5 hours ago, Delnino said:

If Drinkwater is the height of our ambitions for CM, we're f**ked.

He's not the height of our ambitions tho, is he? That's as silly as saying Delph was the height of City's.

30 minutes ago, foxedup said:

There is a huge about of snobbery around English players at smaller clubs. I'm telling you now, he's better than someone like Dier at Spurs and he's vastly better than a lot of foreign muck that gets brought to these shores.

 

Better than Dier and Matic?  You off your rocker or what? If you really like Drinkwater, you would be wishing he would stay at Leicester instead of telling us what a good deal Chelsea is getting.

 

He's got a whiff of Scott Parker about him...

I think people should get used to the idea, because I think it's happening, regardless if you like him or not, let's give him our support if he does arrive. 

13 minutes ago, lchk said:

Better than Dier and Matic?  You off your rocker or what? If you really like Drinkwater, you would be wishing he would stay at Leicester instead of telling us what a good deal Chelsea is getting.

Clearly your manager is off his rocker also?

And yes, I think he's better than Dier who is one of the most overrated one dimensional footballers I've ever seen. Drinkwater beats him in almost all attacking and defensive stats for the last two seasons, despite playing with far worse players. Put him with better players and he'll only improve. 

Where have I said I want him to go, last time I checked what I say on the internet has no bearing on whether a transfer happens or not. I'm coming on here and telling you what he's like. I don't expect you to believe me, I had exactly the same reaction from your fans when I said Kante was a monster. All I had back was "he's not better than Matic, he's not better than x, y and z, he's a one season wonder, he can't pass..." blah blah.

5 minutes ago, Floyd25 said:

I think people should get used to the idea, because I think it's happening, regardless if you like him or not, let's give him our support if he does arrive. 

Have any decent sources actually said there is anything in it?

I've not really seen any journo stick their neck out and say it's on or it's happening. They just repeat the rumours that have been floating about for a week.

Just now, foxedup said:

Clearly your manager is off his rocker also?

And yes, I think he's better than Dier who is one of the most overrated one dimensional footballers I've ever seen. Drinkwater beats him in almost all attacking and defensive stats for the last two seasons, despite playing with far worse players. Put him with better players and he'll only improve. 

Where have I said I want him to go, last time I checked what I say on the internet has no bearing on whether a transfer happens or not. I'm coming on here and telling you what he's like. I don't expect you to believe me, I had exactly the same reaction from your fans when I said Kante was a monster. All I had back was "he's not better than Matic, he's not better than x, y and z, he's a one season wonder, he can't pass..." blah blah.

Where does it state that Conte wants Drinkwater beyond tabloid talk?  Do you have a credible source to back up what you just stated? I call BS on your claims that Dier is an inferior player - Drinkwater is another Steve Sidwell, Fabian Delph or Tom Cleverley.  Praised only by their own club supporters.  Deservedly dismissed by non Leicester fans.  Matic would piss all over this average player who is only linked because of his homegrown status.  Can't even get a regular spot in a lousy England team.  Kante was a player of the year and he definitely didn't get the level of derision when he was linked with Chelsea compared to Drinkwater.

5 minutes ago, foxedup said:

Have any decent sources actually said there is anything in it?

I've not really seen any journo stick their neck out and say it's on or it's happening. They just repeat the rumours that have been floating about for a week.

In the same vein, you claim Conte wants Drinkwater based on those same Rumour sources.

6 minutes ago, lchk said:

In the same vein, you claim Conte wants Drinkwater based on those same Rumour sources.

I think it's safe to assume this whole threads discussion is based around the fact the rumour might be true.

I am amazed that not one Italian midfielder has been linked with a replacement for Matic/Chalobah given Conte's Serie A experience.  A player like Luca Cigarini with his experience and great reading of the game would offer something very useful to the club.  Should be cheaper than the purported 35 million pound fee for Drinkwater.  Even N'Zonzi from Sevilla would fit the bill so much better. 

9 minutes ago, lchk said:

I call BS on your claims that Dier is an inferior player - Drinkwater is another Steve Sidwell, Fabian Delph or Tom Cleverley. 

How many league winners medals do they have playing almost every game and being on of that teams best players?

 

9 minutes ago, lchk said:

Praised only by their own club supporters.  Deservedly dismissed by non Leicester fans. 

Priased by people who watch him week in week out and dismissed by people who don't.... and you sneer at the people who know the player better.

 

9 minutes ago, lchk said:

Can't even get a regular spot in a lousy England team.

He's pulled out through injury of every England squad for almost the entire 16/17 season.

 

9 minutes ago, lchk said:

Kante was a player of the year and he definitely didn't get the level of derision when he was linked with Chelsea compared to Drinkwater.

Because people are obsessed with foreign players, English players are often looked at as muck by most if they aren't at a big team. Constantly sneered at and derided, just like Vardy who continues to score for England and Leicester regularly.
 

9 minutes ago, lchk said:

Kante was a player of the year and he definitely didn't get the level of derision when he was linked with Chelsea compared to Drinkwater.

He got a lot of derision, I was here arguing against it.

10 minutes ago, foxedup said:

How many league winners medals do they have playing almost every game and being on of that teams best players?

 

Priased by people who watch him week in week out and dismissed by people who don't.... and you sneer at the people who know the player better.

 

He's pulled out through injury of every England squad for almost the entire 16/17 season.

 

Because people are obsessed with foreign players, English players are often looked at as muck by most if they aren't at a big team. Constantly sneered at and derided, just like Vardy who continues to score for England and Leicester regularly.
 

He got a lot of derision, I was here arguing against it.

Ton Cleverley has a league champions' medal too.  So did Sidwell.  How did Drinkwater play last season?  Another one season wonder, eh?

I have watched him several times and he's a mediocre water-carrier at best - does a little bit of everything and some neat sideways passing once in a while.  Matic can do that better.  If he was as good as you claim he is, how come he isn't linked to other top clubs?  Why is Drinkwater linked to Chelsea at a late stage of the transfer window when other options are getting more and more limited?  Would Chelsea consider him if he wasn't English and thus homegrown?  You defend English players yet bash Eric Dier who is so much better than Drinkwater and that is proven by the interest shown in him by some big clubs.  Heck, I would even take Delph over Drinkwater.

Nothing to do with obsession or biasness towards English players.  In fact, I would state the opposite occurs - English players tend to be over-hyped when they are in a bit of a purple patch.  Vastly over-priced too as evidenced by the 35 million pound transfer fee for Drinkwater who isn't worth more than 20 million quid.  Give me a Baselli, Cigarini or N'Zonzi anytime.  Miles ahead of Drinkwater.  They'll be way cheaper too which should please the Board.     

Edited August 8, 20178 yr by lchk

17 minutes ago, lchk said:

I am amazed that not one Italian midfielder has been linked with a replacement for Matic/Chalobah given Conte's Serie A experience.  A player like Luca Cigarini with his experience and great reading of the game would offer something very useful to the club.  Should be cheaper than the purported 35 million pound fee for Drinkwater.  Even N'Zonzi from Sevilla would fit the bill so much better. 

n'zonzi? he had one good season and hasn't done much since. also, he's a first team player. we are looking for a bench warmer who doesn't mind being 4th choice. 

Just now, enigma said:

n'zonzi? he had one good season and hasn't done much since. also, he's a first team player. we are looking for a bench warmer who doesn't mind being 4th choice. 

So is Drinkwater.  He's a first team player too.

Personally, I wouldn't be looking at a back up.  I would be more keen on purchasing a midfielder who can compete and win a first team place and provide an option to play in a 3 man midfield.  

Premiership experience, knows kante. 4th midfielder and hg. Ticks all boxes. If conte does what he did last year gets a player who hasn't featured much in first team and catapults the player to exceed themselves and there expectations. Conte brings the best out of a player any top manager always does. 

WHY IS THIS THREAD HOT!? 

1 hour ago, doctorblue said:

He's got a whiff of Scott Parker about him...

I think Scott Parker was unlucky at Chelsea no-one like Kante or Claude Makele to play with and of course having to compete with Lampard, one of the greatest scoring midfielders ever.

Drinkwater, you get what you get, he's decent, as cover for central midfield we could do worse. What you don't get, and what this jumped-up Leicester fan doesn't understand, is control of the ball, i.e. the ability to hold on to the ball. Top teams control games because they have superior players. Drinkwater has obvious limitations, however he'll know he's not going to be a regular starter for Chelsea if he signs, barring injury, and if he's the guy the manager wants to fulfil a specific role within the squad, I'll be okay with this signing. I won't be bouncing up and down, as I was when Kante signed, but I'll be moderately happy, if he's the manager's choice as it appears he is.

 

Kante may not be the greatest in possession but he's not bad either, he's deceptively skilful and he has an alert mind, so that he's clever in possession as well as when he's covering. He can also carry the ball, as well as hit a pass. Drinkwater, different player, inferior player, as we all know, complimented Kante perfectly when they won the title but doesn't look quite so good without him although few would. He could do a job for us I suppose, but if he's playing a lot of games, we'll be an inferior team as a result, because we'll have less control where it really matters, and that's in the middle of the park.

4 minutes ago, Robbybob said:

Premiership experience, knows kante. 4th midfielder and hg. Ticks all boxes. If conte does what he did last year gets a player who hasn't featured much in first team and catapults the player to exceed themselves and there expectations. Conte brings the best out of a player any top manager always does. 

FYI, Drinkwater is a first team player for Leicester so he isn't some player plying his trade in the reserves and on extended loans.  Also, if he is bought as a 4th midfielder, he would probably not be having many games to exceed himself.  Moreover, expecting Conte to be some sort of footballing wizard who can transform any and all average footballers into Pirlos and Gattussos is wholly unfair to him.  He needs some quality to work with and the more he has, the better the results will be.

Just now, lchk said:

FYI, Drinkwater is a first team player for Leicester so he isn't some player plying his trade in the reserves and on extended loans.  Also, if he is bought as a 4th midfielder, he would probably not be having many games to exceed himself.  Moreover, expecting Conte to be some sort of footballing wizard who can transform any and all average footballers into Pirlos and Gattussos is wholly unfair to him.  He needs some quality to work with and the more he has, the better the results will be.

Actually I was on about moses. 

@lchk I'm not sure, a couple of us are suspecting Bakayoke might be injury prone and Fabregas is a luxury in certain matches.

Edited August 8, 20178 yr by strider6004

56 minutes ago, foxedup said:

Have any decent sources actually said there is anything in it?

I've not really seen any journo stick their neck out and say it's on or it's happening. They just repeat the rumours that have been floating about for a week.

No, you have a point, but he is more or less the only midfielder we are currently linked with. I just have a feeling that it will happen, I could be completely wrong, I'm in the camp that thinks he will be a decent squad player for us and I wouldn't be against the signing, clearly I'm in the minority.

1 minute ago, Floyd25 said:

No, you have a point, but he is more or less the only midfielder we are currently linked with. I just have a feeling that it will happen, I could be completely wrong, I'm in the camp that thinks he will be a decent squad player for us and I wouldn't be against the signing, clearly I'm in the minority.

No, I agree.
While he's certainly not a big name, he's not meant to be.
I think people are acting like he'll go straight into the starting 11.
He's there for depth and to fill the homegrown quota, plus he provides a little more physicality than Fabregas which may be useful during squad rotation.
As long as we get players like Aurier/Sandro etc by the end of the transfer window, I'll be happy. 

By the way, Drinkwater is trending and there are some fantastic jokes
"We're only signing him as a reminder to Marcos Alonso before he drives at night"
"This year we're signing Drinkwater, last year we signed DrinkInDrive"
 

Steve Sidwell. Danny Drinkwater. A couple of names that wont set the world alight.

When we got SS I thought Mou knows what he is doing. Well he ended up doing nothing with Steve.