of protection Fabregas defensive incompetence requires.

Additionally, Mou tends to sacrifice Oscar for Ramires in big games, so he acknowledges that we need more solidity and physical presence in midfield. What saddens me most is that he obviously still believes in Ramires to be that big game player which he has proven not to be any more. If Mourinho really believes Mikel, Ramires, RLC are good enough to come in and help us win the CL than we don't need any signings at all, then we could as well promote Jake Clarke Salter instead of signing Stones.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

If Mourinho really believes Mikel, Ramires, RLC are good enough to come in and help us win the CL than we don't need any signings at all, then we could as well promote Jake Clarke Salter instead of signing Stones.

I really didnt understand that part. If Mou dont think we need a CM, than we shouldnt try to improve other areas?

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

I really didnt understand that part. If Mou dont think we need a CM, than we shouldnt try to improve other areas?

I meant it like: If Mou trusts Mikel and Ramires to cover Fabregas and Matic, I think he could as well give youth players the chance to stand in for our defenders. IMO the gap in quality would be proportionate.

[Barbara 15,149]

In a world were Mikel, RLC and Ramires are actually considered as options of a top team, not having enough numbers is never the problem. We probably need a backup for both, Fabregas and Matic. Even though I agree that we looked even more helpless without Fabregas. Matic probably is the only player who can offer the kind of protection Fabregas defensive incompetence requires.

Additionally, Mou tends to sacrifice Oscar for Ramires in big games, so he acknowledges that we need more solidity and physical presence in midfield. What saddens me most is that he obviously still believes in Ramires to be that big game player which he has proven not to be any more. If Mourinho really believes Mikel, Ramires, RLC are good enough to come in and help us win the CL than we don't need any signings at all, then we could as well promote Jake Clarke Salter instead of signing Stones.

I missed a not, in my sentence, I meant the problem isn't the quantity, but the quality (problem isn't not having enough people, but not having people good enough).

I think our defense without Matic would look very shaky, tactically he's much more important to our balance than Fabregas is, imo. Hazard and our strikers can be an outlet for goals and creativity if we don't have Cesc and Oscar once in a while too. But if we don't have Matic, we have a bigger problem. Ramires and Mikel aren't as solid defensively as they used to be and I don't know if it's because they haven't been playing enough or if they're getting old or starting the descending curve of their career.

RLC hasn't convinced me at all he can make a job, he seemed lazy and lost defending.

I agree that if Mou thinks we have enough to compete in UCL, then he's delusional, lol. We can't compete against the very top teams in Europe, which doesn't mean we couldn't get a lucky result against any of them. It's nothing we haven't done in the past, but we aren't on the same level as the best of the best.

[Reddish-Blue 2,387]

I missed a not, in my sentence, I meant the problem isn't the quantity, but the quality (problem isn't not having enough people, but not having people good enough).

I think our defense without Matic would look very shaky, tactically he's much more important to our balance than Fabregas is, imo. Hazard and our strikers can be an outlet for goals and creativity if we don't have Cesc and Oscar once in a while too. But if we don't have Matic, we have a bigger problem. Ramires and Mikel aren't as solid defensively as they used to be and I don't know if it's because they haven't been playing enough or if they're getting old or starting the descending curve of their career.

RLC hasn't convinced me at all he can make a job, he seemed lazy and lost defending.

I agree that if Mou thinks we have enough to compete in UCL, then he's delusional, lol. We can't compete against the very top teams in Europe, which doesn't mean we couldn't get a lucky result against any of them. It's nothing we haven't done in the past, but we aren't on the same level as the best of the best.

I just don't get why we haven't signed a class midfielder in this transfer window...as our current midfield won't take us past the Quarter Final stage of the UCL.

I would also be surprised if we end up winning the PL title again...as City strengthened, United strengthened and Arsenal added Petr Cech

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

What's scary is that it is so obvious that they are not good enough, yet the club aren't addressing it.

[RhesusReus 219]

But neither does Oscar in offence. They both have great engines and touches of excellence plus are both handy at high up defending but as far as offering assists n goals they neither. really offer enough,

After watching the preseason games upto now the strikers arent being given the ball enough and thats a big problem. And with our central midfield not being creative enough with Cescy not having much room to move he cant get balls forward so he needs help there and we know Rakel (Mikel/Rami) doesnt help much at all. (but I wont go into that as it hurts my brain)

you must be joking! did you completely forget how inept we become in keeping possession if Oscar is not on the pitch? I suggest you watch the PSG home leg to see the stark difference in this department once Oscar is subbed early because of a yellow card.

As for offence. Oscar provides plenty. He had 6 goals and 8 assists in the league last season. 8 assists in 2000 mins (the same number as Sanchez). Hazard had 9 assists in about 3500 mins. How is he not creative enough?

And his decision making in critical moments is pretty great. That backheel to set up Hazard's goal vs United. That backheel behind the back flick to Costa for the goal against Newcastle. Fantastic.