Koulibaly will come. I'm sure of it. We've just loaned out Baba so another LB will come in. Defenders are coming.

Not really sure how we can compare top quality players like hazard, Oscar, matic etc etc on last seasons form. Last season was a compete let down and we all know it. They all have a chance to make a new start, with a new manager and new ideas. There's every chance Oscar will go back to being the player that scored the wonder goal against juve. Every chance matic can go back to being the power house he was 18 months ago and we saw hazard returning to his best at the back end of last year.

The only thing I find worrying about the current squad is a lack of full backs. With baba gone and Ivan another year older we only have Dave who is proven. Yes we have young lads coming through but I fear we will end up with Moses/cuadrado as a full back. Looks like the big fella from Napoli will arrive but he's a CB.

I think Aina could start this year with Dave at LB until we sign someone else to play there. If conte does play 442 as he has been doing I don't think we need a lot of central midfield players we all ready have cesc matic Nat Kante and Mikel. Oscar I think will move on. Hazard will be wasted in the left midfield position running up and down. I expect him to play as one of the 2 central strikers this season. We really need another CB which I hope will be signed very soon.

Not really sure how we can compare top quality players like hazard, Oscar, matic etc etc on last seasons form. Last season was a compete let down and we all know it. They all have a chance to make a new start, with a new manager and new ideas. There's every chance Oscar will go back to being the player that scored the wonder goal against juve. Every chance matic can go back to being the power house he was 18 months ago and we saw hazard returning to his best at the back end of last year.

The only thing I find worrying about the current squad is a lack of full backs. With baba gone and Ivan another year older we only have Dave who is proven. Yes we have young lads coming through but I fear we will end up with Moses/cuadrado as a full back. Looks like the big fella from Napoli will arrive but he's a CB.

 

lol

Not expecting a miracle transformation of the teams performance, at least not in the short term. At the moment, in pessimistic mode, I would be happy to see us move up into the top six. Minimum requirements: stop the rot. Best I can hopefor: top four.

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At the moment, in pessimistic mode, I would be happy to see us move up into the top six. Minimum requirements: stop the rot. Best I can hopefor: top four.

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Same, not feeling a top 6 finish let alone top 4... still think we're short a quality FB who will chip in with a few goals/assists, a quality CB to partner Zouma when he's fit and ready again, and an attacking mid/#10 (Koke or Modric spring to mind).

 

If we defend with a deep block and only two in centre mid I think we're asking for trouble imo

 

Can't remember being this pessimistic about our chances since the late 90's, I think our best hope will be for our opponents to struggle to maintain consistency.

Edited August 2, 20169 yr by the special one

I stuck a tenner on us when we bought Kante at 7/1 to win the league. I might live to regret that !!

same old same old ,all this talk of 4 or 5 new signings what a joke as per usual  its one in one out ,Kante in prob Matic/Oscar out

Batman in Remy out ,with Baba gone ,the squad gets worse every year we have no chance of winning the league top 4 at best

------------------------Tibo---------------------------

 

--Azpi-------NewCB------Terry-------NewLB-----

 

-----------Kante--NewCM--Cesc------------------

 

--Willian----------------------------Hazard---------

 

-------------------Costa------------------------------

 

What I'd like to see, can see 2 defenders coming in but highly unlikely we will get another CM, Also talk of Lukaku I'd Prefer we didn't go for him but all depends on Costa.

 

I like Willian but we could improve out wide and definitely have some dead wood there.

 

What I expect to see however is..

 

-----------------------------Tibo----------------------------------

 

--Ivanovic-------NewCB-------Terry--------Azpilicueta-----

 

------------------Kante-----------Fabregas--------------------

 

--Willian--------Costa/---------Hazard-------Pedro----------

same old same old ,all this talk of 4 or 5 new signings what a joke as per usual  its one in one out ,Kante in prob Matic/Oscar out

Batman in Remy out ,with Baba gone ,the squad gets worse every year we have no chance of winning the league top 4 at best

 

Kante is an upgrade on Matic/Oscar and Batshuayi is an upgrade on Remy. Baba was dead wood and Aina already looks better than him. Not sure how that is a worse squad.

Kante is an upgrade on Matic/Oscar and Batshuayi is an upgrade on Remy. Baba was dead wood and Aina already looks better than him. Not sure how that is a worse squad.

 

Not sure how you can base bats as an upgrade to remy?? He's had a decent season for Marseille in a sh*te french lge dominated by PSG. Remy has had barely any minutes in a chelsea shirt but at least has the record of scoring in the prem for QPR and Newcastle. Also Remy cost £8million. 

 

Kante has had 1 very good season in a Leicester team which had a season which is unlikely to be replicated in any of our lifetimes. I agree Matic had his head up his arse last season but when on form, for me, easily outclasses Kante. Also how can you put Oscar in the same bracket as Kante and Matic?? He's a flair player with skill. He's a luxury player who showed glimpses under Jose of working hard but in my opinion would be better having a "free role" in a team to show the skills we saw against Juve.

Not sure how you can base bats as an upgrade to remy?? He's had a decent season for Marseille in a sh*te french lge dominated by PSG. Remy has had barely any minutes in a chelsea shirt but at least has the record of scoring in the prem for QPR and Newcastle. Also Remy cost £8million. 

 

Kante has had 1 very good season in a Leicester team which had a season which is unlikely to be replicated in any of our lifetimes. I agree Matic had his head up his arse last season but when on form, for me, easily outclasses Kante. Also how can you put Oscar in the same bracket as Kante and Matic?? He's a flair player with skill. He's a luxury player who showed glimpses under Jose of working hard but in my opinion would be better having a "free role" in a team to show the skills we saw against Juve.

 

In current form, anyone from our U21's would show more fight and be an upgrade on any three of those named players. None of them have hit any type of form in the last 18 months.

In current form, anyone from our U21's would show more fight and be an upgrade on any three of those named players. None of them have hit any type of form in the last 18 month.

 

 

In fairness to Remy how can he show any kind of form getting 10/15 mins here or there.

 

It just seems to me in some peoples eyes Kante has already been lined up as a complete squad changing signing. Like I said before, he's had 1 good season . That's it. He came from Caen to Leicester and played a bit part in a mediocre French team in the euros. I hope I'm proved wrong and he turns out to be a more important player than Maka but I can't see it.

 

Obviously last season and towards the end of the title winning season the squad had lost their way but these players haven't turned in to a bag of sh*t overnight for no reason at all. We all know there was a fallout with Jose and a problem within the squad but that has gone now. I'm very optimistic players like Hazard, Matic, cesc,and all the others that were truly shocking last year will return to their best under Conte.

In fairness to Remy how can he show any kind of form getting 10/15 mins here or there.

 

It just seems to me in some peoples eyes Kante has already been lined up as a complete squad changing signing. Like I said before, he's had 1 good season . That's it. He came from Caen to Leicester and played a bit part in a mediocre French team in the euros. I hope I'm proved wrong and he turns out to be a more important player than Maka but I can't see it.

 

Obviously last season and towards the end of the title winning season the squad had lost their way but these players haven't turned in to a bag of sh*t overnight for no reason at all. We all know there was a fallout with Jose and a problem within the squad but that has gone now. I'm very optimistic players like Hazard, Matic, cesc,and all the others that were truly shocking last year will return to their best under Conte.

Have you seen Matic this preseason?

Hopefully still time for a few comings and goings...

 

Edited August 3, 20169 yr by the special one

Have you seen Matic this preseason?

Can we really judge a player on a pre season marketing trip to America and a game in Austria? If that's the case then get rid of the lot!!

Can we really judge a player on a pre season marketing trip to America and a game in Austria? If that's the case then get rid of the lot!!

K let me change my response.  Have you seen Matic all last year and this preseason?  

Can we really judge a player on a pre season marketing trip to America and a game in Austria? If that's the case then get rid of the lot!!

 

No, but we can judge them on the past 18 months or so..

I'm judging Oscar on the past 24 hours............

Looking at pre-season it seems there is no space whatsoever for Kenedy.

Looking at pre-season it seems there is no space whatsoever for Kenedy.

Its a pity he's talented

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http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15205/10527973/paul-merson-predicts-final-premier-league-table-for-201617?

Merson picks us to win the league, probably not a good sign

Not sure where to post this, Our club doesnt get enough recognition for work it does to help people around the world.

 

From what I've seen in preseason my concern is the defence.

Playing 4-4-2/4-2-4 I think we have options in midfield and attack...

First choice:

Willian...Kante...Matic...Pedro

Costa...Hazard

Second choice:

Cuadrado..Mikel...Chalobah...Kenedy

Bats...Fabregas

From preseason the regular defence was

Ola...Cahill...JT...Dave

And in fairness many of the goals we conceded were long shots that should have been shutdown by a midfielder. We have Ivan and Zouma to add in, but we definitely need to strengthen.

As I suspect most Chelsea fans feel I am torn between splashing the cash and showing faith in the kids. We have seen RLC and Chalobah (and Baker) perform well for England U21's, at some point we need to show faith in them. Hopefully Conte will.

It looks very likely that our starting back four to open the season will be the same back four that started last season..............

 

Oh Dear.