In the latest in our series of pre-season articles for members, analysing the 2014/15 season from each club’s perspective, we turn attentions to league champions Chelsea.
We assess the Blues squad, focusing on influence, creativity and goal threat to offer a view on how Jose Mourinho’s prime assets stacked up.
not tempted by the english muller? 😉
Not sure I follow, you mean Kane? 😀
In what order would you sign these strikers?
A) 92 goals in 247 appearances. 24 years old. Has won the Serie A 3 times, Coppa Italia, Champions League, Premier League, Fa Cup and golden boy award. Market value of £14m.
B) 124 goals in 312 appearances. 26 years old. Has won the La Liga, UEFA super cup, Copa del Rey, Premier league and League cup. Market value of £44m.
C) 121 goals in 243 appearances. 26 years old. Has won African cup of nations. Market value of £22m.
D) 69 goals in 184 appearances. 24 years old. Won zilch. Market value of £27m.
I guess B is Diego Costa?
A is Mario Balotelli 😆
Who are they?
Surely this is a misleading way to measure strikers ? . Torres has a fantastic record and has won practically everything but I would certainly not want Torres at the min .
thats what im trying to prove..but everyone seems to be just guessing the players instead
We're all guessing cause obviously I'd go for A out of those, but then, when the name comes out to be Mario Balotelli, I'd run away as far as I could.
thats precisely my point..he is criticized to pieces but is one of the most accomplished players in the world for his age
Thing is, he wasn't a vital part of the teams he has won the trophies with. The key player. He's just been a part of them and has titles to his name.
I'd rather take Costa at 44 than Mario at 14 all day everyday.
But I see we're on the same page here I think.
but you see the point im trying to make though
No. Balotelli has scored a lot of his goals through penalties and has a very difficult character - we are talking about a player Mourinho called "unmanageable".
Inter, City and Milan dumped him pretty sharpish and Liverpool want rid too. That is called a toxic asset.
In addition to which his medals owe more to the clubs he has happened to be at rather than to his own contributions.
Goals / games, age and titles won are but 3 of a number of factors to be considered I guess
Albeit quite important ones
yep but once i mention the names people will change their minds of their order
Is C Bony?
Is D Harry Kane?
Kane is 21yo
I thought that just after I posted it 🙂 stumped on who that is tho
Kane is 21.
52 goals in 142 appearances. Won zilch. Market value of inflation cubed.
Based on age / context of teams played for and recent form, a value of £40m+ seems appropriate to suggest
Anyone would be crazy to pay that for him, imo
Why? Quality, english, player with bags of potential.
One season, give it time
Being English doesn't justify a price tag..lol
Balotelli, Costa, Bony + Benteke?
Benteke market value is 32m
None
Can you just tell us who they are, because it's driving me nuts lol.
posted below
A) Balotelli
B) Costa
C) Bony
D) Lacazette
My point is that our orders would be different if we hadn't saw the names..fans are quick to jump on bandwagons.
Damn! Thought they were all in the league!
*Premier League.
Context is key
goals per app, honours, age, value
thats context..you sign the player not the name
Isn't that the sort of moneyball thinking that's the reason for Liverpool signing Balo?
Liverpool do not do this at all lol.
Wasnt that Damien Comollis job for pool? I figured their transfer committee was just doing this all day!
Liverpool's transfer committee is better than people give it credit for. Sakho Can Sturridge Coutinho Markovic Moreno Manquillo Suarez were all committee signings.
Liverpool's wage structure, negotiators, and manager are crap
I'm not saying the committee are bad at their jobs! - I'm just saying that it's known John Henry likes the moneyball philosophy in baseball and tried the same thing at Liverpool with Comolli. So I was assuming the committee also uses a stats-heavy approach.
Oh yes most probably. Stats, low risk high rewards, undervalued assets etc
Liverpool panicked and signed Balotelli for a low cost with him being the clubs' main commercial commodity in mind
Balotelli had a crap season and was mismanaged but if people think he is absolute garbage then just look at what his career for a 24 yo, pretty good
im not his biggest fan btw
You are, actually. Apart from Milanista ... 😉
we just have..sense! 😛
Indeed. Non ... Sense! 😉
E) 101 goals in 241, 22 years old. Worth 3.2 billion 🙂
i'd buy c who i assume is bony but i'd want to know how many of the goals were penalties
13 apparently
for all the players though...I assume ballo has lots of pens...in any case i'm just looking at goals per game and on the data you gave bony looks the best bet
yep he'd be my pick also
Depends on the leagues they play in for me. A probably last because I don't think Series A players are as good elsewhere. B plays at a good level, would be happy to have him. Don't know C or D's leagues so I can't say.
C
Havent looked to see who these might be, but with that limited data I would probably sign C first and B second. I wouldnt sign A or D as their strike rates are frankly awful (based on that data).
Is there any way to know about their 'character'?
Yours truly,
BR.
xxx
Stefan Savic PL medals 1, Steven Gerrard PL medals 0.
Stats can be spun to say anything you want them to say.
Belotti or berardi?
Belotti is on pens, but I prefer Berardi
Which two keepers do people have in the u21?
adam, johnson
Bardi, Koubek
(Hopefully Koubek is #1 for Czech Rep)
Ter Stegen and a 3.5m
Cheap U21 Options
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything here.
- Scholz a decent defensive pick at 4.0 for Denmark. Has started Denmark's last 2 games at RB. His only competition is coming from Remmer at 3.0 who looks unlikely to upset the apple cart.
- Masopust as a cheap 4.5 midfielder. Has started the last 3 games at RM in place of Skalak, who is listed as Czech's most expensive midfielder at 6.0. Dunno if Skalak was injured; can't seem to find anything about it. But ever since Czech lost to England 1-0 a while back, Skalak was dropped for Masopust (and Czech have won all 3 of their games since)
- Stojkovic for Serbia at 3.5 in defence. Petkovic at 3.5 is his competition, but considering Stojkovic has started the last two, it seems he will be favoured.
I think Petkovic is the captain.
Sure someone on here said that.
Hmmm seems he is 😕 cheers for pointing that out Sarj
No problem!
Also another couple potential cheapies
- Guerreiro (POR) as a 4.0 left-back... if Portugal go all out attack he could have some nice returns
- Koubek (CZE) as a 4.0 goalkeeper...
I was trying to figure out the Czech keeper. But Koubek didn't start all the qualifying games, so I chose not to risk it.
Still no british Copa America fantasy games yet guys?
I saw a spanish one but that looks awkward considering you need to use a laptop to convert the language lol.
Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has sustained a left calf injury during a training session in France, according to @lequipe
any time frame for the injury?
Anyone watching Germany v USA? Good game and USA thoroughly deserving their 2-1 lead!
Yeah! How could Michael Bradley not get on the field for Aston Villa?
They did very well against Netherlands and Germany!
Any idea on the best keeper duo yet?
I like Bardi and Koubek (or whoever is #1 for Czech Rep)
GW3 is a pain though
Was thinking about going without a second keeper. All four keepers in Group B are €5.5m+, better spent elsewhere?
Yes.
But at the moment, I can't do any bloody transfers ...
People's thoughts on Ayew at Swansea next season?
See how he fits in the pre-season games.
Few players coming in take the Premiership by storm in their first season. Worth watching though.
Yup that's the plan.
Also considering him as a sleeper pick for a draft league.
one to watch
Yup. Think he plays alongside or in place of Gomis?
I think on the left mate
Thanks!
Should be fun!
Pissed off.
Why so?
Because of potential rotation with Gomis.
Yeah. Hoping he takes over / plays alongside though. Not a huge fan of Gomis myself.
I am.
André Ayew is a good player and would be well-suited to the Premier League - i.e. strong in the air, hard-working, robust. He's best cutting in from the left-hand side but is not the world's most clinical finisher.
I fear he's merely using the move to Swansea as a stepping stone to something more prestigious in the future - and also as a money-earner. He's been touting for move to a bigger club than this, so I hope his attitude's right.
If he is looking at Swansea as a stepping stone, I'd expect him to want to perform and perform big.
That said, Swansea seems like a very down-to-earth club so I expect them to keep him in line.
Thanks PB,
Maybe it will make him try hard to get the move. It would at least be good for Swansea for a season or season and a half and make them a few quid at the end of it.
So what you are saying makes him a great punt? Destined for much better things and playing below his level?
Ayew - Mane - Bolasie - Chadli
Mane still seems to be one of the best options for 4th mid spot
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix#ligue_1/2014/2015/andré_ayew/118/118/1174/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/sadio_mané/126/126/3272/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/yannick_bolasie/126/126/5188/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/nacer_chadli/126/126/7085/0/p#key_passes/assists/chances_created/goals_scored/shot_accuracy#90
well that sucks! just select the mentioned players and compare their shots/goals/chances created etc
Mane seems to be clear ahead
I think 4th and 5th mids are also going to come down to price as well for me. If Mane is 8.5 and Bolasie/Ayew 6.5 it could be the deal breaker in fitting in with the big hitters.
for sure, just hoping Mane isn't too expensive. His stats are very impressive
So USA just beat the Netherlands and Germany away in the space of one week.
Most under-rated national team out there?
Many of their players seem to save their best performances for their Country. The polar opposite to most England players sadly.
Lads,
What the Bournemouth abbreviated to on the scoreboard? Is it BOU?
(Yes I really need to know!)
Whatever it was in the Championship I suppose TBoL.
Who to captain for gw1?
Volland
Ayew at Swansea could be an interesting prospect since Sigurdsson is going to be priced too high.
_____________Adrian_____________
Jenkinson Reid Tomkins Creswell
________Obiang Kouyate_________
_____________Cabaye_____________
________Sakho_______Downing ___
______________Remy______________
(Randolph Collins Burke Noble Jarvis Valencia Carroll )
If we signed Cabaye and Remy that would be a more than decent squad
that is a very strong team, still would have noble in the starting 11 though
think WHU are the next to get a massive ££ takeover
Newcastle really have no ambition appointing McClaren as manager
Might bet on them finishing in the bottom 5 next season
Seems not. I could hardly think of a duller pick for manager.
I bet he does well, his strength is coaching and it seems that will be his main role. He has had massive bad luck and he will surprise a lot of people. Good luck! (and sort your hair)
He's still a dull boy though.
Duller than Hughes, Bruce, Ramsey, Monk, Pulis? Hardley..
Hardly
I wouldn't call Pulis, Bruce or Monk dull...I bet the three of them have right old strop from time to time...
They are all dull as dishwater, tactically and personally
I'd like to see Newcastle do well. Mid-table is about as much as they are likely to get I think.
What would you consider "well" to be??
A top half finish??
The top seven is spoken for so yeah, top half is good for all the others
Hofmann captain it is
Tell me more...
Likely to bag a good return in gw1 imo
On pens aswell
Mmmm...Looking him up as we speak.
Everton midfielder James McCarthy is looking to leave the club with Tottenham among the clubs keen to snap him up, report the Daily Mirror.
He has been linked with the top clubs for a few years in the tabloids and nothing has ever come of it . I think he will stay
End of contract and Cleverley arriving make this year different
Do you think he would improve a top 4 team ? .
Not Chelsea,Man City but that wasn't the point. He can do better than Everton
One of Everton's poorest earners, mind you. £35k a week. If another club offered him even £70k (not that big compared to many first XI salaries) he'd be easy to sign
Give me England U21 starting 11? Anybody playing U21 fantasy?
5 Milners, Kane and a load of kids
Lol at no Milner... U21 stalwart for 25 years
Any Copa America fantasy worth playing?
Fulfilled them all in1979
the spanish one is kinda ok. almost exact copy of fpl (even has price changes) expect for some differences in bonus and transfers
http://www.ca.superdt.cl/
looks good, thanks!
Ayew Fuchsen Dzekoing?
Ak hit me up for rematch if ya like. I can't do it on the app for some reason
Hey all, a bit of talk of U21's stuff going on... Is there fantasy football worth getting into?
The official one I guess
http://en.u21fantasy.uefa.com/
Yes, only 265 players
Great! Cheers!
Balotelli had a conversation rate of 1.8% last season.
I know it's just an agent doing his job well but this is such a tease
“The Premier League is very exciting. And we do not only think about the top four because there are some other great clubs below them.
“In Germany there is a clear separation between manager and sporting director and I think in principle this is very good. Jürgen does not like to speak to players’ agents or to carry out a transfer. So we have to see which is the most useful arrangement.”
“It is always all about the challenge. When Jürgen signed for Dortmund there were other clubs who had better prestige and were in better financial mood at this time. Nevertheless he decided for Dortmund.
“He has the great ability to develop things. If he goes into a stadium, feels the energy and thinks that he can make a difference here, this could be more attractive to him than going with the big deals and aim for the treble.”
Adam Bogdan is set to become Liverpool's third signing of the summer, joining on a free transfer from Bolton, according to the Guardian.
As 2nd keeper?
Yep.
Competition for migs
Yep another good bit of business
Copa America winners and top scorer predictions?
Draw seems to favour the Agrentines
My guess
Argentina
Aguero
What do you reckon?
Brazil
neymar
It's going to be between those two really isn't it? Was just wondering whether there are any left field suggestions. Bacca?
I agree.
9 years, 8 days agoHow's this looking?
Butland
Knoche - Rugani - Vestergaard
Redmond - Silva - Leitner - Christensen
Berahino - Kadlec - Hoffman
Koubek Jonsson Kalas Petkovic