quickpassnmove

Daley Blind is apparently unwanted by Jose. I think he's an excellent player worth having. One of the better passers in the Prem IMO, very tactically/spacially-aware and still 26 y.o. Who would have him at Chelsea?

The two encouraging things are that we have a top Italian manager and he is reported to want four more signings this window. If those four are defenders and another CM, I'll be quite content (also assuming they're mostly top quality players, or those with high potential and strong physique). The reality is that Chelsea need 4 new defenders and one more CM. Rumours on Big Rom returning aren't bad either, but I hope that the four signings are at the back of the formation.

Let's sign Luan. He can be Mikel 2.0 and we'll have 10 more years of annoying crap MF play.

Remember the Olympics where Brazil couldn't score? Remember another summer window wherein Chelsea needed like 6 or 7 new players?

I would agree but the centre midfield isn't enough for our supposed ambitions unless Kante can clone himself and include it in his contract.

Could say the same thing with a Kante injury.

Will he give Michael Hector a start? Dunno why Pedro is in the team except that he was only purchased last summer for a sizable sum. Maybe one last try? We should just be keeping Cuadrado this season while selling Pedro and Oscar.

Sell Diego.

I thought Mustafi was average at Sampdoria. Did he actually improve at Valencia?

Good to see movement. Got a lot of business to do.

RM apparently bidding for David Alaba. http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/transfer-talk/79/post/2922741/real-madrid-to-bid-€65-million-for-bayern-munichs-david-alaba Funny how big clubs look for great fullback and centre midfield talent and go for it.

It's too bad the rest of the team doesn't know how to play.

too bad Mikel was not present.

It's Wednesday the 3rd of August. Clock is ticking. Need at least 4 more players. I can't believe another transfer hasn't happened yet -building back to front.

FFS.... if Chalobah can help flush this turd, he'll be a legend forever.

Christ, if we get another excellent CM and Rodriguez for LB..... this summer will start to look like it should. I really like the fact that Conte has been getting a good look at the players as early as he can --plus, he was a solid CM himself. How many times have Chelsea had a manager who was formerly top CM for a big club in his playing career? don't tell me about Gullit; he was a crap manager.

It's also bloody hard to find a place to buy a G. Vialli Sampdoria shirt in LARGE or the same with a personalized Siena shirt. Maybe I need to use a different search engine, but I can't find shit for online retail from Europe (and uksoccershop doesn't have everything either).

Let's get this FIFA career mode transfer cart rolling: sell Costa, Oscar, Mikel, etc... buy: FBs, CMs, Lukaku, CBs, etc. no need to keep this spine. blow some big money now. ...or settle for some truly uninspiring football in months ahead. maybe sack another manager. Chalobah, Matic, Kante, Mikel and Fabregas aren't going to get us into top four.

The positive thing so far this preseason is that Conte has had a good look at a lot of players thus far. The only players abt which I'm curious of Conte's view are Solanke, Abraham, Hector, Clarke-Salter, Tomori and whether or not he's seen enough of Mikel to know how awful he is --but particularly what he thinks of Hector and Mikel. Hopefully he gets a chance to have a look at someone like J. daSilva or some other young defenders when he gets back to the UK.

and ManCity are going pay 46 mil for Leroy Sane? that's funny.

Most of the Madrid side were NOT 1st team starters, full stop. 1st half RM had a team of only 1/2 1st team starters (some occasional) and the rest were backups, 2nd team youth players. 2nd half RM used 3rd tier youth players.

Hat-trick for Mr. Automatic reminds me what a centre midfield at Chelsea looked like in 04/05 compared to now. Makelele and Lampard? Nothing remotely like that now, nor since.

As Blue-in-Me-Veins says above, Chelsea don't have enough athletic ability in CM to keep up with top clubs abroad, NOR MID-TABLE AND TOP TEAMS IN THE PREM. If we were starting the season now, Kante should be paired with Chalobah/Fabregas and one of our FBs has no experience at the top level. As others have said about the upcoming season, it doesn't look hopeful unless Chelsea buy a minimum of FOUR MORE PLAYERS: CM, FB, CB The link-up play between CM and the attackers should improve, but I don't see the side going far without major improvement in the back line and CM. The match today was a lot of ineptitude from the two youngsters up top too. Or, as AVB has said... Yes, I agreed with AVB on Chelsea seasons ago. Get your head outta your ass, CFC. Ambitious, or not?

... and I would say it's not enough for the duration of a season, but I guess there's hope with Chalobah(?)

amateur day or budget cuts on ESPN. IDK. ESPN sucks even though they did nice work on the last World cup coverage.