Chelsea Transfers

[DH1988 1,350]

10 hours ago, Vesper said:

I live in Stockholm now, and my father's fam (Swedish) has always been AIK

I was born and raised in London, west London, and grew up Chels

AIK is a streets below Chels, basically zero overlap

and the seasons are different

many on here have local, non English smaller teams they follow

it isn't rocket science

 

Second this, I don’t see it odd at all to support two teams, especially with family, my dad supports Millwall and I go to more of their games than Chelsea games for the last two years, doesn’t affect my support for Chelsea and never has done since I was a kid - Half my family support Chelsea and the other half Millwall, simple.

[Stats 7,147]

1 hour ago, Reddish-Blue said:

It's just a shame that Gvardiol - Dias - Ake/Stones is miles ahead of Colwill - Badiashile - Fofana.    That Fofana transfer fee will go down in history as one of the worst PL transfers. 

It won't. This is thing. Not just you, but a lot of people, they are too short-sighted and don't give players time. Fofana was sloppy since Lamps took over but before that he showed some of his quality and looked very good. He is still only 22 and I think the more he plays he will grow into a top CB. His pace and ability on the ball is really good too.

You mentioned Ake. Last season, you probably laughed when Ake was our first choice for CB ahead of Fofana. Same as a lot of other fans. Stones was considered a laughing stock a few seasons ago too, however with game consistency and proper coaching has proved to be a top defender. Fofana, I think will be the same.

[Mário César 1,289]

city defenders are amazing because of guardiola

he makes the difference

[YorkshireBlue 3,281]

16 minutes ago, DH1988 said:

Second this, I don’t see it odd at all to support two teams, especially with family, my dad supports Millwall and I go to more of their games than Chelsea games for the last two years, doesn’t affect my support for Chelsea and never has done since I was a kid - Half my family support Chelsea and the other half Millwall, simple.

All my family and friends support Leeds, and I won't even entertain going to watch them, I am a one club man.

[YorkshireBlue 3,281]

18 minutes ago, Stats said:

It won't. This is thing. Not just you, but a lot of people, they are too short-sighted and don't give players time. Fofana was sloppy since Lamps took over but before that he showed some of his quality and looked very good. He is still only 22 and I think the more he plays he will grow into a top CB. His pace and ability on the ball is really good too.

You mentioned Ake. Last season, you probably laughed when Ake was our first choice for CB ahead of Fofana. Same as a lot of other fans. Stones was considered a laughing stock a few seasons ago too, however with game consistency and proper coaching has proved to be a top defender. Fofana, I think will be the same.

What makes me laugh is, fans are quick to call players like "rice" dog shit, even though he's been absolutely solid for a lower team in what is described as the toughest and best league in the word, but a player that's done well in a farmers league in Thier words, is suddenly amazing! Doesn't make sense to me.

[Pizy 18,961]

17 minutes ago, Mário César said:

I don't understand why Rice want Arsenal so much

A club that can't win anything from the last 20 years besides some fa cup's 

one single top4 in the last 6 or seven years 

I really can't understand why he want so much, tbh

Much as we hate Arse as a club we have to admit that they’re extremely attractive to any player after that season they’ve just had. They probably played the most exciting football of any PL club over the course of the year, they play a fast, free flowing style, they’re loaded with talented young players, and have a great manager.

Rice probably looks at them as a safe long term bet. A couple of key additions and they’re genuine title contenders again. Plus, with some of the shit clubs that were in the late stages of the Champions League this past season there’s no reason Arse shouldn’t be thinking about going deep there as well. 

[Mário César 1,289]

6 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Much as we hate Arse as a club we have to admit that they’re extremely attractive to any player after that season they’ve just had. They probably played the most exciting football of any PL club over the course of the year, they play a fast, free flowing style, they’re loaded with talented young players, and have a great manager.

Rice probably looks at them as a safe long term bet. A couple of key additions and they’re genuine title contenders again. Plus, with some of the shit clubs that were in the late stages of the Champions League this past season there’s no reason Arse shouldn’t be thinking about going deep there as well. 

This Arsenal season has been a "overarchievment". 
Under normal conditions, the squad is in no condition to repeat the same as last year, and there is always doubt whether Arteta is able to keep this up next year.

The other clubs will appear stronger, and the only one that gives guarantees is City. Everything else can wobble.

The truth is that Arsenal couldn't even win the europa league, let alone a league or a champions league. 

We're not even talking about a club that won something big recently.

The last big trophy was in 2004.

It's hard to honestly understand how Rice is so sure he will fight for titles next year.

Liverpool came close to a quadruple and the next year they were fifth. 

Edited June 16, 2023 by Mário César

[Mário César 1,289]

 

Alternatives?

[YorkshireBlue 3,281]

13 minutes ago, Mário César said:

This Arsenal season has been a "overarchievment". 
Under normal conditions, the squad is in no condition to repeat the same as last year, and there is always doubt whether Arteta is able to keep this up next year.

The other clubs will appear stronger, and the only one that gives guarantees is City. Everything else can wobble.

The truth is that Arsenal couldn't even win the europa league, let alone a league or a champions league. 

We're not even talking about a club that won something big recently.

The last big trophy was in 2004.

It's hard to honestly understand how Rice is so sure he will fight for titles next year.

Liverpool came close to a quadruple and the next year they were fifth. 

Just because a club has under achieved in the last few years doesn't mean that will always continue to happen, arsenal haven't got the resources we had or city, they have built slower and let youth grow, have no idea why you think arsenal can't have another strong season, if they get rice that will improve then hugely.

[Pizy 18,961]

5 minutes ago, Mário César said:

This Arsenal season has been a "overarchievment". 
Under normal conditions, the squad is in no condition to repeat the same as last year, and there is always doubt whether Arteta is able to keep this up next year.

The other clubs will appear stronger, and the only one that gives guarantees is City. Everything else can wobble.

The truth is that Arsenal couldn't even win the europa league, let alone a league or a champions league. 

We're not even talking about a club that won something big recently.

The last big trophy was in 2004.

It's hard to honestly understand how Rice is so sure he will fight for titles next year.

Liverpool came close to a quadruple and the next year they were fifth. 

Comes back to them having a young squad. Most of their key players (Odegaard, Saka, Martenelli, Ramsdale, Saliba, etc) are all super young and not even close to their full potential yet. Liverpool paid the price for letting a bunch of their key players get old and didn’t invest in the midfield at all after a grueling 60 game season. Not really comparable.

Of course there are no sure things, but I can’t see Arse falling away next season. All of their best players are back and with experience of challenging now. They add Rice, Havertz, and 1 or 2 others and they’ll be 2nd favorites after City easily.

[Stats 7,147]

14 minutes ago, Mário César said:

This Arsenal season has been a "overarchievment". 
Under normal conditions, the squad is in no condition to repeat the same as last year, and there is always doubt whether Arteta is able to keep this up next year.

The other clubs will appear stronger, and the only one that gives guarantees is City. Everything else can wobble.

The truth is that Arsenal couldn't even win the europa league, let alone a league or a champions league. 

We're not even talking about a club that won something big recently.

The last big trophy was in 2004.

It's hard to honestly understand how Rice is so sure he will fight for titles next year.

Liverpool came close to a quadruple and the next year they were fifth. 

Disagree with this. I can easily see why, right now, the club is a huge attraction for players. Clear direction of style of football and type of player's they are targeting. London based.  They need more depth really, which is partly what cost them last season and that is why they are looking to strengthen. Havertz, Rice, Gundogan etc..

Yes, you maybe right. Arteta, may not be able to keep it up next year but generally speaking, they are much more stable than us currently and have a young team. They don't need to sell anymore too so really and truly, I think they will be around the top three for a while yet.

[TheHulk 2,490]

Sell him 

[Mhsc 1,101]

Surely at 50m literally every team in the PL is in for him.

[Mário César 1,289]

50m pounds its not to mutch

[Antonio8 736]

is it true that City offered 40M for Kovacic?

[Mário César 1,289]

2 minutes ago, Antonio8 said:

is it true that City offered 40M for Kovacic?

Yes

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

22 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

He's a complete midfielder dominating the most difficult league in the world based on his attributes which aren't relied on a system. 

Given how Enzo turned out and Casadei+Santos developing at a rapid rate, I trust the new recruitment team on their analysis of midfielders. 

 

He really is not a complete midfielder. Quite the opposite. 

Lampard, Ballack, Gerard were  what I consider complete midfielders. The technique, the tactical ability, physicality, passing range, leadership, huge quantifiable impact on both ends of the pitch, controlling, dominating the play in midfield.
Caicedo is far from that. He doesn’t score or assist goals. His technique, esp his first touch is average, he lacks tactical anticipation. He doesn’t head the ball well, he is not ambipedal, his passing range is inconsistent. His strengths are tackling, tenacity, stamina. Nothing else is really close to being on an elite level. A rather limited player. If you spend 80m on a player with one top league season under his belt he better should have shown more in those than a few decent tackles. Granted he is still young and seems to have the right attitude but he is not good enough to help us to the level where we should be. I doubt he ever will be. More often than not midfield is where the game is won. If our recruiting strategy continues to be throwing tons of cash at flavour of the month players from hipster clubs like Brighton we will be waiting a long time for our first major post-Roman title. 

[Mário César 1,289]

if United don't offer more than that, I think we need to accept

we can not lose for free and next year he will not be motivated to play with us

we need cash

Almost 60M euros its not the best deal but its not the worst

could be a little better but I think we must accept the offer

[Pizy 18,961]

15 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

He really is not a complete midfielder. Quite the opposite. 

Lampard, Ballack, Gerard were  what I consider complete midfielders. The technique, the tactical ability, physicality, passing range, leadership, huge quantifiable impact on both ends of the pitch, controlling, dominating the play in midfield.
Caicedo is far from that. He doesn’t score or assist goals. His technique, esp his first touch is average, he lacks tactical anticipation. He doesn’t head the ball well, he is not ambipedal, his passing range is inconsistent. His strengths are tackling, tenacity, stamina. Nothing else is really close to being on an elite level. A rather limited player. If you spend 80m on a player with one top league season under his belt he better should have shown more in those than a few decent tackles. Granted he is still young and seems to have the right attitude but he is not good enough to help us to the level where we should be. I doubt he ever will be. More often than not midfield is where the game is won. If our recruiting strategy continues to be throwing tons of cash at flavour of the month players from hipster clubs like Brighton we will be waiting a long time for our first major post-Roman title. 

Tbf, the way you just described Caicedo you can copy and paste to describe Kante. He didn’t score or assist often, isn’t technically excellent, doesn’t have any sort of creative passing, not really two footed, and his best attributes are his tackling, tenacity, and stamina.

That’s exactly what we need if we’re replacing Kante. Someone who is as close to him stylistically as possible which Caicedo is. 

We DO however need to have a natural, disciplined midfield sitter, though. Caicedo isn’t a pure DM.

[NikkiCFC 8,344]

15 minutes ago, Mário César said:

if United don't offer more than that, I think we need to accept

we can not lose for free and next year he will not be motivated to play with us

we need cash

Almost 60M euros its not the best deal but its not the worst

could be a little better but I think we must accept the offer

Agreed. If we want 70m with one year left on contract how much would we want if he has 3 or 4? 130m? United should just ask that question our representatives and there would be silence. We don't have a case here. Accept 50m and run.