And Desailly was born in Ghana. 

 

The internet is the worst thing to happen to mankind. smh

 

Hi buddy. Read my reply to dkw. 

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-transfer-news-augsburg-chairman-refuses-to-cash-in-on-the-abdul-rahman-millions-10410529.html

Here come the "we should have kept Bertrand" comments

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-transfer-news-augsburg-chairman-refuses-to-cash-in-on-the-abdul-rahman-millions-10410529.html

"Why keep Baba? I am an Augsburg fan. To me, it's more important that I spend the evening watching Augsburg win with a beer in my hand than when we have more money in the bank account."

Haha what a legend this guys is

Can't see us being happy with selling Luis without having a replacement lined up. Confident this will go through in the next few weeks

Can't see us being happy with selling Luis without having a replacement lined up. Confident this will go through in the next few weeks

 

 

And evenif it doesn't, I'm sure he wasn't the only one on our list.  We'll have other targets if this doesn't go through as planned.

Chelsea are leading the race to sign Ghana defender Baba Rahman from Augsburg, sources have told ESPN FC.

http://www.espnfc.com/story/2511981/chelsea-leading-race-for-augsburg-star-baba-rahman-sources

According to WhoScored he shows the following (statistically):

Tackling Very Strong

Aerial Duels Strong

Dribbling Strong

Concentration Strong

Ball interception Strong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOuR2Mm0iQU

Oh ok so he's a strong lad, that rating is hilarious.

Oh ok so he's a strong lad, that rating is hilarious.

How so?

Id pay more for him than Stones atm. How rare are trully top class LBs compared to CBs. Having Ashley spoiled us. No brainer at LB for nearly 10 years.

Edited July 23, 201510 yr by TheChelseaBlues

Id pay more for him than Stones atm. How rare are trully top class LBs compared to CBs. Having Ashley spoiled us. No brainer at LB for nearly 10 years.

A top quality centre back is far more important and valuable to a team than full back.

That's why both spells at Chelsea Mourinho has played centre backs in one of the two full back positions.

A top quality centre back is far more important and valuable to a team than full back.

That's why both spells at Chelsea Mourinho has played centre backs in one of the two full back positions.

I dont disagree. My point was top LBs are harder to come by. I dont know about your reasoning with Jose though. At what point does a CB playing as a RB cease to be a CB? Bran has played the vast majority of his time at Chelsea as a RB. I think it may be more of a talent issue rather than Jose wanting 3 CBs in the team.

Id pay more for Rahman because I think it would be easier to just find another CB. He may not be English but you would just as soon buy Varane as Stones right now. Same with Laporte, or Rudiger etc.

Edited July 24, 201510 yr by TheChelseaBlues

A top quality centre back is far more important and valuable to a team than full back.

That's why both spells at Chelsea Mourinho has played centre backs in one of the two full back positions.

I agree on the valuation bit, it is true. In Stones' case it could mean he goes from a regular starter to a backup to either Ivan or Azpi...

I agree on the valuation bit, it is true. In Stones' case it could mean he goes from a regular starter to a backup to either Ivan or Azpi...

Why would he be back up to the full backs?

It's Gary Cahill's place he'd be competing for.

I think we may be overrating the guy already.

The talk here is how he's going to be world class, and he'll cover the LB spot for the next ten years, yet most of us have only seen YouTube clips of him ffs. How do we know he's going to be as good as Ashley Cole?

Don't get me wrong I'm hoping we'll sign him as a replacement for Luis but I'd much rather see Azpilicueta keep the LB spot.

Azi is a class defender

I dont disagree. My point was top LBs are harder to come by. I dont know about your reasoning with Jose though. At what point does a CB playing as a RB cease to be a CB? Bran has played the vast majority of his time at Chelsea as a RB. I think it may be more of a talent issue rather than Jose wanting 3 CBs in the team.

Id pay more for Rahman because I think it would be easier to just find another CB. He may not be English but you would just as soon buy Varane as Stones right now. Same with Laporte, or Rudiger etc.

 

Stones being English is clearly a large factor in why we are interested, it's about retaining an identity to the side. 

 

With regards to a lack of world class full backs, I thinks it's more a case that it is much harder to have a significant impact on a game playing at full back than any other position and so you have to be truly exceptional to get yourself noticed. 

We're very close to signing him according to di marzio. A meeting is apparently scheduled for monday between the clubs.

Agreed to personal terms with him. 5 years, 2m net a season. Roughly 55-60k a week. WAGNH has the story

Agreed to personal terms with him. 5 years, 2m net a season. Roughly 55-60k a week. WAGNH has the story

Only "according to Gianluca di Marzio" though.  Not official yet.

Only "according to Gianluca di Marzio" though.  Not official yet.

 Di Marzio is normally very reliable to be fair

 

Hopefully this will be completed in the next week. Looks like a very good player

Agreed to personal terms with him. 5 years, 2m net a season. Roughly 55-60k a week. WAGNH has the story

 

Actually, its 2 million Euros. SO, about 27K pounds a week. Which is just unbelievable business! 27 k for a player that is better than Shaw who is on 105k! Thank you, Marina.

 Di Marzio is normally very reliable to be fair

 

Hopefully this will be completed in the next week. Looks like a very good player

 

when he plays, you are almost going to cry   because you are going to realize how much chelsea loses, going forward on that left. To even add to that, his style of attacking and overlapping is just a joy to watch and will compliment hazard who is always looking for an extra outlet on the left when he cuts in. Against NYRB, i love Azpi, but several times, his inability to join the attack fluidly on that left hurt chelsea

Looks like he could be a good signing. And for a decent price. I like Luis though. Technically good, excellent going forward but got caught out a couple of times at the back and suffered I think from not playing enough. Unsurprising when up against Azpi though.

I guess the signing of Baba Rahman is to allow a transition of Azpi to right back. Interesting if this deal goes through.

Azpicueta did a fantastic job at lb considering he is right footed, but it's true that on the left he is limited in attack. Not in defence though.

Baba may not play much more than Luis this season.

baba is obviously for the long term plans, which i am happy about; some pressure needs to be put on ivanovic too. 

Edited July 24, 201510 yr by enigma