Team Balance

[Kojo 4,676]

Why does that shock you? We're owned by a Russian mobster and our doctor is Spanish. It would be a surprise if it was the other way.

Hes not a mobster, everyone judge roman so harsh!, he a good guy, he superhero.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Hes not a mobster, everyone judge roman so harsh!, he a good guy, he superhero.

Alright, whatever he is, he is an extraordinarily corrupt man. That doesn't take away from his awesomeness, though.

Re: Chelsea and doping:

http://www.guardian....newsstory.sport

Cleared by the UK authorities or not, its still a drug and in other sports would see hefty punishment. I would say every top flight club in every major league in Europe indulges in the practice. There's so much money at stake. You hear stories of athletes from other sports pumping this lethal stuff into their bodies- for maybe an extra 100 grand at the end of the year. A footballer who juices his way to the top can earn that in a week. A football clubs entire financial future can depend on its league position (hi, Leeds)

Using this procedure can fall foul of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to possible non-natural elements introduced into the athlete's body.

THE World Anti-Doping Agency has come down on the revolutionary blood therapy that helped Parramatta five-eighth Daniel Mortimer recover from a hip injury in time for a grand-final qualifier last month - a decision that was meant to clarify its position on the controversial treatment but still raised some NRL eyebrows.

WADA has added some forms of the platelet-rich plasma treatment to its banned list for next year, although the NRL's chief doctor said the treatment given to Mortimer just days out from the preliminary final against the Bulldogs would still be a legal one, given he was injected in his tendons rather than his muscles.

http://www.newscient.../article/dn7375

Lets not be naive here. Just because we love someone or something doesn't mean its does not invest in illegal medical practices.

[Kojo 4,676]

No, it's all allegations, he's innocent!. None has been proven, Roman wouldn't do such a thing.

[Spike 12,049]

Why does that shock you? We're owned by a Russian mobster and our doctor is Spanish. It would be a surprise if it was the other way.

Shocked? Bloody hell, Cap you are good at putting words where there is nothing but silence. Where did I say I was shocked? Please tell me. No offense or anything Cap but it seems nearly everytime you quote me you put words in my mouth.

[capriccioso 2,545]

Shocked? Bloody hell, Cap you are good at putting words where there is nothing but silence. Where did I say I was shocked? Please tell me. No offense or anything Cap but it seems nearly everytime you quote me you put words in my mouth.

Apologies.

[coolhead23 1,146]

Torres wins the spirit with Mikel hands down, mate! The thing which were the positive about Torres from last season was that he was ready to backtrack (which he never did before) and he has not lost that pace which everyone thought he would. And anyways Mikel is far too lazy to even get into a spirit (yes he mite outrun the best in the world when it comes to renewing his contract , but that's a different story all together)

It is interesting to see the players slotted into different age groups as created above and concerns on the 25-29 bracket could be more or less correct. However most these players were a part of the squad last season as well with only Luiz and Ramiers getting promoted into it and they really did a good job as far as FA and Champions leagues goes. And to win major competition it is important that there is a blend of youth and Experience which i believe is in there(balance of upto 25 and beyond 25). I mean to get better than this set of group in the 25-29 bracket would be a little difficult to find. I guess what is important for me how well do they gel as a unit would determine the success of our existing team...

[manpe 10,861]

When was the last time a ream won a domestic cup without a 20+ goal striker?

Chelsea, May 2012, FA Cup.

It's a good topic to discuss. I think you can add Mata to the spine already, his intrumental debut season engraved him as the pinnacle of the team for years to come, he's 24 and visibly at the start of his peak curve on his development parabola.

Plus you have to take into consideration the nature of each position. For example central defenders generally hit their peaks later than wingers or strikers. I think Terry is still enjoying the best part of his career that started around 27 years of age, he'd just scored his record amount of goals and had many stellar performances in defence (aside from the crap high line period), best player for England too.

Same can be said of Cole, although not as quick as before. He's still somewhere around his peak, but on a downward curve.

But in general I agree. The players, who are supposed to be at their best age, are either not good enough or too few. The players who I think are enjoying their best or are close to it, are Mata, Terry, Cole, Ivanovic, Ramires. Seen too little of Cahill to evaluate, but by the looks of it, he's getting there. Luiz is not there yet, needs a year or two to be considered in that group. Same with Mikel. Note I left out Torres, I did it on purpose, because he's shown very little so far to indicate that he's not past his peak... Strikers are also the ones who can be early bloomers and thus early burners, especially those who depend on their pace.

So, the numbers are few, but they are important part of the team, all likely to be regular participants. Note that we are lacking attacking players at their peak, or experience in that area in general. But we got plenty of hunger there. Same with central midfield, we either lack quality there, have players past their best before or have inexperienced young uns... there's no inbetween.

Saying that we are building for the future is dangerously close to the route that Arsenal have been down for the past 7 years. Their lack of spine is key to their detriment. But the thing with Arsenal is that they did it too quickly, they disassembled their perfectly balanced team and replaced with a totally new one. We aren't doing that and by the looks of it we won't be.