04 Feb 2025 13:25:41
Have to say, I'm reasonably happy with how this transfer window went. I thought we were going to do something really stupid like spend £70m+ on Garnacho and we resisted the urge. Whether that was by design or not, doesn't really matter. Obviously I would rather we sold Felix, Disasi, Veiga but the reality is the only club in world football stupid enough to spend the amount of money we did on them, is Chelsea.
The squad still has massive holes, which they deserve scrutiny for, but I'd rather that than more aimless spending in the hope that they stumble upon another Palmer. With every passing transfer that looks more like a happy accident.
As said before, the SDs were all too willing to bask in their own glory when we were 2nd and if they were that happy with their work then, they should be now.
My hope is that there is a proper reflection between now and the summer on whether the current strategy is actually building towards making Chelsea successful, or simply satisfying various egos.
1.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 15:23:38
Could not have put it better myself RBD.
2.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 15:26:49
Brigs cost £12m.
3.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 15:27:00
Veiga cost £12m**.
4.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 15:37:54
RBD, I’m also happy enough with the window.
I think the loan fees of Veiga, Felix and Disasi go a small way (except Veiga because that seems a very high number) to bringing down the actual initial transfer cost.
I can’t see Disasi coming back to the club but I can see the other two.
5.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 16:29:22
Tom, they are all coming back in the summer: we’re going to need a bigger boat. The only ones I will be happy to see back are Petrovic and Santos.
6.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 16:42:28
Jimbo, I hope that Disasi takes an extended holiday but I still think the other two could have a future at our club.
I also think that the club will receive some offers fir players that the club might find hard to turn down.
7.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 17:18:06
Veiga cost £12m too much as far as I'm concerned, horrendous positioning, touch and late to tackles.
For what its worth I think Disasi is an okay player, he's just not as good as Chalobah and the system doesn't suit him. We should never have bought him in the first place. I think he'll do well at Villa.
This years bomb squad is shaping up nicely: Felix, Ugochukwu, Chukwuemeka, Chilwell, Chalobah, KDH, Veiga, Nkunku, Madueke, Tosin. I wonder who will get the 'full Chalobah' treatment? Seems as though Lavia and Sanchez will be protected but for how long?
As for the summer, well GK and ST are the obvious ones (still! ) . The club supposedly believes that Penders is the answer at GK. Do I trust a 19-year old to be the man straight away? No. But I could get on board with Jorgensen starting off as no1 with Penders doing the cup shifts.
For ST I think it needs to be someone who offers a different dimension to Jackson. A box presence that wins everything in the air and can be trusted to finish. Someone who puts the cat amongst the pigeons and makes teams think again. I don't think its a coincidence that so many teams come out better than us after halftime. They figure us out because there's no variety in our play. A big man up top at least offers that. I would still be going after Osimhen, he's available and despite everything I think he wants to come. He might not be Haaland or Kane, but who else is? Time to just fix this problem, no sign another child who might be the answer in 5 years.
However, I think its an incredibly safe bet that we will sign Delap. If there's an ex-City academy player to be had, by god Joe Shields is going to demand it. He was always right after all! No matter that he doesn't suit the football that Maresca professes to encourage.
8.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 17:36:06
The so called bomb squad seems to have run out of members.
I haven’t seen anything from the SD’s that can be actually be attributed to them that reads or sounds like self praise but maybe I missed it.
I have only just stopped laughing at all the crap rumours about this window to think about the next window. I love the rumour of transfers and generally hate the fact.
9.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 21:03:22
I think many will call you negative RBD but I think it's realism without the bias of being a chelsea fan.
I think you're on the money and have said nothing but facts. There were a few people giving it the biggen when we were second that are quiet now. I have the same opinion now as I did before my short hiatus.
Lots to do.
10.) 04 Feb 2025
04 Feb 2025 21:28:45
Standard and there were plenty of negative posters who went missing when we were 2nd. I think it was Ed001 who once commented that sites get busier when a team is losing or struggling.
Positive or negative we are all entitled to give our honest opinions.
11.) 05 Feb 2025
05 Feb 2025 08:07:22
I was still here Tom.