BlueLyon

Nice team, but Luiz on right side is not option, and I wouldnt mind simply keeping Pedro instead of James, unless we have 70m too much in the bank. There will be better options to improve that RW in future (if we change the formation, then maybe James would fit nicely tho).

I realy like Monaco scouting team, they also got very promising LB from Lyon.

Nothing to do with performances, more like personal preference. I always liked Real, since Zidane was one of my favourite players, but I kind of stopped liking them once they signed Ronaldo, Im not a fan of his style and character. Is he one of two best players in last decade? Yes. That doesnt mean I would have him in my team. Having team of players I like is more important than results. After all I started following chelsea because of Lamps, Terry, Didi, Carvalho,... We were never celebrity club, lets stay that way.

I said that a while ago that it seems odd we are linked only with LBs and not RBs since Moses is worse than Alonso. And we are linked with CBs while we are good there. All that points out we might indeed play 4 at the back next season, because in that case we dont need RB, Azpi is brilliant, but we need LB. Regarding Sandro; “Chelsea made a very big offer for Alex Sandro,” Marotta confirmed. “We said no, but today players are masters of their own destiny. " Seems juve doesnt want to sell, but Sandro wants to go. Im getting my hopes up here

Even if he was open to a move, we would be biggest idiots to spend 100m+ on 32 year old when our team isnt complete and by the time it will be, Ronaldo will retire. There is zero sense to even consider him, nevermind he is fantastic goalscorer, but I wouldnt have him in his prime, nor now. Not my type of player.

Im still not over the fact we didnt sign Modric back then, if we get Verratti, all would be forgotten. But it will remain a dream I think.

Not sure why but there is plenty of talk Allegri wants De Sciglio. Juve fans are furious, because appartently he would be starter and he isnt even good player. Dont forget Juve also has Spinazzola on loan who is in great form, so I hear. If we pay the ridiculous fee of 50m for fullback (which is totaly worth for Sandro), I honestly dont see why they wouldnt sell. And there are players who would like to play for Chelsea, albeit in very small numbers. Just maybe Sandro is one. If we pull this one off, would be realy realy good day.

Good signing, he can sit on bench whole season and when picked, puts in good performance. On the other hand, he is 35 and not hg, meaning we will go through this process again soon.

Come on, thats like saying we dont need Pedro because we have Boga. These young players have to show their ability first on senior level. I agree we treat youth like product, money makers, and we dont give them enough trust, but I dont think there was one absolutely top class potential player in our ranks since Terry. Just because they are cutting it in youth levels, doesnt mean they will be great at chelsea, but its our fault we dont give them playtime. Many get playtime in lower leagues or foreign leagues with very little success. It would take serious work rate to get less talented player into quality starter for us, however that aint happening because we fill them with money, too much money. And we are not only team. Take a look at barca; how many great talents they had who flopped recently? Xavi, Iniesta, Messi arent great because they got chance, they are great because they are fantastic players. Terry was the same. Who from our ranks would get into our senior squad and improve us massively? Maybe Bertrand. Mceachran flopped on loans, Solanke didnt perform well either, then you have Boga, Chalobah, Feruz,...neither lightened the darkness on their loans, but was rather average or didnt get to play. They need to gain their play time, you dont just give it to them. RLC got quite a few chances, but was rather average. I do like the look of Baker, he got potential and had great loan, now he deserves to get a look by Conte. But overall, our youth is generaly well overhyped. They destroy everything on youth levels indeed, but rarely get some serious performances on senior level, be it here or elsewhere. I never understood why people hype youth so much tho. Most of young players who are brilliant get to first team quickly or get loaned, they dont stay in youth departments. Look at Messi, Mbappe, Lahm. Lahm for example was loaned to stuttgart where he performed well, he didnt just slot in bayern 11. Then he returned after good spell. With our players, almost no one shows anything special on loan, and suddenly we wasted them. If you are good, you are good and you play. The problem might be the clubs we loan to. Vitesse isnt club where you can evaluate their progress. It should be premier league, french league if we talk about very talented players. If someone who is killing it in youth, cant get play time in championship, how the hell will he get it in chelsea or even in PL side. Sad truth is most of our players arent as talented as hyped, add money into mix and you get bleak results. Terry was simply put cleaning toilets at SB, RLC is driving around in mercedes, Ferrari or whatever car and lives in expensive apartment. Mbappe is being driven by his mom to training. Thats the difference.

At least we are not the only ones in media circus; papers claim Ronaldo decided to leave Real Madrid this summer

If we can get players like Ngolo for 30m, Im all for it. No need to pay 90m to get Pogba. But when such players arent available, our club starts looking for cheaper alternatives and it ends with still paying alot like 30m for decent player instead of paying 50m for top one that would solve that position for next few years. Very annoying. However I think when we DO decide to pay bit more, we always end up with flop. We always did bad with superstars, thats why I think we should avoid most of them. But we were also great in buying quality players who were less known ala Essien, Drogba...but our policy today is dont overspend for such players because they are not worth it yet? At least thats the expression I get from recent summer windows and media.

Seems like both are done. If not, then with most other main available targets linked or sold elsewhere, other two options are that we are targeting the very best that media doesnt know about or we are missing on main targets and will again settle for cheaper alternatives in august. If we are doing business then honestly I dont care when we announce them. I dont know why people feel the impatience. But with reports going on, I wonder IF we are doing any serious business at all, that is definately concerning then. Juve didnt sign anyone yet, neither did Barca or Real, but its clear they are targeting players and they stated it multiple times. I wish our club would show some transparency.

Some have suggested we might play with three midfielders next season, I think Hamsik would be much better choice for that creator role. Verratti or Koke obviously wont come. He is in prime years and while he kind of faded off in previous two years, he has been imense this season. Conte knows him well too and he is a leader and quite a fighter; we might need one with Costa leaving. I dont think Napoli will sell him tho and he seems to like it there, but if we were linked, I would prefer him to James tbh.

And? I still think he is good player, but I prefer Morata.

He is definately not as good as pre january Costa. IMO everybody has this picture of shit form Costa and saying Lukaku will be massive improvement. Well yes indeed he will be, Costa has been poor. But thats not how it works. We won the title in that run with Costa in unbelievable form and no, Lukaku is not better than Costa was then. In matter of fact, no available striker is. We need to find replacement that is as good as inform Costa, not "better than out of form Costa".

I dont want to discuss who is in charge and who is at fault on these things, but we had few key things to do. 1.) Give extensions to Tibo, Eden and Conte. 2.) Give Conte the players he wants or prefers. 3.) Calmly find solution for Costa and bring in replacement if necessary. Not one thing has been solved, but Im not dissapointed, its plenty of time left. What Im mad at is how things are working out. Costa is going out in worst possible way, media reports Conte is pissed about the board and the board is playing cat and mouse with Tibo because we dont want to pay him? Dont throw money in the sink, great, but for fuck sake give Tibo and Eden fair paycheck because they deserve it and give Conte the power to deal and seal transfers. The media is fucking disgrace and they are enjoying this situation at the club. At least our board should give some official explanations what the fuck is going on. There is plenty of time left, but why cant things be solved in normal way like every other club does? All I hear is problems here problems there and despite media makes up at least half of the "news", there is surely some truth about all this. In the end even if we do end up with quality signings, better they be the ones Conte wanted, because otherways it makes no fucking sense.

If you mean we are on way to record run of consecutive league titles, yup.

f you have wingers and fullbacks that cross alot, you can go with target man upfront. If you have wingers that cut inside, its crucial to have striker with good linkup. Costa wasnt ideal for either, but when on form, he was on another level, very allround and inventive striker. People talk alot how many goals Lukaku scores etc etc. Its the whole performance that matters. He doesnt have best players around Everton, so its difficult to judge how will he do next to Eden, Pedro, but two things are clear; he has little experience what means team work with top players, because he was always key man in everton. And he never shown any impressive link up for belgium either that would suggest he has serious potential in that department. Football doesnt work the way that Eden and others will make things happen, be super productive for Lukaku who will only need to get in good position and fill the nets. Link up. Get out of tight areas, make one twos with Eden, Pedro, Cesc,...Lukaku is very average here, regardless of improvement. Considering he was realy realy poor back then, saying he improved doesnt mean much. Compared to top strikers, he is still very much limited. Lukaku is quality individual, but I cant see it how will he improve us in terms of team performance as whole and flow of the ball, defensive work etc. He improved first touch and finish, off the ball movement, but the things mentioned above, there is much to be desired. He will need to seriously step up here and hopefuly he can.

Pickford 30m, Maguire 20m...EPL is going crazy real quick. These smaller clubs with too much money are ruining the whole system by signing ok players for giant fees.

Klassen also officialy Everton player. 27m euros.

Aerial? No doubt. On the ground? Big question.

Is this outdated or why is Cameroon marked as CAF (champions of africa)?

The ONLY thing that matters realy is how will our next striker linkup with teammates, because at the end of the day, we will need to score goals that way. There wont be much space. Be it Lukaku or someone else, if he isnt quality enough on technical and link up level, wont matter if he scores 40 goals per season, we wont win shit against top sides. And regarding Lukaku, he will need to put it few gears up if he is about to play under Conte, no one will accept his low workrate during games.

He was awful whole game tho

Perfect backup GK, only negative thing is he is isnt homegrown.