The signings of Ballack and Scheva make people think Chelsea is just supposed to run away with the EPL.

I think our defense is going to be much weaker especially if we lose Gallas

Duff will be missed
Gudjohnsen as well

Scheva is an upgrade over Crespo, but Crespo is a solid player

what do you think?

Joe Cole Rules!

i think the only problem chelsea will run into this year will be if they stop playing makelele like real madrid did when they got all those super stars...super stars put up the stats and get the glory but they dont do any dirty work...makelele is probably the most under rated player in the game

Where is Gallas going? Is that why he hasn't been on the field?

They have Diarra now too, who plays a similar style as Makelele.

It almost feels like Chelsea got a lot older and slower. Sheva and Ballack are past their prime IMO, and if I had to guess...both will probably have injuries in adjusting to the English game.

Gallas has said he wants to move on and didn't join Chelsea in the US. Mourihno says he expects him to honor his contract. Things are in limbo now but I'd be surprised if he plays for Chelsea again...or effectively if he does play.

As for Sheva, the guy scored 20 goals in a league that is renowned for it's defense and the abuse those defenders give. I think he'll do just fine in the Prem.

There are several articles floating around the internet that quote Mourihno and Lampard as saying that "they aren't ready for the season" or "they aren't invincible". They list a short pre-season as the main reason (many players have only been with the squad for 2 weeks) but I chalk it up to gamesmanship more than anything else. Chelsea will still probably paste Citeh 3-0 Sunday and the title race will be over by October. I hope I'm wrong because it's really boring as a neutral to see the same story played out 3 years in a row but I don't see anything changing.

Even though i am biased as a ManU supporter, i dont see Chelsea as making HUGE improvements in the offseason. I agree w/ a previous poster in saying that it does feel like they got older and slower. But they are still a scary team to go up against. I do, however view Liverpool's and Arsenal's moves as huge improvements for their respective sides. I think the top 4 in the league really distanced themselves from the pack IMHO. I think the Carrick signing, hopefully coupled with Owen Hargreaves, is a quiet but significant improvement to ManU. Midfield play is what killed them (not having Roy keane as a holding mid was huge), so the additions of both those players (if the OH deal goes thru) really stocks up their midfield. Losing RVN hurts but oddly the offense improved significantly last season when Saha played at the end of the season. So i dont really see his loss as that big.

I think the title will go down to the wire. but maybe thats just me being optimistic on a exciting season.

Chelsea has too much depth. Liverpool will be stronger, Arsenal a year better but not quite there (they are going to lose Ashely Cole) and if ManU can sign OH then they will be stronger. But Chelsea just has too much depth.

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Arsenal a year better but not quite there (they are going to lose Ashely Cole) and if ManU can sign OH then they will be stronger. But Chelsea just has too much depth.

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Especially if they lose Ashley Cole to Chelsea.

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I do, however view Liverpool's and Arsenal's moves as huge improvements for their respective sides.

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What moves or am I forgetting someone? Arsenal added Rosicky which is a really nice pickup, but they lost Bergkamp (not a big deal but still) and could easily still lose Cole and Reyes. Fabregas and Van Persie are young studs but I don't think they will improve enough to make up for their loss. I mean, Toure is the only member of the backline I would trust who isn't injured.

Liverpool had some OK pickups that could turn out really well or they could turn out really bad. I mean would anyone be surprised if Bellamy and Pennant served jail time at some point this year for DWI or beating the crap out of some poor Everton fan who got in their face? I wouldn't. Regardless, even if they keep their cool and play well, I don't seem them as having as much of an impact as Shevchenko and Ballack.

I see the Liverpool pickups as having more of an effect than that. Its not as if Liverpool needs help in defense but they went out and picked up two more defenders, and then went out and shored up the weaknesses, lack of width and speed through the front and wide areas. Pennant had the most crosses in the Premiership last year but those stats don't mean much when you're trying to get the ball to the goalless wonder Forsell. Crouch, Riise, Hyppia, and Gerrard are going to massively benefit from that. Plus Bellamy may only score 7-15 goals but his speed is something we haven't seen in a while (I don't count Cisse because he was unwilling to work for the ball or with his teammates).

As for the RVN thing, I think ManYoo will hurt because of his departure. From August to the end of March they scored 2.0968 goals/game and after sitting RVN from April to May scored 1.462 goals/game. That doesn't sound like a lot but over the course of a season that is 79 vs 56 goals and 56 isn't going to get you a championship. RVN scored 21 goals last season, there isn't a team in the premiership that wouldn't miss that, especially if you replaced him with someone who scored 7 goals (granted he was injured for 21 weeks of the season).

[This message has been edited by rileyV2.0 (edited 8/18/2006 4:53p).]

I agree losing RVN is significant, but the consensus at old Trafford is that Saha is going to have a break out season and establish himself as a power striker with more playing time.

Saha is WAY better than Ruud. Great passer and drws the defenders well. It's not all about scoring, even though I think he's a better scorer than RVN is today.

Chelsea is going to start slow, then pick up the pace toward the end of September, I think.

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"When I look to this lion it looks arrogant, it is aggressive, it is powerful. He is proud of being a Chelsea lion." -- José Mourinho

I thought it would be nice to restart this topic after todays events.

I enjoyed the 3-0 win. I need to edit my first post and say that by weaker I don't mean offensively. I think defensively however they are going to be a little weaker if Gallas does not play. Defense will be huge in those big games vs ManU and Liverpool...not to mention CL games

Looking fwd to getting JC back on the field!!

I agree. They're gonna miss Gallas defensively, but I think Boulahrouz was a good signing for them. Somehow I get the feeling they signed him just to piss Cristiano Ronaldo off.

I like Manchester United's new uniforms. The ones last year were over the top IMO.

Yeah, the new ManUtd kits are sweet. From what I've seen this season the Nike kits (ManU, Arsenal) look a lot better than the new Adidas Kits (Chelsea, Liverpool).

what did you feel was over the top about ManU last year?

I have the new Chelsea one... not crazy about the collar, but overall I like the way it is constructed

They had that white stripe that came down off the neck line that I was not fond of. Of course no one consulted me so I am not to blame .

The kit this year is more understated and I like that. Of course the emblem lacks the yellow I think.

yeah the Boulahrouz will help, but it also signals the end of Gallas

I watched the little special on FSC this weekend that reviewed last season for Chelsea.... Gallas sure did make a lot of big plays

I love that the guy's nickname is "Khalid the Cannibal" after his vicious tackling. As if there wasn't already enough reason to hate Chelsea.

I've been thinking about getting the jersey, but haven't yet. I can't decide whether to get that one or last year's jersey with the 100-year anniversary stuff on it.

And I'm not a big fan of that collar, either.