King Kante

I've said it elsewhere, seriously don't care about signing players anymore as the club are just awful at it. Broja, along with Gallagher are the two players I want back most. After that Livra when we can activate his buy back. Only players I want outside of the loan army/academy are a LWB (Alonso's legs have completely gone now and we need a decent back-up even if Chilwell comes back fine and firing) and maybe Rice if something happens with Jorgi or Kante this Summer (however he came through the academy so is a bit like a returnee.) No more dross signings for insane money please.

Well, all I can say, is from where I stand, I have been fairly happy with Kai and prior to having him dropped for Lukaku, I felt he was very much proving his worth and showing improvement. In regard to 'generational' talk, I try to avoid that sort of thing but I do find (in my personal experience) it stems principally from social media and then repeated in the print media. As for the fee, yes it was expensive but that is the kind of fee all clubs have to pay for a talented 20 year old. Was he worth it based on his skill set when we brought him? No probably not, however he is still at an age where we can hope he continues to improve and he is also someone with resale value if he doesn't completely fulfil his potential.

Well, yes and no. One thing to consider with Harvetz is his age so you have to be patient with him, second is that a lot of what he does isn't easily measured or even noticeable at times so you can't always say 'omg, look at that'. A good example of this was West Ham away where his movement was occupying the two CB's which allowed us to create a number of chances and freed up space for the AM's, whereas in the second half Lukaku's statuesque performance allowed them to step 10 yards up the pitch to pile the pressure on. Last season in The CL final against City compared to this seasons performances is another good example. As for 'generational talent' talk, that is just Twitter nonsense. If you are prone to listening to that sort of thing (I don't think you are) too much you end up thinking someone like Lukaku is a monster.

The problem is Lukaku. Last season, and in the parts he didn't play this season, the attack looked pretty fluid. With him in the side everyone is on their heels as he has the movement of a statue. As for Harvetz, his best quality is his off the ball movement which allows him to pull people about. The problem is that he needs to play either F9 (which he cannot with Lukaku in the team) or No.10, which we don't play. Essentially he is our Firmino in that he is a player that doesn't get great stats, but improves everyone around him when he is played in his correct position.

How much longer do we have to play Lukaku for before we drop him so we can play our best forward line?

Get Werner on to push them back 5 yards.

He needs to be playing as a 9 or a 10. Out wide isn't his position.

Swear it still came off his shin or ankle. That said, glad he scored. Need him to find some form so we can try to con someone into buying him.

Because he is 29 now, on £350k+ a week and any idiot that didn't think he was a Donkey before we brought him, now knows it 100%.

Nah, this is just his level.

Lukaku 🤣

Newcastle seem to be buying sensibly. All the players they brought are ones that look good to get them out of a relegation fight this year and can stabilise them next year. After that they can build properly. To me they look like they're operating a bit like City, which is worrying.

Yeah this is all well and good, but what is the point when over £250m of that £1bn goes on players like Lukaku, Kepa, Drinky, Batsh*t and Baka.

Unless PSG hit the crack pipe like Barca circa 2018, we've no chance of getting rid of Lukaku.

It's a saying from The Sopranos series.

Not sure about this guy, his uncle told me he doesn't have the makings of a varsity athlete.

At this point, I'd take Paul Furlong in exchange for Lukaku.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 One duel and no dribbles won against Plymouth? Where are all those people that thought he was good/been transformed in Italy? Absolute donkey of a player.

Wouldn't say he was saying nice stuff about Utd. In that interview he admitted to being a Chelsea fan, not wanting to leave leave West London, chose Gerrard and Messi over Scholes and CR7 and had JT as his all time idol that he now speaks too constantly. Nothing in that interview was pro-Utd other than it being held by Neville. As for Rice the issue is that he signed effectively a 6-year contract and is only three years' through it. West Ham are talking crazy money for him and hold all the cards. In my opinion they'll probably make him do another year as they won't impact his value unless he gets a bad injury. Only way he may leave this season is if they get CL football, as at that point they may be able to attract some players they wouldn't be able to normally and may want to raise cash as it is unlikely they'll do it two years in a row with this squad.

I am at the stage where I simply do not trust the board to sign the right players. I mean, let's be serious, the mouth breather who signed off such transfers as Kepa, Lukaku, Bakayoko and Drinky etc is most likely still at the club and making decisions. I for one am tired of seeing absolute trash can fires coming from a mile away and the club signing the players anyway. Personally, I was kind of relieved this window when we didn't sign anyone for the first team as I knew it probably would've been awful. Hi I am now at the stage where I will prefer to go with the young boys' from our academy or out on loan/with buybacks'. Only area that really needs addressing this Summer outside of those llayers is LWB/LB as, to be fair, we don't even have much cover in the development sides there. Another option is Rice but only if we do plan to move back to a 4 (I am not convinced this is the case.) He gets an exception as, whilst I am still not completely sold on his technique, I am convinced he would die for the club.

It is complete and utter madness when you consider that the reason is principally due to having to shoehorn Lukaku into the team.

Granny: Hello, can I please speak with Mr Pizy? Pizy: Yes, this is Mr Pizy, could I ask who is speaking? Granny: This is Marina Granovskaia, Director of Chelsea Football Club. As you may have noted, we are currently short on left backs and was wondering what your availability was for the next five months? Pizy: (speaking excitedly) I am most certainly free if you need me! Granny: Fantastic news! Well then Mr Pizy, grab your boots and let's blow some minds; let's blow some minds.......

Not true. The muppet pulled a Harry Kane when signing his contract and allowed West Ham to insert a one year extension option when it gets down to two years'; so in reality he has three years' left.

Think there is some truth in this but I kind of straddle both. I have had a ST over nearly 25 years' now (and do away games) and always support the boys' in the ground, but use the forum as a means to debate. I find however from doing this, that it is quite easy to determine who actually goes to games and who doesn't. For instance, with players like Mount, Alonso, Kai and Werner, I give a lot of leeway too as I am able to see what they do off the ball a lot more than those watching on the TV. Werner in particular is a good example of this. Online people seem to focus a lot more on his finishing and touch (which are issues) however those that go seem to appreciate his off ball movement and assisting ability. The others' are similar in different ways. I do however, on here, become hypercritical of players who don't have a work rate/have glaring weaknesses (if here; Kepa for example ended in this category as I hadn't seen him prior to signing) and/or are clearly not going to fit our system before signing, if I have seen enough of them before they sign (Lukaku/Baka/Cuadrado - players I all called busts well in advance of signing; although the latter two were principally on CFCNET which is where I used to post before finding this forum.) This said, in the online world it is a lot easier to be critical as you can actually outline your issues in detail, whereas in the ground you can only really provide snippets to those around you as I am too engaged/busy singing/supporting.