calculatingInfinity

One completely unqualified guy for the job, to a even less qualified player for the job. Nah.

Marina!

I agree with your overall point. But just think not giving Arnesen credit for bringing such a talent as Ronaldo to PSV, is a bit silly. That was an incredible signing for PSV and although he was well known and not discovered by Arsensen, he was the one who thought highly enough of him to sign him at that young age. On Lukaku obviously every scout and their mother knew about him, by the time he played for Anderlects youth team and many probably before that as well. But it was Ariel Jacobs who gave him the chance and believed in him even at a very young age. Still think Emenalo should get credit for signing so many of these huge talents, it's not just about being the first to know about them, but also thinking they could be worth the money. Hazard however it's hard to give much credit for, lots of clubs were more than willing to pay the money. We can thank Drogba, RDM and some heroic defending in Munich for that more than Emenalo.

Yet Arsensen got Ronaldo to fucking PSV. That was a huge scoop, even if he was well known by the point, clearly no big clubs thought he was quite as good as it turned out, and he sold him for a world breaking amount at the time. That is good scouting, even if he didn't come from out of nowhere.

Well it's a mix of being extremely rich allowing them to buy the best players in the world, but certainly also having a fantastic coaching staff there. Ramos is another who both with his jumping ability and no fear, gets on incredibly many headers. But Ronaldo is just another level with the way he jumps, it looks inhuman at times.

His vision was a 3 man defense of Hector, Matt Miazga and Papy. It would be bad, but quite possibly the most entertaining defense in the premier league of all time.

His position includes being head of the scouting department, so yes, he got a very big say in the scouting of players. This can be read even from Chelsea's official site.

The last shit stain that Avram Grant left, has been cleaned up. Nice.

Ake, RLC and Chalobah were clearly not trusted by Conte and weren't getting any real game time anyway, despite being in the first team squad. Terry was also clearly not good enough for the premier league anymore, which is why he was hardly played in the end, and was really just a glorified backroom staff member. Zouma was injured almost all season, and can't really be counted towards last years squad. Certainly if we count those towards the IN/OUT comparison here, we should also add Musonda, Clarke-Salter, Rahman, and so on, as players coming in.

I understand being disappointed with the transfer window, but the ones labeling it a disaster and calling for people to get sacked are silly. Overall I am confident Chelsea are strengthened from last season. But I am still mourning the loss of Costa for Morata. Not that I dislike Morata in any way, but he just isn't Costa. However the defense has been greatly strengthened. Rudiger is a great CB and Christensen is already a very great defender as well, with lots of growing room still. Zappacosta is a solid to good right back, in a position that greatly needed covering. Left back is still quite shit, if Alonso gets injured or suspended, but it is what it is. Only players really lost from last season is Terry, who might have been big in the dressing room, but was clearly now too old to play any decent part on the pitch. Ake who was clearly not trusted (and honestly for good reasons seeing him defend now). I guess Zouma as well although he was injured pretty much all of last season. But I think it's clearly for the best he was loaned out to get stable game time, after such horrible injury. Think he will come back strong. Midfield? While I certainly think Chalobah should have stayed, it's hard to say it isn't better now, seeing as Conte clearly didnt trust him or the other younger midfield options anyway. Matic who seems to only play half a good season per year, replaced with Bakayoko seems like a very good decision, even if selling Matic to United was annoying. Bakayoko, Kante and Fabregas are 3 great players, and I think Drinkwater is at the very least, a decent option as well. Wings are still strong and really about the same, not a big change. Forwards however, a bit weakened. But I feel like getting rid of Costa was almost unavoidable now. So I guess Morata is the best option here. Overall an acceptable transfer window for me. Although I also wish the club would have been more ambitious. But I am rather pleased, and think the squad is in good conditions to compete in all the competitions it's in. Edit: forgot keeper position. Losing Begovic was sad, I really do like him. But an ok replacement. Certainly weakened there though.

That they know they are more likely, to play important roles at smaller clubs that don't so easily reject/ship out players again as Chelsea?

Their window doesn't close until tomorrow night.

Well the positives are that Morata looked really fucking good, even after fucking up that would have been 3-2 goal. Rudiger also looked good I thought, which might sound weird after conceding 3. But two of the goals were on Luiz and Christensen, while one (the second goal) was just... Really fucking well taken, when Kante could probably have done more to stop him, but can't really be blamed. Only real mistake the ref made, was giving that freekick against Rudiger near the end. The two reds were sadly spot on. Bunch of fucking idiots.

💀 Well can thank Pedro for that I guess. Although why the fuck did Courtois take that.

Anyone thinking this isn't a red card, is fucking insane One of the most clear reds I can remember from a Chelsea player in quite some time. At least it doesn't carry over to the league.

A reminder Leicester finished 12th, a full 10 points ahead of the Hull who was the best relegated team, and 2 point from the 8th spot in the league. A fair finish from them, and silly to give them too much shit for not managing to win premier league again, when they lost Kante and also competed in CL.... As I said, he is not the player I would prefer either, and I think Chelsea could do better. But he is a homegrown English player, that is well proven in premier league. Not too silly a signing, even if the price is high.

How in the world is Drinkwater a fraud? I do agree that it's a lot of money, for a fairly limited player. But he's not a fraud at all, he's a decent squad player, and already knows how to play with Kante very well. Would prefer another midfielder, but I do not think it's all that bad. Lets give him a fucking chance before we call him a fraud and other idiotic shit, even if he was not a dream player for any Chelsea fans.

No. No you would not necessarily have heard of it already. I also think it's silly to think Chelsea have not already had contact with Drinkwaters agent and Leicester, even if the press did not know about it, and the bids hadn't started officially until now.

I highly doubt it, even if he is decent on the ball. Andreas Christensen is a way better bet, as an emergency RWB... Even if he also really isn't good enough to play that.

This is an idiotic way of looking at things. Conte no doubt admires a lot of players, and saying he is a big admirer doesn't mean he was ever first priority. But could end up being the realistic option after Matic left, as a bench option. Chelsea were never going to buy another midfielder, with Fabregas, Matic, Bakayoko and Kante here. Had to get one out, before starting to put the signing into motion. Big admirer =/= first priority signing, even without getting rid of your own bench options first.

Show me proof.

Yes. But for all we know, those reasons could be availability and such as well. Anyway, I haven't watched all that much Monaco, but I know they are fairly different midfielders anyway. Edit: just realized Clockwork had already made this point, and better.

Watched pretty much every match of his for Palermo, which was mostly as a super sub, and then a limited amount of matches for Torino. He is an impressive player, but I do have my doubts about him, being able to do it at a bigger club. What a hot take. Are you Marina, Emenalo, or a person with similar role at Chelsea, or just talking straight out of your ass?

Would be an absolutely fantastic signing, so hopefully it happens. He is exactly the kind of CB that would be great in a 3 men defense at Chelsea.

Fucking retard.