Will we wont we

[fred milne]

The signing of a big name "edge of your seat" player can really boost the team and it's fans. Anyone who says it makes no difference is wrong. If we signed Kuyt and Alves it would send a sign to the Premiership and make other teams sit up and take notice. Signing some unknown will not make other teams worry, the unknown might be great but he wont immediately strike fear into other teams.

Not that I think its particularly important but Kuyt and Alves don't strike me being big name "edge of your seat" signings. One is (so far) only a squad player at the World Cup and the other hasn't made it to the World Cup at all.

[Bailo]

Me.

Don't see how you can not be worried by Shevchenko signing for them....Ballack I can't see improving them and causing disputes, but Shevchenko is the prolific striker they've lacked the last 2 years, and yet still pissed the league.

[chiliking]

When I heard of Schevchenko to Chelsea, I got a bit worried. But hey, they can't have more than 11 players on the field at the same time. With so many big stars, there have to be tension, envy and charades. I've seen cracks in their concrete last season. They are just covering the cracks, not mending them.

Besides, Chevvy was s**** vs Spain anyway.

[fred milne]

Don't see how you can not be worried by Shevchenko signing for them....Ballack I can't see improving them and causing disputes, but Shevchenko is the prolific striker they've lacked the last 2 years, and yet still pissed the league.

Both Ballack and Schevchenko strike me as being signed with winning the Champions League in mind. I'm not convinced they'll make Chelsea that much more potent in the league.

[Knox_Harrington]

Both Ballack and Schevchenko strike me as being signed with winning the Champions League in mind. I'm not convinced they'll make Chelsea that much more potent in the league.

And both may lead to a change of shape.

 

Think Jose's getting himself into a bit of a bind. They've bought these two because they can.

[Guest Cally77]

What fecin difference does it make as long as we get the right player?

Edited June 15, 2006 by Cally77

[Knox_Harrington]

Not that I think its particularly important but Kuyt and Alves don't strike me being big name "edge of your seat" signings. One is (so far) only a squad player at the World Cup and the other hasn't made it to the World Cup at all.

Agree with that. They'll hype the internet contingent up but a bloke I know who goes every week walked in the other day carrying the Echo and said "Who's this Alves?"

[Benitez]

I don't see the point in getting worried about who Chelsea sign, cos they are just in a whole different league to the rest of us. So whats the point fretting about it! NO ONE here can compete with what they are doing, and I've got to the point when I'm non plussed about it, as I have fec all respect for what they are 'achieving' anyway.

 

Now when ManUSA and Arsenal strengthen, then that is something I'd take more notice of.

[beejay]

Depends what you mean by high-profile.

 

Beckham is high profile, don't want him. So is Ronaldo, don't want him either. The last really high profile player we bought was Morientes. Nuff said.

 

Alves isn't high profile, Joaquim is. I would prefer Alves.

 

We are clearly chasing two from Kuyt, Bellamy, Bent, Defoe and all those are medium to high profile.

 

I would be more concerned if we blew £20 odd mil on one "high-profile" player, particularly from abroad and in the process, failed to address other weaknesses in the squad.

[Buzz]

I wouldn't blame a person, I would blame a circumstance if indeed Cisse's sale was the funding for new palyer/players. Which brings another worry of Rafa being told investment/funding for the summer was definately on it's way, but isn't now due to the failure of selling one player, is he gonna feel swindled or lied to?.

[Kahnee]

I wouldn't blame a person, I would blame a circumstance if indeed Cisse's sale was the funding for new palyer/players. Which brings another worry of Rafa being told investment/funding for the summer was definately on it's way, but isn't now due to the failure of selling one player, is he gonna feel swindled or lied to?.

 

No. Now stop worrying

[fred milne]

And both may lead to a change of shape.

 

Think Jose's getting himself into a bit of a bind. They've bought these two because they can.

I'm still hoping that they might be foolish enough to allow one or both of Gallas and Cavalho to leave over the course of the summer.

[Bailo]

And both may lead to a change of shape.

 

Think Jose's getting himself into a bit of a bind. They've bought these two because they can.

I would have thought the shape would stay the same, with Shevchenko taking Crespo's place as the one upfront, switching with Drogba. Same Robben/Duff/Cole/SWP playing either side, with Ballack/Makalele/Lampard as the three in midfield.

[Knox_Harrington]

I would have thought the shape would stay the same, with Shevchenko taking Crespo's place as the one upfront, switching with Drogba. Same Robben/Duff/Cole/SWP playing either side, with Ballack/Makalele/Lampard as the three in midfield.

Why were they f***ing about at the end of the season with two up then?

 

I'm still hoping that they might be foolish enough to allow one or both of Gallas and Cavalho to leave over the course of the summer.

Having let Huth go I'd think it unlikely but you never know. Part of the problem for them is the attitude of "We can get any replacement we want in" when they might not blend.

[Bailo]

Why were they f***ing about at the end of the season with two up then?

I honestly think Jose got a) bored of not making many tactical decisions and b) pissed off with the criticism of the one up system, it being "boring". I expect they'll start with Shevchenko on his own next season.

 

If I'm wrong and they regularly partner Drogba with him, then obviously that is a change of shape and a bonus as I don't think anyone in the world thinks those two could play together.

[Sion]

Morientes was a big name...

[Bailo]

Having let Huth go I'd think it unlikely but you never know. Part of the problem for them is the attitude of "We can get any replacement we want in" when they might not blend.

I read somewhere Carvalho was on the "out" list for this season. Probably so they can bid for Ferdinand. Remember as well they're linked heavily with A Cole for the left hand side.

[Knox_Harrington]

I honestly think Jose got a) bored of not making many tactical decisions and b) pissed off with the criticism of the one up system, it being "boring". I expect they'll start with Shevchenko on his own next season.

 

If I'm wrong and they regularly partner Drogba with him, then obviously that is a change of shape and a bonus as I don't think anyone in the world thinks those two could play together.

To do that in the FA Cup semi final is an interesting one.

 

I think they were working out how best to use Ballack and Shevchenko. Drogba and Shevchenko could work.

 

It'll be interesting to see the remainder of Chelsea's activity this summer.

[fred milne]

Having let Huth go I'd think it unlikely but you never know. Part of the problem for them is the attitude of "We can get any replacement we want in" when they might not blend.

You may be right. Gallas probably doesn't fancy a move to Serie A at the moment with both Juve and Milan seemingly under threat of relegation.

 

However, Cavalho would be at least as big a loss to them. There were rumours of a bust-up with Mourinho towards the back end of the season and I seem to remember he had been linked tentatively with Real....

[Tobes Rafa]

I'm not in the least bit bothered about who Chelsea sign. We only have to play them twice in the league so that in itself doesn't contribute to whether we win the league or not. What is important is our consistency against the other teams. We could actually go out and get stuffed 5-0 by Chelsea in both games and still beat them to the title.

 

We have to concentrate on our own game and make sure we can pick up more points against ManUre and Arsenal while consistently beating the mid-to-lower league teams. We showed last year that this is a part of our game which has improved dramatically.

 

Chelsea WILL drop points no matter how many "galacticos" they sign and we have to make sure we are on their heels to capitalise.

 

Scared of Chelsea? Not me.

[Guest Kaizer]

The question I ask myself, is if we have a plan B if this Alves signing does not come through.

Last summer Figo was our Plan A, that did not work out the way we liked and just before the transfer window closed, we switched our intentions to Simao and that did not work out either because there was no real time for real negotiations.

 

Alves may come, but what is our plan if he doesnt?

[Guest Cally77]

The question I ask myself, is if we have a plan B if this Alves signing does not come through.

Last summer Figo was our Plan A, that did not work out the way we liked and just before the transfer window closed, we switched our intentions to Simao and that did not work out either because there was no real time for real negotiations.

 

Alves may come, but what is our plan if he doesnt?

 

Wibble!

[IgPig]

I honestly think Jose got a) bored of not making many tactical decisions and b) pissed off with the criticism of the one up system, it being "boring". I expect they'll start with Shevchenko on his own next season.

 

If I'm wrong and they regularly partner Drogba with him, then obviously that is a change of shape and a bonus as I don't think anyone in the world thinks those two could play together.

 

Mourinho has already said he'll be playing Drogba and Shevchenko up front together, which I imagine is part of the reason they changed their shape towards the end of last season.

 

The question I ask myself, is if we have a plan B if this Alves signing does not come through.

Last summer Figo was our Plan A, that did not work out the way we liked and just before the transfer window closed, we switched our intentions to Simao and that did not work out either because there was no real time for real negotiations.

 

Alves may come, but what is our plan if he doesnt?

 

 

Pennant by the looks of things, but maybe Rafa should reveal plans a-z just for your reassurance.

Edited June 15, 2006 by hamstrung

[JohnnyH]

I knew some people would be stupid enough to reply "me" to my question about anyone saying "oh bolox!" when he signed.

 

Anyone that doesn't think that the signing of Schevchecko will affect our chances of winning the title is deluded. The only thing Chelsea were missing was a prolific goal scorern. They have now signed him. Of course, he might not fit in, but that's a big if.

 

The signing of that big name will have a major say on where the big pots go next year.

[Guest Cally77]

Sheva is way past his best. He's a luxury signing, along with Ballack.

 

Bellamy will score more than him next season.