BlueLyon

If Alexis realy wants that money, only United will give it to him. No other club is stupid to throw that money. Maybe Barca or Real but for sure he wont go there. Perhaps City. That said if they start paying players like Alexis so much, the barrel will blow sooner or later. Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar,...players with huge reputation like Ibra, Pogba,...I understand to a point (its not fair, players should be paid based on their ability, but sadly self-advertisement plays big part). But no way should anyone in Sanchez range be getting 400k per week like Alexis demands. If he wants that money, then he can fark off to Manchester and live that ''baller'' life while we will focus on players who want to play football.

Guerreiro is good, but if I regret one defender we didnt go after its Alex Sandro. Back at Porto whenever I saw him he was brilliant and is now showing that at Juve. Very good in defence, attack, quick, and strong.

Maybe we are actualy interested. Its not that Conte was not denying, but we usualy dont give any sort of answers regarding rumours at all. I remember Alexis was number 1 target for Conte back in Juve. But Arsenal wont let him go to us, no way.

I always love watching Modric and Iniesta, if we could pull Verratti here who is arguably only player similar that could reach those two, I would go nuts.

My point was that some players look out of place at certain clubs, like Mata in united. He was great for us and fan favourite, you could say he genuinely belongs at Chelsea. Same cant be said for his time at United. IMO Alexis case would be same. He would look like a dick for that move etc. I prefer we bring players who have no relation to our rivals in London. Cole was one off, Cesc never realy looked as chelsea true blue, neither will Alexis. On other hand, I dont think he is worth the fuss. If we bought him straight from Barca ok, but with his history at Arsenal, i dont think its wise idea. It would be funny to see Arsenal fans reaction tho

Sure but in my book he aint a dream signing. Quality on his day, but injured often and I dont see him become Chelsea blue, much like Mata will never be United devil. Some players just look odd in some shirts and never perform like they did before.

Wont happen.

Out of 50 PL games he played, he only lost 4. Amazing stuff.

I have seen too many "next Yaya Toure" flops like Mvila, Song or Kondogbia to make a judgement on Kessie after just one good season.

Fair enough. I just dont see him that kind of player to make the difference when it matters. Right now, only place we can put him is RW and no way, I guarantee would he play well there. Lacks pace to start with, which is crucial and can you imagine him playing high pressing in PL week in week out? I dont. And current formation is brilliant, so I wouldnt change it just to suit James. Not to mention he is playmaker. I would rather spend that crazy cash or more on winger/SS who can score (like Dybala althrough it looks impossible, Berardi is my favourite 2nd option but he got injured so we shall see how it goes). And I do think players who leave Barca/Real are often not good enough fir the top. There are few rare cases like Toure or Makelele, but IMO Ozil and Sanchez, Robinho dont work for me. Ozil and Alexis fit Arsenal just fine. Both top players on their night, but there are quite many games where they completely fade. I dont see those two lead Arsenal to glory like Henry did. I rather have up and coming ligue 1 player who will give Chelsea everything since its best thing happening to them rather than Barca/Real reject who would consider move away going backwards. These modern kids have got spoiled and playing for Barca or Real makes them think they are better than what they realy are. Its all about work work and reap rewards for me. Rather pick a player coming off great season for Lyon than big name who didnt make it in top club. But then again it depends on each individual. If lets say Bale was in James situation, I would love to see him here. Just my philosophy tho.

And with the rumours Laurentis wants 60m, it should never happen. Thats just way too much money.

Yes James was good that year, but Real lost on all fronts. They benched James, because they are alot more balanced team. He is a surplus, someone you buy if you want star player. Not if you want to win games and titles.

He is not worth half of that money anyway.

He isnt fast either, not good in defense, but has good cross on him, that said, Im more than impressed with Alonso when it comes to it. Alonso is not doing as bad as people point out, he gets exposed against quick players because he isnt fast and his marking is poor, but generaly speaking, he was good every time bar city game. I was one who criticised him when we bought him, but he did much better than I expected. He is allround player, decently strong, good technique, makes things simple, yet he can deliver quality ball and get involved in attack alot. He aint Marcelo, but unless we find someone realy realy good who is athletic, good in defense and quality on ball, I would not bench Alonso just yet. He is IMO more important than it seems on first sight. He connects play very nicely and has good work rate. He will never be quicker, but if he can mark better and get more comfortable with the ball, I think he would make a top wingback. I just hope the board either keeps faith or goes for actual quality. No Rodriguez or Ghoulam etc that we were linked with.

He is too one way manager. Always to play nice attacking football. Much like Mourinho, except that he is complete opposite; to play for result. Guardiola doesnt have plan B. He had huge luck he got chance to work best team in the world and won it all. But they got older, found out and it didnt work anymore. In bayern, city, it just shows the same mistakes. He could do us more damage by starting Yaya and bulying our midfield. He could play Aguero and Nolito (or Kenechi) because they created shitload of chances but had no finishers with Aguero having bad day. But again, he went with as many playmakers he has, trying to prove a point with nice football, yet from back line who can pass, but cant defend to attack who can create but isnt ruthless, he fails against every team that can adopt. And if he couldnt make it with that Bayern team, he will have alot to do with City who is not on same level as Bayern. Unless you have perfect team, you have to know when to go forward and when to just stay back. Pep and Mou dont and thats why they are failing at top.

I wouldnt say he was world class. His defending was always hot and cold. But I realy love his character. That mentality. When we sold Mata, I understood he lacks something, much like Cesc. But Luiz...sure it was money we couldnt turn away, and he wasnt exactly top player. But we lost great character, his determination to play for the club. He is one of the dying breed of players, much like Costa or Vidal etc who play with heart. I was happy when he returned in summer. I was filled with joy because of who he is. I had doubts that he will improve our back line, but I was still happy because I knew he will bring positive vibes to our squad. Same for Costa, some hate him, but I love his character, who he is. He doesnt give two shits and does what he wants. He calmed down, Luiz improved his defending, so its a win win. We get results and at same time we have one of most charismatic squads in recent years (well if your Chelsea fan atleast).

I hope he doesnt leave. I realy do. Same for Costa. I always liked both, even last year, but this season, Costa became less agressive and Eden became even more complete, they are the new Chelsea in every possible way. Hopefuly they decide to stay here for many years.

Well now that I see Nike struck deal with Barca for unbelievable 150m per year, it leaves us quite behind. And where is that guy who was saying that top clubs always get top sponsors? And if you have like UA or unknown sponsor your not big club? Barca made deal with Rakuten (never heard of them before). So yeah its all about money.

If we cant get any of the top dogs, I would think of Promes who is certainly a player who should be in bigger club. But its a gamble.

Im saying what it is. Cesc is great passer and thats it. Everything else is not on level and Im not gonna let it kill our balance. We had many many games where Cesc demonstrated that. Just because he made two brilliant passes against city and was virtualy invisible for rest of game doesnt make him back to his best or whatever. He did great against Leicester too, and people were jumping on that wagon, like you do now but we lost 3:0 to Arsenal after. I for one think I saw enough of Cesc to keep my opinion the same as I did back in 2015 when I said he has to be replaced by someone who can perform under pressure. On paper, yes its perfect game for Cesc. Wba is gonna park the bus and we could use some creativity to break it. But it could turn ugly and I wouldnt want to risk. Thankfuly it will be up to Conte to decide. IMO if Matic is fit he will play.

Yes you are correct I thought he is actualy smaller. But in my head I always compare him to Stones (who isnt small either), based on their build. So perhaps instead of mentioning his height, I should say he is not strong enough like some other CBs I believe do better in PL. And even if he is 1.88, he is hardly the guy that would have great jump on him or could bully other players. So it doesnt realy help him, much like Matic. I realy like CB to be strong in air area. But like you said, he can develop. I doubt he will put much muscle on his body, I realy doubt it. Either players are bulky naturaly, or they are slim. When they decide to change that, you can see their careers go in all wrong ways, such as injuries etc. But he can do a Carvalho in terms of playing. However one thing bothers me, that people put his skills out too much. Its nice that he is skillful, but he is a CB. And tbh I have not been impressed by his defending just yet. People get excited by that silky skill and put him in our team already, Im kinda passive about that. To me CB has to be good defender first. So I wont be surprised if he doesnt do as people expect here, and we will see Batshuayi thing all over again. But lets see how it works out, one thing, Conte definately knows how to make CB. He did it with Bonucci and now Luiz, which should get much more credit than he does.

So I read comment from some City guy calling us plastic cunts, and someone had best response ever saying; I guess I would have to say something about your fans, but there arent any. Roast.

Naturlich, you are correct my friend. We shall see how this fella does in PL and hopefuly, he shall do well.

The opponent is strong. Their defense proven to be hard to break this season. They have good run of form, so that team should not be underestimated, or our men will face bitter end. Their attack is efficient. One mistake and we will get punished for. But most of all, their coach will do everything in his power to silence the Stamford Bridge. To stop our winning run. To prove a point. I present you the Pulis test. Yes, yes another big, nasty, test against coach some say its destined to cause us trouble. But beware, under Conte we gathered strong army that does underestimate no enemy. We will throw everything at them. We will show WBA the blue hell at SB. Mr. Pulis, we will give you a test bigger than your forehead. Who will come on top? Pulis with a clever trick, or will Conte come on top with elegant, but fighting spirit? Find out next week in yet another test of Chelsea season. Seriously, next few weeks when we will face many teams, when we will have less time to rest, when players will play against smaller, but sneaky teams, when players will start thinking about what Santa will bring them for Christmas, it will be our biggest test of the season so far. Come on, lets test ourselves with another test that will test all our abilities that no other test so far could test. And let us be victorious after all these tests, so that the tests will no longer be tests for us, but for our opponents.

I would not put Azpi out, so no way we should play with two shorter CBs and Luiz. Besides, why this ball control and passing ranks CBs top again? FFS we all see how Stones is doing. I admit, CB needs to know how to pass the ball, but doesnt have to be Xavi at it. We have Luiz who is fantastic passer, Azpi is not bad for CB either in possesion. I still dont see Christensen fit this team anyhow. I might sound like Mourinho, but if he was taller and stronger, he would fit in well, but currently not. We have Luiz as passing CB. Christensen for all the passing and ball control he has, he is not top defender, yet. He gets exposed, and what I like about CB in PL is to be strong, so he can control opponents. Something Vidic, Rio, Terry could do. Christensen would get bullied against any bigger striker and corners. And since we already have Azpi, we need to to find taller CB. In bigger picture, taller CB can defend corners better and also pose bigger threat to score header from corner. Conte style will definately rely on set piece danger, and right now only Cahil and Luiz can score from such. Take Cahil away, we dont have anyone else. So yeah, I would prefer if Zouma gets back to best and fills Cahill place rather bring Christensen to add style to back four, but expose us big time. Some sound like Guardiolas on this thread, Christensen is good, but he would be same like Stones. And good player or not, I prefer strong, safe CB over Stones everyday. We play in PL under Conte, and for first time, we brought glimpses of that 2005-2009 team that had lot of power and directness in them. So bring players that suit that. Moses instead of Oscar and you saw what some power can add over that flair and tricks. I rate Christensen as he is our product, young and promising, but he is simply not my type of CB. You can talk that such CBs are future of football, but take a look at City, thats prime example why they are not. CB needs to be powerful presence first and stylish later. Pique, Puyol, Boateng all know how to control ball and pass, but they are all powerful. Christensen and on top of that in PL? I think he is perfect for spain tho. Perhaps if we didnt have Luiz, but considering he is doing very well, there is no chance Christensen will replace him.