BlueLyon

I absolutely agree. I just pointed out he played different role this year, but under Conte, he could mix the best of both; defending and attacking.

That way it would make sense why we are linked with another top CB and defensive mid Bakayoko so much. It would also make alot of sense why we are targeting only new LB, because then Azpi would automaticly play RB (hence we would only need cheap backup RB like Alves) and we only need to improve left side with someone better than Alonso.

This season he wasnt mini - Vidal at all. He played more advanced, improved his offense alot. But he abandoned his defensive duties quite a bit. Last season he always put great shift defensively, but its quite opposite this season since his role is to create more.

Yeah because Lukaku is blowing everyone out in belgium team right? He is SAME player there. Watch qualification games or last euros; he is literaly nothing special, even with Kdb and Eden behind him. Bottom line, I guess you saw Morata and Lukaku play on regular basis for past 2-3 years. Its clear as day that Morata has advantage pretty much everywhere except in finishing. And even then, Lukaku cant do shit when facing better teams, so it doesnt help him realy to have good finish, if everything else is not in right place. Football is first and foremost sport of intelligence nowdays. Morata is miles ahead of Lukaku, its easy to see that. I would love a striker who loves Chelsea and barely resembles great Didi to come here and play for next 10 years, but Lukaku aint that man. Not yet at least. He is allright striker, but he wont get you to next level in CL which should be our ultimate goal. The fact when someone this young scores 24 goals in PL and there are still so many people questioning him makes you wonder whats going on here. Nevermind with Costa staying probably, Morata fits this team alot more than Lukaku does, since he can play on wing or as Costa partner, something Lukaku cant. I think Lukaku would be alright striker for us, but he has very very frustrating moments when he is not scoring, because his link up isnt great. It would be Costa all over again, except Costa can win you big games, Lukaku cant.

Yes thats why we are considering selling Costa. Because he is unreliable. But mentality wise, Lukaku and Costa are entirely different. Costa has temperament issues, Lukaku has attitude towards football issues. Costa works hard, he always gives 110% in bigger games (except last months when he was relatively shit). Lukaku on other hand plays with lot of reserve, he doesnt shift to higher gear against better opponent, he just hides and goes invisible. Everton has nothing to do with that, he is same for Belgium surrounded by Eden or Kdb. If you dont see the differences then...Costa aint perfect, but when he plays at best, he controls the anger and plays brilliantly. Lukaku is hot cold all the time. Not as bad as poor Costa, but also not as good as best Costa. Besides atttitude towards game is entirely different than anger issues. Costa has big temperament, but not bad attitude, he is winner type of player which was seen at Chelsea and Atletico. Lukaku so far is just big fish in small pond, talking daily how great he is and ready for big club, then you see him play vs Pool or United and your not sure if that aint Carlton Cole playing upfront.

You guys look far too much into goals and stats. Take a look at Didi PL Games(goals) per season; 26(10), 29(12), 36(20), 19(8), 24(5), 32(29), 36(11), 24(5) In only two seasons he scored 20 goals or more. In only two seasons he got to over 30 goals in all compilations. Next best was 16 goals twice, 15, 14, and 13 goals twice. And would you not consider him one of greatest strikers past few years? What realy matters are performances. And mentality; attitude. This is where great strikers separate from good ones, regardless of talent. Everyone saying Morata isnt scoring enough; he is clearly brilliant player in big games, while Lukaku is the exact opposite. Loads of goals against alright opponents. Yes he is young and powerful, but we have to look for improvement, for striker that can take us next level. Is Lukaku realy better than Costa at his best? I dont think so. Then there is this huge price tag of 70m Im positive no striker apart from Suarez and Lewa is worth in today football. But if thats Conte decision, so be it. I just dont buy this chelsea love from Lukaku. He left without even trying to compete, he is a very aroggant persona and doesnt strike me as that very hard working player to reach higher and higher level.

Look guys I will throw a simple example; I couldnt care less if City signs Mendy tomorrow, and we wait till last day of window to get Sandro. I couldnt care less if Pool gets Dijk tomorrow and we get I dunno, Laporte in mid august. As long we get the players we actualy want. If we wanted Dijk and he ends up elsewhere, thats a problem. If we want Sandro and he decides to stay, and all other options like Mendy have already moved, thats a problem. BUT today is 5th June and it would be great if everybody just calm the fuck down and see who we sign in next three months. There will be enough time for panic by the end of window if we dont get anyone by 25th august. Also just because City or Pool is already buying, it doesnt mean they are buying the best options of entire summer. They are simply buying available players who have been rumoured to leave the clubs for months now. Overpaying just so they can get their hands on. I hope we are actualy targeting players Conte wants and will fit this team in best possible way, which requires some thinking. On paper good players mean shit, just look at Gundogan and Pogba. Its all about chemistry and manager. Like they say, great things dont come easy.

They played with BBB as three defenders and Sandro, Alves as wingbacks. They did play 4:2:3:1 for a while yes, but not against Monaco and Real.

I would take Sandro over Alaba any day. Much more physical player. Better crosser and defender. Alaba has advantage is passing and shooting tho. But Alba will do too, if he repeats former seasons at barca.

Indeed, but better to start sooner than in few years when we see it wont work in CL (unless it works ofcourse).

Best option out there, but Im quite positive we will land Alba. Not bad at all, Hazard-Alba would be interesting to see indeed, but Alba had big drop in form this season, so we will see.

I made little analysis, let me know if you agree or not. Once again I was left uninspired about 3 man defence after seeing Juve getting done by Real. I think we will need to switch to 4 defenders for CL. Like everyone knows, we had biggest problems this season with crosses. And thats where 3:4:3 or 3:5:2 is very very bad (unless you control the game, another thing we are poor at against top teams). Now why is 3 man defence working in PL or Serie A is relatively simple to me. The fullbacks. There are not many teams here with actual quality fullbacks except for Spurs in PL and Napoli in Italy. Chelsea did struggle mainly against Spurs. We also played poorly against Arsenal with Bellering and OX going down on wings. Several other games, we conceded from crosses, but those teams are not as consistent down the flanks and we managed to overcome that. Now in CL, there is major difference. You have top full backs in every team. Now just look at Carvajal and Marcelo. When those two break through middle (Alves and Sandro), they are left with waste of space to deliver the cross. And then its game over for Juve. Three goals yesterday came in similar fashion. If Juve decided to play 4:3:3, they would double mark Marcelo and Carvajal which might be game over for Real. Instead they opted for additional midfielder to control midfield, but then again their approach was to let Real the ball and defend in second half, a big big mistake from Allegri. Their key advantage turned into uselles. Chelsea aint any better at controling the midfield either, so we are pretty much in dark there too. Marcelo, Alaba, Carvajal, Luis,...as soon they beat our Alonso or Moses, they are left with plenty of space to make good cross and then its not hard for striker to score. Despite juve (or us) have 3 CBS in penalty area, giving false sense of security, its actualy easier for striker to score because of the position of these CBs. Just look where was Bonucci (or even Barzagli) at second Ronaldo goal. Even if they had 3 CBs, Ronaldo found a space. Its what happens before. After fullbacks get space to cross, its already game over if cross is good and striker is efficient. However in 4 defence system, defending fullbacks stay back and limit space for opponent fullbacks or wingers. 3CBS however is very useful against attacks from centre, where we also have support of both midfielders. But that problem is simply solved by opponent by attacking from flanks. Real was also playing like with two upfront and Isco as #10; meaning they didnt even have proper wingers, something Juve should take advantage of. But they just didnt. Sticking to 3 man defence eventualy killed them. As questioning this sounds, after we destroyed the league with 3:4:3, I think we need to change it either next season or season after. If Juve cant do it with BBB and Gigi, no one can. Perhaps the ONLY difference we have is that we actualy play 3:4:3, not 3:5:2 and thats good because we actualy have "wingers" unlike in 3:5:2 juve. When we attack Moses and Alonso provide width, Hazard and Pedro act as second strikers or playmakers. When we defend, Pedro and Hazard act as wingers tracking back while Moses and Alonso go deeper. However if we are caught on counter, Moses and Alonso are not in position and we are pretty much done. But even with 3:4:3 we concede alot of goals from flanks, meaning that even the advantage over 3:5:2 could turn useless, when we face top teams in CL. Perhaps if we perfect this system and get two brilliant wingbacks, it might work, but as soon as those two are beaten by opponent fullbacks, there will be always serious danger from crosses.

As much I defend and like Costa, this is very bad for us. I was expecting him to either commit to Chelsea, or be sold this summer. Now we will have player who wants to rejoin with Atletico for at least next six months which means he wont be fully 100% with us, then in january or next summer, he will be older, with just one year left and wanting to leave, nevermind maybe in poor form; that will give us zero negotiation power. Besides who does Atleti have that we would be desperately needing? Griezmann is not coming, Koke or Saul aint the players we realy need in midfield. So if Costa decides so, we will be stuck with player wanting out and very little money to buy proper replacement.

Same with Eden. Seems board is playing high-horse mentality, but we are realy in no position to act like that. Like that girl who is acting all bitchy, until BF leaves her and then she goes back crying to stay with her. We need to tie those contracts down asap, and we need to step up with our buy policy and stop low-balling every seller.

Seems as if you are kind off dissapointed with him refusing to join Real. And on another thread you defend Ramos for faking injury. Sure you aint Real fan?

I agree if we can land top talent we should sign him ahead of Alves, but if not, then Alves wouldnt be bad buy (on bosman) if we mean seriously next season. It would make perfect move if we alredy had top team ready for CL tho, because he is that guy who gives something extra.

Semedo is Nelsinho. Maybe Fabinho could, but he is more CM nowdays anyway.

I was cheering for Juve mainly because Gigi and BBB, but they were simply outdone by Real by quite a margin.

If we cant get either Walker or Nelsinho, there is no better option gor that right side right now unless we experiment heavily with some less known player. For a year or two, Alves would be allright.

Only two better options than Alves are Walker and Nelsinho, with former not possible as he is spurs player and the later costing big money, plus there is competition with Barca, Bayern and at least both Manchesters. I would take Alves in hearbeat, still best RB out there. But yeah, he cant play every game, so that could be big problem.

Love simple kits. No patterns, no stripes. If this is it, looks great to me.

He might be as good, or he might become just another Willian or Pedro. A player who is alright, but doesnt realy change the play like Hazard. I hope if we go for another RW, we go heavy on some top class player or simply stay with Pedro until next summer. Mahrez had one good season. Dont say whole Leicester was poor this season because thats hardly an excuse for someone who is supposed to be brilliant player (what we need for RW). Payet still pulled strings in a shit west ham, there is no excuse. We were trying with so many players like Cuadrado, Salah,...I think its time for someone actualy proven.

I think he will wait for Atletico. I dont think its coincidence he says he might stay in ligue 1 because he likes it, on same day Atletico compaint falls, while not long ago he said he will definately leave.

If we sell Matic, then we will definately get two midfielders. We need another new CM, not just replacement for Matic. Im sure there will be some experimentation with midfield next season, maybe even 3:5:2 and if that is our future, Baker fits it and we can maybe even play Cesc for big games. But if we insist on pivot, then we need four capable mids, only Kante and ocassionaly Cesc fit that bill (if we sell Matic). I guess Chalobah can step up, but not Baker, he is not pivot player. Regarding youth, I pray Baker makes it here, he seems very level headed and coming after great season. Now he needs to play as much as possible in PL next season to continue development. Not just a game once a month in cup. If Conte doesnt plan on using him regulary, loan to PL club would be best for him. Same for RLC, he needs play time even more. I dont see Baker in current formation ever. He would be perfect in Lamps role in three man midfield, but as pivot next to Kante...no way. Baka/Tolisso-Kante-Cesc and eventualy Baker takes Cesc spot, or we go with Kante-Tolisso and keep Matic, Cesc for backup, but again Baker has no place.

Who knows, maybe we want Bakayoko AND Tolisso?, while Matic leaves...