OhForAGreavsie

Then let's get working on that.

May not be good for Connor but it would give Ruben a chance I'd like to see him get.

He still is all of that but he simply has never been a consistent influence on football games. He sometimes shows a glimpse which keeps everyone hoping and waiting but it is not enough and never has been.

I don't think he ever really had much chance of making it because what's wrong with him is in his head and he's never given much hope that he would be able to fix it. Rubes has the tools but he simply does not influence games and never has. Seven or eight years ago someone asked me to rate the chances of Ruben and Jeremie Boga. I said that Jed was 50/50 but that Ruben had virtually no chance unless he got a huge kick up the backside and that that lesson sank in. I'm sure he's had the boot but if it was going to work it would have done a long time ago. In that same post I said that RLC would be lucky to get a gig in League One unless he changed. I hope, I really hope, he can do better than that but it's not certain. In fact I think he has to do better because he has to be able to contribute to a strong side. He does not have enough 'battle' in him to earn the trust of coaches at weaker teams.

I assume Kova is just a one game ban?

He was no more than average before it.

A few seasons ago I posted to say I thought it was time to allow Ruben to move on and find a new chance to make his name. I really don't think there is a reason to put off that decision any longer.

I love, love, love the fixtures against Tottenham. If they went down I'd laugh my head off, but then I'd miss the fixtures like crazy. I think you're allowed to laugh if we were to go down. In fact I doubt anything could stop you.

I wonder if you know how happy Blues like me are to have Leeds back where they belong? For us, Tottenham home and Tottenham away will always be priority fixtures numbers one and two but, after those, it's just brilliant to have the long running, and deep, rivalry with Leeds United resumed. It's been too long. Can't wait for the games to come around.

As I've been saying since before you were born; all goalkeepers make mistakes. All of them. Relatively regularly. It's a little bit like the non debate about small clubs getting worse decisions from referees than big clubs do. It is 100-percent not true. People just notice more and care more. Big clubs get plenty of dodgy decisions and big goalkeepers make big mistakes. For a club in the situation we found ourselves experiencing in recent seasons they are not difference makers. This is why, as I said it the time, there is absolutely no way that Kepa was worth £71m pounds more to Chelsea than Marcin Bulka. That deal was hugely misconceived. Anyway, it was a howler but much more important is the assessment that he looked bad all game. I didn't see it so can't comment but that of course is what you judge the keeper on, not on the fact this week it was his turn to make the mistake.

Why do you say marina is second the second most powerful executive at Chelsea. How do you know this?

Agreed

This is the problem with the rune reading exercise we call the transfer window. That's exactly what Chelsea would say if they were determined to keep him, and exactly what they'd say if they were determined to maximise his price from a sale.

I think this is a good move for Ethan. I have never believed in his talents as much as some do but, hopefully he'll earn game time and make a case for his Chelsea future.

Excellent reporting on an encouraging demonstration of the club's recruitment process.

👏

That'll do for me.

I haven't been this excited since Tuesday when CFCW signed Pernille Harder.

I'm sure Frank is going to want energy bunny pressing from the front four.

And the women's team has also signed one of the best players in the world along with one of the most promising young talents on the planet. Feels good.

I hope so.

He was very much second fiddle to Dembele when he was there previously.

I do not believe, and never have, that premium keepers are difference makers for struggling sides. Eden raised our level; I don't think any keeper would, or could, have done that. Premium keepers are cherry on the cake players. When you've put together your cake then perhaps go to town on a keeper but, when you are in a building phase focus the cash where you need it most. A good side with a bad keeper will always outperform a bad side with a good one. In fact the bad or ordinary keeper is invariably overrated when he's playing for a good side. My objection to Kepa was simply that I would not have spent that money on a keeper, no matter who he was. Going with Marcin, then upping the offer for Koulibaly instead could have seen us become a much better side over the past two seasons than we have been.

Even for any of them I think.

Would Marcin be on the bench behind our starting keeper? If no one was prepared to take a decision which, as pointed out at the time I made the suggestion, would have been a radical choice, we could have gone with an experienced short term goalie, and made it clear to Marcin that he was the heir apparent. That would have left us a far, far better situation than we find ourselves in now.