Welcome Florent Malouda

smuckers

Finally the blues spend money, he's the third french player we have signed who has won french player of the yr, after Drogs and Essien.
a strong player who gets his fair share of goals, can play up front if needed to be.

Now just Alex and I wish another forward and I'd be happy

el rabitos

well. he's at the right club

RE*AC*TOR

Interesting development. Apparently Liverpool were in for him earlier, and either refused to meet the price or there was an unwillingness from the owners to stump up the cash...

Either way, it will be interesting to see how he performs, and if Liverpool made a big mistake.

Also, does it pave the way for Robben to leave now?

gosplan

eh, no-one else wanted him.

Odds are he'll suck a*s for at least a year before settling in as mediocre

heyjude

You have to wonder though, how many games Malouda will start, especially if Chelsea play a 4-4-2. Even with the departures from the club, they still seem to have plenty of midfielders such as Cole, Lampard, Essien, Mikel, Ballack, Sidwell, Diarra, Wright-Phillips, Robben and I'm not sure is Makelele, still there too ?

smuckers

Mourinho has already stated its going to be 4-4-3, this does not mean Robben is leaving, though I think SWP could leave.

zAbbo

smuckers wrote:

Mourinho has already stated its going to be 4-4-3, this does not mean Robben is leaving, though I think SWP could leave.

Dropping the keeper, very ambitious

Pacifico

zabbo wrote:

Dropping the keeper, very ambitious

KdjaCL

Superb player Now to have the attacking flair sucked out of him ala Robben and Duff.

I hope they play him out wide as a RWF.


kdjac

smuckers

oops 4-3-3 I meant

PHB

Mourinho has already stated its going to be 4-3-3

Linky?

I think Malouda is a great signing, he'll do well in the premiership.

smuckers

he said it in The chels magazine.

Fanny Cradock

smuckers wrote:

oops 4-3-3 I meant

Ah, for a moment I thought that was a witty comment!

jesus_thats_gre

Reverting to 4-3-3 is a big deal for Chelsea and it will make them considerably stronger. If they keep Sheva, I think you will find them lining up the following way for alot of the season:

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Cech

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RB

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Car

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Terry

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Cole

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Essien

---

---

Ballack

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Lampard

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-Sheva

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Malouda-

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Drogba

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DSB

Really can't see Joe Cole not being a part of the team.

jesus_thats_gre

Woops fair point.

PHB

Wow, if he reverts to 4-3-3, the title race will be a lot more interesting imo, Chelsea are a much better team as a 4-3-3, but if they sell Robben, imo, their wingers will be weak, Malouda and Joe Cole isn't as good as Robben and Duff was, and while SWP is showing good signs, Maloudas signing says it all about Mourinhos faith in him.

Mitch Connor

Malouda and Joe Cole would and should both be a lot better then Duff was - Duff was fairly poor for Chelsea under Jose. Partly, imo, because of Jose, but the fact is he wasn't very good most of the time. Joe Cole has since become a very important player for Chelsea, and Malouda's direct nature and pace should be very effeective.

As regards SWP - i agree with you in so far as Jose doesn't see him as a first team regular, which is a shame cause in the last stint of the seaon, he was one of chelseas most dangerous players.

eirebhoy

Tauren wrote:

Malouda and Joe Cole would and should both be a lot better then Duff was - Duff was fairly poor for Chelsea under Jose.

Well up until Mourinho really changed his game. Duff and Robben were playing some great stuff together under Mourinho.

Mourinho back in December 2004:
“Damien is our best player, he has been for the last six weeks. He is capable of winning a game on his own and his performances in our recent matches have been fantastic.

“Since Arjen Robben came back from his injury, everyone has been talking about Robben, Robben, Robben, but people forget about Damien. He has scored some incredible goals, his movement in an attacking and defensive sense is fantastic.

“We are going to Highbury to win this game and we’re in confident mood. All our forwards are in good form but Damien is the best of the lot.”

Bubs101

Jose has praised Hilario before so his word means nothing. He also has a tendancy to praise the players he thinks needs praise more as opposed to the best

The Rooster

I find it very odd that so many people forget the period when Duff and Robben were outstanding for Chelsea, and Chelsea were fantastic to watch. They were a huge factor in Chelsea's first title win.

sweetie

smuckers wrote:

Finally the blues spend money, he's the third french player we have signed who has won french player of the yr, after Drogs and Essien.

except neither of those two are french...

smuckers

I meant the third player we signed in a french league.

Sizzler

Welcome to sitting on the bench Florent

Class player and a manager who has more MF's than he knows what do with...unfortunately for Malouda

smuckers

Well with Robben possibly going you have Cole SWP Kalou (thoguh I'd class him as a ST) and Malouda fighting for the wide pos.

Sizzler

smuckers wrote:

Well with Robben possibly going you have Cole SWP Kalou (thoguh I'd class him as a ST) and Malouda fighting for the wide pos.

Based on last season though Jose aint exactly keen on wing play!

Peyton Manning

I can only assume Malouda was signed because Robben is deffinately off. If not, then this is a ridiculous signing....