OneMoSalah

Hes not going to leave Chelsea for China. Seriously. Hes having a poor run but don't forget the performances he had put in when he was 100% fit and focused at start of his career here and this season. I still think he has fitness issues. Not severe ones but he always seemed to be in about niggling little injuries at Atletico and even here so dont be surprised. If not a loss of form is normal for any player. Hes still doing stuff, winning free kicks etc, hes not exactly a burden like Torres.

I'd like to say I have been living in South Korea for 4 months now almost but still havent found anywhere that sells gats in Geoje/Okpo? Anybody know where I could find them, would make a really ridiculous present for my girlfriend. Also hope everybody is alright. Been a long time since I've posted in here.

Romagnoli is ten times the player Nathan Ake is. He really is a superb young CB, assured on the ball, tactically good, maybe playing in Italy for AC Milan restricts him because the team they are now in comparison to what they were but him along with Suso (formerly of Liverpool), Locatelli and Donnarumma are hugely talented players who could play here I feel, maybe some sooner than others. Italian football is at a low standard I think, some of the players in the national team though are exceptional despite the lack of match winners/star names they still produce the best central defenders I feel. Verratti, Belotti, Donnarumma, Romagnoli, Rugani etc all a very strong spine for them in the future.

Tielemans to Monaco, would be an excellent move for him. Lets be honest he'd be sitting on the bench here more than likely. Glad hes got his head screwed on if he does go and make the move to Monaco

I am glad Guus didn't go absolutely radical and change everything up because who knows what could of happened if he did, we could of got relegated for all we know we were that poor last season. Theres no way Kenedy and Ruben would have changed anything. Kenedy played under Mourinho and did virtually nothing bar one goal against Norwich, ironically he played against PSG under Guus and looked better. The experience in those senior players (although they were terrible under Mourinho and even Guus) helped us stabilize a bit and probably made sure we didn't fall any further down the table. We talk about identities and national/homegrown players with other clubs but Ruben Loftus-Cheek? Cmon hes an extremely overrated, overpaid average footballer who will go on to have an average career, Dom Solanke is probably the same... these guys Nacho, Asensio, Kimmich, Morata whoever are a totally different level to these guys, all have senior caps for some of the best international teams in Europe (Nacho is pretty average but hes made some sort of career out of being a 3rd/4th/5th choice player who can play RB/CB/LB). If Ruben Loftus-Cheek ever makes a name for himself here and becomes a senior international I think we'd all be shocked. Batshuayi will be better next season because he has suffered this year. Suffering because of the lack of playing time, while having to adapt to a new league isn't easy, hes gone from playing 90 minutes every week for a year solid at Marseille to literally playing like a combined total of 300-400 minutes for Chelsea (mostly in cup games). I don't think its fair to write him off, hes not been the player I hoped we would be getting but hes still scored goals in limited minutes and I dont think its as easy for us to just sell him and sign Morata like some people would think lol. Isco, Morata, Costa, Muller, Boateng whoever else is on the bench for those teams I promise you, will not be happy. Isco has been on the bench ever since he went to Real and its known hes not happy to the point hes been repeatedly talked about leaving even now as a part of a deal to take Hazard to Madrid. Douglas Costa is the same, struggled to displace Ribery and Robben this season, unhappy with playing time wants more money as well. Morata probably isn't even who Zidane wanted at Real but he was signed regardless and despite scoring 11 goals for Madrid this season has struggled to get minutes. No football player is happy to sit on the bench, that is some sort of myth. We need improvements in some areas but its not easy to just sign 4 players to replace Cesc/Matic, Cahill, Pedro and Moses/Alonso and except those guys to be content with being rotated... Those teams, Bayern, Barca, Real, Juventus all have one advantage over us, they have a group of players who have played the same system with the same spine for 4-5 years at least. Conte needs to build his team in his own way, but keep Courtois, Azpilicueta, Kante, Eden, Diego in that team at all costs, bend his system/tactics to incorporate those guys.

Whoever comes in be it Silva or Sanchez, they wont be playing exactly out on the wings, they will be playing more centrally perhaps as 10's so to speak but will have every opportunity to because the wing backs provide the width. Thats the beauty of our formation. Silva and Sanchez would both be good options but Sanchez is a much better player at present, plus his age doesn't necessarily mean anything, Conte signed Tevez when he was older than Sanchez at Juventus and he got the best out of him, also Pirlo although that's a different player all together but the point is the same, a players age doesn't necessarily mean anything, remember when we signed Anelka as well? Im certain he was 29 at the time.

Ballbag Tancredi reporting we had a 60M euros bid + bonus turned down. Torino want 100M euros as thats his release clause....

If they are performing like they are why not? For me the best teams have always been teams, not 11 world class individual players (has there ever been a team of 11 individuals?), although one of the big reasons why 3-4-3 has worked this season in my eyes is because of those two, along with Luiz's development and Kante's energy. You can talk about Hazard, Pedro, Willian, etc but without Victor and Marcos being out wide making the pitch as wide as possible in attacking phases those guys wouldn't have as much of the space or freedom they have to operate, I mean imagine if we didn't play 3-4-3 and Hazard was stuck out at left wing again being doubled up every game? Or Willian or Pedro had the same? These guys being out on the touchline gives these other guys the chance to play closer to the forward as opposed to the touch line. Their defensive contribution too also means Hazard and Willian/Pedro dont need to be as concerned about the opposition fullback going by them either. Sure they aren't maybe glamorous options or have world record fees but I'd have those two ahead of some of the other top 4 clubs full back/wing back pairings, without a doubt. Its the same with Kante, originally I was kind of in two minds but hes gone to have a huge effect on this team. I know we are linked with Luke Shaw and Ryan Bertrand but these guys aren't definitely going to come here and do any better than what Marcos has, although I wouldn't be against us pursuing another left wing back (Alex Sandro would be the one for me) he cannot play every game unopposed because thats when his standards will drop (like Costa).

Would take him in to compete with Alonso, although based on what I've seen from Shaw when hes played at United bar the few snippets of games before he broke his leg under van Gaal, he's been below average performance wise, in comparison Alonso has been a real revelation this year for us after being doubted (even I doubted his quality at first when we signed him).

I have to be honest, I think he might struggle as a wing back in England, I think its clear to see hes much more of an attacking midfielder than a wing back too. Moses has also done well at RWB and Azpilicueta can also fill that role if Moses was to struggle/get injured/be suspended so I don't think hes a necessity for the summer. Left wing back however... someone from Alex Sandro, Luke Shaw, Ryan Bertrand, Sergio Escudero or Jose Gaya would be nice... I think Ake is more of a center half or central defensive midfield player.

If Conte can get Pirlo in to replace Steve Holland in the summer that would be a huge coup for him I think. Hes also got to re-evaluate Michy Batshuayi, is he really the right guy to compete and push Diego Costa all the way for a place/take his place in the starting 11? I'd say Diego's current performances show that Batshuayi isn't. Also I've read Conte is interested in Bakayo (spelling probably wrong), van Dijk, Ryan Bertrand/Luke Shaw and Alexis Sanchez, if we got Sanchez and one of Bertrand/Shaw alone. that would be an excellent window for us I'd feel unless he has plans for Baba Rahman to come back and play left wing back or goes all out and signs Alex Sandro, would be an awesome move (imagine depth at left wing back finally...). I wouldn't be so sure about van Dijk for now, I think hes done well for Southampton but is he much better than anyone we have including Christensen? Not really sure and I'd imagine Andreas is coming back this summer. If Sanchez comes in as well, hopefully its not as a replacement for Hazard and not as an alternative center forward option, hes a wide player but imagine him playing a bit more closer to the center forward like Hazard this year though? Would be excellent, although I feel sorry for Pedro and Willian if he does come in because they are two good players worthy of playing most games and Pedro especially this season has upped his performances. All in all hes brought a very cool and positive vibe around the club unlike Jose who now you can even see at United, publicly criticizing players, officials etc. I think his job was always going to be tough after replacing Jose regardless but hes handled himself excellently and long may it continue. Pep Guardiola said hes maybe the best coach on the planet... if thats not high praise then what is?

That flick was pure class. Absolute genius.

Interesting hes back, I would hope he'd be back up LCB to Cahill, because still I think Cahill is a stronger player and also more dominant in the air as well as being taller. Azpi and Ake both as CBs would be a nightmare, Azpi isn't too tall and Im sure Ake isn't either.

Such an effective player but fuck he can be frustrating to watch, the ball just bounces off him at times, knows how to score goals though. Would be interesting in our front 3, think it would suit him, not exactly playing as a winger or a 10, just given a bit of freedom to roam about. But chances are wont happen.

Agree the deal this month and let him stay to end of Serie A season. Good prospect but would be better playing for Atalanta every week as opposed to 15-20 mins every week here. Would also give him a pre-season to get to know the squad and players better.

We got humiliated at Arsenal and Liverpool (score line wasn't exactly flattering but we were really poor until 75th minute) playing with 433, I don't think it's right for us or Conte would never have changed it. I would hardly call them major cracks, there is no perfect team with a perfect system, the best team I have ever seen which is Barca under Pep or Spain couldn't defend against long balls. We struggled with pressing. It's a work in progress, to ditch 343 would be stupid because we've seen more improvement with it than anybody expected including myself. It's something that we need to keep using and keep adding players to, competition/a better player in for Alonso and Moses wouldn't go amiss or a creative midfielder but that will come. If you get in a new manager of Conte's calibre let him work, he switched the formation after a few games and we went from top 4 contenders to title favourites without any major additions bar Luiz, Kante and Alonso. Imagine if he can get other players in that could fit in this team, to bring it up a level like Kante has done and perhaps even Luiz has done. Everybody forgets where we were last season, regardless of winning the league the previous year or not, because even in the last 6 months before we were confirmed champions we were piss poor a lot of the time. Axpilicueta has played some of his best football for us at CB. So people who criticized him regarding today's performance or whatever must have not been watching the last 3 months because he's been our best defender in my eyes.

I think he might get considered in the next few games instead of Azpi but other than those goals Azpi has been as good as any defender in the league for me. I honestly don't see Zouma playing LCB either if Gaz gets dropped, he is a wreck with the ball, well maybe that's an overstatement but don't see him being used there yet.

Oh please don't say he just relies on physical attributes because he was playing as a 6 at the start of the season when we played 433, displayed a very good tactical understanding of where to be where not to be etc and was just as consistent as he has been now (also very tidy with his distribution). He's just been freed up as a box to box player in this formation. Whether it's a high press or no press, playing with a 2 man midfield in a big game is always a risk in my eyes. Teams have won the CL with certain types of players like Kante before. Don't be silly. Hes hardly piss poor which is what you'd think you were trying to say. He's rejuvenated our team in all honestly.

Aye so it took one game after 13 STRAIGHT wins for people to suggest 1) we need a new system 2) Conte will fail 3) Azpi is not a CB 4) we've not shown any progress... need I go on? Quite embarrassing. One game doesn't win or lose you a championship in January. We will definitely finish top 4 and I'd be very surprised if anybody thought that we'd achieve that this year based on last season.

One poor game (his passing was shit yes) and one of our most consistent players this season and reasons why we are top of the league needs a long term replacement. speechless.

Decision making has always been his main issue along with consistency (but he's shown that this season), if he adds that to his game he's the perfect wing back for us. I don't think he's a world class player but this position gives him a lot of space to run in to and doesn't exactly put the creativite onus on him.

Im sure Juventus would only sign someone of his calibre to shoehorn him in. Same way we would if we signed Verratti. Having a settled team is better yes but if you can get someone of that level to the club you try to make them fit, because they'd improve the team.

I'm intrigued to see who we will play if Alonso isn't 100% because this is a massive issue for me if he is injured. Kenedy won't even be considered ahead of Musonda in terms of a squad place I would imagine so hopefully Marcos is fully fit. Big game, Spurs are in better form than when we played them at the Bridge and there's this talk of they don't want us to get this record from Harry Kane and a few others, very similar to what we had last season with our players saying we didn't want them to win the title. Not sure what way this will go in all honesty, our defending was quite poor against Stoke, they didn't do anything breathtaking or outrageous but scored 2 goals but I do fancy us to be a bit better defensively, hopefully lining up with Matic back in for Cesc. It would be brilliant to get 14 wins in a row and would strengthen our position in the league. Hopefully we can get some additions done too this month to boost our squad, particularly at both of left/right wing back and CM/AM.

Im not sure why we are after another "destroyer" although he is a bit more than that but he is hardly a playmaker. We need someone like Cesc but more mobile and defensively aware.

we cant splash 75M on someone that won't 100% fit what we want as a winger... so sign Dybala? Dybala is a striker... same problem. Carrasco (spelling probably dodgy) is a good option we could look at I feel. James would be more than good enough too I imagine, hes played on the wing for Madrid at times as a wide 10.