The end of the line for Chelsea?

[Tom84]

Just for comparison, check out the oldies at Old Trafford.

Over 30: (age at end of this year)

Giggs 36 (37)
VDS 39 (40)
Neville 35
Scholes 35 (36)
Brown 30 (31)
Ferdinand 31 (32)
Owen 30 (31)

Turning 30 next year:

Evra
Berbatov
Hargreaves
Park
Vidic
Carrick
O'Shea

Opened up a can of worms there mate, especially as with the likes of Carrick and Vidic they wont hit 30 till 2011 (July for Carrick, October for Vidic, I couldn't be arsed to check the rest)

The key thing for United is apart from those that have been in their thirties and apparently on the decline for what seems like a decade now (Scholes, Giggs, Neville etc etc) what I consider to be the core of our team (defence apart which isn't really an issue for defenders to be in their early thirties) we're still a young team

Rooney
Fletcher
Carrick
Valencia
Nani

With also the likes of Evans, Rafael, Anderson all very young as well and sure to be first choice players in the future, compare that with Chelsea.....

 

[red11]

Yeah, last time I checked 2011 is next year. And you don't need to go checking, I did the research. So you'd better go look for that lid, can of worms don't need to be opened.

 

[Weebull]

What is this? Logan's Run?

 

[Tummy]

Lots of fuss over, well old news?

We all know Chelsea have older players, so do most clubs in the league.

Part and parcel of being a manager / football club is refreshing and developing the team.

 

[FrankJH]

+ the average age of the starting line up for Man.U's game v Milan was higher than Chelsea's v Inter.
Time to lock the thread?

you listed him for next season - so you expect Joe Cole's deal to be sorted out?


I know he had a (short) run of games where he was basically the match winner, but PLEASE Fergie surely this season has proved that Nani cant be relied upon - ship him out now and replace him with a decent left winger to get close guidance from Giggsy before its too late

I admit to not looking at games played in the last few seasons so maybe this "appearance" is completely wrong but it does seem as though Chelsea's older players are asked to appear in more games than the likes of Neville and Scholes especially (obviously Scholes has played more since Anderson's banishment and then injury but even so).

I think we can all agree that Giggs is a bit of a special case as imo he is still playing like he is in his late 20's (admittedly it does help that a lot of games he is played more centrally rather than on the wing but even so) and most Utd fans have been crying out for a senior goalie for at least a season if not three, hopefully this summer SAF will finally do something about it, but again its a bit different to being an outfield player of the same age or even 5-6 years younger

 

[drunkenmaster]

Their problem is they can't power past everyone, when it requires a finer touch and some creativity they're lost. They really have 0 invention in their midfield.

Absolute rubbish, Lampard has more creativity in his passing than the majority of the rest of the England squad in his little finger.

I dont think the Chelski players are going to drop dead tomorrow but I think their main problem is now City. Before they were the big spenders and could attract the `greedy` big players. But City hold that mantle now and I think they will struggle to get them in.

Peoples entire obsession, randomly for the past two seasons for writing off anyone over 30 almost instantly is madness. Drogba is over 30 and is having by far his best season since what 3 years ago at what a lot of people randomly considered the peak age for a striker. Anelka also has improved over the past 2 years compared to his previous several years. Lampard looked to have a slow start to the season but is on course for another 20+ goals season.

As for City have the money so Chelsea can't get anyone, give over, Chelsea have champs league football easily for next year, though City "might" get 4th. Even if they did, City would only buy a few more expensive players, there are more than 20 great players in the world and even if City bought half of them, thats still another 10 players that could improve Chelsea's squad and Chelsea quite happily pay higher wages than at 99% of clubs in Europe's top leagues.

Chelsea are looking to win the premier league and are in the strongest position right now, despite spending fairly little over the past 3 seasons.

Barca and Inter have been spending a lot for a long time and Inter benefited from a bargain bin sale at Juve several years back and have been gifted the league for several years due to the scandal and dissappearing of 3 of the main title rivals, which leads to increased revenue and winnings.

Every major team spends a LOT to win a title, sometimes its in transfer fee's, sometimes its over a decade on dozens more youth players than other teams can afford to keep for years and years, sometimes its 20mil a year for a decade on transfers on cheaper players of which some work out and sometimes its 200million in 2 years, it really makes no difference, it costs a lot to be competitive.

Chelsea still suffer from a not good enough squad after Mourinho wasted money on too many dire players, Malouda, Kalou, Joe Cole, Fereira, Ballack, Schev, Kesman and a about 58 crappy central midfielders including Mikel.

 

[red11]

What is this? Logan's Run?

I don't believe players suddenly fall to bits when they hit 30, quite a few hit their peak in fact. I just don't think Chelsea are as old as the media make out when really it's Man Utd who have the slightly older players who actually don't look like being properly replaced yet.

 

[Tom84]

Absolute rubbish, Lampard has more creativity in his passing than the majority of the rest of the England squad in his little finger.

Rooney

 

[Tom84]

I don't believe players suddenly fall to bits when they hit 30, quite a few hit their peak in fact. I just don't think Chelsea are as old as the media make out when really it's Man Utd who have the slightly older players who actually don't look like being properly replaced yet.

Disagree mate, as you posted previously a large amount of our players dont hit 30 till next year whereas a large amount of Chelsea players are already in their thirties

Compare our front 6 with Chelsea's;

Valencia - 25
Carrick - 28
Fletcher - 26
Park - 29
Rooney - 24
Berbatov - 29

Ballack - 33
Mikel - 22
Lampard - 31
Anelka - 31
Drogba - 32
Malouda - 29

Defenders/goal keepers dont worry as much, if anything many believe they're in their peak when they hit early thirties

(it could also be argued that Nani is ahead of Park meaning the average age of ours goes down even further)

 

[trent]

Rooney

He said majority not all.

 

[jakeke]

Absolute rubbish, Lampard has more creativity in his passing than the majority of the rest of the England squad in his little finger.

What about when Lampard has a bad game (he's had a few this season), who steps up? Essien is injured long term, Ballack lolz, it isn't happening for Joe Cole even though I wish it was, Kalou and Malouda are good players but neither are consistently creative, Mikel is an obvious no too. I was exaggerating, they obviously don't have 0 creativity but it's not their strongest point at the minute.

 

[reiyushin]

Worms I tell you! Worms!

 

[HangTime]

I don't see wholesale changes myself either, they're the best team in the league (most pts per game average) and look in a very strong position to clinch the double this season. Here's my run down of their side:

GK - Cech: Put of a dip in form over the last year but still got age on his side and he's as good as anything at MU or Arsenal

RB - Boswinga / Ivanovic: No worries here, choice of a swashbuckling Portuguese or rugged Serb, depending on what's needed.
CB - Terry: Still got a couple of years at the top left in him, doesn't appear to have been too badly affected by recent scandals
CB - Alex: Was brilliant at PSV but rarely given an extended run in the side at Chelsea. I rate him
LB - Cole: World class player but niggling doubts over his attitude, wouldn't surprise me to see him swapping London for Madrid soon given his marriage problems and issues with Fleet St.

DMC - Essien: Powerhouse that would be very difficult to replace, see no value in doing so.
AMC - Lampard: Aging but his performances show little sign of dipping as yet, rarely misses games and scores plenty of goals
LM - Cole: Out of contract in the summer and seemingly out of favour with Ancellotti.
RM - Ballack: Possibly past his best

ST - Drogba: Arguably playing better now that he did during his first season at the Bridge. See no reason to replace him
ST - Anelka: Enigmatic, probably worth having some backup for when he's not performing

So basically looking at their team I would say the only question marks really are over J.Cole, Ballack and Anelka. Buying another top class striker to keep Anelka on his toes might be worthwhile, the likes of Kalou and Sturridge are unlikely to displace him. Maybe a rightwinger would be worthwhile too, they've got Malouda as cover for J.Cole but perhaps it is time Ballack was put out to pasture.

So essentially in the summer if they were splash the cash on say Villa/Aguero/Pato and Di Maria, they would be looking very strong without the need for any drastic changes in their squad.

 

[Tom84]

They cant rely on Essien, I think he's kinda proved he's a crock

 

[nikebee]

wrong thread

 

[HangTime]

They cant rely on Essien, I think he's kinda proved he's a crock

Somewhat ironic considering you were asking whether Hargreaves could be the difference in the title run in Yes Essien has been somewhat limited the last couple of seasons (hence Mikel has been getting some games) but prior to that he played over 40 club games in the previous 5 seasons. Compare that to Hargreaves, who at the age of 29 has only managed 40 club games one season out of his entire career. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens this year, he's only 27 so a bit too soon to put him out to pasture just yet.

 

[Tom84]

Somewhat ironic considering you were asking whether Hargreaves could be the difference in the title run in Yes Essien has been somewhat limited the last couple of seasons (hence Mikel has been getting some games) but prior to that he played over 40 club games in the previous 5 seasons. Compare that to Hargreaves, who at the age of 29 has only managed 40 club games one season out of his entire career. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt and see what happens this year, he's only 27 so a bit too soon to put him out to pasture just yet.

Why?

If Hargreaves is back why cant he be a difference in the title run in? If there were any signs that Essien was going to be back I'd say the same thing

They're both crocks, I cant understand why you'd think I think differently?

 

[D1ngd0ng]

Manuel Almunia 32
William Gallas 32
Mikaël Silvestre 32
Sol Campbell 35

Almuina will stil be there (bloody shame too)
Gallas is being offered a 2 year contract to stay
Campbell might last another season (but hopefully we have a few back from injury next season)
Silvestre please leave now

As previously posted it all hinges on managerial longevity

 

[FrankJH]

The possible problem that Chelsea MIGHT have is that given Abromovich's hair trigger in regards to managers - what player would go to a club when they dont know who their manager will be a year from now?

(and yes to a lesser extent its true of Man Utd also, however at least SAF is there now arguably one of the best managers ever)

 

[Greenlizard0]

Significantly higher wages will do it.

With the way that Mourhino and perhaps to an extent Ranieri were shown the door it could have easily have been thought no manager would want the Chelsea door yet they seemingly can always find one.