Crucial win

Crucial win 

What an amazing performance to silence all the critiques and doubters Chelsea had. Chelsea won 3-0 away from home at FC Schalke 04 at the ground where Jose Mourinho first lifted the Champions League trophy with FC Porto.

Schalke passed the ball and it was met with an on rushing Chelsea player to defend it. Where was Julian Draxler? In Branislav Ivanovic's pocket. Azpilicueta did extremely well at LB. Jose Mourinho got the tactics absolutely spot on!

Next around the corner is Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. City have been very inconsistent, demolishing Manchester United 4-1 and the week after, losing to Aston Villa 3-2 without Benteke.  This is the game that lays the mark that Jose has arrived. We must win to keep on track. Cancel out Sergio 'Kun' Aguero and Yaya Toure and you've cancelled out the majority of the City team. Some rumours have it to believe that Ashley Cole is fit to face Man City and Vincent Kompany has been ruled out of the match. This will be a major boost to Chelsea. I hope Mourinho gets the tactics spot on again and increases our unbeaten run at home and this season.

Here is how I think Chelsea should line up against Manchester City:

                  Cech
Ivanovic Terry Cahill Cole
      Ramires Lampard
Schurrle Oscar Hazard
             Torres

I believe this is our strongest XI for this current season. We have options to rotate the current squad if needs must.

The game will kick off on Sunday 27th October at Stamford Bridge. 

Striker Conundrum

Striker Conundrum 

    I will attempt to find a striker who would finally, finally complete the final jigsaw to Chelsea's striking problems. Lukaku is on loan, so let him be for a season. Torres seems to be getting back to his best but whenever  anyone even remotely thinks of it, Fernando immediately stops performing. Eto'o is performing below par, having so much experience with  FC Barcelona and Inter Milan at the top level, he looks 17 not 32. Chelsea need a striker at the top, who stays in the middle, not a player who drifts on the wing and in the 'CF' position. Eto'o was only given a one-year contract at the start of the season and I think that's how it should stay. Ba, has been extremely inconsistent - one game, he's instrumental, the other, you wonder if he's still on the pitch. During the January transfer window, Chelsea should simply invest in a striker. I have five propositions to fit the bill.

Javier Hernandez, 25 - Manchester United
   Forget Rooney. This one is more likely. He sits on the bench, 4th choice and wouldn't have a sky-high price. Pacy, goal scorer and has a great reputation. An estimated guess of £15-£20 million. Still a young player too who hasn't reached his peak. Clinical goal poacher. Someone to put the ball in the net. If I were Mourinho, I'd buy Hernandez in the January transfer window.


Robert Lewandowski, 25 - Borussia Dortmund
   This is certainly the player Roman Abramovich should fight tooth and nail to sign a contract at Chelsea. Latest reports coming out of the Lewandowski camp say that he hasn't in fact signed a pre-contract with Bayern Munich and wishes to test himself in the Premier League. Costing absolutely nothing in transfer fees, as his contract expires in the summer, Robert Lewandowski is free to speak to any club in January. Powerful, pacy and knows where the goal is, I would be happy to see him in a Chelsea shirt. Although this wouldn't help in the current season, having signed Lewandowski on a pre-contract, would be exciting news for any Chelsea fans and maybe, the Chelsea strikers would up their game in order to be within the club next season.


Karim Benzema, 25 - Real Madrid
   Maybe an outside bet to wear the Chelsea blue, but I wouldn't be ungrateful if he arrived. His performances for the Los Blancos (The Whites - Real Madrid) have been below par and he has been warned that if his performances do not improve, he could be shown to the door. Rumours speculate that Real Madrid are wanting to sign a striker in the figure of Luis Suarez so this may pave the door for Benzema to be sold for a cheaper price than expected, in the region of £20-£30 million.


Radamel Falcao, 27/29 (depending what you believe) - AS Monaco
  Unlikely as it would seem, having just transferred in the summer, Falcao would be an excellent purchase. Some rumours have it to believe that super agent, Jorge Mendes installed a clause in Falcao's contract which sates that if Chelsea FC or Real Madrid are willing to pay £50 million in January 2014 (the same amount that AS Monaco payed Atletico Madrid in the summer 2013) then Falcao would be allowed to speak to the clubs.


Loic Remy, 26 - Newcastle United (on loan from Queens Park Rangers)
   Almost never going to happen but I see a deadly striker in Loic Remy. Albeit, it's just October, Loic Remy is the second highest top scorer in the Premier League with a below-motivated Newcastle United side languishing in 11th place. Without a shadow of a doubt, he is able to find the net and causes chaos for defenders. He would be a gamble for The Blues but not an expensive one. An estimated £10-£15 million should be enough.

Walking the ball into the net

Walking the ball into the net

   

   What is going wrong? So much talent. The manager, the players, the backroom staff. On paper, tipped for success. On the pitch, different story. Chelsea Football Club have lost 3 out of 3 in all competitions. One in the Super Cup, one in the Premier League and another in the Champions League. I accept the fact that Chelsea lost the Super Cup against Bayern, albeit winning twice against them and being pegged back to 2-2 within the last 7 seconds. Against Everton, created 21 chances, took none. Eto'o drifts out wide too many times so there's no vocal player in the middle. Against Basel, Chelsea were simply poor. Jose underestimated Basel, leaving Torres and Schurrle completely out of the squad. Van Ginkel made his Champions League debut for Chelsea and personally, he looked a boy in man's game. Too many fouls, too many misjudged errors. He looked very average. He needs to be nurtured properly, brought into games, not rushed into the Champions League. David Luiz should have filled in there and Chelsea should have played John Terry with Gary Cahill.

   Chelsea too many times, tried to walk the ball into the net. I can only recall, perhaps twice from Oscar, where he shot from distance, one hit the bar and went out. Every time, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Hazard or Willian got the ball, it would be to try and walk the ball into the net, dribble through the Basel defence with neat footwork or slick passing. This didn't work. There was no strong, prolific striker. Even Eto'o tried a few dribbling runs. This was pointless. It clearly hasn't worked.

   Rotating so many players hasn't worked either. Willian was almost anonymous tracking back, Hazard had the poorest game in a Chelsea jersey and Eto'o seemed out of place. There was no fluidity between the team. Chelsea seemed like 11 individuals. Mourinho needs to pick his strongest eleven and work with that and rotate rarely rather than constantly. I think we missed Victor Moses running at people. Such a direct player. There is no consistency in the side and Jose underestimated Basel. This is the cause of our loss.

This should have been the team Jose went with:


                Cech
Ivanovic Terry Cahill Cole
      Luiz Lampard
Oscar   Mata   Hazard
          Torres

   Hazard and Oscar will be tracking back as well as going forward to support Mata and Torres. Luiz, as well as Lamaprd, naturally run forward to help the attack. This would have been a far solid squad compared to our eleven individual players last night.

   Next match is Fulham FC at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 21st September at 5:30pm. I look forward to see who starts and how Chelsea perform.  

Eto'o, Willian or simply the Juan?

Eto'o, Willian or simply the Juan?

   As the Premier League resumes tomorrow (Saturday 14th September) after having an international break, I'm going to see who will make the biggest impact between Eto'o, Willian or Juan Mata.

   Willian Borges da Silva: He is an exceptional player. He adds something extra to that already entertaining midfield. His speed, skills, movement and composure are an asset to any team. Rumoured to have cost anything from £25 to £32 million, depends on what tabloid you read, the former Anzhi Makhachkala playmaker glides rather than runs or sprints. A quote from Cahill states, he was ''terrified'' whenever Willian got the ball to his feet in training in the first couple of days. There is a slight problem for the new Brazilian at Chelsea; he is facing a mountain to become a starter. The number of attacking midfielder Chelsea posses is incredible. His natural position is on the left but Hazard, almost guaranteed a starter, will Willian adapt to the right where he faces competition from Schurrle, De Bryune and Oscar? I'm unsure if Willian will start, however, I can see him coming off of the bench and creating an impact on the game.

   Samuel Eto'o: No matter how you view this guy, he is something to behold. He has played for the two biggest clubs in Spain, went on to win the treble with Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho and was later sold to Anzhi Makhachkala, where he earned £300,000 per week, which is 60 pence a second. After signing for Chelsea on a one-year deal believed to be £130,000 a week (no way near the ridiculous number he was payed at Anzhi) Samuel Eto'o is somewhat a mystery. He has signed on a free, at the age of 32 but hasn't played at the top level for 2 years now. Is he a starter ahead of Torres and Ba? For me; yes. If he is able to regain his form he showed for clubs such as Barcelona and Inter Milan, Chelsea would have acquired a bargain. Ba and Torres are stop and start and personally, it is very frustrating to see the pair fire one week and draw blanks the next. Eto'o should start for Chelsea no doubt.

   Juan Mata: The Chelsea player of the year for two seasons in a row. Who would have thought, he wouldn't be guaranteed a starting place. Everything seems to be rosy in the Juan Mata camp but how long will that last after he finds out he won't play as many games as last season? I have total belief in Mr Mourinho but playing Juan Mata is no argument. Embed your method in him. Juan Mata is simply an outstanding player. He can unlock defences like a walk through a park. This guy is a genius. It will be a big blow if we lost Mata but time can only tell and I hope he starts tomorrow.

   I personally believe we have too many attacking players at Chelsea in this moment in time. The players on loan such as Kakuta, Marin, Atsu, Piazon, Victor Moses, Thorgan Hazard, when will they get a chance at the first team? I mean, all the attacking threat in the Chelsea 25 are young too so how will this work out? Wasted talent? I believe in Jose Mourinho and the board but buying a player of Atsu's calibre was a waste? No? Bar Juan Mata and Willian, Atsu is only a year younger than Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bryune, Andre Schurrle and Oscar. We shall see what the future holds. In the mean time, concentrating for tomorrow's match.

My prediction for tomorrow's line up against Everton stands at:

Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Schurrle, Hazard, Eto'o.

Note: This is my personal view. I am unaware who Mr Mourinho will pick come Saturday 14th September 5:30pm at Goodison Park.

Classic Jose

Classic Jose

   Typical of Jose. Win 2-0 at home. Clean sheet. The ''standard'' win what us Chelsea fans have forgotten about. It may get frustrating throughout the season as we are more likely to see these type of results. I can only say I would be happy if we won 2-0 every game but 1 huge factor that was painful for me to watch was that Juan Mata was only on the bench and didn't even make it onto the pitch. I know this one game and against a newly promoted side and Jose may be saving him for the tougher tests of Aston Villa and Man United but I have my doubts.

   Jose Mourinho likes his players to have STRENGTH or SPEED. Mata has neither. If you look throughout the whole team, every single player contains at least one of these attributes. I'm personally scared for the little Spaniard. Is this going to be a regular occurrence? Will he play against Manchester United where he normally reaches the top of his game? I've got a nasty feeling he won't. I hope I'm wrong.  

   I have faith in Jose but isn't this a little too coincidental? Iker Casillas of last season. Juan Mata his next victim? He does have a lot of competition for his place and hardly featured in pre-season compared to the other players who also played Confederations Cup football. I'm optimistic Jose is saving the magician for something astronomical.

   On a different note, John Terry and Frank Lampard both featured 90 minutes. I'm not sure what I make of this. David Luiz is injured so I expected John Terry to play the 90 minutes but will Terry be a regular under Mourinho? I think it's time to make Terry a squad player rather than a guaranteed starter. Time's are changing and I rather Terry was fazed out and passed on his experience to the younger centre backs than for Chelsea to suddenly be without a leader. Lampard too, I feel, needs to teach his tricks to the younger generation. Don't get me wrong, I wish both stay at the club until they retire but as squad players, more than first eleven.  I believe they should still feature in big games but not in every single game anymore.

   So after beating Hull Tigers comfortably, Aston Villa are next and pose a much bigger threat. They completely tore Arsenal apart. The counter attack of Benteke, Agbonlahor and Weimann absolutely destroyed Arsenal and I have to be honest, I did not see it coming. Chelsea have to be careful and make sure the two wingers defend as well as attack. As previously, I will try to predict the lineup by simply stating who I think will start in Jose Mourinho's second game at Stamford Bridge after his return.

Formation: 4-2-3-1

The back four and the goalkeeper:
Cech, Cole, Cahill, Terry (assuming Luiz is injured) Azpilicueta (Ivanovic rested for Manchester United)

The two holding midfielders:
Essien and Van Ginkel (Ramires and Lampard rested for the trip to Old Trafford)

The three attacking midfielders:
Schurrle Mata Hazard (De Bryune, seemingly a starter, will be rested for the visit to Manchester United)

The striker:
Lukaku (possibly, as Mourinho may believe Torres is his no1 striker)

In addition, when I write rested, I imply that the player will be either on the bench OR not feature in the game.

Note: This is my personal view. I am unaware of who Mr Jose Mourinho will pick come the game on Wednesday 21st August at 7:45pm (UK time) at Stamford Bridge against Aston Villa. 

Chelsea's starting XI versus Hull Tigers?

Chelsea's starting XI versus Hull Tigers?

   As Mourinho edges ever closer to opening his second spell in charge of his ''beloved'' Chelsea, I try to crack who will be in the starting eleven against Hull.    

   We have all been wandering what Jose Mourinho's starting XI will be against Hull City. (or Hull Tigers should I say) I will now attempt to go through the starting eleven justifying my reasons why I believe each player will have the starting spot.

   Goalkeeper is granted to be Petr Cech. Unless an injury occurs between now and the Hull game, I can assure Petr Cech will start.Thinking about it, I am slightly worried as the whole world knows what happened with Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez. Both, previous goalkeeper's under Mourinho's management.Although, saying this, I still fully believe Petr Cech will be no1 with new signing Mark Schwarzer deputised as no2.

   In defence is where it can get a little bit tricky. I will start with Right Back. Assuming Dave (Cesar Azpilicueta) will be rested, as he was an unused substitute by Vicente Del Bosque in Spain's 2-0 win over Ecuador which was hosted by the La Tiri side. (Ecuador national football team) Due to the fact, Cesar Azpilicueta had to travel to Ecuador, I believe he will be rested against Hull Tigers which would mean Branislav Ivanovic will slot in at Right Back. In the heart of defence, from what I've seen so far, David Luiz will partner John Terry and Gary Cahill will be a substitute. I only draw to this conclusion because Jose Mourinho has spoken time and time again of his admiration of David Luiz, who is an important figure at Chelsea, amid interest and a failed bid by Barcelona. The bid was of ₤25 million pounds to anyone's interest. Jose Mourinho also seems to admire John Terry a greater deal to what Rafiel Benitez ever had. This is why I have chosen these two in my starting eleven against Hull Tigers. At leftback, I think this is the most safe position due to the fact, Ryan Bertrand is still learning tricks of the trade, Patrick Van Aanholt has been sent out on loan to Vitesse Arnhem and Ashley Cole is the best defensive left back in the world. 

   Chelsea's two centre-defensive midfield positions is a positive problem. The depth in the squad excels in the defensive midfield position. In this current day, Chelsea can deploy a number of talented players in this position yet only have two places. Frank Lampard, recently moved into this position from an attacking midfielder, still regarded as a strong figure at club and international level, even at the age of 35. Ramires, the little engine, is a superb box-to-box midfielder and personally, I believe one of the CDM roles is his to lose. Van Ginkel, at a very tender age of 20, purchased from Vitesse Arnhem this summer, is leaping strides in his development. However, nailing down a position in Chelsea's XI is a very very mountainous task. Michael Essien, recently back from Real Madrid, and bringing ''daddy'' with him, is somewhat seen in a comforting position for the Ghanaian. Re-energized and revitalized, Essien is possibly in line to start however, I would not be surprised if Frank Lampard, Chelsea's all-time top scorer starts before Essien.

   The front three. (Wingers and the CF) Hazard will undoubtedly start. I will be shocked if he doesn't. Jose is a big fan of Hazard and he repaid Mr Mourinho in pre-season. Mata as the Centre Forward? It has to be, surely. The player who has won Chelsea's player of the year, twice in a row and got into the team of the season alongside team-mate Eden Hazard, is almost guaranteed a starting spot? I would argue that ''the special one'' didn't like the look of Mata in pre-season. The last attacking role. De Bryune? Schurrle? Moses? Oscar? Take your pick. I think Moses or De Bryune are front runners for the last attacking spot.

   The striker. Again, so much depth in the squad, three players fighting for one position. Will Mourinho go with Lukaku, young, power, strength, speed? Perhaps, with a bit more experience in the Premier League with Torres? Or completely opt to play Demba Ba? I have a feeling Torres will start.

   In conclusion, my starting eleven against Hully Tigers:
Cech, Ivanovic, Luiz, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Moses, Mata, Hazard, Torres.

Note: This is my personal view. I am unaware of who Mr Jose Mourinho will pick come the game on Sunday, 4pm (UK time) at Stamford Bridge against Hull Tigers.

Is it time to find the next Makelele?

Is it time to find the next Makelele?

   Claude Makelele - able to break up the best attack in the world and turn it to dust. Arguably, one of the best CDM's the world has ever seen. The best time of his career came at Chelsea, sitting in front of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho. Signed for the Blues in 2003, aged 30, Makelele was supposedly the ''battery'' of the team as man who brought him in - Caludio Ranieri described. 

   While Makelele was still at the club, Chelsea brought in a man known as John Obi Mikel in an attempt to mold him into the new, younger Makelele. I can tell you now, it didn't work. Most Chelsea fans, include myself, have grown tired of Mikel. You are able to count the good games he has had for the club on your hands and he has been at the club for 7 years! Bulk me up and make me 6ft 2 and I think I could do the same job as Mikel if not a better one - I could pitch in with at least a goal or two! The best attributes he has is that he very rarely loses the ball, because he doesn't pass greater than 2 yards, he is a strong, powerful player but that is about it. Oh, and he is able to header and even then, I'm being generous. I'm getting very tiresome of Mikel. To add further frustration, he scores a terrific goal for Nigeria against Uruguay! Why are you not able to do it at Chelsea?! Yes, your position is a Defensive Midfielder and you're the one that sits back but at least have a shot or two a game. 

   Time and time again, I have grown tired of Mikel and I believe it's time to move on for the Nigerian international. There have been a couple of names linked with Chelsea in that position, Khedira, Gustavo, Alonso but the one that fascinates me the most is  - Daniele De Rossi. I believe he is the perfect player for Chelsea FC. At the age of 30, De Rossi is regarded as one of the best Defensive Midfielders in the world, breaking attack after attack in games and also nips in to score goals. He has had a turbulent season at AS Roma where some of the crowd have turned on him, and to make matters worse, AS Roma have recently signed 'the Dutch Roy Keane.' Kevin Strootman, aged 23, is very similar to De Rossi however is 7 years younger and is already being compared to a no-nonsense defensive midfielder.

    Personally, De Rossi, should call it time upon his beloved career at AS Roma. Times are changing and he needs a new challenge. The one-club man has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester City before but it is believed, ASF Fiorentina have been keeping a close eye on things. Various reports value him anywhere between ₤10-₤15 million and I would pay every penny. At the age of 30, De Rossi has perhaps, 4-5 years left in him and this will give time for the young Nathaniel Chalobah and Nathan Ake to develop and learn from a guy who has been labeled ''the complete midfielder'' due to his tackling, passing, strength and shooting. He is also the perfect replacement for Frank Lampard, who I feel has this season and possibly, one more. Replacing Frank Lampard is not an easy job but De Rossi, who has a world cup under his belt is for me, a quick solution.  

Daniele De Rossi Tattoo

    Jose Mourinho is thought to be a big admire of the Italian. Jose has tried to sign him for Inter Milan and Real Madrid however, failed in doing so. Could this be third-time lucky? I hope so.