Eidur and Essien... hung by the Ballacks?
Posted by Zeno in Chelsea, Roman Abronovich | 14 March 2006
I wonder what the motivation is behind David Gold’s comments today about Roman Abramovich being “rude and aloof”. Mr Gold, for those of you that don’t know (I certainly didn’t until I read the Mirror’s article) is the Birmingham City chairman… a man who, let’s be quite frank here, should have more important things to worry about than whether Roman says hello to him. Like what his club is going to do with their relegation parachute payment, for a start.
Ah, the Mirror. I’m pleased to say that I’m one of a fairly large and extremely unexclusive club who wouldn’t wipe their backside with this overblown fish and chip wrapper, but as far as the internet goes, you can’t beat it for spite and name-calling. So, for the benefit of those who’d feel dirty simply by logging on, I’ll reproduce the comments for you here.
"I criticise him because I would like to see him make a bit more of an effort to integrate with the Premier League and other clubs, and I don't think he has done that. It might be shyness, but it comes over as aloof and some people consider it rude. Why can't he say to his assistant: 'I would like you to go over to those people and thank them for being here this afternoon, sorry I can't speak the language, but I have really enjoyed their company?' To walk out and ignore you, that is rudeness, aloofness or shyness, but its not excusable."
Just a thought, David, but perhaps he didn’t enjoy your company? I won’t dwell on this as we have larger and more Teutonic fish to fry today, but we’ll leave this one with a final quote from the same article, which refers to the overblown prices that Chelsea have apparently paid for their team.
"Manchester City sold Wright-Phillips for £21million when he was worth probably £10m, Blackburn sold Duff for £17m and he was probably worth £10m. We have been winners because Blackburn could afford to pay £3m for Robbie Savage when he was probably only worth £2m." So… 24 points from 28 games and comfortably ensconced in the drop zone. Yes, sounds like a winning formula to me.
You’ve all, I’m sure, seen the news around Michael Ballack’s proposed transfer to the Premiership champions this summer. As well as giving Sir Alex Ferguson the right hump (that's Robben, Essien, and possibly Ballack as well, Ferg) the idea of the German midfield dynamo slotting neatly into the Chelsea mid-three is both mouth-watering and faintly disturbing.
Who does Ballack displace? Surely not Claude Makelele, the absolute key to why Chelsea can play they do. And would José dare to supplant arguably the most-loved player at the club in Frank Lampard? Actually, that was poorly phrased… I have no doubt that José would dare whatever he damn well felt like. But… England’s player of the year for the second year running? Runner-up in the World Player of the Year in ’05? The club’s top scorer and assist-provider? Not to mention a player 2 years younger than the irascible and notoriously difficult Ballack. Does that make sense? No, nor to me.
What it does suggest, assuming the move is a genuine one, is a serious reshuffle of the playing set-up.
Chelsea’s limitations were exposed by a better team in the Champions League the other week. The rigid formation did not really trouble a very average defensive line. And instead of throwing on a second striker to up the ante in the second half, we ended up with a German centreback playing up front alongside Crespo. Good grief.
Could it be time for the manager to attempt a different formation?
The back 4 can’t be touched, of course. We know José is willing to shift to 3 at the back when the game needs chasing, although usually only against teams of substantially lesser ability than the Champions. As soon as a lead is restored, the formation shifts again to accommodate another defensive player and restore that tough back 4.
In front, of course, the untouchable Mak. Which leaves us 5 places… would we dare play a 4-1-3-2? Or even a genuine 4-1-2-3, rather than the flexibility of the 4-5-1 we often seem to revert to?
Let’s say it’s the latter. Makelele, with Lampard and Ballack immediately ahead of him. Calm down: I’m talking hypothetically. Then 3 forwards from Robben, Duff, Cole, SWP, Crespo and Drogba. What’s wrong with this picture? Well, it’s basically what we do right now, except there’s not much room left for one of this club’s finest servants (Eidur Gudjohnsen) and our record signing (Michael Essien). And don’t start giving me that nonsense about squad rotation and strength in depth. We all know damn well that, no matter what’s said, this club has a first-choice eleven which will play in crucial games when they’re all fit.
The former is much bolder, and sacrifices some of the transitional capability that José is so fond of. What it will mean is 3 attacking midfielders in front of Makelele, chosen from all 4 wingers plus Lampard, Essien, Eidur (and the possible arrival of Ballack) plus two out and out strikers. How much fun does that sound? Fantastic, I agree. Ands what it will amount to is 2 wingers leaving the club at the first chance they get. Even if Essien does eventually switch to the Makelele position,
Phew. Numbers were never my strong suit but, if I get my long division right, it means that Ballack’s arrival will cause huge problems, wage demands notwithstanding. Should be an interesting summer. And, as a final point to leave you with, just remember what’s coming this June: the Mondiale. As ever, some 19-year-old starlet will appear, some player ending his career will have a golden summer of lurve, and we’ll be linked with a number of other bods too. Ah, what it is to be blessed with funds.
Comments
You say the squad rotation as rubbish ,but it's a valid point. Injuries, suspensions and in Essien's case Africa Nations Cup duty mean that not all players will be available for all games. Makelele isn't getting any younger and will play less games in the next few years. It may be certain players are played against certain types of opposition, as with strikers. The strength in depth will allow us to rest players with no discernable decrease in quality keeping them fresher for the big games and for longer during the season and compete on all fronts more easily. As for wages ,well if you think Terry and Lampard are only concerned with wages you don't know the players and there are several contracts needing renewing anyway, and the major players will all get increaeses in line with other players. Anyhow, how do we know Ballack's going to get paid that much anyway?
Yes he will give us an alternative in terms of tactics, but it will allow us to change tactics more easily during and between games depending on match situation and opposition. We have four world-class wingers for two postions, this will give us that strength in midfield.
I don't think I said squad rotation was rubbish. The suggestion, really, is that for the crucial matches, there is an acknowledged first team. A strong squad is important. A strong first eleven is almost more so, as Ranieri's bungling showed us.
Another example. When we switch the team around, we simply don't look as fluid. What impact has Maniche made? Or Geremi? The idea is to have a squad that changes smoothly from position to position. It just isn't true.
On to Lamps and Terry. Sigh. No, man does not live on bread alone. But it's nice, right? Isn't that why they're the two highest-paid players in the squad? Wake up and smell the roubles. I mentioned this (and you're reading rather a lot into a single comment) not to suggest that the players are greedy, but to suggest that buying a player on a free brings obvious advantages. One of those is that you can afford to pay him more. But why should Ballack earn more than two club staples?
Finally, you should be able to see the dichotomy, and the obvious problems, with the phrase "four world-class wingers for two postions". If we do switch the standard formation, they may be competing for only one. How long do you think they'll stay happy with that?
Jose won't change formation on a regular basis. The 4-3-3 formation has worked for him both at Porto and Chelsea and he won't change it now. The wingers won't be competiting for one postion. Essien will rotate probably with Makelele and Ballack depending on oppostion, type of game or match situation. In the cups - both domestic cups - he'll be able to rest three of the four and still have Eidur, Diarra and one of the four to play. This will keep the first team fresher for the important games - league and CL. And becuase of the quality strength in depth it will allow us to go further without playing the big players in every game. The dynamics of the midfield - as in the runs players make - may be different. Lampard and Ballack alternating forward runs to confuse the oppostion.
As for unhappy big players, well Cudcini has been happy to be second choice for the last two years and will continue to, but he gets his chances and will always fight for his place, as will the contenders for the midfield spots. But Jose always says no-one is guaranteed a first team place. You have to earn it one the training pitch and performances in the team. It will surely imporve the quality through sheer competition for places. As for Maniche and Geremi, well Geremi is more of a right back now and Maniche is nowhere near the qulaity or fitness of Ballack at his best, which he is at the moment. Maniche will leave in the summer midfield shake up with Ballack arriving - who is miles better.
Zeno says: sheesh, have Chelsea fans been spoilt or what?
And if Jose is unable to change his tactics, that makes him far less of a manager than he has a right to expect. I think I have more confidence in his ability to adapt and be creative than you have.
I'm not saying he can't change formation, as he often does during matches and has done against certain opposition. I have complete faith in Jose's ability.
I suppose Chelsea fans have been spoilt recently. I've been a fan for 20+ years and never saw this coming. But with high ambitions come high expectations, and the players we should sign need to be of a higher quality and we need the strength in depth to compete for every competition which is what the club wants now.
one thing jose has done is to break the dark he has shown that its not only wenger and furguson who exist he has brought a new project which i see on for the next five years
i like chelsea
Umm you are a bit dumb
4-1-2-3
Cech, Boulharouz,Carvalho,Terry,A.Cole
Makelele
(SWP/Robben/J.Cole/)Ballack and Lampard
Drogba and Shevchenko
Makelele and Essien will fight it out for a defensive midfield spot. then lampard and ballack with be regulars infront of him in a 3 man midfield with either robben/SWP/Joe Cole fighting for the last spot ,next to Ballack and Lamps ,which would be either a more left or right wing position
Thanks for the insightful comment, Matthew. This article was written in March, though, when it's a little more difficult to predic team selection. But thanks for reiterating Jose's current squad back at me. It shows an ability to watch television that I just don't have.
