9 hours ago, ozboy said:

I can't believe how much we are talking about attackers when we simply have to get some defenders.

Relax. Todd and the hedge fund boys are making late bids for Dier & Maguire. They're centre-halfs, (well Wikipedia claims they are), and their surnames rhyme which is good for marketing purposes. Now they are looking for a midfielder whose names rhymes with Jorginho.

Edited June 21, 20224 yr by just

I wouldn't mind a bid for Raphinha, I think he's a quality player.

Rumour is Arsenal are gonna make a serrious attempt in the coming days, he'll make them better instantly.

I'm still not sure why we can't buy anyone until the Lukaku deal is sorted, it's a risky tactic that could mean us missing out or making significant progress on players.

1 hour ago, SW6Blue said:

Our reported targets (if true) are underwhelming to say the least.

If our 'major summer signing' (according to BBC Sport) is Raheem Sterling, then it shows a total lack of ambition as far as I'm concerned. 

And Richarlison? I despair.

No wonder we can't attract any top names any more.

After all that was reported when the new owners took over, it's all turned a bit meh.

After all the excitement and anticipation, I am not looking forward to this coming season whatsoever at the moment.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Tottenham take our place as London's top team. (I was nearly sick typing that!)

Sorry for all the negativity, and I know plenty on here will be saying, "the window's open 'till 1st September!", but we need players in for pre-season, not almost a month after the opening game.

And most importantly, we need good players that fit in with our style of play, not most of the dross we've been linked with. We've had enough of them to last a lifetime.

 

You post this and then want to keep Mitchy?  Are you on mandrax 

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, SW6Blue said:

Right, now for something controversial.

I’m going to mention a name that I think should be part of our squad for this coming season (especially now there will be 5 subs) and will cost us nothing.

Michy Batshuayi.

Now, before you all roll around the floor in hysterics, please take a look at his stats.

According to Transfermarkt, he has only played 2,428 minutes for us, which is the equivalent of 27 games playing the full 90 minutes.

In those 2,428 minutes, he has scored 25 goals and has made 6 assists. That is a goal every 97 minutes and a goal or assist every 78 minutes. Impressive figures in anyone's book.

He has also scored some very important goals for us and I think he was discarded too easily. His stats playing for Belgium are pretty impressive as well.

I realise that apart from his goal-scoring feats, the rest of his game is not the best, but isn’t that what we need? A goalscorer? A finisher? Someone who knows where the onion bag is and doesn’t turn into Jonny Wilkinson when attempting a shot on goal?

A top footballer he may not be, but my God, can he finish?

There, I’ve said it.
 

I like Michy and think it's a shame it didn't work out for him here. That being said I don't think he is the answer. As you have said he is a good goal scorer but he offers very little else to the team. The way TT wants us to play is pressing from the front, and Michy is very much a "Penalty Box Striker". Put a chance on a plate for him and he will bury it but he won't go deep looking for the ball to link up the play, and certainly won't be aggressive in his pressing. If we were going to use Michy we may as well have kept Abraham, as overall I think Abraham is a better player. 

Michy would be good as someone when we need a goal in the last 10-15 mins, but not as someone who's going to lead the line week in week out. 

1 hour ago, ozboy said:

You post this and then want to keep Mitchy?  Are you on mandrax 

Well, I was expecting a response like this.

You don't fancy a proven PL goalscorer then, especially after last season's failings?

As I said, I know he isn't the greatest footballer, but he knows where the goal is and that is exactly what we need at the moment.  

Edited June 21, 20224 yr by SW6Blue

55 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

I like Michy and think it's a shame it didn't work out for him here. That being said I don't think he is the answer. As you have said he is a good goal scorer but he offers very little else to the team. The way TT wants us to play is pressing from the front, and Michy is very much a "Penalty Box Striker". Put a chance on a plate for him and he will bury it but he won't go deep looking for the ball to link up the play, and certainly won't be aggressive in his pressing. If we were going to use Michy we may as well have kept Abraham, as overall I think Abraham is a better player. 

Michy would be good as someone when we need a goal in the last 10-15 mins, but not as someone who's going to lead the line week in week out. 

That's exactly what I'm saying.

I'm not suggesting he should start every game, but he would be a brilliant option to have on the bench if we need a goal. 

Even more so now that we can use 5 subs.

Just my opinion and I knew it wouldn't be well received.

10 minutes ago, SW6Blue said:

That's exactly what I'm saying.

I'm not suggesting he should start every game, but he would be a brilliant option to have on the bench if we need a goal. 

Even more so now that we can use 5 subs.

Just my opinion and I knew it wouldn't be well received.

I do kind of agree with you and there is a place for him as a squad player - much Origi at Liverpool. The guy can finish. Henry called him a naturally gifted finisher. 

2 hours ago, SW6Blue said:

That's exactly what I'm saying.

I'm not suggesting he should start every game, but he would be a brilliant option to have on the bench if we need a goal. 

Even more so now that we can use 5 subs.

Just my opinion and I knew it wouldn't be well received.

Agreed, especially as a super sub option. 

Have to admit the reactions on here would be pretty funny of the new signings turned out to be Batman and Baka...lol

Looks like we are preparing a £10m bid for French right back Jonathan Clauss. Nizaar suggesting he will replace Azpilicueta and will rotate with James. 

He's 29 but unlike Azpilicueta he looks a proper footballer. 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Looks like we are preparing a £10m bid for French right back Jonathan Clauss. Nizaar suggesting he will replace Azpilicueta and will rotate with James. 

He's 29 but unlike Azpilicueta he looks a proper footballer. 

Sorry do you mean that to sound as insulting to Dave as it sounds?

2 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Sorry do you mean that to sound as insulting to Dave as it sounds?

I personally never rated Azpilicueta as a good footballer. Defender yes, but for a modern full back, No. 

Just now, Sconnie Blue said:

I personally never rated Azpilicueta as a good footballer. Defender yes, but for a modern full back, No. 

Have to disagree with you on that one. Has played in a number of positions well and has good technique imo.

Yes his best days are behind him now though.

18 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Looks like we are preparing a £10m bid for French right back Jonathan Clauss. Nizaar suggesting he will replace Azpilicueta and will rotate with James. 

He's 29 but unlike Azpilicueta he looks a proper footballer. 

A proper footballer who has spent almost the entirety of his career playing below the top tier leagues of any country he has played in. 

This is an insult to Azpilcueta and feels like a Zappacosta type signing all over again.

21 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Have to disagree with you on that one. Has played in a number of positions well and has good technique imo.

Yes his best days are behind him now though.

Not for me. Always felt he was vastly limited on the ball. 

 

10 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

A proper footballer who has spent almost the entirety of his career playing below the top tier leagues of any country he has played in. 

This is an insult to Azpilcueta and feels like a Zappacosta type signing all over again.

Made team of the season in France two years running and beat out Hakimi. 

Fact of the matter is we aren't going to find much quality who are willing to be a back up to James. 

Weird rumour, a 29yr old wing back

jesus on a bike 

Azpi was the nuts as a defender, if you could combine his work ethic  and diligence with Alonsos skill set, what an Hombre of football we’d of had..

Azpi was amazing. Remember, just what you could do with a team of “11 Azpilicuetas would win the champions league”. Mourinho knew what he was talking about. 

4 hours ago, Kantesmini said:

Weird rumour, a 29yr old wing back

jesus on a bike 

So what if he's 29?

Bloody hell ,has everyone forgotten that we have a world class Academy. ?

Stop buying expensive cack, stop providing quality players for our rivals, use the bloody kids !

If we're looking at wingback cover a potential option could be Raphael Guerrero? He's out of contract next summer and as well as being a very good attacking left back can also play in the middle 

Dave was a great player. Yes he lacked some attacking skills, but his character overcame all difficulties and he was fast and a fearsome defender and also rarely injured. It is ridiculous to see him being insulted in this way but everyone can have their opinion about a football player.
 

And FFS the first thing we need is two central defenders. I am sure that anyone clever enough to make the money to buy Chelsea and who also owns other sporting teams won't take long to work out that (1) Chelsea's value will fall if it doesn't stay at the top of the tables and (2) you can't stay at the top without building a great team, and (3) the vast majority of great teams are built as Bill Paisley said around a strong spine from back to front.

Apparently we're joined in the race after Raphinia. I believe Arsenal were very close to sign him. 

Interesting player.

16 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

Apparently we're joined in the race after Raphinia. I believe Arsenal were very close to sign him. 

Interesting player.

Apparently prefers us if he stays in the Premier League, but his overall preference is Barcelona. (Course it is!)

https://metro.co.uk/2022/06/21/arsenal-bid-for-raphinha-rejected-as-winger-prefers-chelsea-move-16869047/

Definitely too good for Leeds.

Edited June 22, 20224 yr by SW6Blue

10 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Bloody hell ,has everyone forgotten that we have a world class Academy. ?

Stop buying expensive cack, stop providing quality players for our rivals, use the bloody kids !

Not gonna happen under Tuchel I think unfortunately. We had 0 minutes played by a teenager in the league last season, had several youth players ready to step up when we had a real need for them yet he chose to play senior players out of position instead. 

14 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Bloody hell ,has everyone forgotten that we have a world class Academy. ?

Stop buying expensive cack, stop providing quality players for our rivals, use the bloody kids !

In a way I think we should be doing this to save money on crap signings. I don't think Raphina, Richarldson would make us challengers anymore than adding someone like Broja to our team.

Promote Colwill, Broja, Gallagher and I'd say Livramento back if we have a clause and we should even look at getting Harvey Vale in.

Look at our contributions from our forwards.

Who's to say the likes of Broja and Vale wont match the contributions as Werner and Pulisic? The likes of Ziyech, Pulisic and Werner have value, we should be cashing in while we can and add top quality signing or two with our youth.

I would bring in Colwill, Broja, Gallagher. Vale and Livramento. Sell Pulisic (mainly because of his contract) Ziyech, Jorginho, Alonso.

Then spend big on Kounde, Rice and a world class forward that can pass the ball.