3 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Good point about Robben, but that was actually what I was referring to. He played 2? friendlies then got injured and didn't play again until Everton in November, missing the majority of pre-season and early season too. 

I agree with what you're saying though, when it is all your signings and they're all intended to be core players who are filling gaps, it's a trickier proposition. Nevertheless i'd be more worried if it was a Euro/WC summer.

This season above all others it will be about injury prevention and fitness, due to the World Cup. Liverpool and City will be scarcely affected by the WC with the majority of their squads basically getting a mid-season rest.

How though; City off my head have 15 players at the World Cup, we have 13-14, and Liverpool have 10.

The season is so long you maybe don’t want all your plays at peak for the first games. You want to start well and run into top form around Xmas. We never do that but it’s what I would do. 

20 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

6 new signings looking a bit of a piss take now. 

He'll be lucky to get 2 at this rate. 

Was it in some sort of contract during the takeover that Chelsea had to spend 200 mil per season? 

If so, then those last 2 weeks in the transfer window will be very exciting with highly overpaid panic buys. 

I think we take too long to wrap up deals and should be definitely looking to get new players in time for pre-season more than we do currently.

Remember, new players also have to find new places to live when they change clubs and maybe even have to look for new schools for their children.

That can't be easy to deal with.

I'm pretty sure players would much prefer tarnsfers to be wrapped up earlier in the window rather than going down to the last days of August.

 

If we did business earlier in the window there's the camaraderie of going on a pre-season tour and playing matches with your new teamates.

It would also clearly have tactical benefits as well.

 

How we do things currently has the added pressure of the new player either being expected to hit the ground running or waiting for them to adjust to their new team and new life outside of football, and in a lot of cases a new country as well.

I'm baffled why we drag our feet every year, I can't see the benefits of this way of working at all.

Even the 2 months of haggling to save a possible few million pounds here and there doesn't always work out (Kounde being an obvious example).

The selling clubs also tend to get the hump with us as they naturally want time to get in a replacement player, so the more we play hardball it doesn't always result in a better deal in the end for us.

I aslo doubt that a player wants to be in the Sports headlines every single day of the transfer window as this will surely naturally increase the pressure on him if and when the transfer does finally go through.

It's not even that it's a thing that Liverpool and City like to get their deals done early, they do of course, most clubs work this way, even Arsenal & Spurs are sorting out their business early nowadays.

When we got Fabregas and Costa early in the window it made a difference, we won the league!

Getting in quality players relatively early in the window gives you a better chance of success, it's not rocket science.

Edited July 6, 20224 yr by 2211

2 hours ago, ducavis said:

How though; City off my head have 15 players at the World Cup, we have 13-14, and Liverpool have 10.

Liverpool and City will have mostly squad players who will get limited minutes. 

Mount, Pulisic, Mendy, Silva, Kante, James and Kovacic are almost guaranteed starters with Havertz, Werner, Chilwell and Ziyech likely to see heavy minutes. Signing Sterling makes that problem worse!

Meanwhile City will only really sweat on De Bruyne, Candelo and Dias and Liverpool, likely just Thiago, Fabinho and Van Djik.

I think TT likes him and if MDL and Ake prove to expensive or illusive. I could see him trying to sign Kimpembe for the left side and Kounde for the right. Especially considering we're reported to have restarted talks with Jules this week, one to watch guys 👀 

 

19 minutes ago, LongtimerLurker said:

I think TT likes him and if MDL and Ake prove to expensive or illusive. I could see him trying to sign Kimpembe for the left side and Kounde for the right. Especially considering we're reported to have restarted talks with Jules this week, one to watch guys 👀 

 

Its all a load of old rubbish though isn't it. We're running around blowing smoke up the ar$e$ of players that have never yet proven they can even cut it in this league. Much as i wanted us to make a statement in this window, the longer it goes on and the more pampered, mediocre players pi$$ us about the more i think forget it. I am still yet to be convinced that any of the recent signings that we have got from abroad have actually been a major success here for us in recent years. Even Havertz, who i like, don't get me wrong, but generational talent, please!

Hazard came from aboroad and was a game changer, but from the "newer" group, i am really struggling. Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech, Lukaku, Sarr, Jorginho etc. This lot would struggle to be mediocre. Kante i think has been a success but he was already used to the league. Rudiger was a success under TT but was an absolute fkign bomb scare under Lampard. Mendy i think is good, but he knows the other end. He knows which side his bread is buttered, playing non league.

Apologies, its this MDL thing taht has irrtated me. All these Ayax players were "generational" talents, the best around.  Ziyech, poor, van der beek, fking woeful and then De Ligt massive move to Juventus and does feck all for the majority of time he is there. Chiellini is teh main man. Of course he is but if you can't oust a bloke as old as your dad how the hell are you going to compete against the elite of the PL and the CL. Knobs the lot of em.

24 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Its all a load of old rubbish though isn't it. We're running around blowing smoke up the ar$e$ of players that have never yet proven they can even cut it in this league. Much as i wanted us to make a statement in this window, the longer it goes on and the more pampered, mediocre players pi$$ us about the more i think forget it. I am still yet to be convinced that any of the recent signings that we have got from abroad have actually been a major success here for us in recent years. Even Havertz, who i like, don't get me wrong, but generational talent, please!

Hazard came from aboroad and was a game changer, but from the "newer" group, i am really struggling. Pulisic, Werner, Ziyech, Lukaku, Sarr, Jorginho etc. This lot would struggle to be mediocre. Kante i think has been a success but he was already used to the league. Rudiger was a success under TT but was an absolute fkign bomb scare under Lampard. Mendy i think is good, but he knows the other end. He knows which side his bread is buttered, playing non league.

Apologies, its this MDL thing taht has irrtated me. All these Ayax players were "generational" talents, the best around.  Ziyech, poor, van der beek, fking woeful and then De Ligt massive move to Juventus and does feck all for the majority of time he is there. Chiellini is teh main man. Of course he is but if you can't oust a bloke as old as your dad how the hell are you going to compete against the elite of the PL and the CL. Knobs the lot of em.

LOL.

I am having a lovely thought today that a bit of faith and trust in Levi Colwill will make De Ligt look like a poor man's Malang Sarr 

 

De Ligt to Chelsea in doubt according to the media as the Germanz come in with a late bid. But then again the same media are now reporting that we are after De Jong. Two Dutch lads would be nice. As long as one of them is not Ake.

26 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

De Ligt to Chelsea in doubt according to the media as the Germanz come in with a late bid. But then again the same media are now reporting that we are after De Jong. Two Dutch lads would be nice. As long as one of them is not Ake.

While De Jong is a good player in his own right, I do wonder if we are now trying to sign him as part of a strategy to lure De Ligt? Sounds like Barcelona might have some interest in the deal as we are supposedly willing to include Alonso + Azpi.

2 hours ago, forbzy said:

While De Jong is a good player in his own right, I do wonder if we are now trying to sign him as part of a strategy to lure De Ligt? Sounds like Barcelona might have some interest in the deal as we are supposedly willing to include Alonso + Azpi.

De Ligt and De Jong are good friends.  Lets do this.  They would both fit into the team. they both have the attributes that we need.  Young and ambitious players.

I don't really understand why anybody would be loyal to Barcelona or want to play for Barcelona at this point in time.  They still owe a lot of players money/salary.   I mean even once they get their new money through, the money they are getting for selling their future TV rights, they still owe players a fortune in back wages.

Edited July 7, 20224 yr by TheCeleryKing

4 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

De Ligt and De Jong are good friends.  Lets do this.  They would both fit into the team. they both have the attributes that we need.  Young and ambitious players.

I don't really understand why anybody would be loyal to Barcelona or want to play for Barcelona at this point in time.  They still owe a lot of players money/salary.   I mean even once they get their new money through, the money they are getting for selling their future TV rights, they still owe players a fortune in back wages.

Stringing Barca along could be fun too...

3 hours ago, forbzy said:

While De Jong is a good player in his own right, I do wonder if we are now trying to sign him as part of a strategy to lure De Ligt? Sounds like Barcelona might have some interest in the deal as we are supposedly willing to include Alonso + Azpi.

It's all lining up perfectly.

Alonso and Azpi sign for Barcelona. Chilwell takes the #3 shirt vacated by Alonso, to underline his status as the first choice left back. De Jong comes in the opposite direction and takes his preferred #21, vacated by Chilwell. Azpi's old #28 goes to Ronaldo, who started his career at Sporting Lisbon wearing #28, so some nice symmetry for the beginning and probable end of his career. De Ligt signs to join his best mate De Jong, and takes his habitual #4 shirt, which was vacated by Christensen. Kante keeps his #7. Everyone's happy in their favourite numbers. It's all a shoe-in LOL

5 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

It's all lining up perfectly.

Alonso and Azpi sign for Barcelona. Chilwell takes the #3 shirt vacated by Alonso, to underline his status as the first choice left back. De Jong comes in the opposite direction and takes his preferred #21, vacated by Chilwell. Azpi's old #28 goes to Ronaldo, who started his career at Sporting Lisbon wearing #28, so some nice symmetry for the beginning and probable end of his career. De Ligt signs to join his best mate De Jong, and takes his habitual #4 shirt, which was vacated by Christensen. Kante keeps his #7. Everyone's happy in their favourite numbers. It's all a shoe-in LOL

Sexy you need to get out more mate  Well done though 

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

 

Alonso and Azpi sign for Barcelona.

BARCELONA?  why would anyone want to go there?  Nice weather.   Cheap taxes?  Well, it can get a little chilly in the winter. Taxes are good. Your wages are hardly ever taxed. . . but then you don't always get your wages.

Then there are all the Barcelona players who have been tried for tax evasion. Messi, Neymar, Alexis Sanchez, Eto'o and Maschareno were all tried for Tax evasion.

Corruption amongst the players and their advisors and corruption at the club . . .well they are all rotten to the core. Financial Fair Play rules? lol

Barcelona owe Gerard Piqué €50M in salary . . .Barcelona need to reduce their wage bill by €160 million this season alone and they owe their captains €150 over the next two years is simply . . . troubling?   Worrying?   meh.   And they just made a bid for Lewa.

Todd has just landed in Barca for meeting, video on Twitter. I assume conversation will go “drop Raphina interest and Azpi Alonso are yours”.

Like doing a deal with the devil right now though!

1 minute ago, Adamrb said:

Todd has just landed in Barca for meeting, video on Twitter. I assume conversation will go “drop Raphina interest and Azpi Alonso are yours”.

Like doing a deal with the devil right now though!

all on dave's thread

1 minute ago, Adamrb said:

Todd has just landed in Barca for meeting, video on Twitter. I assume conversation will go “drop Raphina interest and Azpi Alonso are yours”.

Like doing a deal with the devil right now though!

But Raphina wants to play for Barca. Havent we learnt any lessons from Lukaku? signs for chelsea, next year hes negotiatiog with Barca to go out on loan

Boehly and Eghbali both arrived, I dont think this is just to sell 2 players tbh.  Laporta, Alemany, Cruyff have now arrived aswell

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

It's all lining up perfectly.

Alonso and Azpi sign for Barcelona. Chilwell takes the #3 shirt vacated by Alonso, to underline his status as the first choice left back. De Jong comes in the opposite direction and takes his preferred #21, vacated by Chilwell. Azpi's old #28 goes to Ronaldo, who started his career at Sporting Lisbon wearing #28, so some nice symmetry for the beginning and probable end of his career. De Ligt signs to join his best mate De Jong, and takes his habitual #4 shirt, which was vacated by Christensen. Kante keeps his #7. Everyone's happy in their favourite numbers. It's all a shoe-in LOL

And the number 9 stuffed in a cupboard somewhere where it belongs.

1 hour ago, RickUK said:

Boehly and Eghbali both arrived, I dont think this is just to sell 2 players tbh.  Laporta, Alemany, Cruyff have now arrived aswell

They are going to by Barca too!

2 hours ago, RickUK said:

Boehly and Eghbali both arrived, I dont think this is just to sell 2 players tbh.  Laporta, Alemany, Cruyff have now arrived aswell

Bet you Todd gets stuffed for the bill. 

4 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Bet you Todd gets stuffed for the bill. 

 oh where are they having supper?

Laporta left his card in his other jacket. It happens.

18 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Bet you Todd gets stuffed for the bill. 

No sign of Laporta.  Apparently he went to the toilet and never came back.