17 goals and 9 assists last season just in the ligue (25 goals in total). He will be a good signing for them and he is just 22 years old.
Chelsea under Conte | Let's sign the next Hazard, literally.
- Thread starter Gandalf Greyhame
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Pirlo is a masterclass cm. Let's not think his position and style of play as some kind of pentioner position every ageing star player could simply slot into.
Even a prime pogba won't make a good pirlo. There's much more in his game rather than good at passing and sitting in his position
With an in-form Hazard and the tactical astuteness of Conte. Hmm.
They will be back in the title race next season. They have a very good team and Conte impresses me.
Conte's impressed me a lot. Italy play great football with not so great players.
Are you implying that Conte should use 3-5-2 at Chelsea because it worked at Juve?
I'm not saying he should, I'm saying they'd be no reason for it to fail.
Do you think he has the players for it? Especially in defense and midfield?
That's what the market is there for. He'll play a 3 man midfield regardless of the set up he chooses, he's not going to compromise on that. Get a couple of defenders and he's good to go.
I always assumed 4-3-3 was his plan but with this signing I can see us going twould up top, meaning it's likely three at the back.
Perhaps he plans on using a diamond. It wouldn't require a massive overhaul, gives him bodies in midfield and would enable him to play two up front.
There would be no width.
It could be a 4-3-3 of the diamond shape as he still has Hazard who he has to fit in. He won't be using Hazard in midfield that's for sure. Either that or the rumors of Costa leaving might have some credibility. Honestly haven't seen enough of Michy Batshuayi to understand fully what sort of player he is and where he could fit in. In the 3-5-2 Conte plays with a striker and a second striker(tevez, vucinic). If he's that sort of player then he'll probably go with a 4-3-3 to accomodate hazard, if he's a pure striker, then costa's position is in danger.
He seems like a stiker/winger. Can play both positions fairly well. That's why I reckon a 4-3-3 may be the way to go and he is taking the RW spot in the team.
I wouldn't say any less so than the 3-5-2, most full-backs play more like wing-backs these days anyway. It's not as though the attacking players couldn't pull wide either.
If he uses the diamond then Hazard would have the freedom to do what he pleases thus providing width when needed. Also the fullbacks will be providing a semblance of width.
i dont think getting a couple of defenders is going to allow him to play the way he did at Juve. Thats a very simplistic way of looking at it I feel. In Bonucci and Chiellini he has world class defenders. How many defenders of that ilk are available - who can not only defend but also pass the ball out from the back? How many would want to go to Chelsea with no CL?
Moreover, he needs to control the midfield if he plays 3-5-2 and for that he needs more than just Fabregas. Matic can screen the defense but hes no Pirlo (and Fabregas is better at an advanced role than as a deep lying player). He needs players like Vidal to win the ball back. Which is why i think they might be trying to sign Kante, but i highly doubt he will join Chelsea over the numerous other clubs that want him.
To emulate the tactics he used at Juve, Conte needs the right kind of players. He played 4-2-4 at his previous clubs before he joined Juve. This shows he is willing to adapt. Though it now seems he has an affinity for 3-5-2 he might adapt again to the situation at Chelsea and play 4- at the back like he used to. Only time will tell.
But with the current market and a dearth of world class players in specialized roles that Conte requires, even if he decides to use the 3-5-2 again its not necessary that it will yield the same results with different players.
Err, what?
Have you all gone totally mad? Willian is fecking awesome, finally started scoring last year, and in case you forgot was about the only player in the entire team who stood up and fought for us at our darkest point in the season.
But yeah, let's sell Willian, because our player of the year is apparently not good enough.
Ffs..
Willian from 2015 = Willian from 2016 - 5 freekicks.
The only position I see for willian is the right wingback. Otherwise we would be wise to sell him now when there is still a chance of good money.
Abritary numbers like 40 or irrelevant to me. What's more important is when & how often you score. Give me forwards that spread their goals over different matches over streaky strikers who score in bunches.
As Ashford said, he's still virtually the same player who showed no improvement last season apart from a brief purple patch from free-kicks. He was our best player under Jose but promptly worsened after the sacking.
He's at best a squad player not an automatic starter.
Last edited:
I've never bought into this 'squad player' stuff, and am surprised that some actual Chelsea fans do to. William has exceptional technical skills and if he wasn't overshadowed by Hazard you'd appreciate him a lot more.
If we want to be the best team in the world, Willian does not start.
Willian wont make the first 11 for City, United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs.
Do we really want to have a starter who cant get into rest of top 6.
Do we really want to have a starter who cant get into rest of top 6.
Yes he would.
He's much better than Navas or Sterling at City, he'd play on the opposite side to Sanchez at Arsenal, he's better than Lamela and I'm not convinced Mane is a better player than him at Liverpool either.
Sterling at his best in a level above Willian. Him being in bad form does not change that. Even last season when he wasn't very good he scored more than Willian despite the latter's fortuitous run of free kick goals. Besides, Nolito is likely better than him as well so he wouldn't start at City. Willian is also not better than Lamela or Mane. Not sure how you come to that conclusion.
Conte is one of the better managers in the world. At Juventus he took over a footballing giant that was hanging at 7th in the table for two seasons in a row and instilled a winning mentality. They went on the win the Serie A title undefeated and followed the next two seasons by winning the Serie A title comfortably. In his last season they racked up 100+ points in the league. Over three seasons he lost 7 games in the league. He is solid tactically and he's done some great transfer business.
He has taken this extremely average Italy side into the QF of Euros, beating one of the favorites of the tournament.
While everyone is talking about Pep vs Mourinho next season, in my opinion the most effective manager in the league is going to be Conte.
He has taken this extremely average Italy side into the QF of Euros, beating one of the favorites of the tournament.
While everyone is talking about Pep vs Mourinho next season, in my opinion the most effective manager in the league is going to be Conte.
Reckon he'd consider him for the midfield 3. He works hard and he's pretty good on the ball.
Think he'd be best as a wing back. He would be class at a club like Juve.
That would be a very bad idea, he does not have the acumen to be a playmaker nor the physicality to be a destroyer. Maybe a b2b but his tackling is rather bad too.
Yup I agree. He's very skilled and is probably the hardest worker on the field. Not sure why no one has tried him in that role before. Would be a perfect fit.
Him and another hard working player in a 3 with Fabregas would be wonderful.
As evident against Italy, the man had trouble running it seemed.
Did someone just say Sterling is above Willian?
He said at his best, which is true.
His touchline antics are going to be really really annoying for everyone other than their fans.
I'm already tired of him overreacting to little things.
I'm already tired of him overreacting to little things.
Will be a cnut to play against, especially when they play away to top teams.
What? They are funny.
Kanté likely to join Chelsea according to the Telegraph !
I wonder how him and Mourinho's games pan out.