robsblubot

Wouldn't call it surprising though. I mean a good (and expensive) player having a good season wouldn't be a surprise. (I do get your point though)

disagree. Very different characteristics: Kante has the work rate, but pogba has the technique. Combine the two and you would have an almost perfect mid (still missing the goals though). BTW, while kante's work rate can be very valuable to any side, I think refined technique is rarer, and consequently, more expensive. One could say Fabregas is poor man's pogba. I'm in the minority here as I think Fabregas cannot possibly play week in and out effectively replacing Matic (there was a reason Matic played).

Makes Pogba look like a bargain tbf.

My early joke aside, I do think Drinkwater is a lot better than Mikel in every fucking aspect of the game, so he could indeed be Mikel's squad replacement and a vast improvement over him. Of course, as pointed out by many here, we could and should do better than Drinkwater if we aim to compete against the top clubs, which has always been my argument against keeping Mikel around. The thing about poor squad players is that they eventually appear in the starting XI....

We will be covered in that area when and if whoever plays up front can actually score goals. That will determine how much will miss costa. I think it is very likely neither striker can score like costa tbh.

and it's not like Costa and Matic were backups or rotation, so losing them (esp costa) could potentially become a huge deal.

yup, shamelessly resurrecting this thread... this guy has obvious and really serious injury issues, so even if at some point he actually fulfills his potential, one cannot criticise Chelsea for letting him go.

finally someone who can effectively replace Mikel...

he's just NOT that smart is he? Way to go reducing your potential employment down to one employer! Now, everything is clear: showing Contes' text to the press was just his way of forcing the exit. The issue is that Atletico, being his only possible destination and on a ban until Jan, feel they don't have to pay that high for him. After all, no competition and no urgency...

Not sure fabregas can play in such an advanced position. he plays better as a deep-lying mid so he can hit long balls control tempo. Closer to the opponent's goal, he will be tight marked often and does not have the movement, power, or athleticism to counter it. Just my 2 cents.

Yeah, good read and that's great attitude! Not being a very physical CB he will have to rely on technique and pace - he has plenty of pace and reckon Luiz will be able to help a lot on the technical side.

works for me... It's actually difficult to separate the two. He also lacks movement, which is something needed to link up play. Anyway, all my interest in lukaku went down the drain as soon as he joined the evil empire.

I will think a move to PSG makes sense as it improves his chance of winning individual awards, and it's going to be more money I'm sure. Not only PSG has been paying big as the nouveau riche, but the marketing deals around his name can be more focused. On the other hand, I'm not quite seeing PSG going all the way to be honest as I think they are still short of a couple/few quality players in certain positions.

We dodged the bulldozer and got a striker who can actually play football... works for me. welcome to the club!

fuck Lukaku and his low football IQ, showcased by his inability to link up play. Hope he pulls a Fernando Torres and sink manure.

She was certainly referring to footballing IQ, or lack thereof in Lukaku's game. Which is something I can agree with.

Bargain if you consider lukakus fee

Injury-prone, bad attitude, low work rate... there is a reason Gabriel will start every match ahead of Aguero.

if he has indeed failed his medical, the news will def report something else.

I would have been quite happy if the club had come out publicly and said that it had no interesting in Lukaku, esp at this price. Now, it is getting embarrassing... I personally believe the player will always follow his agent, so I think it is a lost cause anyway. I don't like Lukaku too much as a footballer, but this whole ordeal will have negative repercussions to the club esp in this transfer window. And I am not even talking about the fact Lukaku was sold for a fraction of that to Everton, who are the only ones laughing right now (all the way to the bank). But then again, aside from a couple very specific signings, this club has not been very competitive in the transfer market for many years now. We might as well get used to it.

heh Lukaku is def an old school type of player/striker. More like aguero (minus the technique) in terms of work rate than say Jesus (or Costa). IMO this high fee makes this signing a pretty big gamble for whoever gets him.

Lukaku's technique (or lack thereof) minus his size and power... would not want him even for squad depth. Just not good enough.

For the me issue with Ake, and many of the youngsters, however much we may like and root for them, is about two aspects: 1) the obvious one, potential and 2) the stage in their development 1) (potential) is notoriously difficult to assess. And 2) is a real bummer for top clubs. Everything I saw from Ake thus far points to potential, yes, but also someone who is not going to be near our starting XI any time soon. So, even if Rudiger and Ake have the same potential, Rudiger might be a lot further ahead in his development (is older too!), and can immediately be used by a club like Chelsea whereas Ake needs minutes, which the club cannot provide or promise. Chalobah is on the same boat for me: it doesn't matter if he's going to be good enough 5 years from now if Chelsea, Conte, cannot employ him even as cover, right now. And honestly, Chalobah seems to be way behind Ake in development, and I'm not as sure about his potential. just my take (not so easy to blame the club for these very tough decisions).

an interesting predicament: we want to be in a position where a player as technically limited as Zouma is can't possibly fight for a place in the team. and yet, that's exactly what he wants to do.

Pogba had many interested clubs after him at the time. Perhaps not for the same amount, but reckon he could've gone somewhere else with a similar fee. The big question for me is whether Lukaku does really have a market at that price point, or are we being had... Also, if we disregard the fee entirely, is Lukaku good enough against the top sides right now? Or, at least, will be good enough against the top sides in the future? I am not sure.