4 hours ago, Ray_Cfc said:

Beginning to think our medical staff are slightly incompetent they walked CHO off the pitch after his injury instead of getting him a stretcher making the injury worse.

Now they gave the all clear to a player that obviously needed more time to recover.

I ruptured an achilles and hobbled around on it for a week before it was surgically repaired.  Once it's ruptured, you can't do any more damage to it.  The medical guys did not put him at further risk by walking him off the field.  

 

Hopefully, young Christensen can reclaim that form he had last season when he started playing regularly. 

We saw a really good player in there. 

3 months out is a massive blow. He has been a rock. Big moment for Andreas. He can press to move past Luiz in the pecking order for next season.

On 30/04/2019 at 15:17, Munkworth said:

If Christensen gets injured we’ll have our champions league winning central defence back.  

Crazy that both of those players are still at the club 7 years later. Shows what a sorry state of affairs we have when it comes to transfers.

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Crazy that both of those players are still at the club 7 years later. Shows what a sorry state of affairs we have when it comes to transfers.

Sarri seemed to want a new centre back in the summer, we was pretty heavily linked to Rugani but nothing came of it in the end. 

If the transfer ban is lifted I wouldn't be surprised if we were back in for him or Romagnoli. 

45 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Sarri seemed to want a new centre back in the summer, we was pretty heavily linked to Rugani but nothing came of it in the end. 

If the transfer ban is lifted I wouldn't be surprised if we were back in for him or Romagnoli. 

I sure hope so. Our cb options aren't great.

Actually, are we great anywhere except LW, GK and CM?

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I sure hope so. Our cb options aren't great.

Actually, are we great anywhere except LW, GK and CM?

I don't think many teams look out our starting XI and think "I wish they played for us". 

Except for Hazard and Kante I don't think there's a lot of strength there. If we're not banned from transfers this summer my personal wish list would be a CB, winger, centre forward. 3 big, quality signings could transform this team. 

59 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

If the transfer ban is lifted I wouldn't be surprised if we were back in for him or Romagnoli. 

Luiz & Cahill are both out of contract too and neither seems like they’re renewing. 

3 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I don't think many teams look out our starting XI and think "I wish they played for us". 

I’d always take a Dave. 

7 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I don't think many teams look out our starting XI and think "I wish they played for us". 

The teams that are measuring sticks right now... City and Liverpool... not would you trade one for the other, but are we competitive in those spots

GK - Yes, but still probably 3rd
RB - Yes
CB 1 - No - VVD Clear #1 Here
CB 2 - Yes. - Depending on how you order Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen, there's not a lot between 2nd best at City/Liverpool
LB - God No
CM - Kante - Yes
CM - Jorginho - No
CM - RLC - Not with City and Liverpool has more options here
LW - Yes, but as good as Hazard is, there's not a lot of drop off for the other teams
CF - No
RW - Hell No

I'd say conservatively, there are 5 positions where City and Liverpool are clearly better... tough to overtake teams like that

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I don't think many teams look out our starting XI and think "I wish they played for us". 

Except for Hazard and Kante I don't think there's a lot of strength there. If we're not banned from transfers this summer my personal wish list would be a CB, winger, centre forward. 3 big, quality signings could transform this team. 

Completely agree, bring Reece back to compete at RB and cover Kovacic's role in CM when needed too.

Kepa

Azpi Rudiger    (?)   Emerson

Jorginho

Kante      RLC

Pepe        Jovic  Hudson-Odoi

Something like above looks so much better than our current options. Obviously we're losing Hazard, and CHO is injured so Pulisic/Willian to stand in for the mean time. Doubt we could get Jovic with Madrid interested so i'd just bring back Tammy and/or Bats, not really anyone else out there i think looks fantastic. How's Dolberg getting on at Ajax? I know Tadic has took the limelight a bit, Isak looks good but once again in a poor league.

Reece James can cover for both Azpi and Kante when needed and expect him to be starting RB by the end of the season. Emerson and Alonso both good enough to rotate for another year then spend big in Jan/following summer on that position. 

At CB i wouldn't mind Romagnoli however would much prefer we went for Skrinrar at Inter. De Ligt is destined to go to someone bigger than us, 

To keep it like for like - OUT: Zappa (£12m) Luiz (free) Pedro (free?) Morata (£45m) Hazard (£80m) - £137m

                                      IN: James (free) Pepe (£55m) Tammy/Bats (free) Romagnoli (£45m) - £100m

31 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

Luiz & Cahill are both out of contract too and neither seems like they’re renewing. 

I’d always take a Dave. 

Gone a bit quite with Luiz. I get a feeling he might eventually sign a new deal but it does seem late in the day to be signing a new contract. Even if he does stay I think we'll sign a new CB. With Cahill leaving and Rudiger likely to miss the start of next season we don't have a lot of depth there. 

I'm a massive fan of Dave, I think he's a quality defender but I do think his overall performances have dipped in the last two seasons and I'm not sure he's as sought after now as he was a couple of seasons ago. 

24 minutes ago, Skinnedy said:

The teams that are measuring sticks right now... City and Liverpool... not would you trade one for the other, but are we competitive in those spots

GK - Yes, but still probably 3rd
RB - Yes
CB 1 - No - VVD Clear #1 Here
CB 2 - Yes. - Depending on how you order Luiz, Rudiger, Christensen, there's not a lot between 2nd best at City/Liverpool
LB - God No
CM - Kante - Yes
CM - Jorginho - No
CM - RLC - Not with City and Liverpool has more options here
LW - Yes, but as good as Hazard is, there's not a lot of drop off for the other teams
CF - No
RW - Hell No

I'd say conservatively, there are 5 positions where City and Liverpool are clearly better... tough to overtake teams like that

I think in terms of centre backs you've got the likes of Laporte, Kompany, Stone, Alderweireld and Vertonghen who look good more games than not.

I don't think we have an attacking midfielder anywhere near the quality of an KDB, Eriksen, Ramsay (although he's obviously off to Juventus). Hopefully RLC concurs his injury problems and kicks on from a decent season but he's still more about potential then finished product at the moment. 

Attacking options, we've probably got the weakest of the top 6. Take Hazard out of it and I don't think we look much better off than teams like Bournemouth, Watford and Everton. 

20 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Completely agree, bring Reece back to compete at RB and cover Kovacic's role in CM when needed too.

Kepa

Azpi Rudiger    (?)   Emerson

Jorginho

Kante      RLC

Pepe        Jovic  Hudson-Odoi

Something like above looks so much better than our current options. Obviously we're losing Hazard, and CHO is injured so Pulisic/Willian to stand in for the mean time. Doubt we could get Jovic with Madrid interested so i'd just bring back Tammy and/or Bats, not really anyone else out there i think looks fantastic. How's Dolberg getting on at Ajax? I know Tadic has took the limelight a bit, Isak looks good but once again in a poor league.

Reece James can cover for both Azpi and Kante when needed and expect him to be starting RB by the end of the season. Emerson and Alonso both good enough to rotate for another year then spend big in Jan/following summer on that position. 

At CB i wouldn't mind Romagnoli however would much prefer we went for Skrinrar at Inter. De Ligt is destined to go to someone bigger than us, 

To keep it like for like - OUT: Zappa (£12m) Luiz (free) Pedro (free?) Morata (£45m) Hazard (£80m) - £137m

                                      IN: James (free) Pepe (£55m) Tammy/Bats (free) Romagnoli (£45m) - £100m

Agree with James, don't see why he shouldn't be replacing Zappacosta who's been pretty underwhelming for the two years he's been here and hasn't justified his £22m price tag at all. 

I think Rugani and Romagnoli might be pursued in the summer if we can. There's been a lot of noise in recent weeks about Pepe and that's definitely a signing I could see happening if Hazard does go as expected. 

I like the idea of Jovic from what I've seen, though it's hard to imagine us being a preferred destination when surely some of the biggest clubs are going to be sniffing around him. Werner is apparently going to be available for as little as €40m, though I'm not sure Sarri wants a target man style forward. Icardi could be a possibility, I can't see him staying at Inter but given his off field antics some of the big clubs might be put off going for him. 

Three signings of that sort of quality and I think we would be well placed to overtake Spurs, Arsenal and United with quality of our starting XI. 

Big IF though. 

33 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Completely agree, bring Reece back to compete at RB and cover Kovacic's role in CM when needed too.

Kepa

Azpi Rudiger    (?)   Emerson

Jorginho

Kante      RLC

Pepe        Jovic  Hudson-Odoi

Something like above looks so much better than our current options. Obviously we're losing Hazard, and CHO is injured so Pulisic/Willian to stand in for the mean time. Doubt we could get Jovic with Madrid interested so i'd just bring back Tammy and/or Bats, not really anyone else out there i think looks fantastic. How's Dolberg getting on at Ajax? I know Tadic has took the limelight a bit, Isak looks good but once again in a poor league.

Reece James can cover for both Azpi and Kante when needed and expect him to be starting RB by the end of the season. Emerson and Alonso both good enough to rotate for another year then spend big in Jan/following summer on that position. 

At CB i wouldn't mind Romagnoli however would much prefer we went for Skrinrar at Inter. De Ligt is destined to go to someone bigger than us, 

To keep it like for like - OUT: Zappa (£12m) Luiz (free) Pedro (free?) Morata (£45m) Hazard (£80m) - £137m

                                      IN: James (free) Pepe (£55m) Tammy/Bats (free) Romagnoli (£45m) - £100m

Skriniar just re-upped his contract at Inter, so he would be ridiculously expensive, easily north of 100m.  But he is definitely the quality of CB that we need to target, great player.

I do like your overall thoughts here, and agreed it's going to be tough to get Jovic if RM want him.  Doesn't leave us with too many options as far as buying someone new.

A lot of top teams looking for a top centre back at the moment. De ligt, Skrinrar, Koulibaly, Romagnoli, are all the calibre of centre back we need. Rugani is decent, but he doesnt probably a level or two down from the others though. 

I would be shocked of we landed any of them though. 

Die Panzer is looking good IMHO

 

Rumours that Rudiger will be available to start the season. Would be great!

1 hour ago, IliyaKrostin said:

Rumours that Rudiger will be available to start the season. Would be great!

As long as they don't rush him back too quickly just so he can start the season on time. 

1 hour ago, IliyaKrostin said:

Rumours that Rudiger will be available to start the season. Would be great!

Can imagine he'll be short of match fitness so would assume Christensen and Luiz was start the season in defence (assuming we play a back 4). Be good to have Rudi available though, even if it is only on the bench. 

47 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Can imagine he'll be short of match fitness so would assume Christensen and Luiz was start the season in defence (assuming we play a back 4). Be good to have Rudi available though, even if it is only on the bench. 

Strangely this could work well for someone like Tomori who may get game time, and almost certainly will get bench time. Sometimes its all about timing for young players and this could turn out to be his opportunity. Be very interesting to see what Lamps does with Luiz.

Edited July 9, 20197 yr by dkw

What about Zouma. Surely he's miles ahead of Tomori in the pecking order.

I cant see him being here, fully expect him to be at Everton next season.

12 minutes ago, dkw said:

I cant see him being here, fully expect him to be at Everton next season.

I hope not. We need loads of options.

I fully expect Zouma to be here next season he is one of the best out and out stopper we have and one of the most experienced.

Rudi, Luiz, Zouma & Ampadu with Tomori going on loan to a prem team. That’s how i’d do it 

4 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

Rudi, Luiz, Zouma & Ampadu with Tomori going on loan to a prem team. That’s how i’d do it 

What happened to Christensen?

1 minute ago, Deino said:

What happened to Christensen?

LOL good point. I knew I was missing someone. Too easy to lose track with all the players we have.

Ah that’s a tough one then. I don’t really rate Luiz but I can’t see him being sold. I feel like we’re in a weird situation of not really having a best CB pairing. Christensen while having good positioning is so weak in the challenge I feel he can be a liability.

I’d like to see Zouma & Rudi tried. But then i’d like to see Ampadu get as many minutes as possible this season as well.