The Board

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

On 14.11.2017 at 6:13 PM, quickpassnmove said:

I love this text from an interview with Campos back in March/April because it's so relevant in the case of Chelsea (although we also currently lack excellent forwards to play with Eden and Alvaro):

“It may happen, but I think most English clubs do not know how to recruit for an issue that I almost think is cultural as almost everyone makes the same mistake. English clubs really, really like top attacking players, yet to a large extent make them play alongside medium-quality defences. And that, in my opinion, explains their relative lack of success in European competitions despite them spending exorbitant sums in recent years.

“Successfully building a good team project always involves the ability of players to relate and ‘match’ to each other. In the Premier League there is a big difference between great talents, and the medium quality of support for the same offensive talent. Most teams lack great defenders, and defensive midfielders.

“So I do not know if they would understand me culturally. The great forwards who are already in the Premier League would be even better if they had the support of great full backs, for example. And how many great full backs are there in England? Right now, maybe just Tottenham’s.”

-Luis Campos; source: Yahoo Sport

 

But is that true? I think for chelsea at least there has to be an exception. We always had good defences stacked with quality cbs like jt, carvalho, alex, luiz and fullbacks like cole, azpi, luis, prime ferreira, prime iva and dms like kante, ess, maka. As for attackers the only absolute worldclass ones in the last 10 years were Lamps, drogs and Hazard. Robben and kdb we lost to early and diego, morata, mata were or are not quite that level

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

2 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

But is that true? I think for chelsea at least there has to be an exception. We always had good defences stacked with quality cbs like jt, carvalho, alex, luiz and fullbacks like cole, azpi, luis, prime ferreira, prime iva and dms like kante, ess, maka. As for attackers the only absolute worldclass ones in the last 10 years were Lamps, drogs and Hazard. Robben and kdb we lost to early and diego, morata, mata were or are not quite that level

Definitely true for our fullbacks. Maybe the last time our fullbacks were great was A.Cole and Ivanovic but you are talking under Benitez at the latest. Arguably before. But crucially, are wbs right now need serious upgrading

[quickpassnmove 924]

14 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

But is that true? I think for chelsea at least there has to be an exception. We always had good defences stacked with quality cbs like jt, carvalho, alex, luiz and fullbacks like cole, azpi, luis, prime ferreira, prime iva and dms like kante, ess, maka. As for attackers the only absolute worldclass ones in the last 10 years were Lamps, drogs and Hazard. Robben and kdb we lost to early and diego, morata, mata were or are not quite that level

JT was great; no question there. However, the other centre back with him hasn't been top European quality for a long while and our fullbacks/wingbacks are nowhere near what they should be.

Centre midfield: year after year, I think this is also a weakness at Chelsea and only recently it's been covered up by the fact that we acquired Kante in summer 2016. There was a big drop off after Makelele and although we wouldn't have been expected to find another Claude Makelele, our CM was still relatively WEAK on complete footballing ability (see Barca, Madrid, Juve, Bayern, and others in England, etc. since 2007), I think we should have had better all-round centre midfielders during every season since Claude left (along with DEPTH).

So, YES, what Campos stated is true of Chelsea for most of the last 10 years. While Man Utd have struggled to make the next generation of fullbacks and centre midfielders work for them, they've spent far too much on attacking midfielders without backing them up with quality from behind.

It's clear that Pep has had a different set of priorities. I would argue that our own Antonio would mostly build from the back too, but Chelsea haven't acquired enough since his arrival.

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

AS Monaco is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Emenalo as new sporting director.

http://www.asmonaco.com/en/article/michael-emenalo-new-as-monaco-sporting-director-10938.html

[Special Juan 28,088]

the downward spiral continues for Monaco.

[Leif 6,006]

Watch them within just 2 seasons drop from 2nd-best team in the league to behind Lyon, trying to match Marseille's level. It's going to be depressing, but it won't all be Michael - it's down to the club's selling (players) & recruitment policy (personnel, not player) as a whole.

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

8 minutes ago, Leif said:

Watch them within just 2 seasons drop from 2nd-best team in the league to behind Lyon, trying to match Marseille's level. It's going to be depressing, but it won't all be Michael - it's down to the club's selling (players) & recruitment policy (personnel, not player) as a whole.

They already are behind Lyon, IMO. Lyon are more impressive side this season.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

33 minutes ago, pHaRaOn said:

AS Monaco is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Emenalo as new sporting director.

http://www.asmonaco.com/en/article/michael-emenalo-new-as-monaco-sporting-director-10938.html

It is entirely my decision and it has come about for very simple reasons. I need an opportunity to get to see my young kids grow and also to step back and reflect on the work that I have done here and the things that we have been able to accomplish together in this great club.   

[Fulham Broadway 17,299]

''Get rid of Bakayoko for us, and you can have a job here later''

[quickpassnmove 924]

What a season this is so far. 

That January window... what will it bring?

Looks like ManCity need nothing at the moment.

[y10edn 185]

Emenalo joins Monaco

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42144102

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Everybody at Chelsea Football Club has been deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former Academy and reserve team coach Dermot Drummy.

Dermot, who was 56, was a popular figure at both Stamford Bridge and Cobham during his time with Chelsea between 2007 and 2014.

 

What happend?! 

 

http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2017/11/dermot-drummy.html