Vesper

He is pissed about Bayern taking so long for the João Palhinha deal that Fulham could not find replacement, so it collapsed on the last day AFTER Palhinha already completed all his medicals, was in Bayern, and took official pics with their kit on

Ugarte's fee (£51.5m) was less than Lavia's (£58m when add-ons are included) PSG got him because they offered him a far larger salary than we were willing to spend

Net transfer spending: winners and losers https://football-observatory.com/WeeklyPost429 CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post number 429 presents the net transfer spending of the 100 most active clubs in terms of the financial volume of transactions concluded over the last decade. During this period, Manchester United has the most negative balance (-€1.396 billion), while the Portuguese side SL Benfica has the best (+€764 millio) Two other teams have had transfer losses of more than €1 billion over the last ten years: Chelsea and Paris St-Germain. Chelsea also has the most negative balances in the post-COVID period (-€993 million) and the calendar year 2023 (-€558 million). In contrast, SL Benfica outranks AFC Ajax (+€434m) and RB Salzburg (+€422m) over the last decade, while Villarreal has the most positive net spending in the 2023 calendar year (+€117m). Also published today, the 87th CIES Football Observatory Monthly Report presents an even more detailed analysis of transfer-related financial flows in world football over the last decade. In particular, it shows that the amount of transfer fees incurred by clubs in 2023 (around €12.4 billion) was almost 25% higher than in the previous record year of 2019. This is essentially due to the sharp increase of English Premier League and Saudi Pro League clubs’ investments. The figures published include fixed transfer fees, any add-ons regardless of whether they have actually been paid, as well as sums invested in the context of paying loans. Amounts negotiated for loans with an obligation to buy are included in the breakdown for the year of the transfer. Within the limits of available information, the data on beneficiaries considers sell-on fees negotiated by previous clubs. Net transfer spending since 2014 € Million, for the 100 most active clubs in terms of the financial volume of transactions concluded since 2014

ffs Chelsea failed to sign exciting player Antonio Nusa on deadline day after Ian Maatsen refused to leave Stamford Bridge https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/rumor-news-Chelsea-failed-sign-exciting-player-deadline-day-21-year-old-star-refused-leave-stamford-bridge-reports Chelsea reportedly failed to sign winger Antonio Nusa this summer as youngster Ian Maatsen refused to leave. As per Transfer Confidential by Mail, the Blues were interested in signing another young prospect this summer in Nusa. The Norwegian winger plies his trade for Club Brugge, whom he joined from Stabaek in 2021. He has since made 46 senior appearances for the Belgian side, scoring four goals and providing three assists. Nusa had interest from Chelsea on deadline day (September 1), but they wanted to part ways with Maatsen first. Journalist Miguel Delaney had confirmed that the Blues received a bid from Burnley, where he spent last season on loan. However, the 21-year-old declined the offer, as he wants to stay and develop at Stamford Bridge. Maatsen's departure would have helped the west London side in FFP in the long term and also allowed them to sign Nusa, but the Dutch left-back will now stay at the club. Maatsen joined Chelsea's academy from PSV Eindhoven's academy in 2018. He made his debut in their opening game of the ongoing season in the 1-1 home draw with Liverpool. The Dutchman has made substitute appearances in three of the Blues' Premier League fixtures this season. He also played the entire 90 minutes of their Carabao Cup second-round win over AFC Wimbledon.

Corinthians now desperate to sell Brazilian teen Gabriel Moscardo to Chelsea, Blues offering most money https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/club-now-desperate-to-sell-21m-player-to-Chelsea-in-record-sale-blues-offering-most-money/ That is according to Itatiaia in Brazil. So, what is the latest on Gabriel Moscardo and Chelsea? Let’s take a look… What’s the story? Well – according to Fabrizio Romano – Chelsea made a bid for the Brazilian wonderkid at the end of August. Corinthians told Chelsea to pay €25m (£21m) for Moscardo at the time – which would make it a record sale for the Brazilian giants – and talks between both sides continued. Now – however – Corinthians want to sell the teenager to Chelsea quickly, as they find themselves at risk of losing the South American wonderkid for just 80mR$ (£13m). Why? Well, Itatiaia explain how clubs in Brazil have access to Moscardo’s £13m release clause, and the largest sides in Série A are able to afford his £13m release clause. There is now a fear of one Brazilian club triggering his release clause, hence the reason why Corinthians want to finalise a deal with Chelsea as soon as possible. Corinthians are also keen to sell Moscardo to Chelsea as the Blues are willing to send him back on loan for the 2023/24 campaign.

I never called Mou 2015 a miracle

bad picks who made the cut GK Jordan Pickford 7 March 1994 (age 29) 54 0 England Everton GK Sam Johnstone 25 March 1993 (age 30) 3 0 England Crystal Palace DF Harry Maguire 5 March 1993 (age 30) 57 7 England Manchester United DF Lewis Dunk 21 November 1991 (age 31) 1 0 England Brighton & Hove Albion MF Jordan Henderson (vice-captain) 17 June 1990 (age 33) 77 3 Saudi Arabia Al-Ettifaq MF Kalvin Phillips 2 December 1995 (age 27) 27 1 England Manchester City MF Conor Gallagher 6 February 2000 (age 23) 7 0 England Chelsea FW Eddie Nketiah 30 May 1999 (age 24) 0 0 England Arsenal

winning the CL in 2021 was a miracle, and that gave us the Super Cup (barely) and FWCC (barely) we have been atrocious in dometic cup finals for years and other than Mou in 2015, and the 2017 Conte miracle, the league has hardly been a good place for us lately

It was Bayern. I mistyped sorry, will correct https://www.90min.com/posts/bayern-munich-make-decision-trevoh-chalobah-deal https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1808433/Chelsea-transfer-news-deadline-day-Bayern-Chalobah-Southampton https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/Chelsea-fc-chalobah-cucurella-man-utd-bayern-b1103383.html

thug life Mancs at it again Antony's current girlfriend - and mother of his child - Rosilene Silva leaves their Cheshire mansion with a suitcase amid claims Man United star threatened his ex while she was pregnant, damaged her breast implants and sliced her finger Antony's ex Gabriela Cavallin has made abuse allegations against United star The forward has denied the claims but has been removed from Brazil's squad https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12483119/Antonys-current-girlfriend-Rosilene-Silva-leaves-Cheshire-mansion-suitcase-amid-claims-Man-United-star-threatened-ex-pregnant-damaged-breast-implants-sliced-finger.html

Fraudgate at the helm ‘Disrespected’ England stars should retire from international duty after latest Gareth Southgate snub, Rio Ferdinand says https://metro.co.uk/2023/09/04/disrespected-england-stars-should-retire-after-gareth-southgate-snub-rio-ferdinand-says-19444330/ Rio Ferdinand says he would retire from England duty if he was continually overlooked by Gareth Southgate just like James Ward-Prowse and others have been. Southgate named his Three Lions squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and friendly with Scotland last week and, as per usual, it divided opinion. Much of the discourse centered around the inclusion of Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips despite their lack of game time or form for Manchester United and Manchester City respectively over the course of the year. The pair made the cut ahead of the likes of West Ham duo Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen who have made a blistering start to this season, with the Irons fourth in the table and unbeaten after four games. Midfielder Phillips getting in ahead of Ward-Prowse has really irritated fans, given that the former has played just six minutes this campaign, while the latter has one goal and four assists in four appearances for West Ham and former club Southampton. ‘I’ve never known a manager to pick players that are consistently not playing,’ former United and England defender Ferdinand fumed on the FIVE podcast. ‘I get it if a player hasn’t played for five, six or 10 games maybe. But Phillips and Maguire don’t kick a ball. They don’t play, they do warm-ups and they’re getting in England squads. It amazes me. ‘Southgate comes out and says we haven’t got defenders. Go and use a young one man! Go and use someone young or inexperienced who you’re thinking about. You know what Maguire does. ‘It’s a reward for performances playing for England. It’s the best players that are currently playing in their teams. Maguire don’t kick a ball. He comes on for cameos here and there. ‘Kalvin with respect isn’t anywhere near the Man City team. He won a treble last year and well done to him but he ain’t kicked a ball. These men ain’t playing football and they’re still getting in a team based off of work that they done two, three years ago. ‘They’ll be other young midfielders or [someone like] James Ward-Prowse that are thinking, “Wow, what’s happening here? How come I’m not getting a looking?”. It’s a kick in the teeth.’ There was also controversy over the selection of Jordan Henderson following his move to the Saudi Pro League and the exclusion of Raheem Sterling despite his fantastic form for Chelsea in the opening fixtures. ‘If I was Sterling, I’d be very disappointed bearing in mind what he’s done for this England team when he’s been in or around it,’ Ferdinand added. ‘If you’re going by the yard stick that Gareth’s using with the likes of Maguire and Phillips, why is it all right for them guys to get in and not him? Sterling’s probably been the main bright spark at Chelsea. It’s just nuts. ‘I’d retire. If I’m someone like Ward-Prowse I’d just retire. Say, “listen, don’t pick me no more. There’s no point. It’s disrespectful what you’re doing”. ‘It is to people like him, especially Ward-Prowse who’s been putting up numbers for his team on a regular basis. What more does a man got to do to get a sniff?’

Gallaher pounding out 3200, 3500 minutes (we have no Europe to kick him up to the 4000 level) will be disastrous if it happens. He is a massive weak link. Gutted we did not sell him, Trevoh (asking £50m for him from AC Milan Bayern was MADNESS), and CuCu (still hoping the Saudis buy CuCu).

😞

“It hurts” – Chelsea player reacts to insults from former club’s fans amid ‘complicated’ situation https://sportwitness.co.uk/hurts-Chelsea-player-reacts-insults-former-clubs-fans-amid-complicated-situation/ Signed by Chelsea in January and then loaned back to Lyon for the second half of the season, Malo Gusto is now a fully fledged Blues player. The 20-year-old has played in all four Premier League games to date and picked up two assists, and while his current team’s start to the season could be far better, it certainly isn’t as bad as his former one’s. Lyon currently sit rock bottom of Ligue 1, which has caused a lot of discontent among the fanbase, with some of the younger players who have left, including Gusto, being insulted by fans during the 4-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain at the weekend, to which the Chelsea player has since reacted. Currently with the France U21 squad, Gusto was asked about the events at the weekend, which he witnessed first hand since he was at the stadium to watch his former team. The incident happened after the game, as the players went to clap the fans in the north stand, when the leader of the Bad Gones, the team’s ultras, grabbed a microphone and directly addressed the players. During his speech, he called three players a word we won’t repeat here, indirectly talking about Castello Lukeba, Bradley Barcola and Malo Gusto, who all left Lyon for good this summer for RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea respectively. In fact, the second on that list came on for his new club during the game and was booed by his former fans. Asked about the situation in a press conference on Tuesday for France’s U21s, the Chelsea defender said: “The situation is complicated, but I hope it will get sorted out because it’s the club of my heart. Bradley is a close friend. I feel sorry for him. Everyone tried to take a road. I can understand the frustration of fans, but for it to go that far, it hurts. We come from Lyon, but that’s football, we have to accept it.”

Disagree. On many levels. Bellingham was NEVER coming here. Pickford is shit. (other keepers out there better than Sanchez or him) You added a player not available then (Toney) who we very well may sign in January. And I rate Caicedo over Rice (this is the only part that is debatable, IMHO).

Chelsea player will be “put on the market in January” if he doesn’t sign a contract extension https://www.Chelsea-news.co/2023/09/Chelsea-player-will-be-put-on-the-market-in-january-if-he-doesnt-sign-a-contract-extension/ With the summer transfer window over the time has come to reflect on it all and the business that was done. Chelsea did some incredible business and spent a lot of money. But as well as that, they managed to sell many of the deadwood players and make some incredible fees on player departures. They could have sold more as well and the squad size is still slightly too big for what Mauricio Pochettino would have ideally liked. A handful of Chelsea’s players could still have been sold on transfer deadline day last Friday but they ended up staying, one of which was Ian Maatsen. Burnley agreed a deal to sign him from Chelsea for £31.5 million, but Maatsen did not want to go and didn’t go! He wanted to stay at Chelsea and fair play to him for that. But if he doesn’t sign his new contract extension at the club, then he will be put on the transfer market in January. That is according to Ben Jacobs writing in his latest exclusive and extensive Chelsea FC column for SPTC today. He said: “I was surprised Ian Maatsen didn’t go to Burnley on a loan with an obligation to buy, especially after Marc Cucurella’s loan to Manchester United fell through. There are a lot of left-backs at the club suddenly, albeit Maatsen has been used in a more advanced position. “Had Burnley offered £20-25m at the beginning of the window, Maatsen would have likely moved. But he got minutes in pre-season and was reluctant to exit, even knowing Burnley so well from his time with them on loan last season. Chelsea now want Maatsen to sign a new contract and if he doesn’t he’s another one who will be put on the market in January.” related: Chelsea star Ian Maatsen celebrates after rejecting £31.5m deadline day transfer Chelsea have been one of the busiest Premier League teams during this summer's transfer window, but one of their proposed deadline day deals didn't end up going through https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/Chelsea-transfer-deadline-day-maatsen-30847250

I would swap him for Lavia in a heartbeat. That one stung. I mindfucked myself as I watched Ugarte being too rash in the few games (not footage) I saw him play in, so I became less interested. Then, when we were super linked, I went back and watched much more and becuase enamoured completely with him. Was gutted when PSG got him. 😞 Those cunts have so many of my wants (some more than other but all of the following I wanted or want at some point) over the past few years it is insane, far more than any other team atm (I never wanted to BUY Neymar, btw, too expensive and I hate his attitude) Gianluigi Donnarumma Marquinhos Milan Skriniar Lucas Hernández Presnel Kimpembe Nuno Mendes Achraf Hakimi Nordi Mukiele Manuel Ugarte Vitinha Carlos Soler Warren Zaïre-Emery Xavi Simons Ousmane Dembélé Bradley Barcola Kylian Mbappé Randal Kolo Muani Gonçalo Ramos Hugo Ekitiké (I still think he comes good, but maybe not at PSG) plus they had Moussa Diaby (Nkunku too, but we eventually got him, same for Thiago) madness

What became Google began in January 1996 as a research project by Larry Page and Sergey Brin (plus Scott Hassan, the original lead programmer who wrote much of the code for the original Google Search engine, but he left before Google was officially founded as a company) when they were both PhD students at Stanford University in California, but technically you are correct, as it was not formally launched as a firm until August 1998.

welcome! Bobby Tambling sitting in front of Peter Bonetti in 1962

After 1-0 defeat, Enzo Fernandez has now done something no other player in Europe has this season https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/club-news/after-1-0-defeat-enzo-fernandez-has-now-done-something-no-other-player-in-europe-has-this-season/ Chelsea have endured a tough start to the 2023/24 campaign – but there has been one very bright spark in Enzo Fernandez. The Argentina international has shown exactly why Todd Boehly spent £106.8m to sign him from Benfica in January with some truly exceptional performances in the heart of midfield. Despite being on the losing side against Nottingham Forest, Enzo Fernandez has now achieved something no other player in Europe has this season. What’s the story? Well, Mauricio Pochettino’s side looked devoid of ideas on Saturday. However, Fernandez continued to test Nottingham Forest with progressive passes, with one even putting Nicolas Jackson through on goal – only for Joe Worrall to come in with a brilliant challenge. Now – according to Squawka – the South American is one of just two players in Europe, alongside Joshua Kimmich, to have played over 40 passes into the final third, as well as more than 40 passes into the opposition box, so far this season. The Bayern Munich No.6 is one of the best midfielders on the planet and has been for years, so it speaks volumes that the Chelsea No.8 is actually outdoing him in both departments. While both Kimmich and Fernandez have made over 40 forward passes in both areas, the latter has actually played 66 balls into the final third and 47 into the box. Kimmich – in comparison – has completed 45 passes into the final third, and 41 into the box, so actually, no other player in Europe is as forward thinking as Fernandez when it comes to passing this season. Chelsea need to help Enzo Fernandez Clearly, Chelsea have a very special player on their hands in Fernandez, but his immense creativity is not being supported by a clinical frontline. For whatever reason, Pochettino’s current setup is not getting the likes of Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling into goalscoring areas, despite Fernandez’s progressive passes putting the Blues into dangerous positions. Having said that, a lot is new at Stamford Bridge right now, and it will take some time for everyone to get used to each other out on the pitch.

very strange indeed I am over it now, but we shall see what happens next summer

I think you might be misunderstanding me my first point the whole time had only to do with the cutoff age being one year too low 26 versus 25 that said there were a TONNE of 26yo and under players with lots of experience that we could have purchased far more experience than some of the pure youth we bought I disagree with a lot of the non youth buys (and some non buys as well, very much so, including a 28yo, Skriniar (the only outfield player I rated who was 27yo or older and was available and who would have come here) and an great, experienced AMF like Maddison) the following all were bad buys, and none of them are 'youth' Axel Disasi (unless he rapidly improves) Robert Sánchez Wesley Fofana Marc Cucurella Kalidou Koulibaly Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Denis Zakaria (stupid loan as we never played him enough) plus Mykhaylo Mudryk (potentially looking like a massive bust, but I still have hope) now............... there so many other (non youths, but also almost all 26 and under) ones I would have preferred, players with a lot of experience I so do NOT want to buy only youth to replace those shit buys above, not at all my other point was different I am calling out this myth that there was a lot of 27yo and older (up to 30yo, as after that, save for GKers, a small amount of some CFs, and a smaller amount of CBs, we are talking about mainly players in real or soon real decline) players who were good enough, available, and willing to come here there just were hardly any IMHO one 30yo (Oblak) no 29 yos two 28 yos (Maignan and Skriniar) no 27 yos