OneMoSalah

Wasn't a CF not our biggest priority a few articles ago? Why not save time and just put that a GK and CF are both essential in one article 🤣

If he is keen in going to Brighton permanently just sell him. Not that I think he is overly keen on it and the twitter shit was taken out of context but still. We complained for months and months about having players who were disillusioned/didn’t want to be here this season so why should it be any different here?

Koulibaly is in his 30s though. You can buy players over the age of 21 and under the age of 30….

Isn’t the whole point of trying to sign Robert Sanchez as a GK for his ability to also contribute in build up as well as be a solid GK? Yet we’ve got the Brighton manager not picking him for months on end due to not understanding or being able to do what he wants in that aspect. Avoid. Please. Also Mbappe saga is on again. Fucking egotistical little cunt. He may be an unbelievable player but what he has basically convinced PSG to do for him is mental with that new deal - a option for a third year that only he can trigger? Mental. He will be a Madrid player though eventually, it’s written.

Swapping a striker we paid near £100 mil for and a CB we paid £30 odd mil for to get a GK we could have signed on a free transfer a year ago would be the stupidest move ever. Regardless of what we think of them as players, or what their wages are, it would be ludicrously stupid. But it has Boehly & Clearlake written all over it so it will probably happen. Although he has just said he wants to stay at Inter…. And no doubt Lukaku and Koulibaly would go on and have excellent seasons for Inter whilst Onana would be an absolute bomb scare here. Its just written isn’t it?

Exactly but again the question is, is Casadei on that level? Is he ready to play regularly for a team in the top half in PL? Like Reece and Mase were much more geared up for? Not so sure. Aye granted I could be wrong but the lads only played 15 games in the championship for a side that got relegated. He looked decent in certain games, scored some goals as well as having done well for Italys u21s but I think these things can be very deceiving. Particularly u21s football. Pre-season is also not exactly going to be a good barometer to judge him on, particularly looking at other past years and years of young players being involved then being shipped out on loan/never used.

True but is he as good as Reece? Or Mase? I think he needs a bit more time - could be argued Reece and Mase were thrust in due to the transfer ban but would of made the cut eventually IMO (particularly if Sarri stayed) as their talent was evidently clear but there was also frustrating moments with both. Casadei is definitely a different level to what they were, as in a step below and he played in a side that got relegated, not promoted/in the running for it. He is probably someone who may need to take a bit longer, like Conor Gallagher maybe, who for me was always going to need another season on loan after Palace but we kept him and look how his season panned out/the perception of him. Wasn’t ready. May never be ready. I think Poch will maybe use him preseason like he will use a lot of players but if a good championship loan comes up where he is 90% likely to play every game in comparison to a Villa/Brighton where he would more than likely be a squad/rotation player, then its clear which is better. The boys only 20. People need to think about taking this using him to acquire Caicedo idea out of the equation and look at if Brighton is realistically a team he can break into? I don’t see it. From what I’ve seen he is physically good but maybe the technical and tactical side of things, could be improved upon. Maybe playing there he would learn it but wouldn’t think he would be a regular there. Plus they are usually 3 or 4 steps ahead recruiting wise and I’d imagine they will know who to get/have similar players lined up for Caicedo’s departure and Mac Allister already.

Seems to be huge emphasis on sending Casadei to a PL club as if its the only option but the jump from Championship to PL is absolutely huge. Wouldn’t necessarily rush it if he’s not ready for it or won’t feature a lot. U21 football’s quality is also concerning and difficult to judge in terms of gauging in comparison to first team football. If he has a future here also, shoehorning him into any deal for Caicedo would be stupid because who says he would even play at Brighton? They’ve started using Gilmour more often and I would expect him to come in to his own next season under de Zebri now that he’s kind of got over the whole issues he was having off the pitch, as well as announcing the signing of Dahoud. Undoubtedly as well as per their recruitment and planning, they will already have guys who may replace Caicedo and Mac Allister at the club too. Just seems all too convenient but that is the slight arrogance of our fan base to think everyone of our players could slot in easily at these clubs to “sweeten the deal”. If he went there and wasted a year as opposed to getting another loan in the Championship playing every week again, would it really be worth it? I mean that is going off the impression that he is someone who is considered to have a future here. Ok Caicedo would be a good signing but again, for the player himself, its a tough one. The next loan has to be right for him to keep playing, going to Brighton and playing sporadically as opposed to another club and playing every week would be moronic but because it “would sweeten the deal for Caicedo” I suppose people wont care. As a club though, I thought the direction we were going and these signings were geared up more in mind with them making the first team as opposed to being used as chips to trade like they were under the old regime. And even on loans that people felt were good but turn out being bad moves. I still remember when we loaned McEachran to Swansea in 11/12 and the initial reaction was that it was a very good place for him to go because of how they played, the manager etc but ultimately he didn’t play and wasted 6 months of his development. He probably played less there than he did in the first 6 months of that season under AVB.

“The task was easy” fuck sake, it is never easy 🤣 After watching us win it twice I thought you’d of grasped that no? I mean if you thinking winning the CL is easy at all then I don’t know. I mean nobody thought Inter would make the final. Nobody thought AC Milan or Napoli would make it as far as they did. To come out with this absolute drivel is mental. PSG, Bayern, whoever may not be as good or complete as they once were but you still have to beat these teams. And over 2 games anything can happen. Much worse teams than that City team have won the CL and teams almost as/as good as that City team haven’t won it. Its the hardest competition to win in Europe. This is why. Once you get to the quarter finals, all the teams are pretty good.

Pretty tame opponents 🤣? Fucking hell. Yes nobody wanted to see them win it but there sure has been some nonsense regarding their win. They beat Inter, Real and Bayern in the run from quarters to final. Hardly tame opponents, probably 3 of the toughest teams you can play in European competitions or you’d think so. As well as having Sevilla and Dortmund in their group who are also no pushovers. I mean when we beat Dortmund under Potter over the two legs it was a “great” result for us so yeah to say that they had tame opponents along the way, nonsense. Inter had their chances but they are a top top team also, they didn’t have chances by fluke. They had earned their place in the final also, having Bayern, Barca in their groups, beating Benfica & Porto as well as AC Milan. Both teams had difficult paths and games to overcome so both deserved their places and you’d think after having seen us win the CL twice that there truly are no easy routes to the final.

Yep. I think it’s arguably a better treble than United’s one also which will be the inevitable comparison. On paper at least, that City team is better then the United 99 team.

Nobody may remember the final but they will certainly talk about this treble for years and years. Like the United one in 99. Unfortunately.

Was always inevitable. Lukaku cost Inter not once but twice also. What a shite footballer, if only his talent was as big as his ego. Not sure how their treble compares to the United 99 one but an impressive impressive feat none the less.

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.