OhForAGreavsie

Given that it seems to have been established that Emerson isn't any kind of an answer, I'd say go bold and go for Ian. Not that I'm saying Ian is ready to be a long term answer but if it's a choice between those two I'd prefer the Dutchman.

Would you suggest loan or attempt to sign him permanently?

I agree in that the angles, particularly to Lukaku, looked better after they had developed a step or two beyond when Mas took the strike. Even so Mason didn't hit the target either. Were this an isolated example it would be irrelevant. It isn't isolated however. Time and again in the key moments he gets it wrong. By their nature these situations are not 100% expected conversions but Mason's conversion rate is way too low in my opinion. It would be nice to say that he nearly always gets it right but the truth is that he nearly always nearly gets it right. The crowd might oh and ah but there are no prizes for nearly getting it right.

Mason just doesn't get it right often enough.

It's obvious that the club should be consistent in the way it treats its players. So obvious that a five year old will spot it. Given that the people in the Chelsea decision making chain are over 5, educated, experienced and successful it's clear that whatever is obvious to us here, is also blindingly obvious to them. This being so it is obvious that there is some other reason behind the fact that Chris is being treated differently to Toni. We don't know, and may never know, what that reason is but there is a reason for it.

As usual Mason nearly, but only NEARLY, gets it right. He is not the answer for us. We need a player who offers Mason's energy combined with more precision in key moments.

Interesting. I'll look at some vids but would he leave Barca? Probably have to wait till I'm sober though. Been at the port. Merry Christmas to you all.

I've made the same observation about Ben's right foot. I cannot for the life of me understand why any professional footballer should be one footed. Many, many times in every game the ball will be moved across the back and end up with the FBs/WBs. Too often, and not just in Ben's case, they are forced to ignore the good passing angle available with their weaker foot and have to play a conservative pass with their good foot instead. This annoys me more than anything in football most especially in Ben's case since in his debut he did actually make good use of his right foot quite a few times.

You've got me there. I know @Vesper likes Theo Hernandez but these days I'm not watching enough non Chelsea football to really have a valid opinion. I will observe that in highlight reels he sometimes looks more about the power than the finesse to me. I'm sure someone will probably put me straight on that. This is the point of disagreement between us I think. Generally I have not been impressed and I believe a reading of forum comments about him would show that across his CFC career to date people here have raised questions about him. Indeed I think it is 'lucky' for Ben that this injury came at the back of a purple patch and so the short-term memories of him are positive.

Isn't it amazing how much better a player gets when he's out injured and can't play? Anyway I agree with you; if we sign a left back it needs to be an upgrade on both of our current options.

I agree this is accurate but what you said before was not. As ever with negotiations it depends on where the power lies.

Here lies the problem. There were voices warning against signing Shevchenko, Marrin, Torres, Lukaku and others but our decision makers did not agree. There has been, in my opinion, an immaturity about our transfer business, preferring the shiniest over the the thing of true value. If our decision makers are unable to learn they will keep repeating the same expensive errors.

This is exactly what I argued against previously and I simply do not believe it. You are buying the Liverpool propaganda. I am not. You fundamentally misunderstand this. Buyers and sellers can always negotiate on any aspect of a transfer, IF THEY WANT TO. Of course a seller will start by insisting on the clause but if there are no takers, and circumstances are such that they want to sell for whatever reason, they will do a deal. Same fundamental misunderstanding as above. Clauses are only words on paper. Clubs can always set them aside IF THEY WANT TO.

I warned people not to buy that nonsense about Liverpool being unable to afford Timo. I warned that it was simply that they didn't want to afford him, and that if they felt he was worth the money they would have found it. I further warned that we are not a preferred destination for players who are in high demand. That if a supposed top player wants to come here it's because he is in fact not wanted by any club he would prefer to join. The implication of these facts is we should not spend big money on supposed stars. We just get fleeced for players who, in reality, are at least one rank down. Instead we need to identify the great players before they establish themselves. Very hard. Even harder now than it was when we found KDB and Moh Salah but it's still our best plan.

Tosh.

This is nonsense. I think we can take it for granted that he isn't updating his social media during training sessions so what the heck does it have to do with his fitness?

The lads and lasses are singing the Ossie song. Love to hear it.

Rom is right to have said what he said and to have worded it strongly. I only wish he had worded it more strongly. Racists won't be cured by hastags or social media commentary. They think what they think but society needs to impose penalties when they air those views in situations where they shouldn't. It's just a personal opinion but, in an academic, or debate, situation people should be allowed to spew their vile opinions if they wish but a football ground is private property. There are terms and conditions which must be adhered to if we want to gain entry. Serious consequences should always follow for anyone who who breaches those Ts&Cs..

Are you ruling out the possibility that all complaints are valid, i.e. none of our strikers quite fits the bill?

There is also another aspect. They are bolstering their future negotiating position. When they they come to this point with Bellingham or Adyemi (assuming they will be signing him next year) potential buyers will know they mean to stick to their guns.

So the golden boy is a girl. Life eh?

Everyone in the Bundesliga seems too accepting of Bayern's de facto monopoly.

Yes, I've always liked Mando but I'd like to have Ademyi too.

Good fixture for Eden's second debut. 🙂

Brilliant strategy by Dortmund to establish themselves as a preferred destination for up and coming talent. It gives them a competitive team and a highly profitable transfer operation. Yet again they get a young player many would have loved to see at Chelsea.