quickpassnmove

When asked for which club he would like to play in Europe, the player added: "PSG. I don't know the reason! I'm a friend of Marquinhos, he showed me photos, and the structure is monstrous. I liked his shirt and their uniform." --reported on sambafoot in May. I don't think any of this matters at all.

I like this player. The only thing that would concern me is his pace. Two-footed it seems he is. The LB, CB, Maia and something else before the window closes?

Except that it's probably NOT 60 mil pounds because the English-speaking media over there don't know WTF to do with currency numbers when talking football transfers.

Left back rumour in the papers today: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-boss-antonio-conte-eyes-8638598

Exactamente.

It's a good first win for Conte, but Chelsea are not going to create enough "clear cut chances" during the season with a lack of ability/speed from CM and LB while Hazard looks for openings and is -again- surrounded by opposition defenders every time (like the past seasons). We need more from LB and CM on the build-up. On the other side of the pitch, people will complain about Willian but it seems to me that if combination play were improved on both flanks and down the middle, we wouldn't need a 2nd superman on the RW to complement Hazard on the left. Or, in other words: let's not blow a huge wad on another winger; let's fix the defence and CM first. That next big money attacking player winger should come down the road. I thought Oscar played just fine against this opponent. The combination play around Hazard (or lack thereof) bothered me much more than any of Oscar's shortcomings. Good win against a fairly tough opponent, but I don't think WHU were at their best either. We need better players and better combination play from back-to-front. Matic looks like a Bolton or West Brom player; Hazard: Real Madrid/Barca quality. **despite being minimally involved in the build-up, Kante looked good. I'm happy he's with us. very smooth on the ball along with being a zipper who breaks up play.

so we're hoping for penalties all season? since when have you been watching football? Azpi gets tapped and everything is OK?

RAther go for de Vrij. Meanwhile in Napoli, the fans are having a laugh at Chelsea. http://www.ilnapolista.it/2016/08/sky-napoli-rifiutato-50-milioni-dal-chelsea-koulibaly/

Chances created. Hazard gets little or nothing from the players around him. Big weakness there when we're talking about CHASING TOP FOUR. Same as before.

His movement off-the-ball isn't good enough either. He fails to give Hazard good options at the right moments.

Exactly. Good effort in 1st half, but Hazard and Costa don't are completely out-of-sync (and it's all Costa's fault off-the-ball really). Matic offers little or nothing on attacks and as you said, our fullbacks... Azpi offers nothing on the left, Matic not doing anything, Costa not linking up with Hazard... that all amounts to one terrific player not able to create chances on the left.

My vote is for de Vrij. definitely, assuming he has recovered well from the injury. Maksimovic is also interesting, but I've not watched him play matches.

We had one: deBruyne. I imagine you're talking about someone who can drill it (laces shot) as opposed to just curling it. Like Fredy Guarin, Alexander Meier or Ibrahimovic. There don't seem to be as many of those around these days as everyone is busy dribbling and losing the ball.

Price is high, but then I'm more concerned whether CFC sign more than one defender before the window closes. How can it be only one after what we've seen?

Well guys, this story has clearly NOT been resolved this week as I see Koulibaly on the pitch versus Hertha right now.

more than one post about Koulibaly's departure: https://www.facebook.com/Ghoulam.Faouzi.Page.Officielle

Idrissa Gueye shutting down Tottenham. Would be nice if Chelsea had just one fullback as good on the ball as either of Spurs' fullbacks.

I don't mind signing up Kone along with K2 from Napoli. Latest news today says that Torino do not like the 25 mil offered them by Napoli for Maksimovic (plus bonus 2 mil). This is the crazy market that has Antonio shaking his head.

Good perspective on Mustafi for those of us who've not watched much Valencia lately: http://talksport.com/football/arsenal-transfer-rumour-most-laliga-interceptions-last-two-seasons-defensive-rock-linked

exactly what I was going to say. 2-2 and we can take some solace from scoring two goals TBH.

So if you're so inured to the Chelsea situation, what causes you to come on the forum and post this as a response to someone else's post?

That last bit has a lot to do with football culture in Europe (or, N. Europe, or England specifically) from what I've seen. Utterly ridiculous. I didn't avoid organized religion just to become a football fan and endure the same B.S. I also have difficulty watching football these days, so I have plenty of other stuff to do in my spare time. And yes, we're all desperate to see a good Chelsea side again that can control matches with speed, physicality and skill despite the "parity" in the Premier League and the crazy spending across the football world. That 04/05 season seems a lifetime ago for me personally.

What's really funny about the story of an Icardi transfer to Arsenal is that they will have a smaller, weaker striker who can't get it done any better than Giroud. And, Giroud is arguably a more accurate striker of the ball ...and probably a better passer (that one's debatable).

He's crap. Not worth buying, full stop.

this guy better be good for Conte's sake. talk about an awful club to haggle with (Napoli). in the midst of what's wrong at Chelsea, you have to wonder how much energy is being devoted to this one signing, with this pain-in-the-ass Italian club in the way. good decisions?