Sideshow Luiz

Not sure why anyone expected anything different. Usual line-up when the fixtures were congested, now that we had a week off, it was always nailed on. CHO or Giroud being the first forwards off the bench depending on the situation.

This Utd team are rolling. I had them out of the top 4 race, but they are showing their dominance.

I doubt we will buy him, depending on what the agreed fee is. If it's small, and he's scoring, then maybe as a back-up (by then). Juve paid 100M for him (or close to, whatever it was), got 2 seasons out of him, and now we have him on loan for up to 18 months (and it's up to us if we want to keep him). I'm not sure how much we're actually letting Juve off the hook, but I don't know the fee we are paying for his loan. I do like that if it's not in our best interests to do so, he's gone after 6 months.

Don't forget that we end up paying 75% of what option A would have cost us for option C who is 20% as good.

Statsbomb article on the situation: https://statsbomb.com/2019/01/callum-hudson-odoi-and-the-challenges-of-developing-possible-stars/ Not your usual xG Statsbomb article.

Apparently, Bayern are offering 85K/week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6608891/Bayern-Munich-trump-Chelseas-offer-85K-week-wages-pursuit-Callum-Hudson-Odoi.html Daily Mail, so take it for what it's worth.

Were those his words before his wife got pregnant?

I remember when we were linked with him. If Barella didn't want to leave Italy, there's not much we can do about it. With Cesc gone, we are thin in midfield. I'd be surprised if no one came in (and the Drinkwater rumours can start any time now).

Balls

He gets a lot of shit, and he's been kind of bad for a couple of years now. But, he was a part of a number of our trophies and was obviously respected in the dressing room. I wish him all the best.

I'm thinking it's going to be a draw. Obviously, I hope we embarrass them at their ground. Score draw, I think.

Journos trying to get transfer stories out of Sarri. They're trying to get anything that they can turn in to some sort of "Sarri furious at not being backed" headline. He just keeps giving them "I don't know", "I've spoken to Marina about it, the market is not my concern". Don't let them create headlines, Sarri. They're dying for one.

Is this a possible rumour tactic from Zenit to get our board to just cover the distance in the valuation (our last report seemed to have us 9M apart)?

I'm not entirely ready to give up on Bats yet. Sarri hasn't even seen him play yet. I think he went out on loan soon after coming back from the WC. So, maybe a few days in training? Maybe he could learn from Higuain? He's certainly got the poacher/finisher aspect to his game.

Edit: A lot of those clips are from his Juve/Milan days, so not an entire highlight video of his prime time at Napoli. We know he was incredible there already. It's more about what his game is like now and what he can still do. I'll admit that I was against the purchase in the summer. I thought Morata could come good under Sarri because every other CF he's had banged them in. And, I wasn't keen on buying a player who would cost this much at this stage of his career. Now, Morata is obviously not banging them in, and it's a loan deal from 6-18 months. So, I'm really on board (despite the new problem of working CHO in).

I'd agree. I think Spurs mid-week. Possibly a bench appearance this weekend and I don't think Higuain will be available, which puts us back to Willian - Hazard - Pedro with Giroud and CHO on the bench.

@Vesper Personally, I'd like to go for Barella and Parades/Tonali We need cover for Kante, and I see Barella in that role, especially if Kovacic goes back to Madrid this summer. Edit: I don't always quote your posts because it would take up the whole screen

Possibly both, depending on what we do with Bats and Giroud.

So, the reason that Sanches didn't turn out the way everyone thought he would is because he wasn't playing enough for Bayern, not because he just wasn't good enough? Right, like a whole host of "next big things", they always work out unless they were playing regularly (as in starting all the time)? The list of players that disproves this is too long to post. Some players don't hit their supposed heights, it happens. That's why it's called potential and it's not fixed. Okay. I was going to just leave you alone, but when you condescend to UJ and take shots at Vesper, that's too far. On one hand you say: If a player isn't playing regularly at 18, it could be the difference between being world class and a flop. So, that's why CHO should move to Bayern. BUT, he gets loaned back to Chelsea where he wants to leave because he's not playing enough. Those don't add up. I'm not surprised though because you also say that Bayern don't talk players in to running down their contracts so they can leave on the cheap from whatever club. BUT, at 40M or so, CHO would be one of your most expensive signings ever. Can't you see how that's related? I'm sure there's a whole host other things that I've skipped over from you, where you've directly contradicted yourself and other members that you've insulted and I'm sorry for those members that I haven't included examples of your trolling. Wow, showing your true colours are you? Really, shame on you, I won't discuss further things with you.

Is this a trick statement, or a serious one?

Possibly less. As in, we have to pay them money for even asking.

I forgot about Spurs, they actually need a striker right now. But, could they get a big name in? Someone who knows they will be a back up for the foreseeable future. Maybe we can get Spurs to fly them over and do the medical for us.

I'd like to see that too. It's just really hard to get an important player like a striker (who must be scoring at his current club) mid-season. This is a stop-gap, and Marina did a good job with the deal in light of that (IMO). Never say never, but I'd be shocked if we got another striker in.