By R436 Go To PostAssuming we get even him, Chilwell wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to solve things.
I said this after the City game - our CBs can be good one match and absolute dross the next. So it has proved. We don't have a dominant CB.
I'm not even sure who we could realistically get to be honest.
You could get Koulibaly for less than the amount you’re about to spunk on Havertz I would imagine.
By domino Go To PostI need to know his leg dayEvery day is leg day
By R436 Go To PostAssuming we get even him, Chilwell wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to solve things.Lampard has to figure out who his CBs are going to be. I doubt it's Christensen, but if Rudiger is his guy, fine, just figure out his partner and stick with it.
I said this after the City game - our CBs can be good one match and absolute dross the next. So it has proved. We don't have a dominant CB.
I'm not even sure who we could realistically get to be honest.
Zouma and Tomori had a nice run together at the end of the year, but then Tomori was benched for whatever reason after Rudiger returned from injury and hasn't been seen.
Since the restart it's just been a shuffling combination of Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma and none have been all that convincing at all. Individually they're decent enough players, but I don't see that trust that a solid partnership needs to be successful over an entire campaign. United have been dealing with this shit for years too.
Fully believe the Ake talk will pick up again soon because he's going to be available.
By Laboured Go To PostYeah seems like a nice, charismatic lad.Better than Ashley Cole
Chelsea's shit defending is more structural than it is its constituent parts. I think the way they are instructed to defend, particularly positionally when they are in possession, some top level defenders would struggle.
By Laboured Go To PostChelsea's shit defending is more structural than it is its constituent parts. I think the way they are instructed to defend, particularly positionally when they are in possession, some top level defenders would struggle.Yes. And I think sitting Kante in front of whomever is partnered maybe doesn't completely solve things, but it certainly helps. Frank has only recently since the restart allowed Kante to do this for a run of matches while keep Jorginho out.
The mistakes on set pieces is a training ground problem though and that is largely on the coaches. Also, Kepa is not helping anyone involved particularly himself.
They're all just soft. At least Rudiger seems to show emotion and looks like he cares.
By Laboured Go To PostNot surprising but…I was hoping the elevated sell-on fee if he went to Utd was for Sancho, but it looks like it's with Brahim. Just a straight 15% of the profit for Sancho unfortunately.. shame. It sounds like Jayden Braaf is going to get a run out in the near future which is thrilling.. but the idea of Sancho at Utd makes me want to puke.
Don’t think Kante suits the way Lampard wants to play, really. He’s always going to shine like he did against City the other day or Liverpool in the Super Cup, but ultimately having someone as good as he is at the job he does as a spoiler in big games is a luxury that Chelsea probably can’t really maintain. Jorginho just suits the side better.
By GQman2121 Go To PostYes. And I think sitting Kante in front of whomever is partnered maybe doesn't completely solve things, but it certainly helps. Frank has only recently since the restart allowed Kante to do this for a run of matches while keep Jorginho out.
The mistakes on set pieces is a training ground problem though and that is largely on the coaches. Also, Kepa is not helping anyone involved particularly himself.
They're all just soft. At least Rudiger seems to show emotion and looks like he cares.
Think, if money is tight, a new keeper might be the most efficient way to drive change in terms of personnel.
By Meier Go To PostI was hoping the elevated sell-on fee if he went to Utd was for Sancho, but it looks like it's with Brahim. Just a straight 15% of the profit for Sancho unfortunately.. shame. It sounds like Jayden Braaf is going to get a run out in the near future which is thrilling.. but the idea of Sancho at Utd makes me want to puke.
If the positions were reversed, I'd want to puke too.
By Feorax Go To PostYou could get Koulibaly for less than the amount you’re about to spunk on Havertz I would imagine.
That'd be ideal, genuinely forgot he was an option. Feels like he has been forever.
By GQman2121 Go To PostLampard has to figure out who his CBs are going to be. I doubt it's Christensen, but if Rudiger is his guy, fine, just figure out his partner and stick with it.
Zouma and Tomori had a nice run together at the end of the year, but then Tomori was benched for whatever reason after Rudiger returned from injury and hasn't been seen.
Since the restart it's just been a shuffling combination of Rudiger, Christensen and Zouma and none have been all that convincing at all. Individually they're decent enough players, but I don't see that trust that a solid partnership needs to be successful over an entire campaign. United have been dealing with this shit for years too.
Fully believe the Ake talk will pick up again soon because he's going to be available.
I wonder what happened with Tomori. He didn't do anything worse than the other CBs, yet he's consistently been frozen out.
Ake might be a good cost effective choice if we're going to splurge elsewhere.
By Laboured Go To PostChelsea's shit defending is more structural than it is its constituent parts. I think the way they are instructed to defend, particularly positionally when they are in possession, some top level defenders would struggle.
This is definitely an issue, but I think the bigger problem is our complete inability to defend set pieces.
We always look panicked. Rudiger miskicking the ball led directly to one of the corners that punished us. That was our defending this season in a microcosm.
Shame Sheffield Utd couldn't go the distance. Would have been a great story.
Welcome to Chelsea, Dejan Lovren.
Welcome to Chelsea, Dejan Lovren.
We were trending that way for a while too. I wonder what changed internally. (set piece talk).
Kouli has been priced out of the market for so long. I wonder if he's still worth the hassle (not questioning his talent), but he's reaching that last stretch of his shelflife where a big move seems prudent.
Kouli has been priced out of the market for so long. I wonder if he's still worth the hassle (not questioning his talent), but he's reaching that last stretch of his shelflife where a big move seems prudent.
By n8 dogg Go To PostWhat do you mean he was speaking in generalhe was saying former juve players who he talks to would love to come back
Tierney looking really good in what I’ve seen of him post-lockdown. Nice to have options there with him and Saka.
By Yurtlicious Go To Posthe was saying former juve players who he talks to would love to come backHe was talking about Amauri
By n8 dogg Go To PostFollow up
I'm willing to let it slide this season - inexperienced manager with a different set of players. Not ideal, but whatever.
It'll be a problem if these issues remain come this time next season.
By inky Go To Post150 million, pls
Yurt making his move.
Our front 3 for the final minutes, a 19 year old, a 18 year old and a 17 year old (last two making their debut on the main squad).
By LFMartins86 Go To PostOur front 3 for the final minutes, a 19 year old, a 18 year old and a 17 year old (last two making their debut on the main squad).
By FortuneFaded Go To PostJust watched interview with Antonio. Seems like he has a future in TV after his playing career.
Gonzalo Plata man of the match, 4th straight win, another 2 youngsters making their debut.
13 points out of a possible 15 since the restart, 1500th league win in the day of our 114th anniversary, good times.
Before the break we were 19 points behind Benfica and 5 points behind Braga, we are now 9 points behind Benfica and 5 ahead of Braga.
Benfica dropping 9 points in 5 matches would be shocking but the last game of the league is Benfica x Sporting...
13 points out of a possible 15 since the restart, 1500th league win in the day of our 114th anniversary, good times.
Before the break we were 19 points behind Benfica and 5 points behind Braga, we are now 9 points behind Benfica and 5 ahead of Braga.
Benfica dropping 9 points in 5 matches would be shocking but the last game of the league is Benfica x Sporting...
Yeah, that was a very good interview indeed. Especially given he's just run his socks off that whole game. I like Antonio a lot.. such a handful.
Lads, today is also Bobby Bonilla Day.
For more than a few MLB players and ex-players, July 1 is a big day on the baseball calendar. It's the day many signing bonuses and deferred salary payments (or portions thereof) are made. Must be fun checking that direct deposit each year, huh?
Former All-Star Bobby Bonilla, who lasted played in 2001, has become the face of the July 1 payday. As part of a deferred salary arrangement, the New York Mets have paid Bonilla a touch more than $1.19 million ($1,193,248.20 to be exact) each July 1 since 2011, and will continue doing so until 2035. 2035! Bonilla, now 57, will be 72 when the last payment is made.
The Mets signed Bonilla to a five-year contract worth $29 million in 1991 that was the richest contract in team sports at the time. He spent the first three and a half seasons of that contract with New York before being traded away. Bonilla won a World Series with the Marlins in 1997 and was later traded back to the Mets as part of their post-championship fire sale.
The Mets released Bonilla in January 2000 but were still on the hook for his $5.9 million salary that season. Believing they were poised to make a significant profit through their investments with Bernie Madoff, Mets ownership instead agreed to defer Bonilla's salary with 8 percent interest and spread it across 25 years from 2011-35.
Well, the Madoff ponzi scheme fell apart, and Bonilla's $5.9 million swelled to $29.8 million from 2000-11. That $29.8 million divided by 25 years equals the annual $1.19 million payment.
That defeat at Brighton weighting tons for The Arsenal
We went deeper and actually got doubled by them
What a football club
We went deeper and actually got doubled by them
What a football club
By Laboured Go To PostLaboured back in the top 10 for SLAENT FPL. Impressive and speaks to his character imho.
Good stuff on Matic by Michael Cox on the Athletic today. No tweet yet so find it urself cunts
Did get me wondering; he makes the point that we play 3 at the back vs big teams but don’t really have a City/Arse type system where we can slip between 3 and 4 in a game. Shaw moving over and Wan-Bissaka moving back can turn us into a 4, but then we have Williams attacking left wing.
I’d be curious to see if we can train Dan James in that position. Nuno’s turned Traore into a really good wing back-cum-wide forward. James would probably have the energy and defensive diligence to become a LWB.
Did get me wondering; he makes the point that we play 3 at the back vs big teams but don’t really have a City/Arse type system where we can slip between 3 and 4 in a game. Shaw moving over and Wan-Bissaka moving back can turn us into a 4, but then we have Williams attacking left wing.
I’d be curious to see if we can train Dan James in that position. Nuno’s turned Traore into a really good wing back-cum-wide forward. James would probably have the energy and defensive diligence to become a LWB.
By Laboured Go To PostLaboured back in the top 10 for SLAENT FPL. Impressive and speaks to his character imho.
I’m three points behind you, and I’m coming for you.