I just don't see Bakayoko as a good replacement in the short term for Matic or an ideal long term partner for Kante in midfield. I quite like Bakayoko, but I don't believe him and Kante is as balanced a partnership as Matic/Kante was.
Chelsea 2017/18 thread - FA Cup Champs, League chumps
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I just don't see Bakayoko as a good replacement in the short term for Matic or an ideal long term partner for Kante in midfield. I quite like Bakayoko, but I don't believe him and Kante is as balanced a partnership as Matic/Kante was.
We seem to have a policy of letting veteran players have the moves they want. Not sure I'd be so nice about it if I was in charge, but if it helps create loyalty amongst the players then its probably not a terrible policy. We have very few long time players unhappy while they're at the club or on leaving. Costa being an exception to this of course.
Yeah that's the issue. Who are they going to get at this late stage to tighten them up?
Yeah it's also Chelsea's way of balancing the books. They don't have the commercial power of United so they use player sales to compensate. Tbf it's been a sound strategy over recent years.
The loss of Matic will hit them hard imo.
Kante this, Kante that 
They already have quality. Just need to ensure they accumulate enough points until they have their players fit. And then add some depth.
Yea I don't think that's controversial at all.
I don't have a problem with the board having their own view of things, it's about time they adjusted to his rampant changing of managers. However they don't seem to have an actual vision, just to be messing with Conte. Loan/sell all of our depth while going back into the CL? Why not? Now we have to deal with Luiz or Christensen (ortheamericankylescottwhat) next to Kante vs Spurs.
My thoughts on the game. Hopefully when Cahill comes back from suspension, his place is on the bench. Can't believe he's survived this long. Christensen looked as good as advertised. Luiz and/or Rudiger leaving Vokes unmarked on both goals??? Willian and Kante never stopped, Batshuayi looked like butt, and Morata obviously learned how to play with 10 men after the community shield. Seriously, up and down performance. His movement on the goal and the flick on were
but him ruining Christensen's goal to make it 2-3 with 10 men and then not even reacting to Alonso's pass that could've been a tap in at the end were Disappointed with Conte, feel he underestimated Burnley by playing two in midfield and one of them being Cesc, Luiz could have been used. The next error was not starting with Morata.
Morata looked class and even though we lost, Rudiger and Christensen also showed some good moments.
Disappointed also with Cahill making that challenge in the opposition half yet players sometimes do silly things and it was compounded by Fabregas getting two silly bookings.
Meltdown?
No, just a wake up call and now for Spurs.
If you think we should have to play two destroyers at CM against burnley at the Bridge then something is definitely wrong there. Even if Matic was still here, Cesc would/should be miles a better choice vs burnley at the Bridge.
On the whole though it was a reasonable performance. I am much less worried about the RWB position now since seems to do okay and Willian/Pedro can always fill in. My concerns regarding Morata seem to be allayed somewhat as well. He seems well up for it but still need a back up striker. Most of all though we need to get a decent CM hopefully someone better than drinkwater.
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We only had 2 CMs and Kyle Scott available, so what system should we have played? It would have been foolish to change it to anything else, our XI were all here last season except for Rudiger and Boga. With no Hazard or Pedro, we needed Fabregas.
Agreed
Agreed I reckon we have hit chelsea really hard with his signing
Kante this, Kante that
I don't rate him he doesn't have any outstanding quality other than stamina. In my view C.eriksen or D.alli were more worthy for POTY award than him
Had we played park in his position he would have done far better than him
Kante powered LCFC to the title.
The next season he powered CFC to the title.
Neither Alli or Eriksen were able to do this.
Kante may attempt to win a 3rd successive title this season, while the Spurs boys will still be trying to win their first title.
Kante is a good player but for some reason he doesn't seem to be as good as he was at Leicester. He was dominating midfields in a way I haven't seen him do yet at Chelsea in the matches where I've watched him.
Relegation form. Sack Conte! He didn't want a "Mourinho season" eh...
Sack Conte! He didn't want a "Mourinho season" eh...I know they were down to 9 men, but isn't Kante equivalent to 3 players or something? That's what some Chelsea fans seem to think anyway.
Jokes aside, they showed good fight to come back after being reduced to 9 men. Morata looked good too. But if they have the same squad by the end of August, they'll be competing for top 4 and nothing else.
Jokes aside, they showed good fight to come back after being reduced to 9 men. Morata looked good too. But if they have the same squad by the end of August, they'll be competing for top 4 and nothing else.
Although he was part of two title winning teams he wasn't the sole reason for title successes.
All i said is those two had better season than kante, I don't care if they win or not.
With the other injuries we had and the fact that Fabregas cannot tackle and badly fades in matches he would have been better in a 3 man midfield or as a free attacker.
So then what would your XI have been?
Play Luiz in mid, Luiz kante and Fabregas mid. Morata up top, Pedro and Willian on the wings. Back four picks itself.
CBs - Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill
WBs- Azpi Alonso
MF - Luiz Kante, Fabgregas.
Forwards - Willian, Morata (if not fit then Batshuyai)
And bringing on Boga for Fabregas exchanging 3-5-2 for 3-4-3, if needed.
Unbelievable how shite the board is. That display was feckin' shambolic. It's like the board thinks that once the league is won that no improvement is needed, and they feck off to Bora Bora in the summer and go on holiday.
Kante is a great player but he had no business winning the player of the year trophy over Hazard.
This going to be a rough year unless they get a few more signings in before the window and/or the youth players step up.
Kante is a great player but he had no business winning the player of the year trophy over Hazard.
This going to be a rough year unless they get a few more signings in before the window and/or the youth players step up.
The backroom folks really fecked us over for sure.
At this point I'll take too 4 and decent cup run. Maybe they'll back the damn manager next summer and make less questionable decisions.
Good read this. Conte and Chelsea really fecked up this situation.
Such a bizarre situation with Costa. If you don't fecking want him, then sell him to A.Madrid as he wants (assuming they still want him).
Seems so stupid all round.
Seems so stupid all round.
Maybe they should actually put a bid in then, except of course they can't buy anyone until January because of their transfer ban..
...forgot that.
(Why doesn't Costa understand this? ...I mean I know he's mental and all that)
Matic refused to train with the squad and Roman let him go. Little depended on them judging by the reports. It was more Matic's desire to move.
For all the hype about Kante last season it's still Hazard that carries them and is their best player by far. They'll be a different team when he's back.
Kante is a key cog in their machine, but let's be real with ourselves....
Leicester had the fairytale season with every single individual overachieving and as a unit, they overachieved and then some. Chelsea didn't play in Europe, Conte deployed 3 at the back and the league didn't respond until they were clear of winning the league. Don't think Alonso, Hazard, Costa and Pedro weren't just as important, if not more important than Kante.
Leicester had the fairytale season with every single individual overachieving and as a unit, they overachieved and then some. Chelsea didn't play in Europe, Conte deployed 3 at the back and the league didn't respond until they were clear of winning the league. Don't think Alonso, Hazard, Costa and Pedro weren't just as important, if not more important than Kante.
Go home, youre drunk mate.
They can buy anyone, they just can't register them until January.
...forgot that.
(Why doesn't Costa understand this? ...I mean I know he's mental and all that)
Hasn't Costa even said he's happily wait out until January just training with them, like Turan and Vidal did with Barca?
Really looks like a weird situation down there at the moment doesn't it? Why do they always seem to implode after a successful season must be more than just bad management decisions surely? Although Conte has dropped a massive clanger with this Costa situation, awful.
Dropping and attacking one of the worlds best strikers is absolutely bonkers. Deserves to lose his job for that alone
They really are a stinking club. Toxic, from top to bottom.
Nemanja was always too good for them
Nemanja was always too good for them
Conte - Costa thing is very amusing, could have handled lot better.
Also Costa mentioned he rejected China but club wanted to sell him to China. Good decision.
Also Costa mentioned he rejected China but club wanted to sell him to China. Good decision.
Bollocks to sell him. He has been good as wing-back and i am not sure we are gonna buy a replacement.
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...nt-arsene-wenger-considers-sale-a3610941.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...nt-arsene-wenger-considers-sale-a3610941.html