dermott

And have learned the error of their ways.

Seconded. Mount has superior fine skills. I love Gallagher for his energy and commitment but I doubt you can develop fine skills at his age.

Italian gossip has Lukaku and Cucurella to Atletico in a deal for Felix. All just noise regardless of the language.

Not before he's finished his tome - "How To Depreciate An Asset: 101" - which will be widely available in all remainder bins.

I don't need to wake up to this first thing in the morning thank you very much! 🥵

Results suggest otherwise. Pep's problem with Zinchenko was problematic defence, caught out of position too often amongst other things. He was fine drifting into midfield as another playmaker but his principal job - defence - wasn't good enough. The same issue arises at Arsenal. Pep has turned Ake into a very good left back, better than Zinchenko will ever be, but back-up is now his problem.

Who has the higher ceiling? Maatsen or Hall? I'm gobsmacked that Hall is still only 18.

Maatsen is an interesting one. Excellent for Burnley, Kompany has developed him. Have to wonder whether Burnley will make an offer.

Calciomercato here in Italy posits Lukaku to Atletico with Felix involved. Italian football is one giant rumour mill so who knows?

Yup. And with his salary, another loan is nigh impossible. So we cross our fingers and hope Pochettino can integrate him. He wasn't bad early in his 2021 season until injury, followed by Covid, stopped him. Then, of course, the stupid interview.

Possibly, but it's odd on he will be back whether Chelsea want him or not. Sale seems unlikely, as does a loan.

Mendy has declined to sign a new contract. Think we've seen the last of him. Hall's right-footedness hasn't been a problem. Plenty of examples of good right-footed left backs. Talented young player, we should have seen more of him. With Fofana out, can't see Thiago getting a rest. Hall for Chilly, otherwise same team.

Different angles tell different stories. Either Silva tripped him or he didn't. I finished up uncertain. Probably why VAR ruled as they did.

Agreed. He had zilch service. Madueke had service.

I've watched Roma (more than I wanted to) to check him out. He does get outmuscled. JM prefers Dybala, and fair enough too.

He's a meticulous bugger, he will have already done his due diligence. I don't think he will learn anything more either at Cobham or in the dugout.

Chelsea inserted a buy back clause for Tammy Abraham which can be activated at the end of this season. It's in the region of 65m. That was the figure cited at the time, there seem to be figures approaching 80m now being thrown around. I trust the 65m-ish figure. Though I doubt the value. His game hasn't developed in Italy under JM which is no surprise.

Living in Italy I can assure you that of the million football-related rumours that circulate daily, 99.9% of them prove to be B.S.

Include Mudryk and I'm with you.

They sacked Potter as a sop to the fans who didn't want him in the first place and turned the place toxic as quickly as they could. Someone - I have no idea who - told the board that club legend Lampard would improve the atmosphere, neglecting to mention his less-than-stellar managing career. The blind led the blind led the blind.

Absolutely spot on. It's said TB wanted to sign him, TT et al refused. Poisonous toad. Pompous preening narcissistic bully boy.

Start him every week. Works his socks off, has the speed to unsettle any defence, and looks to have a nicely mean streak. Watch the runs he makes in behind only for the ball to be passed backwards. He's still very very inexperienced, fewer than 30 games for Shakhtar Donetsk. A coach like Pochettino could turn him into something very good.

This is what I'd like to know. Boehly & Co aren't steeped enough to know Lampard's status as a Chelsea (playing) hero. Has to be one or other of the myriad Directors of Football. D*cks.

Frank's former right-hand-man Jody Morris' first foray into management didn't last long. Sacked by Swindon Town after 18 games. Won 4 of the 18, they were 6th when he took over, now 10th. It's a dog-eat-dog world these days.

Billy's time in the senior team was a mixed bag. Along with the MOTMs, he had some stinkers, overrun, overpowered. Not necessarily his fault, a couple of times he was played as a sole DCM, not his forte, and he didn't cope. I still think he was worth persisting with. It was odd that Potter, having bought him, hardly started him. Now De Zerbi the same.