The Skipper

Small overview on Semedo.

Rather have Isco or Asensio if I'm honest.

The impact he could have from RWB reminds me of a certain Dani Alves.

Goretzka off to Bayern apparently. Let's drop in a cheeky bid for Renato Sanches.

Semedo, Sanchez, Mendy & a striker. Then maybe a luxury signing at CB in Laporte. Now that would be a top window.

Number one on the list for me. Semedo would be one of the best signings we've made this decade.

So happy he got the job done, thank you Michy. Even if you leave, you've written your name in CFCs history books.

He's just a lot fitter this season, and Conte's helping him a lot with how to position himself effectively when we're defending, so he's not a liability to the system. He's got that hunger for the game he used to have when he was younger back. He's still the same Cesc, but like masimaru said up there, just has more vigor about him.

His recent comments are like music to my ears.

I didn't say he scores only against easy teams. I'm talking about his record this season in particularly. I don't think Morata is miles ahead of Lukaku either. Most people on the forum just seem to still over-dislike Romelu. Technical ability isn't the only measure of talent. I think Lukaku's overall talent is better than Morata's, but each to their own.

He definitely had talent, for sure. You don't score close to 30 in a season in the PL if you don't. If he had Drogba's mentality he could've gone down as a great striker for sure. He had the perfect athleticism for a number 9.

Because scouts watch more than one game.

That's only because most of the other strikers coming up that people compare him to are pure 9s, which Morata isn't. He isn't some skill wizard though, some are making him sound like prime Ronaldo Lima when it comes to this, but I don't see it. If anything, his ability on the ball reminds me of prime Torres, maybe slightly better.

Admittedly wrong on garbage time on Morata, but I still stand by everything else. Those aren't difficult teams for Real to score against. Sure, Morata did well to anyway, but that doesn't propel him to suddenly be this £50/60m striker.

Yeah fair enough, I was a bit lazy in what I said so I do apologise for that. I do think that if Morata didn't play in those games, someone else would've stepped up tbh. Such is the nature of that Real squad.

I'm not really advocating for us to sign Benzema too much, it would be an interesting option is all really, because I do think he'd bring the best out of a certain player (Hazard). I'm aware of his issues with the French team, and his attitude, all which would be valid arguments. If the chance ever came that CFC could sign him, you'd have to weigh up a lot of risks.

Maybe I'm being harsh, but I genuinely think any decent striker will prosper at Real, I don't think it's something incredible, in fact it's quite normal that Real Madrid's 2nd choice striker scores a decent amount goals, important ones here and there too. Real's 2nd string side is still an excellent team. Adebayor a few years ago at Real was pretty good coming off the bench and starting games here and there too - doesn't mean he's a top striker. What I'm trying to say is that his goals as second choice striker at Real Madrid don't mean that much - any good striker will thrive at Real. Another example? Javier Hernandez - plucked a few goals at Real too. Morata is better than both these guys, sure, but what I'm trying to get at is that you'd expect him to score against these teams he started against (admittedly, I was wrong on him scoring in garbage time). He's been good, I've said that already, but not fantastic. Now, if a second choice striker at Chelsea for example, pulled off those sort of numbers, with Chelsea's 2nd string side? Sure - now that's amazing. My main point is that people are overstating the goals he's scored too much, with the reasons stated above. It's not enough for me to convince me that he's worth over 50m. The main thing that pushes Lukaku ahead of him for me is that I genuinely think Romelu just needs a better platform - at his best, he's more devastating than Morata. Can Chelsea provide that platform? If we spend well this summer, and taking into consideration Conte's system? Yes, I believe he can.

Why do people keep comparing stats of players that play in a back 2 with our back 3?

He hasn't been fantastic, just good, what you'd expect from a good striker. Morata's scoring record this season is massively overrated. He comes on in garbage time when the team's already winning - rarely does Zizou bring him on over someone like Isco or James, Asensio or even Vazquez to change the game. Here is a breakdown of his 15 league goals this season: Morata’s La Liga goals: 4 vs Leganes 2 vs Depor & Granada 1 vs Celta, Athletic, Alaves, Sociedad, Espanyol, Villarreal, Sporting All quite average, mostly coming on against them in the last 30 minutes of the game when the game is stretched and legs are tired. People really want to pay £60m for a guy that hasn't yet reached 50 career league goals. Lukaku is the better striker for me, especially in this system. I'm truly interested to see what he can do when he's the starting 9 at a top club, because I think in a system like Conte's he could easily explode and score 30+ consistently.

By Lukaku improving I don't mean his skill set per se. What I mean is that he'll be starting with top class players, week in week out, for the first time in his club career. He hasn't had the platform that Morata has had at all.

Same guy that refuses to call up Lacazette and Benzema and decides that Gignac and Giroud are better options. Anyway, if we were to spend big on a CB, I'd be much happier with Laporte than Van Dijk.

I disagree. I used to think the same, but I think we need someone who's a physical presence up front. Morata has none of that. I understand that the issue with Lukaku is that he can have big highs and big lows, but I believe that as he matures his game these will happen less often, and he'd usually play at a high level. Lukaku's link up has improved a lot as well, it's on Costa's level imo, which will do. I'm not saying Morata is a bad player btw, but for the ambitions I think we should have as a team, I think Lukaku, who still has room to grow, would be the better option. Morata has already peaked. I think Lukaku is ready to show what he can do when he's part of a top club.

Do people genuinely believe there's a chance Conte might leave at the end of the season? Blimey...

I used to have a Lukaku agenda too so I feel exactly where you're coming from.

Morata played for Juventus and Real - teams with real quality. Lukaku in the mean time has played for West Brom and Everton. The difference is basically one plays with quality team mates, the other doesn't. Lukaku hasn't been tested in the CL so you can't say for sure that he won't have Morata's impact either. Morata genuinely reminds me of like a Negredo or Soldado. Decent striker, nothing more. If we're going to pay £50/60m for a striker, I'd rather see it go to Lukaku tbh. Morata will never truly be worth that money - he's peaked as a player already, he won't improve much. What is there to improve on? He's already a well rounded player, but doesn't offer anything exceptional whatsoever. Lukaku has some unique traits about him at the very least, and is also in my opinion a much better presence than Morata. When both are on form, Lukaku is a much bigger threat, because he has a unique skill set that can trouble even the best of defenders. Morata does not possess anything unique. Genuinely think he's just another Soldado.