OneMoSalah

Either that or the football boffins up stairs don’t have an alternative which is even worse. To have shifted Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic and RLC in the last 12 months and having only Enzo as a new midfield player in that time is a pretty poor transfer strategy. Hopefully we seal the Caicedo deal (price will be ridiculous though either way) and another good level, experienced midfielder at least and soon to make their integration smoother. We will be in big trouble if we do not.

Hopefully we sell to Juventus for more $$$ and not Inter. Inter can fuck off taking liberties, the cheapskate cunts, their probably annoyed by his attitude as they will want him to rock the boat even more to get back there on a more favourable deal for them.

But if Brighton have a poor season like what Wolves and Burnley after achieving European football - is it really a good move? Or even if we finish above them? Look, if he wants to settle playing for Brighton because he thinks it will be easier to become a top player than here, then sell him. Obviously not up for a challenge. Or committed to the club.

Its a ridiculous take to pin point him for it now after he’s left when he’s not the only footballer to do it. Or wont be the last one to do it. But its only because he‘s left us to join United that its highlighted. Thats why it’s a ridiculous take - he was promoting his brand here beforehand. People are just blinded by bitterness though, stupidly. I mean nobody was going on about players promoting brands when Kai and Romelu did a Calvin Klein shoot a few years ago were they?

I’m sorry but this is a ridiculous take. Every half decent footballer is promoting their brands one way or another.

And when we looked at switching to a more pressing orientated style under Jose in his first season back the first thing he did was change Mata’s position from a 10 to a RW and reduce his playing time. Cannot carry passengers in this day and age, just look at teams who press together as a unit. City being the prime example. They’re so good without the ball. So good. Yes they’ve evolved a bit with Pep - maybe they don’t play with as much openness in the middle of the pitch now with the inverted fullbacks and extra central defender but again, still work as a unit to press together and win the ball back. Then look at PSG under Poch when they got beat in the CL by City. They had 3 passengers never mind 1. Just takes one half hearted player pressing for decent teams to find a way out.

Perhaps but we will see, if he isn't happy here though he has to go.

If he doesn’t want to stay or goes about things in a way as you’ve stated, we should sell though. No point keeping folk who aren’t interested in being here, regardless of what they will become. I mean thats been the message from the club this summer looking at how we’ve went around our business in terms of offloading players who aren’t interested in being here. The initial signs from his side, although may be misconstrued, don’t look promising at all. I mean if he really wants to play for Brighton ahead of us that is worrying - more so than anything else. Hopefully the way these rumours and signs etc look changes over the next week or 2 as he has a huge chance of being a nailed on regular from day 1 (even more so with BB injured). Although he still has to earn his slot in the same way like James did, like Mase did, like Fikayo did, like Tammy did etc competing with players in certain positions/coming out of the team for others as and when also if form dictates it. Can’t just expect it to be given which if this is something he is expecting, he needs to check himself a bit. The ethos and approach of the club and Poch has to be building around players who actually want to be here though and guys who are fully committed - particularly after the moans and groans of players downing tools last year.

Why? Hes fucking shite? I am surprised Ange would even go for him as his sides usually rely heavily on technical midfield players, particularly at Celtic with O’Reilly, McGregor and Hatate. Although we are that short on midfield options that we really shouldn’t sell him until we sort out at least 2 signings in there.

Hopefully he makes it through the medical unscathed. What a fucking thought.

Pretty sure Eriksen bought into it as did Dele Alli. Pressings pointless if 1 or 2 don’t do their bit.

Na, lazy lazy players will never work with Poch. Can’t think of one player outside his time at PSG (no manager was going to get those 3 to press) who was of that ilk and did well. Not one. Ndombele was one he tried at Spurs and that went wrong because he was nonchalantly lazy. We just complained all season about players not putting the effort in - would just be 1 step forward 2 steps backwards if we get a player of this ilk. All Poch’s attacking players at Southampton and Spurs, bar the season he was sacked, led from the front very well. Even Rickie Lambert had to get onboard with it and he was in his 30s. And complained virtuously as was stated on a podcast. Chekri is Good on the ball but an absolute passenger off it from what I l’ve seen. Acceptable at Lyon maybe when your the golden boy and the teams built around you but that will never work here with Poch. And all the top top teams do not have passengers. Thats why Klopp and Pep’s sides have been so good over years - because they don’t carry anybody. Cannot afford to have players like Caicedo etc doing double the work though when you can get all 11 boys to do it. That has to be the Poch mantra for this to work. Ok Kante did it here but he was an exception. I don’t think we will ever see the likes of what he could do as a player as that sort of midfield player again in our shirt if I’m honest. The days of building football teams and giving one player free reign/lesser duties is gone. Hence why United were so keen to get rid of Ronaldo. Hence why PSG have been so keen to get rid of Neymar. Hence why players like Fabregas and Riquelme have died out also more or less - because the good teams don’t carry passengers.

No chance. Park was one of Fergusons most trusted players in big games where it was tight or they had to roll their sleeves up or man mark specific players - wouldn’t want to give such responsibilities to Gallagher. No disrespect to him but he can’t be trusted to do that because tactically and technically he isn’t at the level. He is a headless chicken at the best of times - Park was pretty technically astute probably more so than he will ever be credited for. Oscar was maybe the closest sort of player we had to that role IMO, him v Pirlo in his first season all the proof of that. But he was meant to be a 10, a creative attacking player not that sort of player which he turned out to be. On the raw talent side of things, we need a bit more than that in this squad now to even the blend out. Hopefully get some movement on some 23-27 year old players soon. I think that having younger and raw players is fine to a certain degree but when things get tough, like last season, these sort of guys seem to fold more often than not. Mentally some of them haven’t experienced it before or don’t have the minerals to take it on the chin and keep believing in what their doing.

He’s already shown a lot of great attributes but also needs the right partner to give him a bit more of a freer role. Its only been 6 months but it does look like it will become a very good investment in the long run if he can keep kicking on and performing as he has been. Would of been sickening seeing him elsewhere. Still without the release clause, he’d maybe of cost half as much. Or £60-70m at a push. Thats the reality of it. Argentina winning the World Cup with him being a regular fixture didn’t help either. Market is inflated though but even then I think paying a combined £200m for him and Caicedo (if we get him) is still be pretty extreme. Caicedo is never a £100m midfielder - ever. Although a good player. Mental to think though that £100m+ transfers like Enzo, Rice, Grealish and Caicedo probably wouldn’t even be £50m 10 years ago.

Would actually rather of paid £100m for Rice than for Caicedo if I am honest. But thats off the table now aa he’s expected to be signed by Arsenal tomorrow I think. If we pay £100m for Caicedo, whilst hes a good player, Brighton and Benfica have rooked us financially for him and Enzo. No midfielder in the world worth £100m. Not one.

Yeah fuck Caicedo and Brighton off for £100m. No way in hell is any midfielder worth £100m. Never mind having 2 of them in him and Enzo, not a slight against them as players (Enzo in particular) but shocking prices.

Likely. Competing? Lacking ambition? City are 90% likely going to win the league again next year and we 90% won’t be competing for anything major next season. What would he want to come here for, at age 29, when we could be at least 2 or 3 seasons away from being really competitive for trophies? If it was City or Liverpool I could see a move easily being wanted. Us? Not so much.

Wouldn’t say so. He’s played in Italy since he was like 19 and is obviously comfortable there, why else would he of joined Roma and not a European/English side when he had chance to go anywhere he wanted on a free transfer? Plus honestly, I think this sums up where we are just now with the uncertainty as to how things could go this year. A 12th place finish last season may not appeal to some established European based players like Dybala, who has played at Juventus and Roma winning plenty of trophies. The Mourinho pull is always going to be there too, was a huge reason why he signed for Roma. He would of been a good signing though but sums up where our recruitment may be at when it comes to more experienced pros. Hence the continued links to u21s maybe? But regardless we need to start ramping up and getting in and about some midfield signings and fast.

The thing is as well, this interview/quote he gave along the lines of it feels as if we didn’t trust him last summer when we signed another CB? Is that real? If this kid had it in his head he should be nailed on in the squad (and now undisputed starter by sounds of it this season) here before having even kicked a ball for a PL team in a way where it seems like it should of been handed to him, that is also concerning. We lost 2 experienced CBs last summer in Antonio and Andreas, what did he expect us to do? A club like Chelsea not sign somebody with experience? Yes KK move didn’t work out, it was still the right move to make at the time in the market, or the profile at least - a more proven and experienced player. The more and more I read/hear about this kid I hope he’s worth the hassle. I mean he looks good yes but playing at Brighton and u21’s NT is different. I mean theres a chance its misconstrued but at the same time theres no smoke without fire. If he thinks at his age, with 1 season of PL experience he should be guaranteed to start and will spit the dummy out if not, I know what I’d do. Sell the cunt. People were adamant to chase Mount out the door and others to prevent a toxicity in the dressing room due to disgruntled players so why is it so different here? Couldn’t care if he’s the prime Messi of CBs, if he’s going to be making huge demands and have unrealistic expectations that he wants Poch to bow down to - get rid of him. Same thing we should of done with Hudson-Odoi now look how that turned out for us.

Gvardiol wants City move apparently and it’s literally just a case of them agreeing a deal with Leipzig. And with their system from last season, he will get a lot of minutes. As would any good mobile CB who can cover that sort of hybrid LCB/LB role. Theres no way we are getting him. But yeah if Colwill wants to leave regardless, let him. City are apparently keen on selling Laporte this summer and with Barca having signed Martinez (they were keen on Laporte), I think we could be a pretty good option for him if we we’re interested in him. Although Juve there about also and actually linked to him.

I hope your joking. Most Chelsea fans with half a set of working eyes know who he is. No doubt there will be uproar and he will be graded as a cunt as well 🤣

But then why keep someone who doesn’t want to be here for a season to convince him? Just weakens our position financially which everyone seems to be obsessed with more than ever and also means theres somebody who doesn’t want to be here. The books are obviously sorted now after sales of KK, Mendy, Kai and Mason so its not really as if he would be going cheap or we would need to sell him either. Honestly for me, I don’t care how good he is or could be, he’s literally achieved nothing significant in his career at the moment so if he wants to go play for Brighton that says much much more about him and his mentality than wanting to fight for a place here where there is competition in Badiashile for that role. I mean do you think top young players at big clubs want to go sign for smaller clubs permanently? Particularly when they are 99% going to be involved regularly? No. Or not the elite mentality ones. Even then, if he leaves here for £50-60m or whatever to go to Brighton (probably wouldn’t even go for that, would be more we would ask for likely), he would be going to sign for 5 years or so likely and then that means he will be probably cost someone £80-100m or upwards to buy him off of them if their recent stance on the likes of Cucurella and Caicedo is to go by… no guarantees anyone pays that for him after 1 or 2 seasons at Brighton and their not gonna spend a fortune for a release clause less than what they paid. Ok Liverpool links are there but doubtful we would even entertain selling him to Liverpool for below £70m considering we got £55m upfront for Mount with 1 year left who wanted to go and wasn’t in long term plans, never mind Levi with 3 left and looks to be in Poch’s thinking and the clubs long term plan.

Wonder if he will get thrown under the bus like Mount if he leaves.

He actually had some games where he made a lot of saves. Obviously can be upgraded on but he isn’t like Karius was at Liverpool when they upgraded to Alisson. CF and CM should be priority. After that then maybe a Thiago Silva long term replacement and a GK.

Cucurella as competition to Chilwell was 90% of the forums wet dream when we were linked to him because he had an “amazing season at Brighton” and was their POTY. A year later he should he sold…. He was always going to be over priced (most of players that we have signed under the new ownership have been) but theres a more than decent player there. Mentally he needs to get used to the pressure of when you make a mistake at a big club there is a lot more pressure than at Brighton and that you need to play well to play regularly at a big club. Looks like he was afraid of expressing himself and would crumble at the thought of taking a risk. Caicedo if we get him will also be very overpriced but again, is everyone’s wet dream. If he has a poor year it will be the same though - sell him, overrated bla bla bla. I have no doubts he have to make the same adjustments mentally as Cucurella has to, to adjust to high pressure, to have the personality or lack of meaning he will either sink or swim when things are going poorly. Gallagher & Mount no comparison quality wise. Lets be honest, we would all of rather kept Mount who has shown he can actually be a quality player if he was going to be in and around the squad and not a guaranteed starter (think Poch would of made a huge improvement on him like EtH will) than Gallagher who runs about like a headless chicken and is technically not remotely close to the level required to play regularly for Chelsea and even for England at international level. But Mount plays for United now so its always going to be that narrative now. @Strike Sommer going Inter for Onana replacement apparently. Almost signed there in January - went Bayern instead.