Blue Armour

Astute signing, in my books. Makes me optimistic for next season, already.

Same. I'm really pleased with this signing, my friend. I think you and I were one of the few on here who were complaining about the lack of an experienced head in the midfield last season. Happy to see that the club is going back to making more sensible signings.

KDH is exactly the type of signing we need atm. Whether he can deliver is another question., but that remains to be seen. A week or so ago I was ranting about how it was looking unlikely that the new regime would sign another CM, let alone an experienced one. I'm happy to be proven wrong. This signing has the potential to make a world of difference next season. If he can bring balance to the team in midfield, we will start to see a more consistently well-performing Chelsea next season.

It makes a lot of sense for me. The lack of an experienced CM in the middle of the park was why our games felt so unbalanced last season. Easy wins turning into draws or defeats. Adding a CM with the right profile to play in that 433 will bring out the best in Enzo & Caicedo next season., IMO.

Exactly why I would like this signing.

I was hoping for an experienced CM to join the ranks. Even if it's just Kiernan, so be it.

I would also add the need for a CM with more experience to the list, especially if Gallagher leaves. Unless we are counting on the Caicedo-Enzo combo to jump up a few levels this season, when playing together. Can't simply count on Lavia filling in either, given his injury record. But a CM and a player with experience seem to be two things our club no longer wants.

I didn't say it was impossible. I just said it's more difficult. Which is true. You won't be able to get everyone to come by just paying big bucks. Not everyone is like Mudryk. And sooner or later, Chelsea won't be able to pay those big bucks, the longer it stays out of top European competition. This is the first time in a long time the club has been out of the top European places for back to back seasons.

Yeah. It will be tough to get top talent line up to sign for a club that can offer nothing more than conference league football. For two seasons in a row. Clownlake have seen to that.

If we do sign Duran, I hope Maresca and the club management are aware of his personality., if John McGinn's comments are anything to go by. Said he had quality, but also had a nightmare personality to go with it., which made him tough to work with. We already have a young, immature side, looking at the antics of Jackson & Madueke last season (esp. the fight with Palmer over the penalty). Getting the entire lot to work as a consistent unit, is likely going to be an uphill task for any manager.

Jackson should move into the Anelka role. Playing as winger/pseudo-second striker, like Anelka did in Ancelotti's 433 formation. All we need is a Drogba in the CF position.

Semantics. He came through Cobham is what I meant., and he's been with the club since 2008. And that's BEFORE he even went to Arsenal after rejoining Chelsea. So in my view, definitely MORE of a Chelsea youth product instead of Arsenal. And capitalizing on Chelsea youth is what this new administration is good at. While stockpiling youth from other clubs at fees disproportionate to their performances.

Of course Hutchinson would be transfer listed. Nothing like a quick buck to be made by Clownlake by selling a Cobham youth product.

I really hope all this works out. Not necessarily because I think so, and not because I think Clownlake have it in their capacity to learn. I am just tired of seeing Chelsea going through the motions these past 3 years, moving 2 steps backward with every forward step.

Hope this works out well for him and the club.

I think Sarri comes to mind. And AVB before that. Not saying that Maresca is going to follow any of those examples. Also, I'm going to keep saying Maresca. We have a player called Enzo too, and it's going to confuse people at some point using the first name for both.

Good luck to him, as with any new Chelsea manager. But if we aren't realistically challenging for top four for a 3rd season in a row, screw Clownlake and the two directors they've appointed up top.

This is the real, simple, reason., even if people don't admit it. Last season's shopping window for a new manager should have been indication enough. Remember how managerial candidates kept turning us down before Poch eventually got hired? And why Tuchel was sacked? They just want a subservient yes-man. Ultimately even Poch had enough, and fought back, which is why he's gone. The quality of the manager is a secondary requirement here.

Imagine us taking an eternity trying to break down a parked bus in front of goal. Never seen that before.

Clownlake is probably interested only because the sporting directors have worked with him before. If this doesn't work, this is on them.

I don't like it either., but Spurs got Ange from the Celtic league. Hardly a step up., so it's not unfathomable. Also, Abramovich hired Lampard.

It's clear that Clearlake want a yes-man in charge, namely someone that aligns with their vision of squad-building, and long-term plans for the club. Given all that, would DeZerbi be the right choice for this group? He did fall out with the Brighton ownership. Maybe he won't necessarily run into the same problems he ran into at Brighton, but he has far from a meek-mannered individual like Potter.

For Clownlake, anything prior to their takeover is irrelevant. For them, any improvement from here on out is a massive win. Tbf, a young squad like this needs more games like the conference league to build their experience before challenging in bigger tournaments. Sigh, this new regime has really lowered our expectations as fans.

They've spent on the club to increase its resale value. That's why it's almost always about signing young players with potential, on long-term contracts. They're not bothered by the lack of any near-term success on the pitch. And they want a manager that buys into the same philosophy There's no doubt they intend to make a massive profit in about 7 years time, when its time for them to wrap up and sell the club. And to be fair, why wouldn't they? That's what most club owners are in it for, anyway. Especially a consortium like Clownlake.

Almost impossible, but I hope the 4th mystery candidate is Fabregas. Imagine him throwing a pizza at a journo in the post-match press conference.