Superblue

At present (and hopefully in 9 months time some of these positions may be solved with some breakout seasons at the club), I'd say the three priority positions are striker, left back and centre back. Depending on how much we're prepared to outlay, if I could choose one 'fantasy but realistic' target (I don't consider Mbappe realistic as I don't think he would move to us currently) I would love us to get Sancho who so far in the last 12 months has looked like becoming the real deal. If we're really considering moving for Zaha and his price tag is in the £70-80m range, I'd much prefer to go in for Sancho for a few more million.

You'd expect one or two from Zappa, Baka and Kenedy to leave to trim the squad down to about 24-25. 8 academy lads by the looks of things in our first team squad this season so around a third. That's pretty good going. I was never one of these to just want us to start throwing the kids in and playing them, but I wanted the club to start developing a pathway for the academy players to break into the first team squad and I've always felt the way to do that is to concentrate on improving our first XI in the transfer market and looking to the academy to fill out our squad. That way our transfer budgets will always be focused on a couple of top players rather than spread across 5 or 6 each summer, whilst the academy players will get games through the season with the amount of competitions we're in. With the exception of Cumming, all of those squad players will be hoping to at least be playing 15-20 games during the season and it's then up to them to take their chances when they get them and start to establish themselves further. The transfer ban has helped with this, but last season there was almost a soft start to this with spending big money on key targets (Kepa, Jorginho, Pulisic) and blooding through RLC and CHO. This needs to be the blueprint for us moving forward as a club in my opinion.

He obviously has to make things happen but it's refreshing not just to hear from a manager that talks in such a clear and likeable manner (and not prepared to dodge around questions), but also one that speaks so positive about the club and the players he has at his disposal. Yes we're probably light in a couple of positions going into the season but I think at times the negativity surrounding the club is multiplied excessively by managers like Mourinho, Conte and Sarri being extremely negative in the press, downplaying our chances and quality of our squad. I hope that what Lampard currently does lack in managerial experience at present can be made up by his man management of this group of players, particularly giving the young players confidence to take their chances when they are presented.

Is this possibly an example of a player not being happy at receiving criticism/instruction from previously a team-mate? I believe the only other players who played with Lampard are Willian and Azpilicueta? I cannot see Azpi acting in that way, he's always seemed to be a model professional and I see absolutely no issues with him. Willian will remain to be seen. It will also be interesting to see if there is any fall-out from the Brazilian contingent (Emerson, Kenedy, Jorginho) like when Conte bombed Costa out. It's not the most ideal of situations but it would be far worse to keep a negative influence in the dressing room once the season commences and it does show that Lampard is strong enough to stand up to and deal with this and the club seem willing to back him by letting go of a player that they've always seemed to think highly of (particularly Roman).

The £8m price does seem low but Arsenal could have enticed him to them a couple of months ago for free. Also factor in his wages, he'll be one of the highest earners at the club, I'd imagine on upwards of £120k per week. If he's no longer wanted/committed then we'll also be saving a pretty penny getting him off the payroll..

If you're factoring Matic into your equation you also need to take into account we sold him for £40m so we basically got the best years of both Matic and Luiz for free?

I think he would do well in the Championship to be honest. He's not Chelsea level, but a good loan even dropping down a division to do so could help bump his transfer value up for next summer.

Well this certainly spiced up the end of the window for us Chelsea fans! I have to say first on this matter that I'm really disappointed with David Luiz if reports are true with regards to how this has played out. Last summer he wasn't wanted by Sarri and knuckled down and fought for his place in the team. I can only assume that either he's not as confident this season with the current crop of centre backs or Lampard has made it crystal clear that he would be 3rd or 4th choice. As an experienced player and having signed a contract above the usual terms the club give, he really should have given us this coming season and either requested to leave in January or next summer. Terry and Cahill both did the same on their way out, and were very much dignified and professional in what would have been difficult circumstances for both. I think the biggest thing we would be losing in Luiz well beyond his ball playing ability is a big influential leader and character, not just on the pitch but just as vitally off the pitch. This is where the likes of Cahill and Terry were still able to contribute even when not playing and having lost in recent months the likes of Hazard, Cahill and Fabregas, it's disappointing to be losing another. However that can also work the other way. A big influential character in the dressing room that's unhappy could have huge ramifications, especially on a much younger group of players that we now have. That's why I think we simply have to let him go. Unfortunately it probably will improve Arsenal to a degree (although he will lack the quality of players around, behind and in front of him that he's enjoyed at Chelsea in my opinion) but it is a short term move on their behalf. I do think we're currently very much in rebuild mode where top 4 would be an excellent season but top 6 is probably more realistic. We still have a centre back group that is still comfortably better than United and Arsenal in my opinion, let's roll with it. If Lampard has reviewed his squad and decided to place faith in the centre backs he views as more defensively solid then this decision is entirely justified. I think Lampard will come out of this situation pretty well too. He's shown that he won't be influenced by previous regimes or favour previous team mates and experienced players. It also shows a ruthless streak that should be commended. He came back and made it clear he wanted a group pulling in the same direction and that wanted to play for the club. Actions always speak louder than words, and if he lets Luiz leave he has just offered proof of that.

Linked with a loan to Galatasary today.

I guess Bakayoko then must be worse than Mr Bean...

There is an argument for the club potentially keeping him for another 2 years. We can't rebuild everything in one window and, if we're talking focusing on 2 or 3 players next summer and spending top money to get top players in, replacing Willian wouldn't be a priority for me. Striker, left back and possibly centre back would all be before this. We have to make sure we don't make the mistakes of the summer 2017 window trying to stretch our transfer budget over too many players because it will impact the quality we can pick up. I'd far rather be looking at a top striker next summer and then someone like Sancho the following summer, than next summer buying two much cheaper and inferior players for those positions. The hope is that CHO and Pulisic develop over this season into two high quality wingers and bringing in a top drawer wide player is not a priority as a result. Also to be noted that Pedro's contract is up next summer also, so if we had to bring in a new wide player it may be decided to dispose of Pedro next summer and Willian the following summer.

I'm literally just taking it at face value. To me a new 2 year is a 2 year contract. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/07/15/mason-mount-commits-to-chelsea-with-new-contract-signed?cardIndex=15-6 Chelsea stated Mason Mount has signed a new 5 year contract. That's not a 5 year extension to his existing deal, it's a new 5 year contract that runs for 5 years, superseding the previous contract.

Because it is usually worded in the press as an extension if it's added to the existing contract. I read a 2 year contract as a 2 year contract, nothing more. I guess we'll see when it's all finalised. Hopefully it's just a 2 year deal.

I take this as a two year contract not two year extension. As he still has a year left on his contract at present, it would effectively be a one year extension which I would be in agreement with because we still have him under contract at the end of the season, whether it's having him for another year because he has performed well enough this coming season, or still retaining a transfer fee to sell him next summer. If it's a two year extension (i.e. 3 year contract essentially) then that would definitely be too much.

Dangle the carrot... He plays and develops the way expected of him and he can have the shirt after Willian.

Barkley looks like a very good and confident penalty taker, I think if he's on the pitch he'll be taking them this season.

If it was me, having seen Jokanovic wear it for the Chels, I'd be picking any number but 10!

Completely agree he's been a disaster but only in hindsight. At the time i can completely see why the club moved for him. They viewed Bakayoko as the long term option and wanted to give him time to bed in (hence why I think initially they wanted to retain Matic). When Matic wanted to leave they looked at a player that was seen as a solid all rounder, dependable and with Premier League (and Premier League winning) experience. He also had experience playing alongside Kante and the cherry on the top was homegrown status. It seemed at the time a sensible, if unspectacular buy, but obviously now it's been a nightmare. I have to say though I'm far more disappointed in Bakayoko, who I was hoping for big things from for years to come.

If anything it's better because there's no reliance then on one player who could get injured/suspended/lose form. You only have to look at last season we initially kept pace with City and Liverpool when Hazard started the season on fire and once his goals dried up we fell back. It boils down to players being able to step up and raise their game in Hazard's absence. Too many times (especially last season) the easy option was to give the ball to Hazard and hope he create something. Hopefully the players we have at the club have enough character, confidence and ego about themselves to take up the responsibility.

The goals conceded in the last 2 games must be a concern because they've all been preventable with half the result of individual errors and the other half more marking or organisation. The first can happen and hopefully eradicate as we move out of pre season but the lack of organisation is a big issue, especially with Luiz and Azpilicueta in that defence who should be leading and our most experienced players. It also throws up questions does Lampard need a coach in that group that's a bit more defensively minded and experienced to work with the backline on their shape and organisation? Having said that Rudiger and Kante will make a huge difference to our defensive strength. They are our best two players in those positions. It would be like taking Van Dijk and Fabinho out of the Liverpool side and expecting them to still be as defensively solid, not going to happen.

Saw this earlier, I definitely think it's interesting. All was clearly not well last season despite them reaching the Champions League final and Poch has already said if they won that he would've walked. I can see him gone by next summer and if Zidane and Sarri both fail, there will be two big job opportunities available in Europe. There's also a good chance Solskjaer won't be at United long term too...

It's impossible to judge him properly until we get a couple of months into the season. The first two games will be difficult and to be honest if we get anything from Old Trafford and give Liverpool a competitive game I would take that as a stepping stone. From what I've seen in pre season however, I like the flexibility he's shown and the pressing game he wants to bring in. I do think in recent seasons we've been massively off the likes of City and Liverpool in this regard and I do think it's a way of 'moving on' from Hazard as it would be a very difficult tactic to adopt with him in the team because he doesn't like to do those sort of things. I think it should also be noted how calm this pre season seems to have been both within the media and us as fans. Any other time the club was slapped with a transfer ban and lost their best player (and some of our other key players out with injuries) it would be a huge crisis but he's brought a sense of calm to the club and is excellent within the media which I think helps massively for everybody to clearly understand what he wants or is trying to achieve. I think for most there is a quiet confidence that if we can get a bit of confidence and momentum built up early, we could have a good first season under him (which for me would be getting top 4).

I understand with regards to his ability to drive and carry the ball from a deeper position, although I do think that RLC is technically good enough to play that advanced role and playing further forward can only likely benefit his goal scoring which came on massively last season. I don't think the group are suited at present to play 4-3-3 because I don't think it gets the best out of Barkley and Mount, whilst I also think Jorginho, Kante and Kovacic all benefit playing in a 2 man midfield rather than 3. However we've both touched on Lamps' flexibility so RLC's return may coincide with a new option for him to play 4-3-3 at times as opposed to 4-2-3-1.

Yes but for the same reason midfield is by a mile our strength so I can understand the idea behind trying the diamond and as mentioned in my previous post, I believe all of our wide players are capable of playing centrally so could still operate in a support striker role behind one main striker. I do think 4-2-3-1 is probably overall the most suitable formation at present, but I am pleased Lampard is trialling different possibilities and looks to be flexible. I don't see what RLC coming back though would benefit us reverting back to 4-3-3. RLC could play in the attacking midfield spot and that advanced role should also benefit Mount and Barkley who both operate better higher up the pitch.

I think Mount and Barkley are the two going for the attacking midfield spot. Both have impressed in pre season and I see both getting plenty of game time and pushing each other. At the moment RLC doesn't need to be considered with his injury but when he comes back, it will be interesting what Lampard decides to do because three players for one spot will be difficult unless one drops deeper. Kovacic will play deeper, he's not an attacking midfielder and will compete with Jorginho and Kante for the two spots in midfield. Then I would expect it to be 2 into 4 with the wide players - CHO, Pulisic, Willian and Pedro. The interesting change would be if Lampard decided on playing the diamond that he's tried at times. I think we have the midfielders to do this, especially when RLC is back fit too as we would then have 6 very capable players playing in that diamond all of which bring very different qualities to the table. The problem then would be what would happen to the wide players, but at present the strikers have a lot to prove and it may be that these can play as a second striker in such a formation like that. The other big problem with this however is we need top full backs to provide the width, and I don't think the crop currently are good enough to maximise this unless Emerson improves and Reece James breaks out.