Bir_CFC

We have a lot of promising CBs. Probably all at similar development levels too. That said, Zouma is probably the one with the highest ceiling with Omeruo second and Kalas a close third imo.

Why did Davis punch that English dude? Didn't know some were taking it so seriously.

Why didn't Lukaku give himself a chance to beat out Torres and Ba? Why ask for a loan? Can't get a chance if you leave.

No one has said they don't want him here as 2nd choice. He seems to demand first choice place at Chelsea. That's what people are arguing about. Almost everyone has been salivating at having Costa and Lukaku. Except Lukaku, who comes with that statement after he learns Costa is close to signing. Who asks for a loan after we sign a 33 year old Eto'o.

But can you confirm that if he hadn't asked for a loan move, he still wouldn't have gotten a chance? I'd say he's the one who didn't give Jose a chance but rather asked out cause he wanted to be first choice. I excused him last season because of the world cup so I understood to an extent but if he's still not willing to fight and instead only values playing time even now, then he'll probably leave.

He talks like he's already world class. Misquoted or not, even the updated correct translation doesn't sit right with me. And people aren't going overboard just cause of the recent quotes, it's a culminating effect cause he's been mouthing off for a year now. I loved Lukaku, he claimed he was a die hard Chelsea fan and wanted nothing more than to play for Chelsea, but I'm losing interest in him because he comes off as a fake fan. Courtois talks a lot but I give him his due leash because he's proven he's world class, he's earned the right to be arrogant, Lukaku hasn't yet. People keep using 21 as an excuse now, but he's been a professional for 5 years now, that's no excuse anymore. Especially when he conducts himself in such a mature manner in most of his interviews.

There's more than adjustment. Cesc might not just walk in and play like his Arsenal days but it'll be must faster than Rakitic. Furthermore, Cesc has played in the biggest matches and won the biggest trophies. He's a winner now, which he wasn't at Arsenal. He might have lost something but he's gained that winning mentality as well. He can be a leader out there which Rakitic can't.

While Rakitic is a great player. It would be hard for him to just show up and do the business in the midfield in the PL. Jose had made it clear that we are looking to win it next year so I completely agree with Cesc, proven, leader, and still a great player.

When was the happiest moment of your life?

10M euro salary. Approx. 155k/w in pounds. Fair enough salary for a player like him.

Wenger had a great team. Really should have done better with this lot.

@JonSnow #FCB and #CFC finalizing add-ons. Deal to be announced within the hour.

I think it's obvious now that Cesc is on board. I presume it's just the clubs talking to each other finalizing negotiations, hence the wait. Seems inevitable really because not like Barca want to keep him so sooner or later it'll be resolved. Chelsea is in a good negotiating position because Cesc wants to come and Barca themselves want to get rid so it's possible we're trying to negotiate as good of a deal possible.

A few questions to consider: Is Cesc better defensively than Oscar? If not, why not drop Oscar back and make Cesc the #10? But does Jose value the high pressing more than midfield solidity? If so Oscar is still valuable as the #10. Does he prefer more pace in the front 4 or more creativity? Can Cesc really play in the pivot in the big games? Should we really be spending 30M on midfielders who probably won't make it in the first XI against City and other European powerhouses? I'm still for the transfer, I've always rated him but just some questions to consider because he's a great player but he's not the best fit who solves all our problems in midfield. I personally prefer Koke over anyone else available, even Pogba. But I also trust Jose and believe Cesc is a good consolation but just wanted to ask these questions and read some responses to get rid some nervousness about this transfer.

I see. Pretty cool. Sometimes I spend hours and hours doing random analysis about Chelsea just for my amusement, wish I would actually get paid for it. Would be a dream job haha. That said, might not stay a dream of the pay isn't good. Anyways that's off topic. So how are they ranked? Percentage of total players and appearances vs. those that came from the Academy? I'm guessing Terry with so many appearances is the only contribution for Chelsea. And is this just for last season?

Demba is so cute. Why couldn't you be better Demba? Then we would have kept you around. Most likely gone this summer if not next.

How come you can't share? Working on it for someone else?

Share the file too. Or still in progress?

This shit is overrated. Both are professionals, yeah they may not love each other but they are professional enough to not take it too personal. I mean Barca and Real start fighting, cheating and I can post 100 pictures similar to the above yet they go and win world cups and euros with Spain playing with each other. Even if Lamps was still here, I don't think that would have made it any different.

Not sure why people don't seem to understand that there is no HG quota. There is a non-HG quota of 17. So to make up a 25 man squad, ideally you would register 8 HG players. If you don't have enough HG then you loose that squad place. So if we only have 4 HG players then we are only allowed to register a total of 21 players. The remaining 4 can only be filled with HG players. So even if we don't sign HG players and if we have U21s to make up the numbers, it won't be a problem at all. We can make a squad of 17 non-HG players, 4 HG, 4 or more U21s = full squad.

27M pounds? Surely that's gotta be Arsenal.

It was Negredo who fell off the face of the earth after his initial scoring burst. Dzeko was outperforming him by a huge margin second half of the season.

Thorgan should take 17. So our Hazard 17 jerseys won't go to waste.

The only thing I can think of is that the board is banking on the fact that some of the English youngsters in the academy break through over the next few years. Blackman as a backup, Chalobah maybe as soon as next season to be part of the squad. Baker, RLC, Aina in the future. That said, not sure about first XI players. But the problem is that there really aren't many quality English players good enough to be first XI players at a top 5 European club. Feel squad players is the ceiling for most of them. Very few are even close to world class level, let alone at that level. It is a worry though, very soon Cahill will most likely be the only Englishman in our first XI.

No way we sell him. He's too important. Mata wasn't needed so we sold him. Luiz was a squad player and we got an amazing offer so he's gone. Hazard is our best and key player, nor do we need the money. He's not going anywhere. Lastly, I doubt he wants to go back to Ligue 1. If he ever did want to leave surely he'd rather go to Real. Going back to Ligue 1 doesn't make sense.