53 minutes ago, Argo said:

Conte has many strengths as a manager but the market isn't one of them. The fact he wants Alexis aswell says it all.

Just remember who we were linked with when he was here, I think it's pretty clear that it was Conte wanting to enquire about these players, Carroll, Crouch and whatnot. 

It probably was him who signed Bakayoko. I was never sold on him as a player, whenever I saw him in the Champions League I thought he was very average, looked the worst player in that side, I didn't get the hype. I never saw his Ligue 1 performances though or his performances at Milan. 

40 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Just remember who we were linked with when he was here, I think it's pretty clear that it was Conte wanting to enquire about these players, Carroll, Crouch and whatnot. 

It probably was him who signed Bakayoko. I was never sold on him as a player, whenever I saw him in the Champions League I thought he was very average, looked the worst player in that side, I didn't get the hype. I never saw his Ligue 1 performances though or his performances at Milan. 

He gets away with so much flack for that summer because 90% of the fanbase want to run with "the board forced those players on him" narrative. While that may be the case with Bats, Barkley, Drinkwater it certainly wasn't the case with Baka, Morata, Zappacosta. Lets not forget the players he wanted that he didn't get, Rom, Sanchez, Naingolan (apparently wanted him over Kante but is now shafting him), Perisic (again now shafting him now he's got him), Candreva etc.

Many people thought the board f**ked up by not backing him, i thought they f**ked up by backing him, he should have had no say in transfers given his record.

6 minutes ago, Argo said:

He gets away with so much flack for that summer because 90% of the fanbase want to run with "the board forced those players on him" narrative. While that may be the case with Bats, Barkley, Drinkwater it certainly wasn't the case with Baka, Morata, Zappacosta. Lets not forget the players he wanted that he didn't get, Rom, Sanchez, Naingolan (apparently wanted him over Kante but is now shafting him), Perisic (again now shafting him now he's got him), Candreva etc.

Many people thought the board f**ked up by not backing him, i thought they f**ked up by backing him, he should have had no say in transfers given his record.

I think there's equal blame to go around, especially considering how we've been in the market over the years, if you compare our transfer activity to City's there's no comparison, they do much better business than we do. 

However, in Conte's case I think you look more in the right now given the players he's wanting to sign at Inter. 

5 hours ago, Slojo said:

I think there's equal blame to go around, especially considering how we've been in the market over the years, if you compare our transfer activity to City's there's no comparison, they do much better business than we do. 

However, in Conte's case I think you look more in the right now given the players he's wanting to sign at Inter. 

Unpopular opinion but apart from 2017 I don't think recruitment has been a problem in this era (2015 was more what we didn't do as opposed to what we did, we targeted the right players but could only get Pedro over the line) and apart from isolated examples we haven't really signed any serious flops (again that summer aside). 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 were all excellent summer windows while 2013 was a decent one. 

I think what has really set us aside from the likes of City especially under Pep is the ruthless edge. They get rid of players as soon as they start becoming even a minor hindrance (Hart, the fullbacks, they even signed an Aguero replacement when it appeared he wasn't going to take to the Pep way) whereas we tend to stick with them and don't make serious efforts to replace them until they become serious problems on the pitch (the old guard, Ivanovic, Matic, Oscar).

In many ways how he deals with the Azpi situation will tell me a lot about how Lampard will do as a manager and whether he has serious longevity potential, it's one thing being ruthless with Luiz who's been in and out of favour constantly during both his spells here, it's another thing entirely dropping the captain and long time stalwart of the side no matter how much it needs to happen.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

In many ways how he deals with the Azpi situation will tell me a lot about how Lampard will do as a manager and whether he has serious longevity potential, it's one thing being ruthless with Luiz who's been in and out of favour constantly during both his spells here, it's another thing entirely dropping the captain and long time stalwart of the side no matter how much it needs to happen.

It's not like Azpi could complain. He hasn't produced the form from previous years and surely understands you either produce or lose your spot to the next guy (Reece James when fit). I feel the situation would be different from Cahill where he was just frozen out by Sarri. Off all the criticism of Sarri this one was the worst for me. You don't just from one day ignore the captain, not be honest or even communicate  with him and not expect repercussions to your authority or respect within the team. I couldn't understand why Sarri did this, and makes a mockery of his man management skills. I just cant see Frank doing that- he has more class and the sense that you can be honest enough with people and still do your job properly as the gaffa. Remember he was in that position too as a player in his final season under the fat Spanish waiter and I really would be puzzled if he made the same mistake.

On 26/08/2019 at 07:24, Slojo said:

KDB was amazing at Genk and Bremen, he wasn't even bad playing for us just never got his chance. 

Salah looked really good, especially against us before we signed him at that Danish club was it? I can't remember. This is an unpopular opinion and most disagree but I thought he was actually good here in his first 6 months (Stoke Away), after that he got reserved to the bench and whenever he played he was terrible and we sold him. I don't think Mourinho gave either a chance. Bakayoko was different, he had more of a chance than both of those combined. He played over 40 games that season, 29 league games. Salah and De Bruyne played 16 league games combined and were both younger. 

Not really a valid comparison. 

Basel was who we bought Salah from.  He did look great in the CL against us, that’s for sure.

Bakayoko seems to be heading back to Monaco

 

3 hours ago, robdog said:

Bakayoko seems to be heading back to Monaco

 

Tekkit. And you beta mek sure you ple yo sox off fodem.

14 hours ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

Tekkit. And you beta mek sure you ple yo sox off fodem.

 

13 hours ago, robdog said:

 

I speakeh to ma brodda

11 hours ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

I speakeh to ma brodda

Medical today, loan with option to buy

22 hours ago, robdog said:

 

Edited August 31, 20196 yr by GhostOfDembaBa

With all the drama yesterday nobodies mentioned we’ve shipped Baka back out on loan to Monaco with a rumoured £35mil future fee. Let’s hope he doesn’t insult the manager and gets a move this time!

And if he does not settle back there then perhaps by general consent we can call him Back-a-yoyo 🙂

 

He forgot what his shirt number is, #14 was on the board to be subbed off and he started running towards the bench applauding the fans thinking it was him that's going off.

The gift that keeps on giving.

Maybe we should sell him to Tottenham. [emoji16] (just a joke, no disrespect to anyone's religion)

On 01/09/2019 at 12:24, Munkworth said:

With all the drama yesterday nobodies mentioned we’ve shipped Baka back out on loan to Monaco with a rumoured £35mil future fee. Let’s hope he doesn’t insult the manager and gets a move this time!

Won't this be the 3rd time of loaning him out with a future fee? Not sure if he had a future fee last time. 

Can't say I'm confident on anyone buying him for that price tbh, but if it gets him off the wage books until we can offload him then... 

4 hours ago, Slojo said:

Won't this be the 3rd time of loaning him out with a future fee? Not sure if he had a future fee last time. 

Can't say I'm confident on anyone buying him for that price tbh, but if it gets him off the wage books until we can offload him then... 

 It’s only the second isn’t it? Milan first who he impressed at until he mouthed off at Gatusso and was bummed off. Monaco this season. 

Things I never thought I'd write: watching our midfield tonight without Kante, I'd happily have Bakayoko come back as backup to Kante in the DM role.

Just now, Spiller86 said:

Things I never thought I'd write: watching our midfield tonight without Kante, I'd happily have Bakayoko come back as backup to Kante in the DM role.

I’ve report this post to the correct authorities, expect some men in white coats and a padded van shortly 

Just now, Munkworth said:

I’ve report this post to the correct authorities, expect some men in white coats and a padded van shortly 

I mean we could never pass him the ball but at least he can defend/run.

I'm sure the men in the white coats will understand when I explain it to them like that...

4 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

Things I never thought I'd write: watching our midfield tonight without Kante, I'd happily have Bakayoko come back as backup to Kante in the DM role.

I honestly don’t think he would be too bad sitting deep like that. Don’t think it would happen and not sure I want it to, but it theoretically would be worth a try.

It’s not like we will be able to sell him this summer for anywhere near what we paid for him, anyways.

1 minute ago, Spiller86 said:

I mean we could never pass him the ball but at least he can defend/run.

Let us know when you’ve got that hole you’re digging all the way to China!

9 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

Things I never thought I'd write: watching our midfield tonight without Kante, I'd happily have Bakayoko come back as backup to Kante in the DM role.

I came across a crazy rumour the other day that Bayern and PSG apparently want him next season. I don't think he'd be much worse than Declan Rice tbh.

Edited July 22, 20205 yr by the special one