OneMoSalah

He was a very average manager here and that is that. If you wanted to be a bit more picky the terms out of his depth could be used to describe it also, as there were huge underlying issues. This finishing top 4 “achievement” people come with really gets me going though because people seem to forget we nearly blew the top 4 finish from what a 12 point lead mid season to us having to win against Wolves on the final day of the season to confirm it as United leapfrogged us under Ole. This comes a year after people were severely unhappy with Sarri, who had us 3rd with a slightly lower GF, better GA and ultimately a better GD. Yet Frank getting top 4 was a ‘miracle’ or ‘’major achievement’ if you’d listen to pundits or certain fans. We all know deep down Sarri, Allegri or whoever else we would of gone for would of got top 4 with that squad also. I am 95% certain of it. The giving youngsters a proper chance is the only thing he deserves real credit for, it was brave (although Reece and Mase would of made it here under any manager IMO) but the January in season one and then the summer at the beginning of the second season also showed that he would definitely have spent money if he had the opportunity when he first came in. That's a given based on how he spoke the whole of that January. My only concern for him going to Everton is, he has never experienced anything like the situation they are in. They’ve got good players but his ultimate downfall here was his team being able to be solid and organised. They need to be like that to stay up before even thinking about pushing on and becoming a better team with higher aspirations. I also find it laughable Everton fans are basically trying to strongarm their owners into not appointing Vitor Pereira, only months after Everton’s owner and board blatantly ignored them anyway and appointed Rafa Benitez. I mean obviously football is for the fans but they really don’t get it, do they? History repeats itself far too often in football and if Pereira was appointed, came in and got the results, they’d soon stop complaining. If he does poor, they’ll keep complaining. Its become an endless cycle for Everton since Martinez.

I wouldn’t say so. The whole Declan Rice coming here links is ultimately a huge part of what started the tensions between the board and Frank on the transfer front. I think in that January and then the summer. I think that under Frank the club had huge reservations about buying him for the huge price tag they’d set, considering he was an academy player here originally. Unless Tuchel pushes for it and Rice himself plays about to get the move for a cheaper fee, I still think its extremely difficult.

But he’s talking about not being played in the right position more or less which hardly looks good for TT if another player comes out and makes comments about either the managers system or the position that he’s being utilised in as if its crippling his chance to perform. Thats the point. Not as if he’s talking about not playing full stop. I did read the interview you know even if he does mention its good to be versatile as if that is to soften his initial comments. Ultimately as I said, if he could walk the walk and play at a reasonable level for more than 70 minutes in one match every however often then maybe TT wouldn’t move him around positionally so much. Maybe he wouldn’t only really play if we are short, have injuries or coming from the bench. But he doesn’t so him not having a regular run in a settled position here, as frustrating as it may be for him, is ultimately what it is. Its the same for the other attackers at times too but bar Lukaku and Puli, do you hear them giving interviews saying they’re playing in the wrong position or systems? I think you know the answer to that. It also doesn’t help the fact the US media moronically seem to think he’s the second coming of christ either but you would think he would just say he’s happy to play wherever for the team, like 90% of other footballers would say because it means playing. And at his age, considering the in and out nature of his Chelsea career the last 18 months, maybe he should focus on just playing regularly in whatever position he’s put in instead of giving interviews which, regardless of if the comments were intentional or unintentional to come across that way when theres been murmurings of discontent amongst some attacking players, seem to indicate he’s not happy at where he’s being used. Maybe he should just skip the long journey and go become a designated player in the MLS where he can be played wherever he wants to be played if he’s not happy here? No? 😂

Think he plays in like Serie C now doesnt he 🤣

Either way seems like finger pointing at Tuchel which is unjust considering Christian’s done next to fuck all over the last 18 months bar the odd flash or moment here or there. If he played well enough in his favoured or a more familiar position when he gets the chance, maybe it would make it harder for TT to drop or move him. Ultimately, another one like Lukaku who seems to be able to talk the talk but can’t walk the walk.

Pietro Pellegri (aka the most overrated/overhyped young footballer of the last 4 or 5 years) joins Torino on loan with an option to buy from Monaco after cutting his loan spell short at AC Milan. Still only 20 and played for Monaco, AC Milan, Italy and now has chance to grt going for Torino, without actually having done anything of note. Mental.

I think when he’s played this season with Bruno Lage, predominantly he has played in attacking positions. Makes sense rejecting Spurs to go back to Barcelona anyway, he never got an opportunity there as a kid and probably won’t get much of a chance of this move again. He will probably be an impact player coming off the bench you’d think. Plus the deal works better for Wolves, a loan fee and then €35m euros to make it permanent.

Said smaller clubs, not top 10 or bottom 10 clubs. Our record v the big sides (Liverpool, City, United, Arsenal, Spurs) since TT took over has significantly improved from before. We’ve still dropped points v the Evertons, Brightons, Wolves etc.

I find the whole Everton situation a bit weird. Everton fans wanting Lampard in? Really? Some of the points Matt Law made, I am a but skeptical. On transfer decisions lets be honest, they may have been ‘good decisions’ on paper but he was utterly fucking clueless at making them play together or finding roles in the team for them. Track record and getting ideas across quickly points are also slightly debatable as he ultimately looked out of his depth here after the first half of the first season as we seemed to be so inconsistent or tactically outmanoeuvred on a regular basis. Not to mention blowing up a 12 point lead in the top 4 to finish 4th on the final day of the season. And are Evertons young players that good? Or as good as the boys Frank took through here? The Everton job is another one, like the Newcastle and Norwich jobs, which if he were to go in and get it wrong, it could be the nail in the coffin for him getting another PL chance for a long time IMO. I mean when do you really see young manager being appointed and going into a relegation battle, barring Pochettino at Southampton and Marco Silva at Hull, and doing well? Even Hull still got relegated with Silva.

Probably looking back on it, he should have.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/football-italia.net/roma-legend-explains-where-abraham-needs-to-improve/amp/ Still mentions a lack of physicality and tendency to fall over under next to no contact but happy to see he is doing well goal wise. Roma have had a lot of losses so far this season, 9, which is incredible considering they are sitting 6th.

To put it bluntly, although mathematically it wasn’t (and still isn’t) quite over, since City went 6 points clear of us in December, it was as good as over in all likelihood. Or so I felt. I mean City now are what 13 clear again, if they win the game they’ve got on us? They aren’t dropping that many points in that position. No way. If you look at our draws v United, Burnley and Everton especially around that period when City went 6 clear and then the other draws since, it is going to be nearly impossible to win the title, even if we win 90% of those games. We need to just focus on our own games too and take care of them as they come ws opposed to thinking City play team X or Y lets hope they do us a favour. I mean if City drop a lot of points, they drop a lot of points but thats a massive if and it isn’t as if we are exactly flying just now either so wouldn’t get overly excited. Also never mind City, Liverpool have 2 games in hand on us and can go up to 54 points if they take all 6 points from them. We need to really not lose sight of them as opposed to City right now because we can maybe catch them if we get our shit together. Obviously most of our remaining fixtures are favourable which maybe does give people optimism and a chance to get a lot of points but in our current 8 league draws we have 2 v Brighton, 1 v Everton, 1 v Wolves and 1 v Burnley. Thats 5 points taken from 15 which we all would of been expected to get. 100%. So nothing is a given. Again, smaller teams have caused us more of an issue than bigger teams this season.

Seems odd. If he has offers in the Championship and the Dutch league it makes perfect sense to loan him. Even more so now with the loan numbers changing to 8 international loans per club next season as well as he wouldn’t be in the classification to be exempt as he isn’t a homegrown player u21 player. Personally think that the u23s struggling shouldn’t come into it at all. U23 football is of a poor standard and if the u23s position has any real bearing on the decision making then those involved should have their head checked.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/12525755/premier-league-clubs-agree-to-new-postponement-guidance-after-controversial-decisions-to-call-games-off Premier League clubs have agreed on new postponement guidance that says teams will have to show four positive COVID-19 cases in order to have a match called off. The guidance change comes after a series of controversial decisions to call off matches, with clubs using a combination of coronavirus, injuries, suspensions and players on international duty to postpone games. why did they not do this from the start….

Seen something floating about Sky Sports and twitter that we are looking at this guy, a 15 year old striker from Brazil playing for Palmeiras. He is linked with us, Liverpool, City, United, PSG, Bayern, Barca and Madrid. Seems a bit crazy to be talking about this but obviously the talk for all clubs is getting him to sign a deal when he is 16, letting him stay at Palmeiras and him leaving Brazil aged 18. Not sure what to make of this, a lot of talk Palmeiras want €40mn for him. “Generational talent” so make of that what you will 😂

Its swings and round abouts though, lets be honest. You’d think all the attackers haven’t had plenty of opportunities the last year under Tuchel barring maybe Pulisic reading your post and even then that’s debatable isn’t it? The links to players such as Raphinha, Dembele and even Hazard aren’t happening purely by chance for me. Obviously there are subplots, be it personal links to personnel and the club or contract situations or not playing regularly elsewhere but if the current attackers had all done better these links 90% wouldn’t exist, simple as that. You don’t fix what isn’t broken urgently. You fix what is broken immediately. The Mount lack of goals/assists point as valid as it may be is the same as Timo or even Kai. If Timo doesn’t get goals or assists people come with “when he plays his runs stretch teams or his movement is useful” or if Kai doesn’t score or assist “he links up the play better and our combination play is better” which, granted, are valid points but again, if its the same precedent for one it has to be the same precedent for all of them. If your going to criticise Mount, Lukaku, Timo or whoever for no goals or assists then the other attackers have to get it too because they aren’t doing it. Simple as that. Granted Mase hasn’t been great the last wee while but again are we as a team doing well from open play? Are we really creating a huge amount of chances? How many goals have come from corners and freekicks? How many have been scored by central defenders or the wingbacks? Obviously set plays and a good spread of goals from other positions are huge bonuses but ultimately you take these goals away and we would be a lot lot worse off. So are some of the attackers really not getting a chance or does Tuchel just not count on or fancy some of them like he does with some of the others over the last 12 months? Also would say its laughable to say losing the likes of Ziyech, Pulisic or Werner could potentially end up like a Salah or KDB situation. There are levels and they aren't that level. Havertz is potentially the only one who is likely to become an actual elite level player of the ilk that Mo and Kevin are. And even then that level is hard to get to for a lot of players.

The president of Barca said recently something along the lines of they are ‘ready to make big moves again in the transfer market’ so them being skint, would take it with a pinch of salt. The salary cap is likely what is fucking them more than anything just now re registering player. Although again, would expect this big moves in the market thing to be more meaning in the summer as this is when clubs normally make these big moves in the market. Plus they are reportedly set to be offered huge £67m a year sponsorship deal in the summer as they are negotiating this with a few potential sponsors. IIRC they got a €500m loan from Goldman Sachs in 2021 right after the end of last season. This club X, Y or Z being skint narrative is all well and good but the supposed clubs are contradicting it heavily also. Juve are making a big signing this window in Vlahovic, Inter are buying Goosens this month, close to agreeing a summer deal for Bremer from Torino and are also heavily suspected to approach Dybala too for next summer which will apparently cost a lot in wages, around €10m per yesr. Barca went and signed Ferran Torres for 50 odd million too (albeit structured in instalments). If they are really that skint, why are these things happening? They must be able to manoeuvre some sort of money around to get these deals done/make moves.

To be fair Robertson is arguably the best or one of the top 3 LBs on the planet and has been for a few seasons now. I don’t think a back up LB signing has really escalated his performances that well. Just looks like he’s back to his best after a very up and down season last year or probably kicking on even more, which at 27, is always likely to happen. Dest and Sosa would be interesting buys, again like Dembele at Barca, not sure why Dest hasn’t really took off there as he was very promising at Ajax, but another American player and we need to make sure the moves football related and not marketing related.

Also true but I think those 2 were much better at it, seemed much more natural. De Bruyne would also be in with a shout but think he and Pedro are probably similar level for that too.

I am sorry but what in the fuck would Alexi Lalas know about being too good for somebody? He was a fucking nobody and is only remembered because of his his hair and beard at the 1994 World Cup 🤣

I would say its more that Barca are desperate to get him out right now than us wanting to get him in. Tuchel got a tune out of him at Dortmund, where he was excellent. Whether or not he could repeat that here who knows but someone with his natural talent and considering how ambidextrous he is as a footballer, I find it strange he’s never really got going properly in Spain. Also any move really depends on Ziyech, Pulisic, Werner and CHOs positions and futures here as in who would be staying and who would be going, because we cannot have too many wide players. He and Santi Cazorla are the most naturally two footed footballers I’ve ever seen in recent times, like basically impeccable technique with both feet to the point where if you didn’t know what foot was their strongest, you couldn’t tell their natural one when watching them.

Staying up? Based on what? Howe has been there since November and they’ve only got 10 points from 10 games under him. Hardly great is it (although an improvement on Steve Bruce’s horrendous start)? Thats a third of the points. Plus if they don’t take more than say 6 or 7 points from the next 5 games they are probably just as good as done. They play Everton, Villa, West Ham, Brentford and Brighton next 5 fixtures. Plus theyve still got to play us, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Man City before the seasons done and realistically thats 15 points you’d expect us and the other 4 teams to get at their expense. Why does everyone think throwing money at players left right and centre is going to hide from the fact they hired an absolutely average coach? With a poor transfer record in the PL? And considering they already have the joint or second worst PL squad barring Norwich’s which is mainly championship quality footballers, thats not good. Also nearly beating United is hardly a barometer for anything these days. Still mortified we only drew with them when they had Carrick as interim manager.

Everton are potentially in a relegation battle for the remainder of the season so if they don’t get this next appointment right it could be catastrophic in the same way Newcastle appointing Howe could/will likely be because I think they alongside Norwich are fucked. The Everton job is a big job too with its own problems - the owners obviously got his opinion and unrealistic expectations for the club based on the money put in, the squads a vastly overpriced mix of players and I don’t think any manager with half a brain should be looking to rush into there, particularly one who hasn’t ever experienced a relegation battle and has had 2 good jobs at clubs who were expected to push for top of the table spots (Derby were in playoffs season before he went there and we finished 3rd season beforehand).

£40m for a CM who will request a relegation clause in his contract and is 75% likely to go for half the price in the summer when Newcastle get relegates. Arsenal been linked for 2 years now.

Yep. Still think for Colwill, who’s only 18 I think, another loan or two on top of this one will be paramount for his development. Another who like Broja (even with the Lukaku situation), theres absolutely no need to rush him into being a Chelsea player for the sake of it. Another 18 months minimum of regular first team football for him, as a young CB particularly, is more essential than replacing Sarr as a player who sits on the bench/plays once every 4-6 weeks. Sarr’s still got plenty growth in him too as a player and all in all I think the more he’s played he will come on. Not expecting him to be a world beater but for another 12-18 months, a solid, dependable option.