BlueLyon

Well there is only one Yaya only one Drogba etc...every player is different. But much like Yaya, Bakayoko is realy good dribbler and its very rare to have 1,88m player with such great ball control. I remember Yaya running through whole midfield and pop a torpedo on goal back in the day. Bakayoko is very similar, but he obviously doesnt have the shot. Both played in Monaco too, so there is a bit of similarity. Pogba (at least the one from Juve) is probably the very closest to what Yaya was. Great technique, great long shot, great passing and average tactical knowledge and defending. Of the available players, IMO Bakayoko is very similar too. There are so many differences between Baka and Yaya, but also so many similarities. Watching Monaco games on some shit streams, one could swear its Yaya playing there.

I realy dont know what to think about Romelu. At one hand he is brilliant striker if you look the stats. Then again, he misses some fire that makes good striker one of europes best. Realy if we get him I wouldnt be dissapointed, if we dont I wont be either considering whoever else we get does the job. Hmm so you dont particulary like Costa because 1.) his attitude and 2.) his ability on ball Yet you consider Lukaku greater than Morata? Only thing Lukaku has over Morata are goals. Which is one thing Costa is great at too. So, you prefer strikers that score goals or those that have better link up? Because in that case you should prefer Morata over Lukaku, but you dont. On side note, sure Lukaku is better finisher. Morata is inconsistent as hell, I would never have him as lone striker. But also Morata is ten times better at link up than Lukaku will ever be. He is absolutely brilliant dribbler and passer for a striker. Better than Aguero on that matter IMO. People want to get rid of Costa because ''goals are not all'' and striker needs to be good at link up. To me it seems half the forum ideal stiker is Morata, but when they actualy face the facts they prefer Lukaku because of goals. Well, Costa scores goals and he is apparenty ''average''. The people on forum got spoiled and they want a new striker while Costa is more than good. As long Costa is here we dont need new striker simple as that.

IMO he is almost good to go as starter. I always thought we need a ball playing CM, but more I look the games, the more it seems we realy need a Matic improvement. Someone quicker, more agile and with better technique. While its true, Eden needs to get in middle to collect the ball a lot because Matic cant bring the ball further up, it makes sense to get someone who can dictate and spray the balls to our attackers. But at same time, Matic role as defender is crucial. It allows Kante to roam, it gives balance to our defense. A playmaker would ruin all that, so unless you know perfect Matic/Cesc combo player we can buy, then we simply cant afford to have playmaker in middle. Many say we dont realy need height and strenght, and while its true, small players can work, I saw enough of PL to know there is no way we would play two small guys in middle of pitch whole season. Even the likes of Dahoud, he aint small by no mean but seriously anyone believes he would fit next to Kante? Anyway, the solution as long we play with two men in middle is Matic improvement and Bakayoko is everything you need. Perhaps even stronger than Matic, certainly quicker, younger, more dynamic, at least as good defender and miles better dribbler. As long our middfield can get the ball forward (which Kante and Baka could), then we would be just fine if we have two brilliant wingers. People also forget that football is not fifa. In real life its not easy to change even the side you play nevermind whole formation. Bakayoko always plays on left side to Fabinho, in two man midfield with two wingers and two fullbacks. The exact same position Matic plays here. Fact that he would even have French partner in Kante is probably great too. Yeah he makes simple passes most of the time, he prefers to dribble past opponents and then pass, rather make risky pass forward. Very raw passer. Sure he can pull great pass here and there, but so can Matic. If you look for Kroos, you will be dissapointed. If you look for Yaya or Vieira, then Bakayoko is the closest thing in years. His passing gets him down sometimes, because he gets the ball and then instead of passing forward, he just makes simple pass to nearest player, but his dribbling and ball control makes him great at pushing the ball forward without killing the tempo. Its realy all about his role. If he gets free role to roam, his dribbling will be menance for any defense, if he gets the role like in city games when he has to stay deep, his passing will be the most basic. I would be very happy with him. We need his type AND playmaker anyway, so by getting Baka, we cant lose realy.

Yaya is much better, Kante is better and Matic...from what I saw they are about the same level realy, but the fact that Bakayoko is quicker and more dynamic gives him advantage.

Some rumours that our back up for Marcos Alonso could be Emerson Palmieri from Roma.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10809638/thibaut-courtois-wants-new-chelsea-contract-amid-reported-real-madrid-interest

As long as that our "creative" CB is very good defender and strong physical type, Im ok. But I dont want any kind of ball playing CB that is average defender (ie Stones, Thiago Silva,...) I think the ugly truth about Christensen is that IMO he is not going to be what people expect. Good on the ball, but only decent defender at least for Premier league demands. Sure he is young, but if Conte decides Cahill is not good enough, I think we need either utilise Zouma or get new CB like Dijk or even Tah. Just because Christensen can start from the back for the cost of worse defense, no thank you.

Brilliant. What lets him down sometimes is his passing. If he was better in that aspect, he would be a complete midfielder, because he is strong, quick, good tackler and very good drbbler. Tho I think it has more to do with his role rather his ability, he can still become a very decent passer in near future.

Like having younger Ivanovic with little end product...I rather have wingbacks with good ball control.

5 seasons. How fast time flies...I remember all the rumours where he will go as if it was yesterday.

I hope this Monaco team holds together for a year at least. Will be interesting to see how they do.

I was mad for long time we sold him, but if we continue with current formation, he wouldnt have place anyway.

It could also be tactical training by Conte. Cahill moved to far post side and left Rashford deal with Courtois at near post, giving him less space.

This thread so quiet...I thought he warmed that bench brilliantly today.

Guess, some would like us to play attractive football like Arsenal does...

You mix fragile with small. Kante, Sterling, Eden, Coutinho, Shaqiri,...neither is big but they are quite strong and balanced players. Then you have Matas and finaly Cuadrados... But they can hardly push through defenders, can they? However the point again isnt in Silva that he is tiny and not capable to handle PL, but rather his style of play which is similar to Eden and I prefer we target Bale, Robben, Sanchez type of player. Direct with good finish. And Silva is exceptional player, but you are making him next Messi. He is good, but a long way to reach Eden, Neymar etc.

Since you say this after the Stoke game, IMO Silva wouldnt be much of help today either. He would get bullied out of the game and refs being shit and all, wouldnt protect him either. Hell Ruben who I dont talk very highly of, had more of impact today. If it was any other game, who knows Pedro and Willian might do their job just fine. I think no one would say no to Silva, its just that some prefer different type, perhaps one who can score more. But we definately need an improvement.

Eat shit stoke cunts. So happy we won the game, doesnt matter how

English teams play without break for ages. And no one complained when we were ruling the europe. As you said, its lack of quality why english teams are so poor these days, not tiredness. Also switch to continental way of playing football isnt helping either. English teams should play the english football. Not nice on the eye, but it gets the job done and avoids humiliations in europe.

Hopefuly Pedro and Willian do their best today. Surely Cesc will start too right? Or maybe we even go with 3:5:2 now that Eden is out. Come on chels!

I heard about this just now. City is first team in PL with new sponsor on sleeves, after FA changed the rules to allow it. Personaly i think its awfull, kits will look much uglier now. But it will bring extra cash... Any idea who we might have? Carabao? https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/2017/03/17/manchester-city-and-nexen-tire-announce-first-premier-league-shirt-sleeve-partnership/1489758525960

Imagine Levy wasnt such a cunt and sold Modric to us back then...

Its very important that our next midfielder can bring the ball through midfield further up the pitch. Cesc is great at passing, but he is absolute piss at dribbling past opponent midfield. Thats why Eden has to get deep to collect the ball and run forward. If we had a proper ball running mid who can use skill or power to get the ball to our attackers in Eden and whoever else we sign in summer, be it Sanchez, Silva, Lemar etc who can organize attacks, we dont realy need a deep playmaker. If the game truly demands one, then we always have Cesc and we can play three man midfield. Thats why getting someone like Bakayoko or Nainggolan might be perfect choice. Vidal is not bad either, but he is not realy dribbling type of CM. The only question is will Conte continue with 3:4:3 next season and is he using Matic next to Kante because he 1.) Thinks Matic type is better fit for the system or 2.) Would play playmaker, but Cesc is not good enough for him and decided to stick with Matic instead If its the 1st, no way we are going to buy Dahoud, Verratti etc. IMO as long there will be only 2 mids, sure Conte will go for dynamic, physical mid to replace Matic.

I think I didnt said it well, we wouldnt have 28 points less obviously, but only the fact that Costa contributed to 28 points himself, a clear indicator he is very important to this squad and hardly replacable, unlike some want to point out.

True, I meant that we shouldnt change our identity to fit attractive football, because current one is what we are. But yeah while there are no english players out there we could get, it feels bit empty now that Lamps, Terry, Cole arent important players anymore. As for spaniards, I see their antics in every game. Real, Barca, doesnt matter. Pepe, Marcelo, Busquets, Neymar, Suarez,...they ruin the games with their acts. What do you mean it works against City? They scored over 120 goals this season. And most games, they played Fabinho and Bakayoko. Bakayoko will most probably turn into what Yaya was. He is unbelievable dribbler for a CDM, very good at getting the ball back and not a holding midfileder, but a b2b. IMO Kante and Baka would complement each other perfectly. However his passing is a bit shit I agree. But it can improve. And please dont judge Bakayoko on his games against City, it was clear he had restricted role, in most games his runs with ball are fantastic. But in most games, his passing is nothing special either. Its literaly his only weakness atm. For example in both Spurs games he was a beast. On another note, having creator next to Kante ala Verratti, Dahoud etc who are not tacticaly good enough and wont simply stay infront of our defense, Kante role will change. He wont be able to roam around because he will have to keep things thight, something Matic is doing atm. Put Verratti there and Kante's role will get limited. Thats why now I think we need a better version of Matic, not a different type of player. And with a player like Lemar, Sanchez next to Eden, our attack will be creative enough, assuming we will target good wingbacks ala Semedo. Verratti is not even playing in pivot, but along Matuidi and Motta/Rabiot which completely changes his role than the one he would have here next to Kante. Sure idealy we would need Xabi Alonso, but only player similar to that is Weigl. Unbelievable player, tacticaly brilliant for his age and his passing and organizing is like watching younger Xabi, but I think he is not going to join us anyway. That said, neither Verratti or Dahoud will come, so what great option is left then? Assuming both Kante and even more so Bakayoko improve, just imagine how strong our midfield will be. And neither of the two is a wood on two legs, both are quite skilled. Not to mention we can always pick Cesc for games where opponent parks buses. Kante, Cesc and Baka would be more than good enough. Unless we change to 3 man midfield for all games. Then we get alot more options to chose from, but I dont like that system too much.