Chelsea Transfers

[Vytis33 1,270]

 

[Reddish-Blue 2,505]

26 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

We haven't had leaders or even positively vocal players in the squad since the old guard left. The sad thing is, our transfer direction is unlikely to solve that, which will continue to hurt us when the going gets tough (seemingly around Christmas time).

If we don't have leaders, then we should go into the transfer market and get leaders from other clubs. 

City got Dias, Rodri, Stones, De Bruyne, Gundogan as leaders to fill the Kompany void and they continue to dominate

I don't think we've signed a leader in our team since Cahill/Thiago Silva joined...which is concerning.  No wonder why we're at least 20-25 points away from the likes of City...

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

1 hour ago, OneMoSalah said:

Stupidity by the club not fighting to keep him if I am honest. Can’t buy experience. Can’t buy anybody better than this fella either when he’s fit and firing too (think Poch could have maybe used him similarly to Jose with Maka in his last season here and if we had a competent medical team that could also of helped get him fitter)- seems a waste letting him go so easily.

Losing Rudiger, Jorginho, Kante, probably Azpilicueta, Kovacic as well in this window all in the space of 2 years - big players who have brought a lot in different ways be it through leadership, experience or personality.

Poch really has got a lot to do here to because the majority of this bunch have shown they are utterly feckless when it comes down to all three of those. I sincerely hope there are a few players with big personalities coming into this dressing room and soon. Can’t expect all of these young fellas to bring it all either, so whatever the strategies going to be recruiting wise, it better include some proven players with leadership and more importantly, personality.

Kante is by far my favorite player because of the man he is both on the pitch and away from it. The last two years have shown he is washed at this level. We can’t pay a player €290 a week because he is a good teammate. 

[LAM09 7,054]

9 minutes ago, Reddish-Blue said:

If we don't have leaders, then we should go into the transfer market and get leaders from other clubs. 

City got Dias, Rodri, Stones, De Bruyne, Gundogan as leaders to fill the Kompany void and they continue to dominate

I don't think we've signed a leader in our team since Cahill/Thiago Silva joined...which is concerning.  No wonder why we're at least 20-25 points away from the likes of City...

We're constantly linked with players under 25, and that seems to be the direction I mentioned previously. It might have a big upside down the line, but we'll pay the price in the meantime.

City's leader is Pep, tbh. There's a reason they have a "leadership group" rather than an undisputed captain, which is certainly odd to me.

[Superblue 6,372]

Absolutely love Kante, what a phenomenal servant he's been to this club.

His performances in our Champions League win are comparable to that of Drogba in 2012. He just dominated and the rest of the team followed behind him.

But you can't get away from his injury proneness now, and at 32 and on about £300k per week, sometimes that difficult decision has to be made.

It's another experienced player that will be leaving but Kante has such a shy and reserved personality, I think his influence and experience is almost solely displayed out on the pitch rather than around the club and if he can't stay fit to be on the pitch, there's little purpose. I don't think it's the same as maybe an Azpi or Thiago Silva who I think would likely be much more influential not just on the pitch but around the training ground and the club in general.

As I understand, the club offered him a couple of years with a contract that was heavily incentivised on him playing but if he did stay fit he'd be earning a significant amount. I think that was the right approach by the club to someone that has barely been able to stay fit over the past 4 years. 

With what he's been offered it's an absolute no brainer for him and good luck to him if he accepts it.

[Vesper 30,178]

9 hours ago, ulsterchelsea said:

who?

 

very good, young (just turned 21 11 days ago) Spanish CMF/AMF

15 total goals produced (11 goals, 4 assists) in only 2/3rds of a season's minutes on a shit team that he carried when he played

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2023 by Vesper

[Superblue 6,372]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

very good, young (just turned 21 11 days ago) Spanish CMF/AMF

15 total goals produced (11 goals, 4 assists) in only 2/3rds of a season's minutes on a shit team that he carried when he played

 

 

 

I would assume then he'd be on the list of targets should Mount and Havertz both leave, as it would leave a requirement for an alternative to Nkunku in that attacking midfield role?

[Vesper 30,178]

4 minutes ago, Superblue said:

I would assume then he'd be on the list of targets should Mount and Havertz both leave, as it would leave a requirement for an alternative to Nkunku in that attacking midfield role?

he is very versatile, can play anywhere in MF

good size too, 1.85m and pretty strong

he was La Liga POTM in February

Edited June 6, 2023 by Vesper

[Superblue 6,372]

3 minutes ago, Vesper said:

he is very versatile, can play anywhere in MF

good size too, 1.85m and pretty strong

Assuming though Poch was to play a 4-2-3-1 like he did at Spurs (in my head I keep assuming this will be the plan because unless we stick with a back 5, this seems the most obvious back 4 formation due to Nkunku joining, Enzo as one for the pivot and a number of wide options) - would he be able to play deeper in a midfield 2 or would it just be that advanced role?

[Vesper 30,178]

1 minute ago, Superblue said:

Assuming though Poch was to play a 4-2-3-1 like he did at Spurs (in my head I keep assuming this will be the plan because unless we stick with a back 5, this seems the most obvious back 4 formation due to Nkunku joining, Enzo as one for the pivot and a number of wide options) - would he be able to play deeper in a midfield 2 or would it just be that advanced role?

he can deffo play deeper, like a de Jong type

[Mhsc 1,097]

He could play deeper but not convinced he would be a good partner for Enzo in a 2. Better in a 3 probably. Has he been on your lists Vesper?

For myself I want to see a DM that can slot into the back line. Unless Poch has plans to convert a defender (who?) feels like we need one for his system. Don’t feel like this guy is that player but we need numbers in midfield if we are letting virtually everyone except for Enzo go 

[lucio 5,418]

4 minutes ago, Mhsc said:

He could play deeper but not convinced he would be a good partner for Enzo in a 2. Better in a 3 probably. Has he been on your lists Vesper?

For myself I want to see a DM that can slot into the back line. Unless Poch has plans to convert a defender (who?) feels like we need one for his system. Don’t feel like this guy is that player but we need numbers in midfield if we are letting virtually everyone except for Enzo go 

If the new RB is really good then James could do it but he is only fit half the time 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

Barca and Liverpool are both pursuing Gabri. 

[Superblue 6,372]

1 minute ago, Mhsc said:

He could play deeper but not convinced he would be a good partner for Enzo in a 2. Better in a 3 probably. Has he been on your lists Vesper?

For myself I want to see a DM that can slot into the back line. Unless Poch has plans to convert a defender (who?) feels like we need one for his system. Don’t feel like this guy is that player but we need numbers in midfield if we are letting virtually everyone except for Enzo go 

Ironically, if Reece was able to stay fit and Gusto becomes the player he is expected to be, I'd love to see what Reece could do with a run in midfield. I know it was almost like a kid 3 or 4 years older in the playground when he was playing in the Championship in general, but he looked exceptional when playing there at Wigan.

I would tend to agree though, I'd rather see a defensive minded midfielder who will make us more solid. The key's ultimately are freeing up Enzo a little, and providing sufficient support for the full backs to play high, almost like they are still wing backs. In order for that to happen, we need someone who is disciplined and holds great defensive and positional awareness.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,818]

One of the profiles followed by Milan's new sporting management is that of Christian Pulisic. 

The American is very much liked. His contract expires in June 2024.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

2 hours ago, YorkshireBlue said:

You can't fight 100m a year in wages, it's impossible.

True but I don’t think Kante is going there for the money, he’s going because they’re giving him a 2 year deal and because we are stupid enough to let him go.

If we offered him a 2 year deal on any terms he’d probably stay as its been continually confirmed that his preferred option has always been to stay here.

The fact we are just letting him go is mental - people keep mentioning injuries but the club basically sacked the whole medical team who have been here for longer than the past 2 years, indicating that perhaps their belief is that they’re more to blame than Kante, James, Chilwell, etc whoever else has suffered big lay offs. 

The fact hes getting £100m a year or whatever is irrelevant, its not like hes demanding that, I mean this is Ngolo Kante we are talking about - one of the most modest footballers in the modern game. Hes not went to that Saudi club and asked for that, they’re offering him it

Also people saying he doesn’t have an affect on this squad/in the dressing room have no idea. The guy leads by example when he plays, covers every blade of grass, clearly trains well and gets on with his job, doesn’t have an enormous ego etc. Just look at all the quotes about Kante from Rudiger, Vardy and all his past team mates about his personality, how humble he is etc. He’s a good egg and I think he will be an enormous miss on and off the pitch.

[Superblue 6,372]

5 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

True but I don’t think Kante is going there for the money, he’s going because they’re giving him a 2 year deal and because we are stupid enough to let him go.

If we offered him a 2 year deal on any terms he’d probably stay as its been continually confirmed that his preferred option has always been to stay here.

The fact we are just letting him go is mental - people keep mentioning injuries but the club basically sacked the whole medical team who have been here for longer than the past 2 years, indicating that perhaps their belief is that they’re more to blame than Kante, James, Chilwell, etc whoever else has suffered big lay offs. 

The fact hes getting £100m a year or whatever is irrelevant, its not like hes demanding that, I mean this is Ngolo Kante we are talking about - one of the most modest footballers in the modern game. Hes not went to that Saudi club and asked for that, they’re offering him it

Also people saying he doesn’t have an affect on this squad/in the dressing room have no idea. The guy leads by example when he plays, covers every blade of grass, clearly trains well and gets on with his job, doesn’t have an enormous ego etc. Just look at all the quotes about Kante from Rudiger, Vardy and all his past team mates about his personality, how humble he is etc. He’s a good egg and I think he will be an enormous miss on and off the pitch.

It's been reported by numerous people that there's been a contract on the table for him for months now and it's not been taken away, so I wouldn't fall for the idea of offering him a deal on any terms, he'd sign it. I mentioned earlier, as per reports, we've tried offering him a contract that is much more heavily incentivised for playing games which to be honest is exactly what I would do in the shoes of the Chelsea board. Certainly over the last 2 seasons, he hasn't justified anywhere near being paid £300k a week and despite being out for months and having surgery to 'fix' a regular problem, he still got injured again before the season was out. 

I agree with you regarding the last paragraph - when he's on the pitch he absolutely leads by example and there is no question that he is a good egg with no ego. But I don't envisage him being someone who will actively take on a leadership role off the pitch. He assumes one on the pitch, but given his personality, I can't see him being much of a talker. With the likes of Thiago Silva and Azpi as examples, I could see them even if they were injured, trying to offer their leadership to the group still. Kante doesn't give me that vibe because he's such a shy and reserved personality, I think his overall influence is a leader by example on the pitch and when he's injured most of the time, there's just no positives then to offer.

[Simon1991 233]

16 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

True but I don’t think Kante is going there for the money, he’s going because they’re giving him a 2 year deal and because we are stupid enough to let him go.

If we offered him a 2 year deal on any terms he’d probably stay as its been continually confirmed that his preferred option has always been to stay here.

The fact we are just letting him go is mental - people keep mentioning injuries but the club basically sacked the whole medical team who have been here for longer than the past 2 years, indicating that perhaps their belief is that they’re more to blame than Kante, James, Chilwell, etc whoever else has suffered big lay offs. 

The fact hes getting £100m a year or whatever is irrelevant, its not like hes demanding that, I mean this is Ngolo Kante we are talking about - one of the most modest footballers in the modern game. Hes not went to that Saudi club and asked for that, they’re offering him it

 

Until he freaking received a 100M/a year proposal. And no it's not, it's extremely relevant. Let's not fool ourselves here, that kind of money will get you 99.9% of footballers his age in a similar situation.

[Simon1991 233]

20 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

 

The fact hes getting £100m a year or whatever is irrelevant, its not like hes demanding that, I mean this is Ngolo Kante we are talking about - one of the most modest footballers in the modern game. Hes not went to that Saudi club and asked for that, they’re offering him it

 

There is also a fine line between being modest, and cheap. We don't know N'golo's relationship with money. We know he drives a Mini cooper, and that's about it. 

 

[Vesper 30,178]

1 minute ago, Mhsc said:

Has he been on your lists Vesper?

tbh, he was not a main target, but he really has come on a lot this season

La Liga ia a weak spot for me, in terms of younger Spanish players, I fully admit that

most of the truly good Spanish players there get sucked up by the big 3

plus I just do not like to watch many of the teams there, and the fans are far too often crazy racist cunts, just as bad as Italian thugs (Ironically, I have almost never had hardcore racism issues when we travel to Italy (the old men want to play grabass too much though, and in bars, but they do that to any race of girls, ffs), it has been far worse in parts of Spain, and also from Brit white trash on holiday down there, who can just be rotten to the core)

I go deep digging in South America more for young players than I do in Spain