On 26/01/2020 at 13:53, Davey Baby said:

 

In probably our most profligate match for a while, we had 5 chances and scored 2. You'll find the word profligate on google.

Sigh..... I remember the days when people would have know what profligate meant, but would've had no clue what a Google is ......

16 hours ago, forbzy said:

Frank did seem to hint that a loan signing was the most realistic at this point. My only concern with loan signings is that usually means a player who is surplus to requirements elsewhere so either older, out of form, or both. 

The thing with that is where the player is surplus to requirement, if he is surplus at Barca or PSG for example then they can be a good short term help, if its a Wigan not so much 

I just can't believe the board has once again sat on their hands until the last few days of the window. If we don't make top four, we are going to struggle in summer to recruit any decent players.

What player will want to come to a top club who have missed the CL three times out of the last five seasons. Doesn't bode well for the future, does it. 

Edited January 28, 20206 yr by enigma

24 minutes ago, enigma said:

I just can't believe the board has once again sat on their hands until the last few days of the window. If we don't make top four, we are going to struggle in summer to recruit any decent players.

What player will want to come to a top club who have missed the CL three times out of the last five seasons. Doesn't bode well for the future, does it. 

It's a January window, clubs are reluctant to let players go, especially when they're any good (which we all prefer to attract ). So relax, players get a good salary with us, which is an incentive for most, and get to play for a club that's consistently winning trophies. The problem lies in identifying the right players that improve us, not convincing them to sign for us, imo.

Edited January 28, 20206 yr by Valerie

16 hours ago, Argo said:

I don't think it will be as hard as people think, Arsenal have managed to sign Pepe and Auba while out of it AND with no recent history of even a title challenge.

Take Sancho for example. If we're fighting Real and Barca for him we most likely haven't got a snowball in hells chance even if we win the CL, but if it's between us and United I would fancy our chances even if they somehow pipped us to 4th.

The bigger question will be could we financially afford to go as big, but I think players who wouldn't want to come to us wouldn't regardless likewise players who see us as an option still will.

You seem to be forgetting that Wenger was a huge draw for both players, they overpaid and have them on huge wages. Come summer if we are competing with Spurs for players, 7 out of 10 times we will miss out because of Jose’s appeal. Factor in the fact Marina won’t overpay on fees/wages, and it will be a long summer if we miss out on top 4.

1 hour ago, ducavis said:

You seem to be forgetting that Wenger was a huge draw for both players, they overpaid and have them on huge wages. Come summer if we are competing with Spurs for players, 7 out of 10 times we will miss out because of Jose’s appeal. Factor in the fact Marina won’t overpay on fees/wages, and it will be a long summer if we miss out on top 4.

Wenger a huge draw for Pepe? Wenger was one year gone at the point Pepe was signed.

You contradicted yourself by saying Spurs, you say we'll miss out because we won't pay the wages but we'll equally miss out to Spurs who's highest paid player is probably on less than Hudson Odoi. Furthermore the Jose factor isn't that big a thing these days, especially with young players, Kova chose us while in Europa over United in CL because he didn't want to play under Mou. 

11 minutes ago, Argo said:

Wenger a huge draw for Pepe? Wenger was one year gone at the point Pepe was signed.

You contradicted yourself by saying Spurs, you say we'll miss out because we won't pay the wages but we'll equally miss out to Spurs who's highest paid player is probably on less than Hudson Odoi. Furthermore the Jose factor isn't that big a thing these days, especially with young players, Kova chose us while in Europa over United in CL because he didn't want to play under Mou. 

I was referring to Lacazette. As for Pepe I wouldn’t read anything into that signing, It’s a Zaha type signing; not worth the price and Arsenal only paid the fee because they are paying in instalments over a long period of time.

Who else was in for Kovacic? Unless we are going the route of taking punts on players who haven’t worked out at big clubs, which hasn’t worked out for Arsenal with Ceballos. Still think if end up in Europa & Spurs in CL and we agree fees with the same player, they will most likely end up at Spurs. 

12 minutes ago, ducavis said:

I was referring to Lacazette. As for Pepe I wouldn’t read anything into that signing, It’s a Zaha type signing; not worth the price and Arsenal only paid the fee because they are paying in instalments over a long period of time.

Who else was in for Kovacic? Unless we are going the route of taking punts on players who haven’t worked out at big clubs, which hasn’t worked out for Arsenal with Ceballos. Still think if end up in Europa & Spurs in CL and we agree fees with the same player, they will most likely end up at Spurs. 

United wanted him but he didn't want to work for Jose and Pepe was one of the hottest properties openly available the market last summer.

Furthermore have you seen Spurs this season? If we lose out (which I don't think we will) I am next to certain it won't be to Spurs. There's a huge list of players who have gave up CL football for teams not in it, including the guy with the biggest ego in football, i just don't think it's factored as hugely in players decisions as it use to be.

I don’t think we’ll sign anyone at this point.
We are leaving it too late again and you must wonder what the point was in fighting the ban if we didn’t have a plan for this window anyways.

It took about three weeks into his first transfer window for Lampard to get frustrated with the club. That’s quicker than Conte even.

Frank clearly needs upgrades on Willian, Emerson and someone who can challenge Tammy. A bit disappointed that the board couldn't provide at least that.

1 hour ago, Sindre said:

I don’t think we’ll sign anyone at this point.
We are leaving it too late again and you must wonder what the point was in fighting the ban if we didn’t have a plan for this window anyways.

The answer is pretty clear, it gives us the option. Not nessesereiley aimed at you but so many smear the club for buying almost for the sake of buying in 2017 but now they're doing it the opposite way that's wrong aswell, can't win.

For example, at the time the ban was reversed it was looking quite possible Jadon Sancho was going to be available this month. Imagine if we just let the ban carry on, he wanted to come to us but also didn't want to wait so we missed out on him?

Regardless of what happens in the next few days, getting the ban overturned was 100% the correct decision.

4 hours ago, enigma said:

I just can't believe the board has once again sat on their hands until the last few days of the window. 

Really? I am surprised you are surprised. Marina is not known as a tough negotiator for no reason.

Interesting look at our numbers in the season so far for those who like that sort of thing

https://statsbomb.com/2020/01/why-has-chelseas-season-stalled/

Looks like we will lose Lamptey and bring no one in. January is tricky to make good buys. To be fair I am very okay with these dealings.

I just hope this is all part of a long term plan, and we aren't going to debate about Lampard's job at the end of the season if we miss out the top 4. Because he's not getting any help what so ever, unless we pull something off in the few hours left. Alcacer just signed for under 20M for Villarreal, I believe a decent striker like him would be useful for us too, and the price is nothing, we can't see there aren't any options for us this window.

I am now accepting of the Board's (strategy 😂) and the obvious decision not to spend any money in January. I would much rather we bought nobody, especially some over priced, under talented has been in his mid thirties. (Not meaning Mertens). I hope that Frank continues to play the Academy lads, as surely with all the success that we have had with the youth, we must have somebody that can score goals, Broja or Brown  ?? 

Hopefully Frank doesn’t keep going on about us not taking our chances in his presser when we don’t sign anyone. The players are starting to say it now and he’s in danger of making them think they can’t score. Constructive criticism is of course warranted but you have to get that balance.

Frank is hopefully smarter than the two previous Italians. Both of them brought up the limited squad and kept on criticising the club for lack of signings.

Did anyone else see the PC? He was fuming more or less.

Reminded me of Conte to be honest. Clearly very unhappy and disappointed.

"I clearly wanted to bring players in and that hasn't happened"

Edited January 31, 20206 yr by Sindre

doesn't look a happy man

He is frustrated there but nothing serious. Life goes on.

I have to say he looked more than frustrated to me. Considering how measured he has to be he looked angry (which he was barely able to conceal) and let down. I think the reality of the job has or is beginning to hit home.
Does anyone else think that it's possible he's being used as someone the club is 'using' as a 'fan popular' interim to get us over the transfer ban and the expected drop in success they thought it would bring only to bring in their first choice when the coast is clear. 
It looked from his demeaner that the club has gone against his wishes and i'm not sure that bodes well for the future between them, as for it to work they both have to be pulling in the same direction.
Hopefully i'm just being a doom monger and reading too much into it...

3 minutes ago, chelseablueboy said:

I have to say he looked more than frustrated to me. Considering how measured he has to be he looked angry (which he was barely able to conceal) and let down. I think the reality of the job has or is beginning to hit home.
Does anyone else think that it's possible he's being used as someone the club is 'using' as a 'fan popular' interim to get us over the transfer ban and the expected drop in success they thought it would bring only to bring in their first choice when the coast is clear. 
It looked from his demeaner that the club has gone against his wishes and i'm not sure that bodes well for the future between them, as for it to work they both have to be pulling in the same direction.
Hopefully i'm just being a doom monger and reading too much into it...

I am sure he is disappointed as he had pointed out on numerous occasions in recent weeks that he hoped to strengthen our striker options in this window. He also now has to try to figure out what to do with an unhappy player in Giroud. Obviously Frank has only played him on limited occasions and I think a lot of that is down to Tammy's success. I hope he is able to find a way to involve Giroud more as I still feel he offers more as a backup to Tammy, than Bats does.

Lampard has got us top 4 with a 6 point cushion with no signings, losing Hazard and playing youngsters, that's a great achievement even with recent performances have been predictable and disappointing. Abraham has been tired and is now injured but will be expected to play in the league, champions league and in the later stages on the fa cup. Everyone can see we need a striker and Lampard deserves one to help push on for the final 4. The transfer window isn't one day and I'm sure there was plenty of strikers out there in 1 month to do business for even if they are older like Cavani or Mertens. I'm sure even Lampard wasn't expecting an 80m Richarlson or Ben Yedder but just someone who can give him options in games, I'm not surprised his dissapointed.

 

2 hours ago, Sindre said:

Did anyone else see the PC? He was fuming more or less.

Reminded me of Conte to be honest. Clearly very unhappy and disappointed.

"I clearly wanted to bring players in and that hasn't happened"

No comparison with Conte. No matter how frustrated Lampard gets at any point he will never spend five months taking the piss out of the fanbase the way Conte did at the end.