Blue Colored Sky

Mate, Barca were in the same situation as Chelsea as they want top class CB. They signed Vermaelen who played 30 minutes or something last season. Chelsea didn't settle for that, they wait to buy proper CB this summer (maybe Marquinhos, Stones), alongside that they bought some guy from old scout recommandation who can be cheap cover. That's it.

I think club perfectly knows that they need new CB. But it's what I said in Transfer section. That they didn't settle for second best, finally. And I'm quite happy about it. Realistically, let's say who else we could get. Only Marquinhos is on the same level, talent. But it's PSG at the end, they don't have to sell. Laporte, Barca and Real try to buy him for a couple of year but Billbao doesn't want to sell. Their situation is that they have very small group of players to choose from so it's very hard to buy from them as they realistically don't need the money to replace such player as they won't have options to replace him with their Basque-only rule. So either throw 50m€ on Laporte or you won't buy him. 50m is the highest sum ever paid for a defender. Is he worth it ? No. Realistically, with cool emotions, the only one defender we could sign in the summer on good level, good age, not throwing money away is Abdennour. But it's the thing I wrote about settling for second best. Yes, Stones saga was a fiasco. But look at Manchester United for example. They want CB badly, they have money available but pool of players is very short. Barca settled for Mathieu and Vearmalen even though they want top class CB for years. Chelsea could do the same but I'm happy they didn't.

But people want to take God knows what conclusion from signing Papy Djilobodji. That we're becoming irrelevant and such. Which is not very clever and only good for banter. I thought it was only banter but when I see people speak about this seriously ...

So how you want to response to my relevant part of post ? Or you want to stay useless part of this community and stay here as a wind up merchant ? (I know you're better than this, that's why I try to stay kind to you)

Barca chased Laporte and ended with Vermaelen, Mathieu and Douglas. Won a treble. This means nothing really, Djilobodji transfer meant nothing but people want to take from this too much conclusions. Far too much.

Chelsea put a picture with Ivanovic and Emenalo, lol. They do everything to wind up fans. The player who is most critized and who become responsible for everything wrong that happens on the pitch this season in the same picture with the man who takes the blame for everything now on and off the pitch.

Nah, it all depends on Ivanovic role next season really. And to get this clear, I'm not advocating everything that board does and the owner does as perfect or super bad. I don't like it when anybody does it ! But that's becoming a theme.

Late Christmas gift ...

The more I read about Jorge Sampaoli the more I think he's perfect man. + plays offensive football + but he is flexible enough to change formation and play more defensively (hello Brendan) + pressing, intesity, desire, togetherness ... all you want really + has personality, players jump in the fire for him + can say a cracking quote, interesting character Nothing I can say about youth promotion though. There's one huge con which is his lack of European expierience and him being out of Spanish comfort zone. So not all that rosy. But I would be a happy man if he is appointed.

I know people laugh all they want but this transfer meant nothing. It was low cost cover and that's basically it. And no, it fucking didn't mean Chelsea's low standards in the market and how low they reached. Fucking Barca signed Douglas (lol), Vermaelen and Mathieu, it's a joke really but it means nothing. It doesn't even mean that Barca is irrevelant as some want to say the same about Chelsea citing Hector and Papy's transfers. (Why I even try. I should just write how Emenalo try to destroy club by such awful buisness and make Chelsea irrelevant)

Mourinho's only regret is that he wasn't player from Jorge Mendes agency.

Lol, go back to Griezmann thread and check mid May to early June, there's plenty of stuff on that. One guy from El Confidencial who is probably the most reliable journo from Spain wrote that we hired Jorge Mendes to work on the deal. BTW, I know it doesn't suit the narrative that Chelsea isn't in complete mess at the moment. I should change my view and ignore facts, have selective memory and pretend that Emenalo is responsible for everything that happens in this club but I simply can't. Sorry.

To be fair missing out on him while he was clear target is the first sign of huge failing in the market. I can have a case and argue about previous summer and Stones, Griezmann, Pogba but missing this while meeting with agents of Lavezzi and Pato is telling where we're heading. But I won't draw conclusion yet at this time.

Oh, and one thing. Please stop dissing Chelsea transfers, activity and they low ambition. It's nothing of that sort. It pissess me off when I read from Chelsea fans that everything assocciated with Chelsea is bad and every member in playing squad and the board and even the owner needs overhaul. It's pathetic. Facts : Chelsea put bids for Griezmann, Stones, Marquinhos and Pogba. They were the last one on Pogba field and the only one to be anything close to signing him. Di Marzio reported bid of 75m€ for him. They were discussing with his representatives till the last day. For Stones we know there was several bids rejected and one that would be second most payed for defender ever. For Griezmann, Jorge Mendes was hired to work on the operation during whole summer but Atletico were able to resist (which still seems quite remarkable considering their debt while signing Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Carrasco for several millions). Lack of ambition ? More like selective memory. I'm happy that for once we didn't settle for stop-gaps and second best. But I understand people who are dissing about lack of summer signings would want stop-gap signings anyway ? So why are they against Pato now ?

The Pato signing won't have any effect on what Chelsea do in the summer. Not even in striker department. He is such a low risk buy at this wages. If he fails he can still be offloaded to China where his stock are hot it seems.. The only issue with this is what I read about him and his best position as people say he is not a striker. I perfectly understand if Chelsea want to add someone to the crop of Diego Costa, Remy and Falcao which will eventually see putting Hazard upfront again with their injury record. They want to have another striker for that and it's fine. However it's concerning that people say Pato is not a striker anymore as he is bought exactly to fill that role.

Do we have right players for Guardiola ? No. For Simeone ? Negative. It needs transfers anyway whoever is in charge. And there will be transfers in summer, that thing I'm absolutely sure of. Yes, Sampaoli is a risk. I don't think he will be first choice anyway. But if club is unable to sign Pep/Simeone I much rather want to see taking this shot with Sampaoli than Pellegrini/Juan Ramos or whoever else. The situation needs patience at this club, especially at this moment in time with revolution in the squad looming and stadium redevelopment. As long as Sampaoli will be around top 4 and not fighting against relegation he can have few years to build his team.

8-10m£ is the reported fee. The article says that "The blog could not confirm the exact contract duration and figures from business, but should revolve around three years and ₤ 8 million (R $ 45.661 million) to ₤ 10 million (R $ 57.077 million). Corinthians is entitled to 60% (R $ 27.400 million to R $ 34.200 million). In 2013 the club paid € 15 million to Milan by the athlete at the time approximately R $ 40.5 million - at today's exchange rate would be R $ 65.8 million." So as things stand and this article is to be bielieved, they resolved his ownership issues with third party and Corinthias will earn 60% of the reported fee. There's one big concern though : "However, the attacker does not act since winning the Sao Paulo over Figueirense (3-2) on November 28."

Why this Pato move is imminent as some source say ? If Corinthias is in such deep shit financial situation they probably shared his cost with several parties. As you know Chelsea would need 100% of his rights and I don't know if they're eager to deal with several people. Can someone enlight me (I plea especially the guys from Brazil) what's his ownership status these days ?

I agree. And you couldn't even mention Scolari for me to associate Sampaoli with him. Nonetheless, Sampaoli was succesful on club level as well with Universidad de Chile. So he knows how to prepare the team for the entire season as it was one big Achilles heal for Scolari who prepared Chelsea like a national team for tournament. To be fair that's only cons against Sampaoli. That he lacks expierience in Europe. I'd trust him anyway as he is strong character with such great personality and clear vision. It outweighs his lack of expierience in Europe.

Sure, let's all forget about rules and that Juventus would need to sell non-EU player first to accomodate him withing the squad.

Jorge Sampaoli is free since an hour or so Give him 3 years to work in peace, give him time and funds to shape his squad and don't intervene as long as we seat withing reach of top 4. Someone from Guardiola, Simeone and Sampaoli should be mandatory in the summer.

Hello again. Thibaut is my favorite Chelsea player, but there's no question he declined. Even I have doubts now. The third goal should be saved ! How the hell he managed to concede from that angle ? But I think we really should stop looking at individuals. Every player declined. Even clear world class players like Hazard and Courtois can be doubted now. How's that possible ? Courtois is clearly top 2 goalkeeper alongside Neuer and there's a gap between them and the rest. At least in normal circumstances. Not now. Thibaut was nominated for Ballon D'or as a goalkeeper while not doing fancy moves like Neuer. I don't know where Thibaut stands now. Mourinho broke this team, broke every player. If that happened to one, two, three, four players it could be deeply analysed but every player is shadow of himself. Our cornerstone players, the most reliable ones, who gives consistent performances that weigh between good or world-class ones can't be relied upon anymore. Courtois, Hazard, Azpilicueta, even the last one is not the rock he used to be. I will defend Thibaut always and will always try to find excuse for him. He has to quickly back to his normal self when he's unquestionable one of the two best goalkeepers. Remember his performances from August to January last season ? He didn't concede one goal from corner as he was collecting every long ball. How you can compare then and now ? Every corner looks dangerous. I know who I can blame for this but there's no doubt that Thibaut has to come back to his level in the next season.

I don't think his loan was a terrible idea. You have to remember that Jose ALWAYS has to have 3 senior strikers, therefore I can understand taking this shot with Falcao. He is taking half of his wages (apparently) so it's not that bad. On the other hand it could very well be nice gesture for Jorge Mendes. But gosh, what a terrible time. Player who needs team service more than anything playing for a side who can't create one opportunity in a match from open play.

Why are we talking about player who is injured at the moment BTW ? I think the last 2 games he played, sub against Watford and game at Manchester, he was brilliant. Won the penalty and gave MOTM performance at Old Trafford. Add to that Mourinho said that Hazard games are complete and the only thing that lacks are goals I'm optimistic for the next months. He will start scoring like Diego has started. Just wait and see. I think there are bits of great Hazard since mid-October, just now has to be fully fit and play in the right position and he will be fine. Heh, I just read that DD is back. Wait when Hazard starts scoring again and people will put it all thanks to Drogba guidance