1 hour ago, Argo said:

I can't wait for the excuses when Enzo is transforming Liverpool and Rice is here hiding behind attackers and trying to dodge getting involved in the build up phase.

And you bet it will be the same that have spent the last two years telling us how great he is how our expectations for him are too high.

Your ability to read the future is fantastic, truly is a wonder how you aren't a manager or hailed as the prophet of our generation. 

2 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Your ability to read the future is fantastic, truly is a wonder how you aren't a manager or hailed as the prophet of our generation. 

PTSD after we fell for the "romantic" angle with Lukaku, twice.

Edited December 21, 20223 yr by Argo

Enzo Fernandez could never be pRoPer cHeLS

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/16/arsenal-declan-rice-top-summer-transfer-target-optimistic-west-ham-chelsea

Are they Mudryk-ing us? Preparing for an imminent rape charge? Upgrading an area of their squad in a positive way?

I think everyone is upset because bad old Chelsea hijacked good old Arsenal's player.

So of course we've overpaid even though it was only 5 million more than Arsenal's bid, forced him to sign for us etc.. etc...

So naturally the media have now turned to us being hijacked by Arsenal for our long term target Rice.

Edited January 16, 20233 yr by 2211

 

It looks like we are going to sign Rice this summer 

10 hours ago, 2211 said:

So naturally the media have now turned to us being hijacked by Arsenal for our long term target Rice.

Just like with Lukaku to United I'll be delighted with a hijack. Hopefully we do things after better this time though.

1. We don't royally mess up the alternative (which should have been Auba back then).

2. We don't break the British record transfer record on him in 2027 because there's PR being about how he's suddenly fixed all his weaknesses in another league playing in a system pretty much designed to help him.

3. We don't then eventually sign what should have been the alternative in 2023 when he's totally past his best in 2028 as a response of Rice sensationally flopping and going straight back on loan to the place we brought him from.

Looking forward to see this champ that is fighting to stay in the Premier league, let's see if we can finish with him higher than with Jorginho.

How much would Rice go for? 

Unless Arteta plans to play a three man midfield, which is possible, then why would they buy Rice when they have Xhaka and Partey who have both been great for them. Interesting target for them, I'm not particularly bothered either way. I think we can get equally as good elsewhere, especially for the fee, which is likely to be very high. Can we not scout out a player of similar qualities in South America? 

1 hour ago, enigma said:

Unless Arteta plans to play a three man midfield, which is possible, then why would they buy Rice when they have Xhaka and Partey who have both been great for them. Interesting target for them, I'm not particularly bothered either way. I think we can get equally as good elsewhere, especially for the fee, which is likely to be very high. Can we not scout out a player of similar qualities in South America? 

They are both 30. 

Arsenal look to improve their midfield every 2 years whereas we like taking half a decade to improve ours. 

37 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

They are both 30. 

Arsenal look to improve their midfield every 2 years whereas we like taking half a decade to improve ours. 

My point is, Rice is not going to sit on the bench, and who would he replace in that Arsenal midfield? Seems an odd signing for Arsenal unless one of the other two mainstays right now are going to be phased out, which would be strange given their form.

Thank god for that, take his academy link out and Rice is a mid table player all day long

3 minutes ago, enigma said:

My point is, Rice is not going to sit on the bench, and who would he replace in that Arsenal midfield? Seems an odd signing for Arsenal unless one of the other two mainstays right now are going to be phased out, which would be strange given their form.

Don't think its odd to strengthen an area where there is virtually no depth bar Elneny. Having 3 good midfielders for 2 positions isn't an outcry imo. 

IF we are going to go for rice now is the time. But it’s a big IF

If we are still seriously in for him I think there’s still a good chance he’ll come here.

Bottom line is this story has been conveniently leaked now to put a negative slant on Chelsea.

This story, we’ve overpaid for Mudryk, we are ruining football with our spending spree etc…

Everyone laughed at us when we was sanctioned, or when when Raphina went to Barcelona instead of us.

There isn’t this outrage when City, Utd or Liverpool for that matter when they spend a similar amount of money on players.

 

But now everyone is upset with us, the media, other managers, pundits etc…

You just know when the hatred is this blatant that people are worried about us.

Imagine how much worse it will be when we eventually start climbing the table again!

Edited January 17, 20233 yr by 2211

22 hours ago, enigma said:

How much would Rice go for? 

Around £70m is the figure floating about. Hopefully less if they're relegated.

20 hours ago, timetowaste said:

Thank god for that, take his academy link out and Rice is a mid table player all day long

Don't often see many midtable players being the first midfield name on the team sheet for England. The same England team that's done better than any of the teams before them, including the golden generation.

Very impressive!

59 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Don't often see many midtable players being the first midfield name on the team sheet for England. The same England team that's done better than any of the teams before them, including the golden generation.

Very impressive!

Kalvin Phillips played pretty much every game in the Euros when he was at Leeds and probably would have done in the World Cup if it wasn't for his injury, his move to Man City hasn't exactly gone swimmingly. Plus, Harry Maguire is the first defender on Southgate's team sheet, doesn't make him an elite CB. Pickford is Southgate's first choice goalie and he plays at a team battling relegation.

Edited January 18, 20233 yr by timetowaste

58 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Kalvin Phillips played pretty much every game in the Euros when he was at Leeds and probably would have done in the World Cup if it wasn't for his injury, his move to Man City hasn't exactly gone swimmingly. Plus, Harry Maguire is the first defender on Southgate's team sheet, doesn't make him an elite CB. Pickford is Southgate's first choice goalie and he plays at a team battling relegation.

Who did Phillips start next to?

12 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Who did Phillips start next to?

Yes Rice but my point was Phillips was also a mid table player in that England team.

17 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Yes Rice but my point was Phillips was also a mid table player in that England team.

That got bought by the best team in England. But for some reason its unheard of for Rice to go to a top team?

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Don't often see many midtable players being the first midfield name on the team sheet for England. The same England team that's done better than any of the teams before them, including the golden generation.

Very impressive!

The 2018 world cup Leicester City's Harry Maguire was one of the first names on the teamsheets and look what happened to him.

Infact Rice is currently on course to equal Maguire's achievement of being relegated twice in the same season.

2 minutes ago, Argo said:

The 2018 world cup Leicester City's Harry Maguire was one of the first names on the teamsheets and look what happened to him.

Infact Rice is currently on course to equal Maguire's achievement of being relegated twice in the same season.

Are we rewriting history now that Harry Maguire was sh*t in 2018-2021? 

3 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Are we rewriting history now that Harry Maguire was sh*t in 2018-2021? 

sh*t, not good enough for the top level Tomato/Tomato.

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Around £70m is the figure floating about. Hopefully less if they're relegated.

I didn't see this bit. It won't be less if they go down. The parachute payments means the punishments for relegations pretty much don't exist outside of temporarily having to play sh*tter teams for a season or two and those clubs can hold out like they're still in the PL (see SHU/Ramsdale).