[DJT75]

Apparently lining up a £15million bid. So that's another perfectly decent players future ruined. Has Ashley Cole crossed the halfway line since he moved to Chelsea? Decent fullbacks are completely wasted there.

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by DJT75

Apparently lining up a £15million bid. So that's another perfectly decent players future ruined. Has Ashley Cole crossed the halfway line since he moved to Chelsea? Decent fullbacks are completely wasted there.

Mate, I haven't seen this story... What Richards is that? I hope it's not Keith, 'cos we would definitely be paying over the odds! Seriously though, I don't know if there is too much mileage in this story. I reckon it's on the back of City's interest in getting SWP back. That's the only way I can see it happening, not a straight fee. Besides, we have Glenn Johnson farmed out to Portsmouth for the season, so hopefully he'll be back in contention next year.

BTW, Ashley Cole has been excellent for us in recent weeks, both as providing some width in attacking situations and indeed as an out and out defensive fullback. He did an excellent job on Ronaldo on Sunday, to the point where Ronaldo had to resort to falling over and feigning injury to show his frustration.

After a wary start, the supporters are starting to warm to Cashley...

[DJT75]

Most papers today are running this Richards story but agreed, it's probably more to do with SWP. Just annoys me that he's all of a sudden a £15m player for everyone else now too.

Still think Cashley is limited at Chelsea, compared to how he could play at Arsenal. It's not a good place for fullbacks on the whole, just look how many you've been through in recent years. Put it this way - would Ashley Cole improve as a player every season at Arsenal or Chelsea? Arsenal everytime IMO.

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by DJT75

...Still think Cashley is limited at Chelsea, compared to how he could play at Arsenal. It's not a good place for fullbacks on the whole, just look how many you've been through in recent years. Put it this way - would Ashley Cole improve as a player every season at Arsenal or Chelsea? Arsenal everytime IMO.

The problem with our players is this: With all the money Abramovich is throwing at it, players are disposable. Without batting an eyelid, Jose will dump a player if he doesn't perform straight away. This is rediculous, because given time, and an opportunity to play, those players may indeed make an impact. The only one that was given time was Drogba, and that's only because Jose had been chasing him long before he left Porto, and as we have seen, he is loyal to his own.

As we are talking about full backs in particular, Glenn Johnson should still be at the club... fair enough, he had some defensive failings, but he is just a young lad, learning his trade. At any other club, they would have had to persevere with him for a decent period, because of the big investment. Now, we are in the situation, where we are playing Geremi in that position, and on Sunday, Essien went there in the second half. I must say, thet this is one aspect of Chelsea that I am particularly aggrieved about!

I would take issue with your point about Ashley Cole improving every year at Arsenal. I think we bought him because we thought he was near enough the finished article, maybe at about 90 % of his ability. The problem with Mourinho in particular, is you get the feeling that personal player development is not on his agenda.... his sole aim seems to be for preparing the team for the next game....

[DJT75]

Or his sole aim is to win whatever is on offer that season without looking to the future because he doesn't need to with Roman's wallet about.

So yeah, that's how it works there in general.

I just really hope Richard's isn't another sucker to Chelsea's cash though, I want him to develop into a full time Neville replacement on the international stage & to do that I think he needs to stay put until he's reached 20 at least & or not go to the merry-go-round that can be Chelsea at the moment.

[rio1981]

Micah Richards for £15million? Isn't it amazing what one England cap will turn your price into these days!

There's an awful lot of potential with Micah Richards but, and this is no offence, he would be ruined by going to Chelsea at this point. Pure speculation of course for now...

He needs to be at a club that is "forced" into playing someone so young week-in, week-out. Man City are in that position. Chelsea have the burden of luxury and that would work against him if he ever were to go there.

It saddens me to see what's happened to Glen Johnson. Aside from starting to see Joe Cole evolve as a responsible young footballer, in the season we went down Glen Johnson was the ONLY bright spark we had... and now he's farmed out to Pompy on loan.

Despite Spector doing well for us now I think most West Ham fans would take Johnson back in a heartbeat, and he'd most likely play every game barring injuries or suspensions.

Could Richards be another to kiss future England caps goodbye because of a move to Stamford Bridge?!

[JohnG]

Agreed that Richards should stay at City and become a good player there by actually playing week in week out. He should see what's happened to SWP and learn from that.

[stg]

Originally Posted by CFC1

Mate, I haven't seen this story... What Richards is that? I hope it's not Keith, 'cos we would definitely be paying over the odds! Seriously though, I don't know if there is too much mileage in this story. I reckon it's on the back of City's interest in getting SWP back. That's the only way I can see it happening, not a straight fee. Besides, we have Glenn Johnson farmed out to Portsmouth for the season, so hopefully he'll be back in contention next year.

BTW, Ashley Cole has been excellent for us in recent weeks, both as providing some width in attacking situations and indeed as an out and out defensive fullback. He did an excellent job on Ronaldo on Sunday, to the point where Ronaldo had to resort to falling over and feigning injury to show his frustration.

After a wary start, the supporters are starting to warm to Cashley...

By which you mean he was blatantly fouled twice?

[CFC1]

Originally Posted by stg

By which you mean he was blatantly fouled twice?

Did I say that?