The Skipper

Kurt is ok on the ball, just has an awkward style. But it's ok. We have Luiz now to compliment him.

Read somewhere that Jose had the choice between Griezmann and Cuadrado. How true is that?

Wishful thinking but maybe the club believe enough in our academy talents at LB (Aina, Jay Dasilva) to usurp Alonso and become a mainstay in the first team. Alonso then becomes a good squad player...

To be honest, I commended the fact that we sent out Baba (don't think he's good enough unfortunately but he could work on becoming better) on loan but was expecting a full back who's much better. So someone like Fabinho for example, would've been a good buy. Alonso is sort of underwhelming but... hope he proves me wrong.

Well, it's a good loan. It's up to him now. He's going to need like a 30 goal season to make it here though.

Don't think he'll displace Ivanovic unfortunately.

I agree wholeheartedly. The whole team was whack. Luiz was kind of scape goated for the whole thing whilst others walked away reputation in tact (i.e. Silva who was just as atrocious). Doesn't mean he wasn't bad though!

Thiago Alcantara.

Oh come on. Before that Germany game Luiz was legit the best CB in the tournament. Hence why he got picked in team of the tournament anyway. It was an awful display but he was awesome for Brazil before that.

Enjoy the life!!!

Zouma.

I'm hoping Conte makes Luiz as good as Bonucci.

This picture is old and reports claim he's on a Eurostar to London anyway.

Looks like I was wrong. Didn't see this coming at all...

Isco or James. Either would be great.

Mail are clearly trolling. It's a brilliant joke though.

Best. Job. Ever.

Marca are saying that apparently we're interested and that anything unexpected can happen, but that James could also easily stay at Real. Basically, they don't know anything.

Lots of spring cleaning being done. Loaning a lot of players out, surely we're expecting some few players in? Apart from Alonso that is.

Yes please.

Well, it's clear to me that if we give Conte a proper team we'll be big title contenders. We still need more players to improve the defence and get someone in that'll reduce the pressure on Hazard.

Guus and Conte didn't have Luis though...

I've actually slightly looked into this. This will be quite brief as I don't have time but I do appreciate that it could be seen a problem; but it's a good problem to have. We don't have a proper dedicated number 10 in this team and I'd like that option. I would say play James out wide as a wide playmaker (David Silva style) if you want to fit him in with Costa and Batshuayi. It could work. If Conte is truly serious about the 4-4-2 then we can fit them all in, we have a few solutions. Currently, if we we're a side confident in possession we could field something like: Hazard - Costa - Batshuayi - James Fabregas - Kante Azpi - x - Zouma - y Courtois *Azpi plays left back to help cover Fabregas' defensive deficiencies. We bring in a smart defender comfortable at playing the high line at x, and bring in a smart fullback at y who can support Zouma and Kante on the right hand side, whilst providing an outlet out wide on the right with James. Of course, this is an extremely offensive team, and if we had need for more defensive cover we swap out Fabregas for Matic or Chalobah - or drop Michy or Costa and go for a 4-5-1 look: Costa Hazard - Fabregas - James - Willian Kante y - x - Zouma - Azpi Courtois *Again, if we need more defensive cover in this formation - drop Fabregas - I think this is okay though as he's being flanked by Kante, Azpi and Willian. My ideal choice for y? Young defender at Milan called De Sciglio who is adept at playing both sides of the pitch quite well. Conte will know him well and it gives us great flexibility. Basically, this only works because of Kante's superb ability as a midfielder to cover gaps. Kante signing is huge. As Ranieri said, the guy is pretty much a 2 in 1 player. That's how I'd approach the problem anyway.

That was only the season before last. Hazard POTY season right? What exactly would you say is our terms as well?