13 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

If those goals helped to win games like Costas goals then yes it would...

If we don't have a striker who will hit those numbers we are weaker because out with Hazard we don't have any player who consistently scores goals 

Our players around Morata will score more than they did with Costa. Leading the line is about more than scoring goals, especially in a 3 man forward line.

Not all the fans are concerned.  Some seem to believe all is hunky dory and the squad is set to conquer the league and Europe.

By fans I mean me and all who agree with this [emoji1]

To answer the title of this topic - Yes, Yes I'am

5 hours ago, lchk said:

Not all the fans are concerned.  Some seem to believe all is hunky dory and the squad is set to conquer the league and Europe.

I doubt anyone realistically thinks that we can conquer both the league and Europe this season. We could get lucky and win both as could Tottenham, City, Liverpool or Man U but we currently don't have a squad capable of being a favourite to do so. 

That said those doom mongering are also an extreme, we as of now and probably going into last season have the 3rd strongest squad in the league, yet you have people claiming we have been depleted our squad that it's devoid of quality, the board have been diabolical, we are going to come 10th or worse etc. This is as farcical if not more farcical than us being able to compete for both the CL and BPL.

I get there are some people out there that will be disappointed (especially those who have manly know the glory days) as they expect Chelsea to win or at least come close to winning every trophy we are involved in every season, personally I don't expect this and seeing as our squad wasn't the even the strongest BPL squad last season and definitely wouldn't have been strong enough to compete for both the BPL and CL, I don't see how or why we should expect a what would need to be massive upgrade of the squad in one transfer window, in order to bring us to that level, especially when the market is as insane as it has been this window.

I would much prefer us to look at it sensibly and slowly build towards being a European powerhouse again rather than spend billions over night, potential cripple the club and fill the squad with a lot of overpriced and not particularly good players (cough cough Walker), who will be hard to move on.

Could the board and transfer team have done better this window, yes they probably could of, do we have the right to expect them to do better, no.  

Sergi Roberto (cm and wb cover)

Serge Aurier (rwb)

and Alex Sandro (lwb)

 

Courtois 

 

Azpi Luiz Christensen

 

Aurier  Kante Bakayoko Fabregas Sandro 

 

Hazard Morata 

would make me the happiest man alive 

I wasn't worried about a month or 2 ago, but after we've loaned/sold a bunch of players, I am now very worried. But there is still plenty of time left in the window to make some big signings so thats reassuring at least

19 hours ago, PedroMendez said:

I would much prefer us to look at it sensibly and slowly build towards being a European powerhouse again rather than spend billions over night, potential cripple the club and fill the squad with a lot of overpriced and not particularly good players (cough cough Walker), who will be hard to move on.

Could the board and transfer team have done better this window, yes they probably could of, do we have the right to expect them to do better, no.  

To become a European powerhouse, the board will need to sanction a probable net spend of at least a 100 million pounds every season over the next few years - at the very least in light of inflation.    

That will not happen especially given the fact that a new stadium will be built and that will crimp all spending to lower levels.  With this in mind, the board should be satisfied with Champions' League qualification and should certainly not expect anything more if they aren't putting their money where their mouths are.  

The club decided to loan and sell many of our loanees so I think we will buy 2-3 players. They will not leave Conte with this squad.

The question is did Conte approve the loan moves...and if he did, was that under the expectation that new high quality players were coming in...it's apparent that he didn't approve the Matic deal so did he have any in the rest? 

Yes, I am pessimistic. The squad isn't deep enough and I don't see the cheque book been flung open for 3-4 players. I would love to see Sandro sign but I don't think it will happen  even if we meet whatever their asking price is as Juve will only up the price! I can't see Danny Rose joining from the spuds.

A midfielder would be great, what about Adrien Rabiot and Javier Pastore? Anyone's thoughts on either? 

Its a shame the club don't give the youngsters a chance but as we all know the academy isn't about bringing youngsters through into the first team, its there to make money. Develop and sell on is the mandate for the academy. Don't be surprised if Christensen leaves this window ( Man City will buy him for £75m+ in a few years time, you watch)

 

 

baker heading to Boro, and kenedy heading to newcastle. 

I'm not sure if the latter would've stayed if it weren't for the storm in a tea cup. 

Another 2 potential emergency squad players out the door. 

My fear is we will over pay for very average players, that will end up contributing very little, and we will be loaning them out this time next year. 

I'm surprised van ginkel wasn't kept around at least until we signed another player. 

We must have players lined up if we're loaning those two out. Just in terms of bodies not playing time. Fair enough if Conte doesn't think they're ready but do we even have 25 players who have played competitively if those two leave? 

Edited August 10, 20178 yr by TheChelseaBlues

When we sign......

Cancelo

Rose

Oxlaide-Chamberlain

Barkley

N'Zonzi

Drinkwater

 

All will be fine! 

7 hours ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

We must have players lined up if we're loaning those two out. Just in terms of bodies not playing time. Fair enough if Conte doesn't think they're ready but do we even have 25 players who have played competitively if those two leave? 

I had thought the same about Matic AND chalobah too. But Apparently not.

43 minutes ago, Carefree_OBrien said:

When we sign......

Cancelo

Rose

Oxlaide-Chamberlain

Barkley

N'Zonzi

Drinkwater

 

All will be fine! 

Sandro, Llorente too

Don't like the idea of us signing a bunch of new players but we don't seem to have much of a choice now. 

If we sign a wing back and a CM this will be our squad. Ill assume Ox and Drinkwater for argument sake.

GK: Courtois, Caballero, Eduardo
WB: Alonso, Moses, Ox
CB: Azpi, Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger, Andreas
CM: Kante, Cesc, Bakayoko, Drinkwater
IF: Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Musonda
ST: Morata, Bats, Remy
That would make it 21 players.

Given the fact that -

- Tibo, Azpi, Luiz, Kante, Hazard, Morata will be starting every PL game.

- Our fantastic medical department which has enabled us to be "lucky" with injuries for years.

- The versatility a big number of these players possess.

- That would be a stronger squad (in quality) compared to every team in the league bar City.

that would be decent numbers.

Not sure that would be strong enough in the CL, but it would certainly give us a fantastic chance of retaining the crown.

 

19 minutes ago, Argo said:

GK: Courtois, Caballero, Eduardo
WB: Alonso, Moses, Ox
CB: Azpi, Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger, Andreas
CM: Kante, Cesc, Bakayoko, Drinkwater
IF: Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Musonda
ST: Morata, Bats, Remy
That would make it 21 players.

I think you are about right there, Ox and Drinkwater would add the depth we need, id add Shaw in there too if Utd go for Rose. I think all of them could be done reasonably cheaply, whatever that means in this market, £100mil combined (Euurgh) and would solve our other problem, Home grown players.

 

Think you are bang on about Remy, no one will pay his wages and no one will offer us a price which would be more valuable than his intrinsic 3rd choice striker value.  Unless we get someone else in who, Lorente for instance, I just dont see the value in selling him.

 

BTW, Drinkwater, Lorente, Remy... Really setting my sights high.

Every time Salah, Lukaku or De Bryne scores (or assists) a goal this season, i'm going to be quietly cursing Mourinho who sold all of them for less than they were worth :(

Imagine how much stronger we'd be if we'd held onto all of them.....

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by Guest

I've avoided buying into this discussion too much over the summer as we'd just won the league and the window is a long one. However, looking at the spot we find ourselves in today with only 4 players injured/suspended I can't help but think we've made some significant mistakes this summer. 

Notably the sale  of Matic to a rival while his replacement is injured and leaving key signings until very late in the window when we have very big games in the first six or seven weeks.

I hope the upside of this is an opportunity for Boga, Musonda et al to show their wares but if Conte is sacked this season after the mistakes made at higher levels this summer  it will be nothing short of disgraceful.

Edited August 12, 20178 yr by Spiller86

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

I've avoided buying into this discussion too much over the summer as we'd just won the league and the window is a long one. However, looking at the spot we find ourselves in today with only 4 players injured/suspended I can't help but think we've made some significant mistakes this summer. 

Notably the sale  of Matic to a rival while his replacement is injured and leaving key signings until very late in the window when we have very big games in the first six or seven weeks.

I hope the upside of this is an opportunity for Boga, Musonda et al to show their wares but if Conte is sacked this season after the mistakes made at higher levels this summer  it will be nothing short of disgraceful.

I'm a big believer in loyalty but there must come a time when Roman realises that his procurement team is not delivering the goods...look at the way Barcelona do things...they identify a target and then sent a negotiation team into the country to get the deal done...now I know that we perhaps don't have the allure of Barca but there has to be a rethink into how we acquire our targets because it is obvious that there is a large room for improvement in what we're currently doing...just my thoughts...

If we include the youth we have 17 outfield players available , I don't think Remmy will be here come the close of the window so 16... and at wing back and center mid we are woefully short. I would not like to play spurs with Fabregas and Kante in center mid 

Every time Salah, Lukaku or De Bryne scores (or assists) a goal this season, i'm going to be quietly cursing Mourinho who sold all of them for less than they were worth :(
Imagine how much stronger we'd be if we'd held onto all of them.....

Salah, Lukaku and DeBuyne all missed 2 title celebrations during these past 3 seasons.

4 minutes ago, evissy said:

4 hours ago, Qaz said:

Every time Salah, Lukaku or De Bryne scores (or assists) a goal this season, i'm going to be quietly cursing Mourinho who sold all of them for less than they were worth :(
Imagine how much stronger we'd be if we'd held onto all of them.....

Salah, Lukaku and DeBuyne all missed 2 title celebrations during these past 3 seasons.

Maybe it would have been 3 out of 3 with the latter 2 in our squad.

Yes OP, I am. Thanks for the question.