OneMoSalah

Precisely. Wait and see though, the refreshing thing about this virus has been the lack of hugely optimistic we can spend 300-400m in 1 window on 7 new players posts with 2 or 3 totally unrealistic sales at unrealistic prices. Even though for the last 3 or 4 years we havent got close to it IIRC. Think th closest we have had in years was Conte's 2nd season? Which was 170-180m in one window? Or theres about. I think we will have 100-125m max with this coronavirus shit if the season doesn't finish, if we are lucky. Okay we might sell a few but again many other clubs arent going to be buying for lots of cash either. Okay the Hazard money and the Morata money bla bla bla whatever else might be there but again its a might and even if it is it is not as if we will get all of that... more to running a football club than transfer budgets. Plus with this virus I am sure the club and Roman have taken a huge hit financially like everything else.

I think this article doing the rounds is a fake. Surely. Dont see how anyone could rate Alexander Arnold, Mount, Foden, Sancho or Pulisic above Havertz, de Jong or ultimately Mbappe, yet alone the greatest footballer of all time. That isnt a criticism of them but Mbappe, Havertz and de Jong are incredible. For me, Kylian Mbappe is already world class and there isnt anybody better in his age bracket or even at many of the top top clubs around Europe, regardless of age. You dont see many young players, yet alone young central midfielders, who have the attributes or traits that Frenkie de Jong has either: tactical understanding, technique, versatility, dribbling, vision, recovering the ball, passing range. Kai Havertz as well in that number 10 position, will undoubtedly be a top top player. Not to say these other boys wont have top careers, they will, but those 3 and also throw in de Ligt, Vinicuis, Rodrygo as well as a few others who are missing in that list. Good few other young players on it though, Dembele and Eder Militao who havent quite kicked on but still, very good young players. Kimmich may be older but again an excellent player. The boy from Lyon as well.

Bruno Fernandes and Grealish.... KDB and B. Silva level of creativity? What. The. Fuck. Dont be silly. Grealish is a good wee player but hes hardly outstanding. I mean he really isnt. Bruno Fernandes is much better but hes still nowhere near those 2 although he has more potential and credibility when your talking about players who can do what KDB and Bernardo do for City. I doubt Grealish would be Uniteds number 1 choice, they will want Sancho, if they get him okay we should maybe be worried but again they are still very average in terms of how they play with the ball and if they lose/cant get Pogba in that team where he can contribute to the best of his ability, then they will suffer as well. Pogba is Uniteds best player but if they sign Sancho or even Grealish and continue playing 4231, where will he fit in? Okay people will say in a 2 playing deeper but anyone will tell you that his best football has undoubtedly been played in a 3 man MF at Juventus, at United when Jose spraingly used 433 and even when Jose played him as a 10 almost off Ibrahimovic in a 4231. He hasnt got the discipline to play in a 2. If they play him in a 2 he will leave spaces that can be exposed/fail to track runners etc etc as he has been doing since going to United. I would also argue that in terms of being creative Ziyech is better than Grealish and probably close to being on par with Fernandes.

Has won a world cup and is France's 3rd top goal scorer of all time... not bad for a kart.... Benzema on the other hand yes better club career but even then winning 10 CLs doesnt equal to winning a world cup.

Season to adapt? He cost 100m euros and is meant to be one of the best players on the planet. In his best years may I add. What a crock of shite. That excuse might of worked here or somewhere else but at Real Madrid, it is very dangerous saying something like that. Even worse considering how Madrid likely can just go and sign new top top players in the summer if they want to. I mean look how quickly they've thrown Ozil, Di Maria and James Rodriguez aside to get new shiny toys.

Lets hope he goes. Hopeless footballer.

Regarding Alaba. He has said or it has been repeatedly reported in the past that he would only leave Bayern for Barca or Real Madrid and even then there was something along the lines of wanting to play more infield as a central midfielder. Even then if they dont go for him, I mean who leaves that current Bayern side for this current Chelsea side? Lets be honest, not many, never mind one of the best fullbacks who is also one of the most versatile footballers around and has been over the years. Its absurd that his contract will only have a year on it but I still think he will only move if he gets to Barca or Real. I dont think he would even go to City, who would undoubtedbly have an advantage in doing business with Bayern (the rumors Bayern want to try do a deal for Sane with him in it) and also when you consider that Pep was very influential and pushed him on him as a manager there playing him as a CB as well as a LB.

So Burnley apparently resigned to losing Nick Pope to us to replace Kepa (wtf). So if things are to be believed, him and Declan Rice are top targets for us in the summer. Holy fuck. Is Lampard actually Kenny Dalglish in disguise? Okay Sancho and Chilwell would be good moves for definite but Declan Rice and Nick Pope? Not having it. Unless Pope is a number 2.

Partey would be a top buy. Felt that he was oustanding in both legs v Liverpool and in the La Liga games Ive seen in the last few season, has probably been one of Atleticos most consistent player bar Oblak for a few seasons now. Okay he is seen primarily as a destroyer but he has more to his game, able to see forward, play short or long passes on both feet very comfortably and has got physicality and endurance. Arsenal want him apparently too wouldnt want to see him go there but again we also have N'Golo which maybe would mean we would look for somebody younger in that mould to grow into the team. Dont see the hype on Declan Rice, hes average, okay he can play CM and CB but for the value for money would be along the lines of Liverpool signing Stewart Downing and Andy Carroll for me. Hasnt impressed me at all this season with the ball, just looks a very ordinary footballer and always seems to want to play safe. Okay hes a holding player, can do the dirty side which is good but even under no pressure when West Ham have the initiative in games, he goes sideways or safe a lot with his passes. Maybe its part of their way of playing but again I doubt it as even under Pellegrini who played more openly more offensive minded he still played very safe a lot. A lot of this is just lazy journalism I would say. Rice and Mason are mates, theyve played for England and youth teams, we are looking to use young English/homegrown players and Rice has been linked with United as well. There was no talk of us wanting him in January either..... we didnt get the lad from Lille so why didnt we try for Rice? If we were geniuenly interested surely we would of?

Have no idea what Joe Cole is seeing because tbe the performances we see most games hes played in his spell here dont reflect this quotes.... I'd been saying he should of been used more when Mount was underperforming earlier in the season but I am sorry, for anybody to say Ross Barkley has done a terrific job for Chelsea, I cannot accept that. He has had maybe 8 good games in 3 years for fuck sake. Its at the stage where I would say he is a potential casualty come the summer unless Frank can get him to deliver week in week out against everybody be it Bayern Munich, Southampton or Oxford United. 2 games every 6 months isnt any use. Joe Cole was a severely underrated player when you look back on his career here especially but Ross Barkley is a severely overrated one.

Top midfielder but 4 or 5 years too late. Hes 29 now. Still plenty left in the tank as well I would say but our stance on older players isnt great either. Lampard was very keen on Cavani but that was different circumstances too as weve basically invested our season having a 21 year old as our number 1 CF. We have Kovacic, Kante and Jorginho already in midfield who are between 25 and 28 years old in their best years so to speak. A swap deal for Jorginho wouldn't make sense in my eyes because I wouldnt say there is a huge difference in quality or their playing styles either. Jorginho is younger. Maybe Pjanic offers more with his shooting and deadball ability but again, I dont think we would go for it. I doubt Juventus would go for it too. Seems very odd. Thought theyd want to replace Khedira and Matuidi (maybe not as much as Khedira tbf) more as they dont necessarily suit Sarri's style where as Pjanic is a player whos skillset means he could be the heartbeat of it.

I thought it was pretty obvious he left him out for discipline issues? I mean he didnt make the 18. I dont think thats a coincidence. Regardless, regarding Mount. Fine him. 100%. Beyond stupid.

I think for something little such as being photographed/spotted not wearing a top in a nightclub and something wee regarding a taxi it was hardly a huge issue. Yet Lampard said he had a lack of professionalism and left him out the squad if I remember correctly as a punishment? Despite saying he didnt think it was that bad a thing either? Okay even then, they arent the same situation in severity, we've got somebody who hasnt just defied a club order but also a clear medical nationwide order that has been advised by the NHS. And not a squeak? Not even a squeak in here? I know the guys a footballer and the football is off indefinitely (we are all missing it I am sure) but what Masons done isnt just selfish but very reckless. Apology or not, it doesnt make it right or whatever, even if hes not showing any symptoms. What about his concerns of the other people who could have been at the park? Kids, adults, elderly folk with grandkids etc? A week or whatever after one of his team mates was confirmed to have the virus and he was advised to self isolate like the rest of the squad? Yes what are the chances of somebody who was there that day coming into contact with him in whatever way (although again him and Declan Rice were both there, I doubt many young or even older English/Premier League fans wouldnt recognise one or both and maybe want autographs or photos or even just to try get a handshake/hug or whatever) even carrying the virus but still, for me, the situation is definitely a lot more serious so the chances are the punishment should be more severe, or so I would reckon (okay he cant leave him out the squad as the games are off but...) Even then, in terms of common sense for fuck sake why couldnt he just follow the orders like everyone else has done? Or was he going out to binge buy toilet roll or pasta after his kick about?

I hope they do make the season null and void. No Liverpool title win. No Leeds getting promoted. No CL and Europa League. It may seem unfair on Liverpool but at the same time its not fair on everyone who can still finish in the top 4-8 places either. Especially considering how well Wolves and Sheffield have done too this season. Wait and see the media will be calling it an absolute travesty if the season is null and void. Jamie Carragher will be crying for the next 10 years about it on Sky and in his column. Although Klopp had a statement out saying health and life is more important than football matches so wonder if his opinion will change if the seasons finished and no trophies are won due to this virus.

Fuck sake. Might sound harsh but what a moron, very selfish putting other folk at risk. I would imagine there would of been kids and other adults in the area undoubtedly so for somebody who has been told to self isolate because he was exposed to a team mate who had/has the virus to show up to a public area for a kick about.... is it any wonder people think footballers are thick as fuck? I mean Lampard was pretty harsh on Barkley for an incident regarding a taxi so will have to see what happens to Mount.

120k after maybe 25 or 30 career appearances though? Riddled with consistency issues bar the Europa League? Still a big deal I'd say.

Tbf the kid done very well in 2 games that you wouldnt say are easy. Plus I think Roy Keanes point was spot on, weve seen guys have 1 amazing game and look poor the next even more so as a younger player, Billy backed his previous performance up yesterday. He may have off days in the future but again I think he will surprise us with how consistent he can be at this level now hes done 2 games on the trot being MOTM although it means people will expect more. I think it just comes naturally to him, physically he maybe still needs to fill out when he grows up over the next few years but again he isnt shy to get stuck in and more than anything in these last 2 performances you can tell he is relishing both sides of the game, going right into tackles or making interceptions without the ball and then showing the more aesthetically pleasing side such as some dribbling and good passing when he has the ball. Yes theres a long road ahead of him but I have seen enough of him from his time at Rangers, with the Scotland U21s and with us at reserve level to know that as long as he keeps his feet on the ground and lets his football and willingness to work hard to become a top player do the talking for him, he will be absolutely fine. He has a real composure on the ball as well as a willingness to take it anywhere which you dont associate with 18 year olds normally, only other 18 year old MF players who had this that I can think of off the top of my head in the PL was probably Cesc when he broke through with Wenger and Jack Wilshere making his first real waves with Bolton then Arsenal before it all went tits up. Maybe a few others in Europe as well with this same traits, Marco Verratti being one in Italy with his time at Pescara prior to going to PSG. Sandro Tonali looks as if he has these too. I think he has got a perfect mentality in the terms he is confident in his own ability but as FL also said after the Liverpool game, he is very humble. Also you see when he has the ball his desire to always play forward regardless of if he has time or not is something that looks as if it has been coached out of a lot of British MF players, the likes of Winks, Dier, McTominay, even Barkley at times amongst others, who have a tendency to panic when under pressure and play it safe or overcomplicate it by doing too much. I think this is a cruical trait for a top midfield player not being afraid of going for that forward pass under pressure or where it could leave the team exposed if it doesnt come off, I mean the risk is the worth the reward because for me if your good enough and confident it will come off, then it will 99/100 times. Even then he just seems to be able to play with his head on a swivel, knows what's around him at all times before he gets the ball. It reminds me very much of Cesc and Xavi in a sense, they would be scanning around them before receiving the ball in these great Barcelona and Spain teams. It seems very simple and ordinary but all the top MFers are not just able to do it but execute the pass into that player or space as well.

I said it last game v Liverpool and I will say it again. Billy Gilmour. That is all. Goodnight/morning.

Maybe it is but hes playing regularly here and our top scorer so I doubt concerns over a lack of playing time is the issue. The club and manager also want to renew him so again, that cant be the issue. Its not as if the wages we gave CHO in his new contract isnt a very plausible reason, is it? Especially when its been reported for a while that he wants parity with our other players, although the only name that has been dropped in any article Ive seen since the start of the season has been Callums and his 150,000 or 180,000 a week wages. Tammy will not be the only one either in the future to do so 100% and if it isnt the issue with Tammy, it is still a dangerous situation for the club moving forward as there will inevitably be other guys wanting new deals in the future on similar pay packets with similar apperances to Callum when he renewed. Hopefully the club can resolve the situation and renew Tammys contract soon.

If we didnt give Callum a massive deal this wouldnt be happening. The fact hes our top scorer too doesnt help but mainly the predicent we set with CHOs deal is coming back to bite us already. Hes our top scorer. Has done more than Callum has so he obviously thinks he deserves more cash and quite rightfully so as mentioned above, CHO contract coming back to bite us.

Barkley and Gilmour looking very very good. Have to make sure we maintain this throughout the rest of the match though they have got goals in them too.

I think when he said mature he meant a few seasons down the line when he perfects his game a bit more. Dont agree regarding RWB, it suits him well and they arent neccessarily brainless either. Joao Cancelo at Inter and also for Juventus at times as well as Cuadrado have put in some very good performances at RWB. Trent Alexander-Arnold too for the England national team. It depends on the player more than anything. Suits some players more than others.

Maybe he would handle it but I think v Everton is maybe not the game to try it, never know though! Frank said after the Palace game about Reece being able to handle playing CM as his career matures if I remember rightly. Think the next game or a few after when we played Lille, it looked like he was lining up with him there in a 3 but we actually played 343. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-boss-frank-lampard-hints-at-future-central-midfield-role-for-reece-james-a4283626.html

I think playing CM for Wigan is different to playing CM for Chelsea v Everton although I would like to see him tried there against a smaller team maybe in the future to see how he copes. I dont think this is the game to blood Reece in as a CM, although if he does play there maybe he will do fine but it is a risk too. I really do think it makes sense for Billy to continue in the team in MF and Reece to play RB or RWB depending on the set up, be it 4 at the back or 3 CBs with wingbacks. Also for your question 'lack of numbers' makes more sense and is more correct than lack of amount in this regard. Happy learning though, a second language is something I wish I had taken more seriously in school. Has played as a 6 for them yeah, maybe he could be given that role if it comes to it. Think its more likely than Reece going in MF today, plus gives us a bit more size and means we can play another CB too meaning we have additional height and size in the team for set plays because Everton have a lot of bigger players in their squad such as Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin, Keane, Holgate, Sigurdsson, Mina, Tosun, Schneiderlin, Gomes, Kean, Niasse, Sibide to pick from. Although not sure if some of them regularly make the squad. I dont know what the situation with Kovacic or Ruben is, if both are fit I think Kovacic will start with Billy then Mount will play off the front.

Perhaps but again (and this is not a dig direfted at your post either), when we have a young player breaking through we apparently have a better or more talented one in our youth set up/out on loan when things go south or talk of interest from other teams. Mount breaks into the team half a year later, Conor Gallagher is all of a sudden much better/talented. Gilmour breaks into the first team set up, moving into the first team training ground, has a great game v Liverpool, linked with City, then we have someone more talented in the youth set up. I have seen Lewis Bates and he does look like he could be a good player but I do think if these guys (him and Conor) were truely more talented theyd be in the first team squad 100%, thats my genuine view on it. Frank has shown he isnt afraid to give minutes or squad places to academy boys so there has to be a reason why if they are more talented that they arent in the squad. I do think its due to the fact they arent quite as talented or ready to the same degree the others are. Even Conte took Hudson-Odoi and gave him his debut because it was obvious he was more talented than many others and closer to being ready than many others in the set up. It will be interesting to see next season what Franks view on some of the younger guys out on loan ie Ampadu, Gallagher as well as Castillo, Sterling and Chalobah too maybe but I dont think any bar Ampadu will have a huge chanve of being in there next season. More so now he can sign players, I dont think hes going to throw these guys aside in the longrun but he knows ae need more proven quality in some areas to be more competitive.