Squad make up 2012/13

[EskWeston 696]

With all the buzz of transfer activity around the club at the moment it is always easy forget that we have restrictions on what we are able to do with the squad under the Premier League homegrown rule. We have to work with a squad of 25 players plus an unlimited number of players under the age of 21. Of that 25 players 8 of them have to be homegrown. As things stand this is the squad we have under these guidelines:

1.(HG): John Terry

2.(HG): Ashley Cole

3.(HG): Frank Lampard

4.(HG): Ross Turnbull

5.(HG): Daniel Sturridge

6.(HG): Ryan Bertrand

7.(HG): Gary Cahill

8.(HG): Sam Hutchinson

9. Petr Cech

10. Branislav Ivanovic

11. Michael Essien

12. Mikel

13. Florent Malouda

14. Paulo Fereira

15. Hilario

16. Yossi Benayoun

17. Ramires

18. David Luiz

19. Fernando Torres

20. Oriol Romeu

21. Juan Mata

22. Kevin De Bruyne

23. Raul Meireles

24. Eden Hazard

25. Marko Marin

Gael Kakuta

U21 Players:

1. Romelu Lukaku

2. Lucas Piazon

3. Josh McEachran

4. Jamal Blackman

5. (Oscar)

So as things stand we are right on our limit of the squad we can have, and if we want to use Gael Kakuta this year we need to make space for him, not to mention any further signings we could make. Although there are players who could easily (likely) still move on, Malouda or Benayoun for example.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Tbh Benayoun should definately go as he will be about 7th choice midfielder, and Hazard and Mata will be playing in pretty much every important game, so malouda could also go to make room, and i would send Kakuta on loan.

[EskWeston 696]

Tbh Benayoun should definately go as he will be about 7th choice midfielder, and Hazard and Mata will be playing in pretty much every important game, so malouda could also go to make room, and i would send Kakuta on loan.

Kakuta will not go on loan again. He has stated that he will either stay at CFC or leave the club for good.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Kakuta will not go on loan again. He has stated that he will either stay at CFC or leave the club for good.

Well in that case he can stay and be lucky to sit on the bench or he will have to go. I rate Kakuta and is a star for the future, but with all the new midfielders we have he won't get the chance to start unless we play our 2nd/3rd team in some other cup games...

[Badboy 1,526]

I would send Lukaku on loan because he's a young target man. Players in his position only start making an impact at 24-25 and he's only 19 so a season long loan would do him the world of good. Drogba was still a right back at his age so there is no problem at all, I'm sure he can make it but not now.

[EskWeston 696]

I would send Lukaku on loan because he's a young target man. Players in his position only start making an impact at 24-25 and he's only 19 so a season long loan would do him the world of good. Drogba was still a right back at his age so there is no problem at all, I'm sure he can make it but not now.

Surely though if we loan out Lukaku we have to sign another forward or we are too short? And then that is not helping Lukaku's cause at all as it is only another player in his way.....

[SeB 1,281]

I would send Lukaku on loan because he's a young target man. Players in his position only start making an impact at 24-25 and he's only 19 so a season long loan would do him the world of good. Drogba was still a right back at his age so there is no problem at all, I'm sure he can make it but not now.

I don't regard him as a target man at all. He can pass the ball back on ground but he's rather a striker who goes into space thanks to his speed. What he has to improve at the moment is his speed of execution and more variety in his calls. When he calls the ball, his movements are ok but they really lack the thing to make the difference.

He has a huge potential in front of goal as well. But in fact he's poor back to goal, he's not a heading player. I definitely don't regard him as a target man

[Badboy 1,526]

Esk I would sign another striker anyway because I don't trust Torres at all lol. I would sign someone who has great experience at around 30 years of age. Someone who is refined and could get us goals someone like Alberto Gilardinho, we can't go into the new season with only Torres even if Lukaku stays !

[Ramox 246]

Its really hard, but we should sell or let free Hilario (just like Malouda and Benayoun) . He always was a true Chelsea player, who played when he havent other option, but his 25 man squad spot is too important. Blackman could be the 3rd choice.

[Badboy 1,526]

I don't regard him as a target man at all. He can pass the ball back on ground but he's rather a striker who goes into space thanks to his speed. What he has to improve at the moment is his speed of execution and more variety in his calls. When he calls the ball, his movements are ok but they really lack the thing to make the difference.

He has a huge potential in front of goal as well. But in fact he's poor back to goal, he's not a heading player. I definitely don't regard him as a target man

I don't regard him as a target man at all. He can pass the ball back on ground but he's rather a striker who goes into space thanks to his speed. What he has to improve at the moment is his speed of execution and more variety in his calls. When he calls the ball, his movements are ok but they really lack the thing to make the difference.

He has a huge potential in front of goal as well. But in fact he's poor back to goal, he's not a heading player. I definitely don't regard him as a target man

Seb his hold up play is probably his best skill at the moment. He has terrific pace as well but he is better with his back to goal, I think he would be a very good player for a team like Fulham if they could use his pace and hold up play !

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

If we're getting another RB in Azpilicueta(who we have apparently bid for), someone will have to leave for him to get in as he isn't eligible for a under 21 place.

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

Its really hard, but we should sell or let free Hilario (just like Malouda and Benayoun) . He always was a true Chelsea player, who played when he havent other option, but his 25 man squad spot is too important. Blackman could be the 3rd choice.

Is Blackman really good enough be 3rd choice for us right now thought? Plus hes better playing reserve football or being loaned out than playing once every blue moon for the first team.

[Hutcho 8,443]

he is a 6 ft 3 big powerful lad, he has plenty of time to improve a lot, so he definately is a target man... His heading may not be amazing, but it can improve, and as others have said, he has great hold up play.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Is Blackman really good enough be 3rd choice for us right now thought? Plus hes better playing reserve football or being loaned out than playing once every blue moon for the first team.

I think so... We rarely ever use our 3rd choice keeper, and i would highly doubt we would need to use him this season, also it would free up a spot in the 25...

[We Hate Scouse 10,286]

If we're getting another RB in Azpilicueta(who we have apparently bid for), someone will have to leave for him to get in as he isn't eligible for a under 21 place.

Hopefully Malouda!

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

I think so... We rarely ever use our 3rd choice keeper, and i would highly doubt we would need to use him this season, also it would free up a spot in the 25...

and potentially stop Blackmans development as he wont be playing regular games.

[Hutcho 8,443]

and potentially stop Blackmans development as he wont be playing regular games.

It won't stop his development, but if it comes to us needing an extra spot is a very viable option...

[Hutcho 8,443]

In fact i would rather have Blackman as our second choice keeper... I don't have faith in ross turnbull, and whilst hilario has always been good to us i would much rather see Blackman just given as shot as Cechs understudy...