The Soccer/Football Thread

[brownindian]

Honestly, and I agree with all of the needs you noted, I think we really need two full-backs who can make good crosses and are not abysmal passers. Darmian and Rojo cannot maintain possession whatsoever, can't pass the ball upfield, and deliver terrible crosses.

Secondly, I do think we need a more pacy midfield. You're right here. When Schweinsteiger was healthy the midfield never, ever gave up the ball - which was nice - but also could not create openings. It was frustrating to watch.

I'm willing to let Martial, Rashford, Memphis, and Lingard try and score goals next season. We do, indeed, need another striker; I just don't think it is as pressing as the other two needs.

EDIT: what are your boys at Chelsea gonna do this summer?

Pray. We have the highest wage bil in the premier league but we also have one of the oldest and least pacy defense. Our defensive midfielders are woefully out of form. Ditto our attacking players. You would think that Roman will splurge this summer but sadly we also have a new stadium that we are building and a lot of funds will towards that. I think Terry, Mikel, Oscar leaving and our loan players like Cuadrado and Victor Moses also being sold. I can see us buying a defender but the question is without Champions League can we attract the top players ? Right now Nainggolan and Bonucci are heavily linked to come in.

 

[Jordan]

Pray. We have the highest wage bil in the premier league but we also have one of the oldest and least pacy defense. Our defensive midfielders are woefully out of form. Ditto our attacking players. You would think that Roman will splurge this summer but sadly we also have a new stadium that we are building and a lot of funds will towards that. I think Terry, Mikel, Oscar leaving and our loan players like Cuadrado and Victor Moses also being sold. I can see us buying a defender but the question is without Champions League can we attract the top players ? Right now Nainggolan and Bonucci are heavily linked to come in.

Do you guys have any young talent? I thought City had the highest wage gap, didn't realize it was Chelsea.

 

[brownindian]

Do you guys have any young talent? I thought City had the highest wage gap, didn't realize it was Chelsea.

Chelsea are trying to push Ruben Loftus Cheeks through the ranks but I dont think he is that good. Traore is another youngster there, who has scored almost every game he started for Chelsea but is still not a regular in the first team.

Loanees we have Andreas Christenssen who plays defender for Borussia Monchengladbach who is getting great reviews and Nathan Ake plays LB for Watford who is getting ok reviews.

To answer your question we do have some youth who may be good but since we are not that keen to play them we really dont know if that is because we are too averse to risk or they are not first team quality. Heck we spend 17 million on Baba Rahman for Left Back and he is not even a regular for us. I hope Conte can change all that.

It is laughable to think that we once had Sturridge, Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku in our squad and we got rid of them.

WAGE BILL LINK: http://www.totalsportek.com/money/english-premier-league-wage-bills-club-by-club/

 

[Jordan]

Chelsea are trying to push Ruben Loftus Cheeks through the ranks but I dont think he is that good. Traore is another youngster there, who has scored almost every game he started for Chelsea but is still not a regular in the first team.

Loanees we have Andreas Christenssen who plays defender for Borussia Monchengladbach who is getting great reviews and Nathan Ake plays LB for Watford who is getting ok reviews.

To answer your question we do have some youth who may be good but since we are not that keen to play them we really dont know if that is because we are too averse to risk or they are not first team quality. Heck we spend 17 million on Baba Rahman for Left Back and he is not even a regular for us. I hope Conte can change all that.

It is laughable to think that we once had Sturridge, Kevin De Bruyne and Lukaku in our squad and we got rid of them.

WAGE BILL LINK: http://www.totalsportek.com/money/english-premier-league-wage-bills-club-by-club/

The bolded is what I was thinking about. I feel like from 2012-present you guys have given up a lot of young talent. Hopefully the new manager can make you guys competitive again. It's been painful this season.

 

[brownindian]

The bolded is what I was thinking about. I feel like from 2012-present you guys have given up a lot of young talent. Hopefully the new manager can make you guys competitive again. It's been painful this season.

That is the problem with always going for short term fixes and not thinking long term. When we had the spine of Cech - Terry - Lampard - Drogba we were a really good team. These players slowly started aging and soon moved out of Chelsea and on to other leagues. Sadly Chelsea did not replace them with the same quality. They settled for people like Willian, Oscar, Mata who are great complimentary pieces but cannot drag the team out of a slump like these people can. Also since our board was committed to buying established starters, the moto has often been, buy young god players, loan them out , then sell them for a marginal profit and use all those profits to get an established player. As a business model it is not bad - but you need to know whom to hang on to and whom to sell. Lukaku and Sturridge could have both easily solved our goal crisis. Lukaku esp. would have been an ideal replacement for Drogba and we would be set for ages to come also. ugh .. I could go on ranting about our flaws but oh well - the downs will enable me to appreciate the ups even more.

 

[Jordan]

That is the problem with always going for short term fixes and not thinking long term. When we had the spine of Cech - Terry - Lampard - Drogba we were a really good team. These players slowly started aging and soon moved out of Chelsea and on to other leagues. Sadly Chelsea did not replace them with the same quality. They settled for people like Willian, Oscar, Mata who are great complimentary pieces but cannot drag the team out of a slump like these people can. Also since our board was committed to buying established starters, the moto has often been, buy young god players, loan them out , then sell them for a marginal profit and use all those profits to get an established player. As a business model it is not bad - but you need to know whom to hang on to and whom to sell. Lukaku and Sturridge could have both easily solved our goal crisis. Lukaku esp. would have been an ideal replacement for Drogba and we would be set for ages to come also. ugh .. I could go on ranting about our flaws but oh well - the downs will enable me to appreciate the ups even more.

I actually think if you guys had Lukaku this season you would've competed for top-four. I think Everton is holding that kid back. He's a phenomenal striker.

 

[brownindian]

I actually think if you guys had Lukaku this season you would've competed for top-four. I think Everton is holding that kid back. He's a phenomenal striker.

High probability that Martinez will be fired come end of season. That team sure has under-performed with a better squad. Martinez had Wigan playing good football but again their lack of defense got them relegated. Looks his Martinez still has not learnt how to get a team to play good defense. Lukaku will most probably want out if they stick with the same manager.

Hazard seems to be coming back slowly. The game Vs Pool was pretty interesting. I was surprised to see Chelsea give them a good fight. I think they are saving themselves for the finals.

 

[brownindian]

And the premier league season ends - nope - Manchester United Vs Bournesmouth postponed due security concerns!! Wow. In other Premier League news Tottenham yet again cannot finish above Arsenal.

 

[Jordan]

Anyone watching FA Cup today?

 

[Jordan]

What a rough season for my boys at Manchester United. Nonetheless, a great FA Cup win and Lingard's goal was legendary.

 

[brownindian]

What a rough season for my boys at Manchester United. Nonetheless, a great FA Cup win and Lingard's goal was legendary.

Jose Mourinho to Man Utd all but confirmed. They could not even wait a day to enjoy the trophy.

 

[Jordan]

Anyone watching Euros or Copa America? France has the best midfield I've ever seen. They are absolutely stacked.

 

[col63onel]

I think England is becoming an honorary Cleveland team.

Nice job hanging on with 10 men vs Paraguay. A Neymarless Brazil awaits...probably

 

[col63onel]

Costa Rica shocks Colombia!

Now, if Brazil wins/draws, US plays Peru.

edit - Actually, US plays Ecuador next

 

[brownindian]

Unimas commentary for copa america is the best! I dont understand a word but my blod pressure is up through the roof !!!