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Blue_Soldier's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Blue_Soldier's rumours posts
26 Jun 2023 23:36:58
A question for Ed002 if you have time, would the club look to strike a deal with Atletico for Joao Felix or has that shipped sailed? I know he isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but whenever he played for us, he excited me when he received the ball which not many players have done since Eden was at the club.
Thanks in advance and really appreciate all the info you give to us on this page.
{Ed002's Note - Felix has gone already.}
1.) 27 Jun 2023 18:52:07
Sometimes we hype players that we like too much. What a comparism, felix is nothing close to hazard on the ball. Like you said not everyone fav but if pulisic can stay injuries free I would take him over paying over the odd for felix and I hope we give pulisic time again to overgrow his injury plague that I think is imminent. Similar to Robin who was always injured when he was with us but managed to overcome it when he left.
Felix is also a good player but came to us at the worst possible time. So it's possible he could have been better in another season. Unfortunately he's overpriced just like when ATM bought him.
2.) 28 Jun 2023 09:26:00
Thanks for the response ED!
Yes definitely didn’t mean to compare him to Edens level, just that he was one of a few that excited me when he received to ball as he was always trying to do something rather than pass it sideways or back.
I think Pulisic’s time at Chelsea is over unfortunately, I had high hopes for him and when he had that post lockdown purple patch, I thought we had a gem on our hands, unfortunately injuries and not given enough consistent game time, killed his chances. Let’s hope Cristo (Nkunku) can work some magic for us.
3.) 29 Jun 2023 11:14:37
I think ilo has it correct on this. I'd rather give players we already have another shot, rather than buy out of desperation again.
People going crazy that Kepa may start next season as our number 1, but why would we buy, for arguments sake, option 5 only to want to sell them again in a year. I'd rather us not spend frivolously again and what until the correct option comes along.
Pulisic is another one that, if he can stay fit, works for us, IMO. I like his work rate, he's extremely brave in that he'll gladly take a clatter from a keeper when trying to score. He definitely attacks the back post in a way we all hoped Sterling would too. I know his race may have been run with us, but I'd not be upset if he was to stay in the squad.
13 Jul 2021 10:49:51
Hi ED002,
If you have time, are you able to briefly answer what the long term plan is for Malang Sarr?
He gained some great experience with Porto last season in the Champions League.
Do the club/ coach see him as a first team squad player this season, or is it too soon for him.
Thank you for your time and all the recent posts.
{Ed002's Note - Malang Sarr (CB) Fenerbahce want a loan and that seems to be a very good option. The club will continue to watch his progress.}
1.) 13 Jul 2021 11:41:03
Thank you for the info, one to keep an eye on.
08 Jun 2020 19:05:45
Hi ED002,
I have a question about Sancho if you don't mind answering. From what I've read from your previous posts on the site, is that he would be interested in a move to Chelsea or Madrid, but Chelsea will not pay the overall price for him.
Would Chelsea be more willing to purchase Sancho this summer if just the agent fees are lowered? Or is it the price BVB are quoting too high as well? Thank you for the info you provide daily on this site, it makes for good reading.
{Ed002's Note - It is the overall price that is the issue - Chelsea want the asking price reduced some and want the agent fees reduced to perhaps 20% of what they are now. The agent has come back several times with tiny changes - it is not going to happen.}
1.) 08 Jun 2020 19:28:35
Do you see him staying at BVB one more year or perhaps Madrid or even United purchasing him this summer?
Disappointing we couldn't reach a deal for Sancho, what a player he is.
2.) 08 Jun 2020 20:18:19
I have no idea how it will end. There is an issue to force the move this summer.}
3.) 08 Jun 2020 20:25:34
Will certainly be an interesting transfer to keep an eye on. Thanks for the info as always Ed.
16 Jul 2018 21:55:25
If any of the Eds could answer this I would appreciate it.
I saw on the European pages that Morata could be moving away from Chelsea. What club would he go to and why would he move?
I thought he had a decent-ish season considering he was playing through injury and missed a chunk of the season. I would be sad to see him leave without a proper chance to prove himself. If anyone could share some light on this I would appreciate it. Thanks for the info so far.
1.) 16 Jul 2018 23:45:20
AC Milan reps were apparently in London trying to get a deal done for him.
Blue_Soldier's banter posts with other poster's replies to Blue_Soldier's banter posts
07 Aug 2024 01:01:39
Early days of course but this high line is going to cause us many problems this season as prem teams love to counter. I’m concerned by our “press”, not enough players working hard enough to win it and we continue to press for long periods which is leaving silly amounts of space all over the pitch.
On the ball I’m starting to see what Enzo wants amd you can see it.
1.) 07 Aug 2024 09:29:34
The defence are sitting ducks with this man to man marking he has going on. It's just not going to work.
2.) 07 Aug 2024 10:26:14
Agree the high line has never worked for us. Lots to work on before the start of the season.
3.) 07 Aug 2024 10:37:59
Maresca said afterwards that the line was 5 yards too high, but I think it is the poor press that is leading to the issues with the defensive line.
It is giving teams time to look up and play the ball vertically in behind - like a blitz defence in rugby, it’s high risk/ high reward, but can be bypassed if you get wide quickly enough or chip through when the defensive line speed falls away.
I’d disagree with RBD a bit: it’s not going to work LIKE THIS. Done properly, it can work well.
4.) 07 Aug 2024 11:49:58
This is how viewed the game against RM.
The first half defensively was very poor. Defence to high, getting easily beaten by simple channel balls and constantly outnumbered on the break. Giving the ball away cheaply can always cause a situation that leaves the defence short of numbers but there should also be an element of anticipation from defenders.
The second half was a lot better but throughout the game the defenders seem to lack confidence this lead to occasional panic.
Offensively we were ok but still lacked a clinical edge.
Pre-season is the time to work on the obvious problems and in my opinion the schedule on this “tour” hasn’t helped. As always the manager gets paid the bucks to find solutions. Over to you boss!
5.) 07 Aug 2024 13:22:29
Maresca had the audacity to blame Poch for the high line.
Curious because I distinctly remember a large criticism many had of Poch last season was that he was playing Silva which caused our back-line to sit deep.
Meanwhile I believe a hallmark of Leicester was that they had their three CBs on the halfway line in almost every game.
AVB all over again.
6.) 07 Aug 2024 13:34:22
Tom, initiating a new style is down to the coach who will no doubt have to fall on his sword if things go wrong. However, the players must also take responsibility and step up. There were only a few players who were consistent performers last season. Generally the defenders were very poor. Not much time left to sort things out.
7.) 07 Aug 2024 13:38:49
The few times I watched Leicester games I distinctly remember them playing with two deep ish CHs and with the goalkeeper playing high. They did invert a FB but again the other FB also dropping deeper to make it seem like three CB’s
To say the manager “blamed” Poch isn’t how I heard the comment. I just heard it as an observation and how it now needed to be worked given the amount of goals we conceded last season.
8.) 07 Aug 2024 14:10:45
Jimbo, I agree that players have to take a reasonable amount of responsibility.
As I’ve said the manager gets paid the big bucks to get his ideas across to the players as we as other duties. If he is deemed to be a failure the owners have shown that they not afraid to act but that has been the case for the last twenty years.
The defenders last season were generally bang average but the constant changing of partnerships didn’t help. I’m hoping to see a consistent pairing at CH and I think he may well start with Fofana and Colwill with Gusto (James suspended) and Cucarella as our FB’s. That to me seems like a good solid back four.
9.) 07 Aug 2024 14:12:45
Our defenders not just undone by highline or poor pressing but own clumsy nervousness playing out from the back or passing around at the back. TC out best defenderstill missing - injury or.? - from lineup and we need him. Plus world class replacement for Silva was needed as was experienced and prolific striker (might still come in) and top class keeper though Petrovic had done pretty well IMHO last season and yet Sanchez returns as no 1 or perhaps FJ.
Pattern emerging that Sporting Directors want own picks picked by manager. Poch eventually ditched some of them and favoured CG TC and Petrovic. We then did better.
Maresca a Sporting Directors pick surely too.
Don't get me wrong I hugely hope the new manager will succeed and we will have a great season. Such very early days still and to be beaten by Real Madrid and City no disgrace even if both missing many of top players plus had lost previous preseason games. But am not feeling v confident for a top 4 finish this coming season and I had been at end of last season.
So if Maresca not only gails to get us this but also to improve on 6th place this will be a big disappointment. Given his cv suggested his appointment a gamble the Sporting Directors wouks have a lot of questions to answer.
But for now I will continue to hope of course.
10.) 07 Aug 2024 15:25:13
Any idea that Poch pushed back on our SD’s interference on team selection seems a stretch to me.
I very much doubt the SD’s tried to influence Poch on team selection.
Chalaboa got his chance because of injury to Disasi and he in my opinion took that chance and played well and should not be sold.
I may well be wrong but if we had no injuries in midfield I have my doubts Gallagher would have played anywhere near as many games.
I can’t be sure but Petrovic I think only got his chance because of injury to Sanchez.
I personally don’t see any of the above as personal victories for Poch as a coach.
It’s true both City and RM were missing some good players but so were we. I have my doubts about the manager and he certainly wasn’t my first choice but he has to be given a reasonable amount of time to get this team working as a unit.
We have already had a half hearted call from a poster wanting the manager sacked before the season has even started and I’ve lost count of the amount of criticism towards the owners and SD’s. The season is about to start I’m hoping that all the fans get behind the manager and the players.
COME on MY MIGHTY BLUES.
11.) 07 Aug 2024 18:39:03
Tom, we all hope the manager and the team will be successful. However the transfer business has been totally confusing. No doubt, we all hoped for players like, Costa, Olise, Osimhen. Instead we get a Championship midfielder, a 20 year old Spanish striker not good enough for AM and Sanchez likely to start as our keeper. How many of the signings will make any improvement to our squad, I doubt if any of them will We would have better to stick with what we have. Surely, I’m not the only one disappointed with our business so far.
12.) 07 Aug 2024 19:59:44
We are going to get ripped apart this season. I don’t mean to be negative, but you can see it already in pre season.
13.) 07 Aug 2024 20:56:22
Jimbo, we all have doubts. The owners have invested and supported the SD’s.
Questions will be asked at every level if we fail to impinge last seasons finishing position and that’s the way it should be.
14.) 07 Aug 2024 21:29:36
Tom, apparently we have made 9 signings! Other teams who will be fighting for top 4 will probably make 3 signings to strengthen specific areas and the players they buy will probably be starters and improve the team. How many of our signings ( who actually play) will improve the team? . You would have thought that failure to qualify for the CL for two consecutive seasons might have indicated to the hierarchy that stockpiling youngsters is not the way to re-establish a success in the present rather than the future. I used to look forward at the start of the season to see how our new signings perform: not so this season: yawn.
15.) 08 Aug 2024 04:54:59
Jimbo, I have concerns about our recruitment policy but I have to think there is a plan. There will be lots of sales and loans in the next few days and then we will have a clearer picture of next seasons squad.
I like the loaning players out but I was always critical of how many players we had out on loan under RA and it now looks as if we will have a lot of players out on loan this season. I’m not sure I understand the plan and my continual commitment is “it’s a business” is one I will have to except.
I’m not going to judge the quality of this widows signings until I’ve seen them play in the Premiership, At the start of last season I wasn’t sure about the likes of Gusto and Palmer but they now look top signings. I think we just have to wait and see but that doesn't take away “todays” concerns.
16.) 08 Aug 2024 08:38:37
Tom, I admire you’re optimism but you are not going to see many of the players play in the PL this season- that is my point; the only ones who are likely to get some games are Jorgensen, Tosin and KDH all of which are underwhelming signings and do not make us a top 4 side. The only hope I have is that we keep our best players fit and that the new coach gets the best of them in the new system.
17.) 08 Aug 2024 14:25:54
Jimbo, none of us have a clue what our business model is. As I’ve said I’m not a fan of the club investing in such a large number of players.
My guess is they are all seen as potential first team prospects but some may well be sold having had limited playing opportunities at our club.
We won’t be the first team to buy a player for £20m and sell him for £85m. Under our previous owner we we bought and sold players to play but also as a profit and we they also sold numerous academy players.
I’m having to look at our club differently than under Roman but to be fair for the last few years of the Roman era it looked like we were being run to make a profit.
21 Jun 2024 21:15:43
Olise to Bayern then, gutted we missed out with our interest in the player stemming from last season which brings me onto the constant leaking or briefing of transfers on social media about our potential interest in players. I’d love to hear the opinions of the EDs and posters on this, are the club purposely leaking/ briefing news on transfers or are the agents of the players doing it, or someone else?
1.) 21 Jun 2024 23:53:13
Not too fussed about this one, not really needed and we need signings in other positions ie ST.
CP have messed us around with Omise, probably as we never sold them CG.
Best stay away from transfers with CP going forward, both ways.
2.) 22 Jun 2024 04:56:07
If it’s true and the potential transfer is off it could just be about our valuation or player demands. Anyway, we are just guessing, these things happen in every window.
21 May 2024 19:56:16
Hi Ed, would Hansi Flick be an option for Chelsea?
{Ed002's Note - He is not a preferred option.}
1.) 21 May 2024 23:10:05
Ed002 is it going to be De Zerbi.
{Ed002's Note - There is no agreement with any of the options yet.}
02 May 2024 21:32:51
Top, top performance against the spuds! Cobham lads were all superb, so happy for Trev.
20 Apr 2024 19:13:14
Sad about the result but the boys played really well. If Nico had his shooting boots on, I think we win that. Fine margins win football matches, let’s hope we can string some results together and see what league position we end up in.
1.) 20 Apr 2024 20:19:11
He terrible.
2.) 20 Apr 2024 21:28:29
Jackson doesn’t have any shooting boots. He is not a striker and never will be. I have read some posts saying that Drogba didn’t have a great start at Chelsea- true, but I don’t know what that has got to to do with anything.
If the implication is that Jackson will be as good as Drogba, that is fanciful. The best thing for him is to be given an opportunity to play out wide- otherwise on the bench.7.
3.) 20 Apr 2024 21:51:33
Jimbo, Drogba didn’t just have an average first season his second season wasn’t that fantastic either if I remember correctly.
Drogba improved. Jackson has improved his general play and contribution throughout the season.
I have no idea how he will compare to Drogba in terms of CFC scoring stats. There playing styles are so different it’s not really a true comparison as players anyway.
Interesting that you have written of his entire career as a striker. Only time will tell.
4.) 20 Apr 2024 23:52:42
Tom, why do you keep bringing Drogba into the mix then. Yes they are different Drogba was a striker. I haven’t written his career off, I have given my opinion about him as a CF, just like you frequently did about Alonso for example. Yes, of course, time will tell, but I am giving my opinion as I see things at present.
5.) 21 Apr 2024 04:09:28
The point I’m making about Drogba is to show that players can improve as goal scorers. I am NOT comparing there style of play.
I praised Alonso as a wing back particularly going forward but in a four he couldn’t defend. That criticism was after more than one season.
28 Jun 2023 09:26:00
Thanks for the response ED!
Yes definitely didn’t mean to compare him to Edens level, just that he was one of a few that excited me when he received to ball as he was always trying to do something rather than pass it sideways or back.
I think Pulisic’s time at Chelsea is over unfortunately, I had high hopes for him and when he had that post lockdown purple patch, I thought we had a gem on our hands, unfortunately injuries and not given enough consistent game time, killed his chances. Let’s hope Cristo (Nkunku) can work some magic for us.
14 Jun 2023 16:04:18
Is he a significant upgrade on Broja or D. Fofana? If no, then I don’t see the point.
13 Jul 2021 11:41:03
Thank you for the info, one to keep an eye on.
02 Oct 2020 19:15:54
Not that I want him to go, but does anyone think he will do better at a club like Bayern? can't see him getting much game time ahead of Gnabry, Sane and Coman.
01 Sep 2020 18:11:04
I’d be very upset if we sold Kante. A truly special player. He’s intelligent enough to adjust and play the positions Frank wants to play. Would be madness to sell him imo. For me he’s one of those players you don’t sell, even for financial gain. Hope he stays, he will be vital for us.
09 Aug 2023 23:04:46
Before his injury I would have gone for Nkunku, I imagine if Sterling is going to start most of the games, he may take them but he wouldn’t be my choice of takers. Never seen Mudryk take a pen but would be nice for him to rack up some goals this year.
18 Jul 2023 15:13:49
Sad news Drog, Wes can’t catch a break from injuries at the moment, I wonder if that forces us into the CB market and who would we even target?
I am more than confident that Trev will make a great replacement if no one can be identified.
01 May 2022 16:39:30
So because it’s Everton we don’t need to play with intensity? And because it’s a low block, we play terribly?
Poor excuses, Liverpool play with intensity against all opposition, so what’s stopping us? Good enough squad to rotate and still bring the same intensity to any game.
20 Apr 2022 22:09:37
Can we stop abusing the EDs. We lost, we were poor, arsenal took advantage. We move on.
{Ed014's Note - he’s been banned before, he just keeps coming back creating a new sign off and just being an absolute imbecile.
15 Jan 2022 14:40:27
On the flip side TomB, Lukaku did not work those CBs at all, I don't recall him winning a single header today, could be wrong, just heard TT hammering him a little about his ball loses and chances missed.
We approached the game all wrong again today for me, too much respect to City again just like at the Bridge. Perhaps TT thought with personnel available we couldn't compete in a different way. City are so well drilled though and I would hate to play against them!