OhForAGreavsie

If the story about Diego is true, would it be wise for we on this forum to imagine that a swap would not have occurred to Chelsea? To both clubs indeed? Of course it will have done, but whether or not it's viable or can be arranged on terms which suit the two clubs and the two players is another matter.

First of all of course, whether a player is actually for sale or not, "not for sale", is always the opening gambit by the selling club. Secondly any speculation you and I get into as to what might have happened in the course of this negotiation is just guesswork. Let's say however that it went as you suggest, and Chelsea picked up a vibe that Napoli actually were prepared to sell. I'd suggest that gives Chelsea two potential moves they might make, urge Napoli once again to name a price or put in a bid. In either case, nothing will come of it. To start with, Napoli will not weaken their negotiating position by naming a price. At least not one which is anything less than twice as much as they calculate Chelsea might actually be prepared to pay tops. This leaves the other option which is to put in a bid. Chelsea know full well however that any bid which is less than the think of a number and double it figure will automatically be rejected. That's the way the game is played. Dealing in the real world, the club must walk away or engage in the negotiating game. Either way, they face criticism from people who know the process is not as simple as they portray it, but who like to imagine that Chelsea can behave as if it was.

So Petre, you call Napoli, you ask them how much they want. They tell you the player is not for sale. Your move. What do you do?

I've never really been confident about Tammy's Chelsea future, believing that he's a bit short on technique but I felt he showed good progression last season. Although his goal count was down, his hold up play as he led the line for our development teams was pretty decent. He's deserved this move I think, great club to join, great start and, let's hope, great loan.

Not much you can do about it though Ryan. I watched a lot of Belgium in the run up to the last World Cup but very litle since. If the impresion I formed while watching them is still valid, assuming it ever was valid in the first place, then Belgium fans are about to loose a favoured excuse. Wilmots was, in my opinion, blamed for a lot more than was in fact his fault. Those things which were not the manager's fault won't automatically change because the man in the dugout has.

Tells you something when you can't get minutes in pre-season and I fear MH must have received the message loud and clear. I've only watched Michael in a competitive game once. He played as a DM in that match, I came away wondering why on Earth we had signed this bloke. I saw absolutely nothing that suggested he was of the level required. Mchael comes over as a really nice bloke in interviews. If he had the quality, it looks like he'd be a welcome presence in the squad, but sadly I just don't think he has it.

Our defenders unuestionably need upgrading but upgrading only those players will not, on its own, have the desired outcome. Antonio can't improve those defenders but he can improve our defence. Our defence consists of 11 players, not four or five. Improve the front six and the efectiveness of the back four is automatically lifted. Keep the ball better and not only is the average position in which opponents recover possession less dangerous but our defenders are afforded vital extra moments to recover shape. I believe that we have improved our defence because we have, with the additions of Michy & N'Golo, improved the front six. Antonio has simply not chosen as yet to put his first choice front six on to the pitch at the same time. Whether that's because he's felt unable to, or because he wants to keep his powder dry, I don't know. We need a great deal more progress, but there is a better side in this squad than we have yet seen in this preseason.

Have you considered the possibility that it's you who has failed to understand this process not the billionaire and his millionaire assistants?

You are right Petre. In one aspect. I, at least, have no idea about the amounts, or clauses in the transfer agreement which took Rom to The Toffees. I had previously read the 20% figure on this forum however. Was it you who posted it? Anyway, asuming it, and the other clauses you mention, are accurate then of course Everton would factor these into their thinking. That's par for the course. I wonder though how you come to know such details? Where I would argue that you are not right is in suggesting that the factors you talk about make the deal less expensive for Chelsea. All of those things; the balance of the original fee, the 20% sell on number, and the sundry bonuses, are all Chelsea assets. Giving them up is just the same as spending them. I still think the best thing for Chelsea to do is allow Rom to join someone else, collect the money we are owed by Everton and our share of the huge fee the other club pays. Of course no one else will pay such a huge fee. No one Rom wants to join anyway.

True (more or less) but that's not what you said first time. There is nothing I hate more in fotball than a Chelsea player taking a low percentage shot when a decent pass was on. Frank, especially in his younger days, used to do it all the time and it wound me up like crazy. Anyway, we ain't getting Bonucci.

Not true. Sometimes shooting when you should pass is the surest way to to make certain that you don't score but give possession away instead. In short, take a shot when you should but pass when you should pass. Meaning, don't bother chasing targets if there really is no chance. Try to identify an alternative instead. If there are none, then bide your time.

Hello Pizy, As at time of writing, I'm not aware that either of the deals you refer to involving the Manchester clubs has been done. The club will of course have its own assessment of what is required and that assessment will take into account Antonio's input. However many players it has been decided we need they can certainly be pursued simultaneously. If we are only hearing about one chase. foor one player, that's because we are only hearing about one, not because we are lining these up in any order. To suggest that we might target new signings in order of positional need is a bit silly wouldn't you say? We just get stuck into trying to negotiate the deals we want to do and the firs one that gets done, is the first one that gets done. The club is not going to complete a deal for a low priority acquisition at a price which will mean that a higher priority target can no longer be afforded. That is just very basic business sense that you and i can understand. The people doing these deals have a knowledge which goes far beyond basic and far, far beyond yours and mine. The club must, in my opinion, be prepared to walk away from bad deals. This will not be the last transfer market we take part in, nor the last one in which we have urgent needs. Marina knows the budget she's working with and she knows what Antonio wants to see achieved with it. The deals which have benn done so far are good ones but like you I know we need to do more. Unlike you however, I'm convinced the club is doing its best. If doing better means throwing stupid amounts of money, amounts which are unsustainable, then I say walk away Marina. Walk away.

Journalists, bloggers and tweeters (is that a word?) will write and/or say whatever they choose to. People will choose to believe whatever suits them. I choose to believe that no one on this planet, or any other, would imagine Antonio has said something so simplistic. Anyone who believes such a childish piece of reporting is a bit too easily baited I think.

In that case I'm pining my hopes on that Guardian journalist who claims to have been told that Chelsea have not in fact bid for Rom.

They are looking after the interests of their club, as they see them. What's wrong with that? When our board is reported to have told Atleti that Diego is not for sale most cheered. Can we then have a problem with Everton for doing the same to us? Everton are entitled to sell, or not sell, as they choose and, if they do choose to sell, they are entitled to seek any price they want. I just hope we won't pay it.

Everyone who regularly takes free kicks does that.

I'll believe that when I see it. Even if Gabigol goes to Juve I can't imagine he'll get much game time.

Agreed, of course, but it was last year's team (well about half of it anyway) and we know that team was, and is, bad. I like the signs of improvement already lined up for next season's squad and we all have hopes of more. We won't all agree on the merits of every rumoured target but every linked name gives reason for optimism that the club is working to fill in the gaps. There are many gaps, perhaps too many to fix in one window, but surely we'd all be satisfied if significant progress is made and the club is clearly trying.

There is too much smoke for there not to be fire here but these flames leave me cold. Not pleased about this at all.

i) I said I'd be fine with Costa leaving before it became public that we were interested in Batshuayi. ii) I said Bats looked the better technician even before we signed him. iii) My opinion is my opinion. It is right or it is wrong but it has nothing to do with hype.

I'm tempted to predict that even if Costa stays Michy will force Antonio to regard him, not the Spaniard, as our top striker. Only tempted mind because the last time I made such a prediction Studge never did oust Torres, despite it being blindingly obvious that the youngster was the better player. Instead of becoming our starter within two months, Danny was gone within six. So, although I know what I think will happen with Bats, I'll hold off on the prediction.:)

I have long held the opinion that Nate wasn't going to make it here and have said so often enough but his Toulon form was an eye opener for me. It is great to see that he has brought that form into the preseason. If Antonio is now considering him seriously as a first choice option then Nate would be the answer to a long standing question in another thread: The Next Chelsea Captain. If Nate is good enough to hold down a place then he'll be an almost automatic choice to inherit the armband; he's an outstanding skipper. When his confidence is high, he walks onto a footbball pitch like he owns the place. He captained every age group side through the academy and as far as could be told from watching the games his teammates respected him as their natural leader.

I didn't even like him going forward!

And you liked Celestine? I ask because I didn't. I thought him very limited.

And what a loss!