I said exactly that watching him for Levekusen post lockdown. Was praying Liverpool weren't going to get him as his long term successor (didn't think we had a prayer in the race for him at that point).
Chelsea 2021/22 - World and European Champions
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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I think even Haaland would have negatively affected us on overall play. Despite his inhuman personal stats Dortmund have actually regressed with him there.
I think false 9 is just simply the way football's heading at the top of the game, it's no coincidence the last two league champions and two of the last three UCL winners have gone down that route (could even argue the winners before that had a 9 and a half in Benzema).
That is great if you have runners come in behind that happening. I dont fall into the trap that because we scored against two of the worst teams in the league and Rom was not there, it happened because Rom was not there. I thought Rom would score more than he has, but I still see value in what he offers the team. If we are going to challenge for multiple trophies, it is going to take everyone producing including Rom. I do think there are match ups that Tuchel needs to rest Rom.
Problem is as far as I can see is that he is still completely useless against good teams. Your performance this season against City compared to last was largely down to him imo as he doesn't press nor move which played straight into their hands as the forward line didn't press together.
As for runners off of him, when I watch Chelsea without him they do. Problem when he plays is that he prevents them from doing it by being so static.
I think it's a bit situational to be honest. His performance in the second half against Liverpool has been underrated I think - if Kovacic had finished the brilliant chance Lukaku had created for him, he'd have received plaudits.
Against City I think the bigger issue was our midfield - Pep sprung a surprise with Foden as a false 9 and he was brilliant at pressing Jorginho out of possession, which meant we were outnumbered completely and couldn't get out of our half. Certainly Lukaku was poor but I think it's a bit harsh to put it down to him - there were bigger problems (and I think Tuchel erred by trying to use the relatively untested Lukaku / Werner partnership up top).
Reading about Harvey Vale's contract situation it got me thinking about just how good Cobham is right now. We're producing serious talent season after season, the only issue is that we're stacked in so many positions it's inevitable we're going to lose some of them.
Just look at RB and CM, you've got Reece James, Livramento and Lamptey all coming through within a couple of years of each other. We've had to sell two of them, one for pittance. At CM we have had Bate, Mount, Gilmour, Gallagher and now Vale, again it's hard to see how they will all fit in when you also have Kovacic, Kante, Loftus Cheek and Jorginho in those positions.
All I can see is that we're going to have to try and sell at a decent fee and insert buy back clauses for when the time is right.
As a youngster the Chelsea model really works, come into arguably the best academy in the world, get paid well, train with the best for your age with the best facilities, develop, go out on loan to get first team experience and then either break through or leave for first team football as a polished youngster. The only players who lose are those who keep signing new contracts until they are 26 and get shipped out year after year.
Just look at RB and CM, you've got Reece James, Livramento and Lamptey all coming through within a couple of years of each other. We've had to sell two of them, one for pittance. At CM we have had Bate, Mount, Gilmour, Gallagher and now Vale, again it's hard to see how they will all fit in when you also have Kovacic, Kante, Loftus Cheek and Jorginho in those positions.
All I can see is that we're going to have to try and sell at a decent fee and insert buy back clauses for when the time is right.
As a youngster the Chelsea model really works, come into arguably the best academy in the world, get paid well, train with the best for your age with the best facilities, develop, go out on loan to get first team experience and then either break through or leave for first team football as a polished youngster. The only players who lose are those who keep signing new contracts until they are 26 and get shipped out year after year.
It is pretty clear that Chelsea probably now have the best academy in the world.
We've also let go of Tomori and Guehi for pretty hefty fees, but we still have Christensen and Chalobah representing the academy at CB.
I knew Vale was going to look at this situation eventually and realise he's got a decision to make. He plays in a highly congested area of the pitch, even if we just look at academy prospects who are older and more experienced than him.
I think Vale will sign a new deal and go out on loan in the next 18 months, but if he doesn't, there's somebody else in the age group below who will take on the mantle, just like Vale himself did with Bate's departure.
On a different note, i've just seen Mendy's premier league save percentage... 96.3%! Alisson is at 73.3%, Ederson 66.7% and De Gea 64.3%.
Digging deeper Mendy has faced 27 shots and saved 25, Allison 30 with 21 saved whilst Ederson has only faced 15 and saved 10. Only De Gea has saved more with 27 from 42 shots.
I know there is an argument for having Kante + a back three but his stats since joining are just phenomenal. He's already amassed 34 clean sheets in just over a season and a third.
Digging deeper Mendy has faced 27 shots and saved 25, Allison 30 with 21 saved whilst Ederson has only faced 15 and saved 10. Only De Gea has saved more with 27 from 42 shots.
I know there is an argument for having Kante + a back three but his stats since joining are just phenomenal. He's already amassed 34 clean sheets in just over a season and a third.
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Good to get him signed up!
Good but where's the bloody Christensen and Rudiger announcements!! (..and Dave..and Thiago)
The brilliant thing is that the majority of players coming through are local boys too.
Sounds like Chalobah's emergence has forced Chelsea to reevaluate transfer plans for upcoming windows, possibly no more Kounde on the agenda.
Loved reading that. Shows the young players that if they show they deserve to be there, there will be a place for them.
Good little read. I still think Kounde may be signed though, simply as I am not sure Silva will get extended again, possibly have Rudiger off, too
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Cool.
Stupid way to drop 2 points.
I really hope this is the year that Burnley feck off to the Championship. Time wasting from the start and some of their players are fecking thugs looking for an excuse to injure their opponents.
much needed dropped points for the rest of the league
So disappointing. We battered them from start to finish. This game was a throwback to the wastefulness in front of goal last season. So many easy chances to get the second goal.
Now the raw frustration has somewhat worn off I'm even more confident we'll challenge now after today.
Even our finishing can only hold us back so much if we keep creating such a high volume of chances.
The conversation no one is ready for is the Lukaku conundrum, as much as I hate to make rival fans smug (re United fans warned us this would happen) we are a better team without him, by a distance in my opinion.
I agree on both counts. We've been in agreement about Lukaku for a while now to be honest. We almost look like a juggernaut without him, but somehow we can only muster up a couple of half chances when he plays.
We had Fergie for almost 3 decades, so we should know that…but I forgot, Fergie had time, it’s enough it seems…
The two homes against Atletico and Real Madrid were by far the most enjoyable games in that run. It was beating Atleti at home that made me think we could possibly do that to anyone.
Before Tuchel got here, most of us were certain we wouldn't make it past R16, even on the day of the first leg I was pretty low on confidence but the way we played them off the park, and then pretty much battered them in the second leg forced me to rethink everything I thought about this team.
It's crazy how fast life just goes though. Watching those clips, it feels like I'm watching something that happened a lifetime ago, a lot of my thoughts and feelings around the final are actually a total blur. Need to learn how to cherish things more in the moment.
Just seen that Chelsea have decided to almost triple season ticket prices in one of their stands from £1250 to £3900! That's bloody insane 
I echo this, and its crazy how we waited 9 years for that opportunity again and then its gone in the blink of an eye!
Pulisic's goal against Madrid was when I knew we was winning it, at that moment you could just feel it
As soon as that went in I put a steep bet on Chelsea to win the competition outright
West London inflation for you... Hopefully that at least includes all games.Just seen that Chelsea have decided to almost triple season ticket prices in one of their stands from £1250 to £3900! That's bloody insane
Just the usual 19 home games.
Yeah, looks like they revamped the upper part of that stand & are now trying to charge accordingly.Just seen that Chelsea have decided to almost triple season ticket prices in one of their stands from £1250 to £3900! That's bloody insane
Much to be admired about the German outlook on ticket prices.
Cech on Conor Gallagher
Tuchel on Gallagher
Tuchel also said in his presser today he does not plan on bringing him back in January. He does not want to interrupt the progress he is making and completely change what he is experiencing, but he does look forward to having him as a player.
Which is the correct decision. Recalling him would have been really stupid.
I really believe as of this moment in time, Gallagher has a better chance of being involved next year than Gilmour. Would even go as far to say as Gallagher is perhaps the better player. Gilmour very good but needs to toughen up, and id send him on another loan to a team better than Norwich.... unless Smith uses him from now on
Gilmour is developing well. He needs club game time though.
His performances forScotland have been incredible and up against some really decent players. Like all international games, some of the opponents have been poor also though but he has remained very consistent.
Scotland have a fantastic midfield 3 though and Gilmour plays a huge role.
His performances forScotland have been incredible and up against some really decent players. Like all international games, some of the opponents have been poor also though but he has remained very consistent.
Scotland have a fantastic midfield 3 though and Gilmour plays a huge role.
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Anthony Taylor is reffing the Chelsea V UTD game. That should go down well with the Chelsea posters.
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