🇪🇸 Cesc Fàbregas

[Johnnyeye 7,509]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Sarri has the perfect back-up, future Jorginho on his shopping list, Sandro Tonali. The lad is going to be something special I think.

we need to swoop in fast for Tonali otherwise Juve will snap him up and we are done.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

12 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Honestly I disagree, we don't have a like for like sub for Jorginho, Cesc is the only player in the squad who can play that role. Sure his legs arent what they were, hes never been the strongest or fastest anyway but technically he is still a good option in that role. Good experienced player to have in the squad and if hes willing to stay here and do that role again next season why not? Football is a squad game as much as anything these days. Also we have more pressing concerns in other places like upfront, central defence and out wide with Willian and Pedro's inconsistencies, they should be addressed first. 

While I agree that Cesc is important right now because we have literally no back-up for Jorginho and that position is so crucial for us, we really should be looking at getting a long-term replacement in.

If Jorginho gets injured for any period of time, we are really screwed.  At Napoli, Sarri had Diawara who he had no issues with playing against anyone.  

I also agree that it's importance is behind areas that you've mentioned, like our wingers, but it's also going to be a lot cheaper to fix than those positions (so, in theory, easier).

[Vesper 30,174]

On 05/11/2018 at 1:48 PM, Sideshow Luiz said:

While I agree that Cesc is important right now because we have literally no back-up for Jorginho and that position is so crucial for us, we really should be looking at getting a long-term replacement in.

If Jorginho gets injured for any period of time, we are really screwed.  At Napoli, Sarri had Diawara who he had no issues with playing against anyone.  

I also agree that it's importance is behind areas that you've mentioned, like our wingers, but it's also going to be a lot cheaper to fix than those positions (so, in theory, easier).

 Well, maybe not cheaper if you want a ready made big league plug n' play DH DMF. They are actually a very rare breed if one wants true quality.

Sandro Tonali is potentially the best one, Sarri desperately wants him, he will only be around £25m or so, but he is only 18 and still playing in Serie B.

Here are the already established ones who are of sufficient quality. The list isnt long.

Sergio Busquets  Barca (will never leave them and is already 30)

Ruben Neves   Wolves  They are demanding £100m plus for him. Only Shitty would drop that much IMHO. Pep wants him badly. He is by far the best scorer out of all the top DH DMF's as well, and can play anywhere in MF.

Rodri    Atletico Madrid They just bought him, he is seen as the new Busquets. He won't be sold

Frenkie de Jong   Ajax  Can play anywhere in MF, and also plays at CB, and even has had runouts at fullback. Bidding war for him will be crazy. Would love to have him, especially if we lose Kovacic.

Julian Weigl    Dortmund  (Shitty on him too) Has been up and down a bit, but so young and huge potential

and then the most realistic I think, for us (if we fail on Tonali)

Leandro Paredes from Zenit (Roma had to sell him and Rudiger to meet FFP)

and

Stanislav Lobotka (23yo Slovakian) from Celta Vigo often plays in a kind of Jorginho role too, and Spurs and PSG are all over him, Spuds has a £31m bid turned down at the window's end this summer.

Some others

Marco Verratti can play that role as well but would be over £100m

Giovani Lo Celso on loan to Real Betis from PSG has also played DH DMF, and would be far less than Vertatti, but still not cheap, probably in the £50m range

Asier Illarramendi  Real Sociedad  poor man's Busquets/Xabi Alonso , but he turns 29 in March

Rodrigo Bentancur from Juve. He has also played that role, but is more of a CMF.

Arne Maier  Hertha Berlin 19yo wunderkind, 2nd best teenager DMF after Tonali IMHO, some would argue better, but I think Tonali is just perfect for the DH DMF role. Maier may end up a Kroos type which is also amazing.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

11 minutes ago, Vesper said:

 Well, maybe not cheaper if you want a ready made big league plug n' play DH DMF. They are actually a very rare breed if one wants true quality.

Sandro Tonali is potentially the best one, Sarri desperately wants him, he will only be around £25m or so, but he is only 18 and still playing in Serie B.

Here are the already established ones who are of sufficient quality. The list isnt long.

 Sergio Busquets  Barca (will never leave them and is already 30)

Ruben Neves   Wolves  They are demanding £100m plus for him. Only Shitty would drop that much IMHO. Pep wants him badly. He is by far the best scorer out of all the top DH DMF's as well, and can play anywhere in MF.

Rodri    Atletico Madrid They just bought him, he is seen as the new Busquets. He won't be sold

Frenkie de Jong   Ajax  Can play anywhere in MF, and also plays at CB, and even has had runouts at fullback. Bidding war for him will be crazy. Would love to have him, especially if we lose Kovacic.

Julian Weigl    Dortmund  (Shitty on him too) Has been up and down a bit, but so young ans huge potential

and then the most realistic I think, for us (if we fail on Tonali)

Leandro Paredes from Zenit (Roma had to sell him and Rudiger to meet FFP)

and

Stanislav Lobotka (23yo Slovakian) from Celta Vigo often plays in a kind of Jorginho role too, and Spurs and PSG are all over him, Spuds has a £31m bid turned down at the window's end this summer.

Some others

Marco Verratti can play that role as well but would be over £100m

Giovani Lo Celso on loan to Real Betis from PSG has also played DH DMF, and would be far less than Vertatti, but still not cheap, probably in the £50m range

Asier Illarramendi  Real Sociedad  poor man's Busquets/Xabi Alonso , but he turns 29 in March

Rodrigo Bentancur from Juve. He has also played that role, but is more of a CMF.

Arne Maier  Hertha Berlin 19yo wunderkind, 2nd best teenager DMF after Tonali IMHO, some would argue better, but I think Tonali is just perfect for the DH DMF role. Maier may end up a Kroos type which is also amazing.

I think it would be cheaper, we'd be looking at either a ready made player like a slightly younger Cesc, who is okay with being a back-up, or a younger player who can grow in to the role.  

I say cheaper, not in the sense that it won't cost us anything, but we'd be looking for a 1st team winger.  That's going to cost us a lot.

[Vesper 30,174]

1 hour ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

I think it would be cheaper, we'd be looking at either a ready made player like a slightly younger Cesc, who is okay with being a back-up, or a younger player who can grow in to the role.  

I say cheaper, not in the sense that it won't cost us anything, but we'd be looking for a 1st team winger.  That's going to cost us a lot.

Malcom + £20-25m for Willian.

Take that cash and buy Sandro Tonali.

http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/16711-22-willian/?do=findComment&comment=1376945

2 birds one stone.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

4 hours ago, Vesper said:

Malcom + £20-25m for Willian.

Take that cash and buy Sandro Tonali.

http://forum.talkchelsea.net/topic/16711-22-willian/?do=findComment&comment=1376945

2 birds one stone.

Yes, and no.  It doesn't make us better.  There's an argument to be made that it actually makes us worse in the short term.  Sure, 3 years from now, it looks good.  But, that's a downgrade in January, and Tonali is someone I'm interested in, but I'd be surprised if he was better than Cesc, right now.

[Vesper 30,174]

Just now, Sideshow Luiz said:

Yes, and no.  It doesn't make us better.  There's an argument to be made that it actually makes us worse in the short term.  Sure, 3 years from now, it looks good.  But, that's a downgrade in January, and Tonali is someone I'm interested in, but I'd be surprised if he was better than Cesc, right now.

Cesc would still be on the team in my scenario. No issues with him here for 2 more years.

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

2 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Cesc would still be on the team in my scenario. No issues with him here for 2 more years.

Yeah, but I'm not sure that Malcolm is better than Willian right now, so that's why I say that it doesn't make us better in the short term, even a little worse.

[Vesper 30,174]

6 hours ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

Yeah, but I'm not sure that Malcolm is better than Willian right now, so that's why I say that it doesn't make us better in the short term, even a little worse.

That's a fair point. We simply do not know for sure if he (Malcom) is or isnt the truly real deal. Maybe we just buy him outright, for the same £37m that Barca paid (seems a fair price) IF they go for it. I am kind of sure they want Willian so much they wont do business if he is not included, though.

The only truly guaranteed upgrades at RW

'are

Mbappe (only way this ever happens is with a new mega billionaire owner)

Salah obviously will not happen

Bale  too expensive now for his age

Bernardo Silva (like Sterling, will NEVER happen, unless Shitty get a massive ban over their cheating, I will do a nakie dance down my street if Shitty get smashed so bad they break up their current club and Pep leaves)

Ousmane Dembélé (can player either wing), this is who we really should perhaps make a move for, BUT I cannot see the board spending this type of money

Federico Chiesa (can play both wings)

Federico Bernardeschi

Jadon Sancho (can play RW as well, but more of a LW)

Leon Bailey (needs to get his head on straight)

Nicolas Pépé

Wilfried Zaha

Christian Pulisic

then 5 possibles

maybe Suso,

maybe Malcom

maybe Florian Thauvin

maybe Hirving Lozano

maybe Iñaki Williams

 

I thinks that's about it for truly top class, plug n play RW'ers, and some of those are never gonna happen

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

9 minutes ago, Vesper said:

That's a fair point. We simply do not know for sure if he (Malcom) is or isnt the truly real deal. Maybe we just buy him outright, for the same £37m that Barca paid (seems a fair price) IF they go for it. I am kind of sure they want Willian so much they wont do business if he is not included, though.

The only truly guaranteed upgrades at RW

'are

Mbappe (only way this ever happens is with a new mega billionaire owner) - Still won't.  More valuable to PSG than Neymar, IMO

Salah obviously will not happen - Nope

Bale  too expensive now for his age - I hope not, I don't want him here at all, I think he's overrated.

Bernardo Silva (like Sterling, will NEVER happen, unless Shitty get a massive ban over their cheating, I will do a nakie dance down my street if Shitty get smashed so bad they break up their current club and Pep leaves) - We missed out.  He was exactly what we needed.

Ousmane Dembélé (can player either wing), this is who we really should perhaps make a move for, BUT I cannot see the board spending this type of money - Neither can I.

Federico Chiesa (can play both wings) - Haven't seen much of him, but Sarri rates him very highly, and I'm on board with what I've seen

Federico Bernardeschi - Same

Jadon Sancho (can play RW as well, but more of a LW) - Not ready yet, IMO.  Not better than Willian right now

Leon Bailey (needs to get his head on straight) - and get new representation.  His step dad looks like a nightmare.

Nicolas Pépé - ???

Wilfried Zaha - I'd like him to come, can't have too many HG players who actually contribute.

Christian Pulisic - Is he better than Willian right now?

then 5 possibles

maybe Suso, - looks good for the money.

maybe Malcom - made a massive mistake by going to Barca.  Should have gone to Roma. 

maybe Florian Thauvin - No, no no, no.

maybe Hirving Lozano - I like how direct he is.  He's like Pulisic though, is he really better than Willian right now?

maybe Iñaki Williams - He's interesting.  Surprised that he isn't linked more, or Muniain.

 

I thinks that's about it for truly top class, plug n play RW'ers, and some of those are never gonna happen

Responses above:  Really, it's Dembele if we can do a swap with Willian (plus cash, obv) or Zaha.

I'm surprised you never bring up Depay.  He's really doing well at Lyon.  Can play striker or either wing.  Certainly don't have to worry about him losing confidence.

[Vesper 30,174]

22 minutes ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

Responses above:  Really, it's Dembele if we can do a swap with Willian (plus cash, obv) or Zaha.

I'm surprised you never bring up Depay.  He's really doing well at Lyon.  Can play striker or either wing.  Certainly don't have to worry about him losing confidence.

The Manure debacle still is fresh in my mind, but sure, toss him into the possibles

Pepe is another French winger who is on fire

12 league games, 8 goals, 7 assists for Lille (ie Hazard's old club)

23yo, looks the dog's bollocks, last 54 games for club and country, 25 goals, 18 assists

Man City 'enquire about availability' of Ligue 1 star Nicolas Pepe

The forward has caught the eye in Ligue 1 with a string of impressive displays but the Blues could face competition to land his signature.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-nicolas-pepe-transfer-15375970

 

What Nicolas Pepe said about Barcelona's interest in him

https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/what-nicolas-pepe-said-about-barcelonas-interest-in-him-7128962

 

CHELSEA ENTER THE RACE TO SIGN NICOLAS PEPE

https://readchelsea.com/2018/11/05/chelsea-enter-the-race-to-sign-nicolas-pepe/

 

 

[Vesper 30,174]

15 hours ago, Sideshow Luiz said:

I'm surprised you never bring up Depay.  He's really doing well at Lyon.  Can play striker or either wing.  Certainly don't have to worry about him losing confidence.

Memphis Depay's attitude stinks but his talent is indispensable for Lyon

http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/uefa-champions-league/775/blog/post/3691343/memphis-depays-attitude-stinks-but-his-talent-is-indispensable-for-lyon

[the wes 7,212]

16 hours ago, Vesper said:

The Manure debacle still is fresh in my mind, but sure, toss him into the possibles

Pepe is another French winger who is on fire

12 league games, 8 goals, 7 assists for Lille (ie Hazard's old club)

23yo, looks the dog's bollocks, last 54 games for club and country, 25 goals, 18 assists

Man City 'enquire about availability' of Ligue 1 star Nicolas Pepe

The forward has caught the eye in Ligue 1 with a string of impressive displays but the Blues could face competition to land his signature.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/man-city-nicolas-pepe-transfer-15375970

 

What Nicolas Pepe said about Barcelona's interest in him

https://www.sport-english.com/en/news/barca/what-nicolas-pepe-said-about-barcelonas-interest-in-him-7128962

 

CHELSEA ENTER THE RACE TO SIGN NICOLAS PEPE

https://readchelsea.com/2018/11/05/chelsea-enter-the-race-to-sign-nicolas-pepe/

 

 

He reminds me of Ousmane Dembélé What you think? 

[Vesper 30,174]

18 minutes ago, the wes said:

He reminds me of Ousmane Dembélé What you think? 

Watching Demebele now, he started off bright, then went silent, now is coming on a bit. Suarez is telling him instructions the whole game. He looks lost at times, but you can see his potential. Pepe seems a wee bit more physical at times, but yes, they are really similar. I would love either. I think Pepe over Malcom atm. With Demebele its all about the price. Barca paid just silly money, 145m euros if all add-ons are met.

Malcom is on the bench tonight,  hope he gets in for a cameo. Probably not. Good tactical game.

[Vesper 30,174]

21 minutes ago, the wes said:

He reminds me of Ousmane Dembélé What you think? 

Malcom is on now.

[Vesper 30,174]

Wow. Malcom just probably won the game with first touch. Brilliant goal.

[Vesper 30,174]

Icardi tied it up. He is fucking amazing in last 5, 10 minutes of games.

[mccg 1,528]

Further reports of Fàbregas getting closer to AC Milan move in January

News from fair Italia

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2018/11/28/18115886/further-reports-of-fabregas-getting-closer-to-ac-milan-move-in-january

[manpe 10,861]

If we sell him and with Sarri saying only Fabregas can play Jorginho's role, who will be backup for Jorgi? Doubt we'd sign anybody meaningful to replace him. Think he's offski in the summer, not January.

[mccg 1,528]

Transfer news: Chelsea reach deal with Milan over Spanish star

https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/transfer-news-chelsea-reach-deal-with-milan-over-spanish-star-85685