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This guy feels like Belotti 2.0. I wanted the Rooster more than Morata. He hasnt quite recaptured that magical season but we would definitely be better off with him rather than Morata right now. At least Belotti will fight for the team.

Sell Drinkwater and bring in Ramsey on a free? that is good business and a HG upgrade. Energetic player, comfortable in an attacking system with Arsenal. I would be all for it. @Superblue_1986 good point about Mount, but I think he would block RLC even more than he already is. I think Fabregas will move on at the end of his contract and I view Mount as his successor. Would fit right in that highest attacking midfielder role. If we manage to secure Kovacic long term then i think it will be either RLC or Ramsey(if he comes)

I tried to be irrationally positive in support of Morata. I have completely given up now haha he is just a total liaibility. We will have to splash cash in the market to fix the problem the same way we did with Kepa. I like Batsman, but its a big jump to rely on him next year with Giroud alone.

For those who wondered what Ampadu looks like in Midfield check him out in the wales game today. 1st half he has looked really good in the midfield role so far.

Same XI as last week, right now its our strongest (excluding Luiz, but i think he will play) Kepa Azpi Rudiger Luiz Alonso Jorginho Kante Kovacic Pedro Hazard Morata Most Likely Subs: Willian - Giroud - Barkley/RLC Bournemouth carry some threat but at the Bridge anything less than a victory would be a disappointment Prediction: 3-1 Goalscorers: Hazard, Morata, Kovacic

I worry for the opponent when Hazard & Kovacic are fully fit for 90'. Same lineup/strategy as Arsenal for me. Kovacic/Hazard come on early 2nd half to wreck the tired opponent.

Expecting the same starting lineup, only potential change would be Hazard for Willian. Never an easy game, but I am expecting a win.

Positive match for me, finally got the goal hes been working for. Glad to see he is building himself back up, all Chelsea supporters should be backing him. If he starts firing we are in business. Definitely more suited for Sarri than Conte. I feel another goal coming against Newcastle.

Don't forget about the speedy Bellerin overlapping on that side as well. We share the same concerns. Their weak spot is midfield and CB pair so if we press properly we should be able to control the possession and shut down their quick passing or at least force them into long balls which isn't their strength. Will be a strong test to see what areas of our team need improving.

Quick Example, then back to Kovacic I promise. An Article from Forbes describing an NFL contract. "For ease’s sake, take former journeyman quarterback Matt Flynn. The Seahawks signed Flynn to a three-year deal reportedly worth $19.5-million prior to the 2012 season. The contract contained a $6-million signing bonus, with two of the three years possessing a fully guaranteed base salary of $2-million per season. In all reality, Flynn inked a three-year, $10-million contract with the potential for the balance of the reported value based on the third year’s status as a non-guaranteed amount. To say NFL player contracts are team friendly would be an understatement, evidenced in this case by Seattle dealing Flynn to Oakland just one year into the deal. Since the Raiders elected not to restructure the contract negotiated in Seattle and acquired Flynn via trade, Oakland became liable for second season’s $2-million in guaranteed money. Mark Davis’ camp cut Flynn after the 2013 season and the former LSU quarterback, like the countless others every year in the NFL, did not see a dime of the remaining $9.5-million in the final year, or “contract year.”

Lets say someone signs a 4 year 50 million dollar deal. There will be a signing bonus, performance bonuses, and Salary. Not all of that Salary will reach the player unless he stays for the entirety of that contract or he is a massively important player, but if he were to get hurt in the 2nd year, NFL teams always find a way out from having to pay them. The first 100% guaranteed NFL contract was signed this off season for Kirk Cousins (Quarterback), only a quarterback would be able to get a fully guaranteed deal. But unless you're a super star or a Quarterback odds are your deal massively underpays you for the physical toll and once you get hurt, if its serious enough, the team will find a way to cut you and save money to the salary cap. Also, because there is so many cost controlled young players coming in each year with the draft, the average NFL career is like 3-5 seasons because the second there is a cheaper solution, the NFL teams go with it. Why pay a veteran Running Back 8 million when you can draft a new fresh young guy and pay him 1 million. Whereas in the NHL or NBA, the moment you sign all of your money is coming to you no matter what. An NBA player signs a 5 year 220million dollar deal, that entire amount is guaranteed. A hockey player this week signed an 8 year 50million dollar deal, no matter what happens to him he gets all of that money. (Also, NHL players make the least, NBA players make the most of any North American professional athlete) EPL Teams operate the same way as NHL/MLB/NBA

Being in North America, its been interesting lately. The violence and concussion issue is definitely messing with people but it is so ingrained in American culture(mainly middle/southern america) that they just churn out new players every year. The biggest thing is contracts are not guaranteed, so once a player becomes expendable he is gone. Especially with Trump going at the players for their protests and negative publicity its curious to watch their fall vs the rise of the NBA. Either way every NFL team is essentially worth 1B plus and are cranking out new stadiums, Americans don't care they just want their football.

He was highly rated and an important player for Roma before he got hurt, plus he is much faster than Alonso which is important for a Sarri fullback. Also has much better dribbling, Alonso obviously far superior on goals.

Chelsea seemed to have learned their lesson in regards to this, we have been putting lots of buy back options into the young player deals and selling them below potential market value. I would rather they operate like that, sell with Buy back option as opposed to the constant loaning and uncertainty.

Alonso was good in his Wingback role, he is still adapting to the fullback position and I think his physical limitations will hurt us against proper teams. During the first half while under pressure Alonso was consistently caught up the field while also never really presenting himself as an overlapping attacker. Perhaps its down to him not fully comprehending his role just yet, but he is extremely slow footed which will cause us issues with 4 at the back. I hope Emerson will establish himself as the first choice, if he does than we would not needed Telles, as of now though obviously has not.

Anyone else think Telles in January could happen if Alonso/Emerson are a weak spot?

I am on team CHO but Willian/Pedro looked good enough that I believe we will start the same lineup. I don't know when but Sarri is going to lose patience with Alonso and replace him. I know he drew the penalty on saturday but in the first half for me he looked terrible. Huddersfield didn't have the skills to hurt us, but arsenal will. He barely overlapped and played constant back passes. I could stomach him as Wingback but not as fullback, and also not as partner with Azpi as he was not attacking either. I don't know what Emerson is doing but he needs to make his case to start asap. That is my mini Alonso rant, he is so frustrating for me. But yes basically, Same starting lineup. Maybe Hazard will come on at halftime or 60' to cause some problems. I expect Kovacic on the bench but probably wont make an appearance unless it is the type Hazard just made at 75'-80' to get a run in. Both teams are adapting to new coaches and new styles, we seem to have adapted quicker but we all know Arsenal can be a tricky bitch. I am confident we can get a good result with the support of the home crowd.

I agree i am being too optimistic but at this stage but its all i/we can be. I think some of your points are fair, but the reason i am holding out optimism is we are adapting to a newer friendly striker style which will take time. at the beginning of last season we all were marveling at Morata, he started like he was shot out of a cannon. He has the talent inside and we have seen it, its all mental right now. If he stunk for the entirety of last year rather than just the 2nd half I would be right there with you. But basically he is who we have got, I am choosing to be extremely optimistic as I don't see the point in starting the season of in a negative mindset about a player who we absolutely need to perform. I believe in fresh starts, new manager - new season - new number. If he can get a goal in the next couple of games he might be reinvigorated and drop some weight from his shoulders. I understand majority of people won't agree with this, but I am just trying to believe in him for the sake of the team and him as a player. I try to always be logical but in his case I am going to throw(Edit:typo) it out the window for a month or two. Just gotta believe!

I disagree with the attitude point, I thought he showed a good attitude. He worked hard in pressing when he could and didn't have any limp falls. Obviously those of us who are trying to support him are grasping at admittedly weaker straws but he has to start somewhere. If we are still praising just his effort in a month than I will start to give up, until then I think we need to look for these little positives.

Agreed, the easy criticism will always be he didnt score. Once he gets one that should quiet it down for a bit. I thought he worked hard and had a positive game. There is obviously a massive confidence issue with him but as you said I didnt see any of those egregious fall downs. He ran hard and worked in the system, positive first game for me as well. The dude just needs a goal so damn badly.

Agreed, It was a decision he needed to make to show his intent. Once the games start coming fast and furious he will be playing alot and in a system that suits his skillset. He looked to move the ball forward a bit quicker than Barkley on saturday. Obviously came on when huddersfield was tired but still, if he can build a bit each time he is on the pitch thats a positive for the team. Talk about an overhaul of our midfield from weakness to strength.

I hope Sarri finally will replace Alonso with Emerson so when we are fully fit our left side is Emerson - Kovacic - Hazard. That is a pretty terrifying left side of skill, trickery, and pace.

Agreed, he probably wanted assurances that Sarri could not provide. The striker structure actually makes sense this way, all we need is Morata to pot a few goals so people believe in him. Morata as main starter for Prem games, Giroud as super sub, Tammy for Europa league and lower division cup games. Michy would have wanted Prem minute assurances. Sad to see him go as I thought he could have broken through, but its understandable. Plus the false 9 possibility as well which gets 3/4 of CHO/Hazard/Pedro/Willian on the field together as a different look.

I think false 9 will be a serious option. Pedro or Hazard can play in that role. Fluidity and flexibility across attackers is key for Sarri. He likes his forwards to drop deep anyways. Could mean more time for CHO on the wing as well.

Massive faith has been put in Tammy this year, lets hope he produces and shows he belongs!