3 hours ago, VAVI said:

Lemar and Malcolm are players with excellent dribbling, distribution, and creativity. But they lack what Chelsea need the most...putting the damn ball into the back of the net. I would really like to see us going in for offensive players with more of a goal threat and leaving the creativity to Hazard. IMO Martial and Bailey would be ideal...but its not really something that we can expect from a club who isn't willing to spend 6-7M for a manager during the most important summer of this decade. 

BTW Lemar has a defensive work rate better than most offensive players in Europe (think Sarri Pressing Style) and his strength is quite surprising given his short stature. Depay does have the better stats...but Lemar has special qualities other than his Distribution and Creativity that may be attracting Chelsea.

Except as you say, putting the damn ball into the back of the net.

Lemar
17/18 season - 0.34
Career average  - 0.37

For comparison...

Depay
17/18 season - 0.76
Career average - 0.60

Sterling
17/18 season - 0.87
Career average - 0.54

Alli
17/18 season - 0.62
Career average - 0.54

Mane
17/18 season - 0.66
Career average - 0.66

I'd take all 3 over Willian and Pedro atm. Willian still has his days but Pedro is well past it. 

2 minutes ago, the special one said:

Except as you say, putting the damn ball into the back of the net.

Lemar
17/18 season - 0.34
Career average  - 0.37

For comparison...

Depay
17/18 season - 0.76
Career average - 0.60

Sterling
17/18 season - 0.87
Career average - 0.54

Alli
17/18 season - 0.62
Career average - 0.54

Mane
17/18 season - 0.66
Career average - 0.66

They all pretty much play as inside forwards for their teams whereas Lemar has mainly been used as a wide midfielder in a midifeld 4. Their jobs are literally to score whilst Lemar is there to create. Like comparing Robben to Ribery with goals alone. 

If we have Hazard and a proper striker that can finish Lemar and Malcom would be class.

Striker that

can finish

Lemar     Hazard     Malcom

Kante   New CM

Emerson  Rudiger  Christensen  Azpi

Courtois

14 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

They all pretty much play as inside forwards for their teams whereas Lemar has mainly been used as a wide midfielder in a midifeld 4. Their jobs are literally to score whilst Lemar is there to create. Like comparing Robben to Ribery with goals alone. 

If we have Hazard and a proper striker that can finish Lemar and Malcom would be class.

Higuain

Lemar     Hazard/Thiago     Malcom

Kante   Thiago/Ndombele

Emerson  Rudiger  Christensen  Azpi

Courtois

Fair enough, don't me wrong I wouldn't say no to Lemar, it just as you allude to places more burden on the striker, Hazard, potentially Malcom etc

For me Lemar would be a decent signing in addition to Hazard
As a replacement for Hazard I'd take Depay any day of the week

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

6 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

They all pretty much play as inside forwards for their teams whereas Lemar has mainly been used as a wide midfielder in a midifeld 4. Their jobs are literally to score whilst Lemar is there to create. Like comparing Robben to Ribery with goals alone. 

If we have Hazard and a proper striker that can finish Lemar and Malcom would be class.

Striker that

can finish

Lemar     Hazard     Malcom

Kante   New CM

Emerson  Rudiger  Christensen  Azpi

Courtois

So about 4 First XI type of players which might require us around 200m?

We can offset it with selling deadwood though but will we do it in the relatively short timeframe and with the club still needing a new manager?

6 minutes ago, the special one said:

Fair enough, don't me wrong I wouldn't say no to Lemar, it just as you say places more burden on the striker, Hazard, potentially Malcom etc

For me Lemar would be a decent signing in addition to Hazard
As a replacement for Hazard I'd take Depay any day of the week

I hadn't even thought about the possibility of Hazard leaving tbh. If he was to leave we'd certainly need a more prolific winger.

7 minutes ago, Deino said:

So about 4 First XI type of players which might require us around 200m?

We can offset it with selling deadwood though but will we do it in the relatively short timeframe and with the club still needing a new manager?

Well rumours that we're already in discussion for Malcom and Lemar. The prolific striker could easily be Batshuayi. Only means we need another CM, which i haven't really seen many rumours about yet.

If we aren't prepared to spend £200m then we're gonna get left behind, as scary as it is to say.

29 minutes ago, the special one said:

Except as you say, putting the damn ball into the back of the net.

Lemar
17/18 season - 0.34
Career average  - 0.37

For comparison...

Depay
17/18 season - 0.76
Career average - 0.60

Sterling
17/18 season - 0.87
Career average - 0.54

Alli
17/18 season - 0.62
Career average - 0.54

Mane
17/18 season - 0.66
Career average - 0.66

Be interesting to see how Lemar does at the WC. I think he'll largely be cover. His strength really is in creativity which requires a clinical striker we don't have. 

For mine we need goals and finishing ability as you say. Malcom is great, but i wonder the wisdom of adding to our very disruptive collection of Brazilian players is wise.

I still think Fekir adds goals as well as that control in tight spaces that Willian has. Regardless of the situation he is the guy who is the best fit. We just need to make sure he isn't at Liverpool before we sort our coach.

We have Hazard to finish...

Imagine someone like Lemar to give Hazard a lot of opportunities to score. I think it’ll be a great signing, could bring the best out of Hazard.

Guys everyone is talking about how attacking football is going to "UNLEASH HAZARD." That's very true, but I think "unleashing" him doesn't mean he's going to score 25+ goals in the League; its going to be more like him having 15-20 assists along with a solid goal count. Having players like Lemar or Fekir would only hinder his potential. Using hazard along with 2-3 dead shot finishers in front of him would truly be an opportunity for him to light up the Prem. 

                                              Madrid Morata/Icardi

                            Martial                  Hazard                Bailey

Imagine that?

I know I'm dreaming, but I'm telling you, the minute Marina gets hit by a truck or has an enlightenment that she's running a football club and not a candy store...THIS CAN HAPPEN.

Willian to United is still on...all we need to do is throw in 20-30M and we get Martial. Bailey is a Chelsea fan and has been highly linked to us; might cost us in the region of 60-65M, but that's equivalent of selling Drinkwater (30M) and Zappacosta (30-35M). Now coming to the striker, I would personally like to see Morata for 1 more year and hopefully see him piggybacking on Hazard's success. But if we were to sell Morata and get Icardi...we would over night have one of the best finishers in the league. 

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by VAVI

53 minutes ago, VAVI said:

Guys everyone is talking about how attacking football is going to "UNLEASH HAZARD." That's very true, but I think "unleashing" him doesn't mean he's going to score 25+ goals in the League; its going to be more like him having 15-20 assists along with a solid goal count. Having players like Lemar or Fekir would only hinder his potential. Using hazard along with 2-3 dead shot finishers in front of him would truly be an opportunity for him to light up the Prem. 

                                              Madrid Morata/Icardi

                            Martial                  Hazard                Bailey

Imagine that?

I know I'm dreaming, but I'm telling you, the minute Marina gets hit by a truck or has an enlightenment that she's running a football club and not a candy store...THIS CAN HAPPEN.

Willian to United is still on...all we need to do is throw in 20-30M and we get Martial. Bailey is a Chelsea fan and has been highly linked to us; might cost us in the region of 60-65M, but that's equivalent of selling Drinkwater (30M) and Zappacosta (30-35M). Now coming to the striker, I would personally like to see Morata for 1 more year and hopefully see him piggybacking on Hazard's success. But if we were to sell Morata and get Icardi...we would over night have one of the best finishers in the league. 

Absolutely no chance we get 30m for Drinkwater and 30-35m for Zappacosta. 

Icardi is no better than Batshuayi and Morata is sh*te. 

Martial's best position is either up top or as a shadow striker. Been wasted on the wing for years so don't want to see him there for us.

Bailey i like the idea of but is still very raw.

Also we don't know the workings of the club so shouldn't lay all blame on Marina and certainly shouldn't hope she gets hit by a truck. 

Absolutely no chance we get 30m for Drinkwater and 30-35m for Zappacosta. 
Icardi is no better than Batshuayi and Morata is sh*te. 
Martial's best position is either up top or as a shadow striker. Been wasted on the wing for years so don't want to see him there for us.
Bailey i like the idea of but is still very raw.
Also we don't know the workings of the club so shouldn't lay all blame on Marina and certainly shouldn't hope she gets hit by a truck. 

Better get Troare from Middlesbrough...

On 31/05/2018 at 07:41, the special one said:

Chelsea winger Willian revealed he 'dreams' of one day playing for Barcelona or Real Madrid.

The Catalan side pay a visit to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday in the last 16 of the Champions League but the Brazilian did not hold back in his praise for the Spanish giants. 

'I think they are the two biggest clubs in the world, Real Madrid and Barcelona. They are the clubs with the most visibility,' Willian said in a Q&A with YouTube channel Resenha Delas.  

While Jose Mourinho has taken a real interest in bringing him to Old Trafford as he looks to bolster his Manchester United squad, Willian's heart appears to be set on a move to La Liga. 

'It's everyone's dream to play for these clubs,' he continued. 

'Of course there are other great ones, like the one I play for, Chelsea, and PSG, other greats. 

'But these two are different. These are two that everyone has the dream to play for.' 

So he admires Barca and Real. Whats that got to do with the question I asked. He is a quality player, better than anyone we are linked with, he has been a true Chelsea blue since he joined and has always played with 100% of his efforts, if that continues why would we want rid.

15 minutes ago, Jackbuchanan said:

So he admires Barca and Real. Whats that got to do with the question I asked. He is a quality player, better than anyone we are linked with, he has been a true Chelsea blue since he joined and has always played with 100% of his efforts, if that continues why would we want rid.

My bad, it isn't that I want Willian to leave, as you say he's better than anyone we're linked with and would prefer him to stay. I was just trying to make the point that (given the uncertainty around Willian's future at the club and the speculation linking him with Man Utd) we could do worse than replace him with Vazquez.

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

18 minutes ago, Jackbuchanan said:

So he admires Barca and Real. Whats that got to do with the question I asked. He is a quality player, better than anyone we are linked with, he has been a true Chelsea blue since he joined and has always played with 100% of his efforts, if that continues why would we want rid.

For 1 and a half months a year.

32 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

For 1 and a half months a year.

I think you're being a bit harsh there, yes he's inconsistent but so is Hazard. Did you see his second assist for Neymar's goal v Croatia? Quality. That said Willian is 29, Malcom is only 21 and already has similar stats to Willian - despite not wanting him to leave if Willian wants to move and Malcom is available it would make sense to replace him this summer.

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

7 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

For 1 and a half months a year.

Tad harsh, but I'm inclined to agree. He is great on his day but I would certainly question that he always gives 100%. At times he is off the pace and the effort can look rather half-hearted. 

31 minutes ago, the special one said:

I think you're being a bit harsh there, yes he's inconsistent but so is Hazard. Did you see his second assist for Neymar's goal v Croatia? Quality. That said Willian is 29, Malcom is only 21 and already has similar stats to Willian - despite not wanting him to leave if Willian wants to move and Malcom is available it would make sense to replace him this summer.

 

24 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Tad harsh, but I'm inclined to agree. He is great on his day but I would certainly question that he always gives 100%. At times he is off the pace and the effort can look rather half-hearted. 

I'd keep Willian but not as a starter. His best season was when he was an impact sub. Never shown his full potential for more than 2 months of a season. 

35 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 

I'd keep Willian but not as a starter. His best season was when he was an impact sub. Never shown his full potential for more than 2 months of a season. 

I think that's wishful thinking - if we're serious about Malcom I think it's because Willian is leaving. Either we keep Willian and Malcom joins Man Utd/Bayern, or Malcom joins us and we sell Willian to Man Utd/Bayern imho.

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

10 minutes ago, the special one said:

I think that's wishful thinking - if we're serious about Malcom I think it's because Willian is leaving. Either we keep Willian and Malcom joins United/Bayern, or Malcom joins us and we sell Willian to Man Utd/Bayern imho.

Or china we have already rejected a £50M bid apparently 

15 minutes ago, the special one said:

I think that's wishful thinking - if we're serious about Malcom I think it's because Willian is leaving. Either we keep Willian and Malcom joins United/Bayern, or Malcom joins us and we sell Willian to Man Utd/Bayern imho.

If that is the case then i'd sell and replace him with Malcom. Got to look to the future now Willian is approaching 30+.

20 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

If that is the case then i'd sell and replace him with Malcom. Got to look to the future now Willian is approaching 30+.

Ideally we sign Malcom and Willian joins Bayern, United need a right winger this summer so for me that would be win/win. 

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

20 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

I’d take Lamar, he’s much better than what I had expected us to go for.

Lemar and Malcom instead of Willian and Pedro... Yes please.

Lemar was sh*t last season, 3 goals is all he managed. If he can only manage 3 goals for Monaco, then how the hell is he going to improve us? Looks like another 1 season wonder from that Monaco team.

17 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Lemar was sh*t last season, 3 goals is all he managed. If he can only manage 3 goals for Monaco, then how the hell is he going to improve us? Looks like another 1 season wonder from that Monaco team.

Agreed Scott, I seen a rumour that is price tag is anywhere between £70m-£90m... insane. For that sort of money you'd expect Lemar to be getting near Depay's numbers. If we're looking for a wide midfielder I think I'd prefer Julian Brandt or give Loftus-Cheek/Mount/Kenedy a run in the team next season (and for me that's saying something because I don't particularly rate RLC).

In other news, we're signing Messi - heard it here first.

Edited June 5, 20188 yr by the special one

29 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Lemar was sh*t last season, 3 goals is all he managed. If he can only manage 3 goals for Monaco, then how the hell is he going to improve us? Looks like another 1 season wonder from that Monaco team.

Lets face it, Mbappe and the sheer belief in him carried that team along with PSG f*cking up.