OhForAGreavsie

Shame but I think she's made a sound decision to step aside.

I'll remind people that using the player at LWB was something I was strongly in favour of and then I will call it as I see it. I will sometimes say that I don't believe XYZ player is good enough but I never 'blame' them. They don't sign themselves and they don't pick themselves. Others make those decisions and others are responsible. Long way between here and there mind.

Can't really blame Chelsea yet. 🙂 For all I know I'm the only person on the planet who wants this, but I am utterly convinced he would be a huge success on the left. Has everything for the role.

Don't care. He has the attributes.

If the transfers we're all dreaming about come to fruition, then it looks like our current left backs will have done my work for me so no one will need convincing that Jasko Gvardiol should become our starting LB/LWB.

Plain and simple. And it didn't stop with the corruption of the bidding process. When people are forced by economic desperation to work in conditions which have cost thousands of them their lives, and this is done for the provision of entertainment, then I say not in my name. I won't be watching a single minute of this competition.

Agreed. I hope that Denis would have had a real squad role had TT stayed. Otherwise, it's hard to see what was behind this move. 🙂 If that were to be the case, it would be 'quite alarming' in the same way that the wings falling off the airplane you're on is quite alarming!

I think what @Vesper said, or at least implied, about Zakaria is correct. It seems that, for whatever reason, the club want shot of him in January and seem to be aware that Juve will not voluntarily agree to cancel the loan halfway through the season. One way out of this is that Juve can secure an alternative loan club for Denis after the world cup. If that's the scenario, then the two club per-season rule means we cannot play him 'even for one minute' as this would kill any chance of another loan. Another possible scenario is that there is an automatic break in the agreement if Denis does not play. This would still leave the mystery of why in that case does Denis keep being selected to the bench. Perhaps it's a signal that there is nothing wrong with him physically.

Thank you.

Great to see Omari training with the first team in the latest Trivago behind the scenes video.

A really encouraging factor in the calculation about whether to chase him or not. Do you remember if this the same Russian kid we were linked with previously? I watched some videos of that player and remember feeling that there was something there though I don't think I felt as positive as this. I'll take another look Very encouraging Very, very encouraging.

To be fair to the previous ones, they did try to buy Bellingham from Birmingham but he/his advisors were not interested. His actions then are part of what motivates my conviction that we won't get him. I was desperate that we should buy Bellingham but, when we and Utd tried to, he accepted an invitation to visit Carrington, but it was reported that he turned down the opportunity to look around Cobham. That was when Dortmund were the main competition. Now his options will be the best teams, and/or the biggest clubs, in the world. Our squad builders should make a pitch for Bellingham of course, but they shouldn't waste any emotional energy on the idea that we'd actually get him.

We won't get Bellingham.

I'm not too interested in Bruno. If we're chasing tough to get midfielders, I'd rather we try again for Lavia & De Jong.

Definite card.

I haven't seen the first half yet but listened to it on the radio. Sounded like we played well in the first 45. In the end we have the same players so we shouldn't expect miracles. 🙂

Hopefully Milan get a result tonight and settle top spot for us so the last game is a free hit. Mind you the €3m prize money for a win is something the club might want to earn regardless of whether we need the points or not.

Finished 1-0 Blues.

1-0 Chelsea Millie Bright. Great finish at the far post from a cross after a corner had been cleared.

The women start their Champions League campaign tonight away to PSG. It is free to watch now on YouTube:

I think the cup-tied rule was a good one. I'm old and like traditions but that rule is no more.

I agree that, on the face of it, Zakaria would have to get at least a look for us. The fact that he hasn't means that everybody's favourite theory about why he hasn't, is probably right: - Potter would like to bring in a different midfielder in January The budget won't allow him to do this unless he can move a midfielder out Denis is the player Potter is willing to sacrifice Juve do not want Zakaria back and will only take him if they can loan him elsewhere The two clubs per season (maximum) rule means that if Zakaria plays for us he can't then be sent on a second loan All of this makes Denis a victim of the Tuchel sacking. If TT had stayed, Denis would probably have played.

Hutchinson isn't giving me sure thing vibes like Reece was at age 18 but he's making encouraging progress and has a chance I'd say. I hope GP includes him in the squad for the League Cup game at City next month. Can't see Hutchinson getting a start but 10/15 mins would be good. I suppose that for him to get on we'd have to be comfortably ahead, or comfortably behind, but if Hutchinson just makes the trip, it'll be a start.