OhForAGreavsie

Have Joe Cole's fascinating comments during the CL final been discussed? Talking in praise of Roman, he said that it was the owner who bought Havertz and that Chelsea is, "A family run club." If anyone at Stamford Bridge noticed this admission Joe will probably get a reprimand but I take it as final confirmation that there is more than one Abramovich making decisions. The deal for the the left-sided German player we bought from Bremen launched my suspicion that Arkadiy was involved because it seemed to me that his skills would impress young football fans. I've forgotten the player's name but I don't criticise Arkadiy for being young at the time. He will be running the club one day so, if he did initiate that move, the experience of a failed transfer can only help him moving forward. Being experienced isn't about how old you are, it's about how much you've done.

Are we still officially in season 2020/21? Depending on whether we are or not this is either a late winner for sentence of the season, or an early contender that it's going to be very, very hard to beat. 🙂 Every one of the lad's professional coaches will have tried to teach him the basics of football. Tried and failed. Too late now for Adama to learn would be my take.

I think it's worth bearing in mind that when Traore arrives at a club everyone is initially impressed but before too long he's benched and not long after that his club is willing to listen to offers.

But those can't be the only alternatives.

Let's enjoy this while we can because come August it won't be true anymore.

His touch leading up to the goal was decisive. He likes those little touches and, in my opinion, is quite good at them. No matter who you are however they are going to miss a lot and will always be icing not bread and butter. Man City are made for Ben Chilwell. Playing them is always going to be more about defending than attacking and it is in the attacking phase that Ben frustrates most. Against them Ben isn't often receiving the ball with nine or ten opponents between him and the oppo's area, needing to make a positive pass or a positive carry. Odds are that our first opponents of next season will treat us the way Villa did last week and we're all going to spend the afternoon watching Ben pass to Jorgi or Rudi. I'd be willing to pay £60m, £70m or even £80m for a fullback but he must offer the full package; competent defender, high level technique, pace and TWO FOOTED. The evolution of the fullback has proceeded to a point where they are of critical importance. If such targets can't be identified, I'd be instructing the scouts to search among wide players for the characteristics we need.

How has Zakaria done this season?

I doubt it. Have some faith in Wonder Woman.

Well I've watched the whole match three times, including the live broadcast. Plus numerous versions of the highlights as well as reaction videos and interviews. Can't get enough. 🙂 Any advance on three?

Should have gone with crayon.

I can only hope this was a false flag operation perpetrated by fans of some other club. Sadly, we all know that our club suffers from enough supporters with moronic tendencies to make it at least probable that it was Chelsea fans who did this.

Roman is clearly as engaged as ever and TT says the board are aware of what he wants so incoming transfers seem inevitable. I just hope we apply a policy of absolute quality or nothing.

Plus now superseding Man City as the top ranked English club in next season's tournament and therefore claiming the 40% share of England's TV pool portion of the 21/22 CL prize money. A tidy night's work. Edit: As I was informed below by @King Kante, it is not the case that the European champions claim the top share of their domestic market pool.

SEVEN of the travelling squad have won FA Youth Cups with this club.

There's more than just that someone posted a whole list a few weeks ago. 🙂🙂🙂

5 out of 6. 1998. 🙂 Edit: Oops that's not 20 years. Maths is the first thing that goes when you're emotionally exhausted.

And has anyone lost more finals than us in that time? Could have been a lot more.

Kaiser Kaiser Kaiser Kaiser Kaiser

Keep talking, I need it. 🙂

He was in Gothenburg and never in doubt he would be in Porto.

Really happy to announce that at last I'm excited and nervous about this game. The feeling might not last long after kick-off but I'm enjoying it for now.

With you on Bellingham, who I wanted us to sign from Brum, and Gravenberch, who I learned of from your posts. I'm not sold on Camavinga however. More flash than substance in what I've seen so far from him.

Any transfer rumour which concerns a left back is interesting to me.

Do City still own Angelino? I thought he had left on a permanent deal this time. I always liked him but City fans didn't rate him and, as you know, I think the opinion of fans of the player's team is worth taking into account.

I made this sentimental mistake many decades ago. I was overjoyed when the club resigned The King in 1978. There wasn't a lot of money involved in that deal but Ossie had nothing, absolutely nothing, left to offer on the pitch. Though it took me a long time to admit that truth about my boyhood hero, the move was a waste of time for the club. I doubt Eden would be as bad on the pitch but even if it is a loan with Real covering some of his wages, the deal would still be expensive. I have to agree with everyone who says that there are better ways to use the money.