Who can beat

[ZeUs!!]

Chelsea are going to do the same as they did last year, and will continue to do the same thing next year. They've brought in a new manager who prefers a totally different style of play to Ranieri so as a result he's wanting to bring in a whole new team - which he has. Therefore like last year, these new players are going to need a year to gel and learn each others play, simple things like where they expect their strike partner to be at any given time and the defensive partnership knowing who will go to the man and who will stay back without having to shout at each other; and if Chelsea fail to land the title again and Abramhovich does away with the manager then a new one will come in who will need a new team. Hopefully the sacking of Ranieri wasn't on the basis of not winning the title but had Abramhovich had already decided to do so, but if so why did he let Ranieri splurge £120m of his money?

However, having a good squad - not a good team, Chelsea are only a good team when they start playing like a team - does get you so far which was shown when Chelsea finished second last year. Mourinho (the new manager) isn't daft - he may be arrogant but he isn't daft - and he's brought in players who have on the whole played with each other before even if he has just brought his previous team with him. Perhaps this head start in the whole "getting to know you" process will be what they need to clinch the title? Who knows

Regarding the comments to Arsenal in this thread, they are certainly not a solid team. Firstly you don't win titles but just having a solid team, you have a good, great or spectacular team and I feel Arsenal are currently at the "great" stage. Secondly, if the intention was to imply that Arsenal are balanced in all areas of the field then that is also wrong. They've got one of if not the world's best forward in Thierry Henry but are unsure about whether to play anyone alongside him or if they do, who. This has been made all the more unsettled but Bergkamp dropping from the limelight at the end of the last season. Arsenal have always lacked a right-back, Lauren didn't look amazingly comfortable even though on occasions he played really well. Arsenal also have a world class central midfielder, and an OK to pretty good midfielder alongside Vieria in Edu. Arsenal are pretty much the opposite of a solid team.

[Ewan]

arseANAL

or ARSEnal

[Mr. Peanuts]

I didnt say Arsenal were a balanced team in all areas of the field, I meant that all the players on the field are great, but some are better than others. Therefore they are generally quite solid.

[NaiLed]

and stop calling it "soccer" ffs.

[Miku19]

If you say soccer you instantly make yourself clear. If you say football you've got 2 different opinions.

[ZeUs!!]

I didnt say Arsenal were a balanced team in all areas of the field, I meant that all the players on the field are great, but some are better than others. Therefore they are generally quite solid.

What the fuck? So saying something is solid means that in some places its better than others? Is a solid defensive wall one with holes in places? Is a solid car one that drives well but has dodgy electrics? Is a solid football team one to be found lacking in certain areas?

• Being the same substance [or colour] throughout
• Having no gaps or breaks; continuous
• Of good quality and substance
• Sound; reliable

There is no fucking way you can tell me that a team that has won the Premiership, reached the quarter finals of the European Cup, possess a player currently negotiating a move to Real Madrid and another voted second in the FIFA World Player Of The Year competition and will be challenging for further silverware next year, simply solid either skillwise or assessing the team as a whole. I demand a complete retraction

[Hero*]

Arsenal kicks Man U's ass, f u nailed!

[Mr. Peanuts]

Ok Zeus, they are pretty much solid, a few holes in their play though, but for the most part they are solid.

Thats why I said generally.

As In, overall, they are pretty much solid.

not 100% solid.

[Troll King]

Wow, you guys take your football seriously. Where else can someone call a team "solid" and another person find that to be a horrible insult?

[ZeUs!!]

Its not an insult I'm just trying to get across that if you feel that the best team in the country is "solid" then what the fuck is "good" or "very good"? Does that not represent a failure to understand the English language?

[RogerMexico]

Chelsea are going to do the same as they did last year, and will continue to do the same thing next year. They've brought in a new manager who prefers a totally different style of play to Ranieri so as a result he's wanting to bring in a whole new team - which he has. Therefore like last year, these new players are going to need a year to gel and learn each others play, simple things like where they expect their strike partner to be at any given time and the defensive partnership knowing who will go to the man and who will stay back without having to shout at each other; and if Chelsea fail to land the title again and Abramhovich does away with the manager then a new one will come in who will need a new team. Hopefully the sacking of Ranieri wasn't on the basis of not winning the title but had Abramhovich had already decided to do so, but if so why did he let Ranieri splurge £120m of his money?

However, having a good squad - not a good team, Chelsea are only a good team when they start playing like a team - does get you so far which was shown when Chelsea finished second last year. Mourinho (the new manager) isn't daft - he may be arrogant but he isn't daft - and he's brought in players who have on the whole played with each other before even if he has just brought his previous team with him. Perhaps this head start in the whole "getting to know you" process will be what they need to clinch the title? Who knows

I think you're selling them short, Mike. First off, everyone knew Ranieri was a dead man walking. Roman and Kenyon had to wait for the team to fall out of Europe first (fans would have had a conniption if Claudio had taken it all, then received the axe), but he was always on the way out. But to assume the buck doesn't stop with Mourinho and the cycle will continue is silly. The man has won everything possible in the last two years. He's already adored by the players, trimmed the fat, bought smart and spoken confidently. He's guarenteed first place for Chelsea but he's said "in the next three years." I'm not saying he has too much rope, but even with a stronger Liverpool and Newcastle this Chelsea side isn't dropping out of the top three, and that's good enough to keep the job with his resume. He has brought in intelligent partnerships with previous experience, as you mentioned (although looting two players from his previous team is hardly "bringing the team with him," unless you mean outside staff), and the heart of the team is still intact from last year.

You certainly can't brag about more team chemistry on Man. U for this upcoming season (little-to-no striker+striker experience, regardless of who you pair together -- defensive clusterfuck till Brown is healthy, O'Shea finds his form, Heinze is back, and Rio is free -- lack of experience in midfield with the new kids Miller, Ronaldo, Fletcher who are certainly penciled in for some first-team action).

And if Arsenal sell Vieira, that teams falls apart. Even if they bring in a big name to fill the gap (Ballack?) they're not taking first. I don't know, man. I think it's Chelsea's to take if they keep their eye on the prize.

ps - I don't think Arsenal are unclear about who to play next to Henry (Reyes) and I still think Bergkamp has some usefulness in him (about as much as the one-year contract extended his way). Also, to leave out Pires and Ljungberg for notable mention, despite what pricks they might be, is a mistake. And no team can be called "solid" with Lehman is net. He's such a shitface.

Love Always,
Rog

[ZeUs!!]

I just can't get past Lehmann's haircut, what is he like?

We only know Abramhovich's intentions were to do away with Ranieri when looking back at the season, at the beginning and indeed mid-way through no one was any the wiser about this mysterious Russian who no one had heard of and was now writing the newspapers single-handedly (I still don't think he's done a television interview), so to say Ranieri was always going to walk without the benefit of hindsight is a little calous. I'll also have to dispute Mourinho's transfer dealings. Mourinho paid £13m for Pablo/Paulo Ferreria the portuguese right back when his opposite number in in the Euro 2004 final and indeed throughout the tournament showed he was a far better player (granted Ferreria lost his place after the first match but doesn't alone speak volumes?). He has also just completed a deal worth between £17m and £19.25 depending on who you believe for Ricardo Carvalho which is a helluva lot of money for someone who's not quite world class yet. There are a number of centre-backs in the game who are a lot better than Carvalho, take for example the English pairing of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand. Have you ever seen Carvalho put in a block like Campbell or run someone off the ball like Ferdinand? I think Mourinho's been taken to the cleaners on that one.

To say that the fan's love Mourinho is also a bit bold. The fans adored Ranieri and were loathed to see him leave, this much we know is true. He has been replaced by someone who has been portrayed in the English press as the pantomine villain before he was even linked with Chelsea after he had a run in with Sir Alex in the Champions League. The man himself is very quiet and not publicity hungry so the Chelsea fans haven't really had a chance to judge him on his character, they'll have to decide based on his results which is probably what the man wants.

I'm not disputing the fact Chelsea will finish strongly this year, in fact I said they were able to finish second with a totally uncohesive squad so now they only have a partially uncohesive squad people should expect more.

Regarding Man Yoo I couldn't agree more, however I feel their biggest defensive headache would not be who to play, but where to play Silvestre. He was originally bought way back when as a left-back from Inter Milan, and since then he has certainly grown into a far better player and definately a player worthy of playing for the current big three, rivalling Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole. However for some reason which escapes my memory Silvestre was required to play in the middle for a short spell last season, and put in some great performances. Since that little run he has but in some over dubious shows in the middle for United, and has failed to link up effectively with Ferdinand meaning does Ferguson play him in his less slightly less effective but infinitely more reliable left back position, or does he take a gamble and play him in the middle, knowing that surely enough practice makes perfect? Wes Brown certainly hasn't build on the promise he showed as a younger player and I feel this season will be make or break, he's already valued at just £3m in my Championship Manager game!

Regarding Arsenal's team selection, I don't feel that a Reyes/Henry partnership would be the best option. Henry isn't a target man, he isn't a 6'6 brick shithouse for defenders to lob high balls at and for him to elbow the defence out of the way and to nod into the back of the net. He prefers to come from a relatively deep position and create something either for his team mates or himself. Reyes is one of those players suffering an identity crisis, they don't know whether they're a midfielder or a forward - something Champ Man likes to term an "attacking midfielder". Basically he plays like Henry just a little further back. Therefore if you've got two players attacking the box... whos actually in the box? Arsenal would do well to get Fernando Morientes in the Vieria deal, meaning they have a) someone up front and b) somewhere for Reyes to play from, that being Vieria's old position. A lot will then be asked from Edu or Maniche, should Arsenal carry out their threats and sign him like the papers would have us believe. Edu/Maniche will have to shore up the defence and resist the urge to charge forward like they are both prone to, instead leave that to Reyes and the two wide men to charge inside like they prefer, those being Ljundberg and Pires. The thing with Vieria is he pretty much did the job of two men, so like you said they're going to be big shoes to fill. Apparently he also had the biggest cock in English football?

I suppose you're going to want me to put my neck on the line and dictate what'll happen, only a mug would do that and I'm a mug. I don't think United will win the title. Their ability to send potential big name signings running which was sparked by Ronaldinho means they have to pluck their talent from the "just about to be world class" pool like taking Van Nistellrooy from PSV or Ronaldo from Lisbon. I think they will finish third again. Who wins the league depends very much on what Vieria does - he's that much of a player. If he stays I don't doubt Arsenal will win the league again. If he goes they'll have to change the whole shape of their team like I detailed above, and I honestly can't predict what that'll mean - whether the team will be able to adapt and make them stronger, or whether it will be the breaking of them. Meanwhile Chelsea will continue to spend shitloads of money regardless.

[Troll King]

Its not an insult I'm just trying to get across that if you feel that the best team in the country is "solid" then what the fuck is "good" or "very good"? Does that not represent a failure to understand the English language?

I generally consider "solid" to mean "very good", or even "excellent".

[RogerMexico]

I just can't get past Lehmann's haircut, what is he like?

We only know Abramhovich's intentions were to do away with Ranieri when looking back at the season, at the beginning and indeed mid-way through no one was any the wiser about this mysterious Russian who no one had heard of and was now writing the newspapers single-handedly (I still don't think he's done a television interview), so to say Ranieri was always going to walk without the benefit of hindsight is a little calous. I'll also have to dispute Mourinho's transfer dealings. Mourinho paid £13m for Pablo/Paulo Ferreria the portuguese right back when his opposite number in in the Euro 2004 final and indeed throughout the tournament showed he was a far better player (granted Ferreria lost his place after the first match but doesn't alone speak volumes?). He has also just completed a deal worth between £17m and £19.25 depending on who you believe for Ricardo Carvalho which is a helluva lot of money for someone who's not quite world class yet. There are a number of centre-backs in the game who are a lot better than Carvalho, take for example the English pairing of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand. Have you ever seen Carvalho put in a block like Campbell or run someone off the ball like Ferdinand? I think Mourinho's been taken to the cleaners on that one.

To say that the fan's love Mourinho is also a bit bold. The fans adored Ranieri and were loathed to see him leave, this much we know is true. He has been replaced by someone who has been portrayed in the English press as the pantomine villain before he was even linked with Chelsea after he had a run in with Sir Alex in the Champions League. The man himself is very quiet and not publicity hungry so the Chelsea fans haven't really had a chance to judge him on his character, they'll have to decide based on his results which is probably what the man wants.

I'm not disputing the fact Chelsea will finish strongly this year, in fact I said they were able to finish second with a totally uncohesive squad so now they only have a partially uncohesive squad people should expect more.

Regarding Man Yoo I couldn't agree more, however I feel their biggest defensive headache would not be who to play, but where to play Silvestre. He was originally bought way back when as a left-back from Inter Milan, and since then he has certainly grown into a far better player and definately a player worthy of playing for the current big three, rivalling Wayne Bridge and Ashley Cole. However for some reason which escapes my memory Silvestre was required to play in the middle for a short spell last season, and put in some great performances. Since that little run he has but in some over dubious shows in the middle for United, and has failed to link up effectively with Ferdinand meaning does Ferguson play him in his less slightly less effective but infinitely more reliable left back position, or does he take a gamble and play him in the middle, knowing that surely enough practice makes perfect? Wes Brown certainly hasn't build on the promise he showed as a younger player and I feel this season will be make or break, he's already valued at just £3m in my Championship Manager game!

Regarding Arsenal's team selection, I don't feel that a Reyes/Henry partnership would be the best option. Henry isn't a target man, he isn't a 6'6 brick shithouse for defenders to lob high balls at and for him to elbow the defence out of the way and to nod into the back of the net. He prefers to come from a relatively deep position and create something either for his team mates or himself. Reyes is one of those players suffering an identity crisis, they don't know whether they're a midfielder or a forward - something Champ Man likes to term an "attacking midfielder". Basically he plays like Henry just a little further back. Therefore if you've got two players attacking the box... whos actually in the box? Arsenal would do well to get Fernando Morientes in the Vieria deal, meaning they have a) someone up front and b) somewhere for Reyes to play from, that being Vieria's old position. A lot will then be asked from Edu or Maniche, should Arsenal carry out their threats and sign him like the papers would have us believe. Edu/Maniche will have to shore up the defence and resist the urge to charge forward like they are both prone to, instead leave that to Reyes and the two wide men to charge inside like they prefer, those being Ljundberg and Pires. The thing with Vieria is he pretty much did the job of two men, so like you said they're going to be big shoes to fill. Apparently he also had the biggest cock in English football?

I suppose you're going to want me to put my neck on the line and dictate what'll happen, only a mug would do that and I'm a mug. I don't think United will win the title. Their ability to send potential big name signings running which was sparked by Ronaldinho means they have to pluck their talent from the "just about to be world class" pool like taking Van Nistellrooy from PSV or Ronaldo from Lisbon. I think they will finish third again. Who wins the league depends very much on what Vieria does - he's that much of a player. If he stays I don't doubt Arsenal will win the league again. If he goes they'll have to change the whole shape of their team like I detailed above, and I honestly can't predict what that'll mean - whether the team will be able to adapt and make them stronger, or whether it will be the breaking of them. Meanwhile Chelsea will continue to spend shitloads of money regardless.

Have to be quick... will respond in full later:

Ranieri considered himself a dead man by Christmas. At one point in January, during an away game Chelsea was winning, a pissed-off home fan jealously yelled "We may be losing but you'll be fired this summer," to which Claudio said "Wrong, I'll be fired by May." Call it hindsight if you will, but the stink of houscleaning ran through the press for almost the entire season.

As for Mourinho's Porto signings, Ferreria is a little unproven, granted, but Carvalho is a rock. Easily one of the best defenders in last years Champion's league, and a very sincere target of Real's. He might not be Sol or Rio, but he's tits, and I think he'll earn his keep (especially for a financially lenient owner).

I'll read back through, but I don't think I said anything about the fans loving Mourinho yet (though I think they have an open mind). Ranieri was hard not to like, and the fans don't easily forget. I only meant to suggest that the players love him so far, as suggested by media interaction so far this preseason.

Silvestre won't be working out for a left-sided position, as far as I know. Heinze was brought in to compete with O'Shea over there (not to mention Spector's success thus far with his first-team preseason debut at the position, as well as finishing "reserve player of the year" last year in the spot), so I can't imagine SAF having designs for him in there. I'm not sure where to fit him in, especially after a pretty shitty campaign last year (and a shitty Euro summer). I disagree on Wes, though. He got thrown into the deep end last year, struggled for a few weeks and took way too much flak, then played really well for most of the remainder (without really shaking the "he's worthless now" tag).

Have to leave now. Arsenal tomorrow.

Night.

[Tyson]

All hail to KEZMAN the Serbian sensation. GO CHELSEA!!

-Tys