Chelsea 2017/18 thread - FA Cup Champs, League chumps

Where would the Ox play? It seems he's not happy at Arsenal playing wing back and wants to play further up the pitch. Certainly he played too far forward against Liverpool. With Willian and Pedro I can't see where he fits in. This could only be for depth of squad and if he wants to play every week Chelsea are the wrong club for him. He probably stands a better chance of playing going to Liverpool.

Don't misunderstand me I like him as a player and his energy and strength on the ball are good but I would rather have Willian and probably Pedro before Ox.
He'll be played at RWB instead of Moses.
 
Morata has 2 goals and 2 assists in 3 games though. I'd say he is filling Costa's boots alright... Hell, he is doing a lot better then Costa was if those statistic's keep up.
TBF, he is. But I do think this was part of the original concern. Morata seems be proving the doubters wrong though.
 
Good, but not spectacular. Sure Morata will do a great job of replacing him. I am not really sure about Bakayoko tbh or Rudiger, but even without those two players they still look strong
Yeah, I expect him to replace those goals too tbf, but I do think people were worried if he'd be able to replace Costa when they first signed Morata,
 
Apparently we've put a bid in for Barkley and Ox with bids for Drinkwater and Llorente to come.

Are you really satisfied with the likes of Barkley and Ox? Drinkwater brings consistency, at least. I fail to see the hype around Barkley - defensively useless to be a DM, doesn't have the vision or passing range or composure to be a CM, and doesn't have the numbers or the consistency to be a good CAM. Has the odd good game, and that's it. Must be underwhelming.
 
Are you really satisfied with the likes of Barkley and Ox? Drinkwater brings consistency, at least. I fail to see the hype around Barkley - defensively useless to be a DM, doesn't have the vision or passing range or composure to be a CM, and doesn't have the numbers or the consistency to be a good CAM. Has the odd good game, and that's it. Must be underwhelming.

Of the three English players, I think Barkley is the one I want the least, in fact I don't want him at all.
 
Seeing how much some of the rivals have spent to challenge Chelsea this year, those players are really underwhelming. They are all decent, by all means, but not really much top 4 material, even though Drinkwater and Ox have been in top 4. They'll get a deeper squad, but not really any better. Think United and City have a stronger squad.
 
Would you be satisfied with your window if you sign all four of them?

I'd be happy with Oxlade-Chamberlain and nobody else.

Costa needed to be replaced. As great as he could be the guy is a lunatic. Matic apparently wanted out, a shame to see him go but what can you do.

Morata & Bakayoko are gambles but they're both young and have have decent starts.

I'm not convinced with Rudiger but am delighted to see Christensen in the first team picture.

Hopefully we keep Musonda in the first team squad, they'll be a lot of games and he could give us a bit of magic that only Hazard can do better.
 
I'd be happy with all these new players. Gives us a load of extra cover and new options, plus makes us safe for the homegrown rule. Hell, why not. Our main team is strong enough, it's only depth we've been lacking, and you never know which new players will turn into something great given the right coaching.
 
I posted yesterday that the Ox wouldn't get into the Chelsea team ahead of Moses playing at RWB. I don't think the Ox wants to play RWB and this is why he has turned Chelsea down. At heart he is an attacking player so at Chelsea he would have to compete with the likes of Willian, Pedro and Hazard and he just isn't good enough. Drinkwater is a better fit to compete with Moses. I think Conte wanted the Ox at RWB not attacking midfielder.

The Ox stands a better chance of football at Liverpool.
 
I posted yesterday that the Ox wouldn't get into the Chelsea team ahead of Moses playing at RWB. I don't think the Ox wants to play RWB and this is why he has turned Chelsea down. At heart he is an attacking player so at Chelsea he would have to compete with the likes of Willian, Pedro and Hazard and he just isn't good enough. Drinkwater is a better fit to compete with Moses. I think Conte wanted the Ox at RWB not attacking midfielder.

The Ox stands a better chance of football at Liverpool.

Drinkwater compete with Moses? Both are different players, if anything Drinkwater would be competing with Bakayoko.
 
Well, Oxlade and Barkley apparently aren't joining Chelsea.
But I would still be happy with Drinkwater and Llorente. As Kentonio wrote, I do think that our main team is strong enough to compete with most teams in the league. And when that's not the case we'll go super defensive as usual.
 
Well, Oxlade and Barkley apparently aren't joining Chelsea.
But I would still be happy with Drinkwater and Llorente. As Kentonio wrote, I do think that our main team is strong enough to compete with most teams in the league. And when that's not the case we'll go super defensive as usual.

Has Barkley been ruled out? Thought they just made their first bid?
 
Imagine trying to sign Barkley and AOC and failing. Quoted £40m for Drinkwater. These are squad fillers witha total bill likely north of £100m!

Quite depressing!
 
That's probably right. But since the window is closing tomorrow I am not sure whether there is enough time to make an agreement. Also I can not see us paying 50 Mil and that's what Everton are demanding. And in all fairness they can demand it, they don't really need the money with their new owners.
 
Drinkwater compete with Moses? Both are different players, if anything Drinkwater would be competing with Bakayoko.
You're probably right. I think the chase for The Ox was to create completion at RWB. I think Conte will have to rely on Dave (Azpilicueta) as he has cover in the back 3.
 
What's up with Chelseas transfer policy? I know they've feck all depth but the Ox, Drink water and Barkley aren't exactly reaching for the stars. 3 good players and will never be more than that.
 
Imagine trying to sign Barkley and AOC and failing. Quoted £40m for Drinkwater. These are squad fillers witha total bill likely north of £100m!

Quite depressing!

I don't understand why don't club use youngsters to fill the squad rather than paying big money for squad fillers.
 
Chelsea would taking a big risk in signing Barkley. He is out injured until November and was erratic for Everton last season. It sounds like a game of dare between Spuds and Chelsea as to who signs him. They both know it's a risk and probably neither team want to get into a bidding war over such a big risk. Everton should have sold him last year and his value should be lower this year.

My view is let Spurs have him for £40m.
 
Imagine trying to sign Barkley and AOC and failing. Quoted £40m for Drinkwater. These are squad fillers witha total bill likely north of £100m!

Quite depressing!
I am not sure with the Ox and Barkley, but Drinkwater would be a safe bet, I guess. Not the most excellent player, not a very good player, but his potential signing reminds me of Cahill's signing.
 
It really does show you how poor the league has been for the past few years for Leicester to have won the league title and then for Chelsea to win the league with that team. It really does benefit teams not being in Europe.

Winning the title with defenders such as Zouma, Cahill, Luiz, Moses and Kenedy. Apart from the main 3 midfielders they had Chalobah and Loftus-Cheek.
 
It really does show you how poor the league has been for the past few years for Leicester to have won the league title and then for Chelsea to win the league with that team. It really does benefit teams not being in Europe.

Winning the title with defenders such as Zouma, Cahill, Luiz, Moses and Kenedy. Apart from the main 3 midfielders they had Chalobah and Loftus-Cheek.

Zouma barely played last year as he was recovering from a major injury, Kenedy was out on loan for half the season and barely played after he returned. Cahill, Luiz and Moses meanwhile were the core of a frankly brilliant defensive unit. I'm not sure why you think a team containing the likes of Hazard, Costa, Willian, Pedro, Kante, Matic, Luiz, Courtois, Azpilecueta etc would be considered poor. It's a feck lot stronger than many of the teams that won the PL in the past, including the last United title winning team.
 
Zouma barely played last year as he was recovering from a major injury, Kenedy was out on loan for half the season and barely played after he returned. Cahill, Luiz and Moses meanwhile were the core of a frankly brilliant defensive unit. I'm not sure why you think a team containing the likes of Hazard, Costa, Willian, Pedro, Kante, Matic, Luiz, Courtois, Azpilecueta etc would be considered poor. It's a feck lot stronger than many of the teams that won the PL in the past, including the last United title winning team.
Agree with this. You had the strongest first 11 last season, although you lacked depth.
 
I posted yesterday that the Ox wouldn't get into the Chelsea team ahead of Moses playing at RWB. I don't think the Ox wants to play RWB and this is why he has turned Chelsea down. At heart he is an attacking player so at Chelsea he would have to compete with the likes of Willian, Pedro and Hazard and he just isn't good enough. Drinkwater is a better fit to compete with Moses. I think Conte wanted the Ox at RWB not attacking midfielder.

The Ox stands a better chance of football at Liverpool.

Like you I cannot see why he would want to come to Chelsea, I don't see him as a WB not a decent one anyway.

Seeing that Morata is good in the air I would like to see Azpi at RWB firing over some crosses as we have plenty of cover at centre backs.
 
Zouma barely played last year as he was recovering from a major injury, Kenedy was out on loan for half the season and barely played after he returned. Cahill, Luiz and Moses meanwhile were the core of a frankly brilliant defensive unit. I'm not sure why you think a team containing the likes of Hazard, Costa, Willian, Pedro, Kante, Matic, Luiz, Courtois, Azpilecueta etc would be considered poor. It's a feck lot stronger than many of the teams that won the PL in the past, including the last United title winning team.

The defence were part of a brilliant system and would be caught out in a 4,4,2. Luiz is poor defensively. Yeah they have a brilliant attack, that's why I didn't mention them. If they had Europe with rotation they wouldn't have been as great. They wouldn't have been able to play Matic and Kante every week.

And the team being better than United in 2013 is debatable. De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Evra, before Rio and Vidic dropped off a cliff performance wise for Moyes. Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Scholes, Nani, Valencia, Rooney, Van Persie and Hernandez.
 
I don't understand why don't club use youngsters to fill the squad rather than paying big money for squad fillers.
They've loaned them all out/sold them early on in the season, obviously don't trust them... and they can't blame Mourinho this time. They've 4 or 5 youngsters who were surely pushing for first team inclusion.
 
Seeing as Ox is now not coming, we should get Van Dijk and move Azpi to wingback really... we wont I know... but we should.
 
Feck me!
£25m being rejected for squad players in the last year of their contract. £40m for Drinkwater.
I hope the market calms down and clubs start refusing to participate in this madness.
 
Seeing as Ox is now not coming, we should get Van Dijk and move Azpi to wingback really... we wont I know... but we should.
Seems difficult really considering nobody wants to come there anymore, they have probably realised you aren't as good anymore.
 
And the team being better than United in 2013 is debatable. De Gea, Rio, Vidic, Evra, before Rio and Vidic dropped off a cliff performance wise for Moyes. Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Scholes, Nani, Valencia, Rooney, Van Persie and Hernandez.

That team was aging and vulnerable, the fact you won the title that year is probably the greatest testament to SAF's genius. He had however not rebuilt in the way he always did previously, which contributed to the catastrophic failure under Moyes. I always kind of assumed he was leaving it for his successor, but in that final year I think only United fans thought that team had a chance. Other than Leicester, it was probably the weakest team to win the title in recent years.