The TT Football Club

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

Well now Meireles is gone. We're still really short in the center of the pitch. Even moreso now. I don't think we're going to last unless we really spend cash in January.

Yeah, the quality wasn't there, but at least there was a bit of depth. Now Essien and Meireles have gone, along with McEachran. It's just Mikel, Lampard and Romeu.

Why didn't this happen at the start of the summer? Clearing the decks is fne if you're going to bring in better players, now we can't for at least half a season, most likely a year.

An injury and god knows who will be playing there, Luiz maybe?

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Yeah, the quality wasn't there, but at least there was a bit of depth. Now Essien and Meireles have gone, along with McEachran. It's just Mikel, Lampard and Romeu.

Why didn't this happen at the start of the summer? Clearing the decks is fne if you're going to bring in better players, now we can't for at least half a season, most likely a year.

An injury and god knows who will be playing there, Luiz maybe?

We can't last until January and by then nobody significant will want to join Chelsea anyway. What good central midfielders will be available?

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by NickC

We can't last until January and by then nobody significant will want to join Chelsea anyway. What good central midfielders will be available?

In January, nobody probably you're right. There were so many available this summer, I pointed out Xhaka, Cabaye and Caboue for the destroyer who can pass role. Could of got all 3 for under £30 Million then you'd be set for the next 10 years.

I'm guessing they want to put Ramires there, but he's really not very good holding. He literally cannot pass, his strength is his speed and he provides a bit more of a defensive option on the right wing, where he's played his best for us and when he first broke into the Brazil team years ago. Will be a bad move to move him back I think.

[PureAlph4]

http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/20...ay-to-win.html

Great piece on how Europe's top teams are shaping up for the introduction of Financial Fair Play.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PureAlph4

http://swissramble.blogspot.co.uk/20...ay-to-win.html

Great piece on how Europe's top teams are shaping up for the introduction of Financial Fair Play.

Very interesting!

It seems like clubs are going down the partnership route to try and make it work. I know Man City have some great deals in place through their owners. Chelsea recently signed up with Gazprom, the biggest natural gas extracting company in the world. They purchased one of Abramovich's companies so i'm guessing he has some kind of investment there.

Interestingly, Gazprom are now also a big sponsor of the Champions League. Do you think UEFA would kick Chelsea out of the competition and risk upsetting one of their main sponsors? Probably not

The deal happened over the summer, through all the great signings we made, you could argue the deal with Gazprom was as big a deal as all the talent that came in.

[Feña14]

England looked really good! I know it was only Moldova, but we've seen England look bad against poor teams before.

The midfield of Cleverley, Chamberlain, Lampard and Milner looked so strong. You have everything there, the work rate of Milner, Chamberlain's pace, Cleverley knocking it around and keeping it simple, then the leadership and all round play from Lampard, topped by his trademark late run into the box and quality finish.

Baines looked good at left back, but I have to question why he's anywhere near the team? He's dropped out of competition squads before and is known to not be able to handle long periods away from home, which is fair enough. When building towards a World Cup in 2 years, is that really the best option? Got to give Bertrand a go if you ask me, throw him into the Champions League final and he was one of our best players, every game he's played for us he's been one of the top 3 players on the pitch. I believe he will be going to the World Cup, get him some games I say.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Feña14

The midfield of Cleverley, Chamberlain, Lampard and Milner looked so strong. You have everything there, the work rate of Milner, Chamberlain's pace, Cleverley knocking it around and keeping it simple, then the leadership and all round play from Lampard, topped by his trademark late run into the box and quality finish.

Sounds like a quality midfield. Where was Cleverly positioned? I've only seen him play a few times. As an England fan, I hope he does well. As an Arsenal fan, I hope he doesn't reach his potential for Sir Alex

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Sounds like a quality midfield. Where was Cleverly positioned? I've only seen him play a few times. As an England fan, I hope he does well. As an Arsenal fan, I hope he doesn't reach his potential for Sir Alex

Haha, I know what you mean. Man Utd's only possible weakness is the midfield i'd say, although Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, Scholes, Fletcher etc.. it's not all that bad!

He played all over really, the other 3 get foward quite a bit so he stayed quite disciplined and set the groundwork for the others to cause the damage. Which is what i've been saying we need at Chelsea, a facilitator I suppose.

When you think there is still Wilshere to come into the midfield, it's exciting. So many options and young quality around. If Johnson gets more games at Sunderland, and Carroll at West Ham, things are looking good. Butland and Hart in goal, the central defence looks good, Walker at right back, Bertrand is a hell of a player to be third choice at left back.

We won't win the World Cup, but the semis would be something to possibly aim for.

[Ross K]

Absorbing interview here with the (IMO) slightly underrated del Bosque, a manager whose record in recent years is of course beyond comparison in its stunning success.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...l-bosque-spain

[PED]

Thanks for the link Ross, nice interview.

He's better off managing Spain instead of the three ring circus that is Real.

[NickC]

Originally Posted by Ross K

Absorbing interview here with the (IMO) slightly underrated del Bosque, a manager whose record in recent years is of course beyond comparison in its stunning success.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...l-bosque-spain

How's he underrated at all?! He's won everything there is to win as a manager in Spain; La Liga, the Champions League (twice), the UEFA Super Cup, the European Championship, and the World Cup.

[Ross K]

Originally Posted by NickC

How's he underrated at all?! He's won everything there is to win as a manager in Spain; La Liga, the Champions League (twice), the UEFA Super Cup, the European Championship, and the World Cup.

Hello Nick, I'm simply referring to the fact that, in my opinion, he doesn't seem to get quite the praise, accolades, and glowing testimonies his unparalleled record of achievement deserves.

[PED]

Nice to see Fergie in Murray's box yesterday. Wonder if Andy told him what he thought about buying RvP from his Gunners

[PureAlph4]

Originally Posted by PED

Nice to see Fergie in Murray's box yesterday. Wonder if Andy told him what he thought about buying RvP from his Gunners

Is Muzza a gooner? Thought I'd seen him in footage at Craven Cottage quite a few times.

If so, not doing badly with Muzza and Mo Farah on board!

[PED]

Originally Posted by PureAlph4

Is Muzza a gooner? Thought I'd seen him in footage at Craven Cottage quite a few times.

If so, not doing badly with Muzza and Mo Farah on board!

Don't forget Prince Harry and Piers Morgan...lol

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Don't forget Prince Harry and Piers Morgan...lol

I know Prince William is a Villa fan, always found that a bit random

I see Gerrard got himself sent off, tut tut.

[PED]

Nice changes by Roy tonight re the subs: Bertrand, Welbeck and Sturridge-their pace caused some problems.

Defoe got robbed, that was a clean goal. Until the subs came on, England created nothing though......The Ox is quality but he's got some work to do to compete at this level.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by PED

Nice changes by Roy tonight re the subs: Bertrand, Welbeck and Sturridge-their pace caused some problems.

Defoe got robbed, that was a clean goal. Until the subs came on, England created nothing though......The Ox is quality but he's got some work to do to compete at this level.

I've said it before, still no idea why Bertrand isn't starting in Cole's absence. I'd even give him games when Cole was fit, he's that good. Lescott and Jagielka were poor, but why would you even play them when you have Cahill on the bench?

He's a European champion, he's been part of a defence that stiffled the mighty Barcelona, he's played 120 minutes in a Champions League final, on one leg, after missing a month of football, and was heroic.

Instead he chose to put Jagielka in? Just, weird.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Feña14

Lescott and Jagielka were poor, but why would you even play them when you have Cahill on the bench?

Lescott was SO slow in his distribution from the back, Ukraine had ample time to get set and it was impossible to break them down.

I thought Milner did really well; never thought about it until the announcers mentioned that Milner is needed on the right in front of Johnson to make up for his defensive shortcomings. Was surprised to see Johnson beaten for pace several times tonight. He made some nice runs though and almost scored.

[Breaker]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I've said it before, still no idea why Bertrand isn't starting in Cole's absence. I'd even give him games when Cole was fit, he's that good. Lescott and Jagielka were poor, but why would you even play them when you have Cahill on the bench?

He's a European champion, he's been part of a defence that stiffled the mighty Barcelona, he's played 120 minutes in a Champions League final, on one leg, after missing a month of football, and was heroic.

Instead he chose to put Jagielka in? Just, weird.

Because they are better than Cahill

Originally Posted by PED

Lescott was SO slow in his distribution from the back, Ukraine had ample time to get set and it was impossible to break them down.

I thought Milner did really well; never thought about it until the announcers mentioned that Milner is needed on the right in front of Johnson to make up for his defensive shortcomings. Was surprised to see Johnson beaten for pace several times tonight. He made some nice runs though and almost scored.

At the Euros Milner was practically holding Johnson's hand back there as a 5th defender half the time, which is why it's puzzling to me that he was singled out at poor there whilst Johnson was seen to have a good tournament.