Chelsea Transfers

[Thor 2,392]

Hall to Brighton looks about done. Swap deal. 

[Vesper 28,675]

 

Times Football

Team of the tournament so far

 

 

Goalkeeper: Giorgi Mamardashvili, Georgia Georgia’s qualification for the knockout stage has been one of the tournament’s most joyful surprises, and their keeper Mamardashvili is a genuine contender for Player of the Tournament so far. Per Opta, his shot-stopping has prevented 3.6 goals, an extraordinary performance in just three games, and his 21 saves equal the most ever by any goalkeeper in a Euros group stage. Honourable mention: Mike Maignan (France), Unai Simon (Spain). Right-back: Zan Karnicnik, Slovenia For Slovenia to have conceded only two goals (one of them in the 95th minute) from three games, against attackers of the calibre of Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Højlund, Dusan Vlahovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, is a colossal achievement for their defence. Each of their back four has been excellent, but for me the star has been Karnicnik, a 29-year-old who has only played one season outside Slovenia in his career, because he has contributed as much in attack as in defence. He started and finished the move for Slovenia’s goal against Serbia, which ultimately proved vital in taking them into the knockouts. Honourable mention: Dani Carvajal (Spain), Stefan Posch (Austria). Right centre-back: Pepe (Portugal) At the age of 41, playing in his fifth European Championship, Pepe has been majestic. Clearly, he doesn’t have the pace or athleticism that he could once draw on, but through exceptional reading of the game and timing of his interventions, he not only survives at this level, he thrives. Honourable mention: Radu Dragusin (Romania), Robin le Normand (Spain).

Left centre-back: Riccardo Calafiori, Italy, above One of the true breakout stars of the tournament, following on from a brilliant season with Bologna. His ability to carry the ball forward out of defence and break lines has been key to Italy’s best moments, and I’m not sure any single action by any player has impressed me as much as Calafiori’s 97th-minute run from the edge of his own box, sucking in Croatian defenders, delaying the release of the pass to Mattia Zaccagni until the last possible instant – absolutely perfect football at a moment of immense jeopardy, when nothing less than perfection was required. Honourable mention: Marc Guéhi (England), Jaka Bijol (Slovenia). Left-back: Ferdi Kadioglu, Turkey No player in the tournament has created more than Kadioglu’s 10 chances from open play. Not only has he been a constant marauding threat for Turkey, he ranks eighth among all players for tackles plus interceptions with 14. An absolute force on both sides of the ball. Honourable mention: Marc Cucurella (Spain). Defensive midfield: Nicolas Seiwald, Austria Composed, tireless, technically excellent in small spaces and as adhesive as a barnacle in man-to-man defence. Seiwald was exceptional against France in a game in a game which required shuttling and scuttling, and then outstanding in a completely different match against Holland, where he was a huge part of how Austria physically dominated the Dutch midfield and ripped them apart in transition. His 17 tackles plus interceptions rank second among all players and first among midfielders. Honourable mention: Stanislav Lobotka (Slovakia), N’golo Kanté (France). Central midfield: Toni Kroos, Germany It’s a measure of how much better Kroos is at what he does than everyone else that he played 57 progressive passes in the group stage: more than Slovenia or Scotland managed, and 30 more than the next best player. It’s not just his ability to move the ball forward, it’s the way he uses his passing to manipulate defences and orchestrate attacks, shaping the flow of the game and giving rhythm and reason to Germany’s play. In his final tournament before retirement, he is still operating at the peak of his powers. Honourable mention: Fabian Ruiz (Spain), Giorgi Kochorashvili (Georgia), below.

Central midfield: Granit Xhaka, Switzerland Completing our midfield trio, Xhaka was one of the very best players of the club football season and has shown no drop in his rarefied level. He was absolutely brilliant against Germany in a game in which he shut down Ilkay Gündogan and probably outshone Kroos. His work rate is phenomenal (only two players covered more distance in the group stage) and the cleverness of his pressing and positioning is of the highest class. In my opinion, one of the most underrated footballers of the last decade, especially on the international stage. Honourable mention: Marcel Sabitzer (Austria), Vitinha (Portugal). Right wing: Jamal Musiala, Germany OK, we’re cheating a bit here, seeing as Musiala has played mainly as the left of Germany’s two number 10s, but he has been excellent, and probably the most influential of their front three. Two brilliant finishes, against Scotland and Hungary, smoothed Germany’s path to the knockouts, and though he had a more difficult game against Switzerland, as ever the smoothness of his movement with the ball, his balletic grace and balance, the way he glides into space and in so doing opens space for others, make him a joy to watch. Honourable mention: Christoph Baumgartner (Austria), Lamine Yamal (Spain). Centre-forward: Georges Mikautadze, Georgia The current top scorer in the tournament, with an assist to go with it. His goal against Turkey was brilliantly taken, adjusting to a cross which reached him quickly by glancing the ball past the keeper with minimal backlift. His dribbling and trickery has been highly skilled, but more than that, I think his character, the absolute confidence to impose his personality on the tournament, has been striking, and a contrast with more highly rated players like Vlahovic and Ukraine’s La Liga topscorer Artem Dovbyk. Honourable mention: Niclas Füllkrug (Germany), Left wing: Nico Williams, Spain I’m yet to see Williams in the flesh, but he was absolutely electric against Italy. His willingness to run and try to beat his full-back on both sides has been a refreshing antidote to the kind of unadventurous, ambulatory wing play that we often see in the Premier League. Honourable mention: Cody Gakpo (Holland), Jérémy Doku (Belgium).

[Vesper 28,675]

5 hours ago, Pizy said:

“unleashed” and allowed to run around like a madman

but I love that!!!!!!

😔

[OneMoSalah 8,766]

27 minutes ago, Thor said:

Hall to Brighton looks about done. Swap deal. 

Who we getting in return? Milner? 🤣

[Pizy 18,360]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

but I love that!!!!!!

😔

It’s fine to watch in when you’re miles off the pace and have nothing much to play for. But Conor wouldn’t get a look in a Guardiola team or an Arteta team. You need highly technical players in these midfield positions who are great in tight areas and who can make super quick decisions with the ball. Things Gallagher isn’t great at. 

Passion, energy, and intensity are all great attributes and if he were a CB I’d keep him at all costs. But in midfield we need top class technical players if we want to take the next step as a team.

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, Pizy said:

I fucking swear to god I was just thinking yesterday that it was strange we hadn’t been linked with Dewsbury Hall yet with the Maresca connection. Now lo and behold….! 🤣🤣🤣

I really like him. He’s super tidy on the ball and very decisive. Trouble is, where tf would he slot into our team?! 

top 4 valuation English CMFs (not sure where to list Jude Bellingham, T-Markt lists him as an AMF)

   
Conor Gallagher   
Kobbie Mainoo     
Curtis Jones          
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 

[Thor 2,392]

Some Ipswich players were on Omari’s Instagram saying don’t be late for training on Monday…

 

Must be close to done? 

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, TheHulk said:

 

they want a right footed winger and also a left back.

someone is listening to me and my footedness rants, lololol

[Clockwork 1,794]

5 hours ago, Pizy said:

In terms of player profile, Dewsbury-Hall makes perfect sense if CG leaves. Super tidy in the ball, was THE key player for Maresca already, not a teenager who will need to bed in.

But Archie Gray is a puzzling link. Looks like a pure DM who sits in front of the defense. Don’t see a need for him at at all when we’ve got Lavia as a super young DM.

I don't see a pure DM with Archie Gray, see an 8. Reminds me of Kovacic

As for Hall? He is soon to be 26 and looked the part when Leicester was relegated to the Championship.

From a glance Archie Gray seems like top talent. 

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, TheHulk said:

There is no buyback, watch him play for City or Liverpool in a few years.

FUCK

only £22m with no buyback is an assfuck

no chocolates or even a kiss

if we were the buyer they would be demanding £50m

Edited June 28 by Vesper

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, Pizy said:

In terms of player profile, Dewsbury-Hall makes perfect sense if CG leaves. Super tidy in the ball, was THE key player for Maresca already, not a teenager who will need to bed in.

But Archie Gray is a puzzling link. Looks like a pure DM who sits in front of the defense. Don’t see a need for him at at all when we’ve got Lavia as a super young DM.

Gray is a CMF

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, NikkiCFC said:

Well, he certainly won't play for Chelsea with Palmer, Paez and Estevao around. 

he played (and scored and assisted multiple times) at LEFT wing more than few times last season and before

he should get a shot there

he has a decent right foot

[Vesper 28,675]

5 hours ago, TheHulk said:

 

the ghost of

[Thor 2,392]

Hutchinson is gone. 
 

Sell on clause is what is needed. Buy backs rarely get exercised anyway. 

[Vesper 28,675]

6 hours ago, Mhsc said:

only Olise, Alvarez and Sesko

Olise and Sesko have both told us multiple times they do not want to come here

Alvarez doesnt want to leave Citeh and Citeh do not want to sell him

Håland will leave either summer 2025 (Pep leaves then) or 2026, and Alvarez is banking on being their starting CF if and when that happens

[OhForAGreavsie 5,890]

3 hours ago, Vesper said:

FUCK

only £22m with no buyback is an assfuck

no chocolates or even a kiss

if we were the buyer they would be demanding £50m

Since it takes two to dance the buyback tango it's a reasonable guess that Hutchinson is emotionally done with Chelsea. If he has no interest in coming back here he ain't signing a buyback. Let's hope for a significant sell on eventually.

[Blue Armour 4,275]

11 hours ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

 

I was hoping for an experienced CM to join the ranks. Even if it's just Kiernan, so be it.

[Vesper 28,675]

7 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Same was said of Havertz and then also Nkunku

no one here of import said that Kai or Nkunku was a true CF

why?

because they are not CFs