Not much of a fan then?

It is good to see this move seemingly reaching a conclusion. OK we will have paid a little over the odds but, hey ho, we've been paying over the odds for players ever since we signed Roy Wegerle on a free transfer.

He is a fine player already, will only improve alongside Silva and can play on the right side of the centre which means James returns to the right flank.

Pretty excited about a right side of Fofana and James. Not going to lose many physical battles there 

Cant agree that Christensen was very good. He went on a two year loan to Borussia if I remember correctly, and he was supposedly brilliant there, so I was expecting a lot more from him when he returned. Good yes, very good? not for me.

This is still not done yet. I won't be comfortable until he has signed and is pictured holding the shirt

1 hour ago, Chris Gundleton said:

How anyone can ever rate Christensen is beyond me.  Just because he looked good for about 12 games prior to the Barca f-up and had a little chat with Pep, post match, in that run when City beat us at the Bridge doesn’t mean he was any good.  Remember, he was in the middle of a back three, that in the previous year made Luiz look world class when before then, the pundits all thought Luiz was s***.  The point being that in conte’s system, the middle of the back 3 is piss easy….   Any centre half is an upgrade on Christensen, shocking defender…..

Poor take. Not everyone is good in the middle of a back three. Also Christensen was very good on the right of the back three as well. Oh and he had a great game in the final of the Champions League.

4 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I think both are debatable. 

I personally haven't seen anything yet that puts Koulibaly ahead of Rudiger. 

Christensen on his day could be world class. When Tuchel first came in and after we had won the Champions League, fans were begging for us to get him to sign a new deal because it looked like his game had gone up a few levels. It was midway through last season that he started to revert back to being inconsistent. Fofana has a lot of potential, but at this moment, that is all it is, and I don't think anybody can say he is a definite upgrade on Christensen until we start seeing him play in a Chelsea shirt. If he is going to perform like he did against Arsenal a few weeks back, then I think people will start having doubts.

Are we sure Rüdiger is as good as some think he is? He was terrific from the time Tuchel came in, but prior to that, his time in a Chelsea shirt was not what one would deem spectacular. I’m just saying, the question can be asked: were the 18 months with Tuchel a purple patch for him? Bare minimum, we’ve signed an equivalent in Koulibaly.

I’m convinced that Fofana is a clear upgrade on Christensen, but considering I don’t rate Christensen as high as others I’ll concede that there is some debate there. I hope Fofana backs up my opinion!

Just now, mwblue10 said:

Are we sure Rüdiger is as good as some think he is? He was terrific from the time Tuchel came in, but prior to that, his time in a Chelsea shirt was not what one would deem spectacular. I’m just saying, the question can be asked: were the 18 months with Tuchel a purple patch for him? Bare minimum, we’ve signed an equivalent in Koulibaly.

I’m convinced that Fofana is a clear upgrade on Christensen, but considering I don’t rate Christensen as high as others I’ll concede that there is some debate there. I hope Fofana backs up my opinion!

I thought Rudiger was great for us under Conte and was good under Sarri too before a knee injury ended his season early. I think we forget that about Rudiger under Lampard. He had to have knee surgery before the season ended under Sarri and then busted his knee again in pre-season for Lampard, then first game back, he busted his groin and was out for 3 more months. He was awful that season, but when you look back, you can see why. The next season, Lampard barely played him, but when he did, our defence looked a lot better.

Rudigier made lots of mistakes and Zouma was preferred under Lampard (in his first season as coach). Rudigier has tremendous energy and physical prowess but can be clumsy on the ball. Under Tuchel he made less mistakes and became the player that Real wanted. That's a credit to both men. Rudigier made at least one great tackle for RM today so he is still a top player and much younger than Koulibaly. Koulibaly looks a lot better on the ball so far but it will come down to his positional sense.

Christenson was never a nailed on starter.

If Fofana  is as good as his price tag we could play with a back 4, alternatively we will certainly be able to rest Silva lots more which is going to be essential. I wont be in the leas surprised if Silva misses a significant part of the season due to injuries.

I could easily see Koulibaly, Chalobah and Fofana as a back 3 although it would required probably Fofana to be in the centre. Fofana hopefully will provide more aerial strength as well well.

Chalobah has done enough in my opinion to warrant lots of minutes. Sure he still has some positional stuff to work on but he brings speed, energy, height and is quite good on the ball.

I think a season with Silva will do wonders to Fofana, Chalobah should stay too for the same reason and develop a partnership. If we are lucky, there's the CD parternship we could have for the next decade.

7 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

I thought Rudiger was great for us under Conte and was good under Sarri too before a knee injury ended his season early. I think we forget that about Rudiger under Lampard. He had to have knee surgery before the season ended under Sarri and then busted his knee again in pre-season for Lampard, then first game back, he busted his groin and was out for 3 more months. He was awful that season, but when you look back, you can see why. The next season, Lampard barely played him, but when he did, our defence looked a lot better.

Fair play - I did not take into account the injury misfortune that he partook those seasons under Lampard.

70m for a PL talent is the standard so I don't think we're overpaying this one.

8 hours ago, True Blue23 said:

Poor take. Not everyone is good in the middle of a back three. Also Christensen was very good on the right of the back three as well. Oh and he had a great game in the final of the Champions League.

…..and I could also list a number of goals that were down to him playing on the right of a three.  Most annoying were goals where he made a mistake but faked an injury straight after.  Yes, he played well when he came on in the champions league final, but way too many mistakes in him to be classed as any good.  Fofana is a clear upgrade.

…and to add that Christensen letting his team mates down on the morning of a cup final is unforgivable.  He’s a professional sports person and if his mental state means that on numerous times he will let his team mates down by not wanting to play, he shouldn’t be a professional sports person and should do something that is less stressful for him.  That is what would happen in the real world if your job is not for you.  A player who won’t let you down is an upgrade….

I don’t think Christensen was underrated, as some posters here suggest.  An underrated centre half for me was Alex.  Gutted when AVB, got rid.  Another I thought was underrated was Emerson Thome.  

Exclusive: Wesley Fofana has completed the main part of his Chelsea medical today. He will join Chelsea for £75m including add ons signing a 6 year contract. An official announcement is expected soon. 

Fofana's behaviour was instrumental to an agreement being reached. #CFC

28 minutes ago, Chris Gundleton said:

…and to add that Christensen letting his team mates down on the morning of a cup final is unforgivable.  He’s a professional sports person and if his mental state means that on numerous times he will let his team mates down by not wanting to play, he shouldn’t be a professional sports person and should do something that is less stressful for him.  That is what would happen in the real world if your job is not for you.  A player who won’t let you down is an upgrade….

I don’t think Christensen was underrated, as some posters here suggest.  An underrated centre half for me was Alex.  Gutted when AVB, got rid.  Another I thought was underrated was Emerson Thome.  

Hahaha you think footballers get gifted game time at elite clubs and million Euro contracts? Apparently he is deemed so good at playing football that we still wanted him to extend and an elite club the level of FC Barcelona still signed him, despite his mental frailties. But yeah, every centre back is better than Christensen... 😂

3 hours ago, JM7 said:

Exclusive: Wesley Fofana has completed the main part of his Chelsea medical today. He will join Chelsea for £75m including add ons signing a 6 year contract. An official announcement is expected soon. 

Fofana's behaviour was instrumental to an agreement being reached. #CFC

Not sure it’s a done deal yet. We have sent him to the States for his medicals, something pops up & the deal is off.

Watching the videos of him tackling it’s no wonder his leg broke. Sticks it out like  a piece of kindling ready to be snapped. 

9 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Watching the videos of him tackling it’s no wonder his leg broke. Sticks it out like  a piece of kindling ready to be snapped. 

but now his leg has healed even stronger 

leg of steel

l 

4 hours ago, Chris Gundleton said:

…and to add that Christensen letting his team mates down on the morning of a cup final is unforgivable.  He’s a professional sports person and if his mental state means that on numerous times he will let his team mates down by not wanting to play, he shouldn’t be a professional sports person and should do something that is less stressful for him.  That is what would happen in the real world if your job is not for you.  A player who won’t let you down is an upgrade….

I don’t think Christensen was underrated, as some posters here suggest.  An underrated centre half for me was Alex.  Gutted when AVB, got rid.  Another I thought was underrated was Emerson Thome.  

Amen on Alex and agree on Christensen. Fofana will be an upgrade defensively. Christensen can enjoy playing regista in a dinner suit for Barcelona. It'll suit him well.

Fofana took a flight to the USA for further medical exam. This to me is the biggest story that hasn't been talked about. The kid was out for 7 months last year with a broken leg and dislocated ankle issue along with knee issues before even joining LC. Red flags all over the place.

1 minute ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Fofana took a flight to the USA for further medical exam. This to me is the biggest story that hasn't been talked about. The kid was out for 7 months last year with a broken leg and dislocated ankle issue along with knee issues before even joining LC. Red flags all over the place.

 

It is good a specialist sees him.

17 minutes ago, TheCeleryKing said:

Fofana took a flight to the USA for further medical exam. This to me is the biggest story that hasn't been talked about. The kid was out for 7 months last year with a broken leg and dislocated ankle issue along with knee issues before even joining LC. Red flags all over the place.

 

Something popped up in the medical and they want it checked out before they sign off such a huge amount. Pretty sure this did not happen with Cucurella so this deal may not be a forgone conclusion.

This does not sound good.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Something popped up in the medical and they want it checked out before they sign off such a huge amount. Pretty sure this did not happen with Cucurella so this deal may not be a forgone conclusion.

Glad to see we are doing the due diligence from the medical point of view. If issues and concerns are confirmed we should walk away.