Chelsea Banter Archive February 05 2019

05 Feb 2019 17:33:55
How are we feeling for the match-up with City? Banging in 5 against Huddersfield will boost our confidence, but I wonder if that will translate over to this weekend.

05 Feb 2019 17:41:58
I think we will get a draw at City.

05 Feb 2019 18:23:00
That worries me with United playing the way they are, with Fulham at the weekend. That would make us 4th on goal difference assuming we get a draw and they get 3 points.

05 Feb 2019 18:26:09
But a hard game away from home out of the way! ’.

05 Feb 2019 18:47:07
We lost to wolves and went and beat city so form I’m not sure is key, but like first game. City strength is there width, and if we can keep it tight and soldi wides keep front 3 up high. We can play counter football and be really direct. Higuain will be key because has the link up and movement, I’d like Cho to start because pace and bit more direct, but Pedro like Sarri said in first game defending the angles he is a lot better at.

05 Feb 2019 19:52:36
Atleast we know City won't defend with 10 men behind the ball. Surely ours boy will have some of the possession and should be able to break really fast. I have a feeling Pep will be reserved.

06 Feb 2019 08:04:32
If we can keep Aguero quiet and don't underestimate KDB, I think we can have a shot at them, I dread both of them the most.

06 Feb 2019 08:05:34
Besides your analysis is on point CFCShak.

05 Feb 2019 11:53:41
What do you guys think of the latest EH non commitment but the club knows comments?

05 Feb 2019 12:24:02
Looks like he’s definitely off.

05 Feb 2019 12:50:05
Yes it does Ranger but what are your views on him leaving?

05 Feb 2019 12:59:19
I’d rather he comes out and says it than just being cryptic. Just hope he keeps playing at 100%, I wonder if we can find a way to get Asensio as part of a deal rather than the rumors of Isco or Kova.

05 Feb 2019 13:03:57
It was always obvious he was going to leave as long as Madrid came in for him. Don't really like the timing of it considering we've got two of our biggest games of the season coming up. I don't know whether Madrid have made it clear to him now that they'll go after him and it's surprising since you'd think they'd go all out for Neymar or Mbappe, even more so now that their summer signing Vinicius Jr is playing well. But considering his situation, i'm sure Madrid may be able to get him relatively cheap. Really think we'd let him go for around £80m which is a bargain for him. I just hope we spend big on quality replacements. Pepe should be a must especially if Hazard leaves but we'll need 2-3 more top quality players his impact on the team.

05 Feb 2019 13:10:40
If it’s his dream to play for Real Madrid then good luck to him but the club have made a huge mistake in allowing him down to his last year of contract. After the World Cup we possibly could of got £180m plus for a player who has constantly spoke of his desire to play elsewhere. I think he’s been great for us and would love him to stay but I think if he had any intention to stay then why not sign the reported deal he has been offered for £350k a week. The only way I believe he will stay is if Real Madrid decide on neymar or mbappe instead and hazard has no choice but to stay with us. If this happens I hope he signs a new deal and knuckles down to become a true club legend like terry, lampard etc.

05 Feb 2019 13:15:27
Chelsea will go on. Could be a blessing in disguise if I’m honest. We’ve bent over backwards for a player that doesn’t want to be there. I’d rather get someone in who does. Players come and go, but fans will always be there!

05 Feb 2019 14:04:34
I think it is time for him to go. Too many cryptic comments which are not good for morale and I do feel he has been too influential with the last three manager issues. Chelsea are bigger than Eden Hazard and it is a team game and we tend currently to rely on him turning up more than anyone and sometimes he looks totally disinterested. That said, this league is made for him where defenders commit, he uses his low centre of gravity to lean around them, cut across and either get away or get a tap tackle and subsequent free kick. In Spain the defenders stand off more and although Hazard is quick off the mark he can be reeled over a distance. He could be making a huge mistake being obsessed with Real Madrid.

05 Feb 2019 14:50:05
I think EH is off now, it's not a surprise at all. Apparently Chelsea know about his decision too and I'm sure they have agreed to his departure and I'm sure they would have made it clear that he will not go on the cheap and of course a replacement will need to be sourced before he leaves. If there was any inkling that he would stay then im sure we would have known by now. He has probably got a guarantee from RM that they will go for him.

Good luck to the guy, atleast it will be conducted in a respectful way. You should leave a club that gave you so much like a man through the front door rather unlike Courtois. Just give us your 100% until the end.

I think Courtois releasing his crap in the media this week was just a red herring. perfect timing before a hazard announcement more so highlighting that Chelsea can't go against their word in relasing Hazard. Obviously he implied himself to get the attention.

05 Feb 2019 14:52:26
Personally Tom I’d like him to stay but I don’t want a player who doesn’t want to be here staying. I’m worried about us selling a superstar (like spurs did with Bale) and signing 6 average ones. I’d love Hudson-Odoi to stay he actually wants to just play football which is why criticism of him is harsh. If Hazard does leave I’d like to see us target Fekir and Pepe, two quality players. That way we’d have 3 very good wingers in Pepe, Pulisic and CHO with maybe Pedro/ Willian as 4th. Higuain will be quality for us. I’d like a top quality CB and LB to maybe come in too I think selling Eden for about 100m would be about the right amount to sign Fekir and Pepe especially if we can move Willian on too. I’d like a leader to replace Luiz who is also class consistently at defending like either Koulibaly or Romagnoli and Mendy from Lyon for LB he’s quality. Hopefully move the likes of Alonso, Giroud, Morata, Moses, Batshuayi, Drinkwater and Zappacosta on Permanently too.

05 Feb 2019 15:33:31
I don’t want him to leave but over recent months I have found the is he, isn’t he contract debate more and more boring.

He has been fantastic for us and as I’ve said before he is one of the few players who gets you out of your seat.

If he now feels he has to move on then good luck to him and I wish him all the best.

04 Feb 2019 23:54:55
I think you guys saw throughout the season that I have rated Barkley above Kovavic and RLC. He has mixture of skills basically works harder than RLC (but less than Kovavic) and has ability to take players on and run into the box (jusy probably a bit worse than RLC) on top of that I think hos shooting from the distance is best of all 3 players.

And generally he is our best option out of 3 for me while most of you would like him to be sold.

Rant Over I am going to drink More Sangria and other drinks in Tenerife!

05 Feb 2019 00:59:54
Barkley is average sorry. First good game since Burnley you can’t think he’s class now. RLC is 5 times the player. Barkley has looked scared to go forward this season.

05 Feb 2019 06:31:22
I do agree that yes, Barkley works harder than RLC. I do agree that yes, Barkley is more dangerous offensively than Kovacic, and yes I also agree that Barkley has a better shot than the other two.
I do not, however, agree that Barkley is a better player. Either he doesn't have the sense of when to utilise his skills or he's not confident enough, 'cause most games, all you see him do is stay central and pass sideways or backwards. Almost never goes for any decisive passes, almost never drifts out wide the way Kante does, and very rarely shoots from outside the box, which in my opinion is something he's way better at doing than the average player.
A player with his skillset should be getting so much more out of it, but in my opinion, he doesn't seem able to translate his skills into his play, and therefore I think both Kovacic and RLC are better options than Barkley, apart from the Barkley we've seen 3-4 times this season, including the game against Huddersfield, where he showed that once he utilises his talent, he's a great option.

05 Feb 2019 11:18:44
Barkley is inconsistent, in theory he’s the ideal choice because he has a decent work rate, can pass, can run at defenders and scores goals. In reality there’s often games where he’s very sloppy and gives the ball away a lot and he seems to be getting more hesitant to shoot every game for some reason. I do like him and think he could still improve but I don’t think he’s there yet.