Agreed... Only hope is to win it. Let's not forget that when we won the CL we were in the same situation: bad in PL, absolutely not favourite for CL and we did it, and Hazard ONLY joined Chelsea cause we won the CL

Chelsea officials are meeting with the agent of Ezequiel Lavezzi later today. [@DiMarzio] #cfc

Chelsea officials are meeting with the agent of Ezequiel Lavezzi later today. [@DiMarzio] #cfc

 

lol, no they aren't.

We'll definitly be favourites for the 09/10 season if we manage to get Pato and Lavezzi....

• Chelsea have made an approach to Thiago Silva's representatives. The Brazilian defender has a contract with Paris Saint-Germain until 2018.

  Should provide a short term fix for our defense but as short term fixes go this would be one of the best out there.

  I can't see this happening though as why would he leave PSG to move here especially as he is 31 and he have a policy of only 1 year contracts for players over 30.

Thiago silva LOL shows ambition if nothing else.

i have a strong suspicion russia funded by roman has invented a time machine with all these players we are interested in

I don't know what to make of our approach to finding new players. We always seem to be linked to established names nearing the twilight of their careers; we chuck loads of young players out on loan and often sell them without giving them any chance in our own first team; we don't seem to be in the market for the up and coming first team young player like Martial.

 

I can only conclude that Emanolo and whoever else are supposedly scouting for talent haven't got a clue about football talent or spotting potential - we've a risk averse approach to the first XI which has us in tatters and we follow football fashion for players who are Messi-like in physical stature in the hope that if we've enough of them in the team something will happen.

 

I'm close to despairing about this part of the club's activities.     

We've never really had the pulling power to sign world class players at their peak. No way we could get a Ronaldo, Messi, Lewendowski, Pogba, etc... we don't have the Real madrid/Barcelona or even Man utd pulling power. Hazard is probably the closest we've ever come, though he was still very much potential at the time, probably not quite ready for Real Madrid. We usually end up going either for the older players, like the Shevchenkos, Ballacks, etc... or finding people with potential to develop into world class, like Drogba, Essien, etc...

Erm, hazard? Robben, essien etc. All chose us over those teams.

Erm, hazard? Robben, essien etc. All chose us over those teams.

 

We stole Robben from under United's noses. Once Real got interested, he was off. Also, we used to beat out other clubs for certain players because back in the day we were willing to spend the kind of money no other club would. It's different now.

 

We've curbed our spending to build some sort of a sustainable business model due to UEFA demands, but the FFP turned out to be a joke. City and PSG are nouveau riche clubs that continue to spend big and the likes of Real, Barcelona and Bayern will always have a bigger income and attraction due to their history and status. Man U have done tremendously well to monetize their past success and will keep shelling out big bucks, too. What can we offer to the big stars that those clubs cannot, especially now when we're not even in the CL next season? Perhaps living in London is more preferable to some and their wives/girlfriends, etc., but that's about it.

For what its worth Essien and Drogba were the top class players in Ligue 1 when we bought them and all the top clubs were lining up for them. Right now however our pulling power is just too small... Players will even prefer PSG over us, while super talented youngsters will have second-thoughts about joining us after seeing how we treat our youth talent (vide endless loans). In England itself Chelsea will probably be second choice to Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool and maybe even Tottenham. All because of our terrible mass-loan policy.

 

Overall the transfer and coaching policy has put us in quite a mess: We either overspend big time or really dig deep to find hidden gems.

Edited January 23, 201610 yr by Jon Stakes

Matt Miazga from NY Red Bulls and US National team? Never seen him play for the US.

 

http://www.espnfc.us/new-york-red-bulls/story/2795020/matt-miazga-set-to-join-chelsea-of-the-premier-league

Matt Miazga from NY Red Bulls and US National team? Never seen him play for the US.

http://www.espnfc.us/new-york-red-bulls/story/2795020/matt-miazga-set-to-join-chelsea-of-the-premier-league

He's apparently very talented. Still only 20. Tall, athletic with good distribution from the back. Sound a little like John Stones but more raw.

He is. He's our version of John Stones. Finally, I can't put into words the excitement I'm feeling over just the POSSIBILITY of having an American play for Chelsea.

Matt Miazga from NY Red Bulls and US National team? Never seen him play for the US.

http://www.espnfc.us/new-york-red-bulls/story/2795020/matt-miazga-set-to-join-chelsea-of-the-premier-league

Well I had never heard of Azpi before he moved and that turned out okay...(!)

Wonder if he’ll break Papy D’s one minute appearance record.

He is. He's our version of John Stones. Finally, I can't put into words the excitement I'm feeling over just the POSSIBILITY of having an American play for Chelsea.

It'd be awesome to have an American playing. If we can get him for a good deal over Stones.

$5mil.Certainly a good value, hope it becomes an excellent bargain.

WAGNH reported its $5m since his contract with MLS is running out.

 

By the way, he's a Chelsea fan. He tweeted before the Barca 2nd leg in 2012.

 

"Chelsea vs UEFA. Should be a good game"

 

and

 

"yessssssss chelsea omg!!!!" after we had won.

Hopefully a signing in the mould of Azpi and Zouma. No big fanfare but a bloody good signing nonetheless ☺

Kind of looks like John Stones...

 

Apparantly a player in the same mould aswell but many seems to think he is miles of EPL-level.

Did some digging and I found out two things. First he has a Polish passport so he won't need a work permit. Second, it looks like he won't be loaned at all or until the summer.

 

Did some digging and I found out two things. First he has a Polish passport so he won't need a work permit. Second, it looks like he won't be loaned at all or until the summer.

 

 

Actually that highlights reel looks kind of promising. Fast, confident, likes a tackle and has a good pass on him.

 

Obviously we only see the good bits but looks like we've picked up a bargain if these rumours are true.

Actually that highlights reel looks kind of promising. Fast, confident, likes a tackle and has a good pass on him.

 

Obviously we only see the good bits but looks like we've picked up a bargain if these rumours are true.

 

He's pretty keen to go to ground though, and I can see that being exposed in the Prem, and certainly in Europe if he were to ever play there.

 

Not a huge risk, and if Cahill is going then this makes some sense as cover.