kc_blue

I'm not disagreeing with any of that. I just think that Silva's presence and leadership will help AC and Rudiger more then it will Zouma as his presence will directly affect many of their issues, organization and discipline, where there isn't help for Zouma's. I like Zouma, I just don't think he fits the type of center back that Lampard wants to play the style he wants.

I like the optimism but I just don't see it. Playing next to Silva will help him a lot but a lot of what holds Zouma back is technique and it won't matter who's next to him for that. Honestly I think Silva will help out AC and Rudiger more in that he will help with their bigger issues of staying focused and organized.

He's got the potential to be very good in the near future. I would probably keep him around this season but I can see a point of view to sending him out on loan as well. I kind of feel like it's a last chance season for several of our current center backs. Next season will most likely be a major remodel of the center of our defense, so if he's on loan this year and playing regularly he'll be in good shape to come in and compete next season. I think that's probably the reasoning behind loaning him out this season.

Glad to get a signing at left back done. Hope he has a lot of success here.

Wish him the best. Glad to have him back at the club.

That's pretty mild for this board actually. Have you never looked in at the Alonso thread?

I agree with this. The only thing working against this is if the transfer ban stays in effect this summer. I think he can improve the squad by bringing in some players we had on loan this season but I don't think that will be enough to improve the results much beyond this past season.

In that case it looks like it's time to pay the piper. It's unfortunate that this has happened at a time when we aren't really in a position to handle it, but that's at the foot of the board and their policies over the past several years.

Thanks for clarifying that point for me.

Excuse my ignorance but one quick question. I was under the impression that the infractions that we have been banned for occurred several years back. It's all fine and good saying that the laws have been in place for years now, but if they were new when the infractions incurred, what's the difference? Maybe I'm misinformed on the situation.

This season was disappointing but really not that unexpected. It was a short pre-season coming off the World Cup and we didn't really upgrade the squad any. We started really well, though showed some worrying signs, and then it was a return to the previous year. I think people's perceptions would be totally different if the first 12 games had been flipped with the last 12 games. If nothing else it would give hope that we were picking up and getting better at the system he was trying to implement. As it is, we achieved the goal most had at the start of the year and although Sarri had his moments that made us scratch our heads or curse him out on the boards. If the transfer ban gets lifted I'm looking forward to how we retool and what type of players we go after. With some more suitable options in the team is he able to get us playing the style he implemented at Napoli? If the ban doesn't get delayed it's going to be this year all over again and we'll have to sweat out trying to get top 4 and not being happy with how we play.

Anyone saying Sarri is faultless or hasn't made mistakes this season isn't paying attention. That said, he got us a top 4 finish and 90 minutes from a European final with a team that I think we can all agree is lacking a lot. If the transfer ban is lifted or delayed we can see what he can do with a bit more quality in the overall squad. If not, it's going to be deja vu next season.

Is Chilwell off the table? I would like Telles and he would probably be cheaper but I think you have to account for the homegrown factor as well. Fullback seems like a position we could pump up our homegrown numbers and improve our quality, assuming we are able to buy anyone.

Yes, agree totally.

I have to admit this last part about UK buyers I find a bit baffling. I learned never make business personal and that last part seems like a direct response to how the UK government is treating him. You won't let me into your country I won't sell my club to anyone in your country. Maybe he just thinks he can get more from outside buyers then he can from someone in the UK but it really comes across as kind of petty and petulant.