Chelsea banter 9

01 Sep 2026 19:15:57.
A joint British record fee for a player who doesn’t want to be at the club can’t be turned down, replacement coming in or not.

Caicedo, Lavia, James, Barco and Henderson are more than capable of holding down the fort and we happen to have a generational talent in the youth team right now. Although I don’t advocate for lads that age getting major mins.

01 Sep 2026 20:17:06
J, James is bang average in midfield, and Henderson was brought in to be on the bench and come on to steady a game. If Lavia and Caicedo don't stay fit, we are very weak in midfield. We probably needed to bring in 2 midfielders, if we are serious about challenging for trophies.

01 Sep 2026 20:32:11
J, I am with you, mate. The way Alonso sets his team up is with a solid double pivot. What we have is ok. Could we have accomplished one more? Yes.
The
problem is, if we get two or more injuries, then it looks like an unnecessary gamble, and the owners will undoubtedly get pelters.

01 Sep 2026 21:03:57
The problem is, Jimbo, we were looking at significantly overpaying for bang average midfielders, who don't necessarily replace Fernandez anyway. Zero point in bulking out the squad with mediocre players (again), right choice to sell Fernandez and stick, rather than twist.

I'd have been happy to pay big for a Wharton, Scott or the slightly more offensive Gibbs-White, but they're not available and can be re-visited in January or next summer.

This is just the start of the Alonso era, and we're heading in the right direction.

01 Sep 2026 21:18:09
J, I think I'm with you - no point in splurging for an average player. In terms of the generational talent, are you referring to Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli?

01 Sep 2026 21:34:56
I don't think Kone or Camara are bang average players. If they are bang average midfielders, what does that say about James and Gusto in the midfield. Really.

01 Sep 2026 21:43:24
Jimbo, I think J meant an average midfielder if Camara, Kone, Gibbs-White etc. weren't available. Anyway, no need to worry now - apparently we've signed Camara!

01 Sep 2026 21:52:46
EdW, if it's true about Camara, it has been a very good window.

01 Sep 2026 22:02:28
Yes, I think Nicole-Jazuli is an unbelievable talent.

Looks like we've met Monaco in the middle for Lamine Camara (EUR55). Very interesting video / tactical breakdown by Pythagoras in Boots, on YouTube, for those who are interested.

01 Sep 2026 22:41:10
Bang average and mediocre may have been a tad harsh, but yes, I would have included Camara in that. The point was, love him or loath him, Fernandez was a nailed on starter. Camara is a good player, but he isn't necessarily that, he's more of a squad addition for us - this is why the club were keen to brief that he was in no way encompassed within the decision to sell Fernandez.

Monaco, however, were demanding top money for him, and I agreed with the club that we shouldn't be paying that kind of fee.

Monaco have then seemingly had a bit of a financial incomings panic when Balogun's move to Everton was in doubt over his medical, and were willing to negotiate at a lower fee. In the end, I believe we've signed a good player for the squad at the top end of a reasonable fee.

02 Sep 2026 03:32:58
Sadly, no such signing, of course, J, though we all thought we'd got him. Fernandez leaves a huge gap.

01 Sep 2026 18:31:08
If we do not have a quality replacement for Enzo Fernandez pur transfer business this window will look seriously flawed. So can only hope we can still get one in. Worrying few hours ahead and may either get good news or resign ourselves to having perhaps weakest midfield in recent times... if particularly Caicedo fitness in doubt and/or Lavia breaks down again.

01 Sep 2026 19:25:56
Pogba's available on a free.

01 Sep 2026 19:29:04
I mean, that's a joke, obviously (Bissouma and Coutinho also available on frees. And Alaba as a cb, which might actually be quite a good deal for a short-term defensive signing, with his pedigree - certainly an upgrade on Tosin) - but I genuinely don't think we're going to get anyone at this late stage, unless the club really pulls it out of the bag.

Perhaps that's why there's no news. I'm hoping for Camavinga, but not holding my breath.

01 Sep 2026 19:31:30
Well, thanks for that definition of utterly desperate if we signed him! Plus added Hulk?

01 Sep 2026 19:44:44
Haha. It was like three or four summers in a row reading the rumours about Hulk.

01 Sep 2026 19:54:46
EdW, Hulk is still playing aged 40: 3 goals in 6 appearances so far - don't make him angry!

01 Sep 2026 21:15:46
What a legend! Thanks for the info, Jimbo.

01 Sep 2026 21:43:14
EdW, believe it or not, I would have loved to have seen Hulk at Chelsea. However it went, it would have been entertaining.

01 Sep 2026 17:17:08
Fernandez a great sale. Never warmed to him. Glad he has gone.

01 Sep 2026 17:59:04
I have to say I agree, Seymns. He looked decent when he first arrived in that terrible Potter season (and at the last World Cup), scored a few goals as well, but for a player whose skill was meant to be attacking midfield, he misplaced a huge number of what looked like fairly simple through-balls on counter attacks over the last few years, and he was slow, slow, slow. I also found his personality annoying, before even getting to the racism.

All that performative chest-beating and pointless aggro, without ever really being strong in the tackle (apart from on Cubarsi!).

Though we look a bit short in midfield now, considering Lavia and James's injury history - City have really screwed us by bidding this late in the window. Perhaps that was the point, which makes me feel they see us as a genuine threat this season.

01 Sep 2026 18:14:24
I think it was City's plan, EdW, and unless we can bring in at least one top quality midfielder to replace him, our midfield - given injury histories you mentioned, plus now the worrying Caicedo one - will struggle to have control in many games.

01 Sep 2026 18:57:15
JBS, there is blame on our side as well for letting it go to the wire. Even if Lavia and Moises stay fit, we are still thin in midfield. I don't want to see James playing there or Gusto (in any position).

01 Sep 2026 19:19:27
I may well be wrong, but I think the deadline day thing was always just noise. As much as I never wanted EF to play for us ever again after his and his agents' comments, and I would have been happy for the club to tell City to swivel, I have to accept that was never practical.

The club didn't want a player who was unhappy staying at the club. My guess is the transfer fee involved will probably be more than the reported £125m.
I can't remember being so happy to see a player leave our club since Lukaku. Good riddance.

01 Sep 2026 19:34:43
Can see where you're coming from, Tom, but as Jimbo says, we look very thin in midfield, and EF's defection could just stop us qualifying for Champions League. But, yes, he and City are now villains in my eyes.

01 Sep 2026 20:26:37
JBS, re-taking Fernandez wasn't the answer. In my opinion, keeping an unhappy player is just too risky. If he made a mistake, fingers would have been pointed at him and the club.

We are light on midfielders, but, in my opinion, we are better off being short of a player than keeping a player who doesn't want to play for the club, as a preference.

01 Sep 2026 07:39:14
{Ed's Note - OptimumShots has posted a new article entitled, Where Everton Stand Under Squad Cost Ratio

31 Aug 2026 13:44:25
Could this really happen, we sign both Kone and Camara?

31 Aug 2026 14:39:39
I think we need to get Enzo out the door before we sign any midfielders, Tom.
Would be amazing to sign the pair of them tho. Midfield would be sorted for years to come.

31 Aug 2026 15:27:38
If we do sign both, it should solve our current midfield worries, made greater by Caicedo's injury, and with Enzo likely departing, Santos gone, and Essugo not looking to be good enough.

31 Aug 2026 16:59:28
Essugo hasn't really been given a fair crack of the whip, I would say.

31 Aug 2026 17:17:05
Maybe an in-house loan or sale would be good for everyone.

31 Aug 2026 10:17:00
Brilliant going forward. Crap at the back. Need a new CDM. Santos dropped already by Man United after his horror show last week. We did well stealing £50 million off them for him so hope the club spend the dosh wisely.

31 Aug 2026 09:52:39
I think we have probably two sales and three first team loans left to sort out. I also assume we may have some academy players who might be going out on loan as well.

I am well pleased with the business the club has done, not just on incoming players but also the sales.

31 Aug 2026 15:31:16
Am still waiting to see what happens with EF, and, likely, if leaving, plus Santos gone, to have to bring in two midfielders (Camara and Kone?).

Also, many outgoings still to be sorted in terms of sales and loans.

31 Aug 2026 07:39:12
{Ed's Note - NOMAD_RANGER has posted a new article entitled, The Lewis Ferguson Thread That Still Won't Go Away

30 Aug 2026 19:46:36
Here are my two takes on things.
First, Chelsea will sell Enzo for £121 million and say: "See we told you that Friday 5:00pm deadline would work."
Second, let’s not announce our new FOS deal until days before the first home game after fans have bought our kit.
Don’t take me too seriously, after all this is a banter site. ?

31 Aug 2026 05:53:55
Would rather we get Jose on the phone and tell him he's all yours for £70m. I never hated Man City before, but now I reckon I'd rather see Arsenal win the prem before those lot.

31 Aug 2026 07:48:20
Good banter, Jimbo, and agree with you, Saim.

30 Aug 2026 17:05:27
On way back from Stamford Bridge after that entertaining 7 goal game in which we had so little possession for far too much of it.
Caicedp breaking down after coming on to shore up our non-existent midfield bar Lavia - who went off having done solo effort up to that point - was very concerning. If Enzo leaves we need to bring in Camarra and one further midfielder especially cos now Caicedo injury worry plus Lavia needs to be v carefully managed.

As have said for some time pointmis that neither Palmer nor Rogers can defend and Brighton had almost completed control in midfield. Both got goals and were involved in some v good attacking moves but just couldn't help much in terms of controlling the game in midfield.



My MoM was Pedro who looked in a league above all others on pitch in skill levels from my viewpoint - this time in East Stand Upper. Neto also v well taken chance from excellent work by Rogers. Fofana perhaps best of defenders though our weakness there was that neither Gusto nor Hato able to contain Brighton wide men who had enormous space and freedom far too often to get ball in our box. Martinez no chance with their first two goals but I didn't see their third as was on way out.



Positives were Pedro, Neto.

30 Aug 2026 17:49:51
JBS, I don't want too many entertaining games like that. I was baffled by the team selection. Obviously, we will score goals, but we must work on our midfield and defending. I am not surprised we were unable to control the game and had so little possession: our midfield was non-existent.

There is plenty to work on, but also plenty of positives. Hopefully, once the window is closed we will sharpen up. Big test next weekend.

30 Aug 2026 18:35:09
Agreed, Jimbo, we have to have more control of a game. But, yes, at times we looked wonderful going forward, and our second was a thing of beauty. So, yes, many positives, as well as an obvious complete lack of midfield possession.

30 Aug 2026 20:25:13
Caceido's a huge loss for our midfield, and immediately weakens us. I've also been really excited about seeing Palestra at full back, as I think he will be a gem. We still need to cut out a few sloppy errors, but I think this year we will be right up there. We have pretty much strengthened every area required.

30 Aug 2026 20:56:44
Whitey, yes, agree. However, one thing that has concerned me is Colwill. He has been very poor so far. I accept he has come back from a long term injury, but this has happened before.

He, at times, looks like he is a top class defender. Then he drops off, gets injured, and has to start again. So far he has been the weak link in the back three. Let's hope he can stay fit and step up.

30 Aug 2026 21:13:56
Give him a few weeks, Jimbo, he will well and truly prove his worth.

31 Aug 2026 07:51:38
Yes, LC was the weakest link in back 3 yesterday.

31 Aug 2026 10:00:50
I was watching the game in a bar so maybe not the most accurate assessment.

Colwill wasn't at his best, and he wasn't for the Fulham game, but he is class and I have no doubt he will find his form.
I thought Hato was ok, and, generally, Lacroix was solid.
Josh, another good showing.
Gusto was Gusto.
Lavia was excellent.
Palmer was in and out of the game, and was caught asleep for their second goal.


Rogers does so many good things, but so far not for 90mins.
Neto was also very good, and I hope he is not a last minute sale.
Pedro, in my opinion, is at the moment the best player in the Premiership. He looks to have everything. Let's hope his good form continues.

31 Aug 2026 11:28:18
Good summary, Tom. Only thing I'd add is that perhaps Hato is a better LB or LCB than wingback? Perhaps he can grow into that wing back role.

I fear for us v Arsenal if we are as open down the flanks and as overrun in midfield - so little possession - as we were v Brighton.

Wonder if Alonso will change our formation... It must make us tighter defensively, certainly.

31 Aug 2026 11:49:01
I think Hato will move over almost as a conventional lb to mark Saka. Caicedo would be a big miss against the Gooners.