OhForAGreavsie

If all the idiots were in America it would be bad enough, but they're everywhere.

In addition to what Tomo said above, and leaving aside the Newcastle wild card, I think we have a good chance to improve our competitiveness against all classes of opposition. We have a manager who I believe knows how to pick a player and who, as I suspected he would, seems to have more influence over transfer decisions than any of his recent predecessors. We may not be top of the food chain for star players, but we have more than enough 'pull' to buy big players, even if we continue to miss out on the big 'names'. For example, for the cost of one relatively cheap transfer we can put together a midfield which I believe would be a match for almost anybody three years from now; Bate, Bellingham & Kovacic. (You read it here first. ) Even if we miss out on Bellingham, there are other good players. Some of whom are already contracted to Chelsea.

Well said. As for Kepa specifically, I was strongly against signing him but that was about value for money and transfer priorities, not about him lacking quality. I simply felt that Marcin Bulka for free, plus £71m extra to spend on outfield players, was much better squad planning than shelling out big for a goalkeeper. I still feel that way. If Frank has genuinely lost faith in our Spaniard then let's pick up a competent keeper from somewhere and focus as much of our budget as possible on other positions.

Of course, I've no idea where the truth is in this report but I don't see why it should be assumed that this would be Frank's decision. Any player might choose PSG over Chelsea these days.

When I try to access the site on my Android phone I get a message saying that I am banned, though I can log on using my desktop. Since I'm here, and typing this post, I assume that I have not actually been banned. Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I use my time machine to mess with your post so I'm allowed to pick two of them, then take Eden & JT.

Being reported, via the BBC gossip page, that Diego will be leaving Atleti on a free at the eventual end of the season, when he will be 31. My question is would you and, if so, do you think he would?

A pundit who knows less about football than Merson would be hard, if not impossible, to find. That he grew up a Chelsea fan is the only positive thing I can think of to say about Paul Merson.

Chelsea football club has announced the death of Peter Bonetti. The Cat was first choice keeper when I became a fan. Rest in peace legend. https://www.chelseafc.com/en.

That's an off world level of production. It's clear you believe that both players can be sold on joining and I'm guessing you've written about this before. I don't remember reading it however so would you mind posting a quick rehash please?

Thank you. I haven't read it yet but I will later today.

Interesting KK. Thank you. Is Barca's situation really this tight? Their wage bill is large but, after paying it last season, they stll had more than half a billion pounds of income left over to fund transfer activity and other costs. Chelsea, on the other hand, had barely £170m left over after paying players. Using the £480m salary number, and calculating that roughly one third of the season will be lost, their squad's voluntary 70% pay cut during the shutdown will shave about £112m off the wage bill. In addition their players are also reported to be intending to make further contributions to help the club meet its non-playing payroll. A much smaller number to be sure, but it will help the club a little, and the people involved a lot. Barcelona's domestic TV income last season was roughly £136m. Sticking to the same one third reduction guessed at above, they will lose around £45.4m of that this season. After covering this loss, the players' salary sacrifice, leaves Barcelona with more than £76m still in hand. £76m won't come close to matching other lost revenue so Barca's situation is bleak, but not as bleak perhaps as some other clubs. Things will return to normal eventually. Barcelona's financial situation is strong, with projected incomes of more than £1bn per season going forward. In this suddenly bleak financial climate, where institutions are desperate for 'sure thing' investments, if Barca want loans to stave off a fire sale, the banks will help them out.

I'm a Pulli convert. I wasn't sold based on the little I saw of him at BVB even though I was encouraged that so many people here were impressed with him. I've definitely liked what I've seen from him in a Chelsea Shirt however, particularly his quickness once he sees an opportunity to do something decisive. In those moments, his close control can be devastating and he has shown good decision making around the box over when to shoot and when to pass. Of course, when I say good decision making, I mean decisions of which I approve. To shoot, or not to shoot, is something which divides opinion. Lot's of people are furious when players fail to take every opportunity for a pop at goal, but I'm among those who can't abide a Chelsea player hitting a low percentage shot when a pass was available to create a better opening. I think Pulli is way above Andre, a player I never really believed in, and also above CHO based on first team performances to date. As for Chris being unable to deliver in some games, it's a fair observation but let's remember that there were many days when Eden was a non factor too. For me, with the current squad plus Hakim, Pulli starts when fit.

The key thing you were right about was that Tibo should have been sold earlier for the bigger fee which would then have been available. That's water under the bridge now, but its lesson must be put into action during the next window. As you've been suggesting, everybody wins if we allow N'Golo to make a big move at the end of the season.

Nice highlights video of Mando: -

Interesting discussion of all things Chelsea: -

Not to mention The League Cup. Three runners up medals for all but one of Chelsea's main players that season. Michael Ballack was the odd one out because he was a runner up with Germany that summer for four silver medals in a season. If only Didier hadn't been goaded into getting himself sent off in extra time he'd have been taking the 5th penalty in Moscow. If only JT hadn't slipped. If only Heskey hadn't stolen a point with a late equaliser for Wigan at The Bridge. If only.

This is what everyone is saying. I hope you, and they, are right but I have doubts. When the deal was announced, I realised that I could not remember her from our Champions League game against Bayern a couple of seasons ago. This was already a bad sign, so I re-watched the game yesterday. For me, Melanie was not good that day. She was subbed, albeit late on, and then dropped for the second leg. It isn't just that she didn't have a great match. It's that she didn't look the type of player you hope for when you recruit an experienced international from a top club. On that night Melanie seemed awkward rather than smooth and lacked; elegance, touch, superior body control, and sharp passing. For now, I take comfort from the fact that your impression of Pulli was better than mine, and hope it will only take Melanie a game or two prove that is so again.

Chelsea Women sign Bayern Munich captain https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/03/23/first-words--melanie-leupolz- Melanie's first club interview. She will join ahead of the 2020/21 season. (Whenever that might be.) https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/03/23/first-words--melanie-leupolz-

New signing for the women. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/03/23/melanie-leupolz-transfer-agreed Melanie started against us in the Champions League a couple of seasons ago. Although we eventually knocked them out, she was part of a Bayern midfield which completely outplayed ours in the first leg at Kingsmeadow.

Luka Jovic to be offered to Tottenham and Chelsea after Real Madrid coronavirus row https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/luka-jovic-offered-tottenham-chelsea-21729204

True, but then there would probably be competition for his signature from teams higher up the food chain than we are, so we wouldn't get him anyway.

I was thinking of the owners but good on those two.

Not unlikely that Roman, and all of these uber sophisticated money people, actually make money out of this situation.

Well played Roman. I hope I'm not wrong in thinking that the other Premier League billionaires are probably doing their bit too.