2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Scenes when we fail to challenge for a title again, if that's what chelsea fans want i guess...

We better do next season when Rice comes in.

Given he's a supposed transformative upgrade on Jorginho I expect him to immediately better the latters best efforts in every competition, no excuses!

Edited December 21, 20223 yr by Argo

1 hour ago, Argo said:

We better do next season when Rice comes in.

Given he's a supposed transformative upgrade on Jorginho I expect him to immediately better the latters best efforts in every competition, no excuses!

Have we signed him? Must have missed that update, great news for the club and all involved!

7 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Have we signed him? Must have missed that update, great news for the club and all involved!

It's as obvious as Jose's return was at this point.

2 hours ago, Argo said:

We better do next season when Rice comes in.

Given he's a supposed transformative upgrade on Jorginho I expect him to immediately better the latters best efforts in every competition, no excuses!

He will be transformative as would any physically stronger DM, because he’ll (or whoever we sign) could allow us to transform our game play to 4 at the back with a protection in front. I’d argue that we’d need one or two creative players besides him to bring the ball forward.
About being an upgrade, for me it’s apple as and pears, Rice and Jorginho are totally different type of players, so one cannot be an upgrade of the other. Now, the question is whether the system we would play with a player like Rice is better than the system we play with Jorginho or not, that’s for the future to see. But I do believe that if we want to challenge for the PL, the type of player Jorginho is is not appropriate now a days. Another thing is the CL football.

Told Chelsea have registered an interest in Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi (23).https://t.co/lmgJPGA9CG

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) December 21, 2022

3 hours ago, RMH said:

He will be transformative as would any physically stronger DM, because he’ll (or whoever we sign) could allow us to transform our game play to 4 at the back with a protection in front. I’d argue that we’d need one or two creative players besides him to bring the ball forward.
About being an upgrade, for me it’s apple as and pears, Rice and Jorginho are totally different type of players, so one cannot be an upgrade of the other. Now, the question is whether the system we would play with a player like Rice is better than the system we play with Jorginho or not, that’s for the future to see. But I do believe that if we want to challenge for the PL, the type of player Jorginho is is not appropriate now a days. Another thing is the CL football.

I mean I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see us going up a level with Rice in the side.

For a team like ours that has/aims to have 70% possesion most games i just don't think he's going to cut it.

Ironically Mount (read Gallagher if Mason doesn't agree a new deal) is one of the reasons I don't want him either. Mount I feel can compliment a highly technical midfield excellently (as we saw multiple times when he lined up with peak Jorgi/Kova under Frank and especially Tuchel) but I don't feel he can carry a technical burden he'll need to if his best mate shows up.

I don't disagree Jorginho needs replacing at this point but the annoying thing is (assuming Enzo is Liverpool bound) we let a perfect successor end up at Newcastle.

Edited December 21, 20223 yr by Argo

Just now, Argo said:

I mean I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see us going up a level with Rice in the side.

For a team like ours that has/aims to have 70% possesion most games i just don't think he's going to cut it.

Ironically Mount (read Gallagher if Mason doesn't agree a new deal) is one of the reasons I don't want him either. Mount I feel can compliment a highly technical midfield excellently (as we saw multiple times when he lined up with peak Jorgi/Kova under Frank and especially Tuchel) but I don't feel he can carry a technical burden he'll need too if his best mate shows up.

I don't disagree Jorginho needs replacing at this point but the annoying thing is (assuming Enzo is Liverpool bound) we let a perfect successor end up at Newcastle.

There seems to be some fixation of having a defensively strong midfield whilst completely ignoring the technical aspect of a team's build up, particularly against a press given more and more clubs are opting for a pressing game. 

Maybe this is the 'hipster' in me, but I would like a midfield that is both technically gifted and defensively strong. Is Rice it? The latter sure, the former I don't believe so. 

2 hours ago, Argo said:

I mean I hope I'm wrong but I just can't see us going up a level with Rice in the side.

For a team like ours that has/aims to have 70% possesion most games i just don't think he's going to cut it.

Ironically Mount (read Gallagher if Mason doesn't agree a new deal) is one of the reasons I don't want him either. Mount I feel can compliment a highly technical midfield excellently (as we saw multiple times when he lined up with peak Jorgi/Kova under Frank and especially Tuchel) but I don't feel he can carry a technical burden he'll need to if his best mate shows up.

I don't disagree Jorginho needs replacing at this point but the annoying thing is (assuming Enzo is Liverpool bound) we let a perfect successor end up at Newcastle.

As I said before, I don’t think Rice alone is the answer, and I believe that all of us (arguing for and against Rice, and I’m on the fence) know that we need an entire revamp of the midfield. Personally, I think that we need at least one more creative player that can partner with a DM and Mount or Gallagher, someone in the mould of Gilmour, with a range of passes Jorginho never showed. 
As I said before, I never saw Enzo play so can’t comment, if he’s the son of Jorginho and Rice, with their best attributes, then we should go all in for him and we’d be sorted for technical and DM with one player. I’m not sure who you mean with being Newcastle bound.
But again, Jorginho and the entire midfield, really, need replacing; Rice alone is not the answer; we also need more creativity in the midfield. Simple as having a strong and creative midfield.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

There seems to be some fixation of having a defensively strong midfield whilst completely ignoring the technical aspect of a team's build up, particularly against a press given more and more clubs are opting for a pressing game. 

Maybe this is the 'hipster' in me, but I would like a midfield that is both technically gifted and defensively strong. Is Rice it? The latter sure, the former I don't believe so. 

Read my comments above and you’ll see how I’m not arguing that Rice alone is the answer. 

2 minutes ago, RMH said:

Read my comments above and you’ll see how I’m not arguing that Rice alone is the answer. 

Not you. There's a certain set of members that particularly think Declan Rice is a godsend midfielder and has no flaws. 

Martin Zubimendi is a player we have been recently linked with who looks a clever player. 

Edited December 21, 20223 yr by Sconnie Blue

4 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Told Chelsea have registered an interest in Real Sociedad defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi (23).https://t.co/lmgJPGA9CG

— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) December 21, 2022

He’s highly regarded in Spain, seen as a possible replacement of Busquets. So he could be a very good signing, another thing would be whether he’d manage the PL, but if he’s that good he should be able.

It's just going to be stiff competition with everyone regarding midfielders. 

3 hours ago, RMH said:

He’s highly regarded in Spain, seen as a possible replacement of Busquets. So he could be a very good signing, another thing would be whether he’d manage the PL, but if he’s that good he should be able.

Explains why Xavi wants him then.

8 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Explains why Xavi wants him then.

They can have Jorginho

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

They can have Jorginho

That depends, have you asked @Gol15if he wants to go there?

17 hours ago, RMH said:

I’m not sure who you mean with being Newcastle bound.

Bruno Guimaraes. Ofcourse I'm basing it on the assumption he would have choose us over early stage of the project Newcastle but surely he would have.

52 minutes ago, Argo said:

Bruno Guimaraes. Ofcourse I'm basing it on the assumption he would have choose us over early stage of the project Newcastle but surely he would have.

I think that we both are in agreement in most, except that you’re set against Rice and I’m on the fence. And I’m on the fence because I think that this season Rice has not been as good as he was last season for West Ham. But we both acknowledge the need to get some DM with additional creativity in our midfield. And I’m not sure who else is available given that Enzo (who I’ve seen less than Rice) appears to be Liverpool bound. And I’m not set against Rice as he would give us defensive strength while also acknowledging that we’d need at least another midfielder with more creativity and capable of brining the ball forward. 

 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

FFS, just as i was beginning to make peace with the fact we won't get him 😂

37 minutes ago, Argo said:

FFS, just as i was beginning to make peace with the fact we won't get him 😂

Benfiva have recently rejected a 100m bid. 
 

 

Edited December 22, 20223 yr by Sconnie Blue

 

On 22/12/2022 at 12:13, Argo said:

FFS, just as i was beginning to make peace with the fact we won't get him 😂

Look who else wants to sign him and stay in your place of peace mate.

22 minutes ago, charierre said:

 

One for our own @BordeauxBlueto tell us about then.

We seriously just can’t recall Colwill? 
 

Heard that Monaco fella is slow and is still very raw. 

Don't know much about this guy, anybody seen him play before?

Been linked with CDM Kouadio Kone of Werder Bremen. 

Definitely a signing I can get behind. 

Edited December 27, 20223 yr by Sconnie Blue