Vegetable

Everyone? This board is not a single person, usually you have two groups of people with strong, polar opposite opinions with reactive group in the middle here. Which one gets more visible given time depends on the situation 🤪 They wanted 120 or even more from us, if I remember right?

It's not the outgoings that is the problem, it's the lack of quality replacements. Normally you get better players and then sell the ones you have, not clear entire squad and then think what can be macgyvered next. I'd say people will cry for Mudryk to be sold after they successfully cried for Pulisic to be sold, but it already happened after his second game or so, so like 😂 (On the sidenote of Pulisic in particular, we went so downhill people expect him to fill Hazard's shoes, but let's not forget he was acquired as pretty much PR buy, likeable, well-headed squad player, sub at best, who made us multiple times the money was spent on him). And I'm far from being fooled that buying some exciting prospect from third New Zeland's division, who will join us in 7 years when they'll grow up is improving our squad now anyhow. We are going for another "downgrade to upgrade" cycle, but we had it already entire previous season, so it may be harsh. Besides, excluding James, who is the leader character of this team now? Vice captain? Kepa? Lol. Thiago is heading retirement sooner than later, he will be more Cahill senior this season I guess. I agree this clearout is much needed, but doing it in headless rush and securing third-choice replacements on the go may end in tears again. Plus, let's not forget how huge percentage of players are performing great before joining and after leaving our club, but somehow not quite while they are here… And yeah, a lot of relationships just washed up, Mount, Zyiech (why we bought him is beyond me), Lukaku, Kova etc don't want to be here and they lack engagement, but on what basis we rely on Madueke, Mudryk, half of Brighton team and mr Jackson to go full John Terry and fight for the badge, especially lacking leaders to ridiculous extent, I'm not quite sure…

One thing is this (and every other really) board dynamics of people wanting all players out because they are annoyed with them, while objectively they are not Saul-level futile, but the true problem is what someone pointed out really well in Noni's thread - Does eg Mudryk and Madueke provide at least Pulisic's level of output? Meeeeh. Still everyone wants Puli out. We have no immediate replacements, not to mention upgrades to a lot of unwanted players. We are betting on Noni becoming better than Pulisic one day, but it creates a huge hole now. Depending on when and IF new players will step up, we may be seeing another relegation battle shitshow next season. Wings are especially concerning to me, but up front it's the same - Lukaku is dreadful, but is Broja getting out and punishing entire PL? Doubt it. Are people we are being linked with as Kante/Kova/Mount replacements are really right here and right now equal or better players? Plus, personally I don't trust our board a smallest bit in terms of choosing and actually landing the targets. People claiming Kante/Havertz/Mount/Kova or even KK to some extent are "shit" are letting their annoyance overshadow the reality imo.

For the whole season I've been confused with new ownership playing the english-heritage-london's own note with Potter and their communications and at the same time throwing away academy players/HG's like there's no tomorrow. Heck, even asked multiple times whether we are sure board is aware of HG rules and fact that their random purchases will be over 21 one day. BUT, although I'm still bit salty about Lamptey, who could prove useful many times recently, would those academy players ever find the way to first team? Maaaybe Colwill. It seems like James, Mount and Tammy were the last times academy hit the spot and it was a while ago, so it may be indicating there's something wrong with academy functioning or random slump in talent, not the transfer policy really. Still don't really buy this narrative; If they are good for City and United, whose recruitment is way above ours, are they really shit for us? Inter or Milan are not exactly bad clubs either. We surely didn't make ourselves any favors with idiotic buying spree, hardly marketable season and locking players with stupid wages (KK, Lukaku). Players we are desperately trying to let go are still like top-30 clubs level. And I won't be very surprised if we will regret this fire sale sooner than later.

… Or, like, get the scouting department adequate to level of this club.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the possibility of playing Playstation with his english buddies is also somewhat important factor in his move, so it makes Bayern even less likely.

I do not fancy playing on "Allianz Bridge" as much as I do not fancy online gambling as a shirt sponsor…

But reduced from what? 🤪 From 75 we were trying to push, fine, but selling him below 50 would be quite ridiculous imo and 50 still doesn't smell like kind of money that Bayern likes to spend…

Maybe Bayern trolls decided to bother United instead of us this time, but somehow I doubt they'd be keen to splash this kind of money for Chelsea player.

WHISPER Richards, how cool is that to have a player with an actual alias in their name, Top Gun style.

Portuguese clubs seem to consider every single one of their players absolute world class when it comes to selling them to Chelsea. Meanwhile people say that 50 million for Mount is a lot 😂

Or he will be dumped to Newcastle for 45. Window is long. Maybe it's not the worst idea to not reinforce direct rivals cheaply after all. I'm pretty sure had we tried to buy Mount, instead of selling, he wouldn't be offered to us for less than 90 by any club.

Yeah, I wonder why there is no news regarding European team not buying Russian player from Russian club… 🤔

Any reliable news where exactly are we with the Jackson fella situation? Is he coming?

Let them walk away and ship him to Levy for 40 mil, who cares.

I have lost hope we will be able to arrange any satellite club deal before start of next season…

I think Rudi's departure was inevitable much like Hazard's. He reached his against-the-odds peak under TT, had once in lifetime chance to capitalize on it and, as you say, Roman's situation only sealed it. If we consider Christensen "key defender" it only emphasize inability of Marina's board to sort out defense situation FOR YEARS back then

Nah, I don't even mean sole results. Constant problems with recruitment, lack of leadership, no clear direction and uncertainty since Roman was banned, the transfer ban, subpar staff during Lampard's stint, the injuries back then and during Potter's regime, now Clearlake trying to get a grip, issues with FFP, issues with sponsors. Getting it in order will take time, maybe prime years of some players. First season was bad, I give people right to judge whether they trust owner's idea to make it right during second one, apparently Mount wasn't into it, especially that Chelsea never had been an individual stardom kind of team and MM may want to be hero, so this particular departure I'm least surprised with, actually.

Well, it seems pretty easy: He wants money, He wants admiration, He wants to be a star. And do not want to stay at the club that is a mess and may as well turn into Tottenham or worse. Pretty much it's his career/life at stake, so while morally disgusting, can't really blame the guy, those are free people. Buy some unknown guy from nowhere -> introduce him as "most exciting talent of young generation" -> refuse to loan him out but also refuse to play him -> He had "not impressed". The Chelsea Way ®

Legality and ethics aside, as we will probably hear about this sooner than later, it looks like Saudis decided to fire up their own, bootleg version of Superleague, with known names but no club trademarks a'la Pro Evo Soccer 😂

He will score them an odd goal here and there as he did for us, maybe Carobao Shield decider and they will ship him to Bayern for 75 in three years, so why not

I'd say it's generally true, but quite the unusual circumstance is that it's not that much about the money or players loving Artreta/Man U, but the top priority in those moves is players wanting out of toxic dumpster fire we are as a club since years, with doubtful views on improvement. Maybe they just don't believe in Boehly's vision or his ability to materialize it, esp now after the catastrophe of a season and round two in form of appointing Poch and current transfer targets and I can see where they are coming from. Plus, they are actually being pushed out of the club (except maybe Mount), so can we really expect loyalty from them in this situation? They are mostly looking for cashing-in on retirement anyway.

Lol, what kind of news is that? Surely we'd like to sign tens of players, if only we had negotiated them becoming free agents… 😂

Potential, potential, potential… I wouldn't mind him staying, but he just reminds me of Morata too much. He may get good in another team, but I lost the belief he may actually start over in Chelsea and rebound, so not much regret here, it just won't work.

Ancelotti seems to be Brazil- retirement bound, surprised still no rumors of Madrid being all over Graham Potter, top manager, visonnary, virtuoso and generally likable lad.