2019/20 Rivals - Chelsea

[blue blue]

I'm naturally a pesimistic person but i'm getting more optimisic about our future with each game. Lampard as manager and a clear youth development plan.

Pulisic (21), Abraham (22), Mount (20), Tomori (21), James (19), RLC (23), CHO (18), Christensen (23). Some of those have incredible experience already. In fact we only have 4 players over the age of 30 in the whole squad.

Add into all of the above the fact that come the summer we could have the best part of £200-300m to spend, if we wanted. (Combination of players sold, lack of expenditure this year plus next years sales, CL football)

It's a good time to be a blue...

For me its the best time since Roman first took over. There's whole new feel to the club and it's coming from Frank and the young players.

I can't see where we need to invest £250m. Who would you buy? I wouldn't go near Neymar and Mbappe is now picking up injuries. I think the best thing to do is take stock at the end of the season and carry on scouting for quality young players. If the scouts identify the next best thing, like finding the new Hazard, yes we should spaff £60m but maybe we already have that player.

This season will be seminal and the potential of certain young players will either materialise or not. If Frank fails and we end up lower than mid table we may have problems attracting good young players but at the moment I can't see that happening.

 

[Pete Dahh Sneak]

For me its the best time since Roman first took over. There's whole new feel to the club and it's coming from Frank and the young players.

I can't see where we need to invest £250m. Who would you buy? I wouldn't go near Neymar and Mbappe is now picking up injuries. I think the best thing to do is take stock at the end of the season and carry on scouting for quality young players. If the scouts identify the next best thing, like finding the new Hazard, yes we should spaff £60m but maybe we already have that player.

This season will be seminal and the potential of certain young players will either materialise or not. If Frank fails and we end up lower than mid table we may have problems attracting good young players but at the moment I can't see that happening.

We’ve got Giroud, Willian and Pedro out of contract at the end of the season. You start looking at the squad, we’ve got very few spots to fill. We’re basically 2 deep at every position. We could obviously improve on Mount and Tomori but Frank believes in their potential. I feel like Christensen is going to want to leave after this season, so we’re just buying replacements for the 1s who leave really. Hopefully we extend one of Willian and Pedro and let the other go and bring in a winger in the summer.

 

[filibuster]

I think we can and should go for 3-4 top players in their prime to add to the young guys and replace the old ones who are leaving. Players with confidence and good attitude who are hard workers to complement the style.

I would replace Giroud with a player of similar age but more mobile, a player like Mertens for example, who is out of contract in the summer.

With both Pedro and Willian most likely leaving, we are left with only CHO and Pulisic so here we should go for someone of absolute quality and splash the cash.
Honestly, Sancho makes a lot of sense, but for me, he is very similar to CHO and maybe it is wiser to go for a different profile. I would love Chiesa to come, sheer energy and determination on the wing. With Ziyech as an alternative.

We need a top left-back and Alex Telles comes to mind, but there are other interesting players out there.

And we definitely need a back-up for Kante, young with potential. We were linked to an interesting Brazilian player - Bruno Guimaraes, but also others like Malinovsky etc.

Even though earlier this season, our defence looked vulnerable, I think they will only get better, and there is strong and good competition there. Rudiger, Tomori, Zouma are all very good defenders with a mistake in them here in there, but overall beasts. Christensen might want to leave, he is young and most likely last in the pecking order. In that case, I would just bring back Ake if he is willing to fight for his place under Frank.

And I think we recovered Barkley back to his normal potential and he might want to go back to an Everton level team to play his best football because he is just not Chelsea quality material, but can be a good buy for West Ham or Crystal Palace or other teams that want to push for Europa League places. If Leicester sells Madison, they can also look at him for replacement.

 

[Theafonis]

I think we can and should go for 3-4 top players in their prime to add to the young guys and replace the old ones who are leaving. Players with confidence and good attitude who are hard workers to complement the style.

I would replace Giroud with a player of similar age but more mobile, a player like Mertens for example, who is out of contract in the summer.

With both Pedro and Willian most likely leaving, we are left with only CHO and Pulisic so here we should go for someone of absolute quality and splash the cash.
Honestly, Sancho makes a lot of sense, but for me, he is very similar to CHO and maybe it is wiser to go for a different profile. I would love Chiesa to come, sheer energy and determination on the wing. With Ziyech as an alternative.

We need a top left-back and Alex Telles comes to mind, but there are other interesting players out there.

And we definitely need a back-up for Kante, young with potential. We were linked to an interesting Brazilian player - Bruno Guimaraes, but also others like Malinovsky etc.

Even though earlier this season, our defence looked vulnerable, I think they will only get better, and there is strong and good competition there. Rudiger, Tomori, Zouma are all very good defenders with a mistake in them here in there, but overall beasts. Christensen might want to leave, he is young and most likely last in the pecking order. In that case, I would just bring back Ake if he is willing to fight for his place under Frank.

And I think we recovered Barkley back to his normal potential and he might want to go back to an Everton level team to play his best football because he is just not Chelsea quality material, but can be a good buy for West Ham or Crystal Palace or other teams that want to push for Europa League places. If Leicester sells Madison, they can also look at him for replacement.

Don’t really see the need for a left back at the moment. Alonso still has another 4 years on his contract, Emerson still another couple years, Azpi can also slot in at left back. Ian Maatsen also waiting in the development squad for his chance if he’s not sent out on loan next season. I think priority should be top rated attackers. Someone like Sancho.

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

a top class striker is what we need. I know Abraham is bagging and Batshuayi to an extent, but i still think we need someone clinical and world class. Could do with another winger come summertime because i think Willian and/or Pedro will be off. I still think we need another top drawer centre back too.

I said to Utd supporting friend in work i can see one of Zaha or Sancho joining Chelsea next summer. And if Juventus still want to sell Dybala id be all over it and stick him up top

 

[FreakyJim]

Some funny comments around August. Lampard is shit/naive, won't last til October etc.

What do you think now?

 

[Kevin]

Some funny comments around August. Lampard is shit/naive, won't last til October etc.

What do you think now?

They are saying lucky goals in the premier league thread. No evidence Lampard is better than Ole according to Red Rambos on the caf.

Also suddenly the narrative isn't "hazard's gone, not much quality left in that squad" during summer and early season game. It's "he's got the better squad, players bought by others and serving him well now". Stay tuned for more wriggling and crawling into whatever direction the narrative needs to go to support agenda.

 

[NYAS]

Depressing.

 

[-Supreme-]

Some funny comments around August. Lampard is shit/naive, won't last til October etc.

What do you think now?

To be fair its also as funny seeing comments raving about him.

Lampard has done well so far but their performances this season isn't sorely down to him.

It's sad to say but Chelsea are a well run club, especially if you consider the number of managers they have sacked over the years.

 

[Mb194dc]

Some funny comments around August. Lampard is shit/naive, won't last til October etc.

What do you think now?

I was quite concerned about Lampard. Been totally wrong though. Looking much more like a Zidane than a Neville. Core of home grown players doing better than my wildest dreams honestly, plus Pulisic today.

We still have the money in the bank too from the summer. Honestly maybe better to keep it there. Who would we buy?

This Chelsea side one of the best arguments against spanking money up the wall on transfers. Better to develop players and just add in quality in the right positions.

 

[Bearded One]

I was quite concerned about Lampard. Been totally wrong though. Looking much more like a Zidane than a Neville. Core of home grown players doing better than my wildest dreams honestly, plus Pulisic today.

We still have the money in the bank too from the summer. Honestly maybe better to keep it there. Who would we buy?

This Chelsea side one of the best arguments against spanking money up the wall on transfers. Better to develop players and just add in quality in the right positions.

I agree that your manager is doing great now but I'll advise you to reserve praise a little bit. Time makes things clearer. Ask any United fan and they will tell you more.

Brilliant work he is doing by the way and long may it continue because I like Lampard.

 

[bosnian_red]

I was quite concerned about Lampard. Been totally wrong though. Looking much more like a Zidane than a Neville. Core of home grown players doing better than my wildest dreams honestly, plus Pulisic today.

We still have the money in the bank too from the summer. Honestly maybe better to keep it there. Who would we buy?

This Chelsea side one of the best arguments against spanking money up the wall on transfers. Better to develop players and just add in quality in the right positions.

Can see Chelsea going big on Sancho in the summer. He grew up a Chelsea supporter, would fit in the 11 and would give Chelsea that extra bit of star power, plus with Willian and Pedro getting up there in age and contracts expiring it makes sense. Can even use all 3 of hudson odoi/sancho/Pulisic behind Abraham if they want to.

Of course, he'd be perfect for United, but now it's looking like a signing that makes a lot of sense for both parties going to Chelsea.

 

[Suedesi]

Chelsea are on fire, look really solid in the back and fluid going forward. So far, so great for them.

 

[SirReginald]

I agree that your manager is doing great now but I'll advise you to reserve praise a little bit. Time makes things clearer. Ask any United fan and they will tell you more.

Brilliant work he is doing by the way and long may it continue because I like Lampard.

Honestly if we went through a period like what you are going through I would still back the manager. I will reserve judgement on his overall success but I'm willing to wait.

Lampard has shown a lot of adaptability when it comes to managing the team, formations, personnel and he above all understands how far hard work can take you in football. Not as great naturally as a footballer as Gerrard, but achieved far more.

Barring any unfortunately incidents, im sure both he and the team will grow and hopefully get us back to one of the top 2 teams in England.

 

[UsualSuspect]

I agree that your manager is doing great now but I'll advise you to reserve praise a little bit. Time makes things clearer. Ask any United fan and they will tell you more.

Brilliant work he is doing by the way and long may it continue because I like Lampard.

Agreed although I don't see anything over-the-top in his statements. Lampard also has the benefit of building upon a very good base that Maurizio Sarri is responsible for. The intricate play in midfield, the precise passing from the back etc are all ingrained from Sarri's tenure. Nevermind that he turned Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Emerson into more well-rounded players as well. When those three return (plus our best CB in Rudiger) I think we could see some really good stuff this season.

 

[SportingCP96]

Doing a lot better then I imagined and really taking advantage of there youth and developing them. CHO, Mount, Abraham, Pulisic all young with a good margin of growth who can be valuable players For a potential title competing squad. The transfer ban might have been a blessing in disguise.

 

[SirAF]

Impressive start by Lampard.

 

[SportingCP96]

Impressive start by Lampard.

I agree doing a lot better then I thought he would in fairness.

 

[CHKBC]

Pulisic’s finishing was clinical and showed a lot of confidence which was surprising to say the least as he isn’t a prolific scorer in his career. Burnley aren’t exactly the type of club to give too many chances for players to score hat tricks against them but great to see that happen as I thoroughly despise that moaning git called Sean Dyche and his thuggish Football.

 

[One Night Only]

Pulisic’s finishing was clinical and showed a lot of confidence which was surprising to say the least as he isn’t a prolific scorer in his career. Burnley aren’t exactly the type of club to give too many chances for players to score hat tricks against them but great to see that happen as I thoroughly despise that moaning git called Sean Dyche and his thuggish Football.

I wouldn't call it clinical at all, all pretty lucky goals tbh.

Edit: not sure about the header actually, can't tell if it comes off his back or not

 

[HNK55]

Great performance yesterday!

One thing that annoyed me was Hudson-Odoi getting a yellow. Would have been a soft penalty for sure but there was a clear push in the back. VAR should just go, seriously ruining more than its fixing.

 

[P-Ro]

Farewell BandyMcBand. You will be sorely missed on this thread.

Can't speak for others but personally I've been looking at that Chelsea squad before a ball was kicked and saying they won't do well. It's just a very average looking side when you take Hazard out of the attacking force.

Add an inexperienced, unaccomplished manager like manager to that mix and you've clearly got trouble. The early results are pretty much exactly what I expected. He's going to be very naive with his tactics and youth policy, and he'll have no world class attacker consistently bailing him out. Teams will smell blood in the water at Chelsea this season and I don't think Franky Lampard is going to know what the feck to do about it.

 

[charlenefan]

Ole was 17 games in all comps before the wheels fell off, this past weekend was the 17th game for Lampard albeit his start has been no where near as good as Ole's

I think it's highly optimistic of Chelsea fans to think there wont come a time when there's a blip but then who knows maybe they know better and they'll continue the entire season loosing to the big 6/top 6 and beating the rest. Incredible level of consistency if that does happen but could happen I guess

 

[duffer]

Ole was 17 games in all comps before the wheels fell off, this past weekend was the 17th game for Lampard albeit his start has been no where near as good as Ole's

I think it's highly optimistic of Chelsea fans to think there wont come a time when there's a blip but then who knows maybe they know better and they'll continue the entire season loosing to the big 6/top 6 and beating the rest. Incredible level of consistency if that does happen but could happen I guess

The blip came at the beginning. It's certainly not all been plain sailing like you lot had when Old took the wheel.

 

[charlenefan]

The blip came at the beginning. It's certainly not all been plain sailing like you lot had when Old took the wheel.

Indeed and maybe that'll stand you in better stead over the entirety of the season or maybe you'll have a similar hit a brick wall moment like we did (and Arsenal did under Emery last season). I'm done trying to predict what'll happen with Chelsea as they always prove me wrong

 

[blue blue]

Indeed and maybe that'll stand you in better stead over the entirety of the season or maybe you'll have a similar hit a brick wall moment like we did (and Arsenal did under Emery last season). I'm done trying to predict what'll happen with Chelsea as they always prove me wrong

We've definitely got a defeat in us. I don't think we have had our one and only blip and would be surprised if we didn't have at least few more. Our victories have come against some poor teams who are now languishing near the bottom of the table. We struggled against Leicester and Sheff Utd and have been beaten by you lot twice. I expect us to lose to teams like Liverpool but we acquitted ourselves quite well against them. While the away win against Ajax was our best result I'm not convinced they are as good as City and Liverpool and Chelsea need to get a good result against one of those two before they can really start dreaming.

Utd are a puzzle to me. I thought you played well against us at the Bridge last week yet you get beaten by Bournemouth. Just when it seems to be coming together it falls apart. The inconsistency is becoming consistent. I think its a mentality thing. You need some leaders on the pitch and in the dressing room to make people feel like they have to win and can win. Second half against Bournemouth didn't look good.

Chelsea still have problems with a lack of experience but that will change in the next two years and the potential is exciting. Frank could do an Ole and lose a whole bunch of games but I can't see it. It may sound bigoted but I think the fact that Frank is smart and English helps the young players to assimilate.

 

[filibuster]

I generally think that a team's character is there to be seen when dealing with bad patches. We already had some both at the beginning of PL and in CL, but we improved on those performances.

There is a difference between Frank and Ole in terms of when they were playing in PL. Both are legends, but the kids that play for Chelsea now had Lampard as an idol, he was huge. Thanks to that admiration, the professionalism that Frank showed during all those years, is now imprinted step by step in these kids. This quality, after talent, is maybe the most important aspect for having success on the pitch.

Lampard is a winner, he wants to win things, and if any of these players think that they can relax now because they made it, it will be their biggest mistake. I am sure he will push for key transfers and demand competition for each place.

 

[AshRK]

We've definitely got a defeat in us. I don't think we have had our one and only blip and would be surprised if we didn't have at least few more. Our victories have come against some poor teams who are now languishing near the bottom of the table. We struggled against Leicester and Sheff Utd and have been beaten by you lot twice. I expect us to lose to teams like Liverpool but we acquitted ourselves quite well against them. While the away win against Ajax was our best result I'm not convinced they are as good as City and Liverpool and Chelsea need to get a good result against one of those two before they can really start dreaming.

Utd are a puzzle to me. I thought you played well against us at the Bridge last week yet you get beaten by Bournemouth. Just when it seems to be coming together it falls apart. The inconsistency is becoming consistent. I think its a mentality thing. You need some leaders on the pitch and in the dressing room to make people feel like they have to win and can win. Second half against Bournemouth didn't look good.

Chelsea still have problems with a lack of experience but that will change in the next two years and the potential is exciting. Frank could do an Ole and lose a whole bunch of games but I can't see it. It may sound bigoted but I think the fact that Frank is smart and English helps the young players to assimilate.

We will do well against those side who offers space to us to counter. If the team just sits back and let us have the ball then we are going to struggle. We should have won against Pool too and weren't half bad against Arsenal. I can see us continuing to drop points against the so called inferior sides.

 

[Dancfc]

To be fair everyone knows ( Chelsea included) that this season they're not going to do well, so they won't be a worry. Frank's really lucky the transfer ban and Hazard leaving releases a heap of pressure off him this season.

This season it's going to be:
City
Liverpool/Spurs
Arsenal/Utd
----

Chelsea

Can't imagine this one ageing well.

 

[SirReginald]

We will do well against those side who offers space to us to counter. If the team just sits back and let us have the ball then we are going to struggle. We should have won against Pool too and weren't half bad against Arsenal. I can see us continuing to drop points against the so called inferior sides.

Is that not Ole's problem to solve? Regardless of how thin your squad is, he doesnt really look like he has a clue what he is doing. Penalties must be your top scorer this year, which is just shocking really.

We have our issues, even the most blue tinted fan can see that, we know we will have a bad patch but most of us are ready for that.

The difference between us two teams is that Lampard is spending extra hours coaching the young players. We are turning into a very flexible exciting team. I'm pretty sure I read here that Ole is hardly involved in the training and coaching side.

That's comparable to a young Rooney and a young Ronaldo. One went on to have a good career but was never world class, eating burgers and smoking. The other really doesnt need to be spoken for, ridiculous career.

You get what you put in. You guys lack ideas and rely on long balls and pace (and penalties). We switch it up, style and formation. Besides the united game, we have always looked like scoring this season.

Now when the blip comes, there wont be many calling for Lampards head nor do I believe it will last as long as your own blip. But if that does happen, I am sure everyone will stick by him because we see where we are headed.

It's all about the long term vision, short term success would be great but a little unexpected, even if we are a team that should be fighting for everything.

 

[BlackShark_80]

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[TheMagicFoolBus]

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Big news. Expect serious pushes for Chilwell and Sancho - and I think in both instances Chelsea would be willing to loan the players back for the remainder of the season as they did with Pulisic. Lots of rumours about Youcef Atal as well; could see that happening next month.

 

[ZolaWasMagic]

Big news. Expect serious pushes for Chilwell and Sancho - and I think in both instances Chelsea would be willing to loan the players back for the remainder of the season as they did with Pulisic. Lots of rumours about Youcef Atal as well; could see that happening next month.

think we will be big spenders in Jan myself

 

[blue blue]

Go large Roman.

Probably got a £250m war chest after the sales of Hazard, Morata and Luiz and not spending anything in the last window. That's a serious wad.

Koulibaly, Sancho and Chilwell would be on my list. Maybe Cavani as an interim replacement for Giroud.

 

[AshRK]

I feel roman will spend big this Jan and next summer. I also won't be surprised if they let Lampard go (unless he wins a CL or improves Chelsea significantly that they finish 2nd) and appoint Allegri or some other renowned manager.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

I feel roman will spend big this Jan and next summer. I also won't be surprised if they let Lampard go (unless he wins a CL or improves Chelsea significantly that they finish 2nd) and appoint Allegri or some other renowned manager.

There is a zero percent chance Lampard is going next summer

 

[AshRK]

There is a zero percent chance Lampard is going next summer

You never know with Roman. You lot have sacked better managers in the past. What makes you think Roman will not pull the plug if Lampard finishes 4th without any trophies.

 

[TheMagicFoolBus]

You never know with Roman. You lot have sacked better managers in the past. What makes you think Roman will not pull the plug if Lampard finishes 4th without any trophies.

He's already been guaranteed a second year so long as the team doesn't get relegated - this was part of his initial deal in agreeing to become manager. Furthermore, even if he didn't have that ironclad assurance securing CL football for next season given the transfer ban & immense youth integration would be more than enough to justify giving him more time.

 

[blue blue]

You never know with Roman. You lot have sacked better managers in the past. What makes you think Roman will not pull the plug if Lampard finishes 4th without any trophies.

Lampard will deserve a knighthood if he gets 4th and no trophies. Roman knows Frank took on a really hard job under difficult circumstances. Having a transfer ban, losing your best player (and some others) and not having a quality recognised centre forward made the job all the more difficult. No other Chelsea manager in the Roman era has had to contend with such a set of circumstances.
He wouldn't sack him even if they finished outside the top 4.
The fans would go mad anyway.

 

[AshRK]

Lampard will deserve a knighthood if he gets 4th and no trophies. Roman knows Frank took on a really hard job under difficult circumstances. Having a transfer ban, losing your best player (and some others) and not having a quality recognised centre forward made the job all the more difficult. No other Chelsea manager in the Roman era has had to contend with such a set of circumstances.
He wouldn't sack him even if they finished outside the top 4.
The fans would go mad anyway.

Thats all fair and true, but Roman has never taken decisions with his emotions and that is probably one big reason you are one of the most successful clubs in english football. I am not saying Lampard will definitely be facing the same wrath that his predecessors have faced, but I will not be surprised if he takes a bold decision to replace Lampard.