Vesper

I can easily see him getting the job on a perm basis as ZERO chance (or near zero) ZZ will come to England (well to Manchester at least (as it is a shithole to live in), I think Roman, could, perhaps, long down the road, convince him to come to London MAYBE, especially if we had a new stadium for him to use as another recruiting tool, and that is only OF we wanted him, which is very iffy I will admit, as the time frame I am talking about is LONG (ZZ will likely become the France national team manager I wager, or PSG boss) and many other manager options will be there by that time) I am not sold on Poch as a world class manager, sorry, especially for huge club full of huge egos like Manure will have (look at his struggles with PSG, he is even less effective running them than Tuchel was, especially at first)

Mendes is the real deal, in 2, 3, 4 years he is going to easily be a top 5 LB on planet well, it is looking like we roll with what we have and I REALLY think we should give Saul a test run at LWB, I think before we panic and recall the youngster Maatsen I have a bit more faith in Alonso (surprisingly as I have bashed him on occasion over the years) than some on here, BUT (a huge but) he always runs out of steam when he is played game after game we need to make a move in the summer for Theo (hard pull), Chiesa (hard pull., 2nd option would be Mikel Oyarzabal, 3rd probably Hirving Lozano), Maxence Lacroix (especially if Rudiger bounces, which looks around 70-75% likely atm) with Skriniar 2nd option (and a must IF AC bounces as well), Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Christopher Nkunku (Florian Wirtz 2nd option, Carlos Soler 3rd) Ridle Baku would be the best RWB option (and plays winger too) with Matty Cash as 2nd choice dream down the road signings would be Jude Bellingham and Barella (hard pull, but he is as close to what Kante is as is out there) as usual, many on my wish list are Serie A and hard to pull, but I only puck who I think are the best even remotely possible players

yes, he is like an Alonso clone but pacier what about another LB I have floated in the past? Ramy Bensebaini we are really running gout of options here after Theo the drop is insane in terms of actually available ones, and like I said, zero chance Theo leaves AC Milan in Jabauary here is a wild card I would like your opinion on too, and another Bundesliga (ex Bundesliga in this case), player Abdou Diallo I think he would be potentially a great but, BUT, will PSG sell him in January? I think they MIGHT (for high price) as they have FOUR 'starting quality' (for most teams for sure) left backs on their roster Nuno Mendes Abdou Diallo Juan Bernat Layvin Kurzawa Diallo is also VERY experienced (more so in a way) as a CB again great size (1.87m) pace and obviously is left footed

we owe them a right proper battering

do you think we should move in January for Borna Sosa? Stuttgart are shit and going nowhere

we want to buy a 16yo (just turned) Swedish winger http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2021/11/25/transfer-news-Chelsea-rival-barcelona-for-roony-bardghji/ Chelsea have expressed serious interest in FC Copenhagen’s youth sensation Roony Bardghji, who is also a target for Barcelona, Bayern Munich. A recent report from the Danish news outlet, BT, has offered a detailed update on the future of Roony Bardghji. The FC Copenhagen youngster has emerged as one of the most sought-after prospects in the Danish Superlig and is now a subject of interest for major clubs across Europe. It appears Chelsea had sent their head of youth recruitment, Jim Fraser, to Copenhagen earlier this month to keep an eye on Bardghji. They intend to sign the youngster for free before loaning him out to FC Copenhagen for a couple of years. As he is under 18 years old, he can fall under the “homegrown” quota, thus making him a valuable target for the English giants. Chelsea were believed to be interested in the services of Bardghji during his time at Malmo’s youth academy. However, the winger ended up joining the Copenhagen academy last summer, a move that was worked out wonderfully well for the player, who has recently made his Superlig debut, at the age of just 16. Indeed, Bardghji was recently given his maiden start in the recent league game against Aarhus GF, with the youngster even producing a Man of the Match display in the 1-1 draw. His explosive style of play has attracted admirers from all over Europe, with many keen on getting their hands on the young Swede, who was born in Kuwait and has Syrian heritage. In addition to Chelsea, Barcelona are also interested in the services of Roony Bardghji. The Catalans are expected to enter the market for quite a few youngsters after the appointment of Xavi, having seen youth talent like Ansu Fati, Gavi, Pedri and Nico Gonzalez succeed at Camp Nou recently. Speaking of Chelsea, they have lost a few of their academy gems in the summer transfer window, including Lewis Bate, who joined Leeds United. Hence, the addition of a star talent like Roony Bardghji could go a long way in reinforcing their youth department that has already produced a host of quality players in recent years. Copenhagen, though, have no intention of giving up their talented asset and may offer significant resistance in an effort to keep hold of him for at least a couple of years.

I am wary of most LIGA NOS players

one other recall option Levi Colwill left footed CB who also plays LB (deffo not a regular at LB though) great size (1.87m) and pacey Why Levi Colwill is Chelsea's next big thing https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2021/09/why-levi-colwill-is-chelseas-next-big-thing This summer has seen a mass exodus of Chelsea academy graduates from the club. Valentino Livramento, Lewis Bate, Dynel Simeu and Myles Peart-Harris have all left the club on permanent deals, as have Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham, while the likes of Faustino Anjorin and Armando Broja have departed on loan moves. Another player who has gone out on loan this season is Levi Colwill. The 18-year-old has joined Huddersfield Town on loan for the 2021/22 season, in a move similar to the one the aforementioned Tomori made to Derby County in 2018/19. He is rated extremely highly amongst the Chelsea set-up, but who is he? What position does Levi Colwill play play? Colwill is a central defender by trade. He is capable of playing in a back four or a back three, and features on the left-hand side due to his favoured left peg. He can also fill in at left-back if needed. How good is Levi Colwill? Both Tomori and Marc Guehi left the club permanently this summer, with Chelsea happy to let the pair leave, in part thanks to the emergence of Colwill. Xavier Mbuyamba is also a young defender in the academy, signed from Barcelona, and has begun training with the first-team which is a sign of how highly the Blues rate him. However, Colwill is arguably the player Chelsea hold in highest regard in the academy. Recently called up to the England U21 squad, having been promoted from the U18s, Colwill has hit the ground running for Huddersfield in the Championship, and has well and truly taken to senior football like a duck to water. He's played every minute of the Terriers' league campaign so far, helping them pick up a crucial victory over Sheffield United by scoring a 94th minute winner in front of the travelling away fans. Not only that, but he's been assured when defending, and has certainly deserved the recognition from the England set-up. Colwill is simply outstanding. Watching even a highlight reel shows the talent he has, and the fact he stands out playing senior football at 18 testifies to this. A left-footed centre-back, Colwill's body positioning is excellent on the ball, and by playing on the left of a centre-back pairing, he opens the pitch up. Many teams use two, or even three, right-footed centre-backs, and this sometimes limits the passing lanes and possibilities for playing out the back. Colwill's strong left-foot negates that issue, and it allows Huddersfield to build through the thirds easily on the left-hand side of the pitch. His vision is truly exceptional for a defender, and he frequently breaks the lines with his passes. Of course, these risky passes don't always come off, but his immense technical prowess means he rarely gives the ball away. In Huddersfield's 4-0 win over Reading, Colwill completed a huge seven long balls, with his switch of play crucial to the first goal. A simple five-yard pass to a fellow defender is an option that many centre-backs take, look at Caglar Soyuncu and Daniel Amartey against West Ham, but Colwill often looks beyond the easy option, and it helps Huddersfield progress up the pitch far quicker. Of course, this doesn't always work, but he'll improve with experience. Colwill's ability on the ball is perhaps best shown by his tally of 1.2 dribbles per 90. Coming from centre-back that is almost unheard of, and ranks him third of all centre-backs in the division. It's that drive from the backline that attracts attention to Colwill, and he often has the presence of mind to wait until the last moment, after sucking two or three players towards him, before releasing a pass which creates a pocket of space for his teammates. This is something he regularly did for Chelsea's youth teams, and it's something he's continued with almost effortless ease in the Championship. Colwill is a fairly front-footed defender, meaning he quite often opts to make a challenge rather than stall his opponent. This works most of the time, but as mentioned earlier, his defensive nous will only get better with age, and the few times he gets caught out of position will soon be rectified. Speaking to Goal recently, Colwill revealed how close friend Jamal Musiala, and the success he has had, is pushing him to achieve his goals. He said: "We played for the same Sunday team [City Central FC], and we went up together for our Chelsea trial. We have just done everything together. "We keep in touch still now and he is a good mate. It is amazing to see what he has achieved so far. It gives me goosebumps every time because I have been through everything he has been through, all that grind. "To see what he has done now is inspiring and it shows me what is possible. If I keep working hard, I know I can achieve what he's done." Colwill follows a fairly long line of Chelsea loanees to end up at Huddersfield, but he might well be the best of the lot. His central defensive partner Naby Sarr recently revealed in a press conference that "Colwill looks like he's been playing professionally for 10 years already, and he's only 18. "He has everything to play for, he'll be a big player." With 3.0 aerial wins per 90, Colwill ranks second in the Huddersfield squad, which shows he's more than prepared to do the dirty work in addition to his aesthetically-pleasing passes. To fit seamlessly into a competitive senior team is no mean feat, but Colwill is proving week-in, week-out, why he is viewed as the next big thing to come out of Cobham, and why Chelsea were happy to let both Tomori and Guehi go. He's still raw, of course, but the early signs are that Colwill is a special, special talent. Still just 18, Colwill won't be trusted in the Chelsea first-team just yet, but Thomas Tuchel certainly holds him in high regard. With Jules Kounde on Chelsea's radar, added to the talent already available at centre-back, it may be a few years before Colwill is handed a starting berth at the club.

Azpi at LWB is capitualation I say NO NO NO to recalling Emerson recall Maatsen perhaps (and Maatsen has had a decent growth spurt and is now up to around 5 feet 8 inched tall, so not a dwarf anymore) or use Saul there plus Alonso AC Milan will never sell the only truly great left-footed LB out there who is even remotely available (Theo) in January Spinnazzola (one of only two great right footed LB's along with Cancelo) is too much of risk to buy in January, as he is still not close to being fully recovered from that Achilles rupture, look how long it took CHO and RLC to fully recover (way over a year for each, especially RLC) only other option I would be ok with exploring is Borna Sosa

big difference between a Tuchel bombing LWB and a Simeone grinder LB role he is deffo worth a try there

Chelsea defender set to sign contract extension – Agreement now ‘imminent’ http://sportwitness.co.uk/Chelsea-defender-set-sign-contract-extension-agreement-now-imminent/

21:00 - 22:45 | CET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | ATLÉTICO MADRID VS MILAN – S4

21:00 - 22:45 | CET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | LIVERPOOL VS PORTO – S1 21:00 - 22:45 | CET CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | SHERIFF VS REAL MADRID – S3

2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Group Stage Manchester City Paris Saint-Germain http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2021/champions-league-manchester-city-vs-psg-s2/ https://www.totalsportek.com/football/ucl8/man-city-vs-psg-match/

2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Group Stage Internazionale Shakhtar Donetsk http://www.sportnews.to/sports/2021/champions-league-internazionale-vs-shakhtar-donetsk-s5/ https://www.totalsportek.com/football/ucl8/inter-milan-vs-shakhtar-donetsk-match/

well don't blame me, I have wanted Theo Hernandez at LB/LWB for ages, lol and if he had not blown out his Achilles in the Euros, we very likely would have Leonardo Spinazzola there anyway (and he can play either side, he is one of those very rare right footers who is, like Cancelo, better a as LB than a RB)

they are now missing their best CF, Sardar Azmoun (injured), and their best CB Dmitri Chistyakov (red card suspension) they are Brasilian (4) and one Colombian heavy (in bold, half of their 10 outfield players), so that cold ass weather is not THAT much of a huge advantage GK Stanislav Kritsyuk CB Dejan Lovren 32yo and slow CB Yaroslav Rakitskiy 32yo and slower LB Douglas Santos (dangerous) RB Vyacheslav Karavaev DMF Wilmar Barrios CMF Wendel (dangerous) AMF Claudinho (dangerous) LW Andrey Mostovoy RW Malcom (dangerous) CF Artem Dzyuba (33yo tank)

this was Juve's only other 4 goal defeat in Europe (it came in the UEFA Cup) Celta Vigo 4-0 Juventus – 2000 Juventus’ great team from the mid-1990s that had reached three successive Champions League finals had started to break up, and the early part of the new millennium was a transitional phase. Never was this more evident than during the UEFA Cup fourth round tie with Celta Vigo in 2000. Despite winning the first leg in Turin, coach Carlo Ancelotti saw his team unceremoniously crushed 4-0 in the return in Spain. French legend Claude Makelele got the ball rolling with the first after just 27 seconds.

the way we a play I see no reason why not other than Azpi all our fullback options are proven scorers and our CB's are all great in the air on headers

Juventus' worst ever European Cup/CL defeat, and tied for worst ever European (any Cup) defeat

all but Rom and AC played though

Tuchel says both Kante and Chilwell have knee injuries, but not sure how bad

Yes, agree

Pulisic wreaked havoc with his pressing our 'strikers', the way Tuchel has us set up, are more spatial pressers and channel runners than trad holdup players and target men