The Conte Thread

[Superblue 6,372]

47 minutes ago, Jason said:

Maybe not money wise but certainly when buying/selling players.

I would argue all the players that we've brought in the last 2 transfer windows would have joined if we were in the Champions League or not.

I think the more pressing worry would be retaining our better players if we miss out, what with Madrid sniffing around Courtois and Hazard and PSG reportedly want Kante.

[It's too big 625]

2 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I would argue all the players that we've brought in the last 2 transfer windows would have joined if we were in the Champions League or not.

I think the more pressing worry would be retaining our better players if we miss out, what with Madrid sniffing around Courtois and Hazard and PSG reportedly want Kante.

It's time for Roman and the board to put their foot down and say "NO" to players who may want to leave. We can easily do a Leicester or Liverpool and refuse their best player to leave. At the end of the day Hazard has two years on his contract and Courtois has another year left. We don't have to give in to a player's demands. Roman is loyal to certain players, yes, but considering the club put their faith in Courtois over Cech, the least we can expect is Courtois to show some loyalty in return. 

[Superblue 6,372]

Just now, It's too big said:

It's time for Roman and the board to put their foot down and say "NO" to players who may want to leave. We can easily do a Leicester or Liverpool and refuse their best player to leave. At the end of the day Hazard has two years on his contract and Courtois has another year left. We don't have to give in to a player's demands. Roman is loyal to certain players, yes, but considering the club put their faith in Courtois over Cech, the least we can expect is Courtois to show some loyalty in return. 

That's all fine and well, but the club is not going to let Courtois leave for free in a year's time, when they can still likely command £50 - 60m for him this summer and/or a player in return to soften the blow.

Hazard is not quite as pressing with 2 year's left but again, you are talking a player that is probably in the current market in or around the £150m bracket but beyond this summer that value will drop significantly.

If the players both had 3 - 4 year contracts I would agree, but as much as I would prefer them both to stay, I feel we would have to seriously consider selling them in the summer if they don't agree new contracts.

[It's too big 625]

10 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

That's all fine and well, but the club is not going to let Courtois leave for free in a year's time, when they can still likely command £50 - 60m for him this summer and/or a player in return to soften the blow.

Hazard is not quite as pressing with 2 year's left but again, you are talking a player that is probably in the current market in or around the £150m bracket but beyond this summer that value will drop significantly.

If the players both had 3 - 4 year contracts I would agree, but as much as I would prefer them both to stay, I feel we would have to seriously consider selling them in the summer if they don't agree new contracts.

Hazard is worth more to us than £150m imo. In 2 years time he will be 29; by that time we will have had the best of him. Courtois, I dunno what could be done there. Whatever happens, I don't see RM shelling out the money for both of them. I think they will more likely bring in Lewandowski instead of Hazard and maybe buy Courtois or DDG. Who we buy depends, maybe Donnarumma or Oblak, god knows. 

[Jase 43,479]

4 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I would argue all the players that we've brought in the last 2 transfer windows would have joined if we were in the Champions League or not.

I think the more pressing worry would be retaining our better players if we miss out, what with Madrid sniffing around Courtois and Hazard and PSG reportedly want Kante.

That's true but that's probably because we have bought mostly duds, except maybe 1-2 players. Gonna find it tougher to try signing top quality players if we're not in the Champions League and even more so when we have become so stingy with money.

[Superblue 6,372]

4 hours ago, Jason said:

That's true but that's probably because we have bought mostly duds, except maybe 1-2 players. Gonna find it tougher to try signing top quality players if we're not in the Champions League and even more so when we have become so stingy with money.

I agree but if the standard and profile of player we've brought in the last 2 windows is an indicator (more attainable, lower wages, next level down in quality), then it won't have an effect on our transfer strategy.

I'm with you, I'd rather see us bring in 2 or 3 top drawer players in the summer to add to what we already have here and immediately improve the starting XI. In this scenario it would prove hard (although not impossible as we got Kante when not in the champions league).

[bigbluewillie 1,862]

5 hours ago, Jason said:

That's true but that's probably because we have bought mostly duds, except maybe 1-2 players. Gonna find it tougher to try signing top quality players if we're not in the Champions League and even more so when we have become so stingy with money.

What I would like to know is what actually are the board hoping for with this strategy, of bring dross in on the cheap.

I mean do they truly believe we can compete in the EPL against the other 6 top teams with the shit we have, or the UCL against well! you know who, the LC we couldn't even beat the Arse over 2 legs in actual fact we cant even beat Arse.

Oh and the FA cup we're still in that lol.

So what do they do? go and tell The Don this is the shit you're getting go and work wonders.

So if someone can tell me the board's thinking i'd appreciate it, but for me the main reason we are shit is down to Abramovich and his team of yes men and woman, and the meaness to bring top quality players.

[Jase 43,479]

5 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I agree but if the standard and profile of player we've brought in the last 2 windows is an indicator (more attainable, lower wages, next level down in quality), then it won't have an effect on our transfer strategy.

I'm with you, I'd rather see us bring in 2 or 3 top drawer players in the summer to add to what we already have here and immediately improve the starting XI. In this scenario it would prove hard (although not impossible as we got Kante when not in the champions league).

It's not often you can find someone like Kante playing for a lesser side and available on the cheap. The club these days would rather splash out 40-50m on piss poor players than on good ones.

[Azpinator 2,325]

24 minutes ago, Jason said:

It's not often you can find someone like Kante.

Fixed that for you.

There are very few Kante's in this world. I honestly believe there has been a decline in players' quality in general these days. That's why almost every player could cost over 50m. Dark times if you ask me.

[Tomo 21,733]

I see a new era of posts claiming were shit in terminal decline while all our rivals are amazing and do everything right is well and truly under way. 

[LAM09 6,792]

That's true but that's probably because we have bought mostly duds, except maybe 1-2 players. Gonna find it tougher to try signing top quality players if we're not in the Champions League and even more so when we have become so stingy with money.

It didn't make a difference in the summer. Things won't change in terms of signings until a manager is given more power or the board is reformed.

[whats happening 1,534]

for me its unbeliveable that only one year ago we were clear pl winners and now we are on the verge to finish outside of top4 and losing two of our best players. 

[Fernando 6,488]

12 minutes ago, whats happening said:

for me its unbeliveable that only one year ago we were clear pl winners and now we are on the verge to finish outside of top4 and losing two of our best players. 

Because the club didn't' took it serious. And rested on their laurels. 

As always. 

[Jase 43,479]

3 hours ago, LAM09 said:

17 hours ago, Jason said:

That's true but that's probably because we have bought mostly duds, except maybe 1-2 players. Gonna find it tougher to try signing top quality players if we're not in the Champions League and even more so when we have become so stingy with money.

It didn't make a difference in the summer. Things won't change in terms of signings until a manager is given more power or the board is reformed.

Lately, I've been thinking "if only things in England are like in Germany or Italy, whereby the director of football or someone from the board always is always available to speak to the media"!

[LAM09 6,792]

Lately, I've been thinking "if only things in England are like in Germany or Italy, whereby the director of football or someone from the board always is always available to speak to the media"!

It would certainly be interesting to see Marina talk about our acquisitions.

[Fernando 6,488]

Regardless of the season I would still give him next season. 

It will speak volume of the difference of the club. 

That they do want to give time to a manager and what not. 

I would definitely like to see it but I don't know if that happens. 

[LAM09 6,792]

Regardless of the season I would still give him next season. 
It will speak volume of the difference of the club. 
That they do want to give time to a manager and what not. 
I would definitely like to see it but I don't know if that happens. 

His attitude is going to get him the sack ahead of results at this rate

[OneMoSalah 8,788]

To be honest, if we finish inside the top 4 (its still possible), tie Hazard and Courtois down on new deals in the summer and make some good purchases will we still be in crisis?

I think its inevitable regardless of who's in charge, we will sign at least 4 or 5 players in the summer, purely because I doubt that whatever manager and the club is so blind to see that we desperately need to rejuvenate parts of the squad, particularly wing backs/full backs and attack, after the whole I need new players talk from Conte and also the fact we've signed some second rate footballers recently. I think if we get Hazard and Courtois on new deals for the summer it will set a good precedent and the club will hopefully try to build on that because they along with Kante and Azpi are crucial to our team. I don't think we are that much off many of the other teams, certainly the likes of United, Liverpool and Spurs. City maybe we are a bit off but who isn't? Lets say a new right wing back, another winger, a better CM to play with Kante... think the likes of Morata (first half of season was good, second half so far not so good), Barkley, Emerson and (despite my reluctance to say this as he has been a disaster for us so far) Bakayoko will all be better next season (well surely he can't be any worse?). 

Also if we change manager, like we seen with Conte last year, it could also rejuvenate players who have under performed (although I don't think we should be looking to change manager as the first resort, its hardly like Conte has said the players betrayed him or anything like Jose did) but who knows? Any manager who comes in has got a much better platform than we all think at this moment in time if last season is anything to go on (considering how shockingly poor Hazard, Costa, Azpi, Courtois and the rest of the squad was in comparison to their usual standards), even more so if Hazard and Courtois stay and sign new deals. If they don't, its a bit more difficult but they will still have guys like Azpi, Christensen (will be a key player for sure in our future) and Kante to build around and a bit more money to spend.