23 Jan 2025 12:37:44
Usually the debates are on which player and how much, on social media I'd say the fan base is united in the frustration of lack of movement for glaring concerns with midfield cover being and the season being in tact hanging in Caceido not missing any games, the Douglas luiz loan option made a lot of sense, knows league ask was key to villa getting top 4 and is a position we are craving with Lavia unable to play 2 games in a row. fact we've loaned them veiga something could of been done.
City buying Marmoush stings, striker who plays off the left, would cover 2 places / positions, read a coach describe him as unpredictable and solves problems.
Time to accept a striker won't be joining in Jan, to difficult a market and we don't want to overpay, more anger that's it's 6 windows and we still crave that position,
I believe this will be the last window for some of the decision makers at the club. Think maybe one or both the sporting directors will be changed, the direction shouldn't be young potential but some needle movers and title challenging players, more experienced players.
23 Jan 2025 13:19:35
I'm with you on the SD's Matt.
Their positions need looking at and at least one needs to go, to many cooks and all that.
23 Jan 2025 15:40:31
I wouldn’t have a clue if any of our SD’s will go or if we have one to many.
I can observe as a fan of the club. Would I have made some of the signings…. No. Am I happy with the majority of our recent signings…. Yes.
23 Jan 2025 15:48:30
Totally agree need only one sporting director and ideally one owner
If both of the sporting directors think Garnacho is a good idea they both should go.
23 Jan 2025 16:18:12
The strange thing about Garnacho and his career at Utd is I assumed that because they are supposedly the worst Utd team ever that there fans would have disliked him as a player but a lot of fans on there page seem to be upset at the prospect of him leaving.
23 Jan 2025 16:23:08
Tom would agree many buys have been excellent, I just like to have one person in the role.
Gives clear lines of responsibility.
We are obviously getting American owners who are used to the trading ways of baseball will be interesting to see how it turns out
The Enzo to Real Madrid is one rumour to keep an eye on.
23 Jan 2025 16:25:46
Spending £100m on Neto and Felix and then another £60m 6 months later on garnacho is a sackable offence so hopefully both go, these guys can’t build a squad or get close to it. It’s a shame that by time they are replaced the next person will have a harder job with moving on And bringing in with tighter ffp rules and no hotels / woman’s team to sell to a sister company,
23 Jan 2025 18:04:19
Matt who knows we might have a FOS by next season, we have only thrown away £40mil this season with the lack of one.
Also we are falling behind Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U and even Spurs in losing revenue with just a 42k capacity stadium, not a peep from the owners, probably still arguing whether to move or develop.
23 Jan 2025 18:10:15
Seymns, I haven’t got a clue what there job titles are or there lines if responsibility. They may well have different skill sets that compliment each other.
Matt, I would have signed Neto every day of the week and twice more on Sunday. I wouldn’t have signed Felix but I’m just giving my opinion. The SD’s are entitled to a different opinion and it’s certainly not a sackable offence to sign any player.
I haven’t got a clue about any new or tighter FFP rules and as far as I know we are not looking likely to break any anytime soon.
23 Jan 2025 18:30:46
Love different opinions, I most admit i am quite fickle three good games from a player then they are a good buy .
23 Jan 2025 19:02:10
Bill, I assume you have looked at the last FAB board minutes. The question of SB was asked and answered along with a promise of updates when there was something or anything new.
So, there will not be a “peep” until they have something to say. I suppose they could keep putting out press releases saying there is no change and the review is ongoing.
It’s been reported by several outlets that a FOS sponsor has hit difficulties because of an existing sponsorship. Also I think a little depends on the clubs performance this season but it’s hard to imagine a FOS sponsor will not be in place pre WCC. If.
23 Jan 2025 19:17:29
Tom
With regards to FFP, we still might have a problem if the valuation we have put on the ladies team is not accepted as a fair value.
23 Jan 2025 19:38:05
I’m assuming that the reported sale price of Chelsea Ladies is accurate? If so it looks a gross under valuation to me but then I can only see ladies football expanding over the next twenty years.
I would be astonished if there was an issue on valuation.
23 Jan 2025 19:54:31
Seymns, Garnacho would seem a strange signing to me but I have no idea about his abilities as a player or his attitude.
I would rather we stick with George as our 4th wide player as it seems as if Mudryk might be having a long holiday.
23 Jan 2025 21:18:22
Ok, for example then, Neto has been good, 22
Games 1 goal 2 assists £60m? That good
What players have been successful of the 1.5 billion
You take Caceido out this team you’ll struggle to see a top 4 team . Fine margins and these directors haven’t a clue how to fix it,
23 Jan 2025 22:21:43
Enjoying reading the thread: just to upset everyone here are my views:
The SDs are useless: apart from Palmer I can’t think of another decent signing: personally, I wouldn’t have signed: Neto, Sancho, KDH or Felix, none of them have made a significant impact.
The commercial side are also useless: effectively two seasons without a FOS sponsor.
As for PSR let’s not get too cocky; we’ve had to sell hotels and the women’s team within the group to comply. We still have a significant operating loss. We are running out of things to sell: what next supporters organs? As for SB development, most of us will be pushing up daises by the time a decision is made.
23 Jan 2025 22:23:42
Neto was top class against and every time I saw him for Wolves. He hasn’t played consistently well for us so far but I have no doubt that he will.
The team in my opinion was overdue an overhaul. As you say Caicedo is top class but so many on this site referred to him as a “donkey” or just a waist of money.
We are now challenging for champions league positions again and next year we will be challenging for the title. Maybe then some will see it as money well spent.
23 Jan 2025 22:51:55
Of recent signings Palmer Cacaido obvious successes think Lavia will be top class also like Gusto Tosin and Sancho Jackson, Neto has been a slight disappointment but a top player
Unsure on Madueke, Enzo Badiashille, KDH,
Fails Felix Diasi Sanchez.
23 Jan 2025 23:23:42
We are now challenging for Champions League place. Wow just like Arsenal used to do.
24 Jan 2025 00:56:04
Unfortunately Lavia won’t ever become world class because he is only young, been at Southampton a year Chelsea year and half and hasn’t hit 40 appearances including substitute appearances,
Dewsbury hall is a championship player and fact maresca had him in a title winning team for a year and he only got a chance because we had nobody else says it all,
Disasi badiashile Sanchez ddfofana sterling koulibaly aubamayang Washington sloninia mudryk Angelo casedei morrieria kellyman Caleb Wiley chuckmenku nkunku - how many have been real hits, even Fernandez has been very hit and miss, fofana also who’s been injured majority of his spell . But the sporting directors get praised and Joe shields praised because palmer, impressive
And we still need a goal keeper cb CM striker lol.
24 Jan 2025 09:52:13
I think most fans would be happy with champions league qualification this sea but as I keep saying I expect us to be title challengers next season.
In my opinion Lavia will be top class.
Cucarella is one of the better LBs in Europe, Palmer is just class and Caicedo is different gravy. Enzo’s influence on a game has improved throughout the season and I repeat I would have signed Neto every day of the week.
NO club gets every signing right and our club has certainly made mistakes in the same way all fans make mistakes in evaluating a player’s ability. I seem to remember certain posters going on and on about how important it was that we signed Lukaku and Werner.
No SD at any club thinks “I’ve got a good idea let’s sign this player because he is rubbish” or “Let’s sign this player because he will be injured all the time. ” They do not have the luxury of hindsight. They will make mistakes but the idea is they don’t make to many. The people who matter in assessing the SD’s success or failure will no doubt do an end of season review.
24 Jan 2025 09:54:55
Says it all Matt, well put and that's just on the playing side, the rest of the club is a mess as well (apart from the women who we have just sold to Blue Co) .
24 Jan 2025 10:03:36
Matt, I agree with you that the sporting directors haven't done well (and some of the club's decisions have been downright baffling), but the list of players you've given includes many who were signed before they started work (officially Feb 2023). I guess we don't know whether they were advising Todd B (and Egbali) before then, but the following players were certainly before their time:
Sterling, Koulibaly, Slonina, Chukwuemeka, Cucurella, Casadei, Fofana, Aubameyang.
Then these were likely before at least Winstanley (although possibly advised by Stewart) :
Badiashile, DD Fofana, Santos, Mudryk, Madueke, Gusto, Fernández, JJ Morgan.
As I remember, Nkunku was agreed with Leipzig the season before he arrived, so that also puts him in the 'before' camp.
That leaves their signings so far as:
Jackson, Moreira, Ângelo, Ugochukwu, Disasi, Sánchez, Caicedo, Lavia, Washington, Petrović, Palmer, Kellyman, Tosin, Guiu, KDH, Veiga, Wiley, Paez, Willian, Jörgensen, Anselmino, Neto, Sancho, Penders, Félix.
24 Jan 2025 10:07:05
Matt I tghought Lavia had only made 13 appearances. but is that only as a starter?
24 Jan 2025 10:22:14
JBS – I think what Matt means is that in two and a half years across both Southampton and Chelsea he hasn't hit 40 appearances because of injury. The implication being that if it continues he will never be able to develop/ hit his potential.
24 Jan 2025 11:20:53
Thanks EdW and if that includes his time at Southampton as well it does suggest he may have enduring injury problems. That was one of the reasons I was upset at CG leaving as he was also establishing a hgoopd partnership with Caicedo towards end of last season (and when EF out as well) and weighing in with goals. Clearly we don't know what he was offered to sign a new contract but felt it wasn't enough. Goven what we've splashed out on so many who have been gambles it seems a bit of a case of penny wise pound foolish imho. Not as if at 23 then he was exactly an old player! He was peerless at winning turnover in opposition half.
OK yes that boat has sailed. But I think the dismay of some like me is that infder last manager we had seemed towards end of the season to be building a degree of confidence in the players and g=to be getting results. and then we sack that manager - who only had a year on his contract and looked as though he might get us Top 4 this season aif especially with just a few additions most obviously at striker and CB to replace Silva. Petrovic seemed to be doing ok as GK but we did need back up in that position too perhaps - and then he gets sacked and we seem to have to start over again with what seemed a gamble of an EPL inexperioenced manager and CG departing with TC, Chucky, Casadei, Chilly deemed not good enough and sidelined.
But at least we have TC back for a while and possibly Petrovic could return (but unlikely now? ) in the summer. Plus we don't have nearly as many injuries (yet! ) as last season, and we are in a relatively easy European competition and have brought in a ton of new players at vast expense albeit it o out and out striker, experienced CB and Jorgensen not used much in EPL. If we make ECL then it may all havev seemed worth it. If not I expect the SDs will go and perhaps yet another manager with them. We simply have to get ECL football next season surely.
24 Jan 2025 11:40:28
And even more annoying is Jamie carragher and fact his right “ when is the big spending going to stop and the return on this massive investment going to begin “
It’ll begin when have a fire sale and have to sell
Maresca has said problem with Felix and nkunku is we only play with one no10, I knew that I said before we bought Felix it’s monumental waste of money, could see a mile off, but my posts stopped being added and I was called negative by g8 and few others,
Online it’s “ well January is too hard to get a striker I’m sure directors are trying “ yeah true, but this isn’t first window we’ve needed a striker and won’t be the last we’ve had 6 windows and we bout Jackson who played in the left and moved to middle for 8 games and done ok “.
24 Jan 2025 12:21:21
Matt, you only consider JG (the gobmeister) to be right because he agrees with you.
No Matt it’s not the first window we have wanted a striker and it’s not the first we have tried dammed hard to sign one. Just tell me who is available in this window?
24 Jan 2025 13:17:09
So carragher said “ more big money signings, when is this return on this massive investment going to begin “
What don’t you agree with here? There’s no trophies? There’s a chance of top4 this season, we will lose more youngsters on free’s because they won’t see a path in us buying, we won’t make the money back on majority of signings,
I agree with carragher just not sure why you disagree, or anyone.
24 Jan 2025 15:00:27
I disagreed with virtually everything JG says as I consider him to be on the same level as Mr Durham.
The great thing is we are allowed to disagree with pundits, fans and posters.
I have no idea if we will make a profit on signings and sales but you and your mates JG and Durham seem very certain.
24 Jan 2025 16:12:00
So you think the return on £1.5b is happening, as so far we’re in conference league and not won anything, season isn’t over yet but we’re 3/ 4 players from a competitive squad, as in title title challenging
I can’t stand carragher for the most nonsense he comes out with and Durham personally I’m not fussed, but a personal opinion on someone doesn’t change if what there saying is right or wrong, Durham said we saw a title chasing team and a team who won’t get 4th - meaning we’re so inconsistent, I’d say that’s spot on,
24 Jan 2025 18:19:38
Matt, I have said I have no idea if we will make a profit or loss on our gross investment of £1.5bn in transfer costs.
It’s your choice to reference people who agree with your views but that doesn’t make those views any more correct.
From day one of the takeover when it became o the route the new owners were taking it was obvious to ME that it would take time for CFC to be title challengers. I was looking for year on year progress. Despite us appointing a manager I believed was a mistake we did finish in 6th place. My theory for this season was that other teams would also improve there squad and therefore it was unlikely we would be challenging for the title this season. If we are not chalk next season I will almost certainly view things differently. It will be then that I will judge our investment in players and managers.