DYC.

Courtois Aina Chalobah Terry Azplicueta Kante Fabregas Willian Cuadrado Costa Hazard Begovic; Cahill, Ivanovic; Matic, Oscar; Pedro, Batshuayi

Our Modric? Never. More like a lesser version of Barca Rakitic if he's lucky. How wrong I was on him it seems. Thought he'd become class. That goal vs Juve will forever remain one of the very best goals I've seen. It was mind-blowing. At least I'm in the company of Mourinho and Conte haha.

Good luck to him. Likable dude. He's done at Chelsea though. Unless he scores 30+ in the league and wins Ajax CL football vs Rostov to then go on and impress in the competition.

I love how managers love Oscar. I kind of understand it (understood it more in the past but the level of his performances have regressed since 2015 for me) but it must eat at many fans haha. The ultimate example of a manager's player. Whatever that means.

Duff was a 24-year-old PL proven player joining the nouveau riche. Gudjohnsen was a highly talented 21-year-old (not elite talent but Chelsea was a different level club at the time). Joe Cole was reincarnation of Gascoigne and Lampard was a young and quality PL player (WHU and Sunderland aren't comparable btw). Cech was a huge talent and Hasselbaink was a goal-scoring machine. Completely different case compared to Lorient and Sunderplayer who's almost 28. What are the odds of a player who's been playing at that level for so long to all of sudden become Chelsea level player? Come on, Tomo. Nothing is impossible and all that crap but this would have Ben Haim and Djilobodji written all over it (similar things were said about Djilo btw haha). He'd be lucky to be Cahill level and I've always been one of Gary's biggest critics.

When did Conte become a fan?

How has Oscar shot so high up the ranks latey? I've even seen him in more than a few make a wish line-ups. Did he really perform that well in pre-season (can't be bothered with friendly football so I wouldn't know)?

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Don't like Chelsea's centre midfield options. Really don't like Chelsea's defensive options. Offensive options are pretty good. Don't know the point of this post but I wanted to throw it out into the internet realm.

Only on the cheap. Taking a City reject looks bad enough (different if it's a big talent or a proven top player before moving to the club) and giving them more spending power would only make it worse. I'm convinced Mangala is better than the current CB options, bar Zouma. Conte would get more out of him than Pellegrini I think. But not a real upgrade and Zouma provides similar qualities. Mangala-Zouma for now and two out of Christensen, Zouma and Mangala next season wouldn't be bad. But more as a desperate move at the very end.

Pique and Boateng were at a similar stage of development under Guardiola and both progressed immensely. The same could happen with Stones. This does not have to be a problem if Chelsea bring Christensen back (a mistake not bring him back this summer imo). Guardiola starting to shape the team in his vision. Fullbacks don't look like his type though. And centre midfield is still a bit underwhelming, his most crucial line.

Be wary of their threat but you can't be intimidated by the likes of West Ham. Might as well make yourselves up for a top 7 finish challenge if you are.

You just know Real/Perez is going to break the transfer record again. Can't have Utd possessing the most expensive player. The question is on who? Funny thing is I'd pay more for Verratti (his fitness is a bit of a problem though) than Pogba but he's not spectacular and marketable enough. It would have to an offensive player. As hard as they might try, they won't get Neymar. I doubt it's going to be Hazard, unless he scores 20+ goals in the league and 30+ in all competitions. Maybe trying to force a controversial move for Griezmann? Anyway, as mad as this deal is, the Higuain transfer is more ridiculous than this one. And I think those transfers will trigger other silly money deals (Stones for example).

I'd take Mahrez but I don't think he can replicate last season's form and heroics. I think Mahrez enjoyed one of those seasons in which everything he touched turned into gold. The type of season you look back to and go 'remember that year when Mahrez crushed the league'. Comparable to Nani in 10/11. Still a good player though. If he does join, I obviously hope I'm completely wrong about him.

Imagine Chelsea caving and paying over the odds, much to the delight of fans everywhere, and he turns out to be Luiz's brother. I understand the desperation of many supporters but you also have to remember this isn't Godin, Chiellini or Boateng we're talking about. As in defenders who have been performing at a high level in elite football for multiple years. If the club isn't willing to just fork out silly money for him, that's perfectly understandable. I'd love him to join and would take the risk because of the current situation in the centre of defence (though realising he could easily fail to live up to the expectations), but I won't lose my mind if the club simply isn't willing to to pay stupid money. I just hope they are working on a deal for plan B and C as well because not having alternatives would be incredibly dumb.

Seriously? Out of that list of players only Sanchez, De Bruyne and Payet are comfortably better and Payet has to show he can keep this up. Mahrez and Mkhi both reached a level Willian has never touched last season, agreed, but they were nobodies prior to 15/16 (Mkhi was decent at best before Tuchel). Martial is highly talented but has a lot to prove still, needs to find that consistency. Eriksen is on a similar level. Coutinho, no. Just no. Would always pick Willian over him in my team. Mane, Lamela, Sane and Sterling... Haha, that's just funny. And I say that as a Sane fan. He's all potential at the moment. Have to agree with that final part though. That would be nice (good luck finding that world-class option on the right though). That said, Willian is the least of Chelsea's problems.

Cristiano is a decent #9 at best for me.

Oh, come on. I know you don't like him but he's anything but average. Not world-class or anything but a very good player if he picks up his 2015 form.

Worst case scenario, Pogba just paved the way for a 100+ mil transfer. Cash money.

I don't enjoy saying it but yeah. He's done nothing at first team level. This 'immense potential' talk I just don't understand. Needs a loan. Has been in need of one for a while.

That will depend on the interest. He said he's not interested in going back to France so no PSG. Leaves you with Real and Barca. Don't think Barca will be in the market for a (left) winger for a while. Ronaldo is still going strong so Real isn't very likely. Though you never with Real. I'm excluding Bayern because they won't pay the fee. He might be around for longer than we think.

Oh Eden, I never stopped loving you and I never will. Good times, bad times, the affair will never end. Now please produce a top season because this team will need it.

Looks like Raiola has found a new haven btw. Mhki, Zlatan and Pogba are all his players. Can't say I fault Utd for teaming up with him in their position.

Did not think this was gonna happen. Undoubtly a good signing in terms of quality. The money though. Barely know what to say. You used to pay top top fees for top 5 players. Now you pay for potential. Gambles. Don't think Pogba will go on to become as dominant as a Zidane or Iniesta but we'll see. I wonder how he'll fit in the 4-2-3-1 system. Playing Pogba in the pivot is a waste of his talents, especially under manager who doesn't employ attacking tactics. But yeah, Utd will be interesting for at least a little while.

Sucks, really? Pogba, Schneiderlin, Herrera, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini is not great but far from bad for two positions (a bit much though, maybe one will leave). People used to wank over Schneiderlin like they did with Kante last season. I never agreed with the level of praise he received but I do think he's a good player. I can imagine him playing a lot better under Mourinho than he did for Van Gaal. And I must be one of the few people who actually thinks Herrera is a good player. Good passer, good ball control, good engine, clever, hard worker. I like him. That's if they get Pogba though. I doubt they will.