The Fat Waiters FC

First topic message reminder :

Brief:

Team Wilshere
Marky
Zebs
Hero - CAPTAIN
Gregers
Afro

The second task - DEADLINE 2359 ON THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER - is as follows:

You are Rafael Benitez, recently appointed as Interim Chelsea Manager. You want the job on a full-time basis. To get the job, your mandate from the owner is this - win the league, get to at least the semi-final of the Champions League, and win the FC Cup like last year. In order to do this, you can buy/sell as many players as you want in the January transfer window. In addition to funds raised, Abramovich has given you £50m to spend.

So that's it - win stuff, spend some money to do so. What I want from you is the detailed plans you would put together - from now until Christmas how you'll set up, who you'll buy in January, and how your team will set up from then until the end of the season.

Hero, you are the Captain of Team Wilshere, and Trebs, you are the Captain of Team Scholes. Please ask questions if you need any clarity.

Lord Azzy Mahmood

Doesnt anyone feel thats too much change to a team/squad at the mid season point?

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/8202486/Chelsea-boss-Roberto-Di-Matteo-admits-he-has-the-option-of-recalling-Romelu-Lukaku

I kind of agree ZZZ, but then again it's only 3 new faces, Courtois and Lukaku are already Chelsea players. Two attackers and one midfielder in, two attackers and one midfielder out.

I wouldn't go beyond what we have done so far, and I'd almost say don't bother with Demba Ba.

I would put it at a max of 2-3 new players, plus recalling the two loanees

They clearly need a new CF and a DM with some physical presence, so Cavani and Fellaini are musts for me.

In terms of Ba, we will have Torres, Cavani and Lukaku who can play there, along with Fellaini who can also go up front so Ba is just a bit surplus to requirements

Courtois and Lukaku are already Chelsea players

True yes but they havent been with the squad all season so still an addition in Jan arent they.
Its a tricky one. Im not trying to undermine you Marky, just a concern as to what is considered acceptable before its considered too much and starts to become too many changes leading to all sorts of problems, negative on the current players, time to gel so on blar blar.

I was thinking the same thing about Ba, but then 4 strikers is the norm these days, if 4 strikers is good enough for Alex Ferguson, it's good enough for us, right?

But if we're bringing in too many, then yeah, leave Ba out and then it's not so many new faces.

IN:
Lukaku, Courtois, Cavani, Fellaini

OUT:
Mikel, Sturridge, Malouda, Turnbull on loan?

John Terry to get coaching badges and be a first team coach as well as captain.

Zidane / everyone - what are we thinking on tactics.

My thinking is 3 sets - initial CL tactics, league until January, tactics from Jan including the new signings.

The pre jan tactics, I think we need to focus on what might get the best from Torres. He was at his best in a 4-4-2, with Gerrard playing close to him. He was also allowed to drop into the AM space, turn and run at the CBs and unleash fantastic shots - as I said before a scorer of great goals, rather than a great goalscorer - he was never a 18 yard box striker

Ba was suggested as a cheap alternative, with Lukaku coming back he is probably not needed. Plus with injuries he would be a good back up to Torres/Cavani

Agree Gregers, Ba was a good option but £7m for Ba isn't as good as Lukaku for free. So i'd go with Lukaku and drop Ba

United do tend to play with two strikers. With Mata, Oscar and Hazard, we are more likely to head in the direction of 1 up front in a 4-2-3-1, so 4 strikers seems less necessary.

As I've said, there is also Fellaini who can play there if really needed, and also Moses.

It could be that we highlight in the submission that we did not want to make to many changes mid season as it could be unsettling, and that we have ring fenced the left over money for the summer, when there is more time for new signings to bed in

But if we're bringing in too many, then yeah, leave Ba out and then it's not so many new faces.

Hero is PM, he should have final say. You Transfer guys have done what he asked. You have presented him with the choices to make a decision on.

initial CL tactics, league until January, tactics from Jan including the new signings.

Agreed.
In the CL we have Nordsjaelland at home.
We need 3 points + at least 4 goals.
Shakhtar Donetsk are on 10 points with a Goal Diff of 5.
They play host to Juventus who ahve 9 points and a Goal Diff of 7.
We are going to have to attack heavily.
(Ive just realised how much poop Chelseas CL chances are in lol)

As pointed out before ZZZ, GD doesn't come into it as it's Head to Head record first, and both Shakhtar and Juventus have the better of the H2H against Chelsea, so it's as simple as Chelsea win, Juve lose.

I think Luiz looks like he should play DM too. Is it a risk though?

He has never played there as far as I am aware, and we would be counting on Azzy thinking the same way as us.

I also think league until Jan should be something like


THat replicates the formation that brought success for Torres at Liverpool, with Mata in the Gerrard role. Obviously the players could be chopped and changed, but that kind of formation and approach

I think Luiz at DM is less of a risk against Nordsjaelland, but given time and a few Prem games, will be effective. And worth the risk as playing it safe might count against us.

GD doesn't come into it as it's Head to Head record first

Ohh is it. Well were F'ed in the A.

Afro, I would swap Oscar and Ramires.
Ramires can out in a shift in the middle, really do the leg work with his engine and pace will help his cover a lot of ground.
Oscar wide right can then provide more service from a wide position than Ramires.
I may also be tempted to swap Hazard & Mata.
Hazard doesnt track back, Lichtsteiner ripped that left side apart in both Juve CL matches. Arsenal, Atletico Madrid (super cup) & Shakhtar all had sucsess attacking OUR left side because Hazard doesnt track back or drifts inside too much.
Mata can be more disciplined there, he can still create and then also help his LB out.
Hazard then will be less prone to drifting off, hes inside already & can play off Torres in the Gerrard esq role.

If you look at Dio Matteo he was very attacking, had that right but not the defence.
Rafa in his first match against Man City had the defence right but not attack. If you noticed he swapped Oscar from central to the left as Zabaleta was getting forward a lot in the first half to no concer of Hazard. Once Oscar was on the left in the 2nd half Zabaleta was tracked better.

Thing with Hazard is hes good attacking but hes a douche that he wont defend. This isnt compensated for.

SAF compensated for Ronaldo & gave him the freedom to burst forward. In the CL Ronaldo played his fair share of games as a central forward. There was a reason to this.
We need to apply the same IMO.
Either get someone in mid who will do the running & covering for Hazard & give him the attacking freedom or move him central & set up to compensate his lack of tracking back.

Marky wrote:I was thinking the same thing about Ba, but then 4 strikers is the norm these days, if 4 strikers is good enough for Alex Ferguson, it's good enough for us, right?

But if we're bringing in too many, then yeah, leave Ba out and then it's not so many new faces.

IN:
Lukaku, Courtois, Cavani, Fellaini

OUT:
Mikel, Sturridge, Malouda, Turnbull on loan?

John Terry to get coaching badges and be a first team coach as well as captain.

I agree with all of the above, cost wise we're not going overboard so we're showing decorum, we're not making too many wholesale changes to the squad through recalling loaned out players and we're improving in the areas that are most vital.
One I would like to add as well is to also look into recalling Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg. The attacking trio of Hazard, Mata and Oscar will need to rotate and account for injuries, De Bruyne isn't overly happy over there though he's had excellent form and is regarded as a more complete player than Hazard by his ex coach.

We need to get Marin playing as well

What's going on with Marin Gregers?

Afro, you need to look over my Hazard concerns above please.

Nothing Hero, he was injured and then fell out with RDM. We need to get him back involved.

De Bruyne back is a good shout as well, then we have Mata, Hazard, Marin, Oscar, De Bruyne (and potentially Ramires) competing for the 3 attacking midfielder positions

Zidane - I agree about switching Hazard and Mata around. The initial thought was that Mata might work with Torres better with them both being Spaniards. But it does make sense to switch them for the reasons you mention.

Also agree on swapping Ramires and Oscar. Not too sure what I was thinking about. Probably more focused on what might get Torres working again

In regards to the transfers made is everyone on board with them, if anyone has any concerns, regrets, points to raise etc I'd like them to be brought up now rather than in the boardroom.

Could we get Essien back as well?

I am happy with those proposed Hero.

I wouldn't look at bringing anymore back than Lukaku and Courtois. Lukaku is sensible as we need addtional strikers, and Courtois as Cech is becoming complacant. De Bruyne would not yet be in the best XI and Essien was loaned out because he was behind Mikel, Ramires and Romeu, so with Fellaini coming in, he is even further down the order

I'm happy with all transfers

In which case I'm very happy, unless there are any youngsters we should target going forward?

I think Chelsea really lack a player who can sit deep and play the Pirlo/Modric/Alonso role when it is required.

Its not one for this task really, but if you were looking at future signings that is one type of player I would look at.

Perhaps that is something we could add as an extra on the submission - forward thinking of who we would spend the additional cash on in the summer, looking at the club longer term as well

Zidane - I agree about switching Hazard and Mata around. The initial thought was that Mata might work with Torres better with them both being Spaniards. But it does make sense to switch them for the reasons you mention.

Also agree on swapping Ramires and Oscar. Not too sure what I was thinking about. Probably more focused on what might get Torres working again

Cheers. You'll have to carry on with it. I am a Man United fan,. my opinion is biased and shouldnt count for anything. I do not wish to carry on with this task. Apologies. I wills ee you all in the usual league.

Tom Carroll fits the bill as a Modric type player, maybe try and palm off Mikel to Spurs for £10 million and him?

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:

Zidane - I agree about switching Hazard and Mata around. The initial thought was that Mata might work with Torres better with them both being Spaniards. But it does make sense to switch them for the reasons you mention.

Also agree on swapping Ramires and Oscar. Not too sure what I was thinking about. Probably more focused on what might get Torres working again

Cheers. You'll have to carry on with it. I am a Man United fan,. my opinion is biased and shouldnt count for anything. I do not wish to carry on with this task. Apologies. I wills ee you all in the usual league.

I know who's getting fired if we lose

As far as that role, it's unlikely we'd get Verratti from PSG, but any other players like that (not Tom Carroll) we could suggest?

I was trying to think, but only think of Verratti, who I agree is unlikely.

My brain will fire up soon and someone will spring to mind

Im off the team Marky so on the off chance you lose someone on the team still has to get fired.
Or just leave me on the team, if you lose pin it all on me. Thats probably the better options actually.

What about Beckham? Bit of a wildcard, but would do that job short term from January if we wanted to make it happen for the task? Would also be a free transfer.

Zinedine_Ze_Zebra wrote:Im off the team Marky so on the off chance you lose someone on the team still has to get fired.
Or just leave me on the team, if you lose pin it all on me. Thats probably the better options actually.

Don't be like that, you're still part of the team. You should continue the task at least.

Your contribution so far to the task in hand has been of great benefit Zidane and I'd appreciate it if for the team if you'd reconsider your decision. I don't want anyone on my team to be fired as I think we're going to win this.

Don't be like that, you're still part of the team. You should continue the task at least.

No point. Ill be fired at the first chance possible for no vaild reason.
Ive already been treated like an idiot for asking questions about something which doesnt make sense. Everyone ignores it bar Afro. Im obviously biased so my opinions get thrown in the "Biased Bin". Due to that there no point in me carrying on with the task, I dont think I can opffer anything to the team.

Best thing is just use me as a scapegoat if you happen to lose.

Beckham could be a great signing financially...

If Carroll is a no go how about Benat?

Sorry Hero. Id rarther not. Dont have the passion for it so there no point in me being lazy carrying you guys down.

I do think you will win the task too.

Gregers wrote:Beckham could be a great signing financially...

If Carroll is a no go how about Benat?

Problem is, I think neither of those would do a better job at DM and at distribution than David Luiz.

C'mon Zidane.

Please stick around. Your tactical nous is going to be needed because I can't do all three sets

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ok Afro Ok. After thinking it would be very unfair (+ many other things) of me to leave you in the lurch like this. One set wouldnt of been bad. Two meh, three isnt fair on you.

Alright, deadline tomorrow yeah?
OK Afro, will sort in the morning who wrights what etc and sort it.

Thanks.

Yes, tomorrow morning

Marky wrote:

Gregers wrote:Beckham could be a great signing financially...

If Carroll is a no go how about Benat?

Problem is, I think neither of those would do a better job at DM and at distribution than David Luiz.

Lets be decided on moving Luiz then

I see it as this. If you could create the ultimate DM, you'd merge Pirlo, Makelele and maybe a bit of pace. David Luiz isn't that ultimate DM, but he's the closest we'll get. Unless Afro views Fellaini that highly, but i'd rather Fellaini in a box to box role.

Tactically I wouldn't be keen on having Luiz as DM.
I'm not keen on losing Mikel. Regular starter & is capable at his job, limited yes but he does do the DM role.
But with Fellaini coming in he can do the DM job but with his versility doing tactics I'd prefer to have a set, designated DM allowing the option to utilise Fellaini elsewhere.

Let me know what you decide.

Marky wrote:I see it as this. If you could create the ultimate DM, you'd merge Pirlo, Makelele and maybe a bit of pace. David Luiz isn't that ultimate DM, but he's the closest we'll get. Unless Afro views Fellaini that highly, but i'd rather Fellaini in a box to box role.

I see Fellaini in a similar role to that Yaya plays best in at City, picking the ball up deep and just ramapaging through like a beast.

How's the tactics write up going Afro & Triple Z?

For the four players that we are purchasing can I have a brief write up for each on why we are making that purchase (just a couple of lines for each player).

Lukaku & Cavani - Marky
Courtois & Fellaini - Gregers