Pizy

Can't imagine he'd be brought as a CB. We still wouldn't have the personnel to deploy a back 3 as long as JT is still here. If we are able to add Alonso in addition to a new CB to displace Cahill and Ivanovic then I think we'll have salvaged what could've been a poor transfer window. An actual modern LB that allows Azpi to play on the right and a ball playing CB is all we really need. Doubt we're even after any more attacking signings.

Knowing our board they've probably asked for Connor Wickham in exchange.

As long as he doesn't look like a terrified deer in the headlights and can play simple passes he'll be better than Baba. Could be huge signing if he settles well. Imagine Hazard with an actual skilled LB on his side. Plus having the work rate of both Willian and Azpi on one side would be terrific. Let's see if Conte has the balls to drop Ivanovic. Neither of our last two managers did. He dropped Cesc so I have a bit more faith.

With that sort of fee you'd expect him to go straight in the team after he's up to speed. Whole lot of cash for just cover for Ivanovic/Azpi. Not getting my hopes up. With us winning our first 3 and Ivanovic yet to implode Conte may not change anything right away.

Crazy how quickly Pep has molded this team. They're fantastic. Every single player in their XI is highly technical from front to back. Their attacking players are also all very direct. Still so jealous and sad about De Bruyne. Just imagine him with Hazard and runners like Costa and Willian. Damn...

Can't see any way he leaves. We have no one else in the entire squad that offers what he does.

Conte is already complaining about the lack of depth in defense. It would be the worst piece of business the club have ever made to loan/sell Zouma.

Spot on. It's really frustrating when he gets the ball deep and tries to take on multiple players when there's an easy pass on. It's like he thinks he's a way better technical footballer than he actually is. Just needs to stick to what he does best which is running the channels and creating space.

Arsenal have literally zero room for him. He'd be a total waste of money for them.

Costa's movement and off the ball runs were superb but he just had a really clumsy match when he got on the ball. We would've scored about 4 more if he was sharper today.

N'Golo Kante is a sensational player.

Have to make this dominance count before they score a freak goal!

Not likely! Cahill or Iva mistake is nailed on. Just have to hope Hazard and Costa are on it.

As much as we're all displeased with the XI, there's still no excuse not to get all 3 points at home to Burnley with the talent we have out there. Hazard should have a a great match if he has a super attacking mentality. Willian will hopefully want to shake the rust off and get his season started for real. This should still be a comprehensive, professional win. Just take care of business and play with intensity and they shouldn't be able to stop us.

Hopefully training all week focused on keeping a high tempo and energy. That's the only time when Oscar is effective. If we come out and play at walking pace and allow Burnley to play we'll make hard work of this. We must play fast!

Think we may struggle going forward with Oscar in there.

I'm not against it but it's just strange. Big clubs don't usually being in loanees to be starters when they have title ambitions. They're usually just to make up the numbers. Maybe that tells us something. That he'd just be Azpi's backup...

Wtf?

Already get the feeling that he would be Baba v2 if we signed him. Everyone and their mother figured Baba was brought in to play straight away and Azpi would move back to his position. Never happened. Same here. Natural LB, super comfortable on the ball and good going forward like Conte prefers but he'll probably be a squad player with Ivanovic still starting.

Whereas Wenger is an old, stubborn fool who never seems to have plans in place in the transfer window, Conte has known for a while what's he's wanted to bring in and makes it sound like the club aren't able to. Wenger needs to be slapped in the face with a couple of poor results and a slow start each season before he realizes he needs to reinforce. I feel like our club genuinely believe that Conte is a miracle worker and can simply reinvigorate the players we have and get top 4. Just like they did last summer with Mourinho.

Sounds like a Chelsea panic buy alright! Probably loaned next summer to a second rate Spanish side or something.

As usual, Chelsea TV was having issues so I couldn't actually watch the presser, but judging by the quotes I think he's saying his top choices may not be attainable. Let's hope Maksimovic happens.

He'll make a huge difference especially against the smaller sides. Even with him in our team I think we'll struggle against the United/City/Arse/Spuds/Liverpool's of the league because he'll have to pick up so much slack due to Matic and Cesc being woeful. Lets see what happens when world class players are pressing r midfield and breaking through to our defense. Might not be pretty.

This graphic infuriates me. Two clubs that appointed a top manager just like we did, but they've each shown huge ambition and went out and signed every single target their managers wanted. We've spent less than half what those two have and are days away from missing out on almost all of our managers targets.