16 minutes ago, haviet1 said:

 

Agreed. Seems like wasted money and a huge risk. 

Bring back Barkley if you need reinforcement in the midfield.

 

We already have an expensive waste of space on the books in Drinkwater. We don't need a second. 

Happy to be proven wrong of course but sooner we stick with Ampadu.

If we get desperate for depth at CM, we could try Reece James there as a temporary fix. He seemed to do well there for Wigan. 

4 hours ago, ozboy said:

He played in 5 league games last season for 259 minutes. This season he has played 180 minutes on two league games where his team got thrashed both times. I reckon he’s still got a bit to prove, not withstanding he’s looked good at times for Chelsea. We’ve seen many times players who look ok in the chelsea team struggle to get a regular gig at a lesser team. I like what I’ve seen of Gilmour and think he might make the grade but I think he’s got a lot to prove just yet. Not saying Canavinga or Tchouameni or soumare are any better., but they have more minutes. 

I couldn't care less how he does at a small team because when he's at Chelsea he's not at a small team. Whenever he has played for us he almost always picks up MOTM. Put Jprginho in the Norwich team and see how he does.

More minutes means little if they're playing at a level equivalent to Sunday league football most weeks.

So now it's looking like he will not be coming to Chelsea? This window has seemed more wild than any other window in recent memory and not just because Messi, CR7, Lukaku all moved clubs -- just everything about it, the big signings, the clubs trying to jump in last second and gazump other clubs deals, certain clubs refusing to sell their players when they clearly want to leave... it has been a fun window

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2021/8/27/22644981/saul-niguez-set-to-stay-at-atletico-madrid-no-chelsea-offer-expected-report

Edited August 27, 20214 yr by chiefBlueCFC

Tuchel didn't give him assurances over play time. Which I agree with tbh we have to be totally transparent about the situation, if you come to Chelsea now you have to work to get into the team. Obviously Lukaku's situation is slightly different.

However, when you have a midfield that is the best in the world, and that team wants you as a player to be a reinforcement you shouldn't be under any illusions. Either you tell yourself I'll work to get into that team or you don't go.

Fair play to Saul though I can understand why he wouldn't want to come, considering the main reason he wanted to leave was for more consistent game time.

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We already have an expensive waste of space on the books in Drinkwater. We don't need a second. 

Happy to be proven wrong of course but sooner we stick with Ampadu.

Saul may have kidney issues but how’s Drinkwaters liver holding up?

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We already have an expensive waste of space on the books in Drinkwater. We don't need a second. 

Happy to be proven wrong of course but sooner we stick with Ampadu.

It’s entirely possible that Saul would end up being an expensive waste of space. But we don’t know that, unless someone can see into the future. To compare him with Drinkwater is pretty harsh.

What has Ampadu done, at all, to provide any confidence that he can contribute? This excessive infatuation with our youth amongst the fan base is puzzling to me.

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I couldn't care less how he does at a small team because when he's at Chelsea he's not at a small team. Whenever he has played for us he almost always picks up MOTM. Put Jprginho in the Norwich team and see how he does.

More minutes means little if they're playing at a level equivalent to Sunday league football most weeks.

Jorginho worked his way up from earning 20 euros per week and living with monks while his agent was scamming him, he has nothing to prove anymore so your dig is pointless. 

Bottom line we are short in 4th choice midfielder, or alternatively competitor for starting spot in midfield in what I hope will be a title challenging season. And one of our top 3 is injury prone. Might get away with it but it’s a clear and obvious risk. 

Edited August 27, 20214 yr by ozboy

20 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Bottom line we are short in 4th choice midfielder, or alternatively competitor for starting spot in midfield in what I hope will be a title challenging season. And one of our top 3 is injury prone. Might get away with it but it’s a clear and obvious risk. 

Is a risk. However we have James, Chalobah and Ampadu at present who are all athletic and can do a job if need be.

Certainly is less of a concern than 2 months of Kepa during the ACoN. We basically need to win all our games beforehand to make up for all the losses that brings.

But the risk is minimised as they talk about a loan. If it works out, we have a Kova type of situation, and if it turns out to be an expensive waste of time, off he goes back to Atletico. I just don’t get how can people be so set against this. If Gilmour was in the team, I wouldn’t want it to happen as I’d be happy with the choice of back up. But Ampadu is nowhere near the quality of Gilmour, and I thought he was going to be a great player, but somehow his loans have not worked out and he hasn’t developed well. James and Chalobah are not good options there imo. So, I just see it as a good stop-gap.

17 minutes ago, RMH said:

But the risk is minimised as they talk about a loan. If it works out, we have a Kova type of situation, and if it turns out to be an expensive waste of time, off he goes back to Atletico. I just don’t get how can people be so set against this. If Gilmour was in the team, I wouldn’t want it to happen as I’d be happy with the choice of back up. But Ampadu is nowhere near the quality of Gilmour, and I thought he was going to be a great player, but somehow his loans have not worked out and he hasn’t developed well. James and Chalobah are not good options there imo. So, I just see it as a good stop-gap.

We are talking about different risks. I am referring to the risks of chelsea not having a 4th midfielder and you are talking of the risk of saul not working out. They are both risks. Each of us will have a view on which risk needs to be covered or whatever and none of our views matter because we aren't calling the shots. Ampadu hasn't really come on, RLC is far too attacking and probably in truth at the moment seemingly worth less than Bakyoko and Ross Barkley who does have the skill to do the job, in my opinion, is even further down the pecking order.

Yes you could play Chalobah there or James and they have the technical skills or at least I know James does, to control the ball under pressure and make a pass, but in my opinion there is a whole lot more to playing pivot than that. James would be my choice if push came to shove but not one that would fill me with any confidence.

Shame RLC isn’t convincing TT, and SN might not be enamoured to think, I ain’t getting much game time ahead of Kante, Jorgi, Kova, et al, we should of pushed for Sergej Milinković-Savić, 

Edited August 28, 20214 yr by Ballack & Blu

4 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Shame RLC isn’t convincing TT, and SN might not be enamoured to think, I ain’t getting much game time ahead of Kante, Jorgi, Kova, et al, we should of pushed for Sergej Milinković-Savić, 

RLC was supposed to shine under Sarri but he had that injury and it hasn't been good since then. Now M.-Savic scored and assisted for Sarri in their first win.

12 hours ago, LongtimerLurker said:

Tuchel didn't give him assurances over play time. Which I agree with tbh we have to be totally transparent about the situation, if you come to Chelsea now you have to work to get into the team. Obviously Lukaku's situation is slightly different.

However, when you have a midfield that is the best in the world, and that team wants you as a player to be a reinforcement you shouldn't be under any illusions. Either you tell yourself I'll work to get into that team or you don't go.

Fair play to Saul though I can understand why he wouldn't want to come, considering the main reason he wanted to leave was for more consistent game time.

The best in the world? You're talking about Chelsea?

31 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

The best in the world? You're talking about Chelsea?

Presumably that's a typo - he meant 'midfielder', referring to Kanté.

1 hour ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Shame RLC isn’t convincing TT, and SN might not be enamoured to think, I ain’t getting much game time ahead of Kante, Jorgi, Kova, et al, we should of pushed for Sergej Milinković-Savić, 

Yes he has looked good when I’ve watched  him play in Italy past couple of seasons. Would have been a good choice. Easier to turn a midfielder into a full back than the other way round. 

I do think James has everything t succeed as a midfielder, he looks like he tries harder than say RLC, James has Pace, Power, skillsets, and can finish, note Kova?

4 hours ago, ozboy said:

We are talking about different risks. I am referring to the risks of chelsea not having a 4th midfielder and you are talking of the risk of saul not working out. They are both risks. Each of us will have a view on which risk needs to be covered or whatever and none of our views matter because we aren't calling the shots. Ampadu hasn't really come on, RLC is far too attacking and probably in truth at the moment seemingly worth less than Bakyoko and Ross Barkley who does have the skill to do the job, in my opinion, is even further down the pecking order.

Yes you could play Chalobah there or James and they have the technical skills or at least I know James does, to control the ball under pressure and make a pass, but in my opinion there is a whole lot more to playing pivot than that. James would be my choice if push came to shove but not one that would fill me with any confidence.

I think you’ve got me wrong. I want Ñiguez because I think it’s more risky to go into the season without a fourth midfielder than getting on loan a midfielder than turns out to be a bad choice. It’s a loan, he was a very good player, and we need cover. Just do it because it’s a win win situation IMO 

4 hours ago, Spiller86 said:

The best in the world? You're talking about Chelsea?

Yup

3 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Presumably that's a typo - he meant 'midfielder', referring to Kanté.

We had 2/3 nominations for the best player in Europe which were both our midfielders. Kante won the midfielder award and Jorginho won the player award. That is the best pivot in the world.

Furthermore when you add Mason Mount in who's work rate and ability cannot be undermined those 3 are the best midfield in the world of club football imo but also realistically what team has a better midfield.

16 hours ago, ozboy said:

Bottom line we are short in 4th choice midfielder, or alternatively competitor for starting spot in midfield in what I hope will be a title challenging season. And one of our top 3 is injury prone. Might get away with it but it’s a clear and obvious risk. 

Unfortunately when you have such a top class established set of options in a position signing someone else to come in and try to compete with them is hard (case in point Spurs struggle to sign any striker of any note with Kane there).

The likely options for the 4th centre midfielder is either look down the league for a player who will be too happy to be at Chelsea to care about game time atleast in the short term (like how we got Begovic in back in 2015) or use one of our players in other positions as the 4th option.

Its been a long time since a player rejected us because of fear in not getting minutes to play. Even though we don't get him I suppose that is a good sign since it shows we have a competitive team.

On 27/08/2021 at 22:24, Gol15 said:

Jorginho worked his way up from earning 20 euros per week and living with monks while his agent was scamming him, he has nothing to prove anymore so your dig is pointless. 

Not really relevant at all to the discussion we were having or the point I was making. Thanks for being Jorginho’s white knight again though, I’m sure he appreciates it.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Not really relevant at all to the discussion we were having or the point I was making. Thanks for being Jorginho’s white knight again though, I’m sure he appreciates it.

It's relevent when you attempt to undermine our player for no reason at all.