Blue-in-me-Veins

He's been carrying and battling a long term injury that he had even before we signed him. It's why Ake was brought back, because there are fears he may not be able to last the season. Make of that what you will.

Wow.. SPURS saved by the refs. Really had no business getting any points from that match. Take care of business tomorrow. Then yuge! Matches against Liverpool & Arsenal.. If we come out of that with 4pts.. I'll be very very happy.

What a glorious weekend this is shaping up to be.. told y'all Liverpool would fuck it up, I told y'all!

Nahh there's no way Conte is seriously intrigued on buying him. Gotta be a shit rumour innit?

He's tragic. Why does he even have a thread?

In a perfect world, IF Costa does indeed leave next summer. I would be content with two strikers in Morata and Belotti, but that would require Batshuayi being moved on as well, which is highly unlikely. There's no way a top club like Chelsea can rely on TWO stikers who will be less than 25 to get through next season, with UCL and PL to play for. Conte values experience, so if Costa goes, expect the next striker to be a well-established Undisputed Starter much like Costa. Edit: Just watching some highlights of Andrea Belotti, and I'm pretty sure i've seen him win more headers in 1 minute than Costa has in his entire Chelsea career. Mad ting

No, but of the EPL teams, then yes.

I really don't wont to dwell on the possibilities of a Costa-less Chelsea, I really really don't. Especially not after what he's been doing to fire us to the title, converting literally every chance he receives. I just hope the fans continue singing his name and all of this just blows over much like @DYC mentioned earlier. If Costa does in fact leave...I fear for us all. Because I got this gut feeling Emenalo will push for the repurchase of Lukaku. You already saw how close we were to signing him this summer, when it looked like Costa might have left for atletico madrid in the summer. Papers were linking us for weeks on end to Lukaku. Nahhhhhh man, I am not havin that.

Already dumped 100M Euros on Higuain tbf, and just finished signing Dybala to a new improved contract. Haven't seen much from this kid, but if everyone on Football Twitter and Here are going crazy rating him, there must be something there.

Bruh....

Im sorry but what exactly have EPL teams done to deserve extra spots? If there's one league that deserves more spots it should be Spain, for their complete dominance of UCL & Europa. Doesn't matter tho, cuz Uefa have already decided to follow your lead.

Don't forget the build-up to that Manchester Derby.. Where one newspaper in Spain dubbed it "Manchester- The Modern Centre of Football". Lmfaooo what a result for us. 7 pt lead restored. Spurs got Europa league coming up, that should finish them. Match at Anfield gonna be massive. Just gotta avoid a loss at all costs. Imagine one of City/United missing out on Top 4? That would be the dream.

City out of the Title Race, hopefully they can sink to 5/6th place. Lmfaooooooo City vs Tottenham next week too! Hopefully they can beat Spurs, and have us seated pretty at the Top.

I know right, I just found out about this on Monday. So sickening to know you have a murderer playing for your team. That fine he recieved was less than a week's wages too! Apparently that's just how the law in Spain works. If you don't have any criminal background, then like your first offense (to certain degree) can be paid off. Wonder the pain that young woman's family must go through.

How many times do I got to say it, Chelsea = Hollywood FC.

They mean the whereabouts of City's Senior Team players. (must be a typo) They failed to report a list that was updated to Fifa so if they chose to randomly show up and test them at their house, they'd be able to. *major tangent ensuing* Fifa is due for a major doping scandal anywho. But so far they have been able to keep the lid on it. Major EPO restoration, half-time blood injecting, also blood spinning techniques and all sorts of advanced medical practices are already being used. I'm not one who is vehemently against "some" of the practices these top clubs do, but when lower table clubs can't afford to be on the cutting edge/higher cost "doping" practices, it does harm the competitiveness/integrity of the sport. In an ideal world, Fifa should just get ahead of the curve and state, such and such practices (that even the public will most likely hate and label cheating) are to be allowed, and then label another host of medical practices to be banned. But once pandora's box is opened, there will be no end in sight. So Fifa/Uefa/All Federations carry out the most minimal of drug tests.

Not right now, He needs time and space to develop. But my oh my what he is a phenomenal talent. Hasn't been spectacular this season, but re-watch his final 10 games of last campaign to see just what this kid is capable of. He's got the pace, technical ability, and right now can both create and finish goal scoring opportunities. I truly hope, Ousmane Dembele and Julian Brandt develop into the players the whole footballing world thinks they can be, because they both virtually can do the same thing on the pitch and share many of the same qualities.

It really is a catch 22 for Chelsea at the moment. Because much like you, I want ELITE- World Class signings in mold of Griezmann/Dybala/James Rodriguez/ etc. etc., but the first two names are most definitely not leaving in January or in the Summer either. And James Rodriguez is pulling this ultimate dance; stating he's fed up of not starting, to Zidane giving him starts upon winter break, to getting his British Visa/whatever in Colombia, to not really pushing for the move anymore, to who knows what the hell what he wants. Deep down, i think if we sign Hakan, no major Elite RF purchase comes in the summer. Because Hazard/Pedro/Hakan/Willian would be the options. Unless, Conte thinks he can get Willian to convert to RWB, I don't see how we buy Hakan and a major RF. But we cannot go on without an Oscar replacement, that'd be just too risky. Decisions, Decisions.

It's literally both of these comments. I watch Bayer Leverkusen a lot, and Hakan Calhanoglu is very much an enigma. One major selling point on Calhanoglu, as Leif pointed out, is that he's still only 22. And I'd like to add that Roger Schmidt simply doesn't use him properly, playing him sometimes as a Striker/Wide-Midfielder/Winger, with his 4222 "balls to the wall pressing".If he was signed by Chelsea, fortunately for Hakan, he'd be playing for a side that actually looks to dominate possession, and he'd get to play in the half-spaces which is where he actually wants to be in, and not as a Wide-Midfielder/Striker who needs to press relentlessly for 90 minutes. His only similarity to Oscar right now is the inconsistency, which can't just be swept to the side. There are many a time where the games just pass him by, and you only notice him when he's being subbed off. But I can make the argument, that Hakan is simply being utilized ineffectively, although that doesn't absolve him from all blame. I'd also like to point out, that a footballer in isolation, he's much better than Oscar. He can complete 5 yard passes for starters, his technical ability is very sound, he can maintain possession under pressure, can make any/all the passes that break defensive lines, loves playing one-two's which should make Hazard happy when attacking, and he's adept at using either foot (but still favors his right). And his set-piece delivery is a thing of beauty. He'd make teams pay for fouling us in and around the final third. At the end of the day, I would absolutely love this signing. He's young, unquestionably has the talent, and would be on the cheap (Atletico Mad. almost nabbed him on the final days of the summer window for reportedly 30M Euros or less). The risk/reward payout on this signing is clearly in Chelsea's favor here. Sign. Him. Up.

Love the racall of Nathan Ake. He can really be the ultimate utility man, playing as a LWB, LCB, and in CM too. An article was just released that Marcos Alonso has been carrying an upper leg injury even before he arrived, and it's been getting progressively worse the past few weeks, so I think it's clear Conte wants him to play as LWB primarily for right now. Having said all that, I'll be very curious to see how Conte puts together our defense for next season. Top clubs usually don't carry more than 1 young Developmental CB. And as it stands, we'll have 3 next season with Christensen, Zouma & Ake. That's 1/2 too many. In my ideal world, Ake makes it here as a LWB primarily. Christensen/Luiz/Azpi/Cahill for CB spots, Azpi also as supplemental RWB when up against. Zouma on Loan. Edit: Interesting video here, where Nathan Ake states he sees himself as a CM/CB more so than LB. Think it's clear he doesn't like LB role that much. Wonder what this means.

Im guessing you've watched him play then? I haven't so am deffering to you on this. But I hope Bakayoko is as press-resistant as you've described. Because what I would give to have Dembele (from Spurs) here. He is the prototypical CM that we desperately need when up against the high press.

Exact same thoughts. We need a CM who we can confidently say is as press-resistant as Moussa Dembele/Paul Pogba. Idk if Bakayoko fills that bill, will need to d/l some matches/watch AS Monaco more often to get a gauge of how press-resistant he is. Chelsea are immune to landing such players. Nothing new mind you...

Yes we need another CM, But that doesn't excuse Kante's poor performances of late.