lchk

The transfer was a last minute piece of business just for the sake of signing a defender (any defender) to placate the fans. This is a Board signing as Mourinho wouldn't bother with such mediocrity. In short, signing Papy (and Hector) was totally unnecessary.

From Stones to this Papy fellow. Think about that for a moment. There's no papering over the cracks.

It won't happen. Mourinho won't start with any of them given his favourites and his aversion to risk.

Huh? Tapping my forehead.

With no top quality signings in needed areas and with Mourinho being insistent on playing his favourites in the same rigid formation, I can see the club struggling to make top 4 and he will be dismissed before the season is over. The rubbish and bizzare signings of two Bournemouth-quality defenders is a sign that Mourinho doesn't have the full backing and trust of Roman and the board.

PRETENDING to do business with bids that go nowhere. This reminds me more of what a small club like Burnley did during the January transfer window than what is expected of the champions of England!

Signing a Reading player who isn't even first choice in a Championship side. This is beyond a joke, it's even more pathetic than signing Papy whateverhisnameis.

Care to post something related to football?

It should be noted that Sunderland, Celtic and Bournemouth rejected the chance to sign Papy. Why are some posters here claiming that he is a good player and a bargain when all the facts state the contrary?

From Stones and Varane to this Papy Nobody. What a joke of a transfer window for Chelsea! Consoling oneself with Papy being cheap does not hide the fact that this is a desperate cheap buy by the Board done for the sake of buying a player, any player to placate the fans. I doubt Mourinho would bother to even put him on the bench.

If it comes to next season, a new central defender (or perhaps even two) and a right full-back would be deemed absolutely necessary. Currently, I would say the defensive side of things is a greater concern.

This reminds me of the Bebe fiasco when Ferguson didn't even know who he was when signing him. Waste of a squad space and a gigantic letdown for the fans. The Board has failed miserably in supporting Mourinho. From Stones to this Bournemouth and Norwich reject.

How is this fellow a better option than a promising youngster as a bench player? Pappy spent a large chunk of his career in Ligue 2. I don't think Chelsea will splash a big amount of cash in January or during the summer of 2016. Also, January transfer windows provide no quality options to pursue and Chelsea have a poor record for this window.

Why are you persistently going off tangent with non-sequitur statements? When was this a computer game or about hindsight? Both Palace goals were down to poor individual performances. Mourinho himself stated that if players are under performing, they should be hauled off. Whether he actually does that in the future for certain untouchables remain to be seen. So much for your rubbish about tactical shapes and what not.

How about the defence?

Certainly so. The usual first team players will line up against Everton and with no incoming quality transfers, I expect a 3-1 beating by Everton. Further poor results against Maccabi and Arsenal with the untouchables playing and Mournho will be looking for a new job. That is the price of stubbornness, blind loyalty to declining players and a really poor transfer window.

Whom do you want to clear out?

In trying to be cheap, Chelsea have shot their own foot this season with a no-name panic buy who will amount to nothing. Even making the top 4 will be a challenge this season.

Do you think this transfer will go through?

What does this have to do with hindsight? Ivanovic and Fabregas have been playing poorly throughout the match and they should have been subbed instead of Azpi. Please post with some sense.

How exactly is Chelsea going to "click" when the same team and formation is always being played?

The players with the poorest form i.e. Ivanovic and Fabregas were kept on while Azpi the consistent performer was subbed. Looks like the wrong risks are being taken.

With Mourinho persisting with the current formation and the same first team players under all circumstances, top 4 is the best the club can aim for. I see no reason why Mourinho will change his formation or player preference, especially if no further quality players are bought before the transfer window closes.

Whatever the case may be, Chelsea needs at least one quality signing to compete with some of the weaker players. I believe that is unlikely to happen. Conversely, a panic buy for an over the hill veteran player is the likely occurrence.

Last season is history. I believe even then there were many complaints regarding his positioning and form.