Shevchenko

[Withdean Wanderer]

Signs for Chelsea, 30 million approx.

I really hope it goes tits up for them this season, but i suspect it won't.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5035604.stm

 

[Pavilionaire]

£30 million - paid in cash mind, no stage payments here - and he's on £120,000 a week. That is a frightening amount of money.

 

[Silent Bob]

I'll be very interested to see how Chelsea line up next season. Drogba gets a lot of shit but he's not a bad player really, he suits their system perfectly and is a big factor in their midfield getting so many goals. With Shevchenko and Kalou coming in that suggest he won't be making the side, or if he does they will change their system which again leaves them with a problem. Who can they drop from central midfield, Lampard and Ballack are both attacking players, wouldn;t work as a partnership and besides Makelele is arguably their most important player.

I have no doubt Sheva will get 20+ goals, but will Chelsea be stronger next season?

 

[enigma]

£30 million - paid in cash mind, no stage payments here - and he's on £120,000 a week. That is a frightening amount of money.

True- but at least him and Ballack should be "worth it". More so than some of their signings in the past anyway.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Will they be stronger? You decide:

1. Cech
2. Ferreira
3. Gallas
4. Terry
5. Carvalho
6. Makelele
7. Lampard
8. Ballack
9. Shevchenko
10.Joe Cole
11.Robben.

Prediction - they'll piss the League by a clear 18 points.

 

[Silent Bob]

Drogba has said he will leave, as he is fed up of the abuse he gets from English fans over his cheating!

Personally, I don't rate any of Chelsea's strikers, so I think they won't worry too much about having a complete overhaul in that department.

He's said that but that doesn't mean he will. They will miss him if he does.
He's not always the prettiest player but he suits their system perfectly, you can see how much they miss his presence when they replace him with Crespo, who is a superior player but does not do the job that Drogba does.
Plus Drogba for all the stick has scored 16 this season and at least that last.

I don't see how you can not rate Crepso however.

 

[Silent Bob]

Will they be stronger? You decide:

1. Cech
2. Ferreira
3. Gallas
4. Terry
5. Carvalho
6. Makelele
7. Lampard
8. Ballack
9. Shevchenko
10.Joe Cole
11.Robben.

Prediction - they'll piss the League by a clear 18 points.

Gallas will almost certainly be off, and he is their best centre back. They look to be bringing in Roberto Carlos to fill the left back spot which would be stupid, both Bridge and Del Horno are better.

And as I said, Shevchenko will not be able to play Drogba's role, he's a classy player and his link up play is good but he is not the same player. Drogba is a target man to hold up play, lay the ball off for others, and to score the goals when chances come his way. The midfield will not score as many with Sheva up front.

 

[enigma]

Sheva doesnt hold the ball up as well as Drogba, thats true. But he isnt bad in the air. In some games, mostly in Europe, they have suffered from not having a poacher, so I'm sure they will benefit from his presence.

He is also used to playing on his own. Although he generally played in a two, he was very good on his own when he did play there, supported by by Rui Costa and Kaka.

Agree with Crespo comment. Dont see how anybody couldnt rate him. Great goalscorer.

Not sure whether Carlos will go there- doesnt seem to be a Mourinho type player, particularly at 33. Del Horno is their best bet, think he will be good in the long term, just maybe needs more time to adapt.

 

[Silent Bob]

Crespo is by far the best striker they have. I do rate him as a player, but not for Chelsea. If he was playing for AC still, and when he is in the Argie squad this summer, I would think he is a top striker. But, as you say, I don't think he really does the job Chelsea need - maybe he's not suited to England?? Drogba is like a very rich man's Mark McCammon! I know he scored 16 goals last year, but who wouldn't in Chelsea's team? Considering how much money Chelsea have, I would be very disappointed if I went to watch them and Drogba was the best they could offer. Shevchenko - now that's more like it

Well Drogba towards the end of the season was fantastic, probably riled by the abuse he got over the diving thing. When he's at his best he is an absolute beast, his tocuh and finishing is dodgy at times but the job he does for Chelsea is extremely under appreciated. He's be a brilliant partner for Shevchenko but that would leave the midfield problem.

Sheva doesnt hold the ball up as well as Drogba, thats true. But he isnt bad in the air. In some games, mostly in Europe, they have suffered from not having a poacher, so I'm sure they will benefit from his presence.

He is also used to playing on his own. Although he generally played in a two, he was very good on his own when he did play there, supported by by Rui Costa and Kaka.

Agree with Crespo comment. Dont see how anybody couldnt rate him. Great goalscorer.

Not sure whether Carlos will go there- doesnt seem to be a Mourinho type player, particularly at 33. Del Horno is their best bet, think he will be good in the long term, just maybe needs more time to adapt.

You are right, Sheva can play on his own and will score more goals for them, but I think it may mean the midfield scoring less and the side being less hard to break down (Drogba defends from the front).


I thought the same about Carlos but the rumours won't go away and Mourinho has confirmed them:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/5033138.stm

Ballack and Sheva are "galactico" style signings but they are both still great players. Carlos I'm not sure. I think they might as well buy Ashley Cole, £16m buyout clause apparently.

 

[enigma]

Drogba set up a lot of goals last year- think it was over 10 assists.

I will be intrigued to see what formation Mourinho starts with him. He could always stick to the 4-3-3 and just put Ballack in for Essien. He could also play a diamond midfield with Makelele holding, Essien and Lampard, and Ballack behind Drogba and Shevchenko. Ballack does play a bit further forward than Lampard in my eyes.

If Chelsea lose Gallas, they will do well to find a centre back as good as him, particularly in terms of pace. He complements John Terry perfectly.

 

[enigma]

Good point about Shevchenko. The likes of Lampard will be looking to play him in rather than shoot as much they have done in the past. However, Ballack always gets a few, and its good for them to reduce their dependence on the midfield, something I think has cost them in Europe.

Hadnt seen that about Carlos. Interesting. I wouldnt be surprised if they went for Zambrotta, particularly if Juve get relegated. His versatility would come in very handy.

 

[bhanutz]

I am fed up of reading about who Chelsea have signed. Let them get on with it! how many more players do they want?

Didnt shevchenko say he wasnt doing it for the money but was doing it for the family?

what a load of bollocks!

 

[WATFORD O]

Shev is a don of a player. Schooled on Italian defences he will score bucket loads in our shite league.........

 

[Stinkers Bridge]

I couldn't really give a toss about Chelsea or the Premiership at the moment, so I think I will simply not comment about all this, hit the back button on my browser and not open this thread again

 

[Gwylan]

They look to be bringing in Roberto Carlos to fill the left back spot which would be stupid, both Bridge and Del Horno are better.

I know that RC is a bit past his best but he must be streets ahead of Bridge (who couldn't even get in the squad and had to be loaned out) and Del Horno was made to look a monkey in Europe.

I would have thought that Cole was better than all of them.

 

[Marshy]

Shev is a don of a player. Schooled on Italian defences he will score bucket loads in our shite league.........

For once i agree with you in principle.

I think it will be the wide players that miss out for Chelsea this season. The likes of Robben, Duff and SWP.
Im expecting a midfield of Ballack,Essien,Makalele,Lampard and Cole.