Transfer Talk

Why We Need A Challenger For Petr Cech

Before I start I want to make it clear that this article is not one designed to attack or malign Petr Cech however his unchallenged position in the Chelsea goal is not in my opinion healthy for the team.

Ignoring the last few games Cech has had a much improved two seasons playing some of his best football since his famous head injury.

However he is pretty safe in his position as number 1 goalkeeper with no-one on staff in any postion to challenge him and I think we need someone pushing him to achieve.

With the young keepers Thibaut Courtois and Matej Delac out on loan and Sam Walker lacking higher level experience , the only players that can be loosely termed competition are Ross Turnbull and Henrique Hilario.

Yet for various reasons there is about as much hance of Turnbull or Hilario usurping Cech as there is of Luis Saurez winning a Premier League fair play award.

The last few games and the idiots calling for his head has set me thinking that maybe he does at least need some serious competition to keep him motivated and give us options if he gets injured.

Next season Thibaut Courtois will be back and given his fine form for Athletico Madrid he will be a genuine challenger to Cech.

But it would be nice if we could either recall him earlier or find someone else on loan to provide a challenge to Cech for the second half of the season.

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Should Chelsea Sign Gary Cahill?

If you believe the media Gary Cahill is going to sign for Chelsea within the next week for a fee of around £7m.

With Alex leaving we definitely need defensive cover however is Gary Cahill the man for the job?

He certainly has pedigree, being an England international, but it is concerning that so far this season Cahill has been distinctly average in a floundering Bolton defence.

Therefore there are two questions, is Cahill good enough? And will he be happy being 4^th choice centre back?

Would he be happy is a complicated question, if we are challenge for four competitions each year he will probably still rack up over 30 appearances, so this may not be issue as Chelsea is a big step up from Bolton.

The answer to the first question is yes; if he is happy being a fourth choice centre back. If he expects to start I don’t think he will be able to usurp John Terry, David Luiz or Branislav Ivanovic in the short to medium term.

Finally I remember a signing we made from Bolton defensively in the past, Tal Ben Haim a well regarded player reaching the end of his contract and needed as cover for injuries.

Let us hope that if he does sign Cahill is no Ben Haim.

Anelka and Alex Transfer Requests Accepted

Andre Villas Boas has confirmed that Alex and Nicholas Anelka have had transfer requests accepted.

Whilst not surprising this is disappointing as they are two talented players and fan favourites that have always given their all for the club.

The players are training separately at the moment and it is possible they have played their last games for the club.

Nicholas Anelka

“ a quick player with good aerial ability, technique, shooting, and movement off the ball.”

Nicholas Anelka was a bargain at £15m when we signed him in 2008.

He has had a turbulent career, but seemed to find peace at Chelsea after a turbulent career. After such a bright start at Arsenal he gained the the nickname ‘le sulk’ and became a bit of a journeyman failing to live up to his undeniable talent.

After a slow start he had a golden year in his partnership with Didier Drogba during our double winning season in 2010.

With the emergence of Daniel Sturridge he has found opportunities limited this season, with a contract that expires at the end of the season this is an understandable move from Anelka.

Alex

With an aerial presence he is strong defensively and from set plays where his power both on and off the ball make him a danger in the opposition half too.

The no nonsense Brazillian is a fans favourite at the Bridge but has been frozen out under Andre Villas Boas.

This is frustrating as he could have added some solidity to our defence this season however AB has a different way of thinking.

Therefore it is little surprise he wants to leave

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Thibaut Courtois: The first signing of the Villa-Boas era

Finally, a month after Villas-Boas was appointed as, Chelsea manager, Chelsea have finally enter the market and the first signing of the Villas-Boas era is imminent. Highly-rated Belgian goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois is undergoing a medical as he edges closer to joining the Blues in a five-year deal.

The signing signals Chelsea’s intent to strengthen for the future, and Courtois will most definitely be a signing for the future.

At 6ft 6in, the 19-year-old keeper is seen as an ideal replacement for Petr Cech. However, he won’t be replacing the current number 1 yet. Courtois himself as admitted that he will be a replacement for the giant Czech.

“It won’t happen in one or two years, but in three, four or five years. I can therefore work on my development in peace” says the Belgian, who has also been likened to Edwin Van der Sar.

The Belgian made 40 appearances last season as Genk won the Belgian league. His impressive performances not only persuaded Chelsea to part with a sum rumoured to be £7.9million, but they have also earned the youngster his first call-up to the senior Belgium squad.

After selling David de Gea to Manchester United, rumours are circulating that Athletico Madrid would be interested in taking the youngster on loan. This loan deal may not be just the one season, it may be more. This will give Courtois the experience and guidance he need to compete at the highest level he can.

The Belgian feells that “It is better for me to go to Atletico, I can learn more in Spain than in Belgium.”

However, many Chelsea fans will fee that the rumoured £7.9m price tag is too much for a goalkeeper, and in a sense I would have to agree. But it’s worth reminding that Manchester United paid £18.5million for a young keeper and Chelsea paid a similar amount for a then young Petr Cech and we all saw that the gamble on Cech paid off. So maybe Courtois is worth a gamble. For those who are not convinced check out the video below, which demonstrates why we brought Courtois.

I believe that the signing of Thibaut Courtois will be a good one, providing he is given the best learning opportunities possible. If we give Courtois the time and when Petr Cech decides to retire or leave, I feel that Courtois will be ready and make a fine keeper.

5 Players That CFC Should Sell This Summer (Part Five) – Paulo Ferreira

Paulo Ferreira:

Age: 32   Appearances (Goals): 198 (2)   Signed from: FC Porto (£13.2million, 2004)

Possible Destinations: Benfica,

Transfer value: £5-8million

After signing from Mourinho’s former team, FC Porto, in 2004, Ferreira quickly established himself as our number one right-back. However, following four managerial changes, Ferreira has falling down the pecking order and sometimes deemed as a squad player and is of the last remaining signings from the Jose Mourinho era.

But Ferreira is one of Chelsea’s loyalist players and is seen as a good squad player, despite the lack of games played in the last couple of seasons.

It is quite hard to say something bad about Paulo Ferreira. Although he has seen several other players take his position at right-back, Ferreira has remained loyal and reliable to the team. Whenever he is called upon, he will us 110% and will always step up to the plate.

Many Chelsea fans have acknowledged Ferreira’s loyalty and ability and it is those features which make him an admirable player whom we find hard to despise. Jose Mourinho once described him as “a player who will never be man of the match but will always score 7/10 for his individual display”.

However, come next January, Ferreira will turn 33 and age has probably caught him up. He isn’t a pacy full-back that we need. He can bomb down the flanks, but his balls into the box aren’t great and he is usually beaten by fast wingers such as Gareth Bale.

Fast wingers, do cause Ferreira quite a bit of problems and we need a full-back who isn’t afraid of taking on the pace along with support our attacks. Because of these issues, Ferreira is resigned to spend his time on our bench waiting for opportunities as we have other full-backs such as Jose Bosingwa and Branislav Ivanovic ahead of him.

With two years let on his current contract, this may be the ideal opportunity to cash in on Ferreira. Should Ferreira go, we will not only be losing a player but a great, loyal player whose praises are rarely sung.

We will also be letting go off a reliable full-back who we can count on if an injury to any of our current players occurred. However, whether Ferreira stays or leaves the Bridge this summer, I will be behind his choice and I wish him all the best for the future.