01 Sep 2017 04:17:08
So what do we think? How would we have felt at the start of the window if we knew this would have been our business? Bakayoko is surely an upgrade on Matic. Morata is a great young striker while Drinkwater brings experience in the middle. I think player by player out team is arguably stronger. But I would not have said it was enough at the start of June.
01 Sep 2017 05:24:25
I disagree, I th No at best you have stood still. Morata s a great player but will he deliver the goals Costa did? Drinkwater won't get in your team, he'll spend the season sat on the bench. Bakayoko may be an upgrade on Matic, we shall see.
You are Champions so are still one of the favourites for the League but I was surprised that you didn't sign more and better players. It will be interesting to see how Conte reacts.
01 Sep 2017 06:29:44
Both of you should use a dictionary to find out what does word upgrade means.
01 Sep 2017 06:42:22
I think you've undersold us there AJH, like many people did after last summer's window.
Bakayoko and Drinkwater are certainly better than Matic and Chalobah pound-for-pound. Matic had started well for you, but the acid test will be against the very top midfields when last year he was often found wanting. Morata looks like he'll replace Costa very adequately and not just goals, his movement, and assists mean thus far only striker fitting in that well so far is Firmino. Zappacosta, who squad-wise replaces Ake/ Ivanovic is very underrated, if he was English he'd be going for Walker level cash, and Conte loves him. Christensen and Rudiger have started well and the latter is threatening to take Cahill's space while the former is perfectly capable and his speed and aerial ability is better than John Terry's which was declining last year rapidly- look at how Villa have started for evidence. Caballero as a backup will do, nothing special but okay.
I think one thing people forget is how well Conte can get seemingly average players playing- I've always hated a clamour for marquee signings as they never guarantee instant success, such as Di Maria, Ozil, Torres, Pogba the list goes on etc. I'd have liked a LWB option like Alex Sandro, but I don't buy any of the Conte vs. Board nonsense as all of these signings carry the Conte mark. Only deadline day thing I was annoyed at was losing Llorente to Spurs as he is a very decent target man and would have made a nice 3rd choice. Chamberlain flatters to deceive and his attitude is clearly questionable by his desire to be guaranteed a starting CM spot and Barkley is just a scouse Wilshere, a lot of potential whittled away.
We'll be there or thereabouts because we are Chelsea and even in our most turbulent crisis, we are still a real force to be reckoned with. Sorry for the long response.
{Ed001's Note - Chamberlain did not want to be guaranteed a central midfield berth at all mate. He would like to play there, but he turned Chelsea down purely because he wanted to play for his boyhood club. Nothing more, nothing less. It would be like Terry playing somewhere else and knowing Chelsea were waiting in the wings, he is not going to take another offer elsewhere.}
01 Sep 2017 07:59:29
Cfcforever! I agree completelly. I think we will do just fine. As far as we jeeping the cup i think we stand a chance. Sandro wouldhv been a great addition but I trust Conte.1 or even 2 more woulhv been awesome for depth but who knows what will happen in the next window. Cheers.
01 Sep 2017 08:04:01
CFC! Do you see Drinkwatr getting any playing time? As for Matic, our issue last year wasn't the big games, it was our inability to beat 'lesser' teams, particularly at OT, our away form was very strong. Matic may or may not be a great player, but in a jigsaw you need a pice that fits and that's what he has given us, you may prefer Bakayoko and he may be a better fit for you,
Conte has been very vocal in the press, unhappy with the sale of Matic, unhappy with the lack of signings. It may all be press spin but Ox preferred Liverpool (his dream club apparently), Barkley pulled out, Llorente went to Spurs, and Lukaku came to United. Yes u may be happy but I don't think your Manager is.
01 Sep 2017 08:35:09
If you look at Mr Conte's latest interview, you'll see he is very happy AJH. And fair enough Ed001, either way AOC is not the answer to wingback!
{Ed001's Note - probably not but you can't blame a lad for following his dream. I find it refreshing in this day and age.}
01 Sep 2017 08:39:32
Drinkwater will get chances to impress the manager and I'm pleased he has joined the CHAMPIONS of ENGLAND.
The media a fixated on Matic ( fact, his name was mentioned by the commentators more than any player in our Spurs game) as I understand it he was told he was surplus to requirements at the end of last season and would be allowed to leave. Hence him training away from the first team squad and not going on the preseason tour.
He was average last year and truly poor the year before so getting £40mil for a 29 year old looks good business to me!
01 Sep 2017 09:47:37
Yeah I agree Ed001, if that was the case fair play. Can't see him playing much though, certainly not better than Lallana and Can and the system currently suits Wijnaldum and Henderson better as well. As an aside, how thrilled are you at no more Naby Keita, Thomas Lemar or Virgil Van Dijk questions?
{Ed001's Note - he will also cover Mane and Salah so they can get a rest or if one is injured. He should get plenty of gametime really.
If only that were true, all I have done all morning is answer VVD and Lemar questions! Not just the Liverpool site either, as Arsenal are talking about Lemar too.}
01 Sep 2017 10:23:23
At least no more Naby Keita- Sorry Nobby Kaita- right?
01 Sep 2017 12:09:16
About Matic Antonio Conte: We have lost TOP PLAYER!
About Matic Jose Mourinho (August 2017) :We have signed TOP PLAYER!
So you experts think that you know better than Conte and Mourinho.?!
01 Sep 2017 16:27:59
For the last time. Matic was told he could leave the club by Conte. Hence the reason he didn't go on preseason and why he trained with the kids.
He was bang average last year and total crap the year before.