Chelsea Banter Archive December 23 2019

Use our rumours form to send us chelsea transfer rumours.

23 Dec 2019 22:05:05
Ed, have Chelsea made any decisions about areas they'd like to strengthen in January, and players who they may allow to leave?

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{Ed002's Note - Giroud will likely leave.}

23 Dec 2019 22:15:09
I suppose Pedro too?

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24 Dec 2019 21:36:33
Giroud and Pedro have worked out well for the club. If they go they should go with our fans thanks.

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25 Dec 2019 09:19:57
2 good servants tom i agree.

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23 Dec 2019 21:36:18
Ed002, please settle it once and for all. Is there any truth that we've offered £120m for Jadon Sancho and want to loan him back for 6 months?

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{Ed002's Note - I am not sure why you want to discuss numbers.}

23 Dec 2019 21:59:31
Less about the numbers but more about the truth of the matter. Your response is telling Ed002.
All the best for the holidays.

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23 Dec 2019 22:05:15
Barring the numbers, is there anything to this latest rumour regarding Sancho or is it just nonsense? Thanks.

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{Ed002's Note - I have no idea what these rumours are.}

23 Dec 2019 22:18:46
To be honest the rumours were that Chelsea are leading the race for Sancho and were closing in which could mean a lot of different things. No worries.

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{Ed002's Note - I truly have no idea what that means - "leading the race"?

23 Dec 2019 23:09:12
Presumably it means we’re the closest to signing him ie willing to pay the asking price whereas other clubs aren’t. Personally I’ll believe it when I see him starting for us on the pitch.

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24 Dec 2019 04:56:29
Considering the Euro's are this summer you'd think it would be best for both clubs and player to sort a deal out in January. Send him back which will give Dortmund time to find suitable replacements and Sancho can go into the Euro's knowing where he'll be playing when he's back. That's if Dortmund do want to keep him for the season, would happily take him in January to but can't see it personally.

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23 Dec 2019 14:17:59
So impressed with that performance.

Back three has been called for by a lot of people and it really looks like something we can build on. Lampard got his tactics spot on today and Willian was absolutely outstanding.

Also a shout out for Tomori, couple of bad passes at the start but grew into the game.

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23 Dec 2019 15:35:59
Think only a back three in certain games like big ones away from home. It gives our inside forwards more room centrally to cause the opposition problems whilst being solid at the back. Other than that at home I’d still go with 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.

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23 Dec 2019 16:50:54
Just a few thoughts on three at the back.

I think it suits all our centre backs a lot more than a partnership of any of the two. Rudiger looks at his most comfortable when playing on the right side of a three and certainly led the group vs Spurs. If, as some reports show, we re-sign Ake then he’ll be very good on the left side of the three - I could then see Tomori moving to the central role. Rudiger, Tomori and Ake would be a very good defensive three to move forward with.

James and Azpilicueta are also well suited to the formation. James will excel as a right wing-back, whilst also being able to play in midfield and on the right of a defensive three. Azpilicueta can also play the wing-back and defensive roles. Alonso’s ability to play the left wing-back role may save the club from the immediate need to sign a left sided defender - until the summer.

It’s in midfield and the forward positions that I think the formations could make the most of our squad. During yesterdays game we saw Kante and Kovacic playing a deeper role with Mount just ahead and Willian, seemingly everywhere, in a free role. Kante and Kovacic were both needed to win the midfield battle vs Spurs and to ensure that we were defensively sound. In a game like our next vs Southampton one of them can be taken out for a more offensive player such as Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi. Having Abraham, Willian, Mount and Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi all on the pitch, with James and Alonso also being able to push high up the pitch, should allow us to break stubborn teams down (which was a problem against West Ham, Everton and Bournemouth) whilst remaining defensively sound.

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23 Dec 2019 17:42:07
Not sure there are many teams in the league that I would fancy your proposed central midfield against if we were to drop Kante or Kovacic if I’m being honest, J. I like the idea and it sounds good on paper but I think that would leave us horribly open in central midfield.

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23 Dec 2019 19:56:24
I think there'd be a time and place for it, and maybe not from the start of games. But there's been times where we've had seventy-odd percent of possession whilst struggling to break teams down; in my opinion we need to take more chances in those situations. Plus Mount, and the others, would need to take more responsibility in defensive phases.

Liverpool City and Leicester often only play with one deep midfielder.

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24 Dec 2019 20:29:17
Good points J.

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23 Dec 2019 14:16:48
Sensational performance. Away from home against big teams Kante and Kovacic is the way forward in the middle with three at the back. It gives our more creative players more inside roles to cause damage. Great to see Tomori back in the team he shouldn't have been dropped. Special mention to Tammy his goal against the top 6 will come he was sensational he ran his heart out.

Fantastic scenes at full time for Frank and Jody too 👊🏻 COYB 🔵.

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23 Dec 2019 16:54:05
Tomori had a hip problem, not a full injury, which is why he was on benches, but needed a rest.

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23 Dec 2019 14:15:54
Stunning, absolutely stunning performance. I didn't like the line up before the game but tactically it was spot on and Lampard deserves a lot of credit for it. Willian hasn't been a player i've rated that highly but tonight was easily his best performance in a Chelsea shirt, he was outstanding. Couldn't have asked for a better gift for Christmas!.

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23 Dec 2019 11:34:25
What do you guys think of us going back for Boga?! Apparently we do have a first option ( or buy back clause) . If it’s as cheap as reported I think it’s a no brainer he is really good and I always though he was quality but obviously here comes the problem having Boga (22), Pulisic (21), CHO (19) and possibly Sancho (19). Seems like one of them wouldn’t be too happy. That’s a selection of wingers that could go on to be world beaters so obviously I don’t see how any of them would be happy sitting on the bench.

Thoughts.

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{Ed002's Note - You think he would be open to returning and sitting on the bench?}

23 Dec 2019 11:56:50
I think not Ed, I mean why would he? He seems to have grown as a player and in my opinion he’s only going to get better.

Obviously I’m not in the know of what the club has planned with our winger situation but I feel like we can possibly only get one of he and Sancho ( Assuming we are really interested in them both. ) Hope Willian stays for at least another year that would leave us with CHO, Pulisic, Willian and One of the two. That’s why I was asking to see what fellow posters though of the situation.

Cheers.

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23 Dec 2019 10:03:16
Ed what left backs are we looking at thanks.

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{Ed002's Note - Have Chelsea said they are looking for a left back?}

23 Dec 2019 11:21:12
Dazza give it a rest already mate sheesh.

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23 Dec 2019 10:55:16
Thought with alonso looking like he is leaving we would be and many reports about chilwell aswell.

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23 Dec 2019 09:40:53
Awesome performance from both Lampard as Manager and the whole team. A masterclass. The defence looked very solid, the midfield compact and the movement and energy of Mount, Willian and Tammy was a joy to watch. Mount looks so much better in a front 3 and Willian deserves a new contract as does Tammy who is going to be world class one Day. A big mention to Alonso as well for being so professional, not included as of late but came in and performed so well. Brilliant response all round after a few recent setbacks.

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23 Dec 2019 12:51:01
For some time now, I have squirmed at the ineffective 'passing out from the back'. The display against Spurs was pretty to watch, not last because Kepa was clearing the ball long, Tammy was challenging for the clearance and, even if he was unsuccessful, the midfield were pouncing on the 2nd ball. Great display by the team and superb tactics from Frank.

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{Ed025's Note - absolutely dempsey..