OhForAGreavsie

And you've put your finger on our problem. Mase is an important player for us because our squad is what it is. If we ever build a squad capable of challenging for the title again, Mason's role, and importance, will change. I've previously used the phrase that I don't think we can be good without Mase, but that I don't believe we can be great with him. When Mason starts, we see the shortcomings and find them frustrating. When he doesn't, the current squad has no better alternatives and we see why he has to start. A better squad won't need Mase to start but, when he does, it will show off what he can do better than the current one does.

Thank you!!! If you ever spot me in a pub, come claim a free drink. The whole world has forgotten the word uninterested because they think disinterested means the same thing and makes them sound cleverer. Well originally disinterested did not mean uninterested. These days however, after being so widely misused, for so long, it has to be accepted that it does mean uninterested. Indeed, dictionaries now give both its original meaning and the uninterested definition when you look up the word disinterested. Still hurts my head though when people say disinterested, when what they really mean is uninterested. I wonder how many of those people know what disinterested really means?

My favourite old chestnut again. In terms of their basic talent level, 23-year-olds don't improve. While we remain a side struggling to reach a higher level, Mason will remain an important player for us. If we reach that level Mason will no longer be a key player, but he may find a niche roll in what would then be a much better squad.

I don't share this rush to judgement. Chasing instant solutions, and doing so at extreme high cost, is what has ground us down to our current state. The owners need to stay calm and so do we. They need to take their time and we need to allow them to. A key component of the plan must be to end the agents' gravy train. Given our history, intermediaries can't help but see us as a club which is regularly oversold on the qualities of players, and easily persuaded to massively overpay for their services. We have to get discipline into our recruitment operation and that includes ignoring fans who clamour for more and more shiny baubles. Any fans taking the attitude, "If we don't get two world class midfielders in January, I'm done.", should be thanked for their service and offered a £5 gift voucher for the Man City megastore.

To use an old-fashioned expression, this kid looks a player. This is the very blueprint of the type of deal which, if successful, could help us out of the hole we have dug ourselves into. I don't like the KDB talk, but the lad does demonstrate a football brain and the ability to identify the right option. At the rumoured price, I say pull the trigger on this one and try to find more deals like it.

Yes, definitely. 🙂

Let's not judge the bloke based on the rumour mill. There will be time enough to decide once we see what, if anything, happens during the next window. In fact, given that we can't influence the decisions, there will be no need to reach any conclusions until we've seen the impact of any January signings. I agree we will all have our opinions about whatever does happen, but we can easily afford to park them while we see how things play out on the pitch.

It won't.

Midfielder Erin Cuthbert has extended her contract until the end of 2024/25. Yes Ezza!!!

I watched a lot of KDB when he stayed at Genk for the rest of the season after we signed him. Not long after I started doing that I posted (on CfcNet) to say that, "I love, love, love the way he plays football." I've only watched clips of the Russian lad but I can't say I've recognised that same vibe from him yet.

One hundred percent in favour but I know I'm in the minority on this.

CFCW Ticket Updates vs Spurs, Stamford Bridge, Sunday 20th November 2022 at 13:00 GMT: General admission seats sold out, but Premium and hospitality tickets are still available at very reasonable prices. vs Real Madrid, Kingsmeadow, Wednesday 23rd November 2022 at 20:00 GMT: Only standing tickets remain. vs Paris St Germain, Stamford Bridge, Thursday 22nd December 2022 at 20:00 GMT: General admission tickets available now. Get 'em while you can. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/womens-tickets 🙂

On the other hand, if City have a binding buy-back then they can just exercise it and cut us out altogether if they want to. This is why a sell-on make our life a little easier. Whatever happens it will be a negotiation. I just would like to see this lad at Chelsea.

Interesting that City's interest is described as a sell on here when it has previously been said to be a buy-back. I'm fully in favour of trying to get this lad and a sell on makes negotiations more straightforward.

Quite right. In the end it comes down to a simple requirement; buy good footballers irrespective of the size of their reputations. Doing this is about judgement and discipline. The judgement to recognise high quality players, and the discipline not to settle for less. For all positions technical excellence is an entry level requirement. You are not automatically in if you have it, but you are automatically out if you don't. Technical excellence is best judged by the ease and efficiency with which a footballer carries out the simple tasks not the flashy stuff. Once a transfer target passes the technical excellence test then, and only then, look for the other attributes you want.

Yes, I would try to sell him that if he shows better defending. This is why I wrote of him 'sharing' RB/RWB duties with Reece. If Tino can dispel the doubts about his defensive contribution he would get enough game time and would be a powerful addition to our squad. If he does not show better defensive qualities however there can be no place for him back at The Bridge. I was a big fan of Tino's during his academy days, so I watched a fair bit of him at Saints. I didn't like what I saw defensively. His positioning was frequently awful.

Next up for the women an international break followed by Spurs at Stamford Bridge on 20th November, and Real Madrid at Kingsmeadow on 23rd November. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/tickets/womens-tickets

The girls inflicted ManU's first defeat of the season on Sunday. We now move up to second, behind Arsenal on goal difference although the Gunners have a game in hand.

Happy to lose this tussle.

Under ordinary tax treatment that's more than £23m a year gross. Can't see how it would make sense to offer Jorgi that kind of a contract. Obviously, the player's agent is going to go high at the start of negotiations but, if true, that number is a big overreach.

The 'problem of Reece James' must be a big part of why Tino left in the first place. Tough to see him rushing back to face being blocked again. In any case, I want to see improved defensive output from Tino before I'd support him coming back to share RB/RWB duties.

I'm 100% on board with targeting Lavia. Complicated deal but this is a must try for me.

I grew up in an era when the FA Cup was a monster, completely unrecognisable from the tournament it is now. I therefore have a huge emotional commitment to it which younger people do not. Winning that competition is always high on my agenda. However... If we win the FA Cup we would will still be a bad team. If we win The Champions League, we would still be a bad team. If we win The League Cup, we would still be a bad team. Winning a trophy this year is not about suggesting that we are a good team. It's about camouflaging the fact that we are a bad one. From the point of view of our status in the footballing world a little camouflage can do no harm, and might even help a bit. Also who doesn't like winning stuff. 🙂