OneMoSalah

Hes more than likely going to be getting sold eventually, Jorginho took his squad number and even before then rumours about appointing Sarri and rumours of Rugani being targeted before we announced Jorginho made it almost an open and shut case. Its a shame but its a logical move along with one of Cahill/Luiz because he is on a big contract and has a lot of resale value.

Honestly can't see Zaha fitting in a Sarri team. Generally feel he lacks the footballing intelligence and he is in the middle of his career where as Bailey has shown a rawness to his play but is much more coachable as he is still young. Also Zaha's most productive football at Palace last season came playing in a front two. Won't get that freedom or positon here.

Exactly. Isn't the first time and won't be the last time we lose a top player. 170M if it is agreed, is a great deal for us if we reinvest it correctly. Which has to be done now. Fair enough there aren't many Edens out there but personally there are more than enough attacking players in the world to find someone who could grow into something special.

Reports in France saying 190m euros which is 170m Sterling. £170m is a good price for somebody with 2 years on his contract (think it’s just a single deal for Hazard). I think it’s more and more obvious he wants to go but the club can still say no. He won’t force it hopefully so we still have a chance.

Its basically the same core of players squads from those seasons. 25 players make up a squad and you could say that more than half of them were there then (not including the likes of youngsters who come and go regardless). This group has got serial winners in it if we like it or not, guys like Cesc, Pedro, Hazard, Azpi, Courtois, Morata, Cahill, guys who have won a lot. This helps Sarri. I don't think people should be looking at the team last season and going we won't be able to get top 4. If Conte got a league title out of that squad with Moses, Alonso, Cahill, David Luiz playing every week then I have every expectations than Sarri can get top 4 with a few minor changes if his philosophy is implemented fast. Pep didnt struggle in all fairness, his style was implemented, obviously last season was better but you try play that sort of football with players like Zabaleta, Mangala and Kolarov, not going to work as effectively as it did this season with guys like Mendy, Walker, Ederson, as well as the countless attackers they have. France had Griezmann and Mbappe, yeah fair enough but Griezmann was piss poor throughout the tournament I felt. Mbappe was something else when he wanted to be, what a player but in all fairness Giroud was instrumental to that French team, he was always their out if they were under pressure and I don't think people appreciate that either because hes not flashy hes not fast etc etc. I get it Giroud is not necessarily going to be a shoe in here but hes an option, something different, a plan B. Morata as well you severely underestimate I think, he had a poor second half of the season but Sarri will make him better, the struggle he had in the second half of the season will help him too having played through it. Drogba had an incredibly poor start here.. look how he turned out. Morata was never going to make the grade at Real week in week out because he wasnt a galactico or whatever shit they want to be but Juventus wanted to keep him so badly and there must of been a reason. Even if Higuain comes in I think Morata is more than good enough to stay, if he starts well like he did last season I doubt anyone will say anything. Up to December he was probably our most productive player along with Hazard.

Yeah but "its all Cahills' fault" Boga has been here for years and has never impressed anybody. His Chelsea career is over because he is not good enough.

Hes coming to 30, how many other chances will he get to play for Barcelona? I can see exactly why he'd be desperate to leave, not because of the club or anything to do with us but because the club that want him are Barcelona. I'd like him to stay and play here under Sarri but again, 60M or more for a 30 year old? Barcelona want to pay it so why not? It would be idiotic to sell to United to spite him because we wouldn't get Martial and even then if we did, hes not a like for like replacement and for me that would indicate Eden would be leaving because he is a left winger or he'd be sitting on the bench and no way in hell does he leave one bench for another.

Not necessarily true. Not even just Jorginho, Sarri is a big plus, fair enough hes not proven outside of Italy but Pep wasn't outside of Barca before Germany or Pochettino outside of Spain before Engalnd etc, good coaches can work everywhere, and he has every chance, even more so if Eden Hazard stays. Conte was also an excellent coach no point saying anything else but last season was very indifferent if you look at his time with Juventus and Italy. The players and manager last season were poor.. its our fault we finished 5th, not the fact that everybody who finished above us were so so so much better (although City and Liverpool hands down were, United for a period as well although like usual under Jose they struggled, went more defensive... 4th was arguably there for the taking and we fucked it). We were losing games we shouldn't have lost. I know people will say Conte took an average team from that disastrous season to the league title but the season beforehand it was the same team that won the league under Jose. It was a good team, that lacked a few elements, legs in MF, motivation, an effective system, etc. Currently, this squad needs a few departures, 4 or 5 new faces that are the right fit and a bit of fine tuning but top 4 should be achievable next season, no doubt about it. You think if we can get 20-25 goals more from all of our midfield and attacking players than we did last season we will get top 4. Goals win games, we didn't score enough last season when we needed to get second goals to kill of games and we conceded too many after that. Sarri is an incredibly offensive minded coach, so the goals will come at some point, just look at Napoli... the chances they created, goals they scored, shots they got on target during the 3 years Sarri was in charge, it was like the most in Serie A in that time period. France got to the WC final with Giroud as their main striker... Juventus got to the CL final with Morata as one of their main strikers... I think the two of them can still offer something here. I can't wait to see people moan about Higuain if he does come here because inevitably somebody will find something to complain about regarding him. Also Arsenals squad? They signed two 30+ year old defenders who are average players, although they are experienced. Lucas Torreria is a good signing yes, so is Leno and obviously they have goals guaranteed with Aubamayang and Lacazette but it is hardly an outstanding squad like City have, its a good one but again Arsenal have always had a good squad and they were even worse off than we were last season, they finished below us. We need to be more worried about the Manc clubs and trying to close the gap to them and pains me to say it but even Liverpool who have just went and completely upgraded their GK and midfield with 3 players a lot better than what they had.

Would be a pretty good signing in all fairness, maybe not start every week (or maybe he would on the right?) but definitely has the ability and pace to come on and change a game. Price wouldnt be incredibly high either look at PSV when they sold Depay who was arguably a much much better talent at the time.

Only if Cesc leaves and Golovin doesn't sign will there be a possibility this happens. He is a great player, maybe has a reputation as a bit of a luxury player in a way too but he'd still be a great signing no doubt about it. Really wanted us to get him before he went to Roma in all fairness, would have been a fantastic long term move back then.

More chance in Cahill staying to be a rotation player than Luiz in my eyes. Plus I know the HG shit is stupid but it makes sense because I think Moses and Drinkwater will be moved on as well. If the rumours regarding Napoli being interested in him is true then we should look to cash in because Ancelotti is a big fan, we know that from when he signed him here.

They want Pedro? Offer 50-70M plus Pedro. What a signing he'd be. Means we can get rid of either one of Bakayoko or Drinkwater too.

Fuck sake, Gary Cahill's fault? What next is he going to be blamed for haha.

Alisson was virtually unknown in Europe until he started playing every week for Roma last season. Think this would be an excellent move in all fairness, hes not regarded as big a talent as Donnarumma but I think hes better than him at present. Good with his feet too obviously, which is clearly a plus point for Sarri, although he is maybe not as good at commanding his area or reflex saves as Courtois, not 100% sure.

Should of mentioned this in my other post but when Steve Holland left for England, I think Antonio missed a big chance by not trying to get him in to replace him or in the club as some other capacity. The squad will have an instant respect for him, he is one of arguably the best to pull on a jersey for the club and in many peoples eyes probably the best so I think this is a big plus for us. Excited to see how things pan out in Australia for this match as well, lots of young guys in the squad obviously so lets see if any impress him or Sarri.

Surely hes hinting at Zouma, Cahill and Luiz? Rudiger and Christensen have the right attributes 100%.

Don't see such a technically limited player getting anywhere near our team. What a waste of cash.

66.8M? Thank fuck hes off to Liverpool. What an over payment. He is good but he is hardly world class. If Courtois resigns, which is doubtful, I wont be worried because he is the better GK. Even then enough of this "hes good at playing out from the back bullshit", Courtois has been doing it for Chelsea and for Belgium for seasons now. Fair enough hes no Ederson or Neuer but fucking hell, I'd prefer a world class shot stopper than somebody whos worse and better with their feet.

As do we. Firstly dealing with them when they wanted Salah and also dealing with them for Rudiger. It will be a matter of who reaches their set price.

Bad enough when AVB tried to have him playing as a sweeper keeper or whatever variation/similarity it was. Courtois has better and quicker feet as well, which says something.

Rumour is we are considering resigning him if Courtois goes because Liverpool have apparently moved for Alisson. Would be an extremely backwards move in my opinion, sentiment aside he’s been on the decline for a good while now. If Aisson goes Liverpool we need to keep a Courtois. Simple. Even then I still would keep Courtois ahead of signing Alisson especially for 70M...

Will be all that tax he doesn't have to pay now hes gotten Israeli citizenship!!!

No point comparing him to Mbappe or Hazard or anybody. Somebody said Robben and that is more alike. Also Mbappe isn't good in close spaces? Seriously watch football guys. Would be a good move I think. 40-45M is a decent fee for a player who could give us 10 years of games.

Think if he was up for it, he'd be a decent rotation option still but Christensen, Rudiger, Rugani if he comes in have to be considered ahead of him in the pecking order. Hes not exactly brilliant but with talk of Luiz going to Napoli, I think it would be better to perhaps keep a more experienced head around in case he was needed or even to play smaller games/cup games. In all fairness if he decided to leave looking back at his time here he has been a huge success, considering he came into arguably one of the worst Chelsea teams in the last 10 years. Like Azpi, only cost £7m, fair enough Azpi is different gravy but for an English player at the level he was, it was a pretty good deal. I'd assume Zouma will be sold on as well.

That interview is good, his English is also quite good, a lot better than I expected. Zola as well as an assistant gives him a huge helping too because he instantly commands respect from the squad for his history as a player as well as can help out with instructions if he struggles. I think with such a short pre-season and also the huge difference in philosophy to Conte he will need time at the start of the season to get everything in place like what originally happened with him at Napoli as well but from that interview the way he talks about how the fans, players and himself enjoying "his football" as opposed to going out at all costs to win no matter what is a breath of fresh air, actually similarly to AVB at the start, fair enough he also mentioned winning but very briefly although he will be under that pressure to try and be very competitive in the league cups but I dont think there is any illusions Roman will want to win something major regardless of how the team plays but I think Sarri will have less pressure than the likes of Jose, Carlo, Conte and whoever else because he is the guy who can deliver what the club have wanted in terms of style since Pep burst on the scene. The progression of his career from 5 years ago in Serie B to where he is now is also something hes obviously very proud of and rightly so I think he will be extremely motivated to prove he is worthy of being here. I must admit this is the most excited I've been in a long time regarding Chelsea and even if we win fuck all this season we will probably be one of the best teams to watch in Europe 100% (people will respect that as opposed to criticise our football as usual haha). I like it when we win too before anybody accuses me of being an Arsenal fan making a statement like that about good football and not winning fuck all haha.