06 Jan 2025 18:51:50
Rumours that the gaffer would like Andre Santos back from his loan to cover the midfield. I like the way he has now had a good look at this squad and decided who fits and who doesn't. All starts to paint a clear picture as to his use or lack of use of substitutes. I like that.
07 Jan 2025 13:00:34
Santos should stay on loan unless Lavia has a long-term injury.
07 Jan 2025 14:25:01
Absolutely agree Celeryking, leave the boy where he is and let him enjoy improving his career.
07 Jan 2025 15:43:38
If Lavia was fit all the time I would agree with you Celery but he can't be relied on. Casedei is not good enough and is moving to Italy and there are rumours that KDH is off to West Ham (he is also not good enough) . Cover is needed.
09 Jan 2025 17:58:58
Didn't EM have a chance to compatre Casadei or Santos or Ugochukwa in pre-season games? If so, and was looking at one or the other as back up for e. g. Lavia or Caicedo he seems to have decided on Casadei who EM had already seen a lot of at Leicester. Is it because Santos has down so well on loan and EM has changed his mind on Casadei? Certainly Casadei has been given almost no EPL game time. BUt then EM clearly had asay in tarnsfer of KD-H as a replacment for CG. not obviously an improvement on what we've seen from KDH thus far compared to CG last season.
10 Jan 2025 10:52:33
I'm not sure if you were aware JBS, but Conor didn't want to play for Chelsea anymore.
10 Jan 2025 13:28:07
Enzo
I think it was more yo do with the contract rather than him not wanting to play for us.
11 Jan 2025 13:50:02
The whole [X] third/ fourth choice midfielder isn’t good enough narrative drives me a little nuts. A number of these guys appear to be decent, PL level players who can fulfil a squad function for Chelsea. A game might occasionally turn on whether one guy is 5% weaker than another, but seldom.
These are either young - so don’t expect the earth immediately - or at least on a par with Tiago, Sam Dalla Bona, Sidwell, Smertin, Jarosik, Grant….
11 Jan 2025 21:05:31
FD77, I remember Iva being referred “as just” a squad player and he didn’t turn out to bad. Likewise when Dave was signed, he was just seen as a so called squad defender.
It’s about impressing in training and when given the chance taking it.
13 Jan 2025 08:52:51
Completely agree with you FD77.