Chelsea Banter Archive August 15 2017

15 Aug 2017 13:52:22
Ed001, if you're around. I really value your opinion on players, and I was wondering what you think of Sergi Roberto as a player?
It's been reported that he isn't pleased with Barcelona for having bought Paulinho and we've been linked to him. Do you think he'd be a good addition to our squad?

Thanks for any input.

{Ed001's Note - he is a very good midfielder, very tidy on the ball and a step up from Fabregas as he can actually run, imo. For the Prem anyway. You can get away with strolling in Barca's midfield or Juve's or Bayern's or Real Madrid's 90% of the time, but you can't get away with it in the English leagues. Roberto will at least provide some legs and is a tidy passer, though not as good as Fabregas. Terrible right back though.}

15 Aug 2017 17:35:43
No idea why they shoehorned him at RB. Better than Paulinho for sure.

15 Aug 2017 16:21:04
Thanks for that, Ed! Do you think he's capable enough defensively to play in a 2 man midfield in PL next to a guy like Kante or Bakayoko?
This is of course for the hypothetical situation in which we sign him. I'd certainly rather Roberto than Trinkwasser.

15 Aug 2017 19:33:45
Good question, good answer. Thanks.

{Ed001's Note - sorry Jackson, I must have accidentally posted it and closed the reply I typed mate. Yes I do think he would be ok next to Kante or Bakayoko but not against the tougher teams. He is not so much of a passenger as Fabregas against them, but he will need time to get up to speed in the Prem. And thank you Conthan.}

15 Aug 2017 20:41:24
I appreciate it, Ed. I don't watch a lot of Spanish football myself so it's hard sometimes to really judge a player.
I just don't want to see Fab starting in midfield anymore. He's just too immobile, he can't do it. Complete liability, and when he isn't dropping multiple unbelievable passes/ assists then I fail to see why he's there (other than providing a living body on the pitch lol) .

{Ed001's Note - I try and watch as much football as possible, but I do tend to end up getting dragged into watching all the Prem games and it leaves little time for the rest. However, I spent 6 months in Spain during last season, so got stuck watching a lot more of their footie than usual. Usually here there is about 12 top flight leagues and some coverage of the English Championship, so it was a bit of a change to be mainly restricted to Prem and La Liga! I saw a fair bit of the lad and he was utterly hopeless at full back but looked a really good player in midfield. I thought he would go on to replace Rakitic, who looks finished as a player.}

15 Aug 2017 22:39:55
I mainly watch PL, and I try to catch some Bundesliga games as well as I like the German league and clubs for some reason. But almost never La Liga.
I hope reports of Roberto wanting out are true, as I could see Pedro and Cesc convincing him to join haha :-P

I also wonder what'll happen with Andre Gomes. Massively talented but didn't really seem to fit the team. I'd take him in a heartbeat.

16 Aug 2017 01:04:21
Oh, Andre Gomes - BROWN SUGAR.

15 Aug 2017 10:21:22
Hey Ed, with the BBC pundits all believing Conte won't last this full season, could you just shed a light to us if all is well with conte and the club? The game against burbles his usual positivity wasn't there and he seemed sulky and my opinion that's fair with how poor the board has done

If not that's alright mate, cheers.

{Ed002's Note - I have not been to Cobham over the summer so I am not aware of any particular issues. He will be miffed with the performance on Saturday and the players sent off - and with the loss.}

15 Aug 2017 12:15:18
TV pundits have to say things that get people talking about the TV shows, just as journos have to write headlines that make people pick their paper up. Unnamed internal sources saying this and that, it's all gossip and whispers. What do the likes of Jamie Redknapp actually know about the internal workings of Chelsea?

Conte is overseeing a genuine transition this summer. We've seen the last of the old system, Terry and Ivanovic etc, leave over the past 12mths and the club are signing/ targeting players to fit Conte's system. They've spent over £100m this summer and that's likely to double before the window closes. Plus he's been given a wage increase - loads to be miffed at!

According to the press there was internal problems, and he was favourite to get the sack, after the Arsenal and Liverpool games last season; look how that turned out.

15 Aug 2017 16:49:57
We had far better squad last season than now
Terry and Ivanovic are Chelsea legends and really great players not to mention how important they were in dressing room.Problems with Costa and on top of everything Matic has left. Players that have signed have to prove themselves yet( since they have no PL experience, CL is very different competition and football style and strategy than PL).
If we don't sign soon 4 or 5 really good players we will have worse season than 2015-2016.

15 Aug 2017 18:22:52
OMG. We have played one game and the window hasn't shut.
I can't take any more, I'm going away for a few days!

16 Aug 2017 11:41:03
It has nothing to do with one, two or five poor games. Thin squad, lower quality of players than last few seasons. That's concern in general. Only an idiot or someone who knows nothing about football would think that it's irrelevant.

15 Aug 2017 09:47:57
Some of out on loan players did well the week end. Loftus cheek really got in to his game. zouma solid apart from one mistake. Abraham was a handful.

15 Aug 2017 13:49:51
RLC was really really good. Excellent PL debut for Palace, and he was easily Palace's best player on the day.
Zouma apparently got Stoke's man of the match, so that's positive as well. Early signs looking good.

15 Aug 2017 09:33:53
i was curious if Chelsea have had any sort of encouragement from Sandro's agent or such to keep pursuing him? I know Chelsea have been trying to convince Juve to sell from what Ed said in the past and that they're still being reluctant to not sell. But if he was to hand in a transfer request then it might force Juve's hand to negotiate.

But since he hasn't yet i thought maybe he isn't determined to move to Chelsea enough to force it. Either that or he doesn't want to risk creating a bad relationship with the club and fans like it has with other players which wouldn't surprise me.

14 Aug 2017 23:44:54
Does Mrs ed02 notice a difference in her husbands demeanour during the months of July August and January? . Does the ed02 shopping bill show an increase during the same months, due to a large increase in the purchase of alcohol.? There again I expect u are all religious and tea total.

{Ed002's Note - I am a sweetie all of the time.}

15 Aug 2017 00:33:59
Does anyone watch Valencia enough to give perspective on Joao Cancelo's defensive attributes? YouTube shows he has pace, and looks decent going forward but doesn't show him doing defensive work.