Tomo

I wasn't a big fan of Chilwell and still need more sample size before converting but he's been highly impressive ever since that 9-0 match, he's got a lot more aggressive in his forward play.

In fairness, if he's happy to settle down and accept being a super sub he could actually have a long term future here.

Yeah i never understand why people are so desperate to rest player's for extended periods. An odd midweek game in a heavy schedule fair enough but anything longer than a week leaves players short of match sharpness (for example look at the pace of the game in the CL final last season, was like pre season).

We seem to have caught the Man.United bug of having a constant stream of players that are better on the left and a shadow of themselves on the right.

He shouldn't have even got booed in the first place.

This is football, loyalty works both ways, we have ruthlessly released many player's that would have sold their arses to get as much as one minute playing for Chelsea (most famous example Declan Rice) so we can't exactly moan when the boots on the other foot. The only way i would have criticised Callum during the saga is if he was phoning it in on the pitch and becoming distructive off it, which clearly wasn't the case (a day after his transfer request he put in his best display so far for us and was always in good spirits with other squad members). As for the "yet" bit, if he see's himself playing abroad at some point then good luck to him, player's have short careers, i'll just revert back to my previous point that aslong as his future desires (if that's what they are) don't spill onto the pitch then he shouldn't be criticised for them. Also to furtheradd, if he does want to go to an elite club for his peak years that means he will have to perform here at a world class level, so even that scenario carries a somewhat good result for us.

The trick to build a high quality depth of squad is find 3 players to compete high for two certain position's then if possible a squad filler as 4th choice who happily knows his place yet still has a big moment or two in them a season (ie the O Shea type). For example, in the two more defensive CM right now we have the perfect balance of Kova, Kante and Jorginho fighting for 2 spots between them, with the games we have and factoring injuries/suspensions there's more than enough minutes to keep all three happy.Frank is arguably going down this road at fullback now with James RB, Emerson LB and Azpi shifting between both. At CM, CB and the wings we can comfortably get high quality depth and keep them all happy, ST will be tougher though.

On paper maybe, but I can't help but feel there must be a reason no one is picking him up, same with Alex Telles.

Would it be the phantom bad attitude because he doesn't regularly grin like a Cheshire Cat and maximized an opportunity to get the best deal for him and his family.

Unless something drastically changes within the next month I will be very disappointed if we don't take minimum 8/9 points from the games vs the North London clubs.

I personally think it's absolutely killed him we gave the job to Lampard while he was available and i feel that may come to the fore in a big way if he takes the Arsenal job and Lampard beat's him.

Hearts saying Sancho (him being boyhood Chelsea fan and best mates with Cal/Tammy) but head says we need someone mid 20's for that position, preferably a left footer. Also I've been reading stuff about Sancho's attitude lately and a little worried he may affect the squad harmony, and that's before we mention his wages will probably double up on the rest of the young guys, at the least.

It's no surprise to me that Lampard values an experiences winger to balance out the young wingers + Tammy. I thought that guy was going to be Pedro (due to his experience a this type odpf football) but it turned out to be Willian.

With Tammy's emergence we have more scope to take a gamble in terms of our next striker and I'm thinking could this guy maybe be worth a go? He's in a lot of people's opinions the best player in the SPL by a distance, not a high bar I know but he's also delivering in Europe with 11 goals in 12 Europa games. Rangers fans I have asked think he's destined for the top. From what I've seen he's been every bit as good as Moussa Dembele was for Celtic who's now in high demand after further proving himself at Lyon. As we saw with Kieran Tierney even the best player's in Scotland aren't that pricey so should we go for a potential top striker while we can get him on the cheap? as opposed to when he's proved himself at a higher level to which he'd be obscene money. There is however one elephant in the room with him and that's his discipline, 5 red cards last season (one resinded) but he seems to have knuckled down a bit this season knowing that if he wants a big move he has to sort that out. Yes he's playing in the SPL this season, but last season some of our best player's this season were playing in the Championship, including our top scorer. He seems the type of player that could thrive under our current environment and he will be quite cheap for the standards of the modern market aswell (freeing up funds for left back which I'm my opinion is our most urgent need and potentially a marquee signing on the wing), if we desperately needed a new striker I'd probably say he will be a bit too big a gamble however as I said Tammy's emergence means we can afford to take a bit of a left field gamble and I feel this guy could be the real deal. Here's a scout report about him https://allabouttherangers.com/analysis/player-analysis/alfredo-morelos-rangers-tactical-analysis-statistics-2 The fact he can also play as a winger gives us even more options and depth as it did when we had Anelka.

https://www.redcafe.net/threads/ole-united-vs-frank-chelsea-who-will-have-the-better-season.450105/

If he wanted guaranteed minutes as part of his new deal Frank would have probably pulled the plug on negotiations himself.

I agree we should be using that midfield three at City, but unless Kante has an beyond incredible game (or Kova has an absolute stinker) I feel it should be Jorginho/Kova against West Ham the following week. Way I see it is if Kova gets took straight out of the team now he may lose some of his motivation, it will send a clear message that he's only backup no matter what he does and not only that it will also contradict everything Frank has been saying about selecting on merit.

Yeah eventually it will head into that, I'm thinking more very short term.

I think for now when we're just playing two of Jorginho, Kovacic and Kante then the former two should get the nod. They have been operating at a world class level this last month and it has to be rewarded. As incredible as Kante is it will send the complete wrong message if we bench Kovacic immediately.

He's not even in favour ahead of Trippier right now. James as a regular should gazump both of them quite comfortably.

Surely it's only a matter of time before James is ahead of Trent in the England squad. He can't defend to save his life!

What I find really impressive is how well we're locking down games against lesser sides at Stamford Bridge. Last three league opponents to the Bridge have been totally strangled out of the game almost to the point we may aswell have removed Kepa's goal. Gives me huge confidence that we can eventually build the consistency to challenge the top two.

Tbh id be more concerned if they gave Ljungberg the job which would mean they could dine on a new manager bounce with a club legend for a bit like United did (which could see them make up some points if we blip) I think Mourinho would struggle initially (may have a good second season if he lasts that long), the crowd won't accept him and the squad (to Bellerins admission) struggled with Alexis's intensity and demand to win, no way would they cope working under Mourinho.

Oh, my bad!

Not sure why anyone wanted anything other than a Leicester win today. 2nd to 4th offers the exact same reward, pull away from any realistic chasers (although that may be generous on Arsenal calling them such) then focus on Leicester.