Sevilla disagrees
Chelsea 2020/21 - General discussion
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik @Rood and Imran @Annihilate Now! start with the good news by celebrating Manchester United Women's emphatic FA Cup win over Spurs at Wembley and the future of manager Marc Skinner.
Then it's the bad news and the ever worsening form of our Men with losses to Arsenal and Palace.
Finally the main debate - ETH Out now or keep him until the end of the season - if not longer. Are you Team Nik or Team Imran?
They have played the market well.
Their main weaknesses were CB and GK. They have got an experienced, quality CB for free. There's only a certain amount of names that would be a better option than him, and some of them cost £80m like Koulibaly which would've wiped out a significant part of their budget. If Silva is good for a year then it will be an excellent signing, plus he will bring experience and leadership to the team. Sarr is another free transfer at the start of his career, give him a year on loan and phase him in next year if he does well. Makes it a last chance saloon for the likes of Zouma, Tomori and Christensen this season.
They'll get a GK in the next few weeks I'd imagine. The guy at Lille or Onana if they can convince Ajax to sell at the right price.
When players like Ziyech and Werner come on the market at reasonable prices, you've to try and get them which Chelsea have done. Same with Havertz who could be one of the best players in the league in a few seasons. For the money spent on the attacking players, they've potentially set themselves up for years. Spending that sort of money on CB's and GK instead wouldn't have set them up and they may have needed replacing in a few years or without the same guarantee of success. In addition, it would've caused problems at the top end of the pitch as last seasons options aren't really good enough for their long-term ambitions.
Their main weaknesses were CB and GK. They have got an experienced, quality CB for free. There's only a certain amount of names that would be a better option than him, and some of them cost £80m like Koulibaly which would've wiped out a significant part of their budget. If Silva is good for a year then it will be an excellent signing, plus he will bring experience and leadership to the team. Sarr is another free transfer at the start of his career, give him a year on loan and phase him in next year if he does well. Makes it a last chance saloon for the likes of Zouma, Tomori and Christensen this season.
They'll get a GK in the next few weeks I'd imagine. The guy at Lille or Onana if they can convince Ajax to sell at the right price.
When players like Ziyech and Werner come on the market at reasonable prices, you've to try and get them which Chelsea have done. Same with Havertz who could be one of the best players in the league in a few seasons. For the money spent on the attacking players, they've potentially set themselves up for years. Spending that sort of money on CB's and GK instead wouldn't have set them up and they may have needed replacing in a few years or without the same guarantee of success. In addition, it would've caused problems at the top end of the pitch as last seasons options aren't really good enough for their long-term ambitions.
I remember United went a bit mental once in the transfer window (when we got the schmidfield) look at how that turned out!
It's not always going to work out the way you expect. One thing is for sure the expectation on Lampard will be high.
It's not always going to work out the way you expect. One thing is for sure the expectation on Lampard will be high.
If Chelsea dont win or challenge for the title and are quite away from it, then Lampard should be sacked. If it was Utd who had bought half a team in, (fat chance that ever happening with the Glazers)with the players already at their disposal, I would say the same about Ole. All the players he has bought are top class players not over the hill.
I'd strongly disagree. With that goalkeeper they are not challenging for anything. They have certainly had a very good window and should easily get top 3 (and possibly pip Liverpool for second) but I'd be amazed if they got anywhere close to 90 points with Kepa in goal.
If they do sign a half-decent keeper, then we could be talking about a title challenge.
I dont think Abromovich will see it like that.
Agreed, asking half a new team to instantly gel and compete with two teams and managers who have raised the bar in this country at the first time of asking is not just unrealistic but unreasonable. We had a better squad and more experienced manager last time we made many changes like this and managed 79 points.
However comfortable top 4 with no real danger of missing out will be expected (only mitigation will be if there's a freak season where 5th place team is pushing 80 points) and he will be under huge pressure if he doesn't deliver that and rightly so.
I think the aim is obviously to win the title, but if we end the season with 85 points but City with Messi end up doing a madness with 98 points then we didn't really truly challenge (context matters here of course) but it'd still be considered a very good season. That kind of 'losing' season would signal very good progress.
Lampard isn't stupid though. He knows he's been backed and the pressure is now on. Battling for 4th place some 25-30 points behind the winner will likely put him in a very difficult position. He has been given the tools to succed and I'm personally confident he will.
Indeed. Especially if we get havertz over the line. It would seem that ban was a stroke of luck.
I have no doubt if there was no covid werner would be a liverpool player and havertz would have bayern or real after him.
The same applies to you lot with sancho the time to get him is now. Rather than wait till other sides around europe get their finances in order and turn their attention to him.
Its annoying how good they have been in the window. With both teams finishing on the same points, one team is potentially adding 6 first team players to their squad while the other is twiddling their thumbs.
On another note, there is going to be immense pressure on Lampard to deliver a title challenge and a trophy now that he is backed to the hilt. Another season like the one gone by is not going to be enough to retain his job.
On another note, there is going to be immense pressure on Lampard to deliver a title challenge and a trophy now that he is backed to the hilt. Another season like the one gone by is not going to be enough to retain his job.
Except Greenwood and Sancho are both English. And the fact we have 3 forewords and no decent players for our bench.
Chelsea are not standing still, they want more. It is all about winning trophies with them.
Little worried about Chelsea. The efficiency they are fixing the holes with is alarming. Impressive transfer window so far with the best expected value per £ spent.
So Ole, a manager not really known for rotation, will rotate while Lampard, a manager known to rotate, won't?
Got it!
Ole doesn’t have any players to rotate in, to be fair.
Quoted for posterity.
Provided we sign Havertz for the stipulated total of £90m, we would have spent just £25m more than what United spent last season
Ziyech = £36m
Werner = £47.7m
Chillwell = £50m
*Havertz = £90m
Tiago Silva = Free
Malang Sarr = Free
Total = £223.7m
United Signings
Maguire = £80m
AWB = £50m
Bruno Fernandes = £50m ?
Daniel James = £18m
Total = £198m
I find it strange, given this, that we are supposedly expected to mount a title challenge. The fact that we are getting them all in a go doesn't mean we can get them to sync and gel in a season. This season I expect a better points total than the previous one for sure. 15-20points gain on the top 2 would be a great sign of progress. For Lampard I'm personally looking out a better defensive organization and management of the team, a deeper run in the CL and a League or FA Cup throphy as icing in the cake. I'm only expecting a serious title challenge in season 21/22 with better CB and CDM personnel.
I'm confident the Chelsea hierarchy’s expectations won't be far from this.
Ziyech = £36m
Werner = £47.7m
Chillwell = £50m
*Havertz = £90m
Tiago Silva = Free
Malang Sarr = Free
Total = £223.7m
United Signings
Maguire = £80m
AWB = £50m
Bruno Fernandes = £50m ?
Daniel James = £18m
Total = £198m
I find it strange, given this, that we are supposedly expected to mount a title challenge. The fact that we are getting them all in a go doesn't mean we can get them to sync and gel in a season. This season I expect a better points total than the previous one for sure. 15-20points gain on the top 2 would be a great sign of progress. For Lampard I'm personally looking out a better defensive organization and management of the team, a deeper run in the CL and a League or FA Cup throphy as icing in the cake. I'm only expecting a serious title challenge in season 21/22 with better CB and CDM personnel.
I'm confident the Chelsea hierarchy’s expectations won't be far from this.
Love this post.
So many variables and unknowns in that Chelsea squad.
What happens if Silva gets injured? What happens if Werner doesn't hit the ground running? What happens if Ziyech can't handle the physicality of the premiership?
How's the squad harmony? How must Tammy, Mason Reece etc feel? Will they perform to the same degree as understudies?
Really being think a result against Liverpool will prove anything!!
Thiago Silva is very good short-term option, even if he fails Chelsea still got him for free so no loss really (except for the wages). But I think he'll be very good for them first season, maybe even for another after that.
Ziyech, Werner and Havertz are great signings, even if Lampard doesn't deliver and gets sacked, whoever comes in after him has great attacking players. Have to say I'm jealous, the way they replaced Hazard is perfect example how to do business. Ronaldo went to Real and we signed Obertan.
Ziyech, Werner and Havertz are great signings, even if Lampard doesn't deliver and gets sacked, whoever comes in after him has great attacking players. Have to say I'm jealous, the way they replaced Hazard is perfect example how to do business. Ronaldo went to Real and we signed Obertan.
Why do you find it strange that having potentially spent close to £250m if the Havertz deal is ratified and bringing in 6 new players, that you are now potential challengers?
The pressure is on Chelsea to do well now, with big spending always comes great expectations.
Just for reference, Brunos transfer was in January and came from this season's kitty.
If Chelsea are behind the top two by a margin of 10 points or more come Christmas then I can forsee Lampard under extreme scrutiny.
If you want to look at that way (which nobody else in the world does) then I guess you need to take Ziyech out of our signings.
They have to hit the ground running. But it's going to take some time for certain players to bed in.
Either way I can't see Lampard lasting the season.
This gets me laughing everytime. How do they feel?
Love this post.
So many variables and unknowns in that Chelsea squad.
What happens if Silva gets injured? What happens if Werner doesn't hit the ground running? What happens if Ziyech can't handle the physicality of the premiership?
How's the squad harmony? How must Tammy, Mason Reece etc feel? Will they perform to the same degree as understudies?
Really being think a result against Liverpool will prove anything!!
They play for Chelsea fc not fecking Westham. If they feel sad that a top club, looking to potentially win major titles is strenghting the team by adding top class players to the squad then maybe they shouldn't be there? If they don't want competition for places and better teammates to at with then they should all hand in transfer requests and Chelsea will gladly oblige and sell them to the likes of Evertons and Newcastles.
But being professional footballers looking forward to be part of a winning team I doubt they'll be sulking.
If this is the mentality brewing at United then this is actually a very sad state of affairs. You lot are worried about the feelings of Rashford, Martial, Pogba instead of getting actual top quality players who will either push them to rise above their current level to beat out the competition or relegate them to the bench, giving you a stronger squad anyways?
Word of advice...buying squad fillers to keep your current XI ‘happy’ is a disaster magnet for every top club.
They’re improving their squad in all the right areas. Fair play to them.
With that said, I’m not too concerned about the personnel. Granted, I think their attacking acquisitions will improve them a fair bit; however, I’m not too blown away by their work on the defence.
Chilwell is a good player but no world beater. Even Leicester fans weren’t too fussed about him. Silva could be anything. Quite a few ageing defenders have tried their luck in the Premier League during the final stages of their careers and it’s seldom ended well. He’s just played in a Champions League final, mind you, so he may manage just fine. I know nothing about Sarr: he may be brilliant for all I know.
Chelsea will interesting to watch this season, that’s for sure.
With that said, I’m not too concerned about the personnel. Granted, I think their attacking acquisitions will improve them a fair bit; however, I’m not too blown away by their work on the defence.
Chilwell is a good player but no world beater. Even Leicester fans weren’t too fussed about him. Silva could be anything. Quite a few ageing defenders have tried their luck in the Premier League during the final stages of their careers and it’s seldom ended well. He’s just played in a Champions League final, mind you, so he may manage just fine. I know nothing about Sarr: he may be brilliant for all I know.
Chelsea will interesting to watch this season, that’s for sure.
Well you'll be hard pressed to find a Chelsea fan who shares in you're expectations of our upcoming season. There is a gulf of difference between being ‘top dog’ in the league (winning it) and losing out on top 4 the next season....and being behind two ‘top dogs’ who both previously won the league with 97points + and making signing to look to close in on them.
We, Chelsea fans, have realistic expectations of our team and manager. I'm sure you have of yours too.
You can’t spend upwards of £200m and say that the only expectation is to finish 3rd. They would have to be challenging to justify that.
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Serious links to Declan Rice as well now? Acting like a club who wants to challenge for big trophies.
If these projected transfers were to go through they will have spent more than £300m in less than two years. To improve from third place to third place?
Yeah, it is getting slightly crazy now. That rumour was started by the most trusted West Spam ITK so it looks like it may be true. Only question I have is Chelsea's squad size. They must be pushing 35 players with him. Surely they will need to fire sale some of the excess. However, other teams will know that they have to do this which could cause the club problems.
There is a world of difference between 3rd but 25+ points behind the winner and 3rd but 10 points or less behind the winner. Liverpool and City with Messi and K2 do not suddenly turn into bad teams just because Chelsea have improved.
But you don’t invest that level of money to be slightly less behind the Champions. There’s no excuse for not challenging if they spend that money. By the way, there’s no excuse for United not having done it over the last five years either.
You'd rather have them sit on their arses and accept their fate that top2 is supposedly out of reach? I know of another top PL club who has stood pat so far in this window and I hear their fans are not so happy about it...
No, I’m saying they have to challenge now. No excuses. How did you get that from what I am saying?
I think if Lampard gets them to sub-10 points off the top, quaters of the CL and a cup he will be ok. The season after he would have to win the league for sure.
In year 1 of the investment, of course we get to have realistic expectations. If you're talking over a 2-3 year period, then yes the expectation will be to win the title.
So if Chelsea finish 3rd on 86 points, 10 behind the eventual winners who got 96 points, would you see that as a failure?
Keep in mind we finished 30 points behind the title winners (who got 96) this past season.
It depends on the owner and management and what their goal is. They might see it as a multi year project and keeps pumping money to improve the teams in the next transfer windows. They also know the gap between top 2 and the rest was huge and will be hard to close in one year. I dont think it's as clear as championship or bust.
To be honest of all their business this summer signing Declan Rice would be the last thing I'd associate with winning trophies. Well....him and Chillwell.
Year 1 of some of the investment. They spent £100m plus last year too. Any team spending the kind of money it looks like Chelsea are spending have to challenge for the title.
That may be how they see it but it doesn’t change the fact that they should be challenging with that level of investment.