10 hours ago, Llangennech said:

Gallagher should be sold, he's a 10, we have Palmer for that position. A few more should be sold as well. Kepa, A Broja, T Chalobah, M Sarr, B Chilwell and R Sterling. 

I don't want us to sign anyone apart from a really good winger, I don't think we're going to sign Vinicius Jr; of course V Osimhen is a v good player, but I didn't want to sign R Lukaku again, yes Osimhen is a better player than Lukaku, but IMO he's still a risk as he hasn't played for a British club. 

We have enough strikers.

CHELSEA - THE PRIDE OF BRITAIN, THE PRIDE OF THE M4 CORRIDOR  

Gallagher isn't a 10, far better as a 6 or an 8. 

14 hours ago, Argo said:

We spent a combined £46m on who many regard as the two biggest talents in the entire of South America, the idea we'd spend more for whoever the Brazilian Gallagher is than we did for Paez and Estevao combined is fanciful at best.

Different sources are claiming different numbers but the minimum total package for Estevao alone is being quoted at £50+ million.

20 hours ago, Argo said:

We spent a combined £46m on who many regard as the two biggest talents in the entire of South America, the idea we'd spend more for whoever the Brazilian Gallagher is than we did for Paez and Estevao combined is fanciful at best.

Enzo and Caicedo were both £100m+ though. The idea we'd pay a lot for Gallagher were he not already ours is a fair point to make, we see it throughout the squad.

CHO sold for under £5m, Madueke brought in for £35m(?)

Disasi £40m, a less complete player than Chalobah who we apparently value at £25m

Cucurella £63m, worse than every academy fullback we've forced out or sold in the past 5 years.

We've a track history of getting excited by shiny new signings and overpaying for them despite having one of the best academies on the planet producing players just as good.

6 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Gallagher isn't a 10, far better as a 6 or an 8. 

I agree, that's where his future should be, I feel he's the Ricky Hatton of football, I don't think his brain is wired to be a really good 6, he's just not a top quality midfielder IMO. North London or Birmingham should be his destination next month. 

Just now, Llangennech said:

I agree, that's where his future should be, I feel he's the Ricky Hatton of football, I don't think his brain is wired to be a really good 6, he's just not a top quality midfielder IMO. North London or Birmingham should be his destination next month. 

He was our best midfielder last season mate.

1 minute ago, cfr95 said:

He was our best midfielder last season mate.

But Palmer would be more effective playing centrally more, along with Fernandez and Caicedo. Mudryk, Nkunku and Jackson starting up-front.  

2 minutes ago, Llangennech said:

But Palmer would be more effective playing centrally more, along with Fernandez and Caicedo. Mudryk, Nkunku and Jackson starting up-front.  

That's an interesting take.

I'd say that defensively we've looked very unsteady on the occasions Palmer has played centrally, he doesnt really seem to track back or switch on once the ball is past him. He presses well though.

Personally I think Palmer's future may wind up being on the left, regardless though he's definitely best deployed as part of our attacking force, not further back in midfield.
Nkunku actually is probably more suited to the 8/10 role, though I've no idea if he has the required defensive nous to play that role in the PL.

In your proposed front 3 I'm curious who's supposed to be playing where, as arguably all 3 of those players could occupy the LW role, and none of them have any history playing on the right. Moreover, I'm not sure how you can say Gallagher's "brain isn't wired right" to be a top midfielder (which he already is, by the way), but then put Mudryk in a starting eleven!
 

13 minutes ago, cfr95 said:

That's an interesting take.

I'd say that defensively we've looked very unsteady on the occasions Palmer has played centrally, he doesnt really seem to track back or switch on once the ball is past him. He presses well though.

Personally I think Palmer's future may wind up being on the left, regardless though he's definitely best deployed as part of our attacking force, not further back in midfield.
Nkunku actually is probably more suited to the 8/10 role, though I've no idea if he has the required defensive nous to play that role in the PL.

In your proposed front 3 I'm curious who's supposed to be playing where, as arguably all 3 of those players could occupy the LW role, and none of them have any history playing on the right. Moreover, I'm not sure how you can say Gallagher's "brain isn't wired right" to be a top midfielder (which he already is, by the way), but then put Mudryk in a starting eleven!
 

I'd start Nkunku as a RW, swap Mudryk and Nkunku around, obviously give them a bit of freedom. Nkunku can play as a 9 as well. 

Deep down though, knowing we're not going to be able to play the top teams off the park, play three centre-halves. Jackson and Nkunku up-front, Palmer, Fernandez and Caicedo in midfield. Cucurella is more effective as a wing-back from what I've seen. 

But as we know E Maresca is highly highly unlikely to play 5-3-2. 

Edited June 13, 20242 yr by Llangennech

28 minutes ago, cfr95 said:

Enzo and Caicedo were both £100m+ though. The idea we'd pay a lot for Gallagher were he not already ours is a fair point to make, we see it throughout the squad.

CHO sold for under £5m, Madueke brought in for £35m(?)

Disasi £40m, a less complete player than Chalobah who we apparently value at £25m

Cucurella £63m, worse than every academy fullback we've forced out or sold in the past 5 years.

We've a track history of getting excited by shiny new signings and overpaying for them despite having one of the best academies on the planet producing players just as good.

Those two were playing in Europe and if it weren't us would have been someone else paying similar, in Moises case that is a 1000% certainty as another team had a bid accepted.

Also the closest profile to Gallagher we nearly signed last summer was Ugarte and we walked away when the cost and wages got too high.

All the "shiny new young toys" of midfielders we signed or tried to sign (like Lavia and Wharton) are the total opposite of profile to Gallagher.

Rightly or wrongly we've shown little to no interest in signing Gallagher profile players let alone dropping over 3x the Kendry Paez money on whoever the Brazillian league equivalent is, it just simply wouldn't happen.

Also with this ownership the prospects they regard as the (potentially) elite ones they've moved heaven and earth to keep. James got a new deal almost immediately, Colwill they resisted the easiest pure profit of all time (twice) and there's also reports coming out they're moving heaven to earth to try and change that Rio kids mind on leaving.

6 hours ago, Nick05 said:

Different sources are claiming different numbers but the minimum total package for Estevao alone is being quoted at £50+ million.

That's like saying Mudryk cost us £100m. 

Estevao has a transfer fee of £27m with a sh*t ton of bonuses that make it £50m+, and if he achieves those bonuses likely none of us will be complaining. 

 

49 minutes ago, Llangennech said:

But Palmer would be more effective playing centrally more, along with Fernandez and Caicedo. Mudryk, Nkunku and Jackson starting up-front.  

No he wouldnt, he has played there several times and had little impact on the game. Certainly nowhere near as much impact as when he plays wide right. He`s our best player, hes best playing wide right, just leave him there.

20 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

That's like saying Mudryk cost us £100m. 

Estevao has a transfer fee of £27m with a sh*t ton of bonuses that make it £50m+, and if he achieves those bonuses likely none of us will be complaining. 

 

Are we pretending that £27m for a 17 year old with 15 senior appearances isn't absolutely bat sh*t crazy

11 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Are we pretending that £27m for a 17 year old with 15 senior appearances isn't absolutely bat sh*t crazy

Well that's the name of the game. People were so bent out of shape we were bringing in the likes of Nathan, Kenedy, Piazon, etc instead of tapping up some of the best South American talents like Madrid were, and now the moment ownership decide to do it people still complain. I still remember some of the uproar when we were close to signing Endrick for £60m, and when we lost out to Real people criticized ownership. Estevao will be less and is rated higher than Endrick per Palmeiras coaching staff. 

I couldn't care less about the funds so long as there is an actual plan for these players. 

 

29 minutes ago, dkw said:

No he wouldnt, he has played there several times and had little impact on the game. Certainly nowhere near as much impact as when he plays wide right. He`s our best player, hes best playing wide right, just leave him there.

Yup. Starts wide right anyway, then floats where he wants to go. Which is why I fear he will struggle for England. For the same reason Foden does.

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Well that's the name of the game. People were so bent out of shape we were bringing in the likes of Nathan, Kenedy, Piazon, etc instead of tapping up some of the best South American talents like Madrid were, and now the moment ownership decide to do it people still complain. I still remember some of the uproar when we were close to signing Endrick for £60m, and when we lost out to Real people criticized ownership. Estevao will be less and is rated higher than Endrick per Palmeiras coaching staff. 

I couldn't care less about the funds so long as there is an actual plan for these players. 

 

Boehly pulled the pin on Endrick. Said it was too much. Hey ho.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

No he wouldnt, he has played there several times and had little impact on the game. Certainly nowhere near as much impact as when he plays wide right. He`s our best player, hes best playing wide right, just leave him there.

 

45 minutes ago, dermott said:

Yup. Starts wide right anyway, then floats where he wants to go. Which is why I fear he will struggle for England. For the same reason Foden does.

I think if we get Olise we will likely see Palmer and Olise interchange all game from LW to #8. 

Club Captain, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 star at the Euros, a great ambassador for Chelsea FC. Yet reportedly has an UNCERTAIN future at the club? 

 

 

 

18 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

That's like saying Mudryk cost us £100m. 

Estevao has a transfer fee of £27m with a sh*t ton of bonuses that make it £50m+, and if he achieves those bonuses likely none of us will be complaining. 

 

The guaranteed money is £34m as per Romano. A bunch of teenagers and "promising young players" won't win anything till we sign 2-3 experienced winners. The league cup was handed on a plate to us yet we somehow managed to lose that game. So yeah, not worried about paying the bonuses part.

2 hours ago, Nick05 said:

The guaranteed money is £34m as per Romano. A bunch of teenagers and "promising young players" won't win anything till we sign 2-3 experienced winners. The league cup was handed on a plate to us yet we somehow managed to lose that game. So yeah, not worried about paying the bonuses part.

all part of the plan, don't need to win football games to make money off football. It's been said so many times, these young kids need guidance and leadership in the team, maybe a prime JT, Drogba, Lampard would have done them the world of good. When your most senior player is Sterling ( with all due respect to his City career), you aren't going to learn and get motivated much.

9 hours ago, General said:

Club Captain, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 star at the Euros, a great ambassador for Chelsea FC. Yet reportedly has an UNCERTAIN future at the club? 

 

 

 

I hope he signs a new deal. 

Or if he doesn't fit into Enzo's plans we should sell him for a big fee. Takers are there. 

I love Conor as a club player. He represents the club like no one else. But if Maresca doesn't see him fit for his football I don't think we should be on his way. 

21 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Well that's the name of the game. People were so bent out of shape we were bringing in the likes of Nathan, Kenedy, Piazon, etc instead of tapping up some of the best South American talents like Madrid were, and now the moment ownership decide to do it people still complain. I still remember some of the uproar when we were close to signing Endrick for £60m, and when we lost out to Real people criticized ownership. Estevao will be less and is rated higher than Endrick per Palmeiras coaching staff. 

I couldn't care less about the funds so long as there is an actual plan for these players. 

 

I think that's a fair point actually. I kind of agree with both of you. Yes its bat sh*t crazy but if everyone is doing it, how do you compete.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

I hope he signs a new deal. 

Or if he doesn't fit into Enzo's plans we should sell him for a big fee. Takers are there. 

I love Conor as a club player. He represents the club like no one else. But if Maresca doesn't see him fit for his football I don't think we should be on his way. 

Me too...it will be very hard to see him in a rivals shirt. If we have to sell then maybe to a team in one of the other European leagues. But I still think no one fights for the shirt as much as him and he's becoming a leader or someone to look upto at the club for the kids. I can't bear to see him go.

Big mistake to sell...

Edited June 14, 20242 yr by Simplymo

1 hour ago, icecoolguy22 said:

all part of the plan, don't need to win football games to make money off football. It's been said so many times, these young kids need guidance and leadership in the team, maybe a prime JT, Drogba, Lampard would have done them the world of good. When your most senior player is Sterling ( with all due respect to his City career), you aren't going to learn and get motivated much.

There's middle ground to be at.

Would it be ideal to get experience in the side? Yes, but we were experienced in 22/23 and finished 12th, United had two of the most decorated players in football history last season and finished 8th (all be it won a cup).

Experience only works if they're performing, if we bring in an older has been/never was CB and Jackson is making him look silly in training then either subconsciously or otherwise they're simply not going to look up to him or listen to a single word he says.

2 hours ago, Argo said:

There's middle ground to be at.

Would it be ideal to get experience in the side? Yes, but we were experienced in 22/23 and finished 12th, United had two of the most decorated players in football history last season and finished 8th (all be it won a cup).

Experience only works if they're performing, if we bring in an older has been/never was CB and Jackson is making him look silly in training then either subconsciously or otherwise they're simply not going to look up to him or listen to a single word he says.

Jackson making a player look silly?!!!

Jackson has made both Saliba and Konate look like mugs tbf.