I love all of their pick ups, I think they will work really well together. Especially if they get Makelele, he is the final piece to that puzzle. I love their big strikers and Duff and Veron running the show. Great backline, great depth. I think they have a great shot at taking the Champions League as well. I am frightened to think who they might pick up next. Man U's latest pick ups are nice but I just don't think Ruud can carry that team again. Obviously it won't be a cake walk and I think Chelsea could use a keeper upgrade but they got a serious world class squad that will only get better. But I really think they need to change their sponsor. Fly Emerits just looks really lame on a kit. I like the new away unis but they ought to just put "Roman" on the front.
Surely they no longer need sponsors. They should keep their shirts "pure", a la Barcelona. I am a bit disappointed that all of our Dutch players are now frozen out at the side. I suppose you can't expect much else. Melchiot has little quality, Hasselbaink seems to be past his best, and Zenden never really settled in the team and became unfit for whatever reason. I hope they make their way back to Holland to help some of the local teams. As for Chelsea. I'm not sure they can win it. I think they still need to add someone who is absolutely world class. They still have not yet done that. Their only real big star is Juan Sebastian Veron... yet he has not been able to prove himself in the Premiership and is considered a flop by ManU. He still has a lot of work to do. Duff is promising and is quite a good player but has yet to show he is truly among the best in the world. Cole will not have a place in the starting line-up. Johnson, Geremi, Bridge... they are all quite good, not world- class. They could all grow to it though. I'm impressed by the amount of money he has spent, but he has not been able to add a truly big star. Makelele would be their biggest signing if they can pull if off. Moves for people like Vieri, Davids, Kluivert, Ronaldinho, Raul... all have collapsed. I think they will also need some time to gel. They played a decent game the other night, though.
Sorry Ace but if you are saying Duff isn't world class then you are completely wrong. Duff CARRIED Ireland in the world cup and almost beat star studded Spain. Their two tall Scandanavian strikers are going to be a pair of demons as they hit their stride. And Marcel is one of the top four defenders in the world, still. This team is very well balanced, unlike Real, and unlike Man U. I see teams like Bayern and Milan as balanced and the most legitimate threats to chelsea dominance. But with the next couple of players Roman has pledged to acquire, I see chelski dominance, especially considering that they have acquired most of these players at bargain price.
Until Roman gets tired of sinking millions of pounds into his new hobby. And Arsenal and Manchester United are still superior teams.
Well it will be a lot more interesting this year. I am a life long Man U fan and will still be supporting them, but I look at Chelski and I have to say.... that is going to be quite a squad.
eh, I don't think you can just throw a bunch of players on the field and expect them to gel immediately. If they get off to a hot start, that would be incredibly impressive. Also, a number of the Chelsea signings are as much for the future as for now. So while I think Glenn Johnson will be a pure-bred hoss in the defense in the future, I don't think he'll be a significant factor in any possible title run. And unless Veron or Cole have a breakout year at Chelski, I think their midfield is significantly less potent than the ManU or Arsenal.
Hmmm.... I think I might take the comment back on Duff. I still think the same of him, perhaps I should phrase my thoughts differently. I will agree about the World Cup. He played well. Still, though, while he did a job at Blackburn I'm still not fully convinced. You have to admit he is still quite young and a lot of it is also based on what can be as opposed to expecting the same from him. They think he will grow, so he has yet to prove himself. I also don't think he can touch players on the midfield of some of the other big teams. I don't know... I think he can make it but it remains to be seen. Marcel... hmmm, he is quality but I think he gave some in last year. You can tell his age. If the team can gel, and that is a big if, then they will succeed. I will definitely agree they have a basis. I also think they have a good potential. If they manage to aquire players like Makelele and Crespo then I would be scared to face them. I will not, however, see them as favourites anytime soon. I think Bayern will do quite well... but for a team that was knocked out of the CL early, I would hold all bets and talk until they start to prove something. I am a big fan of Makaay, and while I am confident he will do well I would not want to guarantee it. Such things are dangerous to say.
my doubts around Chelski are centred on Chemistry and the defensive skills of their midfielders, if they play as a team they will score a lot of goals, but when they don't have the ball they still look like that vunerable chelski, funny how with all that money they still get that same type of offensive Chelski players
That's what I mean. I think they are marginally improving on quality. They could do so much better but are unable to get the biggest players. Guys like Davids, Makelele, would be great in their midfield. I also think they need a major signing like a Ruud, Raul, but it will be very difficult to pry away such proven talent.
the thing with Duff that is scary is that at Blackburn and even with Ireland he was the number one target for opposition teams/defenses, i just think we all the weapons Chelski have he is going to get the chance to go 1 on 1 a hell of lot more.
That's a very good point. Duff is talented. I never meant to take that away from him. I just always doubt giving players credit. I mean, I don't think he is a phenom... yet with the potential to become one of the best. Many players have this, though. I also wonder how Veron will cope. There is no doubt he is technically gifted. Some of the things he can do with a ball, it amazes me. It truly does.
and who plays the holding role in midfield?? are they going with a 4-5-1 formation, think i heard that somewhere, is hasselbaink done and where do Gudjohsen and Mutu fit in???
Roman has already said his next target is a defensive midfield player. Chelski will likely start Mutu and Gud at the forward spots. The midfield of Duff, Veron, Geremi, and Lampard is a lethal midfield and I think if you input Makelele, which is almost a guarantee considering his latest salary demands, it is a well balanced midfield better than any in the premiership. Chelsea in 9th? Easy Tio....
I mean, I don't think they will win, and when you assemble such a large group of 'stars' and things start to turn bad, they have a way to get sour. Back when Chelsea still were Chelsea they tried this experiment before and it failed, and I think it will again as Chelski. When they are not winning, and only playing half of the time, things are likely to turn out worse than they are than they are live up to all the hype. They are easily better than 9th though, no argument about that. Also I never said they would finish 9th, just that them finishing 9th were more likely than them winning it all.
