Superblue

I wouldn't agree that we were content that summer, we spent more than enough that summer to suggest it was or should have been a 'big' transfer window (including breaking our transfer record at the time), the problem was the quality of our recruitment. The only success from that summer was Rudiger, the rest have tanked. Our recruitment in recent seasons has been overall very poor, with players who have left not being replaced adequately. I do agree however how far we're behind City and Liverpool at present. It won't take a quick fix and papering over cracks this time, the club as a whole including us fans need to be prepared that this may take time and patience to get us back to that level challenging again,

Fair point, it has taken a long time for him to play these players but I do think playing them away at Liverpool is a big indicator that he is ready to run with them as a big part of our squad moving forward. I don't think what he's doing is revolutionary but a part of me does worry if Sarri walks in the summer, will we revert back to square one with a new manager wanting to play a completely different way and suddenly Willian/Pedro are ahead of CHO in the pecking order, etc immediately based on reputation, giving under performing players yet another chance. At the moment everything is pure speculation but if the club let some players leave in the summer and looked to refresh the squad with some academy and loan players and Sarri is open to working with them, as well as continuing to develop the likes of RLC and CHO, that may not be a bad choice. Especially if we are restricted in the summer with a transfer ban. I think he has improved RLC and CHO as the season has gone on, especially tactically. Now this may be just as much down to the players learning and adapting to Sarri's methods and tactics but if that is the case then it adds further strength to a plan to try and bring through a couple more academy players next season because they seem to be the biggest positives currently.

It has been an extremely tough watch and as I said earlier I am still somewhat on the fence with regards to his project and future. I would say the last month (besides the Slavia game) our playing out from the back seems to have significantly improved from earlier in the season. Players do seem more comfortable with the ball when being pressed and some of our one touch to get out of tight areas has looked good. I can see now others are on a similar wavelength how Jorginho operates in this manner and his importance to this part of the system. Getting out of that first press, particularly against West Ham and Liverpool it was clear to see the potential and how much space can suddenly be created in behind to spring an attack. Unfortunately that part of our game still isn't in sync. I would agree that I don't think Hazard's style perfectly fits Sarri, and Willian is the same. Whilst aesthetically pleasing, dribbling past 2 or 3 players is very rarely as effective as passing through the lines and their natural game to hold on to the ball probably does slow down and damage our play at times. It may well be that less talented and reputable players can successfully replace Hazard if they fit the system trying to be played. The biggest thing though is a goalscorer. We do and have created chances this season but are simply not clinical enough. The football that the likes of Klopp and Pep play is very good but they are also extremely fortunate to have a number of goalscorers in their squads. It is no coincidence that the last two title wins were when Costa scored 20 goals for us, freeing up the burden on others such as Hazard. The title wins prior to that we had numerous players chipping in with significant goal scoring. Until we find someone up top who will regularly score us minimum 15-20 league goals a season it will remain a struggle because there aren't enough goals throughout the rest of the squad.

Yes making improvements to their game but also there seems to be a pathway developing that players will get chances if they do work on their game and improve which is a huge motivator. I've always felt that the first one or two getting through the academy would be a catalyst for more. Christensen was a game changer last season, but the higher profile of RLC and CHO this season I think is the big one. Somebody mentioned on here the other day about a core group of academy players coming through who will have grown up together and played in a number of youth sides together being a potential huge positive for the club getting that good team spirit and I think there is a big possibility of this happening next year.

Fully agree. I've always been a huge fan of RLC because he has enormous potential particularly given his size and strength in the middle to just hold players off with ease. But similarly, it was a struggle to see where exactly he would fit into a team but Sarri should be given a lot of credit for his work with him because he's now looking at being a very promising player in that attacking midfield spot and I think he has enough goals to his game to back that up also. I've also noticed with CHO that he didn't play particularly well against West Ham and Liverpool but he did a lot of tracking back and the hard work that not many attacking players are willing to do. This is what Sarri has suggested held him back earlier in the season and again, this appears to be paying off now. Reece James for me is a must next season to come back. I would agree with Mount too, he can essentially replace Kovacic in the side although I'm not sure which player Sarri will look to use as the deeper midfielder if Jorginho is unavailable. Maybe Ampadu gets more opportunities next season as a utility centre back/defensive midfield option? I would also bring Tammy back next season too. I think this summer will be a case of now or never for him and if Higuain goes back in the summer we need another striker (potentially two if Giroud doesn't sign a new contract). I'm not sold on him being good enough to become our first choice (although there were question marks over RLC doing the same as recently as weeks ago), but he has a higher upside than Bats and I think could develop to be a good second choice striker for the club, leaving us to concentrate on just needing to bring in one top drawer goalscorer down the line, rather than a whole new strike force.

Ironically the job he has done with RLC and CHO this season has been a huge positive for the club as both have come on leaps and bounds as the season has progressed and are now both arguably first choice options. Sarri's style is such a culture shift away from what a large contingent of players are used to under Mourinho and Conte before him and that would be an extremely difficult thing to change within the more experienced older players. Even with a transfer ban, if Sarri was to keep his job, I think he needs to look at the progression of RLC and CHO and realise that some more trust in younger players may be needed, who he can mould into his ideology and style having been fairly unexposed to anything in particular yet in their careers. There are 3 or 4 players we could easily integrate into this squad, plus Pulisic coming in next season to start the process of refreshing and rebuilding this squad. If the club are to go 'all in' with Sarri and are prepared to take a couple of steps back initially to make bigger progress moving forwards then they should also be taking this opportunity to get some of the younger players coming through too.

Absolutely. No doubt our board have made mistakes and changes do need to be made, but actually replacing Abramovich is a huge call and sometimes it's better the devil you know. Even in recent seasons Abramovich has still sanctioned big moves in the transfer market. It's a completely different discussion that most have not worked out. With the money being pumped into English football currently, more foreign investors are viewing the clubs as a potential cash cow.

I am by no means Sarri's biggest fan and the jury is still very much out on him for me and whether he gets next season here. However I have sympathy for him today. A few weeks ago we tried going toe to toe away at City and got royally embarrassed. He changed our tactics for the league cup final which went infinitely better and rather than being stubborn and sticking to his principles (which he has been ridiculed for at times this season) he changed the tactics to keep us in the game as long as possible. When Liverpool's biggest creative threat comes from their full backs, I can also understand Sarri wanting to move Hazard away from a wide position so he wasn't expected to keep dropping back to track the Liverpool full backs. In the first half we were pretty solid for the most part and also offered a threat on the counter, and the tactics seemed to be working. Keep Anfield as quiet and nervous as possible for as long as possible and then potentially have a go in the last 20-25 minutes. Some faith was finally shown to the likes of CHO, RLC and Emerson in a huge game too. The game today showed how much more clinical the teams at the top are at present compared to us, and currently we're just not good enough at present.

Did you ever watch Lampard? There was so much more to his game beyond his goals its laughable to suggest otherwise. It's like the idea that Terry is this brave, body on the line, stopper/blocker style defender only, when his ball playing ability with both feet is rarely mentioned.

Arsenal hoping to just sneak top 4 as per usual.

If we are to have a ban I'd rather we have it now whilst we're in a state of transition anyway than defer it. It would give Sarri potentially an extra year to get this style to work (if he stays) and some of our loan and young players potentially a chance to stake a claim, before we can buy players again and go big if required.

The grass isn't always greener! I feel the same. I can understand Hazard having that urge to play there if it's been a lifetime goal/dream of his but they are a squad in need of a serious rebuild. They've lost their best player and as you said they will view Hazard as his replacement and Hazard is no Ronaldo. Other key players such as Marcelo, Ramos, Modric, Kroos, Bale and Benzema are in serious decline and need replacing. For Hazard personally this is coming at the worst time and regardless of the quality of their squad, those fans are probably the most demanding and impatient in world football. With the mentality that he portrays I do believe there is still part of him that has doubts over this move. We may be in a rebuilding stage ourselves but he's idolised at this football club, with him and his family well settled and kept private. I don't think he's currently there yet, but if he were to stay and play the remaining best years of his career here, I do believe he would be on that level as a Chelsea legend that the likes of Terry, Lampard and Drogba are.

It pushes everybody to step up and perform now rather than feeling comfortable with their position in the team. The only players currently who are undroppable for all the main games are Kepa, Kante and Hazard. The rest of the team need to perform to get in. I would love to see Willian or Pedro play a blinder on Thursday night and help win us the game. It gives Sarri options and decisions to make with more players pushing for their best form in the run in. Barkley came on last night and got a great assist for the second goal. He needed that because his place is under huge threat from RLC's performances recently. We haven't had enough of that this season but hopefully the penny has dropped for Sarri just at the right time.

Agree. He's not leaving before the end of this season at the earliest now for sure, so the crowd really need to back him and the players for a big push in these last few games. Let's see where we are at come the end of the season and re-assess things then. If we've achieved top 4 and/or won the Europa League it would be a solid season given some of the struggles we've had at times.

I thought Azpi had one of the best games I've seen him play for a while tonight. Looked much more defensively solid and got forward regularly. I also felt our playing out the back was much improved today. Even at times in the second half when West Ham were pushing and pressing high, we were calm and played some pretty good one touch stuff at times to get out of tight spaces. Definitely some marked improvement in performances the last couple of games. Hopefully a big result on Thursday and then its the acid test next weekend.

Phenomenal tonight and hopefully he's picking up and hitting some key form at a crucial part of the season. If we lose him next season with a transfer ban it'll be a rough year as we're limited to what we can do. However even with a transfer window in the summer, I've said previously it's foolish for the club to think we can go out and replace him because we can't. There isn't another player available capable of the creativity that he provides. If we have to sell we need to invest the money in other areas of the squad the same way Liverpool did when they sold Coutinho (specifically buying Van Dijk and Alisson). We need two new full backs and a striker, that's where the Hazard money should go towards investing. A 20 goal striker would mean we're not looking for one of our wide players to put up similar numbers, and two full backs capable of getting up and down the pitch will provide more width and create more chances than our current full backs at present. It's a case of trying to share out some of the workload that Hazard currently does for the team on his own, rather than expecting to bring someone in who will take up that mantle.

I wouldn't be opposed to him coming back next season. Even with a transfer ban, some of the squad does need freshening up and he is a proven Premier League player who could be extremely useful. I don't know why but however I have a feeling though if we can get our ban overturned or deferred that we'll sell Zouma to fund back buying Ake.

Watched the game today and I was very impressed. He still has that turn of pace seemingly despite his injury and he is a big, powerful presence. I always worry when we don't play with Rudiger that we lack that strength and power at the back and become susceptible to being bullied. He would be the perfect player for me to rotate with Rudiger. He was never the greatest player on the ball but I think he's serviceable. The only time he could be problematic is against some of the top teams who will be bold to press us high up the pitch. 75% of teams will look to defend deep and counter attack us and with that in mind, Zouma's ability on the ball shouldn't be an issue so long as he keeps things simple.

Many players have more natural talent than Lampard. That's why he was so good and is so idolised at Chelsea because his commitment, desire and work ethic pushed every possible ounce of talent he had out of him and he massively overachieved in his career compared to the player at West Ham or even in his first couple of seasons at the club. I don't ever see anyone playing at the top level in a natural centre midfield role for that many years and put up those numbers. 2009/10 when we won the league he scored 23 league goals, that is borderline insane. And calling Lampard a traitor is a complete embarrassment. The club let him leave at the end of his contract, he could do whatever he wanted to and in my opinion completely earned that right.

Agree with the right wing position that it could be upgraded but I think having two quality full backs will take a significant load off the wingers to be providing creativity and width. I think it would actually benefit Willian and Pedro who both like to come inside, and it would also benefit Pulisic who I think would be more prepared to operate as an out and out winger having an overlapping option to try and double up with. Pulisic does look raw but i think given the money we've spent on him we have to give him an opportunity first to stake a claim for that position before we spend even more in that position. Especially as mentioned previously we are in a greater need in other positions at present in my opinion. Agreed, it would give us more time to try and convince him but this has been an issue for 18 months now and no sign that he's prepared to commit. I would also be more worried that if Madrid didn't want him, other clubs would. I know Hazard has suggested it's only between Madrid and Chelsea but if Chelsea have blocked his chance to go to Madrid there's nothing stopping him sticking two fingers up and moving elsewhere. Any club in England for starters would have him.

They will if he's available on a free transfer. IF we can trade in the summer, I wouldn't replace Hazard directly. If we spend £50-100m on a new winger he'll be constantly compared to Hazard with little patience given. Assuming Willian and Pedro stay next season, develop Pulisic and CHO to be the first choice options in those positions. CHO in particular could take over Hazard's role and the crowd would get massively behind that. The money should be invested in other areas of the team, namely up front and in the full back positions. If we lost Hazard and his production next season, and 'made do' with CHO, Pulisic, Willian and Pedro but in turn brought in two quality full backs and a 20 goal striker I think everybody would take that.

Maybe not for younger fans or those that have been following Chelsea only during the Abramovich years but for older fans he does hold that level of status. I grew up watching Chelsea in the 90's and it's impossible for me to explain just how great he was when he came to the club. It's much the same as my dad's generation growing up idolising Osgood. I do agree with you on the point with regards to having the presence of one of the influential members of the old guard at the club. It's a shame that Terry decided he still had more football in him because if he had retired at the end of his Chelsea contract, I'm pretty sure Conte would have wanted him at the club to replace Steve Holland. It is one of the reasons I would be very intrigued to see Lampard come back to manage the club.

Completely understand and agree with your first point, he should be more prepared for this but you'll find a lot of managers struggle with that initially. From what I understand Napoli never did much in europe or in the domestic cups under Sarri so he probably had less games and more time to prepare in Italy. I know Slavia Prague got a result over Sevilla but I would be amazed if we couldn't rotate against them and still get through. This next week is of vital importance. We get through the next 3 games relatively unscathed and depending on other's league results we could be in a very strong position on both fronts. On the surface getting Champions League football through the Europa League may be potentially the easier option but its also the more riskier with it being a knockout competition. What also needs to be considered is fourth may not actually be good enough. If Spurs or United finished outside top 4 and won the Champions League and Arsenal or us finished outside the top 4 and won the Europa League then the team in 4th place wouldn't get in the Champions League next year. It's very unlikely but not impossible, so even more ideally we should be aiming for third or winning the Europa League to guarantee. After the Everton game I thought the league was done, but United have been poor recently not just with some results but their performances have dropped significantly too which I think gives us a great chance when we meet them at Old Trafford. And previous shows that you could never fully trust Spurs and Arsenal to see anything through. We just need to hang in there and hopefully have it in our hands going into the final day.

I do think there is a part of Sarri having to get used to the league this season because the intensity is completely different to what he will have experienced in Italy. Added to that 2 domestic cups and the Europa League, I think he's had to learn the hard way with rotating the squad because as you alluded to there wasn't enough of it happening earlier in the season. CHO and RLC in particular (Emerson and Christensen can also be thrown in the mix) should be fresh for the run-in and having a couple of attacking options like that should be a huge benefit. It is hard, I do want to give Sarri time and part of me is intrigued if he can improve things next season (particularly if we have a transfer ban). But by and large, his stubborn nature and the standard of football this season has been uninspiring and desperately frustrating. Monday's game could be the key. If he turns around and fields the same team against West Ham then I'll be feeling more optimistic about our chances in the run in. Rotation can still take place, because tonight's team can play against West Ham and Liverpool and the other players could play the Europa game so that shouldn't be an excuse.

The problem is no clear plan and direction the club is heading. That's the biggest reason fans don't show patience. The club is not in transition, we're just constantly throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks with regards to our managers. If it works like Conte, we'll get a couple of years out of that and then try again and Sarri is just part of that cycle. We jump from manager to manager all with different ideas and philosophies. Even when Mourinho and Conte could be described as 'defensively minded' managers they both play with very different tactical set-ups. The constant changes are why we now have such a lop-sided squad where each suits varying styles and tactics. What's damning for Sarri is that his signings haven't worked out so far and that evidence would worry me about giving him the responsibility to rebuild this club. It would be great to find that manager that could be trusted to rebuild this club over the next 3-4 seasons but you have to get extremely lucky to find that person and even then, the club don't appear prepared to give a manager too much power and influence. Ultimately it needs a director of football with a philosophy to be used and followed. Not just would the players then be purchased with a plan for them all to fit into, but youth players can be integrated far easier and there would be greater succession planning for managers. Until this happens and the club is essentially stripped back and re-worked, the wheels will keep spinning.