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"Chelsea now the strongest squad in the league."

I never thought i'd be able to say this but chelsea have easily the strongest squad in the league. no other team can boast the sheer level of depth and strength chelsea have accross the whole field. We may not win the league and other teams may have players who are better in some positions but chelsea are unbeatable for the stremngth of their squad now, and the average age is a dream come true its 23-24 apparently.

GK:

Cudicini (best in the league)

Bridge
Terry
Gallas
Melchiot/johnson

Duff
Lampard
Veron
Geremi

Hasselbaink
Gudjohnsen


Second xi

Macho (more than likely martyn in a few days)
Babayaro
Desailly
Huth
Melchiot/johnson
Zenden
Joe Cole
Petit
Gronkjaer
Forssell
Carlton cole



No other team could field such depth, We actually have a damn good shot at europe with a squad like that. Easily the best defence+keeper in the league.

Ok arsenal may just have an edge on us in the midfield for the mo. And the main strikers at united and arsenal are a bit more prolific at the moment, we may not win the league but i am extremely impressed at the sheer strength and versatility of our SQUAD. That second team would probably finish top 6.

Colourless wrote:
---Virtuoso wrote:
---With the exception of Terry and C. Cole, I don't see any other
---outstanding Chelsea 'brought-up-to-standard' Englishmen in that
---bunch.

---Feel free to add others to that one.

Those are the only homegrown players, now that morris has left. What about lampard, joe cole, glen johnson, bridge, I've already given you this list.
-----------------

Were they brought up to standard by Chelsea? Or West Ham and Southampton?

Virtuoso wrote:
> Colourless wrote:
>
> and dont give me the "they dont play in the first team"
> argument, look at previous seasons and our tour to malaysia.
> ---
>
> Ok, I won't give the "they don't play in the first team"
> argument.
>
> But I WILL give the "You've threw loads of cash at a few
> opportunist Englishmen to keep the fans happy and the critics
> quiet" argument. Because that, in a nutshell, is what Chelsea
> have done.

In Ranieri's first interview as manager, a few years ago, he stated that he would buy young english players, and that is what he has done. admittedly his first buy was a 32 year old yugoslavian who was possibly the worst player the premiership has ever seen. We're throwing cash beause we've got it. Get over it and stop whining.....


> With the exception of Terry and C. Cole, I don't see any other
> outstanding Chelsea 'brought-up-to-standard' Englishmen in that
> bunch.
>
> Feel free to add others to that one.

Those are the only homegrown players, now that morris has left. What about lampard, joe cole, glen johnson, bridge, I've already given you this list.

Ashley wrote:

Lets compare this to arsenal who are as french as the eiffel tower! lol
---------------

I just noticed you said that.
=P

Ashley wrote:

Virtuoso it is in no way unreasonable to suggest that chelsea have the best squad. I sincerely believe they do, the main problem is they don't have the best first xi.
------------

Without trying to demeen Chelsea's team, or Title expectations, I'm simply saying that the squad Chelsea now have; although very very good, aren't THAT very very good if you know what I mean.

I've no doubt that you's will be challenging for the title, but there are many factors to take into consideration before that statement can be said in the same context as Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Colourless wrote:

and dont give me the "they dont play in the first team" argument, look at previous seasons and our tour to malaysia.
---

Ok, I won't give the "they don't play in the first team" argument.

But I WILL give the "You've threw loads of cash at a few opportunist Englishmen to keep the fans happy and the critics quiet" argument. Because that, in a nutshell, is what Chelsea have done.

With the exception of Terry and C. Cole, I don't see any other outstanding Chelsea 'brought-up-to-standard' Englishmen in that bunch.

Feel free to add others to that one.

any more signings discounted our team on the first day of the season is likely to be:

Cudicini
Bridge- British
Terry - British (desailly)
Gallas- (desailly)
Johnson/melchiot-British dutch
Duff- British (we all know irish counts) (always has Roy keane! ahem)
Lampard-British
Veron-
Geremi
Hasselbaink
Gudjohnsen

Subs:

Martyn (most likely) all but done
Desailly
Joe cole-british
Petit
Carlton Cole-british
Forsell
Gronks

5- brits are likely to start against liverpool with 4 guaranteed their places.

and an england international and and england u-21 on the bench.

Lets compare this to arsenal who are as french as the eiffel tower! lol

Starters:

Campbell
Cole

subs:

Parlour
Keown
pennant
Jeffers

So arsenal will have 2 (maybe 3 if keown starts) englishman on the pitch at kick off and its not going to get any better. Keown will not make it passed the season and is only their due to the financial situation.

Parlour- won't ever be a first team regular again due to him being a good player but being kept out by world class players.

Pennant- great prospect- credit to arsenal.

Jeffers-time is running out at highbury and still might not be there at the start of the season.

It is quite a possible situation that by the end of the season only Campbell, cole and pennatn are still there. That is a club that needs to be criticised rather than a club that has signs 7 players in a summer of which 5 are brits!

And what about liverpool: theyve signed about 12 consecutive foreigners since kirkland arrived.

Arsenal- "Turning to youth"- Kolo toure, Phillipe senderos, clichy, volz, aliadere, svard, pennant all my favourite young english players!

This isn't my list....me being selective.....Arsene wenger's own words! that is the list of young talent he cited 2 days ago in his interview about lehmann, what a joke. one englishman!

Man utd are Newcastle represent the core british teams which have remained loyal and tried to keep their teams english but at least chelsea helped by a lot of money are trying to recover the british element.

Black Demon wrote:
> Virtuoso wrote:
>
> Chelsea are about as English as the Eiffel Tower =D
>
> geenius. well said.
>
> :cD

If the eiffel tower has at least 7 english footballers visiting it then yes, chelsea are as english as the eiffel tower.

terry, johnson, bridge, lampard, j cole, nicolas, keenan, nicolas, c cole, need i go on.......

and dont give me the "they dont play in the first team" argument, look at previous seasons and our tour to malaysia.

'Nuff said.

Chelsea had have had by far the best defence for ages its just most of the players infront weren't up to scratch so they will concede as the defence has far more work to do.

The midfield protects the defence and that is a key factor, Frank lampard was the only really good midfielder we had last season and thats why arsenal's concession rate was near ours, if your midfield stops the ball getting there in the first place you won't concede.

Virtuoso it is in no way unreasonable to suggest that chelsea have the best squad. I sincerely believe they do, the main problem is they don't have the best first xi

No other team has so many top class proffessionals in there ranks, our squad is huge, we have the best level squad the problem is we lack some of the top players at the moment. A viera and and henry perhaps.

Try and list any other teams squad like i have and probably only liverpool can get a proper second eleven out of any substance and even then it won't be the standard of the team i have named.

Before anyone starts not reading again SQUAD STRENGTH is the issue not the first 11 in particular

How is it pretty blatant, just 4 goals in it last term and Utd 4 more better than that. I agree your midfield is vastly improved and Veron will do a great job for you after Utd have given him the time to develop.

As for the last 6 years, I do not have the records to back it up, but I am willing to bet that both Utd and Arsenal would have better records over the 6 year period, I of course stand to be corrected if the facts are proven otherwise.

I think all you Chelsea fans are getting a little giddy, I would expect you to win the league in the next few years after your manager leaves, but it is sustaining it that is the key, look at Blackburn how must money did Walker spend there, one title and then relegation.

It is good that there are a number of teams in contention for the Prem, but Champions League success next year, with the exception of Veron who at Chelsea has actually played in the competition, Uefa Cup maybe.

Virtuoso wrote:

> Chelsea are about as English as the Eiffel Tower =D

geenius. well said.

:cD