OhForAGreavsie

I have seen Barbosa play. I have explained where and why I consider that to be valid. It has many many times caused me to reach the right conclusion about footballers. For example when I said that Douglas Costa looked a more talented player then the man we ended up buying that transfer window. I realise there is absolutely no reason at all why anyone should be familiar with my record of predictions made based on YouTube observations but I say again, without a hint of dishonesty or self delusion, that I have absolute confidence in the judgements I have made by watching YouTube.

As someone who used to sing the Wilkins song* in The Shed all those years ago, this saddens me but he's a growm man who was dealt a great hand in the game of life; talent, money, brains, everything. He knows as well as we all do that you can't put people's lives at risk by driving when you are drunk. Having been done for this twice previously he deservs a jail sentence and I'm affraid he's going to get one. In that regard, winding up the court by making up excuses for not attending, won't help. *Just the Ossie song with 'Wilkins, Wilkins' replacing 'Osgood, Osgood'.

Nonsnse. You, if it was you who originated that claim, have completely misunderstood what Ola is saying here. If English is not your first language then it is perfectly understandable if you have not realised the meaning of the expression, left in the dark. If that is the case then please forgive the implied criticism. Ola is not talking about being selected vs. not being selected. He is talking about being given on pitch instructions vs. not being given on pitch instructions. He isn't even comparing one manager with another. He was asked his opinion of Antonio's coaching style and, as players in that situation always do, just tried to say something nice. Ola played for Adi Viveash last season. When it comes to delivering instructions from the touchline, Adi is the King. Indeed he has recieved criticism for doing too much of it in the past, including from me. Following comments made on telly about him over coaching, Adi has tried to tone it down a bit.

How is it possible to extrapolate “Ola Aina has praised Conte but not not so much our previous manager” from what Ola said and which manager do they mean, Adi Viveash? Who ever wrote that statement is talking tosh and knows less about Chelsea than she/he might.

Wide is indeed the right word. We should give this guy a very wide swerve.

On the subs: - I like Aina. My criticism of him has always been that he is prone to too many mistakes. I used to say that you could rely on him for 2 or 3 errors per game, but he did better on that last season. Minus those errors, we have a potential player there. I also think Tomori must start to become a factor in first team squad planning. He had a brilliant season last term.

Yes, that's the widespread opinion but my experience is that this point of view is wrong, or at any rate it is only partly right. I'd agree that it is unwise to decide that a player is good eough based on youtube only but, I believe strongly that you can judge if he is not good enough. In this case, that's the judgememt I make of Barbosa. My approach is to start with highlight compilations. If I like what I see there I move on to all-touches vids. If I still like what I see I then take in 90 minute coverage. Then and only then might I conclude that a player is right for Chelsea. If a player fails the two easier tests however, he does not make it to the 90 minute level. Barbosa fell at the first hurdle; he looks ordinary even in his highlights.

I suspect that Conte has something like this in mind.

The standard double-talk method makes deciphering Conte's comments difficult. He might mean that he likes Cuadrado and wants him back at the club, or he might mean he wants to sell Cuadrado but knows what has to be said to maximise the price.

I'll be stunned if any of those clubs want this kid. He looks an ordinary player, even in his highlight videos. No interest whatsoever in Chelsea signing this bloke.

Suggesting a first loan for Charlie and a further one for Mario i think. (Assuming the pair are fit.)

Unless it means, "I want to join Chelsea but they are welcome to offer me a little more money to make sure of my affections if they like."

I wouldn't go back there if I were him. It'll hurt more when he loses his place in the side. Another in the long line of players who are not as good as their reputations suggest.

Not to mention Timori and even Aina.

How do you know that A H?

I'll say one thing for the bloke, he's got a diligent agent. All this constant media commentary is a sure sign of at least one agent on the case. I say at least one because I suspect that there is also an agent working for Zenit trying to engineer a move. I don't think it would take many millions of euros before any club would rather have the cash than this player.

Where does it say that? Just because there are strong indications that we have bid for one Belgian, and have been linked with another, how do we extrapolate from that to saying that Chelsea "insist" that we only want to sign Belgians? The link with Witsel is scarcely credible anyway. He is constantly linked because he clearly wants to move back to western Europe and his club almost certainly would prefer the cash over his talents. I agree with you that there are alternative potential midfield targets out there. The club must be aware of this too and I'm certain they won't be ignoring any option just because he isn't Belgian. ?

I watched a UEFA Youth League game in which a Schalke tean featuring Sane were thrashed by Chelsea. Afterward the Schalke coach said he thought that not one of his players had any chance to get into that young Chelsea XI. Just one game I know but something to think about.

You are right of course, but this isn't going to help reduce the volume of nonsensical posts we have to put up with on this site. Not least because there is nothing new in this information. It has been known for a very long time with Jose all but confirming it in more than one press conference, And the agents comments being made public months ago. The attitude displayed by some posters here is akin to religious fervour. They believe what they believe and can't be talked out of it by force of argument. They will either continue in their faith or, if they do change their mind, it will be for their own reasons and in their own time.

He doesn't look all that wonderful to me in his YouTube videos. Maybe he looks better in 'real' life. It would be unusual though, wouldn't it, for a player to look worse on YouTube then he really is?

I hope I didn't give the impression that I felt his Eglish is bad. I do not and that is not the point I was making.

He says the shape has to fit the players, not the other way around.

Warming up a little now but was very nervous for opening few minutes. Not surprising given it's his first presser in a foreign language which he has only been learning for a few months. Reasonable English from him too.

I don't hate any club. I love, love love the rivalry with Tottenham so those are the fixtures that mean the most to me.

They don't necessarily have to offer more than us, they just need to make an offer the player will accept. Kante may, for example, be happy there, he may have a sense of gratitude to Leicester for the boost they've given his career, he may not want to put up with the negativity of fans if he moves, or with being thought of as a traitor by his Leicester team mates. Any number of possible reasons he might accept less to play for Leicester than he might earn elsewhere. I don't believe he will, but it's possible.