Jase

That's the thing. We don't know what exactly is on Lampard's mind (if you want to believe his words, he said something along the lines that Jorginho is important in the team recently). People are just assuming Jorginho will be sold because of the lineups since the restart but we have also seen that putting Kante in the DM role is like square pegs in round holes and Gilmour isn't quite ready yet, despite the hype. Moreover Kante can't seem to stay consistently fit these days and Gilmour won't be back until October and he will then need time to get back into things.

But is there anything stopping Lampard from keeping Jorginho around as a squad option? There is no guarantee we will sign Declan Rice and Kante gets injured like 50% of the time these days.

I don't think Jorginho is a Gattuso type player. Moreover, Jorginho still has 3 years left on his contract. No way Marina is gonna let him go for around 30-40 million only.

Former Chelsea player Andre Schürrle reveals battle with debilitating muscle condition

OR we could just take the Man City route and make big changes in one go, assuming we have the finances to do so.

You forgot a 6th point - better and proper coaching! Next year may be too early but I expect a title challenge from the 2021/22 season onward. And as I alluded to, I don't expect to go win straight away at the first attempt but there has to be progress - more consistency, close the gap on Man City and Liverpool and maybe even pose a threat to those two in the title for 2/3 of the season. If we keep hovering below those two and be satisfied with Top 4, don't be shocked when the players become disillusioned and want to leave because there's no progress etc. I suspect we will be signing at least one defender and maybe a keeper this summer as well.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8533851/World-Cup-winner-Andre-Schurrle-retires-football-aged-just-29.html Looks like he's been having personal struggles with the sport.

There have been talks about it but nothing major yet. Sarri's future depends on Juventus' progress in the Champions League this season. It's not just the poor results but the poor performances, the inconsistency. Sarri is basically having the same problems that he had us with last season. Individual quality has bailed him out so many times this season.

WHAT THE HELL!?

Kante won't be fit for this. There are also a few other niggles that will be checked in the next 24 hours.

I think we need to tread carefully with this whole 'we're not ready for a serious title push yet' thing. Sure, asking this lot to win it next season is a lot but we do need to show the progression, close the gap on the top two, even challenge Man City and/or Liverpool for 2/3 of the season for the time being. We wouldn't want to be just hovering outside those two and just be satisfied with the Top 4 because the longer we take to get there, the higher chances of players becoming disillusioned - a bit like Arsenal in the early 2010s or Spurs in recent years - and then players wanting to leave etc.

CHILWELL! CHILWELL! CHILWELL!

Tagliafico and Telles have been mentioned but Chilwell does seem to be like Lampard's no.1 target.

This goes out of the window if Sarri gets sacked by Juventus.

Oops, you're right. But I was kinda basing that on the fact that they can't play for a draw on the final day, unlike another scenario, and they would have to go for the win.

You could easily replace GK with defenders or hell, maybe even IQ.

The thing is, this team have shown that they can defend and defend properly when they put their minds into it - e.g. the recent win against Man City. But yeah, more often than not, they have defended like clowns.

That money would probably be used to cover the financial loss from the pandemic.

You can always pin your hopes on David Moyes!

No chance this will happen but I just noticed that IF Leicester and United lose to Spurs and West Ham, it would guarantee us a Top 4 spot before we even kick off at Anfield.

He sounded so confident that scenario could happen, just like he - and some others - thought Leicester would lose to Sheffield United but look what happened... The problem with that ideal scenario is IF Leicester win at Spurs - plus Man United beat West Ham - and we lose at Liverpool, then both Leicester and United will be on 65 points and we will have 63 points. Considering they have way better GD than us, what's stopping them from just playing for a draw? Why would they take any risk when a draw is enough for both qualify for the Champions League? To alleviate some pressure off us, one of Leicester or United must drop points against Spurs or West Ham respectively. If either one do, then we can afford a defeat at Anfield and still finish in the Top 4 by beating Wolves. Otherwise, we must get at least 4 points from Liverpool and Wolves.

It's this Sunday, 2 hours before we kick off in the semi-final...