Chelsea F.C [2011-2012]

[Sir Calumn]

I couldn't agree with you more. Unfortunately full backs are a bit of a rare commodity. Maybe, with Everton's financial problems, we could pick up Baines for a reasonable price and prepare him as a long-term replacement for Cole? I dont know much about good full back potential on the continent, was that Perreira guy we were courting for a while a full back?

I think 35m on Moura is too big of a risk, dont fancy overpaying for Hulk, dont think there's really any chance of Neymar coming to England. I've been a fan of Hazard for a while, also think we should be looking at Hamsik, though I guess we would have to pay through the nose for him. Cavani may also be the striker we're looking for? Would love Gotze of course but still dont think he's that realistic a prospect.

Like you say, there are lots of positions I am unhappy with, but we need to start with replacing our aging and constantly underperforming players. Sturridge and Mata should be a part of any new team we construct, hopefully Romeu will produce the goods, meaning we shouldnt need that much to bolster our midfield and wide forwards. Modric would be perfect, but not at 40m+. Maybe Moutinho?

 

[Mandieta6]

For central midfield I think Moutinho and Hamsik would be the ones to look at? Alongside Ramires and Romeu.

At ST, I dunno, Cavani? I don't recall us being linkes with anyone else (Falcao has already transfered to a different team). Besides, we've plugged the MC hole for a season or two with Meireles and there's hope for Josh yet. And at ST we're supposedly covered with Lukaku and Torres. And Sturridge should we get different AMs.

 

[Zakov]

Alex to PSG confirmed.

A bit sad that with the way he went out, seems like some fans remember him only for his mistakes recently, but he was a colossus from late 2008 to early 2011 for us. If anything he's probably concerned because he's 29 and won't get much opportunities here with AVB preferring JT and Luiz as first choice.

The positive thing is that he didn't go to QPR.

 

[yoyo913]

I think Cavani would be a big hit in the epl. He's got a good motor and size, plus overall good attacking skill.

 

[Sir Calumn]

I thought AVB has been a bit of a **** to Alex......

I dont think it was Alex's request to be transfer listed, I think he was told rather unceremoniously that he was going to be leaving and immediately banned from training alongside the first team, along with Anelka. Apparently AVB even refused to allow them both to come to the team Christmas party. It all seems a bit of a low way to treat too decent servants of the club, especially Alex who hadn't accepted a massive Chinese payday and didnt even have a transfer lined up at the time.

 

[Sir Calumn]

Anyway, QPR today, who have been a bit of a thorn in our side this season both on and off the pitch. Hoping for a good win, we need a decent FA cup run. Not sure I can watch FA cup matches in Estonia as they are on English terrestrial TV usually. Clash, help?

 

[Mandieta6]

Not particularly pleased about Alex, since I thought he was a great player, but AVB seemed tyo want him out we've got Cahill as a 1 for 1 change, so, yeah.

 

[Mandieta6]

@Fili: Kaby has left the club, possibly on loan, but quite probably on a free, to some Cypriot club.

 

[Zakov]

Average performance, we were quite lucky to get the penalty. Karma's a bitch eh QPR?

Ramires looks badly injured though, medial ligament damage it seems. Minimum 4 weeks out which is a huge blow.

 

[Filipower]

Yeah I knew Az. Which is ****ed up. But he's a ****ed up kid, he decided to play gor Guinea instead of Portugal and that kind of stuff. Hope he does make it big eventually though.

 

[Sir Calumn]

A wins a win....

But losing Ramires is a really blow, especially at ACN time.

Is Essien back?

 

[Mandieta6]

Yes.

 

[Mandieta6]

Would be awesome, although difficult, for him to get 200. Hadn't realised he's scored 4 goals in one match twice. Also forgot how silky he used to be, just an awesome player whose been a pleasure to watch.

 

[Sir Calumn]

Hmmmmm.... another 19 would not be impossible, depending on him an AVB - if AVB is willing to keep him, and if he is willing to settle for playing fewer and less important matches. If we just kept him for really easy games and Carling and FA cup ties he could ratchet up the 19 in a couple more years....

But he might be tempted by Russian or Chinese money.

Anyway, what a player. One of the EPL's all time finest.

 

[Sir Calumn]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/30012012/58/premier-league-de-bruyne-arrives-medical.html

Looks like you were right Mandieta6. 6.7m seems like a decent prices.

Genk are turning into a nice little feeder club for us.

Worrying that AVB had nothing to do with it, though.

 

[Mandieta6]

Nah, it's pretty stanrdad in mainland clubs to have a director of football whose in charge of transfers, and he coordinates with the manager. AVB's job is deal with the first team squad and get us trophies, he's not the one whose going to be scouting and asking for young players who may or may not be good enough in a few years' time. De Bruyne is not good enough yet, so AVB has no reason to want him. Once, if ever, he's good enough, AVB will use him.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I think you need communication between manager and director of football in order to see the best possible results, but I agree with the Continental method. As long as the manager lays out his style of play and the type of player he wants, it's better to have someone else going out to find the players. Even in England this isn't that strange, I remember in The Damned United movie Brian Clough had his assistant do that stuff.

 

[Sir Calumn]

Yeah but Brian Clough had Peter Taylor, basically his best friend, right-arm and arguably co-manager. That is unusual in British football.

Rafa, in one of a series of very good articles about the technical side of football management, outlines the differences between club structures in Britain and on the continent. http://www.rafabenitez.com/web/index.php?act=mostrarBlog&id_entrada=57&idioma=in

I would like to say British football stay that way. I mean, it is fine for the chairman and manager to work together in the transfer market a la Redknapp and Levy, but when the manager is bypassed entirely, I dont like it. Dont forget that having new unwanted and unasked for players thrust upon them by the board (Shevchenko and Torres) has already cost the jobs of two Chelsea managers.

The continent can keep their Perez style meddling, thank-you very much!

 

[ShiftyPowers]

I think the system is antiquated. Managers don't, or shouldn't, have time to scout new players properly in addition to coaching up the team.

 

[Sir Calumn]

I'm not saying managers should do all the scouting themselves, but I do think the manager should be included in all transfer consultations and, ultimately, should have a transfer veto.

Lots about British football is antiquated and I like it that way!