A Defensive Change For Chelsea?
Having signed for Chelsea in 2004 – effectively for €1, it took until 2007 for Alex to join up with us following his 3 year loan spell at PSV. Last year, despite speculation of him wanting a move, Alex signed a new 4-year deal, keeping him at Chelsea until 2013. The trouble is, he doesn’t get to play enough.
Understandable during his first season, where the John Terry/Ricardo Carvalho partnership would’ve kept just about anyone out. Last season, he fared better with an injury-stricken Carvalho barely getting his boots dirty, although the start of this season it was Alex sitting it out following a groin operation in the summer.
He’s back now though and with the injured-again Carvalho having a pretty poor season by his standards, Alex has the perfect opportunity to establish himself as a regular in the first team. He may well have only played 3 games in the last six weeks but his Man of the Match performance against Stoke at the weekend has to have impressed Ancelotti.
It certainly impressed John Terry, who says “He amazes me how he comes in and plays so well. He is not first choice regularly but when he does come in he is brilliant. He made two great tackles in the game (against Stoke), especially the one against Tuncay. It is down to myself and Riccy to maintain our place in the team. Riccy is out with a slight hamstring strain but hopefully he will be back soon and when players come in and play as well as Alex, it gives the manager a problem which is good for the squad.”
I’m not so sure Ancelotti’s even got a decision to make after Alex’s performance last weekend though.
Filed under: Current Players, Rants
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Yeah, I’ve got to agree and would like to see Alex given an extended run in the team. He was immense last season in Riccy’s absence and who can forget that free kick against Liverpool!
Hopefully nothing will come of those recent rumours about a summer move to Bayern Munich. If anything it should be time to cash in on Carvalho (who’s been a great servant to the club) while we can still get a half decent price for him.
With Alex and Ivanovic vying for a place next to JT in the centre of the defence and the likes of Bruma and Mancienne also waiting in the wings I think the future bodes well in that department.
Would you automatically put Bosingwa in ahead of Ivanovic when he’s back then? I don’t think I necessarily would now. Ivanovic gets better every week now that he’s getting a proper run in the side – Alex, for me, is exactly the same. And yeh, whilst I’ve previously put Riccy ahead of JT as our best CB, it’s time to let him go now.
Pretty much agree with all of this. Alex was my player of the season last year, just in terms of how much he delivered, impressed & improved. I’m also making the early shout that Ivanovic is my vote for this years player, for the same reasons. I like Riccy, as much as any Blues supporter, but his brilliance and influence is on the wane, as is his fitness. I would also say his committment is not what it was a few years back. In Alex & Ivanovic we have two very hungry, committed & dedicated players (they’re also younger) so i think we should be starting with them, and then let Bruma get some time once Riccy inevitably moves on.
I think its time for Alex to be a first team regular to replace Carvalho, I think Ricci’s at the end of his Chelsea career and when he plays we look more vulnerable from set pieces. Shame but it has to end sometime.
I agree that Alex is looking pretty good right now. I’m just worried about his lack of pace, and occasional bad judgement (i.e. terrible mistake against Fulham, which cost us a goal). i think Ivanovic is the one who should partner JT once Bosingwa is back. Brasna (Ivanovic) is a solid both as a center back and right back, but he is a natural CB. Alex and Ivanovic have similar attributes I think. Except, Brasna is younger, more versatile and more offense minded. I think Ancelotti should keep Carvalho for 1 more season and have he and JT mentor the likes of Mancienne, Bruma (looks very promising) and Brasna if needed. Starting next year, Brasna should start transitioning to CB and the club should cash in on Alex during the summer, I think we can get 10-15 mil for him and help fund summer spending.
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