OneMoSalah

I think hes gonna wait and see what Frank wants to do with him. If Frank says I want you to be a regular fixture in my team I definitely think he will sign, if he cant give him more assurances he will go. I dont think his heads turned and for me, he was a bit daft to think hed play at Bayern (Coman, Robben, Ribery and Gnabry - just got Bayern player of the season - all better at the moment) when he wasnt playing at Chelsea in December but the lack of playing time was probably frustrating him. Still think he would sit on the bench at Bayern, especially if Gnabry and Coman stay fit as well as continuous links with Nicolas Pepe.

Azpi at LB again? No thank you.

Atletico are letting Filipe Luis go apparently as he wants to move. Alonso would be a good fit for Atletico tbf, hes not the worst or best LB out there but he'd be steady for them, especially as they play with a deeper backline and more cohesively without the ball as we did. 35m would do the trick but we would be light at LB.

Definitely too early to shit on someone who hasnt even played 1 minute of football for us. Fucking hell. 🤣 Yes the signings havent always been good (suppose thats what you get sacking mansgets every few years and basically handing complete control of transfers to individuals who specialize in business not the on the park footballing side of things) but Kepa, Jorginho and Pulisic will undoubtedly prove their worth and be key parts of this team I would hope.

Think he will be a real good player for us in the long run. Final pass needs ironed out a bit but he is quick, direct, good in 1 v 1s and close spaces. Theres plenty there to work with. Think some people are basing him on an injury ravelled season with Dortmund when in fact the seasons before that he was probably one of the most talked about young players in Germany.

Benitez? No thank you. At least Torres has retired if the unthinkable happens.

Lets hope he takes it slow still. Good to have him back but too much too soon maybe risky although am sure the medical team will have his recovery under control.

Dalot couldnt even get a regular run of fixtures ahead of Ashley Young. He has potential, looks decent in an attacking sense but needs a lot of work positionally. He might get better over time but Bissaka is streets ahead of most young RBs in the PL at the moment. 50m maybe a lot but City spent it on Kyle Walker too. Plus being HG, counts for a inflated fee.

Think if we get Campos or someone of that ilk in, that would be an exceptional mentor for Cech if that is a role for him to eventually grow into in the long term. Would make too much sense for it to happen though, wouldnt it?

Parades is being shipped out of PSG already. Dont think he is worth worrying about. Barella again would of been able to alternate with Kante, so shame we didnt get a deal over the line but he didnt want to move in the end ultimately and that was down to the player because we did agree a fee. But yeah Marina has to have real football people around her if she is gonna continue because shes shown shes a shrewd businesswomen but nothing else.

We will just have to see. If we dont sign Kovacic and have 3 more advanced MF players in the squad (Ross, Ruben & Mason), we will need to use somebody from the loan bunch who can cover for Kante and/or Jorginho. In my eyes covering Kante is probably more suited to a Bakayoko (yikes) and for someone to cover Jorginho, well fuck knows, sold Cesc didnt we.. Ampadu could maybe play DM but hes been linked with Villa on loan.

Perhaps but again, injury to Jorginho and what then? Or injury to Kante? Football is a squad game. It may not be popular but I cant see the likes of Drinkwater, van Ginkel, Bakayoko or Palasic being used next season and with Rubens injury we could already be short if Kova isnt at least considered if we continue with 433. Mount is more an advanced midfielder and wouldnt be suited to covering Kante or Jorginho. If your playing 433 ideally you need 5 MF players at least, with some of them capable of playing mulitple roles. If Mount comes back (seems likely) we will have him Ruben and Ross all vying for that advanced role and no adequate cover for Kante or Jorginho.

I thought we had dodged that bullet. Hope Sarri continues the love affair at Juve. Honestly I dont think Sarri needs much more midfielders at Juventus. Maybe a more offensive minded one (talk of Pogba) and thats it. Miralem Pjanic is more than good enough to play the role Jorginho does, played that position under Allegri and will undoubtedly thrive under Sarri as he is one of the most complete midfield players out there having started out as a 10, before later playing as a 8 and now or less as a 6. Throw Rodrigo Bentancur, Sami Khedira, Blaise Matuidi, Emre Can and possibly even Paulo Dybala if he stays as a 10 if Sarri decides to use 4312.... why would he need Jorginho or Kovacic, who offers nothing better than any of those? The rumours are Sandro Tonalli is also a massive Juventus target. Hed maybe make sense, long term option for that number 6 role. Ironically, despite his inconsistent season, we should maybe consider signing Kovacic, hes not by any means spectacular but with a bit of work and the big thing for me which would be adding end product to his game, he would be a good option. Hes also able to play as a 6 8 or a 10. Just depends on the price, 55m euros maybe too much, 35-40m euros wouldnt be the end of the world in todays market. Seeing as we dont have many other choices with the transfer ban, he could be the only deal we make this summer... plus keeps Bakayoko away from the squad. I know though and understand why some people arent convinced as I aint entirely either.

Will believe it when a manager sees out the duration of his initial contract. I know thats maybe a tall order but Klopp has been at Liverpool since 2015, Pep at City since 2016. Both signed initial 3 year contracts and have seen them out as well as renewing. That is managerial consistency. Believing in a project and a coach in the long term as well as the short term. Regardless of the name, we will only break that cycle when we give a manager the full duration of his initial contract or longer. For me, I think Lampard will only get 2 years maximum. Lot of it depends on results (which based on the last few seasons could be good or bad with this squad) and then when the transfer ban is lifted, if the results arent great or we arent being competitive enough the club will see this and make contingencies definitely, especially regarding regarding a more proven manager if its not going well (which for a relatively young manager, regardless of his playing career, leaving a relatively secure job to come here, I do hope it goes well). I think his first year with this ban will maybe give him a bit more leeway but the objective is still gonna be top 4 minimum. Honestly if we can win a league with Moses, Luiz, and Alonso as key players (which they were even if we had Eden and Costa) then they and some percentage of the fan base will surely expect us to get top 4 with a squad with proven and experienced players like Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Willian, Pedro, Luiz, Rudiger, Kepa, Giroud. Even if some of them arent going to put up amazing seasons. Whoever comes in, I want them to do well. If its Lamps, who I do have reservations about in all honesty as a lot of people and the media seem to be basing what he can do as a manager for Chelsea on what hes experienced as a player like handling bigger named players (he hasnt actually managed a player in that bracket) and competing in the top division of English football. Yes he knows the club, the fans will be much more responsive to his appointment and yes he will get respect in the dressing room but he still has to prove himself in a managerial capacity and thats unfortunately my biggest concern. Yes he played Mount and Tomori at Derby among a few other youngsters and we have a very good academy but the pressure will still be on from day one as soon as he walks in the door. Bigger and better managers have come in here and struggled with the pressure, the handling of big names and even getting the team playing well. World Cup winners, CL winners, PL winners, La Liga winners, Serie A winners... If hes confirmed I hope he does well but if people werent happy with how it went last year, it could be a long season, theres a lot to be done in certain areas and I doubt it will be plain sailing. Certain players need booted up the arse. Certain players need phased out. Can he keep 18-20 bigger players happy as we will be in 4 competitions? Can he break the cycle and continue Sarris integration of young players like CHO and RLC, using the likes of Reece James and Mason Mount while still getting results? Also with Gaz leaving, we are losing another hugely experienced leadership figure, which regardless of the level he is as a player is a blow too. If Lamps can come in and manage to do it, fair play, its not an easy job for anybody yet alone a guy 1 year into his managerial career.

One of the best directors out there. Fuck me what a load of shite. Sorry but she has to have her role minimised. Or surrounded by people who actually know football.

Oh forgot he used that system at Empoli.

I agree but I just dont get why you think the NT things not considered important regarding how a player can do for a club when the England game Callum played definitely added fuel to the fire about him not being played more often. Fair enough its not overly important and sure players can do better/worse at club/country but the majority of the very good players seem to be able to do both and I would consider Jorgi a very good player. Like you also said you want to see him outside of a Sarri system and I am sure he will be able to do well too. Certainly hope so, he has had his first year here, has a chance to go into this season knowing what to expect so lets hope regardless of manager, formation, he can continue playing good like he did the last 15 games of the season. Think he has improved defensively a lot. If we continue with possession orientated football then he has to be crucial to it because we dont have players in a similar mould to him now having lost Cesc. Still gutted Sarri never used Kante - Jorginho - Cesc. The fact Cesc could alternative with Jorginho or be found in more advanced postions by him could have been excellent. Maybe lightweight but again we used Kovacic with Jorginho and Kante and is he really much more stronger than Cesc? Oh well we will never know.

Reslly dont get your whole opinion about the NT thing. There was uproar on here when England gave CHO his debut against the Czech Republic (I think) which he did well in, playing in a different team/system before Sarri gave him his PL one making people feel he had to start using him much more bla bla bla (would have imagined you would of shared that opinion)... yet someone cant say anything about how Jorginho does for Italy? Playing in a different system? With different players? Because it doesnt matter with regards to how they do at club level? Usually very good players are gonna be very good players for their club and for their NT because they are very good. Jorginho has been good for us recently and good for Italy in the last batch of games. Everybody wins. Same with any of the players. If you can play well for Italy, Brazil, England etc you have no real excuse for not playing well at Chelsea. And vice versa.

"golden opportunity to cut our loses and get a big fee for a player who looks very unlikely at this stage to live up to his price tag" Did this guy watch the first 10 games and the last 15 games? Fuck me... oh wait it gets better. If it were a HG player who played as well as Jorginho in those 25 games would there be any doubts? The guy probably had the most frustrating role in the team for the first half of the season because there was no midfield rotation, he was constantly man marked and nobody else would drop in to help him out either like we started to see with the likes of Barkley, Kovacic and Kante after a while 😂 "or even fit into the tactical schemes most managers would have in this circumstance." Yeah sure the most successful and arguably innovative and maybe one of the most tactically flexible managers in terms of systems of the last 10-14 years (Pep) desperately wanted him although Jorginho struggles to fit into "tactical schemes most managers would have in this circumstance"..... also despite the fact he has been one of the first players on the teamsheet with Napoli, Chelsea and the Italian NT recently. Christ. Playing in 3 different systems really, although 2 are based on the same managers philosophy.

Howes Bournemouth are hit and miss. Good going forward some games then utterly toothless the next. Also defensively they are very suspect. The money hes spent there is a lot for a team like Bournemouth in all fairness too. Although theyve signed some talented players in the past, (Ryan Fraser biggest bargain theyve made in years though, was like 300k and now they will get 30m at least for him if they sell him in the summer off the back of a season where he got 14 assists), the likes of Jordon Ibe, Dom Solanke, Lewis Cook, Tyron Mings, Jefferson Lerma, though have all cost them big money for a club with their resources and struggled to do anything of note. Id like to see Howe at a bigger club than Bournemouth to see his potential as a manager at a big club in the future but ultimately I dont know if he will ever manage a CL level side. Which is the minimum of what we should be aspiring to be.

How did James Maddison do? Been a huge fan since he played up here on loan for Aberdeen. Has massive massive potential.

No but he would have gotten more assists than he did at Palace. Alexander-Arnolds final ball is better but I dont think hes anywhere near as solid defensively or as good at recovering as Wan Bissaka. Plus I generally get the feeling Alexander-Arnold would be better in central midfield.

Wan-Bissaka was probably the best or 2nd best RB over the course of the PL season last year. Honestly dont think Trent Alexander-Arnold had a much much better season bar his assists stats but if you'd put Wan Bissaka in a team with Firminio, Salah, Mane, Keita etc I reckon he would have gotten more. Comparing one game of u21s football against a PL season, like you said isnt exactly the best way to judge a player. Think Reece also needs to have an opportunity to show what he can do in the PL before we get carried away and statt saying things like player X isnt in his league. I honestly think he will get a chance this season or next depending on if he gets loaned or if he gets kept in the squad etc.

Even if we didnt have the transfer ban, any chance we may have had in trying to sign him has more or less gone with Sarri leaving (Sarri repoterdly was very interested in signing him here and an ex Napoli sporting director confirmed it basically) along with the fact Juventus have had long standing interest, need a winger as Dybala isnt suited to 433 and now have the manager who wanted him here.

Doesnt matter if hes on holiday or not. We havent even approached Derby yet. Technically cant speak to him until we agree compensation with Derby. Needs to get sorted ASAP, players and managers have cut holidays short before because clubs have agreed compensarion/transfer fees. This is no different. Its just the usual Chelsea FC lack of urgency to get anyrhing done. Also Kante swapping with Jorginho and playing infront of the defence? Is that guy joking? When has Kante ever played as a 6. Except in like 4 or 5 games under Conte which in that run we lost very badly vs Arsenal and Liverpool... wasnt his fault but he isnt a sitting midfielder.