It makes no sense for Chelsea, he’s a world class midfielder and after bringing in a ton of attacking talent we’d be mugs to offload a guy who can keep us solid. We learned that lesson with Makalele and how much his departure made Real weaker.Definitely think it's possible and makes sense for both sides
I think the Maka comparisons are a bit misguided outside of them being small and French.It makes no sense for Chelsea, he’s a world class midfielder and after bringing in a ton of attacking talent we’d be mugs to offload a guy who can keep us solid. We learned that lesson with Makalele and how much his departure made Real weaker.
I’ve heard the club aren’t looking to sell anyway, they’ll only sell if he wants a move (which is a general club policy anyway).
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What's the starting XI next season? I assume that the new guys will all start.Edouard Mendy fee agreed. The Athletic Chelsea guys say Rice is next on the list, and we also have other defensive midfielders being looked at this window, incase Rice deal doesnt happen but confidence is there.
Think the backup is Soumare at Lille
Who do you see finishing top?I'd say anything less than top 4 would be a huge failure. Not expecting to finish top 2 though, but do expect to be competing with them for a decent chunk of the season overall. Will be games where we win 5/6/7-0 I think but will also be ones where we struggle as the new players adapt. I think the gap to City is too big to bridge over a season, Liverpool could be caught though if their luck runs out/motivation isn't as high this season. Comfortably top 4 and a decent run in Europe would be my aims for this season. I do have my doubts as to whether Lampard has the tactical nous to get us near City's level in terms of points. Can sign the best players in the world but Pep has a great system for beating the smaller teams and racking up huge points totals, not sure Lampard can do the same.
He was asked about the pressure in the presser, and his answer was something to the effect of "it's Chelsea, when is there not any pressure?" So yes, he's not a stupid guy, he knows after such a big transfer window, the pressure will be amped up. He doesn't shy away from it and his confidence fills me with confidence.Lampard must be under huge pressure to deliver this season. He has got everything he wanted this window.
Keeper
CB
LB
RW
CAM
ST
Interesting to see how he manages to gel them and fit players in. Players like Mount, CHO, Tomori, RLC
Good post - I think people (including myself) question his ability to finish, not his movememt.The pace of the Premiere League will catch him out?
At this point I'm really not sure you know who Timo Werner is (won't be surprising at all).
How many PL strikers are “technically strong”? Aguero? Auba?(maybe) Firmino? (definitely exchanging goals for technique that one)
To be a successful PL striker, you need movement and the ability to actually finish a chance. That's what make Vardy, Aguero,Kane, Ings (last season), Auba etc successful not how ‘sexy’ your passes look or how many men you take on before scoring. Movement, finishing and a reliable supply line behind you, that's all it takes. Technique, skill, passing range/accuracy, holdup play, aerial ability, pace, agility, strength etc.....those are just added bonuses that gives you a distinct advantage in CERTAIN match scenarios.
Werner has movement in and around the box and can finish (although still requires some work in being more clinical). Those are better indicators for success IMO than his pace.
His finishing last year was genuinely excellent - more than half his shots were on target (50.4%), resulting in a 21% conversion rate (goals per shot).Good post - I think people (including myself) question his ability to finish, not his movememt.
Everyone? Has anyone said that?Funny, see so many fans on this site saying we would be stupid to make several signings in one window, not feasible, disrupt harmony, wont gel blah blah blah blah.....yet Chelsea do it this window (yes I appreciate they have had a transfer ban so inevitable before anybody uses that card) and now everyone saying they will definately challenge for the title?
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Harsh I think. Especially given the condensed schedule, need for new squad members to settle, and unprecedented quality of Liverpool and Man City. If we finish with 80+ points and make decent progress in the cups I'd be very satisfied.If Lampard doesn’t challenge for the title this season he’s failed.
he’s got everything he wanted so there’s no excuse. Honestly I’d rather your lot win it over Liverpool and city though.
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€22m for Mendy seems an entirely reasonable price if true.
What more do you think you need to challenge?Harsh I think. Especially given the condensed schedule, need for new squad members to settle, and unprecedented quality of Liverpool and Man City. If we finish with 80+ points and make decent progress in the cups I'd be very satisfied.
Of course but not extensively. That said, he was 9th in save percentage among keepers from top 5 leagues while also being an elite collector of crosses. Kepa was literally last in the first metric and also managed to go the entire season without collecting a single corner. At this point, a traffic cone would be an upgrade over Kepa.Have you seen him play?
All of the players we've bought to get settled and adapted to the PL! I expect we'll be closer but not genuine title contenders. Next year I'd hope to be at that level.What more do you think you need to challenge?
You say this as if we're topping about some chap who has been absolutely top class for years. It's of course true that pace and goalscoring instinct are more than enough to make you a very good Pl striker.The pace of the Premiere League will catch him out?
At this point I'm really not sure you know who Timo Werner is (won't be surprising at all).
How many PL strikers are “technically strong”? Aguero? Auba?(maybe) Firmino? (definitely exchanging goals for technique that one)
To be a successful PL striker, you need movement and the ability to actually finish a chance. That's what make Vardy, Aguero,Kane, Ings (last season), Auba etc successful not how ‘sexy’ your passes look or how many men you take on before scoring. Movement, finishing and a reliable supply line behind you, that's all it takes. Technique, skill, passing range/accuracy, holdup play, aerial ability, pace, agility, strength etc.....those are just added bonuses that gives you a distinct advantage in CERTAIN match scenarios.
Werner has movement in and around the box and can finish (although still requires some work in being more clinical). Those are better indicators for success IMO than his pace.
Bit of time to gel. They've not had a single training session together yet.What more do you think you need to challenge?
I wouldn't say that. Chelsea's starting 11 is worse than both Liverpools and Citys in almost every position, while City also have better depth. Not to mention City and Liverpool have the 2 by a very large margin best and most influential managers of the past 10 years in charge, and settled squads in their peaks. They both also have the best peak level players, so its not like Chelsea can point to one player being better than anyone or most of what another team has.If Lampard doesn’t challenge for the title this season he’s failed.
he’s got everything he wanted so there’s no excuse. Honestly I’d rather your lot win it over Liverpool and city though.
Spot on. And by all accounts this is Chelsea's mindset as well - we're about to enter year 2 of what has been described extensively as a minimum 3 year plan.I wouldn't say that. Chelsea's starting 11 is worse than both Liverpools and Citys in almost every position, while City also have better depth. Not to mention City and Liverpool have the 2 by a very large margin best and most influential managers of the past 10 years in charge, and settled squads in their peaks. They both also have the best peak level players, so its not like Chelsea can point to one player being better than anyone or most of what another team has.
What this does is cement them in 3rd probably, give them the ground to challenge for trophies and a platform to challenge for the league once they gel/develop and City/Liverpool fall a bit.
Thats what United also needs to do, capitalize on the young squad and potential and spend big on players like Sancho and Upamecano to add to Rashford/Martial/Greenwood who will peak as a team together when City and Liverpool fall down to more normal levels where you don't need a "super manager" to compete with them.
It'll happen because of the spending, without using any logic. The same would be said of United if we sign Sancho, ignoring that our average age of the main attacking group would be 21, ignoring the starting 11 and squads City and Liverpool have, along with their managers. Last season both Chelsea and United had the target of starting a rebuild with a young squad to get top 4, and then had to aggressively build off it to maintain top 4 with the view of entering their peak just as Liverpool and City start to leave theirs. Chelsea is seemingly building like that, United have seemingly decided top 4 is enough and aren't doing anything else.Spot on. And by all accounts this is Chelsea's mindset as well - we're about to enter year 2 of what has been described extensively as a minimum 3 year plan.
The goals this year are to finish top 4 comfortably, reach the CL knockouts, and put up a fight in the domestic cups. Talk of winning the league is hugely premature, be it from our fans or rivals.
Well this is a typical case of you reading other meanings into my statement.You say this as if we're topping about some chap who has been absolutely top class for years. It's of course true that pace and goalscoring instinct are more than enough to make you a very good Pl striker.
But the very best - Aguero, Suarez, Henry, RvP etc do tend to have that brilliant technical ability. Unless your RVN and obscenely good infront of goal. So yeah, if Werner hasn't got that ability and is going to be your Jamie Vardy it's fair enough if someone doesn't fancy him all that much, as there are players Vardy and then players like Aguero etc and there's a difference between the two.
Not that I'm not putting Werner in any category myself. I'm just clearly outlining that a line of argument isn't complete flawed that's being put up against Timo "do you know who he is?" Werner.
Its hardly like hes had one good scoring season eitherYou say this as if we're topping about some chap who has been absolutely top class for years. It's of course true that pace and goalscoring instinct are more than enough to make you a very good Pl striker.
But the very best - Aguero, Suarez, Henry, RvP etc do tend to have that brilliant technical ability. Unless your RVN and obscenely good infront of goal. So yeah, if Werner hasn't got that ability and is going to be your Jamie Vardy it's fair enough if someone doesn't fancy him all that much, as there are players Vardy and then players like Aguero etc and there's a difference between the two.
Not that I'm not putting Werner in any category myself. I'm just clearly outlining that a line of argument isn't complete flawed that's being put up against Timo "do you know who he is?" Werner.
You may be right - I just base my opionion off a few matches (more than 5 less than 10) I've seen him play in both at club and national level where didn't strike me as lethal. Could be a small or statistically insignificant sample, but I'm curious to see how he gets on.His finishing last year was genuinely excellent - more than half his shots were on target (50.4%), resulting in a 21% conversion rate (goals per shot).
This was very comparable to Martial, for instance (48.1% / 22%) and Aubameyang (44.4% / 22%), and better than Aguero (34.2% / 19%). In terms of the Bundesliga specifically, he was also on par with Lewandowski (44.0% / 22%).
That said, it remains to be seen whether he has a learning curve and can translate this to the PL. Aubameyang's success at least bodes well for him.
Just as a further illustration, here's a representation of Werner's quality across a wide variety of different finishes:
(In case anyone is interested in reading more, here's a very comprehensive analysis: https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation...o-werner-in-depth-scouting-report-for-chelsea )
Chelsea have a better front three than united on paper.Where do you see the overestimate? Quote it! I don't think you even read the post you replied to.
I only said both Chelsea & United front three are on similar level on paper which you have admitted it yourself by not denying it.
I'd argue that it's not because of the spending but who the funds are being spent on. People rate the players Chelsea have bought very highly and the generally accepted view is that these players will elevate the club to greater heights.It'll happen because of the spending, without using any logic. The same would be said of United if we sign Sancho, ignoring that our average age of the main attacking group would be 21, ignoring the starting 11 and squads City and Liverpool have, along with their managers. Last season both Chelsea and United had the target of starting a rebuild with a young squad to get top 4, and then had to aggressively build off it to maintain top 4 with the view of entering their peak just as Liverpool and City start to leave theirs. Chelsea is seemingly building like that, United have seemingly decided top 4 is enough and aren't doing anything else.
Yeah I don't doubt the expectations will be unreasonable.It'll happen because of the spending, without using any logic. The same would be said of United if we sign Sancho, ignoring that our average age of the main attacking group would be 21, ignoring the starting 11 and squads City and Liverpool have, along with their managers. Last season both Chelsea and United had the target of starting a rebuild with a young squad to get top 4, and then had to aggressively build off it to maintain top 4 with the view of entering their peak just as Liverpool and City start to leave theirs. Chelsea is seemingly building like that, United have seemingly decided top 4 is enough and aren't doing anything else.
And that's 100% fair! I think there are question marks for sure. He certainly went up a level this past year; whether he can continue to improve or at least maintain that output is absolutely a valid question.You may be right - I just base my opionion off a few matches (more than 5 less than 10) I've seen him play in both at club and national level where didn't strike me as lethal. Could be a small or statistically insignificant sample, but I'm curious to see how he gets on.
I don't think that's harsh. You can't spend the money Chelsea have and not be expected to have a genuine tilt at the title.Harsh I think. Especially given the condensed schedule, need for new squad members to settle, and unprecedented quality of Liverpool and Man City. If we finish with 80+ points and make decent progress in the cups I'd be very satisfied.
Do you have the same expectations for united an ole who are also 200 mil plus worth of transfers in since frank arrived at chelsea ?I don't think that's harsh. You can't spend the money Chelsea have and not be expected to have a genuine tilt at the title.
Two years ago United finished 32 points behind Man City, then spent about 190m last year. Were you disappointed that you didn't have a genuine tilt at the title as you finished 33 points behind Liverpool this past season?I don't think that's harsh. You can't spend the money Chelsea have and not be expected to have a genuine tilt at the title.
