Tomo

Of course Bakayoko was a Conte signing, if he wasn't he would have binned him quickly like he did Michy.

Only times Kante has played in that position was for France in Euro 16 where he was dropped and the first six games for us where Conte quickly realised his error and acted accordingly. Having a player who's main attribute is energy screening the back four is criminal, if you think he's a shadow of his best self currently, you ain't seen nothing yet.

I think we need to start accepting the reality that the club are accepting the ban for this season. While i'm fully expecting a struggle for top 4 which is a little frustrating as i honestly believed we were a top fullback and top striker away from going up a level even with Hazard going i don't think the situation is the doomsday that some think. Looking at it properly it is probably best we take the hit and get it out of the way now, firstly because of the threat of an extension, secondly everything will be rushed with negotiators knowing how desperate we are and lastly with Cech coming in this will give him a year to get his feet under the table, acess the situation and identify proper targets for 2020. Now onto the likely lineup. If i had it my way (when all fit), gunna also assume Alonso gets his wish and goes Leti as noises are pretty big atm. Kepa James Rudiger AC/Luiz Azpi Jorginho Kante Loftus Pedro/Willy CHO/Pulisic Giroud/Tammy Notable other squad players: Caballero, Emerson, Aina (if we can convince him to return), Ampadu, Kovacic, Barkley, Mount. Christensen or Luiz depending on opponents, likewise Giroud/Tammy. The rotating wingers to allow one youth and one experience at a time for a balance. Noises are Callum will be back for the start of the season which is a major boost. Think it's safe to say we won't be troubling City and Liverpool with that side but I'm relatively confident we can retain top 4. The one thing that worries me is the goals, we badly need one of those four wingers to step up (or Tammy to return and do a Harry Kane) however the midfield, defense and (bar DDG if he returns to form) keeper is for me better (collectively) than anything any team outside City and Liverpool have to offer right now, i know there's still the transfer window to go for them but I'm not convinced Spurs and Arsenal will spend big on serious upgrades and while United could afford to they have a boardroom structure that makes ours look like City's. I'm not usually one to say something like this and even now im cringing a little bit doing so, however top 4 next season with our best youngsters further integrated into the set up will feel like a trophy and will give us a perfect platform to kick on into the new era. Instead of seeing it as Arsenal lite see it as part of the process of getting us challenging in 20/21.

Make of that what you will.

I do believe all our front players will score more goals with Hazard not around, whether it will be enough over 38 games is an entirely different matter. I know it's small sample size but if you look at the games we played without Eden these last couple of years in a lot of ways we looked a better unit (so much so I wouldn't have been THATworried about losing him had we been able to replace him). The start of last season under Conte was our best run of form all season and he didn't start in that period and you could argue a lot of our best games of Sarriball (from a collective perspective) came without Hazard playing, Arsenal at home, Burnley away and a chunk of the Europa run admitedly against shit opposition. The ban and what I alluded to on paragraph one is why I think extending Higuain's loan is a must, despite his so so performances for us he still got us five league goals in as many months, so over a season we should be getting 10 league goals out of him minimum (you would hope more being more use to the PL) which could come very handy. Furthermore if we want to give Pulisic and Hudson significant game time, experience Infront of them is a must.

I love how quiet this thread is now compared to the constant activity when it looked like he was leaving.

I find it hard to believe he came here without being aware of the possibility Sarri won't last. I imagine he was aware or failing that was made very aware of the score by his agent before the move. There's previous examples of players following managers to their new jobs and staying a while after they've gone (Deco, Carvalho, Ferreira, Blind, Fellaini, Defoe, Thiago of the top of my head). Just because a player had followed his manager once doesn't mean he's going to constantly do it until retirement and as you said even if Jorginho wants to do it this time we won't allow it, he has four years left on his deal and as it stands are very thin in midfield as it is without letting our most naturally gifted one leave.

There's absolutely zero chance he will stay at Derby if offered the job, no way would he turn it down.

Rumours of Patrick Vieira potentially.

He should stay at the club in some capacity, it's clear with the videos involving him he's very popular within the club. I'm glad he never played for us though, he was actually a very good keeper in his prime (funnily enough I was desperate for us to sign him as backup to replace Cudicini) but he's awful now, he regularly came out to warmup before games and to say he let some soft shots in would be a massively misguided understatement.

If you're referring to the Sarri/Jorginho situation then both. For Christian it's (obviously) just online/socially right now but he's already getting slated whenever another club sign an (at this minute) better player for similar money. If he doesn't hit the ground running the crowd are going to murder him partly because they can and partly because they will get into their heads he should be replacing Hazard's output immediately as he took his place in the squad timing wise (should the ban stick), if CHO refuses to resign I can see it getting even worse, they will relate him coming in to Callum leaving even though it has next to nothing to do with him.

Tbh I don't think it's the fact he's critisised or even wanted out by some sections of the crowd that irks him, I think it's the way people go about it. Some of the culprits (cough*Rory Jennings*cough) justify it by saying it's because he doesn't connect with the fanbase, ok then what's the excuse for subjecting Jorginho to similar treatment when he's tried connecting with the fans to the point he put his mother in with us during games at the start? And you just know the same thing will happen to Pulisic next season (he's raw as anything right now and I'll be amazed if he hits the ground running), it's slowly starting already before he's even kicked a ball for us.

I know one of them will win the big one in a few days but for now it's fucking hilarious Sarri has broke his duck in England before Klopp and Pochettino.

Im sorry but where have you got the idea from that he "should have promoted" Derby? Given he's gone in changed the playing style completely aswell as reduced the wage bill and the average age of the squad I'd say he's done very well maintaining their league position and then going one better in the playoffs. Usually with such drastic changes as to what he oversaw at the club see's a massive short term fall from grace, he's done well to maintain the results.

Have you seen Derby this season? They have been the Championship equivalent of us, ie results by in large the same with a manager trying to completely change the identity of the club. If Lampard gets appointed it will be with the intention of continuing what Sarri has started, not ripping up the sheet and starting again.

If this actually happens, the club run even worse than I thought. I would say going after an Alegri or Simeone would be worse, because that will mean we have totally abandoned our attempt to change the style of play and are just resorting to type. Not only that it would also mean by appointing a huge name the pressure for instant results will be as high as ever which will likely spell the end for any chance of any youngster bar maybe Ruben. Atleast with the rumours of Lampard's appointment there seems to be a commitment to truly change the culture of the club, and all in all I am happy with this news, obviously it's a risk but I think should Sarri leave this summer then Frank should be our main choice, for a few reason's. Firstly because as I've alluded too, he has a similar style to what Sarri does and plays the same formation. Sarri has laid the groundwork for this new style and Lampard will have a much easier initial task as he would have done if he succeeded Antonio and have to start the overhaul himself. Secondly he will likely commit to giving our best youth chances. With our reluctance/inability to compete with the City/PSGs of this world then I would go as far as saying getting the cream of our current youth players in the first team is more important than any immediate success in the next couple of years as in the long run they will be the counter to big spending City etc do Also as @Superblue_1986 alluded too, Lampard loves the club enough to see the bigger picture even if he doesn't reap the ultimate rewards. Now this may not be the perfect time to appoint Lampard but it's not exactly a science that could have been timed. Should he get promoted and has say two strong season's at Derby and the chance to succeed Pep at City opens up, are you that sure he would choose us over them? We saw by going there as a player how ruthless he is when it comes to his career, if he got job offers by both of us, what's to say he wouldn't go to the best chance of picking up the major trophies? I know it's a totally different era but Busby was a City and Liverpool player before managing United. Waiting for the perfect moment may backfire and given the situation we are currently in, this is a calculated risk that could reap big rewards. However my personal preference is to give Sarri a second season as I honestly believe the current problems are more personel than structural (and I do believe we will get a stay from CAS) but if that's not possible for whatever reason then Lampard is the only option for me for the reason's stated.

We should only sell if the ban is stayed, if it ain't fuck the £100m and keep him next year should be the only option. I'm not one to slate the club on a whim (quite frankly the FIFA career mode mentality some have makes me cringe) but selling him without a chance to replace will be ludicrously stupid.

This isn't just about the Sarri situation, infact its not even the tip of the iceberg. Outside of Conte's first season and the first half of Jose's title season (where not even our version of Claude could have spun any negatives) this place has been pretty toxic probably since the Benitez appointment. Quite frankly I would consider some of the reactions here ott even if we were in Bolton's position. Constructive criticism is fine, I have had many respectful and thought provoking exchange of views with people that think the opposite to me on subjects (for example before this season I wasn't particularly keen on RLC, but I never at any point called him any names, was praying he proved me wrong which he has and I was very open for a counter arguments), but quite frankly some posts that are seen on here not just on this thread, match threads and certain select player threads would be considered abusive if said to someone for real.

I've genuinely never seen Spurs fans shit on the club as often as some of you on here. This use to be the best forum on the net now the atmosphere is completely toxic.

Overall no but this seasons Sarri >>>>> last seasons Conte.

The desperation to make out we have somehow flunked our way to a 3rd place finish because everyone is garbage, even though we're 3rd in current form and our points are would see a usual top 4 finish us staggering, why are so many Chelsea wanting to constantly talk anything Chelsea related down. Its so f**king weird.

No I'm sorry but you do not make such improvements on your game by just playing, if a manager came in and told him to just do whatever he would still be the same flawed player who doesn't make enough impact on a game. At the start of the season Sarri was constantly calling over Ruben for instructions and he's been slowly getting better game by game.

I weren't talking about that I was talking about the quote he allegedly doesn't care about youth. He's always had talent but he was very raw as early as last summer, you don't make the strides he has this season without the manager having something to do with it, he's literally improved in every aspect of his game.

Do you have the quote?