24 Jul 2024 12:39:19
Been thinking about this for a while, but I think we need to stop thinking about players as players in this Chelsea system: they are assets that will either go on to improve performance of the team (the shop front) or appreciate in value and be sold for a return.
So, when we get the question: why are we buying another AM when we already have a stockpile.? Well, we are stock piling them because they tend to appreciate in value and achieve higher fees in the market later.
Why buy them young? Well, because they have the most upside potential.
It's high risk, but it's not a mad strategy given the way fees have been rising across football. And expansion into the multiclub model allows for greater opportunities to showcase these players and enhance their value.
If it is a venture capital style model, you would only be looking for 2/ 10 to break through for the approach to wash its face.
Personally, I'm not mad on treating young people as commodities, but that's not new in football.
24 Jul 2024 13:42:00
Agree with your overall point FD77 however I think there is one major caveat, and that is that none of these players are being signed by Strasbourg.
There are only six loan spots for players that aren't both u21 AND club trained (3 years at current club between ages of 15 and 21). So if you stockpile them, you are very limited as to how you develop them to the point that you can actually turn a profit on them. It doesn't matter that you own other clubs if it's only Chelsea who is buying these players.
24 Jul 2024 15:15:51
Is it true Chelsea are looking to move casadei on on a permanent deal? Seems crazy.
24 Jul 2024 15:28:00
FD77, you are echoing my sentiments of the last two seasons. It’s a business and will look at the last few years under Roman, it was being run as a business.
I see it as a business/ judgement call. We feel emotionally attached to certain players and with some fans they seem more attached to academy players. As long as the judgement of buying, keeping and selling is done/ judged broadly on ability then I’m fine.
We should also try and remember we all see the worth of a player differently and that obviously includes the coaching staff.
I understand how people can refer to the likes of Chalaboa and CG as “cash cows” but we do still have academy players in the squad but they are seen by the decision makers as having the ability to be a Chelsea player.
26 Jul 2024 07:10:25
I love Gallagher work rate. But is he good enough to play in a two man midfield. I do t think he is. Or even in the attacking three, he isn’t. I think chuekameka offers a lot more than him. It’s a shame but the truth.