Willian

[Special Juan 27,419]

Again, the short turnaround from season finish until start is so short, deals in and out will be done rapidly from now on.

Even the teams who are left playing for stuff will have agreements in place in principle to conduct their deals.

It will be also interesting to see if Brentford go up when they play Fulham tomorrow, if they don't I can see us going for Benhrama.

[Alabama 1,992]

Good news...

Hand over his No 10 shirt to Pulisic...

Havertz is coming to take over Barkley No 8 shirt...

[Pizy 18,360]

So...Spuds or Arse, I wonder?

Would kind of be a weird one for Arse to want him because they've been hyping up their young players like Saka and Martinelli. Willian signing there for 3 years would surely effect their playing time. On the other hand, Willian is the type of experienced player Arse need in big games they often bottle.

Spuds make much more sense. He and Bergwijn rotating with one another is probably be a Mourinho wet dream.

My bet is that he reunites with his best mate David Luiz. I think he'll be very solid for either of them but as long as we do good business I don't think we'll regret letting him move. 

I'm already preparing myself to be annoyed when Willian raises his game to "stick it to us" when we play against him twice next season. 😂

[Strike 7,212]

If he's not accepting a squad role or accepting a 2-year deal (already very generous) then this is the time to let him go. 

 

[Ledg 638]

 

 

[Jype 6,398]

So that's him gone then. Bye bye, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Can't say I will miss him when he's gone. In the short term (first half of next season) I think the squad would still be better with Willian than without him, but it would be madness to give in to his demands and offer him a 3 year deal on super high wages just because there are some question marks on how fast Ziyech will settle in. No matter the circumstances Willian is not, nor has he ever been, worth the wages he's demanding and a 3 year deal would be ridiculous for a 32yo player.

[Warning_Hazard 156]

on his day world class, But otherwise a decent squad member overall.

 

goodluck to him if hes off

[whats happening 1,525]

3 years late on this one

[LAM09 6,733]

No idea why the club is seemingly trying to pull out all the stops to keep him. Constantly been playing hardball, so just let him go.

Shame it's a number of years too late, though.

[Atomiswave 6,072]

He is 32, wants a 3 years deal, we fucking offer him 2 years which is too much in itself and he rejects it? Let him go

[Pulisicismydaddy 91]

Thank fuck, Boga, Benrahma anyone would do better than this guy.

[Nero 1,838]

[Rapkun 668]

I totally understand the decision not to offer him a 3 year deal especially considering his age but the disrespect towards him is unjustified. One of our best players this season and one of our most important players since his arrival.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,914]

 

End of an Era.

[Pizy 18,360]

Arse fans are absolutely losing their minds over this. 😂

They all act like they're so above Willian even though he'd instantly be amongst their best players. Just like a lot of them were crying when we sold them Luiz and now they all love him.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

Willian is a nice lad who, on his day, is utterly brilliant. There have rarely been enough of those days to keep the fans off his back, but he's given his best and, as well evidenced this year, he's worked hard. It's absolutely obvious why Frank likes him. Now it seems that he's off, he'll go with the thanks and best wishes of Chelsea fans.

Speaking personally, I'm embarrassed by the level of vitriol in some of the comments posted here. People decide for themselves how they want to support the club and its players. I can only say that the people posting the comments I'm referring to are choosing to do it differently to the way I'd prefer. I'd find more quality in one Willian dribble, at pace, through the midfield than in one hundred thousand such posts.

Just in case these comments lead anyone to misjudge my view of Willian. For many seasons I used to say that Willian is an OK footballer but that if we were to become the team we'd like to be, he would not get into the side. Once again therefore I find myself defending a player when I was previously among a minority criticising him. He's a Chelsea player, he's worn the shirt and made the best contribution he could to successful Chelsea sides. That will always earn him respect and affection from me. Just because I don't believe he's the player we need, does not mean I will react to him with an aggressively dismissive attitude. Never going to happen. 

 

[Vesper 28,686]

7 minutes ago, Rapkun said:

I totally understand the decision not to offer him a 3 year deal especially considering his age but the disrespect towards him is unjustified. One of our best players this season and one of our most important players since his arrival.

I am with you on this

and he may come back to haunt us if he goes to Spuds or Arse or even Manure

he is a prick for not taking the 2 years

[Special Juan 27,419]

The big picture is, the amount of wages it frees up, for a new and fresh signing.

Ideal.