The Skipper

What do you think he does better than Hugo? I think Ekitike is far far better than Woltemade tbh, like his ceiling is way higher. Much better technical base, much better locomotion, one of those wing forward like strikers, a lot like Isak. Woltemade reminds me of a slightly more technical Weghorst/Fullkrug. I don't think he scales up too well in the PL personally.

Watched some more Gittens tapes, he's actually a very interesting prospect. I think he's probably a year or two away from blowing up.

So: Dembele: signed at 26. Hakimi: signed at 22 Donnarumma: signed at 22 Marquinhos: signed at 21? Fabian: 26 I think there's not much wrong with signing young guys, because all of these bar say Marquinhos still had loads of experience when signed (I think experience rather than age is important here - how many top flight games have they played). I think the key really is to sign real quality with experience, regardless of age. We have guys like Enzo, Caicedo, Reece, Cucurella seriously coming of age now in that sort of bracket imo. Pretty much core guys in our 11. We need a few more absolutely, and this is where you get guys like Maignan to come in and bridge the gap, but imo football is turning into a sport where youth are going to prevail. You don't want to wed yourself to "older" players too much, you are better off building them up yourself as PSG have done. We do lack that balance a bit, but I don't think signing older players for the sake of it, unless they actually bring in real quality like Maignan, is a great idea. Hopefully the whole CWC deadline thing was a ruse and we actually do end up grabbing him, and a top quality left winger who does have that experience, minimum. Then you have a core of top LW, Maignan, Reece, Cucurella, Enzo, Caicedo which is over half of the starting 11 now. Surrounded by young guys with top character like Colwill & Palmer, that's 8/11. The rest can be managed imo. It's a good base. They just need to add the crown jewels now.

Good to see some of the OGs are still kicking it on here! Good to see you too Vesper!

It's not what I think they'll do, it's what *I*, as in me, would do.

Good evening Chelsea family, glad to see this place is still alive and kicking. Small thoughts on our transfer window so far. I think the Delap signing is great value for money, and in today's market where your young talented CFs are going for 90m-100m+ euros, it's a snip. Of course he isn't a top 9 yet, but low risk high reward imo. Quenda, just watched him in the France u21 v Portugal u21 matchup. Kid's legit. Elite winger in the making, great weight of pass, great football IQ, great athleticim and a nice technical floor. Wish we could bring him in a bit earlier because I think he's ready to start in the PL tbh. Essugo seems like a raw guy, so really looking forward to see *how* raw exactly. Seems like a good dude to bring off the bench to add beef into the midfield. Sarr seems like the type of CB we need - strong, athletic, front footed. He is still a bit raw though it seems. Interested to see how he cooks in the CWC. For me the priorities now are, bring in Maignan if you can and run a 2 man rotation between him and Sanchez (Maignan as the no. 1 of course). Looks like they're hellbent on selling Petrovic and he seems to be ready to go anyways. I don't think Jorgensen will ever be good enough (happy to be proved wrong) and I don't think Penders needs to sit on the bench here - Maignan can be a perfect in between. I would also look at an elite right footed winger - so someone like Rodrygo, Barcola, Leao or maybe even Nico Williams. If possible, let's grab also a 10/wing hybrid type player too so we can actually rotate Palmer or not be too effected if he goes missing through injury/form. I really like Ekitike as well but I think that's more of a luxury signing tbh, not essential. Also heard we might be after Hato at LB, wouldn't be so mad at that. So for the rest of the window if you bring in: Maignan Rodrygo/Barcola/Leao/Nico Williams Hybrid 10/LW or maybe just another right footed left winger (Gittens is ok if they can get a reasonable price) Ekitike Hato I think we have a top window here. Then it's about selling. Whether they can pull that off, I don't know. The owners and SDs so far have looked very amateurish in general. They've done some good stuff but done a lot of bad stuff as well.

Alonso is genuinely the worst player in the squad imo.

People don’t realise that we’re looking incredibly liquid in attack at the moment because Callum is conducting a lot of the play. He’s doing a lot of good things when it comes to creating, dictating the tempo in the final third, making the right decisions in the final third. Just needs to sort out his finishing in general, and be given more game time so he can increase his risk appetite… He’s still not anywhere near his best imo. Still has a lot of room to grow.

Haha… I stand corrected. Our very own Reece James.

What I'd like to see: Mendy; James Silva Azpi; Chilwell Kanté Mount CHO; Havertz Werner Abraham. What we'll probably see: Mendy; Azpi Silva Rüdiger; Alonso Kovacic Jorginho CHO; Giroud Werner Mount.

I think Mount is actually better from deep where he has more time to pick out passes. It doesn't always have to be defensive splitting passes, it can also be about breaking the lines which is actually one of his best and most underrated attributes. We also have Billy Gilmour who knows how to circulate but also has a very keen eye for a final pass. Interesting times ahead. United this Sunday another big, big test

Looks like we've regressed back to looking clueless, no idea in our play anymore, very predictable. I thought we turned a corner, I thought there was more of an idea in our play. It looks like we've been found out. Still naivety in our system, with unwarranted arrogance. We're playing worse than last year at the moment. I think Frank's been unlucky some, but it looks again like he's out of his depth. You can't create a whole system around one single player (Ziyech) and essentially have no plan B. Not in this modern football era. The drop off in our performances, how easy it is to predict and play against us, scoring mostly from set piece goals and crosses... It's all so predictable and boring. Statistically he's the worst manager in the Abramovich era. If he wasn't SFL he would've been gone a long time ago. He's maybe not ready to consistently coach a team with Chelsea's expectations just yet.

Feels like a season defining fixture a little bit.

Sure we win this game if that AC fart didn't happen. In control, growing into the game. Turned the game sour and our players don't know how to seize the opportunity in chaos well enough. Villa deserve respect though. Don't forget they beat Liverpool 7-2.

Sure we win this game if that AC fart didn't happen. In control, growing into the game. Turned the game sour and our players don't know how to seize the opportunity in chaos well enough. Villa deserve respect though. Don't forget they beat Liverpool 7-2.

So unlucky to not score that at the end. He's a good player for sure.

Last thing I'll say regarding today's performance... I'm always going to back the youth at the club, especially ones that have just broken through to the first team, you want to see your guys in the youth realise their potential. He was still our best attacker today, over Giroud, Pulisic, Werner and Havertz who came on later, so I don't understand why this isn't being seen as a positive performance from someone who's not had a lot of chances and game time. First half was a lot more like it from us and our best players were Mount, Chilwell and CHO. Obviously overall it wasn't a world beating performance from most on the team but CHO was definitely amongst the players that had better performances in the game. His performance in my opinion was an encouraging building block. Aston Villa are a top team ATM and it's looking like his game is being translated to the top a lot more now. First PL start since October, 2nd game back after injury after a really good 45 minutes against Arsenal and a solid performance against another top team in Villa so we should stop believing in his potential and he's overrated. Personally, I see progress today. It would take a lot more for me to write off one of the most talented youngsters who has just turned 20 from the academy.

Obviously you've completely given up on him as have others. Agree to disagree. We shall see who's right in a couple of years naturally.

I'm also an Ajax fan, I would swap him for CHO in a heart beat. None of those guys are better imo and certainly wouldn't sell CHO for £50m to replace him with any of those guys. Interestingly, I would love to see where most of those guys were when they just turned 20. Nowhere near CHOs level that's for certain.

So we're writing off a 20 year old academy player who's had his first PL start in months after a serious injury problems because he didn't have a 10/10 performance but a 7.5/10 performance? He hasn't ever played 5 games in a row for Chelsea. He's not even being played in his best position today. He has Grealish on his side so the manager decided to push everything through to the left hand side(Pulisic and Chilwell), which meant he wouldn't have many touches anyway. Puts in a good performance, excellent passing on the ball in possession, some good defensive actions, some chances created, and that's it? He's never even had a run of proper starts under Lampard due to injuries and tactical choices? I don't think it's right to completely write off a player in this sort of situation. We've done this so many times before with guys like KDB and Salah and yet we haven't learn anything?

Name me a better winger we can sign for £50m?

You're being so unfair, this is his first PL start in months, he's playing with Kanté and Azpilicueta aside him which hardly inspires creativity... He's not playing in his best position (LW), and still created some good chances (especially Werner towards the end who should've bagged that chance). He didn't perform a 10/10 game but for his first game back what exactly were you expecting? He's literally JUST turned 20 last month, you think he's not going to get better as a player either? You genuinely think the Champions of Europe who were contemplating on signing him for huge money didn't do their homework either? Callum will make it, whether it's here or somewhere else.

He was easily our best attacker and created lots of chances? I thought that was a very encouraging performance. Not sure what you're expecting from him tbh.

I personally like that Lampard is trying to make him more of an 8, so that he's more involved in games. The fact that this is untapped potential in him is huge imo.

People forget he's just 21...