Vesper

Has Ross Barkley’s chance at Chelsea already been and gone? https://www.tifofootball.com/features/has-ross-barkleys-chance-at-chelsea-already-been-and-gone/

We are so fucked.

Skriniar is fucking great, and super pricey, IF Inter could be even convinced to sell him. Nikola Milenkovic is interesting 1.95m, strong as an ox, but still technical and pretty pacey Date of Birth (Age): Oct 12, 1997 (20) Place of Birth: Belgrad Nationality: Serbia Height: 1,95 m Position: Centre-Back Current international: Serbia Caps/Goals: 7/0

Show me a link with all inflows and outflows that shows where we are top 3 net spend in the world overall since Roman bought us. We do have a very high wage bill but have tremendous inflows from sponsorships, the EPL itself including massive television revenues), CL and EL payouts in the years we are in those competitions, as well as our huge loan army. In terms of the stadium, now that he pulled the plug on a new one, that is another huge expense he will not incur, granted countered by a huge loss of speculative revenue that SB doesn't generate due to its smaller size and lack of luxury boxes to a modern level. Also, I must add, I am not that big a fan of Paul Allen buying us. Would much rather Jim Ratcliffe or another billionaire whose main passion is football. Or, my fantasy owner, Mr 170 billion usd net worth Bezos, lolol. I am hugely pissed that Roman is being fucked about by the UK and US governments due to his massive Russian/Putin connections. He HAS been a dream of an owner for sure. But they seem bound and determined to ruin his British interests, unfortunately including CFC.

I hate having this much uncertainty over Hazard, Kovacic, and our striker position. Like I said a month ago or so, we have more complicated issues (far beyond just those 3) than any major top club in football atm, from ownership situ on down.

We apperently dont want to sell any of our precious jewels such as Drinkwater, Moses, etc.

We should tossed them Bakayoko plus £100m. If you rate Bakayoko at £35m (he is playing better now for AC Milan after a dodgy start) there is basically your 150m euro. Lazio DMF's are soon 30 and 32, and pretty shit (scouser has been Lucas and the pedestrian Milan Badelj, who only now is rated a little higher due to his Croatia WC turn. Bakayoko is NOT playing a straight DMF at all for Milan, he is playing in much the same zone as SMS, just without the offensive shooting. Other players than Bakayoko could have been floated too. Drinkwater PLUS Musonda, Cesc, Moses plus Musonda, (they need wingers) or even lower the cash a bit and toss in Morata.

That may be his ultimate position, albeit down the road when Jorginho gets too old. That also assumes Sarri is still our manager in 5,6 years. Ampadu is similar to Frenkie de Jong.They can play almost any position (winger may be a stretch for Amps) on the field, except for Striker and GK. de Jong is actually a really good CB (not at Matthijs de Ligt level, but you are talking about a soon top 10 CB in world in de Ligt). Buying de Jong would give Sarri crazy flexibility, especially if we also bought Pavard (he can play RB, CB, trad DMF, even LB and CMF in a pinch) and then add in Ampadu to the floater mix. It would be uber smart football, so that means our board will never even make the offers for de Jong or Pavard, lolol

Totally oki with that on these conditions 1 We buy another CB, a great one that Sarri wants. We cannot roll with only Luiz, Rudiger and AC. That would be madness. This assumes Cahill is sold (ffs I truly hope so!) The new CB, when Ampadu returns (in your scenario) might make AC expendable (as Sarri really doesnt seem to rate him) I truly hope not, but football is a brutal business. I have bad feeling if we cut AC lose we will sorely regret it. 2 We buy Leon Bailey, as he can play both LW and his preferred RW. This HAS to happen. Even more so if we lose Eden. We then need to buy TWO wingers, both WC. We CANNOT roll with only Pedro, Willian (both a year older too) and (ffs can we sell him please!) Moses as our only wingers. That is also disastrous.

Striker Ciro Immobile, who was the main provider of goals for the Italians with 41 scored in all competitions last season, also extended his tenure with Lazio for the same length. We can pull them both off the table now for us. Completely We made a legit offer of 115m euros PLUS Musonda (let's value him at 10m euros) so that's 125m euros (£111m) to Lazio and they laughed in our face. They wanted 150m euros (£133m). It is now in writing. Only teams that meet that (Shitty won't buy him, I am convinced he is NOT a Pep player) would be the usual suspects, ie. Barca, Real, PSG. and Manure (IF they sold Pogba). Too rich for our blood, and also for Juve and Bayern. I think it will come down to PSG (especially if they lose Rabiot,and FOR SURE if they sold Mbappe, as they will have £250m to £300m burning a hole in the sheik's robe pocket then) and Manure (if they sell Pogba) or Barca, IF they do NOT buy Pogba. I do not see Real paying that much for a CMF. Maybe I am wrong.

Lolol, I am a gambler. If he is THAT good that he can help a fairly shit overall team beat us and Manure, then he needs to come to us and play with the big boys next year. He might anyway if Lamps pulls a miracle and gets Derby promoted, although we surely would put him on our main squad at that point.

Golovin was injured up until 3 games ago,and has not scored so far. Will be interesting to see how he pans out at Monaco. Even if Kante fully adapts to new role, he's never going to be a big scorer, so it is REALLY on Kovacic and Barkley to step up to the plate. They both are capable in THIS system. Barkley only had one year (2015/16) where he hit double digits (12) in goals.even that year he only had 8 league goals.Maybe we are simply expecting too much.Frustrating as fuck. look at Marek Hamsik's production, sigh

In my fantasyland world, we would scupper Shitty to Neves. He has insane upside and can play any role in the MF,but,most importantly the Jorginho role (DH DMF) Zero chance we drop £100m on him though. Frenkie de Jong is the other young superstar in the making who can play DH DMF too (along with, (and this crazy), traditional DMF, CB, LB, RB, CMF, AMF, and even winger) Itis also fantasyland we land him,as even more than Neves, ALL, EVERY top ten, top 15 club want de Jong badly. Santiago Ascacíbar (21yo Argentine) from Stuttgart would be great b/u,but he is also going to be VERY costly Jean-Philippe Gbamin ,23yo Cote d'Ivoire on FSV Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga is also going to be really pricey,and is more of a traditional DMF Same for 21yo Frenchman Lucas Tousart from Lyon (my dog, is that team LOADED with young talent) Other options are also not cheap, Julian Weigl from Dortmund (Shitty on him too) and then the most realistic I think, Leandro Paredes from Zenit (Roma had to sell him and Rudiger to meet FFP) Stanislav Lobotka (23yo Slovakian) from Celta Vigo often plays in a kind of Jorginho role too, and Spurs and PSG are all over him, Spuds has a £31m bid turned down at the window's end this summer. I was shocked AC Milan sold Manuel Locatelli (20yo) for only £9m to Sassuolo this summer.He is already helping them immensely (they are only not in 3rd place in Serie A due to goal differential, as their defence has been shit). Sander Berge (20yo Norwegian who is exploding at Genk) is another possible option, but not sotested. Big lad too, 1.93m Santiago Cáseres, 21yo Argentine who Villarreal just bought is another one Danilo Barbosa da Silva on Nice (22yo Brasilian) is also out there

Yes. We could have given written permission. Sorta wish we had. Oh well.

Looking at Girouds career stats, it isnt like he has not been an adequate scorer (and he is still in superb shape, even at 32) Starting in 2009/10 Goals 23 14 25 17 22 19 24 Then last two years 16 (in 13 less games than the 24 so say 21 or 22 if same amount of games played) 12 (last year) Now zero so far I cant believe it is age alone. Maybe, but he seems so fit and work rate is crazy high still. Up until 2 years ago, he was averaging almost 21 goals a year in the top flight wherever he was. In 2014/15 he was tracking to 28 if he played same amount as year before and year after, and that was in EPL for all 3 years.

I will play flavour of the day. Let's say we do buy Ramsey. Who then sits, Kova or Kante, or does Ramsey take over Barkley's place and if so, what do we do with Barkley? You can substitute any high end AMF/CMF buy inot this question as well. It doesn't have to be Ramsey. Finally, another catch-22. IF Kovacic does explode and take it to a crazy level (which I KNOW he can) that almost guarantees Real takes him back. Kova loan and Eden contract situ are two HUGE clouds (plus, obviously striker) we are facing.

Wonder how this will go down with the 3 he mentioned. I can totally see Willian and Morata having a fit. They do not respond well to being called out.

I am where you are at in all this. It is becoming a huge distraction, and the January and then summer windows are our last 2 chances to get anything for him remotely near the £200m he is worth. Next summer we will be damn lucky to get a pound over £125m, maybe even as low as £100m. If we also lose Kovacic that means we HAVE to have New CF (£70m to £150m) New LW (Hazard replacement,so a huge drop but still will cost £70m plus (for say Chiesa), unless we can somehow prise away Asensio in a swap) New RW Bailey (£70m plus) New CMF/AMF (to replace Kovacic) £60m plus that's £270m on low end, to £350m or so on high end meaning a net spend of £145m (IF we get £125m for Eden AND spend the lowest) to possibly £250m NET on the high end that also doesn't address any other positions (ie a true AMF, IF we can keep Kovacic or get a similar player and move them to Kante's place at time (that assumes Kante,Barkley and RLC all end up fails, so not ready to call this YET) LB (I think we will just roll with Alonso, for better o rfor worse, at thsi point) RB (the same as LB) CB (I don't see a move here either, unfortunately) I do NOT see us selling Willian, so maybe (disastrously so) we will NOT buy a new RW (ie Bailey), unless we move Willian to LW to replace (well fill the same airspace, lol) as Eden The only ones who will go for sure Drinkwater, Moses, Cahill, Morata (obviously, if we keep him I know the fix is in with Roman),Tiémoué Bakayoko, maybe Zappacosta will demand a transfer, THEN we also have to fill RB b/u NONE of the others are for sure sales at all (and even 2 of those above, Moses and Zappa are not at all guaranteed sales) I have really dialed down all hope major moves, meaning a distinct possibility of losing Eden, and only bringing in a CF and MAYBE a new MF, IF Kova leaves I really think Willian is going to be renewed and will be our starting RW or LW ( IF Hazard leaves) for the next 2 years The ABSOLUTE best possible outcome I can see in all honesty (if Hazard leaves), and even this is a pipe dream Kovacic stays (very iffy as RM are fucking ruthless snakes) We take the Hazard money and buy Icardi or Dybala, maybe roll dice on Piatek RW we buy Bailey, and play Willian and CHO at LW (Bailey can play LW too,so all our wingers can switch sides) hold onto all others (other than the few sales I listed above) and loan out Bats, RLC and that's THE best I can hope for IF Eden leaves/is sold it could go far worse, especially at striker and the wingers,and in MF, if we lose Kova tbh, I don't even know IF we try and buy Kovacic on a perm at this point, as I really think the tap may soon be completely cut off until / if the club is sold as you see, my expectations are diminishing daily in terms of team personnel

Zlatan is the same, except he is missing the Bundesliga, not Serie A, so odds are good that Bats beats him to it (unless Zlalan, for pure ego (and his is HUGE) signs a short contract with a Bundesliga lower team just to score a goal there, lol).

Chelsea loanees Mount and Tomori will not be eligible to play against Chelsea in League Cup — report “standard practice” https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2018/10/1/17924050/chelsea-loanees-mount-and-tomori-will-not-be-eligible-to-play-against-chelsea-in-league-cup-report According to ESPN’s sources, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori will not be eligible to play for Derby County when they face Chelsea in the League Cup at Stamford Bridge later this month. The two Chelsea loanees have two of the best players for Super Frank at Derby this season and played crucial roles in their shock elimination of Manchester United at Old Trafford last week. But rules are rules, and according to previously cited League Cup regulations, Derby would need “written consent” from Chelsea. But according to the report, Chelsea make it standard practice — like all other English clubs — to include a clause in all loanee contracts that they are not eligible to play against the parent club. The only evidence to the contrary to this is Thibaut Courtois’ case, when he was at Atlético Madrid, but that had a lot to do with UEFA pushing for him to be eligible as well. Last season, when Chelsea faced Hull City in the FA Cup, none of Ola Aina, Michael Hector, or, again, Fikayo Tomori were eligible. It’s a bit of an unfortunate situation — Chelsea would’ve still been strong favorites and we could’ve seen two of our prized prospects in action first-hand — but this is the accepted practice. Sorry, Frankie!

Luiz 'confused' under Conte, says new Chelsea boss Sarri https://nation.com.pk/01-Oct-2018/luiz-confused-under-conte-says-new-chelsea-boss-sarri David Luiz was left puzzled by his treatment under former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, according to new Stamford Bridge boss Maurizio Sarri. Luiz had been an central figure in Chelsea's title win in Conte's first season as boss, in 2016-17, but scarcely featured after the 3-0 loss at Roma on October 31 last year. The Brazil defender, 31, had a rumoured falling-out with Conte and a series of injuries, not featuring at all after the February loss at Watford. "Two seasons ago he was a protagonist," said Sarri. "Then six months ago he was not playing, so he was a little confused." Chelsea are unbeaten in the Premier League this season, with five wins and two draws, and came within minutes of inflicting Liverpool's first loss on Saturday. What Sarri likes about Luiz could be a trait that explains his exile under Conte. "He's direct. If he has to say something to the manager he has to talk to me," Sarri said. "I like very much direct people. "When I arrived here immediately I had the feeling he's a very good player for my way of football because he's a centre-back who is very technical. "Then I appreciate his qualities as a man. He's really better than I thought before." Luiz is thriving under Sarri. "Sarri is giving us a lot of happiness to play football. We are trying to enjoy," he told Chelsea TV. "He gives us a lot of confidence. He shows us what he wants. He gives us the details about the game." SNIP

That's literally the logical fallacy I mean, petitio principii (begging the question), where you assume the conclusion, plus (and even more to the point) post hoc ergo propter ,where you falsely assume that because some yanks have been cheap in the past, that makes ALL yanks cheap. It a false equivalency-based broad generalisation. There are plenty of cheap Arab owners, Asian owners (ask my Baggie friend about those!, lol), etc, to show that just because a person from that background spends freely (like Shitty ownership) does not mean all will. Same for yanks being cheap (AC Milan new owners are an American hedge fund, and they have opened up the pocket book) Paul Allen owns multiple sports teams,and has never shown a tight purse. Also, other than the first 2 years (2003-2005) Roman has NOT been a big net spender. here is our net spending under Roman Transfer spending under Abramovich (net) 2003-04: £151.4m 2004-05: £146.8m NO MORE BIG SPENDING 2005-06: £51.7m 2006-07: £32.2m 2007-08: £13.8m 2008-09: £12.7m PROFIT 2009-10: £23.6m 2010-11: £94.5m here is the last 8 years 2011-12: £57.7m 2012-13: £75.8m 2013-14 £47.6m 2014-15 £6.4m PROFIT 2015-16 £2.7m 2016-17 £21.9m 2017-18 £54.1m 2018-19 £75.1m total £328.5 for the last 8 years (365.8m euros) that's almost a BILLION LESS than the article https://www.talkchelsea.net/news/chelseas-spending-since-2010-has-been-revealed-and-its-ridiculous/ states, the article is tosh clickbait £41.1m per year net spend on average the last 8 years total £829.8 m over 16 year time frame that Abramovich has owned us works out to around £51.9m NET per year 36% of ALL money net spent was in the first 2 years take away those first 2 years the average net spend over last 14 seasons (per year) is £37.8m

Totally agree, and like I said, Koulibaly is now too old to be worth the money Napoli would demand next summer. Only 2 years under 30 is not worth £90 to £100m, no way. If it was another club, and his price was £50m, maybe even £60m, then perhaps, but I have given up all hopes of ever getting him. Even Hysaj is a pure long shot,as the poison dwarf will just fuck us in the end. We were so lucky to pull Jorginho away, and obviously Sarri too. I completely understand why they were willing to give up Jorginho. DH DMF's are so rare, BUT also, they don't really have a place in most systems. A traditional DMF (Kante in his old role) is what is valued by 95% of clubs. The only huge clubs who would die for Jorginho is us (under Sarri), Barca (as Busquets replacement down the road, although he may be too close in age), maybe Arsenal, maybe Lpool,, and of course Manchester City under Pep Juve, Bayern, Manure, Napoli (now, under Ancelotti) , AC Milan, PSG (they might be able to use him, but they have Verratti already, and Rabiot); RM, Spuds, Inter, Atletico Madrid, etc etc etc all play systems where he would not be used correctly.

Her Name Is Kathryn The Woman Who Accuses Ronaldo of Rape An American woman claims Cristiano Ronaldo raped her in Las Vegas. Years ago, the soccer star paid her to remain silent. Now, the woman is going public for the first time and filing a complaint against Ronaldo. She possesses a document that could be extremely dangerous for him. By DER SPIEGEL Staff http://www.spiegel.de/international/cristiano-ronaldo-kathryn-mayorga-the-woman-who-accuses-ronaldo-of-rape-a-1230634.html She was supposed to be invisible, damned to silence. Forever. Nobody was to ever learn about that night in Las Vegas back in 2009, especially not her version of events. She even signed a settlement deal and received a payoff ensuring that she would never give voice to the accusations. She signed, she says, out of fear for herself and her family. And out of impotence, the inability to stand up to him. And out of the hope that she could finally put the incident behind her. But, says Kathryn Mayorga, she was never able to close that chapter. The American is a slender 34-year-old with long, dark hair and green eyes. Until recently, she worked at an elementary school. But she quit, she says, "because I need all my strength now." She needs the strength to stand up to the man who she accuses of having raped her nine years ago -- accusations that he denies. The man isn't just anybody. It is Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best soccer player in the world, with vast amounts of success, money and adoration from the fans. An anonymous woman versus Ronaldo -- the discrepancy could hardly be greater. They met on June 12, 2009 in a Las Vegas nightclub. Ronaldo was there on vacation with his brother-in-law and cousin. It was the summer when the star, then 24, would transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid for a then-record sum of 94 million euros. Kathryn Mayorga, 25 at the time, was a budding model and one of her jobs was to hang out with other young, beautiful women in front of bars to lure in guests. On that Friday in June, the paths of the model and the multimillionaire crossed in the VIP section of Rain, a nightclub belonging to Palms Casino Resort. Paparazzi photos show Mayorga standing close to Ronaldo and talking. He is wearing a white shirt with a narrow black tie and she is in a light gray dress with gold jewelry. He plays it cool while she beams at him. Within hours, the gossip pages around the world would be busying themselves with trying to figure out who this "mysterious brunette" is at Ronaldo's side. The party continued in the early morning hours in Ronaldo's penthouse in the nearby Hotel Palms Place. And only two people know what happened in the bedroom there: Kathryn Mayorga and Cristiano Ronaldo. What is clear is that the soccer star paid Mayorga $375,000 a few months later as part of an out-of-court settlement. In exchange, Mayorga signed an agreement to never talk about her accusations that Cristiano Ronaldo had raped her. SNIP much more at the link

Why would any of that mean no Kovacic? I hope it is a given we try like hell to buy him on a perm basis. At Least we have him to play, and at least he wants to stay (if Real sells him) The other issues are far worse (unless RM pulls Kova back), as we have no remotely acceptable striker, nor a WC RW, and I just have a terrible feeling Hazard wont renew. I think he looks at it as even a 3 year extension takes him to 32/33yo (and thus not in prime anymore) in the first year with a new team, if he left after the end of the extension.A full 5 year NEW deal would mean he would be 34/35 in first post Chelsea year.That's basically USA/China cash in age (or a year away from it) It basically locks him into Chelsea for his entire career peak years. I just get the feeling that bothers him.