King Kante

He is like Sarri, it is all about ball possession and recycling no matter what the situation.

As soon as I saw Sancho and Sanchez in the team I knew it was going to be a tepid performance. Tbh, not that concerned about being KO'd as we weren't winning it. However, the continuation of limp performances has got to reflect badly on the manager.

Yeah, I am hoping for Araujo from Benfica. He fits the age profile the club goes for and actually looks good with some experience.

This. I think it is a shame about Guiu. I actually like a lot of what I have seen from him. He is obviously very raw, but I did think now he had 6 months at the club under his belt he may be able to push on a bit. Then he gets a chance and get injured. Annoying.

I think what happened is FFP. Essentially the club needed to get Gallagher's lovely HG money on the books. The only way to do it, was via an asset swap - which meant Felix coming in. However, Felix was only seen as an asset and not a real member of the squad as the club want to realise the £40m odd in actual cash at some point. Hence, he floated around the squad for a little while and was moved on asap. He wasn't ever really a player for us, despite being in the squad. I have said a few times, but people need to realise we are being run like an hedge fund investment. It is also why the majority of our purchases are 'spray and pray' type signings by and large.

Yeah, not sure about this. They were saying the same sort of stuff about Slonina not so long ago.

Well he was complaining by all accounts that he had been set up. I suspect this is being looked into before any confirmation. Either way, an A and B sample almost never read differently.

Not sure buying AM's from Germany for big money is ever a good idea.

This. Even if he doesn't reach Santos levels he then becomes a serviceable player for Strasborg and/or gets sold on for a small profit. I don't mind these sort of transfers, but we do need to get some decent players for the Chelsea first team.

Helps on the HG. I am personally not a massive fan of him, but his value is partly attached to his nationality.

It is the managers system. His instance on keeping possession by recycling it, rather than breaking at pace really strangles our attacks. Sancho should also not start games. 20-30 mins as a sub as what he should be used for.

Who is to say we didn't? A lot of our transfers aren't widely in the media until quite late. Additionally, Delap now vs the Summer is probably a very different proposition. Now, I reckon Ipswich would've asked for £100m+. They would have justified that by saying he is their best chance of staying in the league at that is worth £170m. In the Summer, with Ipswich likely relegated they won't be able to demand the same. The only issue may be City's £40m buyback but with the way they spent in the window you have to suspect they were loading up for a ban or some sort of punishment, so not sure they will be able to do anything. Honestly, I just do not think he was ever a possibility in the window unless we vastly overpaid.

People said the same thing about Bakayoko. 'He was good/ok' at Monaco'. In Bakayoko's case, I saw a lot of him at Monaco owing to that exciting team they put together and was telling everyone before we brought him that he was an absolute donkey and owed his career to Fabinho. As for Disaster, I suspect someone was also bailing him out, as I cannot see how he can be a functioning CB for a PL team unless they go full Dyche and having him sit on the 18 yard line hoofing balls down to pitch and only venturing out of the final third for set pieces.

Not sure who we where going to buy? At CF I am pretty convinced Delap is the player they want now. No way where Ipswich selling him in Jan. At CB, who was there? One of the players City brought? However, once City get involved it becomes very difficult owing to wages. Marmoush for instance is now on a reported £250-300k per week. If the AM option was Tel, then I am happy we didn't sign him. Luiz was the only player we were linked with that made any sense but his situation is complicated by his misses also having moved to Juve Women with him. That said, he age probably means he was never an option. At GK we already have 7. Only thing we could/should've done is brought back Petro and given them Sanchez.

Disaster will do well if all he has to do is attack set pieces in the opposition box and doesn't have to defend, pass or run back.

So glad we got Disaster put of the door. £5m plus wage feels like robbed Villa as any sort of money back on him wasn't expected. The only issue is that it is a loan. Anyone know if we may have been able to insert a obligation in the end? Praying that we did 🙏

Just so relieved I can rest knowing there is zero chance of Disaster playing. Let's hope Sanchez is also kept on the bench or back to Cobham.

Yep. Going to the U11 team.

It is a spray and pray private equity mindset. Essentially, they hope to hit a Palmer every x amount of times. The cast offs they suspect to clear out for minimal loss. Tbf, if they are getting £5m for Disaster, Felix and Veiga (with wages covered) for six month loans at a time, and selling an Angelo for profit. It probably isn't a bad deal. I mean what is Santos worth now? £35-£40m+. I don't like this policy, as it makes us imbalanced and unlikely to compete for trophies, but the logic is there.

Can we also send them Sanchez and bring Petro back?

Just trying to get a grip of the outgoings as I cannot handle the incoming 12 year olds. Am I correct that the following has happened: Carney - Dortmund - Loan - wages covered. Chilly - Palace - half of wages covered. Felix - Milan - £5m plus wages covered. Disaster - Loan - × (£5m'ish) plus wages covered. Caleb - Watford loan. Veiga - £4.5m plus wages covered? If that is the case, I think these out goings are OK. Just getting Disaster out of the door on loan is a 7/10 window. So getting a fee for him is even better. Although a sale would've made it 10/10. Only concern is that this will be the last time we will be able to send him anywhere outside of Strasborg. As for Carney, Veiga and Felix all of those seem reasonable places for them to pop up and get good minutes. Carney in particular could easily become worth a good fee after 6 months in Germany. As for the signings, I am giving up. We need an experienced CM. Instead we buy more kids so in 5 years time they may be top 4 level.

Board be like:

If Enzo starts Sanchez and allows the team to step off the gas at 1-0 up, to only make changes after the momentum has completely shifted. I think I will be out on him. Won't go for a score prediction but I suspect this game will go as follows: 1) Early lead for Chelsea 2) Chelsea control the game for 30-35 mins. 3) West Ham come back into it in the last 10-15 mins of the game. Becomes apparent Sancho (if he has started) is out of gas/interest by the 40th minute. 4) No changes at HT. West Ham take control of the game from the KO in the 2nd half. 5) Enzo stands on the sideline looking confused as West Ham score 1-2 goals. 6) After West Ham have their goal or two Enzo will make some like-for-like changes and expect them to perform miracles in 15-10 mins.

I really do not understand this. Is the intention they want to ensure Villa get a CL place? Selling Disasi permanently for any sort of funds will feck Villa more than help them, because if they play him they will soon start dropping points with no chance of sending him back.

There are plenty of players throughout modern football history that have Sat collecting their coin taking abuse, rather than leaving and taking a massive pay cut. You may not like him as a player, but Felix has shown that he will take a hit on pay to play at a level he thinks suits his level. He is essentially the opposite of Duran and VO, hence why he isn't going to turn around and start taking Saudi money.