Chelsea?

No always though. I mean compare Hazards Tottenham performances to Bernando today, very similar. Add the fact that Hazard is the best player in the league and we're only asking Bernando to be out 3/4th best, I'd go for him i do agree with you on the fact that we need a goal scorer on the RW though. Just gotta find that creative guy in the CM.

Bernandos performance is in line with what Hazard would have. It's not rare for top players to play like what Bernando did today. Stop pretending top players always have blinders in big games

So he wouldn't offer us anything different from what we're already getting from Matic?

what type of player is Bakayoko?

I started this post getting ready to complain about the loss a of goal scorer we'd experience if we replaced Pedro with Bernardo. Then I realized Pedro and Willian haven't scored much either.

This isn't so much him taking a dig at us as it's a coach setting up an excuse for a loss

We have to win this.

Think Zouma will get the nod instead. Would like to see Ake as LWB but I don't think he'd fit there. Would be ok with him being a rotation cb for now.

I'm worried Ake and Azpi can't play in the same back 3 together constantly due to height.

We're probably gonna start with our strongest line up. Less Luis and Matic n Tibo.

Amazing post. You're right in saying we might get all 4 spots. Conte will simply easy them into the line up rather than slot then right in. I think Conte values Matic's height a lot. Id love to keep Cesc under his current role. I'd also love if non of our starters leave.

Are either of them good enough to replace Matic?

If he comes he's gonna be Moses back up. Which means we aren't getting a RWB. so hopefully CM and RF are on the cards

I'm not sure the board or Conte would be comfortable changing 4/10 outfield players from a championship winning squad (of course this is asumming we win). I think Alonso has really stepped up lately. We might sign a CM but I think Conte is gonna keep Matic as the starter to start off. RWB and maybe RF are the only positions I can see us changing starters. Even there I think Conte has been pleased with Pedro and Willian. I just hope we don't have to spend this summer trying to replace Costa and Tibo. That would not only eat funds, but also our attention and would force Conte to try and keep the rest of the squad the same in hopes of keeping some chemistry.

My one major complaint about our transfer policy has been the fact that we are willing to spend 30 mil on mediocre squad players but not willing to pay 70mil for superstars. I wouldn't be surprised if we spend 100 mil in the summer n half of that goes towards squad players that don't play much. Uf the season ended right now and summer window opened I think our aim should be 1. Keep Costa, Tibo and Cesc, with CL Cesc will get a lot more opportunities to play. 2. upgrade RWB. Love Moses but our goal should be CL winners next year. 3. Get one of a CM or a RF. I really think we need both but I'd be ok with one. But plz don't spend 30 mil on Bats again

Idk what value Conte places on Matic. If we knew, then we might be able to come up with replacements that'd fit his system. Verrati and Koke might not even be near his radar

Is he a big upgrade from Matic?

If we get him, then we would need a Xavi Alonso type play to replace Matic. Idk of any we can get. Verrati seems out of reach.

Think we'll beat city for him since he'd prefer us due to playing time. Also, city don't really need another winger.

Some times it's not so much the player, as it is the position. If Rumors come out that we're looking for players in the mold of Lenard, this signals to me we are looking to upgrade the RW spot. This makes me happy. Now if only another CM and maybe RWB

Espnfc is reporting we are showing interest.

1. We are keeping him for the same reason we brought back Ake 2. Conte seems to think he's good enough for the bench, can't say that for too many players 3. Conte isn't all knowning. Better coaches than Conte have made dumber decisions no one is saying Bats is good enough for us right now, but to write him off like he's already 27 is insane. Especially after what Lukaku has turned in. I only bring him up because he was similarly as bad as Bats and they play same position

We all know Bats is better than just a trashy minutes guy. He needs to go somewhere n get time like Lukaku has.

Future Lukaku?

I agree. But looking at how much we paid for him and the fact that he's been pretty good, I think we're gonna focus our attention on other areas.