El P.

We've done it only with Morata I think, all others were already presented and signed before announcement, as I recall.

Really pleased. Transfer window is just becoming from bad to ok-ish. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

This was stuff of champions, well done!

Weird thing is - he wasn't involved in our trainings from 2 months ago, even before United rumors started to kick in . I assume even then he said to the club that he wants out and knew his old pal Jose is interested, but offer wasn't on the table. I don't believe that club just froze him out like that, with no offers at the table, it gotta be something he initiated. So... Should've he been sold? Yes. Should've he been sold until proper replacement is secured? No. Let's move on, what's done is done. It's a decent fail, but we can still fix it.

A lof of promising players, a lot of work to do ahead of us. Maybe some of you see this season as 2015/16, but I don't. I see it as 2013/14, first Mou season. Season of integrating, working on our squad and season of chances for a various of players.

I agree, it's not this game that is problem. Next game is, we have no players to play in midfield. It's not MATIĆ per se, it's any decent midfielder, we have none, bar Kante.

He has nothing number-nine-ish in himself. In some odd game he can score wonders, but week-in week-out, he just can't. Not a number 9, not anything near. It will maybe be better for himself to reinvent in second-striker, to work on his dribbling, speed etc. Just can't see him as a striker.

This is why Matić's transfer was problem. When we sort our squad shit out, Premier league will be long gone. Hope those who wanted Matić out ate their words. Who will play against Spurs, Chelsea U19?

I am out of the words, my God! This defeat would be so bad if it wasn't for his performance!

Difference is - Drinkwater wouldn't be this "alternative" player who comes from the bench to mix things up, like Fabregas is. I think Drinky would start more games than Fabregas, actually. Cesc would collect more apps, but because of coming in game later from the bench. Yes, Fabregas could pass the ball better, he is maybe the best passer around. Drinky is good passer, but his overall game is much better than Cesc's. He is a great runner, he is good defensively, he is not a pushover, and is somewhat faster and stronger than Cesc.

We will not win EPL or UCL trophies this season, except if miracle happens. Nor should we. And we should be aware of that. Yes we said that last season too, but we can't do that kind a thing twice. We should aim for squad developing and integrating young long-term options in our squad, Bakayokos and Moratas. We've won 2 Premier leagues and one CCup in last 3 years. We should be satisfied with trophies and give this squad proper time to evolve. Let's establish this 3-4-3 and create machine of it. Let's work so we can at the end of 2017/18 say: this squad is ready! There are a lot of changes, some important players left us, Costa, Matić and our captain Terry. And we are still a team that finished 10th season ago, don't forget that. That wasn't "one off" year. This Premier league title, in season when we overachieved with our games, with no European football and no injuries, maybe got some of us thinking that we are close to top tier clubs. Well, we are far from it, and I doubt anything board could've had done this summer would rise us to that level, or close to that level, because there were so many gaps at the team. Too many. Lot of work ahead of us, I will settle myself for top 3 in PL and UCL knock-out phase. But let's finally develop this squad to the fullest.

3 weeks left in transfer window. If we get one CMF, one LWB and one RWB Conte has no reason to be unsatisfied. That's all what we need. Yes, he didn't got players at a perfect time, but hell, it wouldn't be problem that much if our best player and Bakayoko weren't injured. We had a hard summer, we could've done better, but Costa circus and Matić wanting to leave really didn't help. We can still make ourselves a decent situation, just let's f**king dig in and get things done - sooner the better!

Good target, yes please, this week if possible.

Matić left Bale alone in the box in first 10 mins and he almost scored, and was also at fault for second goal when he fell over and left Isco unmarked. Lukaku missed a sitter. Hope they continue like that.

"We sold Matić, 40 millions for a 29yo who is declining, it's good business." And now, reported 37 millions for this guy. Can't believe we got ourselves in this situation, would take him now of course, but only cause we are desperate and have no so much choice.

No one prefered "nice" striker, we just wanted normal striker. Maybe NICER than Costa (not hard to be), but not Kante-nice striker. Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

He fits our system better than any other creative midfielder - he is tactically very mature and does a lot of dirty work. And no, he is not too short - you actually expect from a player like Verratti to be short, there are rarely some tall midfielders which are THAT good technically. But not from a player like Kante, there is where our problem lays. It would be stupid not to buy Verratti if there is a chance, only because he is too short. He is even worth of changing our system to 4-3-3, you know, just dump Moses and play Azpi on the right.

Great price! He is too old? Look at the bigger picture - we "sold" Ivanović, Terry, Costa, Matić, "bought" Moses, Rudiger, Morata and Bakayoko. We are actually really really good, age-wise. One 30 year-old means nothing.

MOSES Speed 8/10 Crossing 5/10 Ball control/Close control 7/10 Stamina 9/10 Shoot 6/10 Body strength 8/10 Bonuses - not bad in the air for a winger. CANDREVA Speed 7/10 Crossing 8/10 Ball control/Close control 8/10 Stamina 8/10 Shoot 8/10 Body strength 7/10 Bonuses - good with weaker foot, can take good free kicks. Conclusion - Moses is physically stronger, faster, Candreva on the other side has much better technique. I would take him for reasonable price. EDIT: Considering that we certainly won't bring some technically gifted midfielder, I think Candreva actually fits us a lot better than Moses. EDIT 2: Have read about him a bit more, his crossing isn't THAT good, lowered it to 8. (I know it looks like I just c/p this from PES or FIFA, but that's not the case, I know both players, and I checked some statistics of course.)

I'm impressed. If Pedro/Hazard could be soon fit, I don't see a need for another RWF/LWF. Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Musonda and Boga. Michy/Morata at the worst case scenario could play there too (hope not Morata ofc). Sounds good.

Backups are not so relevant if United have fit and "integrated" Pogba and Herrera, City KDB/Silva/Fernandinho, Spurs have Dembele and Wanyama (they are very thin on the bench, yes, but they are not spending, neither winning trophies). They can afford backups like that. And I don't want us to be like Arsenal and Liverpool, they are shit so let's not compare ourselves with them. Arsenal with Ramsey/Xaka/Coquelin/Ox/Eleny/Wilshere/Cazorla are not bad actually. Not so good, but not bad either, I rate that midfield same as ours currently, or even more than ours. What do we have? Kante, who is great, but without someone better with the ball alongside him isn't that much. It isn't defensive part of the midfield game that is mostly our problem, it's offensive/midfield controlling. I think having good backup NOW, in Chelsea, is way more important than in other teams. We sold our long time servant, and bought some unfit player which is still unproven. It could be months before he becomes good for us. Having Pogba, and Carrick for his replacement is awesome, Fellaini for Matić. Hell they can even easily switch to 4-2-3-1 and place Mata as number 10. Having KDB/Silva and Gundo for a replacemant is also awesome. City could also play their fullbacks as CMs, you know Pep.

Yes, in all other clubs they can have 1-2 quality back ups, but not in Chelsea. All other clubs can convince their players to stay and sometimes, from time to time be squad players, but not in Chelsea (except Fabregas, for obvious reasons). Not need to mention that Drinkwater would make our midfield something like Stoke had 3-4 seasons ago. We earned A LOT, if you look at the net spend and consider about 40 mils for Costa, we didn't spend shit. We should frickin invest it. Alonso - Drinkwater - Kante - Moses is a midfield for a mid-bottom of a table. We got away with something like this last season, but it will get exposed, and it will be bloody. With Bakayoko's fitness level question and team integration question (still young, somewhat unproved etc) still in the air, who are we to say that this wouldn't be our first choice for a midfield?

Well, I don't agree with this. It's not like Baka MUST be his replacement. Baka and Matić could rotate too, even Kante. I think we could've pulled this: Bakayoko, Kante, Cesc, Matić. 4 competitions, Cesc can play upfront sometimes. But it is what it is now...

This is exactly why I questioned Matić's departure. Not glad that I was probably right. Maybe we will not eventually get this guy, but our targets are clear - no one from them is better than Matić.

Hope he places either Moses or Cahill on the bench. Most likely it would be Moses. Liked what I saw from him, could be really good in this 3-man defence.