Pizy

José DID say we needed a midfielder. Think this is a player like Pogba or Varane that we simply have no chance of signing.

Since their manager has confirmed that his head has been turned, what are we waiting for to bid again? Maybe then he'll man up and demand a transfer. Just wasting both clubs' time now. Give Everton their money already. We get the player we want and they get a load of cash to buy replacements with a couple of weeks left to get the deals done.

It's insane that we STILL haven't signed a LB yet when we've known for weeks, if not months that we've needed one with Luis going. The season starts tomorrow and if Azpi gets injured we'll have no fullback in the squad to cover. We'll then have to play someone there who's totally uncomfortable and will be a huge liability. What the hell are the club doing?

As long as Cuadrado is still wasting a spot on our roster I doubt we'd even consider buying another AM.

Oh what I'd pay to see Martinez's live reaction if we buy him. Man, he'll be salty as fuck. And I hope Stones scores a stoppage time header at Goodison.

Seems genuinely delighted with the move. He'll be good for them, too. Looking back I can't believe how excited I was when we got Cuadrado out of the Salah deal. Thought we were getting a genuinly classy player who'd make our attack truly scary. Now I'd have Salah back in his place in an instant.

I sort of doubt Falcao will start the first game of the season ahead of Remy. Think that would negatively affect Remy mentally which is the last thing we need with Costa out.

Now just throw in that £30m+ bid and be done with it hopefully. If we fail to get him now he'll cost Sterling money next summer with the new TV deal kicking in and other clubs after him. It's now or never with the way our club has suddenly taken a reduced spending stance.

Never in a million years thought I'd say this a few weeks back, but he's a nice little player when he doesn't overelaborate and keeps it simple. Wouldn't mind seeing him start out wide with Willian in the #10 role against Swansea.

Exactly this.This is the exact same team that stumbled and scraped through the back end of the season. How on Earth have we not changed A SINGLE THING!? It's madness. Invest in the team when you're in a position of strength. Don't wait until we're potentially in trouble to buy and improve. We have a gigantic war chest and clear weaknesses. Why are we just choosing not to spend?

We just look stale as hell. Completely blunt in attack and don't even look like scoring. No ideas in the final third. Seems like the same story with that for years now. We get around the box and rather than showing some nice interplay or movement it's just totally static. One of our players gets the ball and everyone else is just standing around watching him like a statue. It's infuriating and it's been like that for so long. If we aren't blitzing a team on the counter we're so predictable and easy to contain. Unlike last preseason where I had a fantastic feeling and was excited as hell for the season ahead, this one feels worrying. Obviously these preseason results don't mean shit, but the performances are what's got me concerned. No fresh options in attack, weak depth in almost every area, and our best striker by far injured. I pray that we dip into the transfer market for at least 2 more players. Ideally 4. LB, CB, CM, goal scoring AM with Cuadrado sold.

Started off well enough but then faded. Central midfield totally invisible. No link between midfield and attack. Back 4 shaky as it has been all summer. For someone like Oscar who is supposed to be a big player and turn into a world class #10, he HAS to do better than he's shown this preseason. This is the sort of opposition you'd expect a top player to impose himself on. He's been totally anonymous. How shit is Cuadrado? Think José would sell him in a heartbeat if he could. Looks like he can't be bothered to even try.

Second terrible defensive header that's led to a goal this preseason.

Falcao has looked great!

Traore at LB!?

Strangely, this game is actually being shown on TV here. Unfortunately I'll probably have to listen to American commentary.

Probably. I wouldn't even do that for Hazard, Cesc, Matic, and Terry.Give Willian and Oscar another 45 minutes and play Cuadrado and Falcao for the full 90.

Nice, José read TalkChelsea! No one important risked.

Don't think we would've sold Luis if he was happy to stay. He wanted to go back to Atleti where he was happy and a regular starter. Baba seems to be a fantastic prospect who already has a great season under his belt in a top league. No brainier of a signing. Maybe if we're really lucky, in some matches José will start Azpi on the right and we can have a natural LB playing on the left.

They obviously thought otherwise since they spent nearly £40m on him.Think he could easily be the #10 as long as the midfield pairing behind him is good enough. Schneiderlin and either of Schweinsteiger or Carrick as a pivot behind Mata would be class I think.

I suppose I would too simply because Pedro is a natural wide player. Kind of fucked up that Mata hasn't played in his best and natural position since he's gone there, really. He's a better player than Pedro in my opinion but will now probably be riding the bench.

Think it's been reported that Van Gaal wants to play 4-3-3 this season.Depay----------Rooney-----------Mata(Pedro?) -----------------Herrera----------------- Schweini---------------------Schneiderlin/Carrick

True. But if he starts then that's another problem created with £37m Mata riding the bench. The whole reason he left us would be happening again.

From one bench to another if he goes to United.