King Kante

Two things. Mount has been playing in an AM role a lot this season, so he does not need to tackle as much. Sure, you can argue that he isn't creative enough to play that position but it isn't actually his position and he has been doing a job there. Two, Mount is much younger and in his first season in the PL. You cannot compare his stats currently to RLC/KdB until he is 23 for RLC and 27 for KdB. Further, I am a big Mount fan but do not think he is going to be as good as KdB who is the best midfielder in the PL. I just find it amazing that a kid, who is in his first year, only 20 years old for most the season, been asked to play a variety of positions that aren't his and has worked his socks off, is being beaten up is being criticised like this. If he had been brought for £40m or something then maybe it would be slightly justified but I do not see how Mount can be getting heat. This also goes double as he is currently playing in a much poorer side than the two you're comparing him too with a rookie coach.

You do realise that Mount should really be a No.8/No.5 that has had to play out of position a lot of the time right? Further, at the start of the season he was 20 and only had experience of playing in Holland and the Champo. What exactly were you expecting? A good example for me with Mount is SFL who in his first season here got played out of position in RM/LM in a 442. Here are the stats for the two: SFL first season at Chelsea (aged 23) 53 games, 7 goals, 2 assists Mount first season at Chelsea (aged 20/21) 53 games, 8 goals, 6 assists What I find most confusing is that you hammer Mount, then you give RLC a wide berth despite him always injured, having zero work rate off the ball and has only had one decent three month spell for us (last three months of last season) and is 3 years older.

What would've made it better was if the ginger one was Rice.

I am going to stick my neck out on the line here. In two/three years time. I reckon a lot of people on here criticising Mount our going to have to eat a lot of humble pie. I find the discussions surrounding Mount atm are very reminiscent of those I had with people about SFL until he was 24. Not saying he is going to hit SFL heights as SFL put the after burners on at around 24/25, however I do think he will be a very good player long term for us.

Reading these last few pages, I honestly feel I have stepped into RAWK or something. Do we need to improve as a team defensively? Yes. Does SFL need to make some adjustments? Yes. Does SFL deserve to be sacked? No. Honestly, what were people actually expecting from this season? My expectation was 6th and maybe a semi finalist in one of the domestic cups. CL has been about par. For me, SFL has exceeded expectations. Also, lets look at the team. For around three years prior to this, our team was essentially pass of Hazard and hope he does some magic. Where we defensively better? Yes. However, that was due to Hazard taking on all the responsibility by himself. Then lets look at the players. In the back line Dave is the only one were you can say he would certainly play for another top 4 team. James is a good prospect that would also play as a rotation option. Alonso in a LWB position would also play but would be primarily a LB2. After that the rest are questionable. The problem however, seems to be some people built these players up (I have ever rated any of them bar AC (who I think is just overawed by the physical challenge in the PL.) The rest are at best squad filler and in Kepa's and Emerson's case, they do not deserve to be here. In CM, you then have problems with the make up rather than the quality per se. Jorgi requires a very specific system, Kante doesn't really fit SFL's system, RLC is always injured and Barkley isn't good enough. AM - CHO and Puli hit with injuries, Willian being Willian, Pedro on his last legs. CF - Tammy not good enough yet (maybe never will be). Batsh*t, no understanding of the offside trap (proven under multiple managers). Giroud, limited but effective. To be fair, shouldn't have been frozen out. For me, the only real questionable things SFL has done is freeze Giroud out and sell Luiz (who was our best CB.)

To be fair, he Zouma and James had played him offside. It was Emerson two yards behind the line that allowed him through. A few times this year, I have noticed AC step up to play offside but then have some other idiot completely in the wrong place to play someone onside (normally one of the LB's or his CB partner.

Yeah, but with the squad the way it is atm, I am not sure we would've got past any of them anyway and if we did we could've got a right tonking in the final. Further, not sure we would've beat Atalanta as they probably would've got at the very least 4 against us across the two legs.

Never thought we would win, so it is not really annoying this loss. However, I do think some players put a fail nail in their coffin with those being Barkley and Emerson. CB's weren't great either but we already knew that and I suspect one of those two will be gone if we can find a buyer. Tammy also re-confirmed he is at squad player level. Mount and CHO were the best players for us today, even if Mount should've done better when through early in the 2nd.

Has Granny seen the defence?

With the Covid situation and the sheer number of dregs we have, the club had better start getting used to this.

Looks like they decided to sack. As I said, Jorgi will be here next season. Only way he goes is if we take a massive haircut on the fee and I do not see Granny going for that.

Isn't the idea to give that job to Melo? Regardless, Sarri is on super thin ice atm. He did his best to throw away Serie A and then he has just been knocked out by a team who have played twice in five months. Further, Penaldo doesn't really suit his system.

Man, I seriously thought he would be out for a while. This guy is like Robocop.

Sarri will do well to keep his job. Jorgi isn't going anywhere.

Well lets see. I hope you're right and I am wrong.

The problem is that clubs finances have been hammered by Covid. Reports say that the PL are getting £330m less from TV, then you have the reduction in gate receipts, spending at the ground, merch, CL money is likely to be hit too. Utd are saying they are on course for a £100m loss and they are the market leaders at milking advertising ££££. So far in this market, the only real moves have been from us with Werner (Ziyech doesn't count), City and Bayern. However, all three have reasons for this. Chelsea no transfer spending for 18 months, Bayern are perhaps the best run top club and City are financed by the UAE. After that it is a guessing game. Utd may go big on Sancho but that is starting to look less likely than 2 days ago. As for our dregs, I placed them into 4 categories. Batsh*t to be fair may be able to be sold, but it will require him to give up his £110k a week wage and drop to his actual level (which he doesn't seem to be keen on.) As I said in that post, this market is going to be very difficult to shift players as finances have changed with clubs looking at serious haircuts to once thought of guaranteed income. As a result, players are going to be the ones that will have to take the hit, For instance, if your a player on £100k, why would you move somewhere else for £55k? Especially when if you wait a year the market could swing back and then you could move then?

Yeah, this is exactly the problem. At the moment, there appears to be very little movement in the market outside of the top PL teams and possibly PSG. Real, Barca, Bayern (who look to be happy with Sane), Juve etc, aren't buying and if anything are also looking to clear the decks also. I think some PL teams will come to the market due to their finances but the problem with a lot of our players is that their wages are too high for their ability level. At the moment, people like Barkley probably still do have a market owing to the English premium but outside of that, and possibly Emerson and Zouma who are on a reasonable wages for their ability, it is going to tough. Further, with the restrictions on loan players over 22, that further hampers us as we are restricted to 6 players out I believe. As for Jorgi, as you say Juve are his only destination but Sarri is on thin ice. If they go out to Lyon, I reckon it is curtains for him. Then, even if he somehow pulls off a run to the final or something, Juve are already overloaded at CM with some crazy earners themselves and they have just got Melo. Imo, we are in a tough spot when it comes to selling the dregs as even if we go crazily low on fees as most of the players are not getting their wages that they get here. An example of this is Frazier. He is currently on a free after his contract at Bournemouth expires and was expecting £100k a week as there is no fee. Palace are saying £55k and that is it.

This is all well and good but the problem is that Zappa earns £70k a week, the book value is relevant as we need him to either agree a serious wage cut or find someone willing to take on those wages. Further, you say €10-€15m is good value for an Italian team. First, Roma do not seem to think so, which is why they are sending him back. Second, after them, you only have around 5 clubs that could afford that and none of them need him.

Everyone says sell the following: Batsh*t, Barkley, Emerson, Kepa, Drinky, Baka, AC, Zappa and Baba And then you have a mixture of people who say sell: Jorgi, Alonso, Zouma, Rudi and Kante The problem however is wages, with the exception of Emerson (reported £40k a week) and Zouma all of those players are on wages way too high for their ability. For me, we have four categories that these players fall into: Cat 1 - Have a decent market Emerson - His wages are cheap enough for most top 6 Italian sides Zouma - Has enough cred in the bag from his previous loans to be able to sell Barkley - A bit of a push due to £100k a week wages, but due to his nationality and physical strength may just be able to convince someone Cat 2 - Absolutely no chance we will find a buyer Kepa - £170k a week makes him a top 10 paid GK in the world. Plus he was brought for £72m. At best we may find a loan where we have to pay his wages. Drinky - No explanation needed. Likely to have either alcohol problems and/or mental health problems. Baba - Reportedly on £60k a week. Chronic injury problems. Zappa - I actually think he is an ok player. However, high wage (£70k a week) plus ACL injury means he is a no go for anyone. Cat 3 - Very small market AC - Will not be wanted by any PL team. Earns £70k+. Rated at £30m+ by club. Only team that may still rate him in that region (at a push) is Gladbach. Kante - Had bad injuries for a year now. Very high earner (£150-£300k depending on what source you want to believe) only market is PSG as the other top 5 European clubs do not want him/or do not have the finances this year. Jorgi - Would have to go back to Italy, unless Pep still wants him. Only clubs that he would fit are Juve and Napoli. Napoli do not have the finances after buying. Juve have too many midfielders on high wages. Alonso - Inter are the only team where he would make sense. They have already laid out a sizable amount on a RBand seem to insanely being giving Utd a reprieveon Sanchez. Seem to not being getting Martinez money this Summer. Cat 4 - The players have unrealistic views on their ability level and who they should be playing for. Batsh*t - Seems to think a team like WHU are beneath him so that rules out mid table PL sides. Also refuses to go back to Belgium (from reports.) High wage of £110k will not be provided outside of England. Baka - Apparently only wants Milan. Milan do not have the cash to pay him £110k a week. Also, fee would be prohibitive for them, hence way they past last Summer. Rudi - Seems to be someone very happy to be at Chelsea. Cannot see him moving anywhere unless it is someone of a similar level or higher. Not going to happen. That for me, means the only ones that we may be able to shift are: Emerson, Barkley and Zouma (however, he isn't really a CB that is first in line to be culled.) Then we have outside chances of: Kante (losing him is a risk owing to the make up of our side), Jorgi, AC (if Gladbach have cash or are willing to swap a player) and Alonso (if Inter have more cash that what it appears.) The rest I think we are lumbered with, with our best hope being a loan. Those in Cat 2 are pretty much a drag on finances as at best they will be loaned with subsidised wages.

Nah, I am not sold on him after watching Brentford's last five games. Watkins is Brentford's best attacker. Banhrama is flashy on the ball but goes missing for large chucks of every game. Can see him pulling a Taarbat when he moves up a league.

That would be Gosens and Telles. All others do not get that. Also, if that is what you're looking for then Alonso is pretty much in that category too if he plays week in, week out.

Willian is actually the exact type of player we need in the AM3 role from the bench next season as whilst he doesn't score/assist like he should, he is actually very good at keeping the ball, which would be very handy in a lot of matches where you want to take the sting out of games. However, 3 years on top dollar for a 32 year old AM is not wise. 2 years was a bit of a push, but 3 years is just too much. I reckon he will be good for Le Arse but if he picks up a bad injury not long after signing he could be Ozil Mk2.

I think Drinky was on around £60k a week with Leicester so he was always going to be expensive. I still do not really know how his transfer came about. The only way it really makes any sense is if Conte went absolutely crazy after we didn't get Vidal or Nannoglain (sorry for the spelling.) As for Kepa, I know why he got that wage. The club were in full panic mode and lost the plot. £72m on a GK who only has 54 league games under his belt was was just plain insanity.

If he can be had for essentially the same price as say Zouma can be sold for, then I would be ok with him. Not a world beater but can organise a defence and head a ball. Not great on the ball though.

Have to agree. Even in the previous seasons he was doing stupid things but was bailed out. His primary problem is his how rash he is, however his lack of reading the game is a real killer imo. At the moment, our biggest problem is that our CB's collectively all have serious weaknesses in their game and no matter what combination you put together, they can be got at: AC - Pros - Good reader of the game, knows when to step up (however this is actually a problem when playing with either Zouma or Rudi as neither do, so they end up playing people onside), comfortable on the ball if not spectacular. Cons - super weak physically for a CB and mentally weak too as mistakes get to him, also weak in the air. Zouma - Pros - super quick, strong and decent in the air (his aerial ability does annoy me though as it has no finesse to it as he just slams his head into things and it can go anywhere). Cons - Low football IQ, poor positional play, very poor with the ball under pressure. Rudi - Pros - Strong, quick and passionate. Cons - low football IQ, easy drawn out of position/cut in on, rash. Tomori - Pros - Comfortable on the ball, quick, good physical strength. Cons - overplays in dangerous positions, loses concentration often, short/weak in the air. Essentially all four are what I would class as CB3/4 for a top four side. For me Tomori/AC have more of a chance at becoming first team players at a top 4 club as they have a stronger grip on the basics and if they had someone leading them, I reckon their play would improve. Rudi/Zouma are pretty much at their level.