When Luiz came back I read the same stuff on here and elsewhere about the characteristics thing. It's just nonsense IMO. We have a manager who can work wonders with tactics and players alike, after this season alone people should see what he can achieve with all sorts of players.

 

27 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

Not for me it was a totally different system they played and everyone flourished.

Conte was proved right and he has moved several players around to fit in to his system and it's worked so of course he can do the same with a young talent like Christensen. How do you know he doesn't have the characteristics to do it? Have you seen him train, play and such or is that a total wild guess?

Just a wild guess based on watching other teams fail to implement a back 3. Harry Redknapp had Richard Dunne at LCB for QPR when they were in the Prem, the back 3 was an epic fail.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

30 minutes ago, the special one said:

Yes we have Christensen, but for me he isn't a left sided CB. I can see the benefit of him playing at rcb or in the centre but at lcb I think he'd be a square peg in a round hole.

GC had barely ever played as an LCB too.

5 minutes ago, didierforever said:

GC had barely ever played as an LCB too.

As I said GC had played lcb for England... when Cahill talks about the need to adapt I don't think he's referring to the fact he'd never played at lcb before, he was just saying he'd never played in that position in a back 3, there's a big difference. Not trying to discredit anything Conte has done, he's a legend for recognising he had the players for 3-4-3. Christensen just isn't a lcb imho leaving us with a 31 yr old Cahill and an inexperienced Ake for that position.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

4 minutes ago, the special one said:

As I said GC had played lcb for England... when Cahill talks about the need to adapt I don't think he's referring to the fact he'd never played at lcb before, he was just saying he'd never played in that position in a back 3, there's a big difference. Not trying to discredit anything Conte has done, he's a legend for recognising he had the players for 3-4-3. Christensen just isn't a lcb imho leaving us with a 31 yr old Cahill and an inexperienced Ake for that position.

IF Conte does not see Andreas as the solution, even then fair enough, we should buy VVD. BUT... we dont know that yet. 

In that context, a mid and a world class winger (and a replacement for Costa if he leaves which I think looks obvious) are the top priority.

28 minutes ago, didierforever said:

IF Conte does not see Andreas as the solution, even then fair enough, we should buy VVD. BUT... we dont know that yet. 

In that context, a mid and a world class winger (and a replacement for Costa if he leaves which I think looks obvious) are the top priority.

Agree we do need a world class winger. I'd reluctantly sell Willian if we can sign Sanchez. I just don't think he's a top priority for the reasons I mentioned above. Willian (as he's shown yet again this season) is a world class winger. It isn't a key position for us to strengthen imho (not when we also have Pedro)

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

Willian isn't a world class winger, his numbers alone show this 

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by Chelsbear

6 minutes ago, the special one said:

Agree we do need a world class winger. I'd reluctantly sell Willian if we can sign Sanchez. I just don't think he's a top priority for the reasons I mentioned above. Willian (as he's shown yet again this season) is a world class winger. It isn't a key position for us to strenghen imho.

I feel completely the opposite.

Pedro provides a lot of goals, but his overall gameplay can be poor/average a lot of times. Willian on the other hand is the complete opposite and simply does not provide the end product. We need to take the pressure off of Eden, for overall gameplay and also someone who can provide Pedro's goals. Without Sanchez, we can/should possibly get to quarters, but if we want to take that next big step towards CL, and a next big step in the evolution, then we need another world class forward. Hence, "a top priority"

 

Also, I love willian, but he simply is not world class.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by didierforever

32 minutes ago, didierforever said:

I feel completely the opposite.

Pedro provides a lot of goals, but his overall gameplay can be poor/average a lot of times. Willian on the other hand is the complete opposite and simply does not provide the end product. We need to take the pressure off of Eden, for overall gameplay and also someone who can provide Pedro's goals. Without Sanchez, we can/should possibly get to quarters, but if we want to take that next big step towards CL, and a next big step in the evolution, then we need another world class forward. Hence, "a top priority"

Okay maybe a 'top priority'. But essential? Not for me. As I said I'd take Sanchez if he's available, for me it just won't be the end of the world if we don't sign him. For me he's only an essential signing if Willian/Hazard want to leave.

 

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

I can't see how cahill has characteristics that make him more capable of playing left side of a 3 than christiensen tbh. 

Christiensen has at least played 2 full seasons as part of a fairly successful back 3, so the principles will be far less alien to him, than they would have been to cahill this time last year, and cahill has done well on the whole. 

Back to sanchez. Stranger things have happened and although I'd love him here, I can't see a scenario in which he comes here, unless there is some serious good will over petr cech. 

51 minutes ago, big blue said:

I can't see how cahill has characteristics that make him more capable of playing left side of a 3 than christiensen tbh. 

Christiensen has at least played 2 full seasons as part of a fairly successful back 3, so the principles will be far less alien to him, than they would have been to cahill this time last year, and cahill has done well on the whole. 

I'm pessimistic about his ability at lcb because I've seen more of Christensen than I care to mention (from the academy to his loan to BMG). At youth level he never played at lcb, and at BMG he was used either at rcb or in the centre. I agree Cahill had barely played there, but he still had experience at lcb. For me the ability to play at LB is a key characteristic of a left sided CB (Chiellini is the 'benchmark' for assessing performance). Ake and VVD have both played at LB during their careers, Cahill hasn't but has adapted well to the role, Christensen at LB? I just can't see it happening.

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

14 minutes ago, the special one said:

I'm pessimistic about his ability at lcb because I've seen more of Christensen than I care to mention (from the academy to his loan to BMG). At youth level he never played at lcb, and at BMG he was used either at rcb or in the centre. I agree Cahill had barely played there, but he still had experience at lcb. For me the ability to play at LB is a key characteristic of a left sided CB (Chiellini is the 'benchmark' for assessing performance). Ake and VVD have both played at LB during their careers, Cahill hasn't but has adapted well to the role, Christensen at LB? I just can't see it happening.

What thave hese comments got to do with Sanchez??

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by Ballack & Blu

12 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

See your pessimistic view, but hasn't Cahill just lead the Team to the PL playing really quite well, in that exact position, Christensen untried at this white-hot PL Level, guy deserves praise, not a shooing.......

Christensen isn't Cahill lol

Look I rate Christensen, I do think there's potential to go on and become a top top CB, but top CBs only reach their potential if given the conditions to succeed. In my opinion, Christensen at LCB is a square peg in a round hole (hence the need to bring VVD as an eventual replacement for Cahill)

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

14 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

What thave hese comments got to do with Sanchez??

The debate was about who is the 'higher priority' signing. I said VVD and Morata and it just kicked off from there. Sorry for derailing the thread lol

Edited May 22, 20179 yr by the special one

It's a big decision for Sanchez but quite a simple one from my point of view. If he truly believes that Arsenal under Wenger who will sign a 2 year contract can win the league or even get back in the Champions league before having a chance of winning it then he should stay.

I have to say if he believes that then he is in the minority. This is his one last chance for a big move. I could see the Bayern move happening because Ribery and Robben are not getting any younger.

When Chelsea make Sanchez realise what he is missing on Saturday hopefully that can be the start of convincing him to come. Great players don't come available that often and Chelsea might have to pay more than a foreign club but he is well worth it.

Really not sure on Sanchez, even if was a possibility.

Obviously a great player who would improve most teams but the more I see of him, the less I like his attitude. Sure, he might be frustrated at Arsenal but I don't like all the histrionics and thinking he's bigger than the team. I know Conte would sort him out and not let him get away with that behaviour like Wenger does but sometimes a player like this can upset the who spirit of the squad and as good as he is, I think I'd rather not have him TBH.   

8 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Really not sure on Sanchez, even if was a possibility.

Obviously a great player who would improve most teams but the more I see of him, the less I like his attitude. Sure, he might be frustrated at Arsenal but I don't like all the histrionics and thinking he's bigger than the team. I know Conte would sort him out and not let him get away with that behaviour like Wenger does but sometimes a player like this can upset the who spirit of the squad and as good as he is, I think I'd rather not have him TBH.   

I think Costa has a terrible attitude and I can imagine is an absolute nightmare. He starts a fight in an empty room.

12 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Really not sure on Sanchez, even if was a possibility.

Obviously a great player who would improve most teams but the more I see of him, the less I like his attitude. Sure, he might be frustrated at Arsenal but I don't like all the histrionics and thinking he's bigger than the team. I know Conte would sort him out and not let him get away with that behaviour like Wenger does but sometimes a player like this can upset the who spirit of the squad and as good as he is, I think I'd rather not have him TBH.   

Can see why you might think that but I think the suggestion that Sanchez is a primadonna may be a little hasty, to my mind he throws his toys out the pram only because he expects his teammates to play on the 'same level' as him. He'll get that at Chelsea 

Sanchez is a winner stuck in a losing club. His frustrations are exactly what you'd hope and expect, from a player who is clearly a cut above his teammates. Time for him to come to down to South West London and get a taste of the winning lifestyle. Sanchez, Hazard and a replacement for Costa if he goes would be a scary front three. Let's make it happen

We need players as good as hazard at Chelsea. Neither Willian nor Pedro are. Sanchez just about is.

He'd be an upgrade on the right side so I'd take him.

Saying that I think Willian and Pedro been great this year. Sanchez works as hard as Willian and has more goals in him.

arsenal won't sell to us, so this is meaningless to think he'll come. bayern are interested, arsenal won't sell within the premier league and sanchez would be open to bayern so we haven't got a chance. 

arsenal won't sell to us, so this is meaningless to think he'll come. bayern are interested, arsenal won't sell within the premier league and sanchez would be open to bayern so we haven't got a chance. 

So you are saying Sanchez has no say in it?

What if his agent negotiate an agreement with a PL team like ours and Sanchez decides to leave to a specific club or he will not sign a contract and leave for free?

Do you honestly think the Arse board will allow to miss out on 40m to 60m? They are in it for the money nothing else.

Sanchez holds all the cards, he can take his pick and it should be us rather than City.

Conte make it happen.

10 hours ago, Nibs said:

Really not sure on Sanchez, even if was a possibility.

Obviously a great player who would improve most teams but the more I see of him, the less I like his attitude. Sure, he might be frustrated at Arsenal but I don't like all the histrionics and thinking he's bigger than the team. I know Conte would sort him out and not let him get away with that behaviour like Wenger does but sometimes a player like this can upset the who spirit of the squad and as good as he is, I think I'd rather not have him TBH.   

Tbh he was in fact bigger than the Arsenal team (not the club itself obviously, just the team). Who in that dressing room apart from say Cech has done anything of note in football? Not even Ozil is on his level despite the World Cup medal. At Chelsea, there are several big characters so he'd have to readjust that. Not to mention our manager is no push over like Wenger. After having to drag Arsenal to victory countless times with no serious benefits, I can understand why he feels bigger than their team. 

Also, we've had a combustible character like Costa for 3 years now so it's not like we can't handle crazy behaviours.

I think signing Sanchez would be the end of Willian's Chelsea career unfortunately, but it's a sacrifice worth making.

1 hour ago, Barrettinator said:

I think signing Sanchez would be the end of Willian's Chelsea career unfortunately, but it's a sacrifice worth making.

I'd hate to see is sell him to United which is his rumored destination but if we can get 30m for him outside of England and grab Sanchez to replace him I'd be ecstatic. Love the guy but he doesn't produce enough goals to justify starting him over someone like Sanchez.