LDN Blue

Roman's KGB agents on the case!

If he isn't then great, if he is then it just proves my point re thread title

As you said so yourself. End of the day though a 28 year old central midfield player isn't really so 'old' for the Premier League. Keeping his conditioning right, players can play well into 32-33, no?

This thread title is so embarrassing

well this was awkward!!

Lol..

@Kostas is this how you're going to solve our problems? Direct action?

Interesting.. Can I ask why? In comparison to Yaya's effect (to keep it on topic lol)

So we can go back and get Maka & Essien to show this clown how it's done?

Oh my god. Are we Arsenal? What the fuck.

Heard this a lot from Ligue 1 followers, even earned himself a lot of respect this season. Would add a good plethora of experience. Resisted the urge to go for Griezmann? Particularly if Atletico are keen on this Costa reunion, could prove an easy deal if Simeone wants the Cost. Griezmann & Lacazette? How do you think Fabregas will do under Conte? On the ball Fabregas' talent can't be ignored but finding his right position in this team's proven.. difficult lol. Of course with Diarra and Matuidi he'd have a lot more freedom, would you play him higher than those two or sit in a 3?

I just can't think of anyone who consistently benefited form 3 at the back in the PL. Dalglish did it but that was just a faux 5-3-2-1. Martinez did it with Wigan, except they were exposed for 7/9months of any PL campaign. Macini has tried at City and it just caused chaos and confusion.

But on that side we then have a generic umbrella term of "emenalo player" defined by "those with ability, dismissed on a season of ruin". But let's not open that can of worms here. -- Incidentally, do you think he'll have any bearing on our academy? Talking to someone the other day, they reckon the reason we'll fail to utilise people like Ruben is because of this infatuation with 4-2-3-1 that's become the soul of this team for the last 5-6 years! Taught from u10s right the way up to the first team. Young players would fail to adapt. I don't think we'd ever train someone like Kenedy to be how he is if he was an u18 academy player, would we?

The thing is, I do now agree managers (or head coaches lol) shouldn't ever be given "full control" of their transfers. Not when managerial appointments go in such a merry-go-round. Obviously some targets are less attainable than others, financial implications etc. All we really can hope for is honest communication and dialogue between Conte and the higher ups. If they can't get plan A is plan B good enough for Conte and and from a financial sense. Such is the 'business' that's football lol. 2 summer windows? That's just as unlikely as you claim for him to be sacked in 6 months. Look how many have come under a cloud of high expectations and just haven't panned out. Scolari & AVB are ever so present in my mind right now. As the poll says, "..because long term is overrated'. Just build a team that not only is beneficial now but in the future, so should we have to sack Conte we won't need to always 'overhaul'. But let me stress, I don't expect him to leave us in 6 months as a doubt on his ability.. More so on the temperament of our board. How tolerable are they that when we do go through a slump, which every team does.

Yeah I mean of course it's nit-picking somewhat. But the fact it was picked up on by a lot of people is telling, there was no need for it granted . We'll have to wait and see to be honest, in any case it's of little importance when it's same shit, different day. Give us a good 6-36 months, if you can Antonio!

Yeah agreed, just nicely surprised! Chant on good sir!

I'd pay for the uber to the airport tbh.

It does open up the question, who's gonna be Conte's youth guy. Will it continue to be RLC or perhaps Conte will prefer the more attacking Musonda?

Even so, you have to admit it peculiar. In the whole statement they refer to him as "ex Juve manager" and "Italy's current manager". Yet their wording of his role at Chelsea then becomes First Team Coach? Why not just continue the same trend? Lol

Lmao, things are never plain simple at Chelsea..

His name's still being rung around? Lol

Well it's known that JM and GH had a chat prior to Hiddink starting his tenure anyway, we also know Kenedy said he's never played LB before. I wasn't attempting to Mou-fan boy I was just suggesting it's quite funny that amongst all the harm he did us.. We got a nice gem out of it

Actually, iirc, Viveash spoke more of those kids that are on loan right now such as Christensen coming back and being ready for the first team. He and Hoddle agreed that the players from last night are making great progress and hopefully they'll get the chance Christensen and co have gotten this year on loan. But as Hoddle stressed, they've got to be used when they come back from a loan! Palmer was great though, the free kick I think everyone expected it to go in

Lets not forget the embarrassing deadline day approach for Marquinhos

If we didn't have Zouma I'd say yes. But I think we can only afford to have one less than experienced youngster being 1/2 CBs. You'd think someone like Christensen would be recalled, and that Conte would want to have a look at Ake, Kalas, Omeru. Rumours also say Stones is still under consideration. Back when he was at Blackburn I really saw him as JT's heir. Injuries and mismanagement by SAF have cost him. Not too late by any means, he can still reinvent his career, but not at Chelsea.