Chelsea Transfers

[Jase 43,479]

9 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Could it be worth taking advantage of the Napoli shambles and trying to nab Koulibaly?

Initially I thought doing that was a bit to short term for the process we're undertaking but after yesterday I'm wondering if we should. We can still get minimum two and a half years out of him which is a long time in football.

Speaking of Napoli, it's a shame that Mertens is already over 30 years old. Was just thinking the other day that he would be good signing...until I double checked his age. 

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

4 hours ago, 1905didierblue said:

I dont we can call AKE a panic buy. He is a brilliant player who if we can offload Andreas and get him, it would be a perfect replacement. Him and Rudi would form a good partnership

Brilliant? Honestly? Based off what? Hes decent but hasnt really had such an effect at Bournemouth that theyve tightened their back line up, their defensive record despite spending big money for a club their size of CBs and LBs is very poor. Ake is solid enough but he is not an improvement on anyone we have, thats the harsh reality. For 40m we are better keeping who we have in my eyes. He wouldnt get a game at United, City , Liverpool or Spurs.

[Superblue 6,372]

We definitely need a couple of additions, but I would keep Azpi and not try to sell him.

He wouldn't command a sizeable transfer fee anymore and his versatility is great to have because it stops us needing to buy squad players. It's easy to forget after yesterday's game that he kept Sterling largely anonymous a couple of weeks ago and then switched sides effortlessly in game and kept a rampaging Mahrez at bay so there are still circumstances where having a more defensive minded full back can come in handy.

In a time when we are seemingly getting younger too and likely a couple more of the experienced players like Alonso, Pedro and Giroud are being shown the door, it's important to still have some of these players at the club, even if they might not be playing every week. Think Terry in Conte's first season and Cahill last year. It's not just on the pitch but you need a calm experienced head at times in the dressing room, and someone who very likely would help set the tone in training of working hard. He's also one of the few last links we have of those with experience winning the big trophies and "getting over the line". You don't want to completely lose that before we can get back challenging again because it's difficult and can take years to get back - just ask United, Arsenal, etc.

[Vesper 30,181]

1 minute ago, OneMoSalah said:

Brilliant? Honestly? Based off what? Hes decent but hasnt really had such an effect at Bournemouth that theyve tightened their back line up, their defensive record despite spending big money for a club their size of CBs and LBs is very poor. Ake is solid enough but he is not an improvement on anyone we have, thats the harsh reality. For 40m we are better keeping who we have in my eyes. He wouldnt get a game at United, City , Liverpool or Spurs.

he would be an upgrade over AC and Zouma (who both need to to GO in the summer or even this January (one of them) IF we can bring in Romagnoli)

no problem with him (Ake) coming in, but we still need to buy a truly world class CB, simply swapping him for either Zouma or AC is asking for a further nightmare (albeit maybe a wee bit less of one), even with a healthy Rudiger

[Blue Armour 4,439]

New left back, and new backup striker.

Backup CB as well, depending on Rudigers form

Even if Rudiger comes good this season, I would still like a WC CB, but that's not something we would get in a January window I think

[Superblue 6,372]

23 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Could it be worth taking advantage of the Napoli shambles and trying to nab Koulibaly?

Initially I thought doing that was a bit to short term for the process we're undertaking but after yesterday I'm wondering if we should. We can still get minimum two and a half years out of him which is a long time in football.

Really depends on the price, anything near what they've wanted in the past I don't think is worth it. Realistically it would need to be January or never because he'll be 29 in the summer and would be a risk if it took him time to adapt to the league.

I don't really watch much Italian football, but from what I've seen he doesn't look the player he was 2-3 years ago which would worry me a little. 

[Jase 43,479]

8 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

We definitely need a couple of additions, but I would keep Azpi and not try to sell him.

He wouldn't command a sizeable transfer fee anymore and his versatility is great to have because it stops us needing to buy squad players. It's easy to forget after yesterday's game that he kept Sterling largely anonymous a couple of weeks ago and then switched sides effortlessly in game and kept a rampaging Mahrez at bay so there are still circumstances where having a more defensive minded full back can come in handy.

In a time when we are seemingly getting younger too and likely a couple more of the experienced players like Alonso, Pedro and Giroud are being shown the door, it's important to still have some of these players at the club, even if they might not be playing every week. Think Terry in Conte's first season and Cahill last year. It's not just on the pitch but you need a calm experienced head at times in the dressing room, and someone who very likely would help set the tone in training of working hard. He's also one of the few last links we have of those with experience winning the big trophies and "getting over the line". You don't want to completely lose that before we can get back challenging again because it's difficult and can take years to get back - just ask United, Arsenal, etc.

You shouldn't be saying that. It doesn't fit the narrative!

[Vesper 30,181]

24 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Brilliant? Honestly? Based off what? Hes decent but hasnt really had such an effect at Bournemouth that theyve tightened their back line up, their defensive record despite spending big money for a club their size of CBs and LBs is very poor. Ake is solid enough but he is not an improvement on anyone we have, thats the harsh reality. For 40m we are better keeping who we have in my eyes. He wouldnt get a game at United, City , Liverpool or Spurs.

delete double post

[Vesper 30,181]

17 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Really depends on the price, anything near what they've wanted in the past I don't think is worth it. Realistically it would need to be January or never because he'll be 29 in the summer and would be a risk if it took him time to adapt to the league.

I don't really watch much Italian football, but from what I've seen he doesn't look the player he was 2-3 years ago which would worry me a little. 

yes, he turns 30 right after next season ends

and this year he has fallen off a little and also Napoli will still want insane money for him

[Jase 43,479]

 

[Superblue 6,372]

11 minutes ago, Jason said:

 

Most would agree that none of which are first team quality either.

[killer1257 3,282]

The captain part is just your opinion. Lampard has played James at RB and Emerson/Alonso at LB and left Azpi on the bench before. Was anything said then? But unfortunately, Emerson/Alonso has proven to be unreliable, thus forcing Lampard's hands. If one of those 2 has been more reliable, I'm sure Lampard wouldn't be playing Azpi at LB or at all. 
As for the price for Chilwell, said it previously, 50-100 million is the new 30-50 million. It's the norm these days to be paying that kind of money. 

Lamps said he wanted to give Azpi a rest and give James some minutes because he needs the minutes. He said that he explained that to him. Captain bonus. Emerson is our best LB and he should play

So if that is the Norm, I highly Doubt that we can compete with the money anymore if normal players are worth 90 millions.
It is ok to bid 100 mio. for Sancho who is World class, but for a little bit of improvement wasting 90 mio. is a waste of money. Save the money and bid on Sancho then.

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[Jase 43,479]

11 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

Lamps said he wanted to give Azpi a rest and give James some minutes because he needs the minutes. He said that he explained that to him. Captain bonus.

Lampard also said James was training and playing well and hence, he decided to reward him with a start. Why has that been left out?

Is the manager explaining the decision to a player wrong? It's part of man-management. I get that you're unhappy with Azpi's form/performances but you using the captain stick to "beat" him at every opportunity is getting ridiculous.

And by the way, Lampard also benched Azpi for the West Ham game recently and went with James and Emerson...

15 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

Emerson is our best LB and he should play

Do people only preach meritocracy when it suits them and toss it out when it doesn't? I don't necessarily disagree with you there but Lampard is clearly seeing things from Emerson he doesn't like - be it in games, training or whatever. Emerson better buck up his ideas if he wants to be playing in the XI.

19 minutes ago, killer1257 said:

So if that is the Norm, I highly Doubt that we can compete with the money anymore if normal players are worth 90 millions.
It is ok to bid 100 mio. for Sancho who is World class, but for a little bit of improvement wasting 90 mio. is a waste of money. Save the money and bid on Sancho then.

Sancho is world class? No. He has the potential to be world class.

Chilwell would be a little bit of improvement? If people are okay with spending over 100 million for Sancho, then not sure why not for Chilwell, who will only be 23 years old soon? Can set us up for the next 7-8 years. 

[Jase 43,479]

 

[1905didierblue 748]

5 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Brilliant? Honestly? Based off what? Hes decent but hasnt really had such an effect at Bournemouth that theyve tightened their back line up, their defensive record despite spending big money for a club their size of CBs and LBs is very poor. Ake is solid enough but he is not an improvement on anyone we have, thats the harsh reality. For 40m we are better keeping who we have in my eyes. He wouldnt get a game at United, City , Liverpool or Spurs.

He was been linked with Liverpool in the summer, so don't know what you are talking about.

Bournemouth not able to tighten things up is down to a lot of different things. Quality of players around him, their style of play, the massive injury list. I don't think soton were a defensive machine even with vvd with them. Not saying ake is as good, but to say he is not a massive improvement on atleast 3 of our cbs is weird in my opinion. 

[Vesper 30,181]

3 hours ago, Jason said:

 

damn, I hate to see anyone hurt, and he was not even one I was all hyped up over

so so sorry for him!

[Vesper 30,181]

4 minutes ago, 1905didierblue said:

He was been linked with Liverpool in the summer, so don't know what you are talking about.

Bournemouth not able to tighten things up is down to a lot of different things. Quality of players around him, their style of play, the massive injury list. I don't think soton were a defensive machine even with vvd with them. Not saying ake is as good, but to say he is not a massive improvement on atleast 3 of our cbs is weird in my opinion. 

I rate him a big improvement over AC, Zouma, and Guehi (so young though), and probably Tomori (who is still young and can and should improve a lot)

I have zero problems with Ake coming in as long as we also get a truly WC Cb as well (as Zouma and AC have got to go, we have given them years and years to get there and it just is not happening)

a back 4 of

Zouma

AC

Alonso (or even Emerson, just not as much unless he plays like he did last start)

Azpi

is going to make me start looking for a rope and a chair soon

[Jase 43,479]

8 minutes ago, Vesper said:

a back 4 of

Zouma

AC

Alonso (or even Emerson, just not as much unless he plays like he did last start)

Azpi

is going to make me start looking for a rope and a chair soon

I would pay that to see your reaction!  

[BDTips 34]

The doors are open ... but be very careful!

I have many years of football and it has always been usually a bad deal to go shopping in January.
Good players are not for sale, those for sale are much more expensive than they are worth, everyone knows our situation and is waiting for their lottery ...

I'm very proud of Frank and these young people in this squad, we can try some player as an alternative to Tammy or a defender but they can come by loan.
act smart and not burn money.

Big moves only in summer.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

1 hour ago, 1905didierblue said:

He was been linked with Liverpool in the summer, so don't know what you are talking about.

Bournemouth not able to tighten things up is down to a lot of different things. Quality of players around him, their style of play, the massive injury list. I don't think soton were a defensive machine even with vvd with them. Not saying ake is as good, but to say he is not a massive improvement on atleast 3 of our cbs is weird in my opinion. 

He would of been a squad player for Liverpool. I would argue Joe Gomez is the better option for their 3rd CB and hes already there.... just fitness that is preventing him from kicking on.

You said Ake is brilliant, he is not brilliant, he is average. Im done with us buying average players and everyone else should be. Batshuayi, Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Barkley... for me Ake fits right in there and our underperforming defenders dont make him seem any more attractive an option in me.

Southampton werent great defensively with Van Dijk? They were good enough defensively before van Dijk. Did you watch them under Koeman? Before van Dijk they had Toby Alderwereild and Jose Font at CB? Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne at fullback. Fraser Forster in net. Wanyama and Schneiderlin in MF. They were very very solid, finished 7th and conceded only 33 goals. The first season they had van Dijk, they finished 6th again conceding 41 goals. Season after with Claude Puel finished 7th conceding 48 goals. His last season they struggled but he left in January and had clearly outgrown them. I really dont think Ake has outgrown Bournemouth at all. 

Anyway, like I said, you said Ake is brilliant but now your saying he is not so what is it? He isnt a real improvement on any our of CBs imo. Christensen was the second coming of christ when he came back after his loan spell in Germany. His performances under Conte at first were better than anything Ake has produced in his entire career. Zouma last season at Everton looked every bit better than Ake. Rudiger is miles ahead of him. Maybe hes an improvement on Tomori or Guehi but they are kids.