OneMoSalah

I am sorry but you are well off this with I’m afraid. Doing the boy a disservice calling him a bulky version of Connor Gallagher. Couldn’t be more wrong and not even the same type of profile. He is more than 10 times the player and someone who now should be considered as someone who can actively contribute in a bigger team. Its no surprise Arsenal, Bayern, United are all after him. He’s got a level or two where he can get to yet also but he needs to play in a better team with better coaching to get that. Yes maybe price will always go against him but personally I think after spending £100m+ on Enzo Fernandez - again will be a great player in the long run but for me, based on the current crop of players out there, no midfielder in the world is worth what we paid for him bar a select few - it doesn’t really matter what we pay for him because he is the type we need, its the same logic as the Enzo deal, we ‘needed’ him. I’d take him over Caicedo in a heartbeat. Especially when you consider both are going to he wanted for at least £80m and we missed out on Ugarte, although again he isn’t on Rice’s level atm but the price was better and profile suited what we need. Definitely more difficult to look a top player in that West Ham team than it is in the Brighton teams of the past 2 seasons IMO.

80m 🤣? Who the fucks paying that for him? Pretty sure he has 2 year left on his deal also.

Ffs don’t want to sound harsh but enough with the 18-22 year olds replacing hugely experienced and established guys who have done it all here and sign some more experienced player’s particularly for such an important part of the pitch. We’ve already got Enzo and Santos, who by the sounds of it will be given a chance here this pre season, coming who are 22 and 19. We need to target one or two midfield players who are in that age bracket of 24-27, with say 100-150 starts as a first team player at a competitive level particularly more than ever now Kante is off and it seems we are willing to sell Kovacic. Not to mention losing Jorginho in January. If Boehly & co’s masterplan is turning us into the most expensive rip off of RB Leipzig then we’ve had it. Not that I expected us to be overly competitive in the next season or two but there seems to be too much focus on the long term. This squad isn’t a million miles away from being in the top 4 if we can cut out some of the stragglers and fine tune it with some ready made players. But it seems to be again, lets gear up towards this 2030 vision. Wouldn’t be surprised if spend £40 or £50m on Lavia and in 2 or 3 years probably go and sign the next 18/19 year old of the same profile or position. Gonna end up with a 25 man squad which the majority will be 18-23 year olds who need to play every week aren’t we?

Bit rich saying about PL tax for those when we paid £100m+ for someone who whilst he is a v good player and will be here for the long run, was still quite over priced. But thats modern day football. Theres not a lot of bargains these days. Mac Allister smart signing for that price but honestly don’t see him being an exceptional player for Liverpool or any top club tbf. I get the feeling he’s just a cut below that level.

Apparently we want Neymar and looking to open talks…. Hmmm. What the fuck is the transfer strategy at this club? Let Kante leave, let Kovacic leave and then go after someone like Neymar? After signing Mudryk in January? If this is true, there is clearly no defined plan and back to winging it.

True but I don’t think Kante is going there for the money, he’s going because they’re giving him a 2 year deal and because we are stupid enough to let him go. If we offered him a 2 year deal on any terms he’d probably stay as its been continually confirmed that his preferred option has always been to stay here. The fact we are just letting him go is mental - people keep mentioning injuries but the club basically sacked the whole medical team who have been here for longer than the past 2 years, indicating that perhaps their belief is that they’re more to blame than Kante, James, Chilwell, etc whoever else has suffered big lay offs. The fact hes getting £100m a year or whatever is irrelevant, its not like hes demanding that, I mean this is Ngolo Kante we are talking about - one of the most modest footballers in the modern game. Hes not went to that Saudi club and asked for that, they’re offering him it Also people saying he doesn’t have an affect on this squad/in the dressing room have no idea. The guy leads by example when he plays, covers every blade of grass, clearly trains well and gets on with his job, doesn’t have an enormous ego etc. Just look at all the quotes about Kante from Rudiger, Vardy and all his past team mates about his personality, how humble he is etc. He’s a good egg and I think he will be an enormous miss on and off the pitch.

Stupidity by the club not fighting to keep him if I am honest. Can’t buy experience. Can’t buy anybody better than this fella either when he’s fit and firing too (think Poch could have maybe used him similarly to Jose with Maka in his last season here and if we had a competent medical team that could also of helped get him fitter)- seems a waste letting him go so easily. Losing Rudiger, Jorginho, Kante, probably Azpilicueta, Kovacic as well in this window all in the space of 2 years - big players who have brought a lot in different ways be it through leadership, experience or personality. Poch really has got a lot to do here to because the majority of this bunch have shown they are utterly feckless when it comes down to all three of those. I sincerely hope there are a few players with big personalities coming into this dressing room and soon. Can’t expect all of these young fellas to bring it all either, so whatever the strategies going to be recruiting wise, it better include some proven players with leadership and more importantly, personality.

We will probably need to buy 2 more experienced CMs if we lose both Kante and Kovacic. Lets be honest. Be suicide to go into the season with several u20 CMs in such a key area of the team. This is Chelsea, not Southampton. I get having one eye on the future but the lack of standards and leaders in this team is already incredibly evident - and flooding arguably the most important part of the team with youngsters who lack that experience and leadership is not going to end well. Look at how Arsenal basically had the title wrapped up only to fumble it due to a lack of leaders and experience.

Who else is the viable options? Declan Rice? Moses Caicedo? Both wanted by multiple CL clubs and will likely have us as 3rd or 4th choices, both have much bigger price tags, Rice will also want a premium contract too considering he has already rejected a £200k p/w deal at West Ham and is their captain & highest earning player as it is. Then after that its either do some sort of incredible scouting mission or get a big drop off (unless we were to maybe try and sign the boy Palhinha from Fulham as I genuinely think he could do a good job for us in there). Ugarte was the common sense signing though. £52m release clause, more modest wages. We even offered to buy a stake in Sporting ffs 🤣 As if PSG are going from offering him 5m a year to 10m a year also. By the sounds of it, if the first contract offer wasn’t so low this deal would be wrapped up by now. Now it’s basically fucked due to the master negotiating skills we have at this club. Under Roman with Marina & Petr this deal would of been done. No questions asked. When have PSG ever done this to us? I think the last time was genuinely Javier Pastore in 2010 or 11.

And if we signed him, it would be “what a signing” so pipe down. Saying nobody knew about Ugarte 2 months ago so we shouldn’t be bothered is ridiculous. Nobody had heard of Mudryk until Arsenal bid for him in January yet when we splurged £80m on him all of a sudden it was a different story. And many hadn’t heard of Enzo Fernandez until he broke out at the World Cup - myself included and again when we paid 100m + it was a different story. So it just shows. The Ugarte deal is ridiculous though in all reality considering Poch really wants him and by the looks of the analysis, his profile perfectly compliments Enzo Fernandez and his age is good for a key position we need to strengthen in - it actually makes incredible sense to prioritise trying to sign him, unlike signing Mudryk or Felix in the previous window so obviously the footballing people are having more of an influence. To miss out for the sake of thinking the price is above “market average” months after spending above market average prices on Enzo Fernandez and 80m+ on Mudryk who is a £30m player at best - with the reasons being oh they could be Chelsea players for 10 years - that logic is insufferably stupid. It actually hurts my head.

Yep PSG offered better package to both club and player. Boehly’s incentive based contracts are going to get blown out of the water when proper teams come in and compete for certain players. Plus he went and spent £100m+ for Fernandez (again despite how good he is a bit high price wise) and £80m for Mudryk but is now trying to penny pinch. Can’t make this up.

Madrid replacing Benzema with Havertz. Crazy. They’d of been better getting Raul out of retirement 🤣 No he’s not. Jesus christ. He’s been here 3 seasons and looks more like a better Marko Marin than being anywhere close to the likes of KBD or Salah levels Wont get that for him. £50-60m is about right based on what we paid - and its more than he’s worth at this moment in timw. He is shocking. Once in a generational talent they were shouting too. Good riddance.

Was a lot going on and around twitter saying PSG are going to better our package to him. Newcastle are in the running for him also apparently now. Looks a good player but again, need to see what happens. CL teams may come in for him yet. Think as an alternative Joao Palhinha should be considered but Ugarte in long run would be the much better signing.

Spurs apparently fucking about on Kulusevski deal and wont trigger £24.9m option for him. We should be all fucking over this. If they want £25m for him give them it- some player. Ugarte likely to go to PSG yet also wait and see

Apparently Kovacic close to going to City. Really just a fee holding it up. Shocking move from us.

More controversial? Fuck sake. Seen a lot of nonsense in my time but this is really up there. How is sacking Graham Potter months after he should have been sacked as it was, more controversial than sacking a manager 7/8 games into a season after giving him nearly £300m in players and nowhere near enough time to work with them? Sacking Potter when we did was too late yes and maybe should have let him just ride it out but sacking Tuchel was clearly more controversial and suggesting otherwise is just sheer stupidity by all accounts to the point where it is almost laughable. I mean there is no logic in it, at all.

Not surprised. A luxury player who yes has quality (inconsistently though) but his lack of intensity, commitment and competitiveness off the ball was always going to be an issue for Poch as well as his lack of end product. Plus what is he? A 10? A second striker? A winger? A 9? Cholo and the Portuguese NT have tried him in multiple roles to very limited success. A lot of talent but yet to have a defined role that allows him to showcase it. I posted a few pages back if we signed him without the managers say so it wouldn’t look good so for me, to see Poch has said no and we’re backing that opinion, it shows that there is a clear line of communication and planning with the footballing guys and Poch. Plus Nkunku will effectively be his like for like replacement as it is.

Be a big miss I think.Yes he’s struggled this season with reoccuring injuries and off the field stuff (him & Gilmour with that stalker creep) but I think Poch would be the right coach to bring him on a lot. Even the previous season he wasn’t particularly great but there is undoubtedly a top player there if he can iron out a few things. Every player has areas they can improve, Masons no different, wherever he goes with proper coaching and a free run of no injuries, he will be a top signing. All this talk of him being a money grabber is clearly bullshit also but not surprised. It always seemed to be about the duration of the contract before the WC which originally offered was 7 years. Fuck knows what is happening now but I doubt he’s wanting 350k upwards which you’d think reading some of the pish in here. Plus if CL clubs are willing to come in for him, he has that to think about. A lot of variables to consider as opposed to jumping to the he wants half a mill a week or whatever nonsense. Bit of uncertainty at the club too with how it is being run. Who knows what he’s thinking? Personally think he will end up at Liverpool and he will do well. Or United. City maybe even be a slim outside shout if Gundogan goes but who knows really. Will be interesting thats for sure as he is a profitable asset to sell and we will have to do to ensure we get it in time for FFP.

Fingers crossed Boehly and Eghbali get out this fellas way to let him and the footballing guys do their fucking job. Be a disaster if they don’t. Think how successful his first season here will be is going to be based around how many players he can get rid of. It’s absolutely paramount he trims the squad down - if he doesn’t he will be fighting against the tide. Has to be aiming for CL regardless would be typically ‘Spursy’ attitude to come in and aim lower but hope the experience he has at PSG and the demands at this club make that clear to him. Would expect that to be the remit but still not completely sure how successful he will be here. A lot of questions yet to be answered with these muppets at the helm.

Yes the double would of been their main target. But out of the cup and the league, their main priority would be the league 100%. Clubs like Bayern, Madrid, Barca - they always target the league first. Lets be honest, Nagelsmann started them on the rut after the WC. Not saying Tuchel has done excellently at Bayern, far from it, but he did what he had to do and that was win the league. But sitting 2nd on a potential downward spiral with a negative atmosphere in the dressing room (12 points dropped in first 10 after WC) or actually winning the league be it one point or due to someone else taking their eye off the ball - I think its clear which position most would go for (confirmed winning the league….) I mean people talk about Tuchel having to learn from his past mistakes but he is the only coach to get PSG to a CL final. He won the CL here. He’s won league titles in France and now Germany. Yes its hardly as if he’s been successful completely at Bayern but he’s been there like 3 months. I’ll be honest there is a lot of strange strange opinions on here regarding Tuchel - it is absolutely baffling if I am honest 🤣 I mean he could of won the treble with Bayern and there would still be some sort of throw away comment or dig or something ridiculous said.

Yeah but their form and results tailed off after the World Cup also with JN - dropping 12 points from first 10 after it ended. Compared to 10 straight wins before. So they blew their lead under him. Not to mention Nagelsmann had Bayern in second before he was dismissed. Was a point yes but it seems likely that despite where they were, they would of dropped more points with Nagelsmann as opposed to Tuchel. A huge % of their players were fed up of him, his antagonising nature and training sessions. But yeah Tuchel ultimately got the job done and will undoubtedly ring changes. I think Nagelsmann maybe a great tactician but not got that niche when it comes to managing the big egos

We will be taking a few big hits then because no way clubs are paying premium prices for some of these guys. Particularly as a lot of clubs know we need to sell - if we don’t loan some then yeah it will be a bit undervalue for some. Which is fine if we get rid of then as a squad of over 24 or 25 players next season is suicidal.

Tbf though the flopping at Bayern this season began with Nagelsmann. Some iffy results- nothing major but I think theres been something there for a while in terms of the squad. By the time Tuchel was appointed the titles usually done based on previous seasons so credit to Dortmund but the background changes at Bayern would assume that they blame their transfers/recruitment over the past 24 months for their regression as opposed to directly being Nagelsmann and Tuchel‘s doing. Obviously there was something with Nageslmann but on the bigger picture, theres a big job on there for them this summer.

Had a successful stint using 343 at Spurs also. Pretty sure his back 3 was Sanchez-Alderwereild-Vertonghen then Rose/Davies and Walker/Trippier wing backs if I remember correctly. Think we could see something like that with Fofana, Silva and Colwill(Badiashile also when fit) with Reece and Chilwell/Cucurella as wingbacks. But depends also he has used a back 4 a lot but honestly don’t think it really suits the likes of Fofana, Chalobah (if he stays) and even the wing backs nearly as much as a back 3 would.

I am sorry but an injured Hazard would be horrible here. Wouldn't touch him for 10m. In fact wouldn’t take him on a free transfer. Has never done anything of note at Madrid so how would he be the best attacker here? People still think he is the same 26,27,28 year old he was here. He isn’t. Our attackers are poor but Hazard has barely done anything at Madrid which makes me think he’d fare any better. Nail on head.