guardian and telegraph reporting talks have taken place between chelsea and southampton

i see some people are torn about our reported transfer targets so far (vvd, lukaku, bakayoko) if conte wants them, the guy who's on the verge of winning the double in his first season, transforming victor moses loan ranger extraordinaire, a complete unknown in alonso, and luiz into europe's top players at their position along the way, who are we to judge really

2 minutes ago, the special one said:

Spurs were 2nd best, but what did they achieve in Europe? Or the cup competitions? F**k all (hence the need for 2 of the best players we can possibly get for every position).

Young players/Youth players in the first few seasons in CL/Europa. Compared to a well settled team consisting of veterans like Cesc, DL, GC, Tibo (CL finalist), Hazard, Pedro, Matic. Not the same. How many of these spurs players have played how many CL campaigns? 

Again, you are comparing apples to oranges. By your logic, RM would have 2 of the best players for every position. Yet, they have asensio playing ahead of the likes of James/Isco. Its about the whole squad together. GC/DL is 31/30, Andreas/Ake is 21/20. They can easily be integrated into the starting 11 over the course of 2/3 seasons without dropping in quality.

42 minutes ago, didierforever said:

Yet, they have asensio playing ahead of the likes of James/Isco. Its about the whole squad together. GC/DL is 31/30, Andreas/Ake is 21/20. They can easily be integrated into the starting 11 over the course of 2/3 seasons without dropping in quality.

Asensio can start because only Barcelona can compete against them, that's my point! 

Look all I'm trying to say is we have an opportunity to rotate van Dijk/Cahill at LCB next season. Who would you rely on if you have a tough CL tie in midweek, and a potential championship defining match the following weekend - van Dijk/Cahill, or Cahill/Ake?

Edited May 19, 20179 yr by the special one

1 hour ago, didierforever said:

you forgot to add, AT THIS MOMENT.

Never mind that he is 25 (going to be 26 in a few months), Compared to a 21 year old Andreas who is already an accomplished CB in a CL team. Sorry, but choosing a short term gain over a massive long term profit is well....

 

Well yeah sure. Theres however no guarantees that will ever change

3 hours ago, Xfaxtor said:

Well yeah sure. Theres however no guarantees that will ever change

Oh.

In that case, now I wish we had not sacked Jose. "No guarantees"and all.

3 hours ago, the special one said:

Asensio can start because only Barcelona can compete against them, that's my point! 

Look all I'm trying to say is we have an opportunity to rotate van Dijk/Cahill at LCB next season. Who would you rely on if you have a tough CL tie in midweek, and a potential championship defining match the following weekend - van Dijk/Cahill, or Cahill/Ake?

And thats my point. Why should I look at next week? Why not look at the next 10 years? 

Also the place in contention is with Andreas. Not ake. Andreas/Djik are not going to be 5th choice CBs at Chelsea next season, lets get that straight. Worst case scenario would be 4th choice CBs. There have been way to many reports suggesting that Andreas wants a good enough role, and we are not going to be paying 50mil for Djik to be the 5th Choice. So I have no idea why you are comparing Djik and Ake.

If you are comparing Djik and Andreas, then I would take Andreas in CL. Has the experience playing against the likes of Aguero, messi and suarez.

 

48 minutes ago, didierforever said:

And thats my point. Why should I look at next week? Why not look at the next 10 years? 

Also the place in contention is with Andreas. Not ake. Andreas/Djik are not going to be 5th choice CBs at Chelsea next season, lets get that straight. Worst case scenario would be 4th choice CBs. There have been way to many reports suggesting that Andreas wants a good enough role, and we are not going to be paying 50mil for Djik to be the 5th Choice. So I have no idea why you are comparing Djik and Ake.

If you are comparing Djik and Andreas, then I would take Andreas in CL. Has the experience playing against the likes of Aguero, messi and suarez.

Are you being deliberately obtuse? It was a rhetorical question assuming Conte may want to rotate next season.

Look I give up mate. I have better things to do with my time than respond to every little counter argument you make.

You have your opinion, I have my mine. Let's leave it there shall we.

Edited May 19, 20179 yr by the special one

19 minutes ago, the special one said:

 

Are you being deliberately obtuse? It was a rhetorical question assuming Conte may want to rotate next season.

Look I give up mate. I have better things to do with my time than respond to every little counter argument you make.

You have your opinion, I have my mine. Let's leave it there shall we.

I am being obtuse and yet you are the one comparing Ake and Djik when I have consistently maintained that ANdreas is the world class potential while Ake can do a good enough job as a squad CB? Weird!!! Again.. if Conte wants to rotate next season, then he will have the option of Andreas should HE choose, who I think is as good as the flavour of the month, ie, Djik and has the potential to be world class.

7 hours ago, DonAntonio said:

When Garry didnt have kante in front of his "stealing all of his work" we finished 10th...

And before that we won the title, what of it. 

I was making the point that Cahill will have less defensive work to do than VVD.

Having had a look at the stats on Squawka, Azpi is apparently by far the best passer out of all of them, does that mean he is?  

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

I am being obtuse and yet you are the one comparing Ake and Djik when I have consistently maintained that ANdreas is the world class potential while Ake can do a good enough job as a squad CB? Weird!!! Again.. if Conte wants to rotate next season, then he will have the option of Andreas should HE choose, who I think is as good as the flavour of the month, ie, Djik and has the potential to be world class.

I didn't say you are obtuse. I asked if you are being deliberately obtuse - there's a difference. 

4 hours ago, didierforever said:

Oh.

In that case, now I wish we had not sacked Jose. "No guarantees"and all.

Thats the worst analogy Ive heard in some time

On 19/05/2017 at 12:39, didierforever said:

 

As for @DonAntonio 's. So andreas is not attracting interests from top clubs? Last time I heard, Barca (the best bloody team on the planet) were looking to get him. 

I could have saved you the long rant I was talking about ake, I addressed cristensen seperatiy, no one said sell him I said he isn't ready and he is not, talking about instant gratification not being the right approach means you don't understand the fiscal implications of modern football, managers don't get time to develop at Chelsea it's not in our or any top clubs agenda, no CL cost a ton in prize money and commercial opportunities, we can't spunk 10's of millions to f**king develop christensen because it would make some fans a tad happy, we put him out on loan and try and get him ready for the big time or sell him at a profit, the sooner you understand how this dynamic works the sooner you will save yourself the dissapointment and fruitless arguing, managers get sacked at a whim because it costs too much not to, did you see Leicester, even them who are small chips next to us couldn't commercially keep on a man who just made history last season.....instant gratification means 10's of millions more to the club than the whinging old play the youth mantra would result in, even Southampton who are a selling club and one of the best youth academies in England are loaning out youth players and selling them, it's Chelsea in 2017 WE WILL NOT FIELD YOUTH AND DEVELOP THEM ON THE PITCH AT THE COST OF LOSING GAMES I'm so fuxking tired of this same argument with people, they aren't going to do it and you have been given the reasons why, if Christensen starts for us next season barring a major injury I'll donate a grand and leave the forum ok....until then stop moaning about  youth please. 

30 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

 if Christensen starts for us next season barring a major injury I'll donate a grand and leave the forum ok....until then stop moaning about  youth please. 

Noted.

1 hour ago, DonAntonio said:

I could have saved you the long rant I was talking about ake, I addressed cristensen seperatiy, no one said sell him I said he isn't ready and he is not, talking about instant gratification not being the right approach means you don't understand the fiscal implications of modern football, managers don't get time to develop at Chelsea it's not in our or any top clubs agenda, no CL cost a ton in prize money and commercial opportunities, we can't spunk 10's of millions to f**king develop christensen because it would make some fans a tad happy, we put him out on loan and try and get him ready for the big time or sell him at a profit, the sooner you understand how this dynamic works the sooner you will save yourself the dissapointment and fruitless arguing, managers get sacked at a whim because it costs too much not to, did you see Leicester, even them who are small chips next to us couldn't commercially keep on a man who just made history last season.....instant gratification means 10's of millions more to the club than the whinging old play the youth mantra would result in, even Southampton who are a selling club and one of the best youth academies in England are loaning out youth players and selling them, it's Chelsea in 2017 WE WILL NOT FIELD YOUTH AND DEVELOP THEM ON THE PITCH AT THE COST OF LOSING GAMES I'm so fuxking tired of this same argument with people, they aren't going to do it and you have been given the reasons why, if Christensen starts for us next season barring a major injury I'll donate a grand and leave the forum ok....until then stop moaning about  youth please. 

I have noted all the OTT remarks, just be ready to pay up.

Also, you do understand that we dont need to "develop" christensen, right? He is playing in a CL f**king team, unlike VVD. So stop f**king acting like I am talking about an amateur.

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by didierforever

50 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

If Christensen starts for us next season barring a major injury I'll donate a grand and leave the forum ok....until then stop moaning about  youth please. 

Better start saving

Christensen will rotate with Azpi next season (and if Christensen isn't happy with that will be sold and replaced by Jorge Mere imho)

Zouma will be the casualty of Christensen's return (Marseille looks like a likely destination for Zouma if you believe the speculation). Ake will be given the choice to stay or go if we sign van Dijk, I think Conte will want to keep him as backup but won't give him assurances about playing time (so won't be surprised if we sell Ake and Clarke-Salter or Marc Guehi/Trevor Chalobah are training with the first team next season).

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by the special one

20 minutes ago, the special one said:

Christensen will rotate with Azpi next season imho.

Azpi will be rotating with no one, he is our best defender by a country mile and perfect for RCB.

11 minutes ago, Argo said:

he is our best defender by a country mile and perfect for RCB.

Agree 100%, but assuming 55+ matches next season will he play every match? Not likely imo - Christensen will rotate with Azpi and maybe Luiz (or Luiz and maybe Azpi?)

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by the special one

...

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by the special one

13 minutes ago, the special one said:

Agree 100%, but assuming 55+ matches next season will he play every match? Not likely imo - Christensen will rotate with Azpi and maybe Luiz (or Luiz and maybe Azpi?)

He will for some FA and League cup games but as far as PL and CL is concerned he is playing every match bar injury or suspension.

13 minutes ago, Argo said:

He will for some FA and League cup games but as far as PL and CL is concerned he is playing every match bar injury or suspension.

You may be right - personally I can see Christensen starting in the league/FA Cup, PL v lesser opposition, CL group stage v lesser opposition (and potentially the Europa League)

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by the special one

13 minutes ago, the special one said:

You may be right - personally I can see Christensen starting in the league/FA Cup, PL v lesser opposition, CL group stage v lesser opposition (and potentially the Europa League)

If he does it would be at the expense of one of the other two.

1 hour ago, the special one said:

Christensen will rotate with Azpi next season (and if Christensen isn't happy with that will be sold and replaced by Jorge Mere imho)

Zouma will be the casualty of Christensen's return (Marseille looks like a likely destination for Zouma if you believe the speculation). Ake will be given the choice to stay or go if we sign van Dijk, I think Conte will want to keep him as backup but won't give him assurances about playing time (so won't be surprised if we sell Ake and Clarke-Salter or Marc Guehi/Trevor Chalobah are training with the first team next season).

You keep going on about this Mere lad and I've hardly seen a peep from any outlet about Chelsea even being interested in him. Is this just your own personal wish?

 

2 minutes ago, Barrettinator said:

You keep going on about this Mere lad and I've hardly seen a peep from any outlet about Chelsea even being interested in him. Is this just your own personal wish?

Chelsea line up £25m move for La Liga defender: Conte could do this if he signs him
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/791291/Chelsea-Antonio-Conte-La-Liga-Jorge-Mere-transfer-news-Blues-gossip

21 minutes ago, Argo said:

If he does it would be at the expense of one of the other two.

Maybe - basically I think Christensen will play whenever Conte feels he has an opportunity to rest Azpi or Luiz (it's also a World Cup year so that may be a consideration)

Edited May 20, 20179 yr by the special one