DYC.

You can't do what you can't do.

Sweet goal.

Everton could get 50 mil out of this deal if this is true.

This is the way I see it. If the club is willing to pay £30+ mil for a young CB (mainly because of the English factor), I'd be disappointed if they aren't willing to pay £50-60 mil for a top offensive player or midfielder. But the thing is, we pretend like we know things but we know nothing. It's possible Chelsea did offer such amounts for top players, but those players (or the clubs in the case of certain players) said no. And if the the club pays £40 mil for Stones, you can be sure it will have an effect on the demands of future transfers. Personally I was hoping for players to join this window to immediate improve the quality of the first XI.

Otamendi is class. Lack of worldwide exposure playing for Valencia but you'll see if he joins City (damn them).

Kind of arrogant/naive to assume they'd all want to join Chelsea. As much as we fans go on about young players and their potential, we must remember there are no guarantees. If we were to go back in time five years, looked at the hottest talents of the time, you'd notice a large portion did not live up to the expectations. I'd say the majority even.

Who are these players?

Hazard would play at a higher level playing for Bayern, Barca etc. but Hazard will perform exceptionally anywhere. Because he has power and drive (added bonus of excellent fitness). Talents like Neymar, James, Pogba share that same quality, in addition to their individual ability. Isco doesn't have that so he's far more dependent on playing for a dominant outfit, providing him sufficient support and less ground to cover. I'm not saying he would fail, not at all, but I highly doubt he would shine. Oscar is a different player and a lesser talent, but he suffers from the same issue. He has the right attitude, with his selfless and hard-working nature, but he can't maintain his level. A full season wears him out. Silva is similar to Isco in this and I think Isco would make a fine succesor when he matures.

While I would like Isco and support his signing, because I think there is a desperate need for different (better actually) options, I don't think he suits Chelsea tbh. His talents wouldn't be utilized to the maximum and I can already imagine him being called inconsistent, a big game flop and general questioning of his attitude. Even though it's simply because his game is meant for a different type of football. If he were to leave Real, he'd be better off signing for City or Juventus.

This is very true.

Baba - Cahill - Terry - Azpi Revolutionary.

I guess. Playing alongside hard-working/energetic midfielders. It's quite sad how the most influential midfielder has such issues. He did change the way Chelsea play(ed). Hard to bench Cesc in big games, one of the top earners and a high profile player, and expect him to smile and remain highly motivated to squash the lesser sides. I think this is why Mourinho ignores those performances as long as the results are good enough. But what happens when the results aren't good enough anymore?

Play Musonda.

Surprisingly blunt. I can see the media milking this statement and attempt to spark 'a row'. Off - Where's the dude that said Zouma isn't the fastest and questioned his pace not too long ago?

It's that third season drama again. Such a mysterious phenomenon.

What about the offense? Hazard, Willian, Ramires... Add them to Azpi and Ivanovic and you have the worst collection of crossers ever. Oscar is probably the best crosser in the team and he's just decent. Baba to the rescue, I hope.

Again, it was an alternative for big games. Fabregas doesn't shine in his natural role, doesn't shine at #10. In fact, he struggles. So I suggested something new. At least his long range passing would come to better use, as well as his ability to start up attacks. This midfield issue has to resolved. We already know the midfield battle will be lost before it starts.

Of course. But it remains the area of the pitch for him to influence a game the most when the tempo is high or midfield is crowded.

Play him in the Pirlo role in big games or don't play him at all.

Did he add any kind of argumentation to that statement?

Batman.

He deserves to be benched for the next couple of big games. But the other options aren't good enough, to put it politely. Quite the dilemma.

Lost 3-0. 6-0 would've been fair. Begovic, you the man. Will we witness a panic buy?

This thread is going to be so much fun.

Haha. They brought a bag of salt with them as well.