OhForAGreavsie

When he was linked I watched video of him in Augsburg and was dead set against us signing him. Sadly, I was already an old git long before then. 😞

How is Adeyemi doing? Would really have liked us to pick him up. Nothing proven yet but outstanding technical skills so that's the best possible base from which to build a footballer. As for Bellingham we're not getting him. We have to take small steps and build our attractiveness to top players little by little. It's a process of multiple seasons.

Mando signs a new six-year deal. Great news. New deal for Broja | News | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com)

Thanks for the correction. I clearly misremembered the situation.

I don't think the facts bear this out. There is no guarantee they would have won that day had Gerrard not miss controlled the ball. The title was still in their hands after that game but they blew a lead at Crystal Palace and that was that. (Edit: This is wrong. I checked after @Jypecorrected me and found that City were level on points with Liverpool when Pool kicked off at Selhurst Park but the Manchester club's goal difference was nine goals better so the title was out of Liverpool's hands after we beat them. Better and better. 🙂)

We'll know by 1:00am I suppose.

Was shocked to read that they picked up Juan Larios from City today and for just £6m. Saw him play at Kingsmeadow last Friday night. Looks a real good footballer to me. Outstanding possession skills.

Never rated him. Things have gone better for him than I thought they would. I suspect it was the size of his contract that kept him in Paris this long.

Two years ago I'd have been very pleased with this but the fact that it hasn't worked for him at Juve is discouraging. Let's see what we see.

This in fact is often how the highest income people live. It's a tax mitigation measure.

A. It was clear watching him that he was not at the level suggested. B. For the first time in my life I came close(ish) to being an ITK. I was at the 21s EFL Trophy game vs Sutton last night. I sat in the main stand next to two members of the Chelsea communications team who were posting, tweeting and whatever else they do. Had a nice conversation with one of them at half time and shortly afterwards heard when they were notified that Xavier's move had been completed. Did I say closeish to ITK? Maybe closeish-ish. 🙂 P.S. Cesare Casadei played and was sent off for two yellows. He had a solid game though. Nice tight technique, good passing and likes going in to a challenge.

Then staying asleep is definitely your only chance of seeing it happen. 🙂🙂

You might have more chance of seeing it completed if you stay asleep. 🙂

Was also pleased when I saw a notification for an article which looks like it talks about us bidding for Nkunku. I didn't click it because what will be will be but that was another smile.

Let's achieve this week what we can achieve this week. 🙂

I cheered up a lot when I read this earlier.

Agreed and this is precisely the problem.

I have never supported the claims that Mason is an outstanding player. Referring to his contributions when we're in possession, my favourite phrase about him is that he nearly always nearly gets it right. Nearly, but not quite. Unfortunately I don't believe that we have anyone who can be relied upon to do a better job currently and it seems that, in saying this, I'm just echoing what TT is thinking.

Mason is in the can't be good without him, can't be great with him, category for me. We cannot afford to be without him at the moment but moving to a situation where we can should be a goal. It we are not cautious enough we can read all sorts of articles about the renaissance of RLC, or about how he has finally found his place in the Chelsea set up. All such articles ignore a stark reality in my view. Namely that Ruben is now a Chelsea regular because we became worse, not because he became better.

I was not the first person on the 'now is the time to sell N'Golo to maximise his value while ensuring that his output diminishes on someone else's payroll' bandwagon at the end of the season before last. It did feel however that, by the end of last season, I was the only person still there. If the club does not feel it can afford to let him go even still that's fine. I can accept it but I really want to see progress towards a more resilient squad which allows us to make strategic outgoing transfers in the not too distant future. As it is we are clinging to NG amid rapidly diminishing returns.

Thank goodness for CFCW. Already had a great transfer window and it may not be done since one of the standout players at Euro '22 is making it plain to PSG that she wants to move to Chelsea. While the CFCM squad is woefully inadequate, last season's double winning CFCW group has been significantly strengthened, whereas CFCM struggles to attract players, CFCW has a lot more pull in the market.

Was a bit worrying on Saturday that, with players flagging having played with ten men for the best part of an hour and Kai having a generally ineffective game, Mando still didn't get off the bench.

I'm on tour guide duty for some visiting family over the next few days. Maybe I'll bump in to Frenkie. 🙂

Or even Liverpool, not to mention they they might simply be taking a break. Is anyone big gigging in London over the next couple of days? Whatever the truth the mill spinners are having a ball. 🙂

Given a break by Xavi so the story goes.