posted Jul 16, 2007

Chelsea logic

Thanks for picking up on my omission. Of course full backs running the flanks is an important component of a diamond system, but it is not the essential ingredient.

If you cannot develop your attack from the middle, and rely on fullbacks to create pace, then your diamond is not working. Moreover you are inviting dangerous counterattacks, from a well organised side.

In fact I have to say that to rely on full backs is just like trying to create a winger system without wingers. You might as well return to the well tried and tested (but ancient and highly predictable) system of wingers

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posted Jul 16, 2007

Anyone who slags off Lampard is a biased prat. Every sensible person knows he is class.

60 goals for Chelsea over the last three seasons which is a record for a centre midfield player. 75 goals in the last 4 seasons. Any striker with this record and we would be saying how brilliant he is.

Lets not forget his passing for example his pass to Drogba in the cup final and his hard work for example his last ditch tackle at fulham away to stop Liam Rosenior scoring while the game was 0-0. Lampard went on to score twice to seal a 2-0 win.

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posted Jul 16, 2007

The fact of the matter is we had to set up our midfield so that ballack could play, obviously that didn't work because he wasn't great and it seemed to stunt our creativity! I think with the addition of malouda we will defo go back to the 4-3-3 formation that brought us so much joy prior to ballacks arrival!

I'm not saying ballack isn't a good player and in theory he should be quality in the prem as he's got all the attributes to make a top midfielder, he's big, strong, a great range of passing, can tackle and can shoot! but really we didn't see any of that last season, and obviously its his first season but i don't see why some players can slip straight in, ie berbatov and others just can't hack it! Getting paid over a hundred grand a week should be enough to help him raise his game! and don't get me started on sheva! bring back the little italian giant!

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posted Jul 16, 2007

Perhaps this is why Chelsea are now looking at D.Alves of Seville.

Chelsea Logic.

...............

D. Alves is brilliant especially when it comes to attacking. He would make a good addition to our squad.

But I am growing ever so weary of trying to buy our way out of our problems. I have never known so many good players underperform in one club under one manager.

A manager sets up a system that brings out the best in a player. We see the player and decide "I also want some of that". The result is that we are fast creating the graveyard of talent.

Mourinho already has (and has always had) a team strong enough to play some serious football. Yet we keep buying anyone that Abramovitch's money can afford. Sometimes we are selling a star player to buy a mediocre one.

There must be something not quite right here.

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posted Jul 16, 2007

CHELSEA LOGIC i agree completely with you and i will plead with blues like JTever to ease the pressure on lampard.he has enough problems with jealous fans of our rivals.Lampard's records as enunciated by u are simply overwhelming and any objective follower of the game wether chealsea fan or no cant afford to wave them away just like that.if not for his pass to DROG in the FA final,i dont know where our goal could have come from.Lampard deserves our full support and respect,not out of sentiment but simply becos he deserves every ounce of it.BLUES FOR LIFE

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posted Jul 16, 2007

We can use either of the formations depending on who we are playing or how the game is going, it doesn't have to be only one formation or the other. Remember when we switched to the diamond a couple of seasons ago against West Ham & demolished them 4-1 even though they had taken the lead & we went down to 10men?

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posted Jul 17, 2007

Sometimes we are selling a star player to buy a mediocre one?

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Geremi, Kezman, Belahrouz, Parker, Duff, Babayaro, Smertin, Jarosik, Tiago, Hasselbaink, Mutu, Veron, Del Horno and Gronkjaer are the majority of players that have moved on under Jose's management. These players either did not strengthen then team or did not really offer much to suggest they could have a future under Jose's reign.

The only players that moved on which indeed had the quality and ability to offer much for this new Chelsea team was simply Zola who left prior to Jose's appointment and Desailly who basically retired after a short spell at another club.

All those other players mentioned have been flops elsewhere and proved Jose's judgement on those players was indeed valid.

The only player that could be classed as a wasted opportunity for Jose's team is Crespo who could well still do a job for Chelsea but for family reasons he did not settle in England and was not happy. Jose can't be blamed for his departure although still under contract!

So your theory of Jose selling a star player to buy another one is not entirely correct.

Name me a player Jose has sold who has turned out to be a real star elsewhere?

The only player I can think of is possibly Tiago but what you must realise is that Tiago was used in a deal to bring in Essien who has turned out to be a star signing.

Now I feel Jose has added strength and class to a top squad he inherited but to say he has sold off quality is not correct.

Players like Mutu, Veron and Kezman did not work out for Chelsea and most of the other players simply have not improved elsewhere.

Hasselbaink was a great servant for our club over the years but lets be honest here he was never going to oust players like Drogba and Crespo out of the team and realised his days as a top striker for us was limited.

So I feel Jose has not sold off stars as you put it and can't be blamed for other players who are struggling to adapt to his team.

Ballack, Shevchenko and even SWP have the opportunity to express their abilities when the chance is given. To date they have all suffered a lapse of confidence and need to push themselves that much harder to break into the team now.

If Ballack thinks he is the best midfielder at our club now he knows what he needs to do. Get out there when he gets his next chance and steal the show. Perhaps he like Veron and Petit found out previously, out performing Frank Lampard is too much a difficult task. To take the banner they must score 20 goals a season and assist another 20 That will take some doing that!!!! Puts Lampard in perspective don't you think?

We have a real gem of a player that any team in world football would love to sign i'm sure. The club knows how crucial Lampard is to this team and will get him signing that new contract very soon.

As for graveyard of talent at our club? I think not!

There are more players at Chelsea that are producing than not.

Last season was a travesty in terms of injuries to key players. That was not addressed before when our players remained fit in the previous winning seasons.

The club will not make the same mistake again and that's why we have brought in some decent back up players this season. Pizzaro, Tel Haim and Sidwell are good players that realise they are not guaranteed starters but will do a job when called on. The best thing about this is that they cost the club nothing but will prove decent cover.

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posted Jul 17, 2007

Chelsea Logic,

I couldn't disagree more with your analysis of how and why our players have performed or underperformed.

To start with, how can you judge Ballack against Lampard when he has never been given the opportunity to play in his natural position (which Lampard is occupying).

I don't think either of us is going to concede this argument. We are kind of entrenched in our positions.

The bottom line is: Mourinho does not convince me as a manager who will ever get Chelsea to play quality football, or win the Chmapions League, and Essien or Ballack could do ten times better for Chelsea playing in Lampard's, position.

Thirdly the reason so many good players flop at Chelsea (more than in any other top club) is that Mourinho is not that good when it comes to organising the game.

To save us repeating ourselves yet again, let's wait till the end of next season before we return to this debate.

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posted Jul 17, 2007

Kandinsky,

Lampard last season mainly played left side of a diamond. Ballack mainly played at the tip of the diamond or to the right of the diamond.

How is Lampard playing Ballack's so say best position?

If Ballack is considered by yourself as a more creative player then surely at the tip of the diamond was more his favoured role yet Lampard in a more restricted left sided role out scored and out assisted Ballack comfortably.

Not really a strong argument in your favour is it?

Can you prove to me Ballack should be playing left side of a diamond? Is this going to make him more creative than Lampard?

Sorry mate, you're not selling your belief too well on this one.

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posted Jul 24, 2007

I d like to see a formation that allowed both Lampard and Ballack on the same team to score as many goals as they have in previous seasons apart. I donīt see why they canīt both play...most importantly Id be happy to see the sort of adaptive changes to formation that we used to see and the tactical switches thoughout the match that have frightened our opponents so much in recent years. It is only chelsea who can choose to play in whichever shape they want. Lampard has been a big part of our success and I see no reason to help rival fans by diminshing him in our own camp.

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