Winter Mercato

From all the player they have we really really need Cech to replace dida.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

I still fail to see what is so special about Alex.

well there are quite a few good things about him.

1) ancelotti likes him. i remember an interview (end of last season) where he stated that he thinks alex is among the top 5 defenders right now. kaladze was not among his favourites.

2) he is young (25) but already tested and experienced at the highest level (cl).

3) he is brazilian. whether we like it or not this is becoming increasingly important if you wanna succeed with milan.

4) strong at set pieces and high balls

5) nearly indestructible

apart from that many people (including me) think that he is a heck of a defender and that there is a reason they call him the tank.

Originally Posted by Nalx Sijabat

It's a mouth-watering prospect but in this case Chelsea is not like Juve. They don't lack of money. So except if the player himself asks to be put on the transfer list, I doubt that Roman will let somebody leave easily nor cheaply

Drogba,Malouda and Carvalho have all asked to leave it says in todays paper it also says drogba broke into tears when Mourinho spoke to him for the last time.

In an ideal world Milan would poach Drogba, Essien, Terry and Cech, they are the spine of the Chelsea side and all would add something extra to Milan.

Of course though, this aint an ideal world and Abramovich still holds all the cards, he *may* be forced to let Drogba go as he is a moody player who could sulk his way out of the club.

Originally Posted by acdc

well there are quite a few good things about him.

1) ancelotti likes him. i remember an interview (end of last season) where he stated that he thinks alex is among the top 5 defenders right now. kaladze was not among his favourites.

2) he is young (25) but already tested and experienced at the highest level (cl).

3) he is brazilian. whether we like it or not this is becoming increasingly important if you wanna succeed with milan.

4) strong at set pieces and high balls

5) nearly indestructible

apart from that many people (including me) think that he is a heck of a defender and that there is a reason they call him the tank.

Ancelotti also liked Ribery, Abidal, Toni, Ronaldinho, Totti & Gerrard but i don't see any of them here either. So point 1 is irrelevant really.

He is young at 25? That's debatable. Plus he's hardly tested at the highest level as you say. He played in a poor league and has looked out of his comfort zone in some of the CL games. The matches he's played for Chelsea he's looked decidely average. I don't see him as being any better than Kaladze right now.

His nationality has nothing to do with it

You're right, he is strong and good at set pieces/free kicks. But there's also another explanation why he's called the 'Tank', because he's slow and fat!

It may surprise you to learn that i think he could be a good defender, however there are alot of other players better than him that we should look at first.


Also, would Malouda really ask for a transfer already? I don't think so.

Let's remember everyone, just because Mourinho left, doesnt mean the Chelsea club is going under. I don't foresee them having a full "fire sale" occurring in January. One player, at most two, MAY leave the club. We have a lot of competitions to take care of before Jan 1 (Serie A, Champion's League, World Club Championship). If we dont stay competitive with what we have already, our signings in January wont mean a thing for this 07-08 season....

Originally Posted by Stezagud

In an ideal world Milan would poach Drogba, Essien, Terry and Cech, they are the spine of the Chelsea side and all would add something extra to Milan.
Of course though, this aint an ideal world and Abramovich still holds all the cards, he *may* be forced to let Drogba go as he is a moody player who could sulk his way out of the club.

That's exactly why Roman won't let them go, at least not without a fight. This man desperately want to win the UCL, and win it with style. Mourinho brought 2 EPL titles after such a long long draught. It means that this squad does have something to be proud of, something good enough from where to build a more attacking-minded team that suits Roman's expectation.

But we talk here like that they're relegated or something, so we can lure out Terry cs easily. Even the Old Lady wasn't that generous, at least not to us.

All in all, perhaps Roman acted a little bit too hastily, but he's not that stupid. You don't become one of the richest men in the world that way. Just wait patiently what the new manager (Avant garde or some thing like that) can do in 2 or 3 months to come then we'll see what we can do

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

He is young at 25? That's debatable. Plus he's hardly tested at the highest level as you say. He played in a poor league and has looked out of his comfort zone in some of the CL games. The matches he's played for Chelsea he's looked decidely average. I don't see him as being any better than Kaladze right now.

25 is really young for a defender, especially when you consider Bonera at 27 is still considered pretty young. Alex has done really well over the past 3-4 years at PSV (where he was playing regularly in CL), and certainly a potentially top class defender (bear in mind he was a player who pretty much completely dominated Sheva when he was pretty much at his best).

Considering what the situation at Chelsea has been like since Alex joined, I don't really think it's fair to regard it as being key to his ability.

When i had an argument with Zlatanov about Huntelaar, he beasically said that his performances in the dutch league don't mean much as it's a poor league. So using his logic, we can dismiss any decent performances Alex has had in Holland.

As for the CL, i don't think you can say he's been that consistent, he may have shut out Shevchenko but he also got made a complete fool of by Henry & Arsenal in the first leg of their tie last season (though he made up for it with a goal in the 2nd leg) and he was run ragged by Dirk Kuyt when they played Liverpool. Dirk's hardly the fastest player is he.

I just don't think he's anything to rave about yet.

Originally Posted by Bandit®

II know we were interested in Drogba highly over the summer, does anyone know if he would take the non-eu spot? I know he played in France for some time, maybe he has some kind of citizenship.

FYI, he DOES hold a French passport, so that's a yes

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Considering what the situation at Chelsea has been like since Alex joined, I don't really think it's fair to regard it as being key to his ability.

I second that

[quote]

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Ancelotti also liked Ribery, Abidal, Toni, Ronaldinho, Totti & Gerrard but i don't see any of them here either. So point 1 is irrelevant really.

He is young at 25? That's debatable. Plus he's hardly tested at the highest level as you say. He played in a poor league and has looked out of his comfort zone in some of the CL games.

Wow, my friend...harsh(and unfair) words against my boy Alex
He´s hardly tested at hights level?? Be fair, Jim...Alex played 3 champions league, and always perform at a high level. In the first year(we face PSV in that semi´s) Alex was put in the top-5 defender pool by UEFA.com...an acomplishment for an brazilian defender in the first year in Europe. This year he was chose for the first-11 for the majority of football sites(Alex and Carvalho). And that playing for a team out of the big-3 leagues(Italy, England or Spain)

Sorry, but it´s not true that Alex has looked out of the confort zone in some of CL games. The only one that I remember was that against Liverpool(you saw) and you know that Alex was with a flu(and fever). Plus, he´s performance wasn´t poor, but also not great as always. And that was one game...just one game.

The matches he's played for Chelsea he's looked decidely average. I don't see him as being any better than Kaladze right now.
His nationality has nothing to do with it

I really doubt that you hate Alex because he´s a brazilian defender, but I can´t remember you so angry about an player...
Jim, after read this words, I´m now sure that you´re a Alex hater
To say that Alex looked decidely average in the matches played for Chelsea isn´t fair, Jim... Nothing, I said NOTHING passed for Alex in those games.
Even a Alex´s fan like me, was worried by the start of the season for 2 reasons.
1- He accept to go for a club were the coach didn´t want him.
2- He didn´t have a pre-season or friendlyes(sp?) to be eased to EPL and the team.

With Carvalho injure, Alex was throw to the team in a moment of crisis, and without any problem conquered the confidence of Mourinho and fans with his flawless game(until now, one own goal will come, it´s an Alex trend ). And it´s was a surprise even for me, as I was with the expectation of some adaptations problems).
For the ones that want to see without bias(mine and of Jim ) , just download Chelsea 3 most recent games, and you guys will see that Drogba in the first, and Terry in the game against Rosemborg, had been the ones that had failed in Chelsea received goals.

BTW, don´t put Alex and Kaladze in the same league...Kaladze is a good player, but Alex is in another level.
Look, even Carlo Ancelotti, a Italian coach(of the famous land of the BEST defenders)that is working day in day out with 2 legends italians CB, praises Alex and put him as the Nº 1:
http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Squadr...ncelotti.shtml
Il miglior difensore?
"Nessun dubbio: Alex del Psv"

You're right, he is strong and good at set pieces/free kicks. But there's also another explanation why he's called the 'Tank', because he's slow and fat!

It may surprise you to learn that i think he could be a good defender, however there are alot of other players better than him that we should look at first.

Alex has a slow first-step, no doubt...but the guy is fast, really FAST!
And...Fat?? I want to be fat like that

I don't hate him, i just don't think he's done anything worth all the praise people have for him.

Come on people what are you talking about, Alex is a fantastic player that has played so many great matches in the last few seasons. For me there is no doubt about his quality, he is a super player!

In january if milan doesn't hop on chelsea i'll be disappointed. We need cech,terry,carvalho,drogba,ballack,alex. Instead of r10 aye?