Vesper

If that happens, abject panic will start to ooze in, especially if followed up by a second poor performance (away in the EL at PAOK Thessaloniki). I have seen this script before. That said, I see almost zero chance of us dumping the 3 points, unless Bobby Reid, Josh Murphy, and Junior Hoilett all have MONSTER games. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is out injured (knee) so I expected Hoilett to maybe start as an inverted RW, and he is pacey, so might give Alonso a bit of a go, but Reid has to deal with our MF, so should be in for a right proper bollocksing. Azpi can surely take out Murphy most of the time. They have the worst strikers in the league, and their CB's are for shit too.

You know what I going to say, lol SELL the deadwood, and ffs, try Barkley at RW I absolutely also believe that we can play Kante, Kova, Jorginho, and Barkley in any 3 out of 4 player combinations Against shit n sit flat back 10 like Newcastle tried, pull either Kova or Kante, and release the hounds with Barkley and one of the other 2 pounding forward, with Jorginho playing deep pivot DMF Or, hell, try Barks at striker ffs, he might just surprise. I weeks ago posted an old article where he claimed that was a position he could well play. I am not a huge believer in a player needing one position and one position only as their ticket to on the field match play. Back before Mo went mental the 2nd time, Zouma coming in as a DMF DESTROYER later on in games always warmed my heart.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek must leave Chelsea as he's fighting losing battle for regular football https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ruben-loftuscheek-must-leave-chelsea-as-hes-fighting-losing-battle-for-regular-football-a3933656.html This season should prompt Ruben Loftus-Cheek into making the biggest decision of his career — and that is to leave Chelsea for good. The midfielder is almost certain to be offered a new contract before the end of the campaign because he will have just two years remaining on his current deal next summer and Chelsea will want to protect the valuation of their star academy product. But the England international needs to move on, and what has taken place during 2018 should be regarded as the final straw. The alarm bells must have begun ringing when Chelsea bought Ross Barkley for £15million in January. Barkley plays in a similar position to Loftus-Cheek, is an England player and, at 24, is just two years older than his team-mate. Barkley started Chelsea’s first three games this season, while Loftus-Cheek, who joined the Chelsea academy at the age of eight, made one brief cameo in that time from the bench. snip

John Terry confirms he has turned down Spartak Moscow move https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/john-terry-confirms-he-has-turned-down-spartak-moscow-move-a3934451.html Former Chelsea defender John Terry has turned down a move to Russian Super League outfit Spartak Moscow. The 37-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving Aston Villa at the end of last season where he started 32 Championship matches after being handed the captain’s armband by manager Steve Bruce. The ex-England international was expected to sign a one-year contract - believed to be worth £3 million-a-year - with the Russian club after undergoing a medical in Rome. However, in an Instagram post, Terry confirmed the deal was off and revealed family reasons were behind his decision to snub the move to Moscow. snip I think the political situation got to him

Poyet One of my first favourite Chelsea players (I was 5 when he signed, lolol). My father loved him! Can we find a clone, please? (Vecino, just because they both are Uruguayans, is NOT one) Sorry about yer wager loss, mate.

My favourite young CMF target we should be going after (along with making Kovacic permanent) after we sell off deadwood. We can still get him for a fair price, but so many clubs are circling Red Bull Salzburg, especially after his monster run in the Europa League last year. Massive upgrade IMHO from Drinkwater, Bakayoko, Cesc (too old, sorry), Marco van Ginkel. He has Naby Keita Jr. written all over him. Amadou Haidara Date of Birth (Age): Jan 31, 1998 (20) Place of Birth: Bamako, Mali Nationality: Malian Height: 1,75 m Position: Central Midfield Agent: Relatives Current international: Mail AMADOU HAIDARA COMPILATION Bonus, the first video has a Malian singer, with probably the most INSANE tribute song to a player EVER!! It's fucking EPIC!!!!

I cannot, for the life of me, understand how people rate WILLIAN over Bailey, even now. Bailey just turned 21, Willian is at his last peak year (I would argue he is already on the downside) and 100 times out of 100 I would take Bailey. He has a GREAT shooting touch, is direct as fuck, and is one of fastest wingers in Europe. He also seems like a model citizen, you never hear a whiff of scandal or dressing room drama about him. We NEED TO GET THIS DONE BEFORE BREXIT. I am really worried about a possible Tory cunt block on EEA/EU players signed by FA teams, and a higher quota on homegrown. I think he qualifies, due to Jamaican citizenship, not sure.

Torino Provide Injury Update On Aina & It's Not What Rohr Wants To Hear https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=29235 Italian Serie A club Torino have provided an injury update on Nigeria international Ola Aina ahead of their visit to Udinese for a game that corresponds to the fourth round of matches in the topflight. The Maroons trained on Tuesday afternoon with an open door training session on the secondary field and manager coach Mazzarri directed a session equally divided between athletic and tactical work. Aina did not take part in training as he is still receiving treatment after sustaining a muscular problem to the biceps femoris of the left thigh against SPAL in the last game before the international break. The information from Turin will certainly be bad news for Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr who is planning to name the Chelsea loanee on the roster for next month's double header against Libya. With the squad list set to be announced by Rohr at the end of this month, Aina has less than three weeks to convince the German that his injury problems are behind him. The versatile fullback has figured in all the matches played by Torino in the Serie A in the new season.

You would think Sarri, given his great record with MFers, could finally get him to play up to his potential and physical skillset. If we go Ballack in as technical director, maybe he could take a few times a month and worth with RLC too. I gotta be honest, given his size, technical ability and stamina, he SHOULD be up there within seeing distance of Saúl Ñíguez, SMS, Pogba by now. Or at least on a legitimate path to get there.

Bundesliga Star Leon Bailey Sets His Sights on Securing January Transfer to Chelsea https://www.90min.com/posts/6168504-bundesliga-star-leon-bailey-sets-his-sights-on-securing-january-transfer-to-chelsea Bayern Leverkusen star Leon Bailey has been lined up as a long-term replacement for Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard and the Jamaican could move to Stamford Bridge as early as January, according to reports in Germany. The 21-year-old has been at the forefront of attention for European football's biggest clubs following his first full season in the Bundesliga, and Bailey was often linked with a move away from the BayArena throughout the summer transfer window. The forward eventually stayed with Die Werkself but a dismal start to the campaign, which sees Leverkusen sitting joint bottom of the league table, could persuade Bailey to force a move away from Germany when the transfer window reopens. Although there has been much speculation over Bailey's future destination, a report in Kicker (via TEAMtalk) claims that the youngster has his heart set on a move to Chelsea and will snub interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool. Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich were also believed to be monitoring Bailey's future in Leverkusen, and it is understood that the former Genk winger will cost upwards of €60m. Bailey was involved in 18 goals across all competitions last season. The Jamaican earned a reputation amongst Bundesliga fans for his ability to cut inside on his left foot and find the far corner of the net - similar to Arjen Robben. snip

Agree with all you said. RLC is such an enigma. I still think he was crazy to not take the Schalke loan. CL football, a great team environment and he would be probably starting most games.

Pogba needs to take his ass back to Juve

Bailey has often been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and his scintillating performances for Bayer Leverkusen this season haven’t gone unnoticed by Chelsea. But an old tweet from Bailey has resurfaced on social media picturing Bailey in a Chelsea shirt with Blues supporters urging the club to push through a deal now. One user posted: “We are linked with this player!!! It’s great when the player is a secret @ChelseaFC fan!!!!” look remember, he is left footed

“There’s concrete interest” – Budding Bundesliga star confirms firm interest from Chelsea this summer https://www.chelsea-news.co/2018/09/theres-concrete-interest-budding-bundesliga-star-confirms-firm-interest-chelsea-summer/ According to Fussball Transfers in Germany, via Football London, Bayern Munich’s £53 million bid did not convince the winger to sign a deal this summer, because he is focused on joining Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea. Bailey is quoted to have said, he leaves his future in the hands of Bayer, who certainly may have been told of his London wishes. “There’s concrete interest. What I can say is that my full focus is on developing myself as a young player, and that’s what I’ll focus on. If a club wants me, my management and Bayer will take care of it.” Leon Bailey, Football London

These were only wingers, I listed Talisca and Kai Havertz and Carlos Soler (my top 3 AMF targets) in another reply in another thread.

Slim pickings, I listed every one worth fuckall.

On blue

Probably the most infectious smile in the world of football

Always dig deep when it is a REALLY young player. That's how a truly long term dominant club is oftimes foundationed.

I am going back to my 2015 stance, ALL in for Romagnoli. I will also take Rugani or Caldara. I want (badly) an Italian CB and those 3 (plus a 31yo, soon 32 Bonucci) are the only class ones the entire nation has atm (Chiellini being too old, but if (impossible) he came on a free, then HELL yes, he has 2 years left in him, and could be a Terry godfather/teacher type for AC and the other young Chelsea beasts. Filippo Romagna at Cagliari is maybe another, and 26yo (so no long term upside) Gian Marco Ferrari from Sassuolo and that is literally it. If you want really young potential ones, Alessandro Bastoni (19yo) at Parma and Marco Varnier (just turned 20) at Atalanta are the literally only others I remotely have encountered. They are stretches, but ones to maybe watch. Its crazy how weak they have become in terms of CB's, when they historically have been the number one nation at churning them out over the last 30, 40 years. Spoiler alert... Alessandro Nesta is my idea of a PERFECT CB, in a Platonic form.

He joined Chelsea a half year before I was born. A shame he only stayed the one.

"Kick him in the bollocks" "No need to be specific" LOLOLOLOL

6 nil final, worst ever international defeat for Croatia. Kovacic looked to be literally the only player still trying the whole game, shameful performance by the rest, as Vrsaljko packed it in the 2nd half. One of the most one-sided games at any level I have seen in years. Jose Gaya was a MONSTER, he wont get much press, but wow, what a shift he put in. Miles beyond the one Alonso put in last game, especially on the defensive end. I would swap them in a fucking flash. Dani Ceballos the same. Rodri looks to be the perfect successor to Busquets, Thiago played very well as a sub.

Fabinho best worry about himself atm. He looks Baka 2.0 for the Scousers so far. Monaco players are a crapshoot these days.

Azpi on