EskWeston

He has got strong competition from Billy Clifford but yes Toddy Kane is a top prospect. Jamal Blackman had a cracking season, one which he was put under a lot of pressure during most games. Amin Affane has been a little hit and miss for me, moved around with his position a lot, not too sure on him at the moment. And Archange Nkumu did well to force his way into a strong FA Youth cup team this season, will be interested to see how he develops. I think Danny Pappoe has also signed terms.

AVB targets will be what he said in his press conference. To compete in all competitions for as long as possible. That has been twisted to mean win trophies or leave. But what it means is to basically do your best. You can have an outstanding season and come second because someone did even better than you. As long as we are competitive and not looking like a ragged mess we did last season then all will be good. If we can win some trophies at the end then great but i don't believe that no trophies would be the sack for AVB as long as we are competing well.

I think it is very poor that we never gave him a chance in our first team. Showed whilst at Burnley what he can do in the premier league. I don't if the club thinks we have to produce world beaters only or they are shipped out but what is wrong with having them on board as squad players. Look at players Man Utd have kept around and used as squad players...... Jack Cork would have been a very more than able back up for Mikel in the holding role of a 4-3-3. Still the descision was made and he has gone...... Doesn't send out a very good message to the rest of the CFC academy though if you ask me.

AVB will run the rule over Kakuta before any descsion is made on him. The difference with Bruma and Kakuta is that there is clearly the oppertunity in Kakuta's positions to be considered as a very useful squad player whereas Bruma has too many people ahead of him now. Sending him back to Fulham would be a worry because they hardly payed him last season but with a new manager it might be different. This is an important pre season for Kakuta, he needs to play games, he has done precious little of that in the last 2 seasons and it has not helped him one bit.

There is no way we will promoting Chalobah to the first team anytime soon. He is getting fantastic experience playing in the U18's and Reserves way ahead of his time and he is not ready for the first team at all yet. Fantastic prospect 100% but lets let him develop and grow.

Barcelona did not want to offer him a new contract which is slightly questioning of his ability. Having said that our academy is top class and unless the club thought he could compete with them he would not have been signed.

Conner needs to go where he will get games, as with a lot of players at his age (a symptom of the the poor set up for 18 to 21 year olds in this country) Connor had a poor(ish) season after his first loan spell went fairly well and then he left there. He needs a full season of games, Connor has a great ability to be a midfield driving force. But he will never reach his potential unless he goes somewhere this season where he can play 25+ games

What an excellent appointment RDM is, Chelsea man and with some great experience in management himself. Steve Holland is another clever appointment, the man is a very good coach and even though it is the shame the reserves will not benefit from him anymore him being involved with AVB will help to allow youngsters to move into the first team. Have not seen the press conference yet but from the snippets i have seen he has come across VERY well and with RDM appointed also things are looking even more exciting. Bring on the next season

Even if we could build that we wouldn' be allowed, and that is the real problem. The fact that there is only exit onto the 1 road means we cannot expand our stadium

What a brilliant appointment this would be, things really moving in a new and exciting direction at Chelsea this summer. Hope the player appointments are just as exciting. Minor roumers of Zola also joining the coaching staff.......

If we are talking about where would be the best club for him to go to them Chelsea would be the best option. A top club in the World, and he would have precious little competition for a place in the starting 11...... I have no doubt that Neymar will move this summer, and i certainly hope we sign him.

Chelsea would not be worried about sending a player to relegated threatened club, providing they get played. Infact the experience would be very good for them. Very very hard to get the right loan deal for players in the premiership, the only players at the moment who could possibly get a loan in the premiership (if they are not staying at the club) Sturridge, Bertrand, Kakuta, Van Aanholt, McEachran...... I am sure there is a very strong chance Brendan Rodgers would take a player or 2 from us on loan, which would be fantastic for us and for the players who end up going. Kakuta could benefit from a loan in the premiership with Brenadan, as could Josh or PVA.

David Villa would be a pointless signing for us, i cannot see that we would be interested in him at all....

Well the first question is would we feel Sunderland the best place to send a youngster? Secondly it is very hard to get a player on loan in the premiership and it doesn't always work for the best, look at Kakuta (Fulham), Sinclair (Wigan), Di Santo (Blackbun) ect... we need to send our players where they will get playing time first. But there will most certainly be a lot of Chelsea players out on loan this season.....

Can understand the reasons for cancelling the game, it was always a little strange having a game in Holland 5 days after pre season training starts. Although the way it has been done is very very poor with still not notification for the club especially as the tickets went on sale today, if something was being discussed over the weekend then they should have halted ticket sales until they knew 100% what was happening.

Well it certainly would have a been a lot better decision to let them go had we actually replaced them, the time was right to move them on, we just didn't follow it through with replacing them

Have no problem with AVB bringing in his own staff, i think it is a positive thing he is being allowed to bring his staff in..... Shame for Clem but these things happen.

well the same argument could have been made when grant was made cfc manager "well he must be a good manager if chelsea appointed him" that has clearly been proved to not be the case. in my eyes if chelsea are to appoint a director of football we should be apointing one of the best in his field as we would for a player or manager. emenalo for me would not be the right appointment as director of football..

so many games played with these transfers. santos know they will sell neymar, they are just trying to get as much for him as possible. the comment about them keeping him for 15 years is nonsense.

i would be totally amazed if we sold either of them this summer. bertrand is the perfect understudy to cole. and with the ammount of first team football he has played he is totally ready. sturridge it is obvious he too is ready, however a lot will depend on who stays and how avb sees him so a loan would not be out of the question.

Well it hasn't been officially confirmed yet but it is his assistant coach and chief scout he is bringing over apararently, would not suprise me wanting his number 2 and someone to do the job he used to do for us, he would want someone he feels could do the job to a similar degree he did.

Why not let him develop here, in 2 years time here he will be used to the Premier League and be an even better player than waiting 2 more years in Brazil

More and more these days club pay as high a transfer for for potential as they do for the finished article, mostly because at a younger age you get more years out of a player. This is why we are seeing so much money mentioned for these young players. Yes you could say Neymar is young and relitively unproven, but the would have been said when players like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Kaka left brazil for Europe....... Also Brazilian clubs have realised that they can now demand more money for young Brazilians because they are so badly wanted by the English clubs. Part of the reason why we moved for Piazon so early before he had made a first team appearance and his fee can rocket. In my opinion Neymar is clearly one of the most exciting young talents out there and i would for Chelsea to sign him, even at £40m. We have been begging for a player like Neymar for too long, our alternatives are no cheaper either.

Interesting that reports in Italy are linking us with negotiations for Sanchez. Of course being in desperate need for wingers i suppose it is no suprise.

Well yes they are, but it is always what people are willing to pay. I would imagine most if not all will move this summer and for between £30m to £40m, overpriced yes - but it is what the current market vlaue is. And as a top club like the other clubs fighting for their signature if you want the player and want to compete at the top you have to pay the going rate.