OhForAGreavsie

I don't agree about our preseason. Parts of the Leverkusen game were good but we were terrible against Milan. I was stunned when I read praise of that performance.

Not least of course because any buying clubs are aware of the pressure we are under and will be determined to exploit that. Just like we would, and in fact are doing, they will leverage whatever advantage they can to agree deals which are advantageous for them. With time on their side they are happy to sit and watch the clock wind down.

No prizes for guessing who is the only one of those I know anything about. 🙂

I feel that Rogers best position is 8. Although I would give him that role in our first choice lineup, I don't expect the club would agree about this. In any case it would imply finding the right move for Enzo and I don't see any indication that the club is ready for that step.

And in the CWC has won something that Arteta, or Arsenal come to that, will quite probably never win.

It's intended to be a sanction, a punishment in other words.

They are just testing the water to see if we have become desperate enough yet. Clubs are clearly expecting that we will eventually have to cave.

Remember it well. TSO was adamant it happened, BG was adamant it did not.

I'm reluctant to condemn him without knowing what his thinking is in doing this.

With that wording it can't be. The translation is something like, " Chelsea are thinking about thinking about attempting to sign a player." 🙁

Weren't there reports that he is determined never to play for Chelsea again? If that is the case then that's a possible answer to the question.

Good decisions by both clubs. Chelsea are right to have made the approach, Juve are right to have said no.

Nor me.

This implies that you think Maresca going public could have the desired effect and cause the board to do as he asks. I'm not convinced. That's not to say that the board might not move for a centre back in the market, but I do think it makes it less likely. Why would they want to be seen to reward foot stamping? Especially since, in this case, the board's decision will be made by two directors who are specifically employed for their footballing knowledge. They would both have to accept their decision being overturned by the manager's opinion. If that can happen then what's the point of them? The only way to redeem this situation in my mind is to imagine that this is some kind of choreographed routine they have dragged up between them. A routine concocted to give cover to the SDs if they reopen negotiations for a player having previously walked away because of the price. The trouble with that scenario is that it makes their negotiating position even tougher than it would already have been if they had just gone back to the table on their own initiative.

Maresca isn't forgetting him and Maresca wants a new CB. This tells us something. Whether that something is a judgement on Aaron's level of play or his level of experience is a matter for speculation but I'm disappointed that Enso has gone public with his frustration. I know he's a pretty straight talking bloke, but I don't see what good it does to cast doubt on his existing players and on his relationship with the board.

How Chelsea's share of the transfer is to be paid would have been included in the transfer agreement between Chelsea and Ipswich. Ipswich, in turn, will have taken that into account when negotiating payment terms with Forest. Ultimately though it doesn't matter. Regardless of how they are actually paid, clubs apply amortisation to transfer fees for accounting purposes.

Every little helps. Thank you Nottingham Forest. Hope you get your man.

A big preference for Italian culture, Italian football, Italian weather, or all three?

Good player. I'm surprised she got so few minutes but we had seven or eight centre backs on the books and a very promising teenager who already starts for the Dutch national team has arrived this summer after being signed and loaned back to PSV last year. I think this is a good signing for Brighton and I hope we have a buyback. Bright has reached the veteran stage, although Buchanan extended last season I can't see her staying beyond her current deal, Nouwen has left, and youngster Akpom isn't showing any signs of earning first team minutes. I can see a situation where we will be shopping for CBs in a couple of seasons so a buy back in Mpome's deal would make sense.

Based on today's display by Gittens, Pedro N starts at left wing vs Palace. Fortunately for Jamie he has a week to show Maresca more than he did today.

In preference to the version of Gittens I watched today? Yes, Noni back. Absolutely. He was a little better on Friday, but still unconvincing. Today he did not look like a player having a bad day, he looked like a bad player. When he gives me something better to build hopes on, I will build them.

If today's display indicates the level we can expect from him then I seriously doubt he will start and sincerely hope he does not. I felt he was utterly hopeless today.

Good work. 🙂 Think it scans better if you take out making and elongate Chelsea instead. Most of all though I think it's far too many words for the Neanderthals that turn up at The Bridge. Most of us can't even count up to the number of words in that chant. 🙂

I didn't feel Trev looked convincing at LCB in any case. Several situations developed which proved Maresca's point about the desirability of a capable left foot for that role.

You're being generous.