Chelsea 2018/19 - 3rd and European Champions. Sarri, not sorry

duffer

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Does Sarri have good connections to be able to pick out players that no one else noticed? If there is no ban then Chelsea will be trying to muscle in on an already overcrowded top table. Real, Barça, PSG, Bayern, Utd and Juve are all looking to overhaul massively ageing squads. Chelsea will have enough money with the Hazard sale but players will be seriously overpriced.
He'll probably have better knowledge of the Italian market than the rest of the prem but there are no real hidden gems nowadays. All the top sides have a ton of scouts and every half-decent player has an agent who is trying to get transfers for their clients.
 

ThatsGreat

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For all the criticism Sarri has received, here they are in 3rd place and in pole position to finish the season ahead of Spurs, Arsenal and ourselves.
I've said this before, that Chelsea is in third is nothing to do with how good Sarri is. Its more a reflection of how poor the teams around him have been.
 

Mb194dc

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I've said this before, that Chelsea is in third is nothing to do with how good Sarri is. Its more a reflection of how poor the teams around him have been.
Certainly true in last couple of months. I feel totally hollow about top 4, like we've not really done anything and somehow in 3rd with one game left, totally weird.

I hope we go and win Europa now, can relax and play our football. That would put some gloss on the season put EFL cup final shambles behind us.

I thought Higuain looked better yesterday, players getting his movements much better now I think.

I think ban will stand, if it doesn't what is point of the punishment? Fairly sure CAS will give judgement like that. Granted Madrid / Barca got a delay, I think circumstances different though.
 

Dancfc

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Does Sarri have good connections to be able to pick out players that no one else noticed? If there is no ban then Chelsea will be trying to muscle in on an already overcrowded top table. Real, Barça, PSG, Bayern, Utd and Juve are all looking to overhaul massively ageing squads. Chelsea will have enough money with the Hazard sale but players will be seriously overpriced.
There's always players knocking about if you look hard enough,you guys proved it yourself with Robertson and to an extent Firminho.
 

Kentonio

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I think ban will stand, if it doesn't what is point of the punishment? Fairly sure CAS will give judgement like that. Granted Madrid / Barca got a delay, I think circumstances different though.
What circumstances are different other than there’s a new guy in charge wanting to make things stricter? If Madrid/Barca got their delay then it would be pretty crappy to tell another team they can’t have one. It’s not like our offenses were commited after theirs and after teams were warned about a new harsher penalty system. It just raises the spectre of Spain getting preferential treatment.
 

ZolaWasMagic

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I must be in the minority who genuinely think it'll get lifted, even if it goes as far as CAS.
 

Spiersey

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What circumstances are different other than there’s a new guy in charge wanting to make things stricter? If Madrid/Barca got their delay then it would be pretty crappy to tell another team they can’t have one. It’s not like our offenses were commited after theirs and after teams were warned about a new harsher penalty system. It just raises the spectre of Spain getting preferential treatment.
The difference is that Madrid and Barca were test cases, precedent has now been set in terms of punishment. The only reason they got their bans lifted is because FIFA weren't 100% sure they would win the case with CAS. Obviously now they are. Ban should definitely stand, makes a mockery of them every time they are lifted.
 

blue blue

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I haven't given up on Hazard staying. I have heard a rumour he and his family are very happy in London and that he could stay. He has even said in a TV interview the fans saying he was leaving were wrong. He always appears very happy when interviewed on Chelsea TV. I don't want to put much currency on the rumour but if Chelsea are unable to buy in the transfer market the funds they save could be put towards a huge pay increase. The press are reporting Real are offering £400k per week to Hazard. Without the cost of buying in the transfer market Chelsea could match or beat that easy.

Players like Hazard are very, very hard to find and the board know this. I think they will offer him a huge pay increase and see if they can keep him.
 

ZolaWasMagic

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Had talksport on earlier and Dan Levene was on, both he and the presenters reckoned there are a few whispers our ban is being lifted - pushed back a window as such for now to give us the summer to invest.
 

ZolaWasMagic

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appeal upheld.. CAS involved now

Ironically, they are allowing us to sign players under 16. I mean, what?
 

ZolaWasMagic

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So what now?

Will Hazard still leave?
CAS will probably listen to our case now and I would imagine freeze it for one window, which is almost what most people predicted, provided FIFA answered our appeal in time, which they have. Hazard probably still go


How can they ban us for signing under 16's, then allow us to sign under 16's now. It's bizarre
 

Cloud7

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Can’t believe they’re going to finish 3rd after the season they had. Us, Arsenal and Spurs are embarrassing.
 

BlueHaze

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Can’t believe they’re going to finish 3rd after the season they had. Us, Arsenal and Spurs are embarrassing.
Finishing 4th and reaching a CL final without spending a dime. That truly is embarrassing..
 

Cloud7

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Finishing 4th and reaching a CL final without spending a dime. That truly is embarrassing..
Spurs should have had 3rd place sewn up a long long time ago. Relative to the position they were in at the turn of the year their league performances since have been shambolic.
 

Suedesi

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Spurs should have had 3rd place sewn up a long long time ago. Relative to the position they were in at the turn of the year their league performances since have been shambolic.
Spurs won't give a shit, just like Liverpool didn't give a shit finishing 4th last year but reaching the final in Kiev.
 

Mb194dc

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Only a few weeks left of the season, thankfully. Bring on the football free summer.
 

Kapardin

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Spurs should have had 3rd place sewn up a long long time ago. Relative to the position they were in at the turn of the year their league performances since have been shambolic.
They didn't sign anyone in the summer. Even if they had Ronaldo in their team, the work Poch did to keep them motivated enough to compete despite the squad being stale is quite remarkable. Can't be accused of performance drops this season.
 

ZolaWasMagic

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Sign of things to come?

I mean maybe they believe transfer ban won't be lifted or delayed.
It would be almost unbelievable if it wasnt frozen for a window while they investigated. I mean CAS's own rules state it probably would be.

We havent properly appealed because we need to wait for FIFA's written reasons. Cant do sod all until we get that, apart from tell CAS we will appeal. Which we publicly confirmed
 

FootballHQ

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Chelsea will still win I think. Just feels like they'll step up while Arsenal will freeze. Realistically one big farewell performance from Hazard and Arsenal backline will find it very difficult to stop him.
 

fergiesarmy1

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I think hazard will put a shift in for this one if so can’t see Arsenal’s defending being up to it
 

Mb194dc

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Arsenal have extra CL motivation and Emery is an EL specialist.

Sarri wants out. Friction in the dressing room.

Comfortable Arsenal win 3 - 1
 

U99ted

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Chelsea always seem to pull through shitty looking situations.

Transfer ban looming while looking at 6th- finish third & win the Europa

Crap season where they finish 5th- beat the 2nd place team in the FA Cup final

Finish 10th looking like a laughing stock- win the league the following season

Finish 6th- beat the previous and next seasons winners to win the Champions League
 

Bojan11

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Decent season for Chelsea considering what was happening in February where it looked like it could look like ending badly.

Sarri deserves another season. But will the board give him that or will he even stick around with Juve lurking?