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Chelsea 2016/17 - Very Content
- Thread starter duffer
- Start date
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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.
Cool, thanks.
I just cannot understand why we weren't in for him. A new Makalele. How could we not?
There goes Leicester.
There goes Leicester.
4-3-1-2
Kante-Matic-Fabregas
Hazard
Costa-Batshuyi
Kante-Matic-Fabregas
Hazard
Costa-Batshuyi
Thoughts?
Extremely limited defensively and with Kante's work rate is there really a need for Matic?
One player I've no idea how they are going to play is Oscar who seems the odd man out everytime I try and predict their lineup
Willian is nailed on to start.
What can they spend? Could they drop another 100m in the market?
With a decent B2B midfielder and top center back they could be extremely solid. And Conte really did a fantastic job with the Italian team.
With a decent B2B midfielder and top center back they could be extremely solid. And Conte really did a fantastic job with the Italian team.
I forgot about Willian... I really cannot see how they will line-up
Kante
Matic
Willian
Fabregas
Hazard
Costa
That's how I think they may line up to start the season. Form will depend on Batshuyi's playing time.
Matic
Willian
Fabregas
Hazard
Costa
That's how I think they may line up to start the season. Form will depend on Batshuyi's playing time.
As did LVG will the Dutch team. There's a world of difference between managing an International team and managing a club.
Does Conte always go for 3-5-2 if he can? If so who would/could play wingback for him? They don't look particularly well equipped for that formation as it stands.
Yes. Conte said just yesterday that we'll be signing several more players. Koulibaly from Napoli is being strongly linked. Would be a fantastic signing.
I can't for the life of me figure out how we're going to line up. Fitting Cesc in is the biggest headache.
You'll probably have to have a slightly more attacking setup than Italy, given you need to accommodate Willian, Hazard and Oscar, unless you sell one. Can't really see a use for Fabregas unless he's played further forward, but then he'd be in contention with the 3 aforementioned, who're all better.
Can't imagine a scenario where Oscar is a starter.
I keep on forgetting that Chelsea aren't in europe this year.
I'm really shocked and disappointed that Chelsea seemingly signed Kanté with no competition whatsover. I really hope he doesn't capture his from of last season because that'd be one hell of player Conte and Chelsea will have on their hands.
If we don't sign Pogba and sign our supposed fallback option in...eurgh...Matuidi instead, then this will be devastating in the long run. Even if we do get the Pog it'll still be disappointing that we opted to not sign him, but it'll lessen the blow significantly at least.
I'm really shocked and disappointed that Chelsea seemingly signed Kanté with no competition whatsover. I really hope he doesn't capture his from of last season because that'd be one hell of player Conte and Chelsea will have on their hands.
If we don't sign Pogba and sign our supposed fallback option in...eurgh...Matuidi instead, then this will be devastating in the long run. Even if we do get the Pog it'll still be disappointing that we opted to not sign him, but it'll lessen the blow significantly at least.
Don't think so. Remember some Juve supporter on here saying it was just what suited the Juve squad at the time or something similar. This Chelsea team doesn't have good enough central defenders for it, at least yet. Might change if they sign Koulibaly. Maybe he'll try turning Fabregas into the new Pirlo
Courtois
Terry - Koulibaly - Zouma
Fabregas
Willian - Kanté - Matic - Azpilicueta
Hazard - Costa
Terry - Koulibaly - Zouma
Fabregas
Willian - Kanté - Matic - Azpilicueta
Hazard - Costa
Don't think there's any use even posting potential XI's yet. Without seeing all of our signings we can't possibly know. There's no way we can play a back 3 with our current set of defender, we can't use wingbacks with our current defenders, and we can't play Cesc in a midfield 2 any longer.
Without seeing which defensive signings we make we're all clueless.
Without seeing which defensive signings we make we're all clueless.
Don't think so. Remember some Juve supporter on here saying it was just what suited the Juve squad at the time or something similar. This Chelsea team doesn't have good enough central defenders for it, at least yet. Might change if they sign Koulibaly. Maybe he'll try turning Fabregas into the new Pirlo
Courtois
Terry - Koulibaly - Zouma
Fabregas
Willian - Kanté - Matic - Azpilicueta
Hazard - Costa
Ok cheers, yeah I was kinda thinking that re CB's and WB's.
Don't think so. Remember some Juve supporter on here saying it was just what suited the Juve squad at the time or something similar. This Chelsea team doesn't have good enough central defenders for it, at least yet. Might change if they sign Koulibaly. Maybe he'll try turning Fabregas into the new Pirlo
Courtois
Terry - Koulibaly - Zouma
Fabregas
Willian - Kanté - Matic - Azpilicueta
Hazard - Costa
It would certainly be a fun team to watch, but they would get destroyed on the counter I suspect. With a CB to replace Terry though, and enough pressing from Kante/Matic/Willian/Azpi it could really work well against certain teams
In my perfect world we'd sign two quality CB's pushing both Terry and Cahill to the bench as squad players and we could then play with a back 3 that Conte favors.
Strongest links are with Koulibaly and Manolas. Imagine a back 3 of Koulibaly, Manolas, and Zouma with Kante sitting in front of them... No chance, but nice to dream.
Strongest links are with Koulibaly and Manolas. Imagine a back 3 of Koulibaly, Manolas, and Zouma with Kante sitting in front of them...
No chance, but nice to dream.I was initially certain we wouldn't play any formation with 3 at the back under Conte but after the Batshuayi & Kante signings I'm less confident about my predictions. In theory, such a formation would maximize the talents of Willian, Fabregas, Terry, our strikers & especially Kante but I feel we're 2/3 signings short. Ideally we'd sign both Stones & Koulibaly but that's wishful thinking, an improvement on Baba/Azpi would also be ideal. A player like Raphael Guerriero would've been tailor made for such a formation but we let him slip.
Courtois
Stones/Zouma Terry Koulibaly
Willian Kante Fabregas LWB
Hazard
Costa Batshuayi
Stones/Zouma Terry Koulibaly
Willian Kante Fabregas LWB
Hazard
Costa Batshuayi
With all the talk about Mourinho and Guardiola in Manchester, Chelsea have gone completely under the radar this season. I think that will only be of benefit to them. Conte is good manager, no doubt, and he'll have Chelsea challenging for the title.
Agreed. I think they'll be surprisingly good. And they have no European distraction either.
Title talk is still a step too far without knowing who else we'll sign.
This is what I would like to see:
Courtois
Azpilicueta---Zouma---Koulibaly---Baba
RLC---Kante
Willian---Batshuayi---Costa---Hazard
Whether Conte will go with that I don't know.
Courtois
Azpilicueta---Zouma---Koulibaly---Baba
RLC---Kante
Willian---Batshuayi---Costa---Hazard
Whether Conte will go with that I don't know.
Service from midfield looks really limited there. This is why I'm struggling to imagine a Chelsea XI without Fabregas.
I have seen Loftus-Cheek play some ridiculously good through balls. He can take up Fabregas'summer role IMO and offer more protection for the back.
As exciting as the prospect of two strikers sounds, I'd personally rather pack the midfield and dominate that area of the pitch. I'd go with a 4-3-3.
But Conte doesn't seem to want that. He said he likes a 4-4-2 because it means 60% of your team are covering 60% of the pitch. He says no other formation allows that sort of coverage.
Apparently they are in a transfer battle with Arsenal to sign Manolas from Roma.
If that is true, we know already how it's gonna end.
If that is true, we know already how it's gonna end.
Kante and 1 more midfielder, we are set.
We need at least one defensive signing plus another striker. Can't imagine Remy will stay again and be 3rd choice, rarely making an appearance.
I reckon Chelsea will be right up there this season. Wouldn't surprise me if they won
No European football will be a significant advantage over your rivals, look at how Liverpool did in 13/14. IF Costa and Hazard do not repeat last season's slump that alone will make a huge difference, irrespective of any further signings. With a couple more signings, especially defensively, Conte will almost certainly get Chelsea back in the title race for the majority of the season at least.
Our backline somehow conceded over 50 goals last season. We're nowhere near set.
I think we are set with our current strikers if Remy were to leave. Costa, Batsuyashi, and Traore is more than enough. I'd actually prefer a right winger than a striker, someone with an eye for goal.
I'm not sure about our left back situation. Baba is still shakey and Ake was sent out on loan.
Ideally, I'd like
In - 1 defender, 1 midfielder, 1 right sided striker/winger
Out - Mikel
Depends on whether Conte plays with two strikers. If so, we'll need 4 in the squad. Right now, if Costa were to get a long term injury we'd be down to unproven kids basically. I think we definitely need another forward signing.
Assuming Kante deal is done, we still need one CB and one B2B MF. If we get say Manolas and Joao Mario it would have been a very very strong transfer window.
Even if we got Koulibaly instead of Manolas and Sissoko instead of Joao Mario it would still be solid transfer business.
My guess for a 4-3-3 would be
Courtois
Azpi - Manolas/Koulibaly - Zouma - Baba
Sissoko/Joao Mario - Kante - Fabregas
Pedro - Costa - Hazard
Bench: Begovic, Ivanovic - Cahill - RLC - Willian - Traore - Batshuayi
Expecting that we will sell Oscar and Matic for around £30m each. Along with the sales of Cuadrado, Salah, Moses and Mikel we might actually have zero net spend this season too.
Even if we got Koulibaly instead of Manolas and Sissoko instead of Joao Mario it would still be solid transfer business.
My guess for a 4-3-3 would be
Courtois
Azpi - Manolas/Koulibaly - Zouma - Baba
Sissoko/Joao Mario - Kante - Fabregas
Pedro - Costa - Hazard
Bench: Begovic, Ivanovic - Cahill - RLC - Willian - Traore - Batshuayi
Expecting that we will sell Oscar and Matic for around £30m each. Along with the sales of Cuadrado, Salah, Moses and Mikel we might actually have zero net spend this season too.
Why do people think Willian won't start? He's going to be one of the first names on the team sheet. An essential part of our team.Assuming Kante deal is done, we still need one CB and one B2B MF. If we get say Manolas and Joao Mario it would have been a very very strong transfer window.
Even if we got Koulibaly instead of Manolas and Sissoko instead of Joao Mario it would still be solid transfer business.
My guess for a 4-3-3 would be
Courtois
Azpi - Manolas/Koulibaly - Zouma - Baba
Sissoko/Joao Mario - Kante - Fabregas
Pedro - Costa - Hazard
Bench: Begovic, Ivanovic - Cahill - RLC - Willian - Traore - Batshuayi
Expecting that we will sell Oscar and Matic for around £30m each. Along with the sales of Cuadrado, Salah, Moses and Mikel we might actually have zero net spend this season too.
As for the targets you've named, I agree. Not too familiar with Joao Mario. Watched every Portugal match at the Euro's and he looked alright. Nothing special. I couldn't even tell you his best position. Seemed to be somewhere different each game.
Cant say about "people" but for me Willian does not have enough of end product to start in a front three and lacks the vision and passing ability to take Cesc's spot in midfiled three.
Joao Mario is exactly what we need right now. Pretty much a less pompous version of Nainggolan. He is just 23 so he will become a far better player than what Nainggolan is right now.