48 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

04/01/2018
Day 163
Have we signed Alex Sandro yet? 
No.

You cheeky bugger.

Stop reminding me...

20 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

The trouble with that is that you are not "watching him play", you are watching an algorithm making decisions in a simulation of what a group of programmers have defined is a way to simulate life.  So the opinion you are forming is about how those definitions appeal to you or otherwise, and an opinion on how well those programmers do their job, within the commercial remit of the company that employs them and the limitations of the technology.  In other words, FIFA has as much legitimate value in the real world of football as the monsters and BFG in DOOM have in my attempts to master distant planets and crumbling nuclear research facilities.

And I agree totally with what you said here. I didn't mean watching him play on FIFA, it's more about looking at the supposed attributes of the player ie speed etc to get some idea about the player but that shouldn't be the basis of forming of opinions, opinions of said player should be formed after watching him in real life.

 

17 hours ago, TomCFC85 said:

04/01/2018
Day 163
Have we signed Alex Sandro yet? 
No.

I though I’d set you straight on this!

P.S. Well done for getting things back on topic. 

Can't see us signing him in January he's cup tied for champions league isn't he? Maybe in the summer Juve would be more willing to do business.

25 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

I though I’d set you straight on this!

P.S. Well done for getting things back on topic. 

Yeah, well about that...

05/01/2018
Day 164
Have we signed Alex Sandro yet?
No.
P.S You're welcome 

I worry some other club will sign him way before us , if united can bid for dybala why are we not even having a try we are the champions 

Because we are no longer willing to pay top dollar for players. The board wants to look at cheaper options, with potential, rather than world class players who will walk into the starting 11. It's just the philosophy they are going with nowadays, perhaps brought on by the spiralling costs of the new stadium.

7 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Because we are no longer willing to pay top dollar for players. The board wants to look at cheaper options, with potential, rather than world class players who will walk into the starting 11. It's just the philosophy they are going with nowadays, perhaps brought on by the spiralling costs of the new stadium.

But that was old time , the best team known to do that was United in era of Alex ferguson , now even they splash cash bringing Pogba , lukaku , i dont want to see us losing again like this , if liverpool able to land lemar and keita than we are so doomed

I also think we need to splash the cash too, not often are world class players available.

https://twitter.com/Matt_Law_DT/status/950389709875941378

 just read that Juventus are still demanding around £60m for Sandro (telegraph)

Edited January 8, 20188 yr by Alakshendra

Of course we do, because we were never going to pay what they wanted. Man utd or someone will come in, pay what they want and that will be that.

"This is not the left back you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along."

- Juventus, 2017

17 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Of course we do, because we were never going to pay what they wanted. Man utd or someone will come in, pay what they want and that will be that.

Exactly, we're not in a position to stall. We're not a financial juggernaut in comparison to clubs like Real Madrid or Man United. 
If we don't pay the money, they'll easily find another club that will.

It's just sad at this point. It's not about the money, it's about the statement the club is inadvertently sending out.

We rake in record revenue and sponsorship while still making big profits from selling our loan players.

£60 million or thereabouts isn't a huge ask in this market given he is one of the top 3 left backs in the world just now. Other clubs will pay it no doubt and we will go for another Baba who fails.

Sad thing about this is, £60m really isn't much anymore for a player of his quality. Depressing.

If Virgil Van Dilk costs £75m and we can get Sandro for £60m, why are we even stalling?
Apparently we're willing to pay £50m...okay, why not just sell Van Ginkel, Piazon or any of the other thousand players we have on loan that will never play a part in the squad.
This is beyond penny-pinching now, if Marina can justify spending £35m on Drinkwater, why not an extra £10m for Alex Sandro?
 

And it's not as if Juve aren't willing to sell.
We know from credible sources that Sandro has requested to leave and Juve are open to it in January.
Yes, he'll be cup-tied but that didn't stop Barcelona buying the second most expensive player in the world.
Even if it just gives Alonso a breather every now and then. I'm confident in his ability but when he's forced to play every match, he gets tired and it shows.
 

What does this message show to players like Hazard and Thibaut? Who are arguably among the best players in the world?
They want to win trophies, they want to challenge for the Champions' League.
And I'm sure Barkley is a decent player and will prove his worth, but he's hardly a top tier signing.
So what are their options then? Stay at a club that's willing to accept mediocrity if it means saving a few quid or going to a squad like Real Madrid or PSG, who can offer players insane wages and genuine champions' league trophy potential?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/08/chelsea-move-alex-sandro-stalls-juventus-asking-price/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

This would be something to add to our slim core.

And I know we've got a big new stadium coming and I'm sure it'll be nice and that.
But what now, what in the mean time? Are we just supposed to hope we find a cheap diamond like Kante every transfer window? Or is the squad going to fill up with more Zappacostas?
The fact of Football these days is that you have to spend money to make money and we've not been spending enough nor spending it wisely.
Look at when Ashley left.
Since then we've bought
Luis - £15m
Baba - £14m
Alonso - £24m
Total - £53m
To try and fill that similar position and while Alonso has been very good, he's hardly world class. These "cheap alternatives" add up, especially if they don't prove their worth. City needed a Left Back, they bought a World Class one and won't have to worry about that position for another 5 years.
We have to face it that unless additional funds is pumped into the club or the board is willing to fork out just that bit extra, we're not progressing as a club. There's only so many times you'll bring in a Manager like Conte who can win the league with the players he has. 
We're at a crossroads now, the club needs to be honest, are we willing to compete with City or United or are we just happy being Arsenal tier?
 

Edited January 8, 20188 yr by TomCFC85

25 minutes ago, TomCFC85 said:

And I know we've got a big new stadium coming and I'm sure it'll be nice and that.
But what now, what in the mean time? Are we just supposed to hope we find a cheap diamond like Kante every transfer window? Or is the squad going to fill up with more Zappacostas?
The fact of Football these days is that you have to spend money to make money and we've not been spending enough nor spending it wisely.
Look at when Ashley left.
Since then we've bought
Luis - £15m
Baba - £14m
Alonso - £24m
Total - £53m
To try and fill that similar position and while Alonso has been very good, he's hardly world class. These "cheap alternatives" add up, especially if they don't prove their worth. City needed a Left Back, they bought a World Class one and won't have to worry about that position for another 5 years.
We have to face it that unless additional funds is pumped into the club or the board is willing to fork out just that bit extra, we're not progressing as a club. There's only so many times you'll bring in a Manager like Conte who can win the league with the players he has. 
We're at a crossroads now, the club needs to be honest, are we willing to compete with City or United or are we just happy being Arsenal tier?
 

Extactly my point , if we wont win we wont have more fans and than who will watch the matches , the stadium will be just empty , Alonso is good so is moses but if we really want to win than we need support from the front , we need sandro , we need mehrez or lemar may be , someone who can really perform when team is going down , a manager cannot do miracles when players are not that good , he can try his best but conte is not a magician 

Look what this debacle has turned us into.
I found a petition on Change.Org to Marina to sign Alex Sandro.
https://www.change.org/p/marina-granvoskaia-chelsea-to-pay-up-for-alex-sandro-and-in-turn-secure-the-future-of-conte-and-hazard?recruiter=848017929&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial.undefined
A website that has created successful petitions to help get clean water to African villages, pay for vital surgery for people in need and to release political prisoners from tyrannical regimes, is now being used to try and pester one of our board members to pay the money Juventus want for a Football Player.
Absolutely pathetic.
...I'm signing it...but still, absolutely pathetic.