OhForAGreavsie

He being Marcos? If so I don't agree. He was a good player, and a good fit, the day we bought him and he still is. If anything has changed it's not what Marcos can do, it's the appreciation, among fans, for what he offers. Back when he was first linked, those of us supporting his arrival were in the minority so it's pleasing that he is winning people over. Pleasing because it means he's done well for us. I'm a big fan but I remain one of those who sees room for an upgrade at LWB. My ideal scenario would be for an upgrade to arrive, but for Marcos to remain a part of the squad. That would be an immensely positive situation for us.

Keita has been discussed, both here and in his dedicated thread. I think it's a fair summary to say that most like his game, particularly his dribbling, but some are worried that his size, when paired with N'Golo, would leave us too lightweight.

Yep, not withstanding rumoured interest from a number of top clubs, all of this makes a lot of sense. Indeed, it may be because none of his preferred destination clubs are in the market for a striker now, that he says so clearly he'll be staying at Torino. I still say, however, that there will be no pressure for Torino to part with him and that situation will enable them to hold out for the buy out figure. Belotti won't be cheap, and nor should he be; he's a terrific player. I would certainly pay more for him than I'd pay for Lukaku. In fact I wouldn't buy Rom at all.

Agree he's better, but doubt he'll be significantly cheaper, if he's any cheaper at all. First, there is that rumoured buy out clause which Torino will negotiate hard to have met in full. Second, Belotti has been very clear that he's happy to stay in Turin. Torino are not going to come under any pressure to sell and that will help them to hold out for the price they want. Third, there's the law of supply and demand. You and I aren't the only ones on this site who rate Belotti more highly than Lukaku. There are plenty, and there are certain to be plenty more among the decision makers of Europe's top clubs. I'd bet a lot of money that, among the clubs able to afford these two players, there will be a much higher demand for Belotti than there will be for Rom. This will also put upward pressure on Belotti's price.

I don't think it's even a question of not wanting to damage relationships with other clubs, although that should always be an important consideration. It's a simple fact of contract law. If there is a binding contract, then it's binding unless all parties agree to vary its terms. Gladbach did not agree to release Andreas and the lad did not agree to return. Nothing Chelsea could do in those circumstances.

That's what my post was about.

I'm too lazy to check but, over the past dozen years, I wonder how many teams or coaches have beaten Barca or Bayern, in home and away league fixtures during the same season? I'm guessing the answer is pretty close to zero. In other words, is this a Pep stat, or is it really a combined Barcelona & Bayern Munich stat?

No need to worry about the names we're linked with. It's the one, or ones, we sign we need to concentrate on.

Not at all impressed by that line up. It would achieve barely any more in Europe than any line up we've used this year. Since there is virtually no chance of that XI being our regular starters next season, we'll never know for sure so you and I can just enjoy arguing about it.

I hope the trip is blissfully wonderful for both of you, and most especially for your wife of course. There's no avoiding how sad this is but stay strong for her mate.

I think you're right, there may well have been. It'll be interesting to see if any serious intent emerges this summer.

He-he he-he

No he couldn't, shouldn't and wouldn't say that. If he said 'no' when it's a no, then whenever he didn't come out and say 'no' people would put two and two together even if he didn't mean them to. If Antonio and the club are serious about not commenting on transfers then they must stick to the plan of not commenting. There are other reasons for not saying 'no' but that's the best one I think.

I don't agree that Rom has a low IQ. Indeed, I believe it is his relatively high IQ which has helped him make the most of his attributes. When Rom was 19, I posted to say that his general IQ would help him to accept what he can do, and what he cannot. That acceptance has helped Rom construct a game around his strengths and the good goalscoring record is the result. People should not be blinded by that record however. I predicted in that same post that the 19 year old's technical limitations would always prevent any top level club being satisfied to have him as their leading striker and I think that has been bourne out. It's clear Rom expected to receive offers last summer from clubs capable of winning the Champions League, but none came. There were rumours about interest from Chelsea, but Everton confirmed that no bids were made. Some people believe that goals are a striker's function and that if he scores lots of them, that is enough. I've never shared that opinion. Even if Rom gets his move to a top level club I believe it wouldn't be long before that club is back in the market for an upgrade.

I agree with your description of what Marcos brings to the team. This is why I was so pleased when he was linked to us, and was excited about how he could help us. I'm a big fan. Nevertheless, I am one of those calling for an upgrade. We want to be the best team in the country, in Europe, and the entire world. There are players who can do what Marcos can, but do so with more power, and more pace. Some of those players can also defend better. If the club can identify and recruit one of those players then I would support them making a change at LWB.

It's because most people ask themselves a simple question then give a hopelessly wrong answer. That question is, "How hard can it be to deliver an accurate cross into the box from a corner?" The answer most give to that question is, "Not very." Wrong. Badly wrong. The evidence for the correct answer is all over the place if only people would take time to notice. Every set of football fans, everywhere in the world, complain that their players are bad at corner kicks*. If everybody is bad at a particular skill, then the one thing you can say about that skill is that it can't be easy. it is clearly very difficult and therefore even the best players will not get it right most of the time. * A potential exaggeration on my part obviously since I have not read the comments of every set of fans in the world. I've just extrapolated from the fact that I have never come across any fans who do not complain about thier players' low success rate from corners.

I think Jed's case is very different to Gael's and much more worrying for the academy. The first time I saw Gael play, in a youth team game at Stamford Bridge, I posted to say that I felt he had no chance to make it at top level. With Jed, my equivalent post rated his chances at 50/50, though I admitted soon afterward that this was a bit optimistic. Even so his trajectory since then has been disappointing. Disappointing and concerning. Despite the rave reviews Gael received when he first came to our attention, there were, and are, flaws in his game. Flaws which are fixed, and which severely limit his prospects. There are also flaws in Jed's game of course, but these seem to me to be of a different nature. He doesn't lack technique and he doesn't lack physique. He has the tools but he has not learned to use them effectively. Well not effectively enough anyway. I've often made the point that an academy can't promise to turn a youngster into a first teamer. They can only promise to make him the best player he can be. I'm not sure that's been fulfilled in Jed's case. I have similar concerns over RLC's development. I don't think he's as good as he should be. These are the only two players where I have any doubt the coaching input but their example doesn't make me ready to condem Cobham. I would want to ask Neil Bath some questions if I had the chance however.

Love the music. Do you know its origin? Did Chelsea commission it or was it perhaps created by a talented fan, maybe you? Edit: By reading the comment to the video on YouTube I see that @Neilando did create the music himself. Great work mate. Liquidator with Blue is The Colour phrases; how has it taken 45 years for this to happen?

Nah, that's a difference of opinion. Alonso only makes number 4 on my upgrade chart.

Got to acknowledge that the bloke is doing what he can for the side but he remains upgrade priority number one in summer.

He has to have a deputy who Antonio believes in.

Who would we beat if only 2-3 turn up? No one I'd have thought. We have problems but we know that already. Dust yourselves down lads and go again on Wednesday. We'll be with you.

I've always liked Morata but Belotti is my preferred Costa replacement if our CF leaves. Unlike Morata and Rom, or Diego come to that, the Italian is good, or better than good, at every aspect of centre forward play.

Dribbling is undeniably vital but I would stop short of saying that it's more important than other parts of a player's make up when facing a press. What is clear is that players need a full set of tools to be considered truly effective at top level. Dribbling is one of those tools for sure, and most of us seem to agree that it's a skill our squad is short on. It is not the only way to defeat the press however; it isn't even always the best way. Circumstances dictate what will be the most effective way to overcome the press but players choices are always dictated by their own capabilities. The more capable the player, the more chance he will select, and execute, the best option. Essien, is a great example. People remember the surges with the ball but, in my opinion, tend to overlook other weaknesses in his game. I therefore have a lower opinion of the Bison than many Chelsea fans. I do not believe that our team will be at its best if Nemanja continues as first choice partner for Ngolo next season and, if there is to be a change, I hope the replacement is a better player than Ess was at his peak.* *I recognise of course that this is just an opinion, and almost certainly a minority one to boot, but, in truth I don't believe that peak Essien was much better than any other version people might describe. Opponents sussed his limitations and exposed them. That's what happened, not any off-the-cliff-edge decline, as some believe.

^^Lol