9 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Do you know the answer?

Well, I know a few Younes's in real life - in fact, a package I recieved today was delivered by a guy called Younes.  Was a nice chap - although I think the delivery guy was about as "in the know" as the youtubers, who make videos, based on nothing but media reports and twitter speculation.

27 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

What is with all of insults on here when someone voices their concerns of late? All of the concerns from you, myself, and many others a perfectly valid.

We were told that the squad was inflated, it's now even more inflated, and we are a week away from the new season kicking off.

We are spending more money than any club in the world, with a lot of that money being spent on kids and over £100m of it on squad players. We aren't even the biggest club in world football, we still don't even have a shirt sponsor. How are we able to do what other clubs aren't doing and escape any future FFP penalty? It feels like the owners are being incredibly reckless and banking on every single signing being a hit. 

We still haven't fixed our midfield, which should have been priority number 1, especially after allowing Kovacic and Kante to leave. Pochettino has made it pretty obvious that he really needs a midfielder. I've seen people complain about how Brighton are handling this, but they're doing nothing wrong. They value their player highly and we put ourselves in a desperate situation by letting our midfield become so weak. We did it to ourselves, they would be daft not to squeeze every penny they can get out of us. They also don't need to sell Caicedo, and I have pointed out it would be foolish for them to even do it this season. They have Europa League football and they sold Macallister. I've seen clubs find themselves in a relegation scrap with the extra football.

It's a strange time mate. 

On the one side, I think we have done really well to sell so many players, evening we took a bit of a hit on most. We have reduced the wage bill dramatically and seem to have the majority of the squad on long term contracts with performance related bonuses. I also like what I see from a lot of the new players. 

On the flip side, we have spent a hell of a lot money to have had such an awful 12 months, and be left with a squad that still seems below par in some keys areas. So when I keep seeing us move for loan players, spending relatively large amounts, I'm concerned we are getting our priorities right, and with no sponsor, and no champions league football, it feels like a gamble to spend this much outside the first team, before we get back on track and establish ourselves back amongst Europe's elite. 

Some posters find it overly negative to point this out before the window has closed, which I guess is fair enough, but I think concerns are warranted given how things have gone so far under this ownership.

1 minute ago, nonotnowjim said:

Well, I know a few Younes's in real life - in fact, a package I recieved today was delivered by a guy called Younes.  Was a nice chap - although I think the delivery guy was about as "in the know" as the youtubers, who make videos, based on nothing but media reports and twitter speculation.

Good lord. When Gabriel was signed it was mentioned by numerous people including youtuber Younes that he was going out on loan straight after pre season as he doesn't have the necessary work permit. Now it is being mentioned again by numerous people on here and various stories that he may stay here rather than going.

Does that mean he does have a work permit now? That's all I was asking.

2 hours ago, big blue said:

Just because we have 1 budget for young players, and 1 budget for 1st team players, it doesnt mean one does not affect the other. 

If we spend all of the budget for young players before we have made the signings we want for the 1st team, what do we do if a key player comes in over budget? 

Buy someone cheaper or go over total budget?

In terms of ffp there is one budget.

If you or someone can provide any data or a report from a reliable source that the money being spent on this guy is the FFP tipping point and/or affects our ability to go the extra mile for Caicedo in terms of FFP then I'll relent but I will be incredibly shocked if that's the case.

Edited August 5, 20233 yr by Argo

58 minutes ago, Argo said:

If you or someone can provide any data or a report from a reliable source that the money being spent on this guy is the FFP tipping point and/or affects our ability to go the extra mile for Caicedo in terms of FFP then I'll relent but I will be incredibly shocked if that's the case.

Of course nobody can provide that , in the same way you can’t back your own argument unless you have access to the board. What I would say is that our transfers are now handled by Blue Co, the parent company of Chelsea. These players are being loaned out, this suggests Chelsea own them and any assets as such are subject to due diligence accounting. 

As we are all Chelsea supporters here (I think) then we all want what’s best for the club.  The new owners have only been in control for 12 months so it’s fair for us to have some reservations regarding how things are ran, especially as they seem to be going full steam ahead straight away. It would be naive to just 100% trust new owners particularly as they have no prior experience running a football club.

My main worry is that we are putting a lot of faith and money in youth, not just the loan army but the first team too.  The amount of money paid out and the long contracts means it’s a long term investment, but what if it doesn’t work out as planned?  Will all this spending affect future transfer windows?  All speculation but no one has done it on this scale before.  There clearly has to be a lot of trust in the new owners, however as supporters we are entitled to question them even though there’s nothing we can do about it.  

I would love for us to sign a few world stars that will be our own before they get locked up at other major teams.  However over many years of following football I’ve come to realize most wonder kids end up being average for the most part. Finding the ‘generational talent’ is very difficult.  Most clubs are out there looking too, maybe not on the scale we are, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll find them.  
 

We seem to be obsessed with the Redbull model, Brighton model, what have they won recently?  With the money we’ve spent we could have followed the City model.  I have high hopes for this season and hope everything works out, just have worries the owners are taking more gambles than are necessary.

On 05/08/2023 at 18:03, Argo said:

If you or someone can provide any data or a report from a reliable source that the money being spent on this guy is the FFP tipping point and/or affects our ability to go the extra mile for Caicedo in terms of FFP then I'll relent but I will be incredibly shocked if that's the case.

What is your opinion on this now? 

3 hours ago, big blue said:

What is your opinion on this now? 

Why wouldn't the same apply? Do you honestly believe we missed out in Caicedo because we lost crucial hours doing this deal instead?

On 11/08/2023 at 19:44, Argo said:

Why wouldn't the same apply? Do you honestly believe we missed out in Caicedo because we lost crucial hours doing this deal instead?

What is your opinion now?

Is this guy any good? What’s his level?

6 hours ago, ozboy said:

Is this guy any good? What’s his level?

I've seen comments from Brazilian fans saying he's incredible and pissed off that the fee is so low, which is encouraging. No idea on his level but since he's only just broken into the Santos side you'd expect a loan to Strasbourg more likely - or perhaps he'll stay with us until Jan to get him settled.

On 05/08/2023 at 19:19, charierre said:

Of course nobody can provide that , in the same way you can’t back your own argument unless you have access to the board. What I would say is that our transfers are now handled by Blue Co, the parent company of Chelsea. These players are being loaned out, this suggests Chelsea own them and any assets as such are subject to due diligence accounting. 

My take is, Washington let's say is 20mEuros. 

That's 4m on the FFP books

Strasbourg take him on loan. What fee will Strasbourg give us? I imagine it will be 4m and they'll cover the wages. 

Meaning Washington is a free asset according to FFP that is hopefully growing in value. 

In 3 years, a club may try and sign him. How much will he cost? Anything above 8m is an FFP profit. In 2 years anything above 12m. 

One of these players becomes a 60/70m+ asset, or even a first teamer, and they've paid for themselves multiple times over.

That's why these players are irrelevant to Caicedo transfer costs. I would estimate that by 23/24, if not earlier, our "loan army" will be a profitable function from an FFP stand point, as I suspect it was under Romans reign. 

And to my mind, they are aiming for this function of the business to become reliably profitable in a similar scope to the academy is now (which makes to my estimates a 6-8x ROI)

Edited August 15, 20233 yr by bisright1

Sounds like mobile disco DJ.

https://x.com/chelseafc/status/1694711206970561011?s=46
 

Welcome to the club young Dave

If he can be even a quarter as good as the last Dave we had, he will be a brilliant signing.

4 minutes ago, just said:

If he can be even a quarter as good as the last Dave we had, he will be a brilliant signing.

I never had you down as a Luiz fan @just

 

 

Todd will turn all these investments into young players into good money and show all those Europeans how an American mastered the finances of Soccer Ball. . . .or something like that.

Feel like we are doing our version of the NFL draft for the last 2 windows. Only time will tell, but if we are still spending these much paying big money for  these 'wonder kids' in 2-3 years time, then there are more wrongs than right.

14 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Feel like we are doing our version of the NFL draft for the last 2 windows. Only time will tell, but if we are still spending these much paying big money for  these 'wonder kids' in 2-3 years time, then there are more wrongs than right.

I think they did this at LA Dodgers. Very different product, skill sets and physical fitness dynamics in a non contact sport vs contact. Hopefully this approach can translate into football.

Should this thread 🧵 be in General?

This lad might play in some of the coming up games. Excited to see what he has.

12 hours ago, evissy said:

Should this thread 🧵 be in General?

This lad might play in some of the coming up games. Excited to see what he has.

Acne, I would imagine 

@Moduekeanother one to move.

Chasing a goal and the only striker we have on the bench does not come on with a sub left...

Another one with no clear plan for his development. We have paid €20m for him and he has been on the bench for 5 games with zero pitch mins even with all the injuries. 

7 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Another one with no clear plan for his development. We have paid €20m for him and he has been on the bench for 5 games with zero pitch mins even with all the injuries. 

We've just won 2-0 and this is the first thing you think of? Have a day off man.

Nice little cameo today I thought.