Tomo

Yeah that will be what the best thing about it is, we will be able to carry on reaping the rewards long after the collective breakout season which is something Ajax and Monaco couldn't do (both of which were on a trajectory which would have seen them become the world's best side but the economic and competitive situation's at both clubs meant the cream of the crop were always going to be picked off).

Calculated risk, i work in the company's shop where most others including the main boses don't want to be.

For me it underlines just how good the timing is for our best set of youngsters ever coming to the age of breaking through. United have to spend £130m on AWB and Maguire while we could be sitting here laughing with James and Christensen both for free if all goes well.

Yeah I can definitely see why he's milking the situation a bit (I did something similar at work a few months back, I said I was handling in my resignation even though I wasn't and because of that they panicked and gave me the higher role I was after), sometimes in life that is required but yeah he is playing with fire doing that at the minute given his injury (if that's what he's doing), could backfire big time.

I'm a bit more relaxed about the situation either way. Had he left without any serious game time I would have been incandescent at how we've let another potential KDB situation happen again so easily but ultimately even if he does turn out that good we can't be blamed as we have done everything we possibly can and more. I have never seen such a favourable set of circumstances for a young player at any club for a long time. If the number 10 shirt, 100k a week (which even considering inflation is a lot for a player with less than 30 career appearances), a chance to skip the loan process (a privilege not even JT was granted), his idol returning as manager alongside his two youth coaches assisting him and a chance to be the face of this generation at the club he supports isn't enough to convince him then meh, whatever really.

You will need to start appointing more progressive managers if you want to get to the best out of these lads. Steve Clarke could be better but is allright however any more appointments like Strachan or McLeish would just be an absolute waste of what looks to be a promising generation you have coming up (alongside the likes of Tierney and Robertson already there).

Just signed a new deal.

We wouldn't have had a chance with those two even if we weren't banned. The only real chance that's going begging from our perspective is Pepe.

With the style Lampard wants to play he's not going to discard Jorginho. It seems so many people are taking his connection to Sarri a little bit too seriously and by that thinking he'd be obsolete without him, I will be amazed if Jorginho isn't a starter this year and I'd wager his role won't be a million miles from what it was last season. By the same token Baka's days are numbered, not suited to the progressive possesion based game we are playing, he won't see a competitive minute that I am sure. I agree with the fullbacks, hopefully Reece James lives up to his reputation when he's fit again.

Lampard's style does seem the type that's reliant on quality of players better they are the better the system looks. That's not a criticsm on Lampard atall (it's similar with Pep who in my opinion is now only second to Fergie on the all time list) just with a system that's complex and requires heavy technical ability it's not a system like Simeone's, Conte's, prime Jose's and to an extent Klopp's that could make average players look amazing. For example Cahill was a key player under Jose and Conte but even at his best he would look like a fish out of water with our new style. With that in my mind hopefully we won't get as many of the teething problems that Lampard's Derby had. Not only that but this time he's had the groundwork layed for him with a season of Sarri while at Derby he took over from Gary Rowett who from what I've heard makes Pulis look an expressive attacking manager.

Lol Bats has had a great half in terms of general play but couldn't finish, I'm use to the opposite.

https://www.totalsportek.com/chelsea-live-stream/

Local lads are the only ones that seem to give two shits. Others will jump ship when given the chance. Depends on the club culture aswell. We do tend to inspire a fair bit of loyalty. Take Drogba for example, he came here very reluctantly but now is as much a card carrying fan as we are. All player's who have played for both us and Arsenal for example tend to follow us after retirement (Petit the only exception), it's not a coincidence, we treat our player's very well.

If the transfer window ended now then yes I would absolutely have us as favroites for 4th as we would be vastly better than both United and Arsenal in every position bar upfront. Yes losing Hazard will be a blow but other aspects will go some way to compensating for it. Kepa, Jorginho, Christensen and Kovacic will almost certainly be better this season which will mean an improved defense. I would be surprised if our front line don't get more goals this season (as they will have to take more responsibility) and we seem to be pretty good flat track bullies even without Hazard. Last year we actually were above all the other three by 10 points on XP, now yes that means nothing in terms of the table just gone but can give a clue as to where a team are heading (for example us constantly outperforming our XG rate in the build up to the 2015 title). Also another thing in our advantage is we will have a honeymoon period this season, Arsenal and United won't (neither will sack their manager unless they do massively shit which will wipe them out of the top four race anyway), that very thing was the reason both of them even ran us close. I may change my opinion if one of them pull the rabbit out of the hat in the market within the next month but right now I am very confident we will have enough to beat them to 4th, it won't be as easy as if we kept Eden or if we were able to sign a quality LB and ST granted, but as it stands I firmly believe we have enough to hold them off, partly because our squad isn't anywhere near as bad as you make out and partly because United and Arsenal are in complete and utter states.

I never realised he only got 5 goals during the whole of 2005 (calendar year). The stats obsessed brigade of the modern era would have made such a meal out of that

As it stands I would say we are favroites, United and Arsenal look all over the shop.

Long season, injuries happen (I.e RLC). And most of the first team weren't gonna play this early. What's the harm in giving them a half? We have three main players fighting for the two pivot/deepest midfield positions with Ampadu as an emergency 4th, there's just simply no space for them. As soon as Jorginho, Kova and Kante start playing they will likely be sent back.

I was always looking forward to this one more even before tonights game, more first teamers and less will never make it youngsters/loanee's on display. Most if not all of the 22 players will have something to play for as opposed to the likes of Piazon, Baker, Ugbo etc who were just there to make up the numbers before disappearing again.

We've already replaced them, Jorginho and Kovacic took their places in the squad.

Out of the youngsters on the second half only Gilmour and Cumming likely to have any future here in the medium/long term.

Would have given Gilmour a go as DLP.

That's probably how Lampard is going to compensate for not having a top class option up front. Pit all three against each other, that way we should have at least one on form at different points of the season, almost making one striker out of the three if that makes sense.

Unfortunately he just isn't very good. Dujon playing intreges me, he needs a loan this season but could be a very useful asset in the long run as an attacking RB.

I think the target (league wise) should be Pulisic gets 5 (he will need time to settle) while the others improve on there tally's last seasons by atleast 3 then we have atleast covered Eden's departure on the goal stake's.

He will be in for a very rude awakening if he tries getting playtime guarantee's from Lampard of all people.