13 Dec 2017 15:05:43
Ed001, would you happen to know which English club has held talks regarding Asensio? I think I've read Ed002 stating that it isn't United, nor Arsenal, and not Pool either. So I'm guessing City or Chelsea. And between those two, I'd say Chelsea is more likely as City have a wealth of attacking options already :-P

If you can help, thanks a million. If you can't, no worries :) I haven't been thinking about transfers too much up till now (started my first job a couple of weeks ago, and I must say it's a pretty efficient distraction from all things Chelsea haha), but over the past week I've started to realize that we're halfway through December, and the January window is getting closer. Hoping for Sandro for sure, as he's awesome, plus Alonso can't keep this up for a whole season.

{Ed001's Note - I believe you have it spot on with it being City regarding Asensio. They were certainly very very keen on him and Pep loves him.

As for Alex Sandro, you might have to settle for someone else now PSG have joined the party.}


1.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 15:33:28
Oh crap, no it seems I got it wrong then regarding Asensio :-P I thought it would've been Chelsea! Silly me, I should've known.

And man, if Sandro ends up leaving Juve and doesn't join Chelsea I'll be so pissed. Push for him all summer, he wanted to leave as well, and then when they might let him leave he'd join another club? That's just cruel. I swear to God, PSG and City (and United) are ruining the whole transfer market. They just barge in, offer double whatever you offer, and end up getting the players.

{Ed001's Note - the question is, do you join them or carry on as you are?}


2.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 15:51:18
Carrying on as we are leads to a sustainable and healthy organization. Problem is, carrying on as we are will lead to 0 titles in my opinion. Our squad is good in my opinion, and it needs only about 3 major buys to make it outstanding:
- Milinkovic-Savic or Goretzka --> basically all action midfielder that is both good on the ball and can influence the game defensively.
- Sandro --> top class left wingback (I like Alonso a lot, but sometimes you just need that burst of pace and athleticism on the flanks to create chaos) .
- Asensio/ Martial/ Brandt/ Dybala/ Isco/ Fékir/ . --> a top class attacking option to play opposite Hazard. Hazard is absolutely world class, but we've never had some to pair him with that is close to him in ability. We need that in order to not be overly reliant on Eden.

Defense otherwise is just fine with Christensen playing like an absolute stud already, and Zouma still out on loan. RLC can also come back to reinforce the CM options if Conte prefers a 352 or 433 even (basically 3 man midfield) . And Tammy's impressed me, so he can come back as well if we want another striker.

But there's the issue. Guys like Sergej, Sandro, Asensio, Dybala, Isco. we won't get them as we won't get into a bidding war with the state-backed clubs (PSG and City) and United. We'll never get them, and have to settle for Willian/ Pedro/ Drinky level players. All good, solid players. But just not top class. I don't know what the right move is, sticking to the plan or just go balls out in the transfer market. I guess sticking to the plan could lead us to moral victories at least ;-)

{Ed001's Note - building a team like that can still win titles and other trophies, which brings in extra income, which can be invested to buy better players. The problem is you have wasted so much on just making money with signings that the club has forgotten that they should be buying players to win trophies.}


3.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 16:09:55
I don't know if you can still build a title-winning team like that, Ed001. In order to improve to the top level in European football we don't need further good players, we need more special players. Guys like Kante, Eden, Courtois, Christensen. They're special. We need more of that. But I fear that with the way prices have gone up we just won't be able to get those. Pool are going to get 100m + for Coutinho? That's just mental. He's a good player, but he's not top class for me. If that kinda player is worth that much, what price would a guy like Sergej require?

Chelsea won't get those players I fear. Unless we get them just before they break out, but with unproven players you never know how they pan out. We could of course trust our own special youth players, but then we seem hesitant to do that as well (though Conte seems to have taken a liking to young Ampadu) . It's frustrating. But through it all, I'll obviously keep supporting the club, whatever decisions they make. Just sucks to see guys like Ousmane Dembele, Dybala, Mbappe, Neymar all moving to other big clubs that are willing to spend huge money.

{Ed001's Note - that is the point, you have the youth players but you aren't using them. You have the ingredients but instead of putting them in the pot you are taking the easy route of slinging a ready meal in the microwave.}


4.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 16:42:24
I suppose we started all this when abramovich took over. Just paid silly money to get the players we wanted, this of course attracted the Middle East big money, who have no qualms about paying what Is needed to get what they want.


5.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 17:07:01
Love the analogy, Ed :) and I agree. However, not many of our youngsters are as special as Christensen. RLC and Tammy might be. Dujon Sterling is a guy I'd give a chance as wingback as well if we can't get Sandro in January. Tailormade for the position, and if anyone's got a burst of pace it's him.

{Ed001's Note - and Kenedy looks a decent back up too, it is time for the club to trust them as back ups, at least. You have a first choice player for every position, so you can take that little bit of risk as they are only a back up.}


6.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 18:00:30
That "ready meal" ED01 has one the premiership title twice in the last 3 years! Lol.

{Ed001's Note - yes but it is always short term fixes that mean the ingredients you have already are going off. Ake, De Bruyne and so on. While you are doing ready meals, the Manchester clubs have hired chefs and given them their pick of fresh ingredients to cook with. How long can you compete with that?}


7.) 13 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 20:53:00
To be fair, I think Chelsea have got themselves one of the best chefs as well. But you're right, he hasn't got the luxury of being able to pick out the finest ingredients and seasonings. Too expensive for us :-P.


8.) 14 Dec 2017
13 Dec 2017 23:40:10
Ed001, I'd be shocked if he went to PSG. They already have FFP problems, plus Yuri as backup and Kurzawa. Surely Kurzawa wouldn't be happy with a bench role?

{Ed001's Note - he probably wouldn't be but they do not see him as good enough in the long term.}


9.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 03:37:32
Who is Sergej? You’ve named them alongside some of the best players in the world but I have absolutely no idea who Sergej is?

{Ed001's Note - Milinkovic-Savic, top class midfielder who can play as a holding mid, central mid or attacking mid. He is very reminiscent of Matic at his best but turned up to 11.}


10.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 10:02:38
Fine player.


11.) 14 Dec 2017
14 Dec 2017 10:03:42
Mateja Kezman is his agent.


12.) 21 Dec 2017
21 Dec 2017 22:43:24
Haha a chelski fan moaning about being outspent. Brilliant.