Mohamed Salah

[BloodIsBlue 291]

I don't think he has had enough time or that we've seen enough of him to be cynical much less make a really committed analysis. If he is supposed to be the weakest out of Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Schurrle and Salah in our attacking midfield then I like the look of things to come.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Well, and to end my post, I sadly predict Salah to be one of those typical Mourinho's signing: Maniche, Jarosik, Sidwell, Wright-Philips, Ben Haim, Pizarro. Deja-vu.

Most of those players were older, established players when we signed them. Salah is young and will probably retain most of his value no matter what happens at Chelsea.

I also think it's way too early to judge him considering some of Schurrle's recent comments about having to make changes to play under Mourinho. Jose asks a lot of players both tactically and physically and Salah is in the early stages of his career here. He may well play a small role this season but I don't think we'll see what he can truly offer until September/October.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Well, and to end my post, I sadly predict Salah to be one of those typical Mourinho's signing: Maniche, Jarosik, Sidwell, Wright-Philips, Ben Haim, Pizarro. Deja-vu.

Or maybe one of those "typical Mourinho signings" like Drogba, Essien, Ballack, Carvalho, Ferreira or Ashley Cole?

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

You dont get players like Hazard all the time, do you? Its easy now to compare Hazard to any player in the world, but 2 years, probably only belgian fans and youtube addict guys would think Hazard will be as good as he is for us right now, and for me he was just okay in his first season. Right now he is WAY better than the previous season. When we got Hazard, he wasnt the player he is today. Right now his price is much more than that.

Plus, midfielder is much more complex than you think. Iniesta and Xavi are all midfielders, but they goal record arent great, specially when they are playing in a team that scores a lot of goals, but its just impossible to measure their impact for Barcelona in goals or even is assists. So your "goals per game" is only a poor way to look at football.

Well, and to end my post, I sadly predict Salah to be one of those typical Mourinho's signing: Maniche, Jarosik, Sidwell, Wright-Philips, Ben Haim, Pizarro. Deja-vu.

Hazard was 21, and was the 2-time player of the year in France. He was one of the most sought after young players in football. He made the PFA team of the season in his first year. He was an elite young player with world-class talent who made an immediate impact at a top level. He was 32M Willian is 25, was playing in a crappy league, couldn't crack the Brazilian national team, and he cost the same. He cost more than Oscar, Mata, Silva, etc...Willian cost the same as Mario Goetze...etc..

And yes, I am aware there are different kinds of midfielders, but WIllian is not a central midfielder and doesn't play the same role as Iniesta, Xavi, etc..play. He is an attacking midfielder, usually playing in the #10 slot. Nobody would be upset if Matic doesn't produce goals and assists because that's not his job, but it is Willian's job. 2 goals in 30 games is terrible. Yes, he has great work ethic and energy, but that's not a 30M midfielder.

[Shakez 755]

Hazard was 21, and was the 2-time player of the year in France. He was one of the most sought after young players in football. He made the PFA team of the season in his first year. He was an elite young player with world-class talent who made an immediate impact at a top level. He was 32M Willian is 25, was playing in a crappy league, couldn't crack the Brazilian national team, and he cost the same. He cost more than Oscar, Mata, Silva, etc...Willian cost the same as Mario Goetze...etc..

And yes, I am aware there are different kinds of midfielders, but WIllian is not a central midfielder and doesn't play the same role as Iniesta, Xavi, etc..play. He is an attacking midfielder, usually playing in the #10 slot. Nobody would be upset if Matic doesn't produce goals and assists because that's not his job, but it is Willian's job. 2 goals in 30 games is terrible. Yes, he has great work ethic and energy, but that's not a 30M midfielder.

Still he displaced Mata, Schürrle and KDB. There's a reason for that, José sees it, the rest of the world sees it except you it seems. Liverpool and Tottenham where also keen on signing him for big money. The thing about him not cracking the brazilian national team is bullshit, same case as Fernandinho. Hell, Willian didn't even had a starting spot here when he got called up by Scolari. Was he suddenly worthy enough because he plays at Chelsea? In the end football is about results, not racking 4-5 goals a game. Willian btw has alot more defensive duties then Hazard.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Still he displaced Mata, Schürrle and KDB. There's a reason for that, José sees it, the rest of the world sees it except you it seems. Liverpool and Tottenham where also keen on signing him for big money. The thing about him not cracking the brazilian national team is bullshit, same case as Fernandinho. Hell, Willian didn't even had a starting spot here when he got called up by Scolari. Was he suddenly worthy enough because he plays at Chelsea? In the end football is about results, not racking 4-5 goals a game. Willian btw has alot more defensive duties then Hazard.

He displaced those players because Mourinho values pace and work-rate over everything else. And it's not that he's not scoring 4-5 goals a game, he's scoring 1 goal every 15 games. I never said he's a bad player or a useless player, he's just not worth what we paid for him and never will be.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

He displaced those players because Mourinho values pace and work-rate over everything else. And it's not that he's not scoring 4-5 goals a game, he's scoring 1 goal every 15 games. I never said he's a bad player or a useless player, he's just not worth what we paid for him and never will be.

I reckon he is worth 20-25 million but considering interest from Spurs and, maybe, other sides, the price is just about right. Any team must have had to pay up in a similar range. Also the Bale transfer just inflated the market by 5-10 million.

[Henrique 9,133]

He displaced those players because Mourinho values pace and work-rate over everything else. And it's not that he's not scoring 4-5 goals a game, he's scoring 1 goal every 15 games. I never said he's a bad player or a useless player, he's just not worth what we paid for him and never will be.

You keep the "goal per game" bullshit, sorry, but Im done here. You way to look at the game is very limited, sorry.

[Henrique 9,133]

Or maybe one of those "typical Mourinho signings" like Drogba, Essien, Ballack, Carvalho, Ferreira or Ashley Cole?

Ballack and Cole were big names.

Drogba and Essien had good performance in french league. (Essien was perhaps the best player for Lyon).

Ferreira and Carvalho were UCL winners with Jose.

To me Salah does not sound like that.

[dee25 1,044]

Ballack and Cole were big names.

Drogba and Essien had good performance in french league. (Essien was perhaps the best player for Lyon).

Ferreira and Carvalho were UCL winners with Jose.

To me Salah does not sound like that.

Essien, Ballack - i'll give you that but Drogba? Easy now to say that he was gonna be successful here because he's gone on to establish himself. At the time he was signed there was so much uncertainty around him and his first season here was nothing special. Also with Cole, weren't there a few at the time who thought that Arsenal got the better end of the deal?

We don't know what the future lies for Salah. What we do know is that this is a risk free signing with potential. He might come good or he might not but there's no way of predicting.

And.... was Cole even all that good in Mourinho's first stint here?

Edited March 3, 2014 by dee25

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Ballack and Cole were big names.

Drogba and Essien had good performance in french league. (Essien was perhaps the best player for Lyon).

Ferreira and Carvalho were UCL winners with Jose.

To me Salah does not sound like that.

Exactly, all big names at the peak of their careers. Salah is 21. I don't see you act so judgemental over Hazard or Courtois.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Well, and to end my post, I sadly predict Salah to be one of those typical Mourinho's signing: Maniche, Jarosik, Sidwell, Wright-Philips, Ben Haim, Pizarro. Deja-vu.

To be fair, Deja Vu was never given a real chance with the first team..

[BlueLyon 9,359]

He is too one dimensional player to suceed at top club. He has pace, but no strength, only decent passing, good dribbling but bad ball control. And his decision making is not the best.

Give him time I will, but wouldnt bet he will succeed properly here. Hope Im wrong though.

[Jase 43,479]

Who is willing to bet whether Salah will be a success or failure by end of next season? The winners will select the punishment for the failures.

[LAM09 7,043]

The list of failures being branded are a joke. How many of them were performing in Europe before we bought them?!

None!