Rumoured Xabi Alonso

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I'd take Modric at the right price....but to be honest, if we really want to invest into our midfield for the next decade, we should try to sign Witsel.

WIlshere would be best pick, english, hard workig, equaly good at creating chances and defending duties. Impossible but would be some player here...him and Song in pivot

[The Skipper 20,609]

. His tackling is poor. No strength to speak of. His defensive game is limited to basic closing down. With Mata basically playing as a forward, the pivot needs to be more defensive.

I agree with the later half of your point. Playmaking-wise he's a good player. He offers dribbling from deep as well but he wouldn't be my first choice

No, I don't agree with your first point, simply because I'm a firm believer of defensive cohesion as a team. We shouldn't solely be relying on the pivot to do the majority of the defensive work, it needs to be a collective thing. It's what Bayern do so effectively for example.

Besides, ask yourself this - if we are facing teams like QPR, Southampton and other mid table teams - do we really need as much protection in the pivot? I don't think so - I'd rather us take the initiative and someone like Modric in your team would provide you that.

So the fact the more people agree that Modrić is a great CM than not makes my opinion invalid? That's a bullshit argument Skips and you know it, popular opinion means nothing here. It does not make him a good player and doesn't make you correct.

Tottenham were shit and still are, just because it worked for the piddling ambitions doesn't mean it will here. Besides VDV, Bale, Lennon, Parker all work tremendously harder in defence than the likes of Hazard, Mata, Lamps and even goddamn Mikel. They weren't fantastic at it but they still worked harder. Not even mentioning the fact that Tottenham excelled at quick incisive counter attacking football. Does Chelsea play that way? Modrić had the likes if absolute pace whores in Walker, Lennon, Bake and even Defoe. Now Chelsea has quick players but not on that level.

You make valid points regarding Modric's situation at Tottenham but surely you can't say he's an awful CM even if you don't like him?

As I mentioned above - having someone like Modric against the lesser teams would be so beneficial to the team it's unreal, in my honest opinion. Having someone who's as proficient as Modric is in his passing or driving forward the ball from deeper positions is priceless - it's what Luiz has sort of been doing for us. We obviously disagree on the matter though so we'll just leave it there.

[Strike 7,474]

No, I don't agree with your first point, simply because I'm a firm believer of defensive cohesion as a team. We shouldn't solely be relying on the pivot to do the majority of the defensive work, it needs to be a collective thing. It's what Bayern do so effectively for example.

Besides, ask yourself this - if we are facing teams like QPR, Southampton and other mid table teams - do we really need as much protection in the pivot? I don't think so - I'd rather us take the initiative and someone like Modric in your team would provide you that.

Bayern is an ideal example. Ribery and Muller are much better at tracking back than Hazard and Oscar. But yes, that is the model Chelsea should be going for. Relentless in attack but also regaining defensive shape quickly.

Also, look at the Bayern midfield - Kroos/Schweinsteiger/Martinez are hard-workers unlike Modric. With the current midfielders we have, we do need protection in the pivot imo.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Bayern is an ideal example. Ribery and Muller are much better at tracking back than Hazard and Oscar. But yes, that is the model Chelsea should be going for. Relentless in attack but also regaining defensive shape quickly.

Also, look at the Bayern midfield - Kroos/Schweinsteiger/Martinez are hard-workers unlike Modric. With the current midfielders we have, we do need protection in the pivot imo.

Hazard and Oscar can easily become as hard working as Ribery & Muller, they just need a manager to instill that hard working spirit into them.

And Modric is hardworking - he's just reluctant to put in the tackle as you mentioned before but that doesn't mean he doesn't work hard for his team. We need protection in the pivot yes, but not to an extent where we need two defensive minded players. If you pair someone like Mikel with Modric then you have a nicely balanced pivot.

[Strike 7,474]

Hazard and Oscar can easily become as hard working as Ribery & Muller, they just need a manager to instill that hard working spirit into them.

And Modric is hardworking - he's just reluctant to put in the tackle as you mentioned before but that doesn't mean he doesn't work hard for his team. We need protection in the pivot yes, but not to an extent where we need two defensive minded players. If you pair someone like Mikel with Modric then you have a nicely balanced pivot.

Not really convinced about Mikel but that's another issue anyway. Already deviated a little by talking about Modric in the Xabi Alonso thread

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

WIlshere would be best pick, english, hard workig, equaly good at creating chances and defending duties. Impossible but would be some player here...him and Song in pivot

Wilshere is not as good at defending as he is creating chances. When he loses the ball he stays up the pitch most times creating a massive gap in midfield which often leaves Arteta outnumbered, that is why Wenger has had to play him as a attacking midfielder most of the time with Cazorla on the left wing. Also he wouldn't be adequate as a DLP as his game is based on committing players to foul him basically and slipping short passes through tight gaps for his team mates to score from like one he did for Walcott before he got injured, against Stoke I think... maybe not...

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I've been wanting Alonso for a while. It's a shame he doesn't have too many years left and his best is behind him. He can still be a classy midfielder for a couple years, maybe 3 even.

At his current level he'd be still one of the best Deep Lying playmakers/Midfielders in the League and hopefully can resist decline or even improve with Age ala Pirlo.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Chelsea's hopes of signing Xabi Alonso suffer blow as Real Madrid midfielder rubbishes move

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/10046073/Chelseas-hopes-of-signing-Xabi-Alonso-suffer-blow-as-Real-Madrid-midfielder-rubbishes-move.html

Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso plays down transfer speculation linking him with move to Chelsea

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/real-madrid-player-xabi-alonso-plays-down-transfer-speculation-linking-him-with-move-to-chelsea-8608780.html

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10108338/Jose-Mourinho-to-target-Xabi-Alonso-as-he-starts-to-rebuild-the-Chelsea-attack.html

Telegraph linking us with Alonso again, claims Mourinho wants him.

[Backstreet09 499]

He'd never come here irl.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

If we are going to continue playing 4-2-3-1, we need a player of his ilk and quality, well to be a top top top team we do. This team has so much potential so getting a playmaker and a striker is the next step now that we have the coach we want.

[Backstreet09 499]

If we are going to continue playing 4-2-3-1, we need a player of his ilk and quality, well to be a top team we do.

I don't think there's a player who could match his quality and he won't sign for us. Mayne we are reely reely screwed if We didn't get atleast someone half of his quality, LOL everyones so busy with Cavani and Hulk. FACT IS We could win the title with Torres, Ba and Lukaku. But we won't without a geniune DLP and DM.

[mediator 2,026]

I'm sure Oscar or KDB could make the job in the pivot. But would be a nice signing tough

[cadenza666 221]

too loyal to Liverlol, cant see it happening.

[Toli 977]

he just got a surgery and could be out until october...so no thanks.