Chelsea under Conte | Let's sign the next Hazard, literally.

Alonso struggled a lot in the second half of the season, it was like teams had come to realise he was the weak spot in the team, not fast enough. I'm thinking of Spurs, Arsenal and Utd.
Still a class player yet when the EPL have you worked out then a change is needed.
 
No, just got fed up with JM moaning all the time.
TBH I wanted Benitez to get a full season I thought we played decent football under him. Still JM won us the league again so no complaints.
 
Chelsea have been signing the same players every day for three weeks now. Are some of their supporters dangling on the edge of a bridge, too?
 
The Outsider said:
Alonso struggled a lot in the second half of the season, it was like teams had come to realise he was the weak spot in the team, not fast enough. I'm thinking of Spurs, Arsenal and Utd.
Still a class player yet when the EPL have you worked out then a change is needed.
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He fell ill against United and did not play at all the 2nd game when we beat you. He is fairly pacy and defensively solid.
 
I agree he is not slow but in the big matches he always seemed on the back foot and to be struggling defensively to get back.
 
AshfordLad said:
I dont think we can go in CL round of 16 with Alonso at LWB as much as we can not go in with Cahill and Azpilicueta at CB. They all will be ripped apart by any decent european side. All three need an upgrade.
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Why does Azpilicueta need to be upgraded?
 
B&Wandmore said:
I really do not understand why you are all downplaying Alonso who has been excellent last season. Moses needs an upgrade much more urgently than Alonso.
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Kentonio said:
He got better as the season went on, but he was quite average for the first half to two thirds of the season. He got forward more than Azpi the season before, but his passing wasnt great (crossing was better) and he often looked like the weak link in the team and didn't have Moses fiery attacking pace to compensate. Last third of the season he looked really good, but still the player I'd have looked to replace first in that starting 11.
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Totally agree. I think Alonso had a great time from January onwards while Moses faded away a bit. But I still think that Moses will improve further in the role as a RWB while Alonso was playing pretty much at his peak. Its fine to have him at LWB while playing a team outside PL top6 or CL group stage. But he just wouldnt work well against the likes of Real/Bayern/PSG/Juve neither against City/United/Spurs.
 
AshfordLad said:
He is great if we are playing back 4 but he is not the greatest CB around neither does he work well at RWB.
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Probably the best CB in the league and youre saying he is not great? If anything, you need an upgrade on Cahill and David Luiz before Azpilicuetta. He is probably the most consistent player in the PL, while being the best CB in the league.
 
D2Z said:
Probably the best CB in the league and youre saying he is not great? If anything, you need an upgrade on Cahill and David Luiz before Azpilicuetta. He is probably the most consistent player in the PL, while being the best CB in the league.
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No. There are atleast 10 CBs in the PL i'd pick over Azpilicueta.
Also, David Luiz does not need upgrading he is nearly world class at quarterback-CB role he plays.
 
I think it depends on the formation: Azpilicueta is a very good CB option in a back three to me, but none at all in a back four. A bit like Luiz (who's still well capable of playing in a back four of course, but better in his current role).
 
AshfordLad said:
He is great if we are playing back 4 but he is not the greatest CB around neither does he work well at RWB.
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I don't think we've seen nearly enough of him at RWB yet to properly judge. He was dropped in a few times when Moses was out, but he never had time to settle into the role properly. Given that he's naturally right footed and wouldn't have the same defensive duties as he did in a back 4, I'd love to see what he can make of the position. He's such a wonderfully versatile and consistent player, I feel like we have to make a position for him somewhere.
 
I think people are forgetting that Alonso actually got better and better as the season went on, literally the opposite to Moses. At one point the only goals we were conceding were headed goals down Moses side. Alonso is vital as an out ball with his height and he's a set piece specialist, the only reason I would be in favour of getting Sandro is because he is THAT good, Moses is the one that needs replacing more... but I suppose Azpi could do the job their with either Rudiger or Christensen slotting in at that back.

Just want these Rudiger & Bakayoko deals announced now too impatient.
 
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Kentonio said:
I don't think we've seen nearly enough of him at RWB yet to properly judge. He was dropped in a few times when Moses was out, but he never had time to settle into the role properly. Given that he's naturally right footed and wouldn't have the same defensive duties as he did in a back 4, I'd love to see what he can make of the position. He's such a wonderfully versatile and consistent player, I feel like we have to make a position for him somewhere.
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I totally agree with this. Not only his ability but his somewhat contagious drive and dedication to the cause as well. We should make him Captain and in the (relatively) long term should move to play Conte's preferred 4-1-4-1 system with Azpi at RB.

That said, in an ideal world I wouldn't want him at CB or RWB. Though he would be last of my worries.
 
TheMagicFoolBus said:
It is a bit but the numbers don't lie. Sandro is simply orders of magnitude better offensively and defensively. Sandro even created more chances last season than Marcelo, which I was shocked to learn personally.
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Although it has to be said that 'chances created' is a bit of a misleading category, because it doesn't really cover what the name says.

But your statistical argument for Alex Sandro is impressive, I admit. Have you (or anyone else) seen him enough to say if his actual performances on the pitch match this statistical output? Some important things can't be conveyed in numbers, but if it all matches up, he'd be quite a monster.
 
Synco said:
Although it has to be said that 'chances created' is a bit of a misleading category, because it doesn't really cover what the name says.

But your statistical argument for Alex Sandro is impressive, I admit. Have you (or anyone else) seen him enough to say if his actual performances on the pitch match this statistical output? Some important things can't be conveyed in numbers, but if it all matches up, he'd be quite a monster.
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I'd say yes absolutely; if anything he's underrated by many since despite averaging 1.9 key passes per game last season (i.e. passes that led directly to a shot), he only was credited with 4 assists in Serie A. What is striking about him is that there are absolutely no discernible weaknesses to his game that I can detect-one might expect a player with his offensive output to be caught out on the break, but his stamina and relentlessness in tracking back and maintaining his positioning are also world class.

With the obvious caveat that these are highlights, here's an excellent video:
 
I think bakayoko and rudiger will be great for us and I'm more than happy with them as signings, in this ridiculous market both there reported fees are pretty decent!

They also give us much needed height, pace and strength (at times our XI) looked a bit small last year. Cant help thinking though if chalobah is going to be loaned out we should keep bakayoko, matic, fabregas and kante as our CM options, what do you guys think?

If we are not going to get Alex Sandro and instead get Telles then we also need to be making sure we 100% sign a decent RWB too.

Cant help but feel we need one more attacking midfielder/winger who do we think is likely?
 
Red Katie said:
Is Costa still going back to Atletico?
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Most probably, its hard to tell what is true or not in regards to the media but it does look likely.. Pre season will be very telling as to whether he turns up for it next Monday. We need to get our replacement correct up top, although I do trust Michy to provide his fair share of goals when rotated in and really do have high hopes for him, just a lot could rest on whether Lukaku, Morata, Belloti etc performs.
 
Don _ Conte said:
I think bakayoko and rudiger will be great for us and I'm more than happy with them as signings, in this ridiculous market both there reported fees are pretty decent!

They also give us much needed height, pace and strength (at times our XI) looked a bit small last year. Cant help thinking though if chalobah is going to be loaned out we should keep bakayoko, matic, fabregas and kante as our CM options, what do you guys think?

If we are not going to get Alex Sandro and instead get Telles then we also need to be making sure we 100% sign a decent RWB too.

Cant help but feel we need one more attacking midfielder/winger who do we think is likely?
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Their fees are decent only because they are sub par players particularly Rudiger.

I dont think Matic will stay unless he has a first team spot.
 
Don _ Conte said:
Most probably, its hard to tell what is true or not in regards to the media but it does look likely.. Pre season will be very telling as to whether he turns up for it next Monday. We need to get our replacement correct up top, although I do trust Michy to provide his fair share of goals when rotated in and really do have high hopes for him, just a lot could rest on whether Lukaku, Morata, Belloti etc performs.
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Cheers.

As I don't pay much attention with regards to Chelsea and the media, is Lukaku still the most probable replacement you reckon?
 
AshfordLad said:
Their fees are decent only because they are sub par players particularly Rudiger.

I don't think Matic will stay unless he has a first team spot.
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I'm not saying we have signed to the level of Veratti and Thiago Silva but I think people are being extremely harsh prejudging them from a lot of journalists who watch Serie A regularly they do rate Rudiger.

He's also only 24 I believe and has a lot of room for improvement, his harshest criticism seems to be his lapses in concentration/mistakes, (something which a certain CB of ours improved massively on under conte) he has the physical attributes to be an imposing defender and I reckon Conte will bring the best out of him. Plus he brings much need height if he plays Azpi's side or much needed pace if its Cahill. I cant say iv watched him a lot tbh other than the Confed Cup final the other day (in which he was excellent) but if Conte and Jose have both been after him for the last 2 years its good signs really.

As for Bakayoko he's had a huge breakout season, and was very good for Monaco this year and was included in the Champions League Squad of the year. His team mates rate him highly, he's only 22 and will grow a lot under Conte and additionally if he replaces matic we finally have another player with pace in the middle that can carry the ball.
 
Red Katie said:
Cheers.

As I don't pay much attention with regards to Chelsea and the media, is Lukaku still the most probable replacement you reckon?
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Yes most probably, I don't see any viable alternatives really if Morata is nailed on for united. Just a game of cat and mouse in regards to the fee most likely but I think it will happen. There is no way United could be after both Lukaku and Morata surely, and no one else would be willing to pay the fee so looks like it will be us. £100m is absolutely absurd fee but I would want him at the club, if we don't get him we really should be putting the 70/80m we are willing to pay towards Aubameyang.
 
Don _ Conte said:
Yes most probably, I don't see any viable alternatives really if Morata is nailed on for united. Just a game of cat and mouse in regards to the fee most likely but I think it will happen. There is no way United could be after both Lukaku and Morata surely, and no one else would be willing to pay the fee so looks like it will be us. £100m is absolutely absurd fee but I would want him at the club, if we don't get him we really should be putting the 70/80m we are willing to pay towards Aubameyang.
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Lukaku will get you goals no doubt but if he's good enough at the very top remains to be seen. It's seems to be a real lack of top strikers around right now though.
 
Is Bakayoko actually being signed then? Seems like there's been weeks of rumors with no result.

Ps. Was it really necessary to capitalize every letter in Conte's name in the thread title? I think people would get the 'joke' without it...
 
Agreed but I think people may be understating how much he will improve at us (we hope) I understand he will be marked closer and teams will sit deeper but I feel that's outweighed by the fact he will instead have the likes of fabregas, hazard, pedro etc creating chances for him who are a vast improvement on his current everton team mates.
 
Don _ Conte said:
I'm not saying we have signed to the level of Veratti and Thiago Silva but I think people are being extremely harsh prejudging them from a lot of journalists who watch Serie A regularly they do rate Rudiger.

He's also only 24 I believe and has a lot of room for improvement, his harshest criticism seems to be his lapses in concentration/mistakes, (something which a certain CB of ours improved massively on under conte) he has the physical attributes to be an imposing defender and I reckon Conte will bring the best out of him. Plus he brings much need height if he plays Azpi's side or much needed pace if its Cahill. I cant say iv watched him a lot tbh other than the Confed Cup final the other day (in which he was excellent) but if Conte and Jose have both been after him for the last 2 years its good signs really.

As for Bakayoko he's had a huge breakout season, and was very good for Monaco this year and was included in the Champions League Squad of the year. His team mates rate him highly, he's only 22 and will grow a lot under Conte and additionally if he replaces matic we finally have another player with pace in the middle that can carry the ball.
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I really do not understand what the club are doing by selling Ake and buying Rudiger who is not any better (probably even worse). Ake is 3 years younger and by 24 could be one of the best CBs in the world.

I mean I can understand if we sell Ake and land someone like Bonucci or even someone younger with more potential than Ake like Rugani. Buy what the feck are we doing buying Rudiger who shouldnt even be playing for a top10 PL team let alone a top4.
 
AshfordLad said:
I really do not understand what the club are doing by selling Ake and buying Rudiger who is not any better (probably even worse). Ake is 3 years younger and by 24 could be one of the best CBs in the world.

I mean I can understand if we sell Ake and land someone like Bonucci or even someone younger with more potential than Ake like Rugani. Buy what the feck are we doing buying Rudiger who shouldnt even be playing for a top10 PL team let alone a top4.
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Ake is not a LWB and is a little short for a CB. I believe Rudiger is bigger and also more versatile in where he can play.
 
What happens now if they miss out on both Morata and Lukaku but still sell Costa? Can they even keep Costa now?
This could be a disaster for Conte and maybe sheds some light on his unhappiness with their transfer plans?
 
cyberman said:
What happens now if they miss out on both Morata and Lukaku but still sell Costa? Can they even keep Costa now?
This could be a disaster for Conte and maybe sheds some light on his unhappiness with their transfer plans?
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No chance imo. I think Morata and Lukaku will leave for one of United or Chelsea respectively. Seems Conte prefers Lukaku, but surely he won't be too pissed if he gets Morata as he likes him too, no?
 
Do Chelsea fans think they will spend about 200m plus (pounds) in this window?

Sandro + Lukaku + Danilo + Bakayoko + Centre back = 250m plus. Even if Costa is sold it's still 200m plus.

Even as an United fans, I don't think we will spend more than 150m or 200m and we probably need more fix in our XI than you do. My guess is probably we will only sign 4 players and get some refund from Rooney, Morgan and Memphis fees.
 
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