9 minutes ago, Argo said:

 

I think we should learn from the Saul farce here, if Everton are allowing us to have Digne on loan then that's a red flag right away, we can't fall into the trap of just accepting anyone because they're not Alonso.

This could be a good chance to find a different profile of wingback apart from a natural full back, a natural winger with good aptitude at wingback would offer us something we don't currently have.

Those are a rarity, and if you find a good one they will be starters for their teams, which means they will demand a king’s ransom. 

Wouldn’t read too much into Digne’s form at Everton. I feel he is just disillusioned at Everton, he moved from Barca to a team perpetually stuck in mid-table. He is also a French international, and probably wants out of the club.

1 minute ago, ducavis said:

Those are a rarity, and if you find a good one they will be starters for their teams, which means they will demand a king’s ransom. 

Wouldn’t read too much into Digne’s form at Everton. I feel he is just disillusioned at Everton, he moved from Barca to a team perpetually stuck in mid-table. He is also a French international, and probably wants out of the club.

I don't think their as hard to find/mould as you think, many attacking fullbacks are put there because they failed as a winger let alone wingback.

 

Regarding Digne, it's a dangerous game assuming they're downing tools instead of in decline, Torres and Alexis two examples of how giving the benefit of the doubt can severely backfire.

53 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/dec/28/chelsea-ben-chilwell-cover-left-wing-back

I mean... I'd prefer us to loan Digne rather than having to put up with Emerson again.

Daaaaamn, poor Chilly, that's him out of the WC as well, not that I'm sorry about that.

If Emerson scores within 1 minute, I'm fine with recalling him, but he probably won't...

Terrible news. We won’t see him firing until Feb/March 2023 I reckon. Plus we know his mentality is temperamental. Honestly gutted 

Ugg terrible news.  

Not surprised as it seemed very hopeful an ACL injury would heal itself. Given our luck with injuries this season always seemed likely he would need this. Just hope for his sake and ours he comes back stronger and this does not really hold back his career long term.

Obviously we need another option on the left now. Club needs to sign someone or recall someone, if recalling is an option depending on structures of loan deals.

Best wishes to Chilly for his rehab.

Lucas Digne on loan would be worth pursuing. He's merely fallen out with Rafa Benitez as far as I understand things, and we can hardly hold that against him !

Still the starting left back for France :-) 

Maybe a Loan swap with Barkley might appeal to Everton ?

Edited December 28, 20214 yr by Sexyfootball

I’d be happy with Digne on loan, option to buy maybe incase he smashes it to stop Everton taking the piss if we look to buy. 
 

Feel for Chilwell, probably just hit the best form of his career when the injury struck. 

A huge blow for us. He was in fantastic form. It seems like after his injury everything went the wrong way....

Still, we all know what Marcos is capable of. His performances in the last few games were just fine and I don't want to doubt him. The bigger problem is we need a replacement LWB as soon as possible.

Time for Emerson to step up? Having watched him a bit in Lyon, I think he's made a progress. It would be smart to give him the opportunity.

Hindsight is always 20/20, but imagine if we had just bit the bullet from the git go and he had surgery. Regardless, if they did sign Digne, he would be excellent depth behind Chilwell and we could probably off load Alonso for good. Plus, that would allow us not to rely on Alonso quite as much. 

Gutted 

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2021/12/28/22857082/chelsea-confirm-ben-chilwell-acl-surgery-decision

Confirmed by the club now.

Hopefully the club move quickly on this and get us a good replacement, along with bringing in a new midfield option and pushing through Kounde. Or we could just write this season off and aim for top 4 only, keeping our main players for PL only.

Theo Hernandez should be a no brainer at this point, buy quality and hope Chilwell is back in a year from now and ready to compete. Worst case here is that Chilwell can't reach the same high level after this, as we have seen happen to other players with serious injuries. I rate Digne as highly as I rated Saul, when we became interessted in him.

Gutted for him. He was in such great form when it happened. That win against Juve has really cost us.

Horrible but somewhat expected news. Get well soon Ben!

Maybe we should look into the market?

10 minutes ago, comtrend said:

Theo Hernandez should be a no brainer at this point, buy quality and hope Chilwell is back in a year from now and ready to compete. Worst case here is that Chilwell can't reach the same high level after this, as we have seen happen to other players with serious injuries. I rate Digne as highly as I rated Saul, when we became interessted in him.

Theo Hernandez is a smart idea 

I had a feeling this was always going to happen. We are just too cursed when it comes to injuries at the moment.

19 minutes ago, comtrend said:

Theo Hernandez should be a no brainer at this point, buy quality and hope Chilwell is back in a year from now and ready to compete. Worst case here is that Chilwell can't reach the same high level after this, as we have seen happen to other players with serious injuries. I rate Digne as highly as I rated Saul, when we became interessted in him.

You have been beating that drum for a while but the club are not listening as we have heard no links to him at all.

Wingbacks are essential to our style of football. If we want to complete we need a pal to Alonso. Saul is not sufficient but do we have any loanees we could call back or someone from the development side? 

Really sad that he'll miss out so much, he was really good this season, first choice left wing-back ahead of Alonso offensively speaking isn't that easy.

19 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

You have been beating that drum for a while but the club are not listening as we have heard no links to him at all.

I have been, now there is really no other option then to strengthen that position though. Imagine swapping the slowest player in the league, with someone that is among the fastest in the league, that knows how to dribble and has the strength to not get bullied.

13 minutes ago, comtrend said:

I have been, now there is really no other option then to strengthen that position though. Imagine swapping the slowest player in the league, with someone that is among the fastest in the league, that knows how to dribble and has the strength to not get bullied.

Our other option is to write off the season. Cause TT does not just need a nee LWB, he needs a CM to cover Kante and a CB option for when AC and Tonis levels sink and Silva is injured.

56 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

You have been beating that drum for a while but the club are not listening as we have heard no links to him at all.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10323709/Chelsea-eye-AC-Milan-left-Theo-Hernandez-Thomas-Tuchel-looks-galactic-signing.html

2 minutes ago, charierre said:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10323709/Chelsea-eye-AC-Milan-left-Theo-Hernandez-Thomas-Tuchel-looks-galactic-signing.html

Ah look at that, does @comtrend work for the daily mail or is he the source of the story? Lol

Be nice if it was true.

Not really surprised to hear the update on Chilly, but gutted for him nevertheless. Wishing him a fully and speedy recovery.

I suspect we will move for another LB in January now. At least cover for Alonso for a busy schedule in the second half of the season. I would prefer a permanent signing to a loanee I think, although I would also favor a recall of Maatsen or Colvill if that is an option for either of them.