Chelsea Banter Archive April 05 2020

05 Apr 2020 16:12:04
Good day Ed1, please if you have the time, I would want to know your opinion regarding how good Jodan Sancho is. I ask because many of us here can't see a better option than him and I have not seen much of him.
We have a lot of catching up to do on City, Liverpool and European giants. I wouldn't want us to buy expensive but ineffective players as Kepa is looking like now.
Stay safe.

{Ed001's Note - it is not the quality of his play that is the issue, it is his attitude off the pitch that is becoming worrying. He has turned up late/missed training a few times this season and generally shown signs of becoming a bit big for his boots.}

07 Apr 2020 08:24:37
Honestly, that's disappointing to read. He's had 2 good seasons in a league that is notorious for providing attackers with lots of space. He looks a cracking player, but he should realize he's still far off from being Ronaldinho level etc. Shame if he doesn't improve on that.

That said, for the money talked about I'd actually steer clear. You want to take a chance on a crazy talented winger with spotty attitude? Ousmane Dembele is one of the most talented players I've seen (and even better than Sancho when fit in my opinion), and he'd be cheaper probably as Barcelona want rid and could use the money for Neymar. Ferran Torres has 1 year remaining on his contract I think. One of the upcoming star talents in Spain. Why not go for him? We already have 3 very good wingers, so we can take a chance on a talent like Ferran who's less established than Sancho. Ferran reminds me of Reus a bit by the way, and that excites me a lot.

Hell, if Vinicius is available, try to get him on loan with a buy option perhaps. His end product is lacking a bit, but he sure has talent and as a rotational winger that'd be just fine.
Or snap up Angel Gomes from United. He's out of contract in the summer, and while he hasn't proven much yet at senior level, he's obviously a really good talent.
Bernardeschi from Juve would also most likely be available, and he's a top notch player.

There's lots of very good wingers around, I'm not sure we should spend all that money on Sancho.

{Ed001's Note - I am with you on that, especially as there is likely to be much less money floating around in the game. I would personally be looking to use a lot more of your youth products, rather than buying, as a long term plan.}

07 Apr 2020 10:49:41
As a long term plan I agree. But without a top striker added and a top CB (replace Rudiger please) I think we'd struggle a lot for top 4 and CL football, which should still be the ambition.

I would however replace Jorgi this summer with Ampadu. In my opinion we lack a defensive minded mid like Partey or Casemiro. Ampadu may not be Ndidi level yet but I'm confident he can certainly be as good as Rice. Incredible football intelligence, reads the play well defensively and can pass it well enough.

Gilmour, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, RLC, Ampadu and maybe Gallagher looks like a nice mix of workers and more offensive minded players. If possible I'd sell Jorgi as I said, and depending on RLC's health I'd sell Barkley too. He has some very good matches, but is too inconsistent and RLC is plain better if fit.

Imagine we add a top striker and CB, we'd still have Tammy, Callum, Mount, RLC, Gilmour, Ampadu, James, Christensen and Tomori as academy grads in the team. Perhaps even Gallagher as well. That'd be 9 or 10, which would be incredible!

Question for you, Ed001. You say you'd go with the youth movement (and I'd personally love that) . How would you go about transfers this summer if you were calling the shots for Chelsea. Which players would you look to take back from loan, and which ones would you try to buy perhaps to fill in some gaps?

{Ed001's Note - you have so many players I really couldn't say mate. I would need to sit down and figure it out, with regards to the loan players. Any that are not wanted I would sell, I do not like loans and would like to see the whole loan market closed permanently. It is being used to, in effect, alter the competitiveness of leagues. Too many friends doing favours, rather than genuine loans for the sake of the players, in the loan market. Better to get rid of it and then clubs like Chelsea could no longer stockpile players and raise the cost of the transfer market.

The only things I would buy though is a top striker and a top class experienced leader of a defender.}

07 Apr 2020 11:20:09
I understand, Ed :) fully agreed on the positions you'd look to strengthen by buying someone.
A top striker is needed (Jesus, Lautaro, Jovic, Dembele, Edouard) and a starting CB for sure. I don't see many very experienced CBs around that would fit the bill though. Gimenez at Atletico would be fantastic, but I'd definitely also love Upamecano or Konate at Leipzig. All are top options.

Left back, though less crucial I think could also be needed if Emerson and Alonso leave. I personally like Robin Gosens at Atalanta.

Guess we'll find out in the end. I just don't think it's necessary to spend an obscene amount on Sancho when we've got Callum who's probably equally talented but has had the bad luck of a horrible injury and is not playing in an open league like BuLi.

{Ed001's Note - I agree with your choices in the main, unless you mean Jesus from City? Not sure I would consider him a top striker or suited to the way you play personally. Jovic as well has a lot to prove.}

07 Apr 2020 11:47:27
I did mean Jesus from City. I know City wouldn't sell to us, and we haven't seen him be the main option yet due to Aguero.
But when watching him play he looks very well rounded. He's good at interacting with his teammates, he has intelligent movement, also stronger than he looks and surprisingly good in the air in my opinion. I honestly love him.

Jovic indeed would be a gamble. He's lacking in a few areas, but finishing chances has been one of our biggest issues this season, and I'm not sure I've seen many better finishers around than Jovic. Guy is an absolute natural finishing with both feet and in the air. Also finds space well and is very strong. I'd take him on a loan to buy similar to Kovacic's arrangement.

Who do you like as striker for Lampard's play?

{Ed001's Note - I am not convinced by Jesus at all. Talented most definitely, but he lacks intelligence in his movement for me. They look so much worse when he plays as he just gets in everyone else's way.

Lautaro Martinez looks the best option, well other than Lewandowski who is almost unattainable.}

07 Apr 2020 12:23:48
Lewandowski really is the gold standard of strikers right now. Marvelous player.

Lautaro would be fantastic, but apparently it's the classic case of wanting to play for Barcelona at all costs. So think we can write him off as unattainable as well.

{Ed001's Note - that's a shame, he would be better going somewhere other than Barca, it would not be a good move for him.}

07 Apr 2020 14:14:39
Hopefully their Neymar pursuit will take up too much money for them to still target Lautaro.

I've gotten the feeling over the years that a lot of players honestly liked being at Chelsea (e. g. Cesc saying he enjoyed his time at Chelsea the most, Ballack still showing a strong liking to Chelsea even though he was an icon at Leverkusen and Bayern), so perhaps Lautaro would soon lose his desire to go to Barcelona if he played for the Blues! :-P.

{Ed001's Note - you never know but I doubt it. It is more likely he would do a Hazard and then regret it afterwards when he sees the grass is not actually greener.}

05 Apr 2020 09:55:32
Hi ed001, what are your thoughts on Zouma? I still think he has the ability to be a world beater but has sadly regressed since 2014/ 15 Mourinho season.

I do think however, you put an intelligent defender with smarts and positioning and leadership beside him he'd be great. Thoughts?

{Ed001's Note - he just picks up too many injuries and takes too long to get back to his best afterwards, for my liking. Other than that, I think he is a very good defender, though not maybe suited for a possession-based team, as he does not want the ball at his feet. Not that he is particularly bad on it, there are a lot worse, but he is just so uncomfortable when given it.}

06 Apr 2020 22:41:23
I completely agree with that ED - unless he happens to come ip against ajax again in which case he may fancy a 1 vs 11 dribble one more time. (Still makes me chuckle when I remember the look on Frank's face) .

05 Apr 2020 07:39:02
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Review Of The Day 4th April 2020