Vesper

Yep. Now that Koulibaly is basically too old to be worth the £90m plus (if we bought this coming summer we only get 2 years before he turns 30) Napoli would demand, the only player I would even remotely say warrants an enquiry to the poison dwarf would be Hysaj, for Azpi b/u and probably replacement. He will probably never approve a sale to us as long as Sarri is manager.

Yes. That is what I have been waiting for too. It's why I am really hedging my bets. He really does look the part of a classic striker though. Shit, if he is the real deal and we land him, we are so set for years at striker. Would be a huge relief.

At RW I have no clue (especially Barkley as Sarri seems to rate him. Striker is simpler, we only have 2, he plays the both. Only options there is a false nine or to try Alonso at CF (joking). Maybe try Barkley there too? Much rather Barks have a go at RW. Something just tells me he could rip it up there. Btw, Luiz is here to stay. For sure. Sarri loves him. https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/30/maurizio-sarri-name-the-chelsea-star-who-has-surprised-him-the-most-7993199/ I sure hope he is doing right thing. If he pulls the same shit with Willian though, I am going to go bonkers. As long as Luiz makes no mental errors, it will always be Willian who fucks us up the most, along with Morata. Willian is a horrid RW for Sarriball. He slows the game down more than any RW (especially one who actually has pace) we have had in years. Let's hope Pedro recovers soon. Moses was a fucking shambolic mess at RW too. I actually would give him a shot at trad RB. Zappacosta will soon demand a transfer. Moses could be better used as Azpi b/u. Maybe even be quite good. Don't know till we try. Cup tie line up I would love to see against Lamps GK Willie CB Ampadu CB AC LB Emerson RB Moses (if he is shit there, pull him quick and put Zappa in) DH DMF Fabregas CMF Drinkwater (not joking, Kova and Kante need rest, and we are paying Drinkwater bloody £6.24m a year. Good time to showcase him for a sale in January) AMF RLC LW CHO RW Barkley CF Morata (play him until he either scores or breaks down sobbing on the pitch like a baby) I REALLY would kill to see that line-up. So many questions answered (even is only a little). We still should smash Derby, even if that's who we put out.

Genoa's Krzysztof Piatek Off to Best Serie A Debut in 70 Years https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/09/30/krzysztof-piatek-genoa-serie-a-goals ROME (AP) Krzysztof Piatek is off to the best start for a Serie A debutante in nearly 70 years. The 23-year-old Poland striker scored both of Genoa's goals in a 2-1 win over Frosinone on Sunday to raise his tally to eight in six matches. The last player to achieve the feat was Karl Aage Hansen with Atalanta in 1949-50. Overall this season, Piatek has scored 12 goals in all competitions - including his four-goal performance in the Italian Cup in August. Piatek's performances have helped Genoa into sixth place. He had already scored twice before Frosinone pulled one back with a penalty from Camillo Ciano for its first goal of the season. Piatek joined Genoa from Cracovia for a reported fee of 4 million euros ($4.6 million) in June. There are reports that Juventus is interested in signing him to a much bigger contract. We REALLY have to look at him as the possible answer (not saying he is yet, but wow, he is fucking on fire,and is on a pretty shit team and STILL scoring like this) I absolutely would straight swap Morata for him NOW, maybe even kick in £10m or so to grease the deal done. Morata's value is plummeting too, each week, so Genoa might tell us to fuck off. I can tell you now that EVERY big team will go after him, ESPECIALLY Bayern, Juve, Barca, Real,and PSG.

Who is this X Factor? IF we are to be a true CL threat we need a truly WC CB, a WC LB, probably a WC AMF if Barkley doesnt pan out (especially if Kante simply doesn't adapt to new role, as then we slide Kovacic (or his replacement IF we lose him back ro RM) over to Kante role and go all out for a true AMF like Talisca or even better Kai Havertz, plus a WC RW and WC striker. Thats not even counting losing Hazard (for, like UJ said, half his true worth). Simply adding a striker solves none of those other issues.

£134m is INSANE for a valuation for Zielinski. He isn't a bloody top ten in world player, not even close to a top ten MF, ffs Only players I rate worth more than £100m would be (and some will soon be NOT worth that due to age at time of buy) only NINE players, all positions in the world are worth £135m or more (13 if you force in Saúl Ñíguez, Kante, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Paul Pogba, all whom are close to that) Only 23 players (IMHO) are worth £100m or more (plus CR7 and Messi, who are too hard to but value on for number of reasons,mainly marketing (HUGE plus), plus age (negative,especially CR7) £135m or above are in red MF De Bruyne (who, BTW, would be basically 33yo at the end of a 5 year contract (he turns 33 June 28, 2024) IF a team bought him this coming summer), Coutinho (almost exactly 1 year younger than De Bruyne, so 32 at the end of a 5 year contract if a team bought next summer) then the under £135m but above £100m MF (the next 4 are close to £135m, maybe some are worth that) Saúl Ñíguez Kante (3 months older than De Bruyne, so a true 33yo at end of a 5 year contract, although he will age better than anyone on this list) Sergej Milinkovic-Savic Paul Pogba drop down Marco Verratti Rúben Neves (soon over £100m) that's it CB Raphaël Varane (£100m) that's it Fullbacks David Alaba (£100m) that's it Wingers (I will not,as usual put Messi or CR7 in this) £135m or over Mbappe (£225-250m) Eden Hazard (£200m, but we will never get that now) Neymar (£200m, but never wanted him, still do not) Mohamed Salah (£140m to £150m, IF he scores this year fairly close to last, overwise hedrops downto £100-120m) under £135m, but worth £100m plus Ousmane Dembélé (probable goes above £135m soon, he is really coming on) Marco Asensio Leroy Sané that's it Strikers Harry Kane £175m Paulo Dybala £150m Mauro Icardi £135m under £135m, but over £100m Antoine Griezmann Roberto Firmino Gabriel Jesus (barely makes the £100m threshold) Robert Lewandowski would be here if he was 2 or 3 years younger that's it I also would take Kovacic over Zielinski (plus they are almost EXACT same age, 2 weeks apart) Kovacic scores a WEE bit less (due to being in a more defensive system usually), BUT his 2 highest seasons scoring are higher than any of Zielinski's (one is equal to his high)

It's because they still look at us as some nouveau riche artificially made team, and all done by RUSSIAN to boot. Even though Roman's big net spending stopped after the 2nd year (2004-5 was his last big net spending year) and even though Shitty literally are a foreign owned HUGE spending 'artificial' team (dwarfing us in the last several years alone) and the same for Manure (albeit with a far more legit history of huge sucess than Shitty.) There is an insane amount of anti-Russian bias in the government and the media, so they are always now going to take shots due to Roman and his relationship with public enemy number one. the Emmanuel Goldsteinian figure Putin. Plus, we are West London, the poshest area of the country, so they are always going to root for the 'little guys' from the midlands, Merseyside, north, etc. Finally, NEVER underestimate the victim card the fucking scousers play for decades and the lapdog press falling for it every time. The whole lot can sod the fuck off.

John Terry in Spartak Moscow u-turn? Chelsea legend poses with fans at Otkritie Arena https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/john-terry-spartak-moscow-u-13338242 John Terry was set for a shock move to Spartak Moscow three weeks ago. But the Chelsea legend elected NOT to move to the Russian capital, having decided not to uproot his family. However, two days after being in Paris for the opening day of the Ryder Cup, the former England captain finally made his way to Moscow. On Sunday evening Terry appeared at the Otkrytiye Arena as he watched the Russian champions take on Rostov in their Premier League encounter. Terry, 37, posed for photographs with supporters outside the ground, offering fans a sense of what might have been. However, if Terry was pondering another change of mind and a potential switch to Spartak, then he may have soon changed back after events on the field. snip

Reports: John Terry set to return to Chelsea in a new role https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/breaking-news-john-terry-set-to-return-to-chelsea-in-a-new-role?key=newsnow What's the News? Chelsea's Captain, Leader and Legend - John Terry is about to return to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea's academy coach, after being approached by Manager Maurizio Sarri, as per reports from The Metro. The 37 year old English defender last featured for Aston Villa in the Championship where his contract ended this summer, following which he was linked to a move to Russia, but the deal collapsed after Terry changed his mind. The Chelsea ex-captain would be all set to hang up his boots now, but not is association with football, and especially his boyhood club, Chelsea. In case you didn't know... Further reports from The Sun claim that Terry has already accepted an Under-23 coaching contract with Chelsea worth £800,000-a-year. The Under-23 Coaching position was vacated after Terry's ex-teammate Jody Morris quit the job to join Frank Lampard at Derby County as Assistant Manager. The Chelsea duo of Lampard and Morris have had a brilliant start to their season with Derby County, having eliminated Manchester United in a shocking win at Old Trafford last week in the Carabao Cup. Derby County are currently on the 9th position in the Championship, with 16 points from 10 games played. The heart of the matter Terry's new coaching job at Chelsea's Academy was backed by Manager Maurizio Sarri, and the Italian boss has been reported to be among the few decision makers in bringing Terry back home, to Stamford Bridge. Speaking earlier in September, he was asked if he would welcome Terry back, Sarri said,

Maurizio Sarri: Chelsea are closer to Liverpool’s level than he thought https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/maurizio-sarri-chelsea-are-closer-to-liverpools-level-than-he-thought/ After Chelsea drew with Liverpool on Saturday, Maurizio Sarri believes his side are a lot closer to Liverpool and Manchester City’s level than he originally thought. ‘I think also that we are more close than I thought’ Speaking after the game with Liverpool, Sarri stated: “I think they are a step forward, but I think also that we are more close than I thought one week ago. “[To finish] in the first two for me it’s very difficult, because City and Liverpool are a step forward to us. But I can think we can fight for the [Champions League]. “Here it’s very difficult to arrive in the first four. There are six or seven top teams, top in Europe, not only in England, so it’s not easy to get into the Champions League. We have to try of course, and we have to try to stay very close in the table to the top level teams, and we have to improve more. “I’m disappointed because they scored in the last minutes, but at the end I’m really very happy with the performance, and also [because] the draw maybe is the right result. “The match was wonderful.” snip

Crystal Palace could really improve by adding Victor Moses in January https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/crystal-palace/crystal-palace-could-really-improve-by-adding-victor-moses-in-january/

Liverpool lead race to sign Arsenal star as Ramsey 'excited' to play under Klopp https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/30/liverpool-leading-aaron-ramsey-transfer-race-after-summer-bid-rejected-7991147/ Liverpool will resume their efforts to sign Aaron Ramsey after the Reds reportedly failed in a summer bid to bring the midfielder to Anfield. Unai Emery’s shock decision to halt contract talks with Ramsey means the Welshman is likely to move onto a new club in January or next summer. Ramsey’s deal expires at the end of the season and the Arsenal star is free to speak to other clubs about a potential switch once the winter transfer window opens. The Mirror report Jurgen Klopp failed in an attempt to persuade Ramsey to join Liverpool last summer, but the Reds will renew their interest. Liverpool will lead the race to sign Ramsey, as the 27-year-old is ‘excited’ by the prospect of playing under Klopp. The German has poached ex-Gunners before with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joining Liverpool from Arsenal in the summer of 2017. snip

Benjamin Mendy: Guardiola excludes Manchester City star from first team, Pep is losing patience with the star’s off field antics https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/09/30/guardiola-excludes-manchester-city-star-from-first-team-pep-is-losing-patience-with-the-stars-off-field-antics/ It has been revealed that Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has excluded superstar Benjamin Mendy from the first team after losing patience with the star’s ongoing antics off the pitch. It was revealed that the left-back was nearly three hours late for a recovery session on his metatarsal injury last Sunday which led to the defender being excluded from the first team for a week according to report published by Goal.com. The report also revealed that this wasn’t the first time Mendy was late, the full-back was fined for being late to training ahead of City’s Premier League opener against Arsenal. Mendy also hit the headlines at the start of this month when the defender was given a one-year driving ban after failing to provide the police with information on who was speeding in his car. Guardiola gave his thoughts on the defender being late at his pre-match press conference a couple of days ago telling the Independent: “The players should be here and he knows it. I spoke with him,” “He was injured six seven months last season,” said Guardiola. “Now he’s injured again. Every day he’s having treatment. I’m not a physio. “He arrived late, that happens sometimes, in the last period a lot have arrived late because of the traffic. Manchester is under construction, the players arrive late. They have to drop their kids at school. The 24-year-old certainly needs to get his act together if he wishes to remain at City in the future, there could come a time when City’s hierarchy deem that the star isn’t worth the off-field drama that seems to follow him around like a bad smell. Mendy’s presence on social media is telling of how serious the situation is at City, the former Monaco man hasn’t posted to any of his social media accounts in a week now and he last uploaded the picture of himself at the Joshua fight which seemed to have pushed Guardiola over the edge. It has been a whirlwind year for Mendy since he joined City. From spending most of last season injured to lifting the World Cup with France at this summer’s World Cup in Russia and then establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best full backs with his performances at the start of this season. Just as Mendy started to make a name for himself for his performances on the pitch rather than his exploits on social media it seems the Frenchman is now in hot water once again. snip THIS really makes it far more likely Shitty moves for Firpo soon.

Man City 'line up Kylian Mbappe as Raheem Sterling replacement' https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-kylian-mbappe-sterling-15219221 Manchester City are considering Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe as a potential replacement for Raheem Sterling if the Blues winger quits the Etihad. That is according to The Sun, who claim City are willing to pay a world-record fee for the striker, who only moved to PSG for a permanent £160m figure this summer. Pep Guardiola is said to be a huge admirer of Mbappe, and a move could be made possible by the fact that PSG are under investigation for alleged Financial Fair Play breaches after spending £200m on Neymar on top of the fee paid for Mbappe. The transfer would also depend on Sterling's future being resolved. The England international is yet to sign an extension to his current contract, which expires in 2020, and Real Madrid have been linked with him recently. City are reluctant to let Sterling leave, but if he does exit that could pave the way for World Cup winner Mbappe to join. Meanwhile, City are said to be among a group of Premier league clubs that sent scouts to watch Lazio's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic last week. The Mirror report that City - along with Liverpool and Spurs - watched Milinkovic-Savic score in Lazio's 4-1 win over Genoa. Manchester United have been heavily linked with the Serbian midfielder, but did not make a move during the summer transfer window. Lazio are said to be confident the 23-year-old will sign a new contract, with his current deal running out in 2022. snip Kylian Mbappe to Man City: Real Madrid SWEAT as Guardiola eyes Sterling replacement https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1024799/Kylian-Mbappy-Manchester-City-Real-Madrid-Pep-Sterling-replacement

If they made those moves above (minus the Mbappe fantasy) and ZZ is the manager, not too much repairing left to do. They certainly have the funds, especially if they sold Pogba (not sure ZZ stance on Pogba.) They also need to dump Alexis and his insane contract somehow, unless ZZ can resurrect his career. They, like us, have a shit tonne of deadweight to sell, depending on what ZZ determines to be surplus goods.

I really think Conte wants AC Milan or the Italian National Team (sometime down the road again). Gut feel. I would if I was him as long as the owners would back him 100% in terms of players recruited.

Lets hope they make a move for Mikel Arteta instead, but,TBH, where else would ZZ go? The only only other clubs big enough he would manage would be Barca (NEVER (at least not for a decade), plus it is La Liga redux) Juve, AC Milan, Shitty (obviously ZERO chance as Pep is above even ZZ in coaching hierarchy) PSG, the French National Team, or Bayern,and all but AC Milan are set completely at manager (for now). In the right situation he MIGHT consider Chelsea, but a LOT of dominos would have to fall for that to ever happen (like Sarri, wins a couple EPL titles in a row, plus another, and say, 2, 3 CL's over a 6, 7 year period, but then hits a long rough patch, so ZZ would be walking into a top 2, 3, 4 club in world at that point)

Zidane there is scary as fuck

I forgot Manure, almost zero chance they finish under them, unless ZZ comes in and Woodward and the board backs him with a wild January spree (surely they WILL go one one in summer if ZZ is hired). Marquinhos or Matthijs de Ligt or José Giménez or Milan Skriniar or Dayot Upamecano or Benjamin Pavard at CB (same as Shitty targets with Milan Skriniar added in, as I do not think he is a Pep-type CB) or maybe even (eeek) Varane Bale or Willian (maybe, not sure if ZZ is a fan) or Pulisic or Bailey or Wilfried Zaha at RW maybe even try and pull (like Shitty is) Mbappe Maybe try and snag another RB (although Dalot, their 19yo, looks to be the real deal) LB they probably roll with Shaw still, but they have no true b/u other than the ageing Young Make a stab at Hazard (noooooooooooooooooooooo!) and at CMF and/or AMF try and pull one or two out of SMS or Rabiot or Frenkie de Jong or Isco or Thiago or Marco Verratti or Miralem Pjanic or Nabil Fekir or (dog forbid!!!!) Kante (we would be INSANE to sell him to another EPL team)

Meh, I ignore the press on that type of shite, I just hope they crash out of the CL earlier than the final and also Shitty and us finish above them. I cannot see them finishing under Spuds or the Goonas, but who knows, it is a long season.

Yes! Go for him!!!!

Paul Pogba tells Manchester United teammates he’s ready to go on strike against Jose Mourinho https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/29/paul-pogba-tells-manchester-united-teammates-hes-ready-to-go-on-strike-against-jose-mourinho-7991058/

Werner is one of the 2nd tier of options, I need to see him step up and do it big this year. Huge problem with him is IF he really explodes, Bayern will hop on him. He also will not come cheap, say £70m plus, so a really big money gamble. There are so few GREAT options left for us all of the following have their issues, some have multiple Bats - we could recall him, not sure if it worth the hassle, and Valencia will be PISSED so the real ones................ Paulo Dybala (will cost around £130 to £150m) So much dependson ifhewansttoleave Juveover playing time.I really want him, but our board will never pay his price I fear. Mauro Icardi but we blew it by not hitting his £98m (for first 2 weeks in July 2018 release clause) (it goes up each year, and zero chance Inter sell him in January, probably not in summer 2019 either, plus RM and Barca, etc are sniffing around) Martial another cockup with the failed Willian plus cash swap, might, MIGHT have a shot if Mo is still manager (looking grim for him, ZZ hire and forget Martial, he will renew in a flash), but we all are projecting him as a striker (I think rightly so) but zero signs our board or Sarri see him as a 9 Krzysztof Piatek, has exploded so far, a monster goal machine, Juve now want him, the greedy cunts, we will cost less than all others on here but again, not proven, regardless of massive start and Barca REALLY want him too, I think we would have to guarantee him a starting position, which is NO problem, lolol I am leaning towards him overall, IF we don't try for BY FAR the only two superstars, Dybala and Icardi (which we damn well fucking should do! Fucking board sucks) then Ciro Immobile, who turns 30 in February 2020 (so maybe a long term contract issue), and if Lazio loses SMS next summer, zero chance they also let Ciro go in same window and even less than zero in ´January window, he is their captain, he doesn't want to leave Timo Werner (still not sure if he is the real deal, massively expensive gamble and if Werner shows huge this year, Bayern will grab him) Andrea Belotti (se Werner, and he had a shit year last year) Then some speculative ones Robert Lewandowski way too expensive for his age last window, BUT his contract is up in 2021, so maybe Bayern come down a bit, plus he wants a 5 year deal, so that means we have him until 35yo, arrrf Lautaro Martínez (Inter, and they JUST signed him, even less of chance than Immobile or Icardi IMHO) Patrick Cutrone (again, so not proven, massive gamble and will Milan even remotely want to sell?, no) Giovanni Simeone - Fiorentina looks to be a solid player, but not setting the league on fire, he is a backup type for me, and Fiorentina arecunts to deal with (see Salah nighmare) Maximiliano Gómez - Celta Vigo I have issues with hisoverweightweight body, others think he is great, he is the same for me as Simeone, flip a coin! lolol then there are stopgap measures Anthony Modeste, 30yo, in China cashing in, sign him for 2 years. In 2016-17 he was an absolute BEAST for Köln (who got relegated as soon as he left), 34 goals in 43 games, all comps, ands 25 of those were Bundesliga league goals Edin Dzeko Roma, 33 in March though so at mosat (if a January buy) I would give is until June 2021, his contract is up in June 2020, so we could get him on a free in summer, but that doesn't help us this year Edinson Cavani BY FAR the best of the 30 somethings, I would love to see him here for a year and half or 2 and half whilst we sort it out long term out long term, big issue is PSG will NOT sell him cheaply, even at 32yo (which he turns in February) Bas Dost of Sporting turns 30 in May, scores a shit tonne ( 71 goals in last 2 years, all comps) in Liga NOS, is a giant, 1.96m Finally the truly INSANE play Zlatan Ibrahimovic He can still score like a motherfucker, he is certainly capable of playing with us until at least end of 2021

Yes, that goal is on Kante far more than anyone else.