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11 Feb 2025 17:12:45
Does anyone - perghaps one of the Eds? - know whether there is any truth in the rumour that CFC may be wanting/ willing to sell Santos in the summer to the highest bidder for 'pure profit?
I hope it isn't true - and that is just paper news stiirring things up - given AS's great performances for Strasbourg and of course for Brazil youth teams. He seems to have worldy potential. Also because one fears that Lavia may never be fit for very long.
{Ed001's Note - I don't know about wanting, but they will sell him if the right offer comes along. You could probably say the same about any of the players to be honest, from what I have heard.}
1.) 11 Feb 2025 17:41:48
JBS, there was a rumour pre January window that a club (no name given) was prepared to offer £160m for Palmer.
I personally don’t like the term commodities to describe a person but that’s how I think they are considered.
2.) 11 Feb 2025 18:30:50
And that's why Tom, we will not be successful. We needed a settled squad to grow together.
If we wanted to sell players, I would put the ones who are forever injured, first.
3.) 11 Feb 2025 19:42:42
Bill, you may well be correct but it’s not as if we didn’t buy and sell players under the RA ownership.
All clubs get injuries but it’s when the same players keep getting injured it becomes a concern. As I said a few weeks ago, it’s a tough decision to draw stumps on a players Chelsea career but making those decisions is why they get paid the big bucks.
4.) 11 Feb 2025 20:46:50
Tom yes players have been commodities for a long time now in terms of being traded by clubs. What worries me with new owners is that this trading has not only been surcharged in terms of volume but also that it does not seem to have prioritised creating a winning side any time soon. Instead it's become as much if not more about trading for for bottom line accounting sake. We sell Gallagher and buy Felix to then loan him out. Maresca belatedly says he wanted to keep him and perhaps he did but then why give him so little EPL game time? We buy Veiga then sideline Chilwell then loan out Veiga removing cover for Cucurella at LB then spend money on bringing in a 16 yr old striker from Kazakhstan. An investment in the future? Vision 2030 again? Who knows but how about 2025?
I can just see so little logic in far too much of our transfer business.
Was loaning out Santos in CFC interest or other owners' club Strasbourg?
Is Sanchez who Poch didn't particularly rate better than Petrovich who he did but then gets loaned to Strasbourg where he shines?
Bottom line is do the new owners care as much about success on the pitch as Roman A. Or more about success with the bottom line in accounting terms itself
Yes but do they not know that GETTING ECL football would likely do more for bottom. line playersvhan tradingng in kids?
5.) 11 Feb 2025 21:16:08
Really good points JBS.
6.) 11 Feb 2025 22:07:58
JBS, I have said many times that in my opinion the owners have gone too quickly in taking on what is a complete rebuild of not only the first team squad but also the supporting structure but I will maintain that the club was overdue that restructuring.
I am absolutely convinced that our current owners not only care about success but also crave it. I cannot for one moment believe that they don’t want to increase the value of there investment and the best way to do that is to be consistent winners and habitual champions league qualifiers.
I’m not sure I like the idea of buying/ investing in 16 year old kids but that is a different subject. In the last window I think the spuds signed three (one from us) academy players from other clubs. As is often the case clubs act like sheep and it would appear that a significant percentage of clubs are looking more and more at youth as the way forward. Maybe it’s a PSR thing but as I said in a recent post how many premiership clubs have paid a transfer fee for a player over the age of 25 in this last window? I’m struggling to think of any!
Time will tell if the owners approach pays dividends but generally in the world of football ownership these are early days and remember they made a complete horlicks of virtually everything at the beginning of there tenure.
7.) 12 Feb 2025 10:05:38
Tom
I agree that we have sold youngsters in the past. However, we had a large number of experienced players as a nucleus of our first team.
Likewise, other teams are bringing in youth as you say., However, they have a number of experience in their first team squad, that is the difference.
8.) 12 Feb 2025 10:55:38
Bill. I’m not saying that the current trend is correct or that having a mixture of youth and experience wouldn’t be a better way to go. I’m just pointing out what appears to be a pattern.
9.) 12 Feb 2025 11:59:18
Spot on Bill we have got rid of all our experienced players bar James - and some sidelined on loan.
Belayted thanks Ed001 for your comment and Tom I am sure the owners want the club to succeed as they have made a huge investment in it but one is questioning whether they've got the right ideas about achieving this in last few seasons where we crying out to have experience in key -spine of team of you like - positions alongside youth. Look, with right decisions in the summer - and if we have qualified for ECL so we can attract the best we need eg top striker and retain the best we have - we could move faster in right direction.
Right now and with ECL v far from guaranteed my feeling is our medium term fate in the balance. It could all go well with ECL qualification and good summer transfer dealings. But if we don't get ECL qualification perhaps we will have to sell the likes of Santos or - as you have suggested - even Palmer and it will feel like a struggle all obver again to get back to chgallenging for big trophies and to have really got 'our Chelsea back' that we were singing lustily in the Southampton away game.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome JBS. I do think I should point out that you might have different ideas about what success is than the owners though. They are looking at it as an investment to make money, I am not so sure they see success on the pitch as all that vital. Which I disagree with personally, but it does seem that it is about trading players to make a profitable enterprise, rather than about putting the best players possible on the pitch to win trophies.}
10.) 12 Feb 2025 12:15:59
Good point to emphasise Ed001 and thanks for it. Yes if owners care more about trading to gain profit rather than success on the pitch - though you would think that they should realise success on the pitch would help with profits and dealings - then we have to be very worried as fans.
{Ed001's Note - these are not football people though JBS, they are investors who are new to the sport and see it from an American sports perspective. US sports franchises are money-making machines regardless of results.}
11.) 12 Feb 2025 12:16:55
JBS, I haven’t suggested we will sell Palmer, I have said there was “rumoured interest. ”
I keep saying and this is only my view that the players are a commodity and I believe we have to get used to our favourite players being available for sale.
I also assume that the club will make more revenue if it wins trophies and that’s why I think our current owners would also like to win competitions.
12.) 12 Feb 2025 14:14:17
Tom I think we all hope you are right. But what do you think of ED001's additional point - one it is hard to disagree with from myn perspective - that our woners are not footballing people ie so may not have the passion that owners who are have for success on the pitch above all?
13.) 12 Feb 2025 15:31:10
JBS, as usual us fans are only guessing but they are a very rich group of people who seem to have a passion for sports investments and making money.
I have no idea if they are truly in love with “soccer” but my guess is they are truly in love with money. Again just me guessing but if they win trophies with Chelsea for example the potential increases in revenues are huge. The club also becomes globally more appealing if it wins trophies and that again brings in more revenue.
14.) 15 Feb 2025 07:01:24
I have been screaming on here that boely and Co are not working to make Chelsea great again on the pitch winning games. I said that the club had been hijacked and might never be the same again but tomb and likes were there deceiving themselves with plenty talks.
The policy of buying only young players is just the profits from the sale and not to get the club back on top boely and Co were the worst possible owners from the bidders but the enemies of the club who taken the political advantage of the war in Ukraine chose them to Bury the club overtime. Roman was targeted and I still think he might return to the club again.
15.) 04 Mar 2025 11:43:24
Tussle, I have always assumed that if there is football success then the value of the owners investment will improve.
I have also assumed that any investment has been made to achieve a profit and that includes the buying and selling of players.
Pre our present owners I have also referred to players (same at most clubs) as commodities.
03 Feb 2025 17:12:48
Seems as though we may still be paying half of Chilly's wages at Palace (ie 100, 000 of the 200, 000 pounds per week) .
1.) 03 Feb 2025 17:54:04
I suppose the alternative was to pay him full wages and get splinters. Personally I would have kept him in the squad as Cucarella cover.
2.) 03 Feb 2025 18:13:03
Tom
Maresca would not have played him even if we only had nine players to choose from, that's how stubborn the man is.
3.) 03 Feb 2025 19:21:25
I'd have kept him in the squad and played him Tom. His experience surely useful to youngsters.
4.) 03 Feb 2025 20:15:23
It's just bad business imo. Surely at that point you'd just keep him? This is another thing that annoys me with the 7 year contracts. What happens when this happens and the player still has 5 years remaining on x wage? The bomb squad didn't work, just had adverse affects imo.
Sad to see chilly go, injury prone but when fit the best left back in the epl imo.
5.) 03 Feb 2025 23:16:16
I would have kept Chilly as cover only for Cucarella. I think fans should remember how bad Cucarella was when he joined our club and for whatever reason it took him time to find his feet. In my opinion he is now one of the best left sided defenders in Europe and a long way in front of Chilly.
6.) 04 Feb 2025 08:41:08
I agree tom. I think he put in some of the worst chelsea performances ever, worse than bakayoko. He's fantastic now.
7.) 04 Feb 2025 09:15:47
He is a very good example (me included) of why its beat not to rush to judge.
8.) 04 Feb 2025 17:55:58
Absolutely tom. And I do think you told me that when I was criticising his performances. Very glad he was able to find some performances, and he's exceeding my expectations.
9.) 06 Feb 2025 08:38:59
Cucurella was always a good player but did put in some bad performances as did many of the squad. However, I am a great believer in the saying “ You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”.
10.) 06 Feb 2025 09:07:40
But you can make a sows ear out of a silk purse!
11.) 11 Feb 2025 09:09:09
I disagree that cucurella is a long way in front of Chilwell. Chilwell is better in offensive position, final third.
03 Feb 2025 15:24:14
Is Felix likely to be sold or loaned to AC Milan? Is Disasi likely now to stay at the Bridge?
1.) 03 Feb 2025 15:45:23
Loan with no buy option for Felix.
2.) 03 Feb 2025 16:52:22
While i liked felix, every man and his dog knew it wasn't going to work. A favour for his agent, I suspect.
3.) 03 Feb 2025 16:53:06
So with Felix and Veiga going to Italy on straight loans, if they do well, come the end of the season it will be 'they want to stay in Italy and play for us but we can't afford to buy them, how about another loan'.
Before we know it we have more littke Lukaku's running across Italy.
We never learn with Italian clubs, we are their charity organisation.
4.) 03 Feb 2025 17:09:43
The reports I’m reading on Felix seem to be so different. One is saying straight loan with full wages paid plus €6.5m loan fee. I would be happy with that.
5.) 03 Feb 2025 18:13:59
And another loan next year Tom?
6.) 03 Feb 2025 19:28:47
Talksport reporting 5 million loan fee for Felix but Milan paying his wages. I enjoyed watching him and wonder if we really gave him a chance. Suppose if he does well at Milan we will just sell him or indeed loan him out again.
7.) 03 Feb 2025 20:17:54
Unfortunately I don't think there's a way back for felix. There wasn't a spot for him 6 months ago and there won't be one 6 months from now. Great player on his day and I hope he reaches atleast half what his potential was.
8.) 03 Feb 2025 23:18:20
I think it depends what happens to Palmer. If a ridiculous offer comes in for CP, Felix would be a reasonable replacement.
9.) 04 Feb 2025 15:24:30
Bill, they’re paying £5m as a loan fee for 6 months so if they want a loan for the whole season next year it’s £10m. Easy money and would count as a profit for the year in the accounts as his amortisation fee is around £7-8m I believe.
With Veiga Chelsea only paid £12m for him and are getting £4m as a loan fee. Any Italian club could afford to buy him at the end of the season easily, but I’m sure the club would love to keep farming him out on loan if that’s the fee they’ll get for just 6 months given the massive profit.
10.) 04 Feb 2025 18:18:36
fuser, good point and good economics.
03 Feb 2025 10:10:40
We are alsa said to be pusihing for 19 yr old Turkish striker Kenan Yildz of Juventus for c 75 million who is described as a forward (mainly left winger) and attacking midfielder and one of the most promising talent in then world.
Any legs in this one? Do any of the Eds have any info on CFC likely dealings today (we are all thinking of ED02 of course at this time, bless him) .
1.) 03 Feb 2025 10:25:45
JBS, I think if that amount of money was available in this window we would have signed Tel. We apparently offered BM a loan with an “obligation” to buy. That for me tells a story.
2.) 03 Feb 2025 10:36:49
Interesting Tom, if not very encouraging in terms of our fortunes right now and how we might be seen by talented players with options like Tel. If we want success in terms fe being genuine EPL challengers and really competitive in ECL any time soon we clearly need to qualify for ECL this season as we all thought we would come emnd of last one.
Hugely hope we can and will as you think we will Tom. But am sticking with my miserable 5th to 9th position at the moment and just praying its 5th and that will be enough! Mind you a hammering of the Hammers tonight plus trabsfer window uncertainties over tomorrow might just set us on right course again for last fourteen games after this one.
3.) 03 Feb 2025 12:21:48
JBS, as I said in a previous post, I’m not very optimistic about getting a result tonight.
I would rather the club get the right player than do what it has been doing and from the outside it’s like doing transfers because we can.
I think we may well sign a midfielder in the last mins of this window but for me that in some ways is crazy when we could just have brought back Santos.
Anyway only a few more hours of transfer rumours. Hooray!
4.) 03 Feb 2025 12:43:45
Couldn't agree more Tom. Almost every reported transfer seems to hinge on, or at least involve, a Chelsea player going the other way. We can read between the lines.
Despite what Maresca might say, Champions League qualification is an absolute necessity this season.
21 Jan 2025 14:46:24
It is hard to. make sense of the rumours about possible in and out transfers this window.
Why for instance are we doing a pre. transfer agreement for 19 Yr old Strasbourg CB Sarr for the summer? Will TC be sold . I certainly hope not given how he has always played well for us.
Why are we linked with yer another wide player in Ganacho . as a Mudryk replacement? Because no good striker available? Does the same go for goalkeeper or do either Petrovic or Johansen still have a chsncebof making it?
Why dies EM not trust either Chucky - who looked do good at start of last season - or Casadei who has also looked v promising on few occasions he's been given minutes in first team? Neither were even on the bench yesterday.
Presumably Nkunku was notbused because going to be sold? Otherwise he should surely come on for Jackson at some stage last night?
1.) 21 Jan 2025 15:42:15
Do we really need to replace a player (Mudryk) who hardly played this season?
2.) 21 Jan 2025 15:54:34
I think we look a mess. Starting from the players we’ve bought. To players we’re forcing out, then calling back. Maresca is a one trick pony. I can see the next couple years being a waste.
Who would you actually keep. Gusto, James, cucurella, challobah, Collwill. Caiciedo, enzo, palmer. Would keep lavia and fofana if injury free. Neto and madueke, I don’t think are good enough to be starters. The rest of them I really wouldn’t keep. Also it’s a shame chillwell can’t get a wing back role sometimes and maresca change his tactics now and then.
I really believe the sterling and chillwell situations was down to the owners removing big money earners. Also they wanted the profit from challobah. I know we’ve been singing we’ve got our Chelsea back at leicster away Southampton away. But I think we are from it.
3.) 21 Jan 2025 16:00:24
JBS,
I feel your frustration and I'm pretty sure we are not alone.
We seem to collect wingers and goalkeepers, have a number of CH's who are normally injured and a ST in Nkunku and the young Spanish lad who seem not to get a look in despite Jackson not being able to hit a barn door from 6 inches since Xmas.
I really do not know what our SD"s thinking is apart from buying up lots of youngsters only for Maresca to say, they are not needed. I just hope the media start to question our DD's and put pressure on them and the club to explain what their thinking is.
Whist I'm at it, still no word on the fantastic FOS we are supposed to be soging up with and not a peep on the so called SB project. When the owners first arrived updates were coming out on a regular basis, now absolutely nothing from them.
4.) 21 Jan 2025 16:17:29
JBS, I would have a clue about the young CH from Strasbourg but I hope it doesn’t mean we have no more interest in the young lad from Ajax.
Looks like Chuka is going out on loan (thankfully) and we are selling Casadei with a substantial sell on clause. I personally wouldn’t have signed Felix on KDH. If they hadn’t signed them maybe things would have been different.
I don’t think the club want to sell Nkunku unless our valuation is met but maybe the sale could be driven by a player transfer request. There are two things to consider (a) we have a valuation that Bayern don’t want to pay and (b) the club would probably want a replacement in this window.
The Ganacho rumours are a worry to me. I can only assume the club feel that Mudryk is going to get a ban if some sort but more importantly to me I would be happy to stick with the four wide players we have and that includes George. I really don’t know enough about the lad himself other than he is playing Utd.
5.) 21 Jan 2025 16:58:07
Bloody hell, just seen about Ed002. I'm a bit off the pace here. Condolences to his family – and to you Ed001.
JBS, I generally find your posts well reasoned and thoughtful, and this is no exception. Surely – surely – these Garnacho rumours are just agent faff? Another inconsistent, arrogant young winger with a sulky attitude who doesn't get his head up – would at least provide balance with Noni on the other side I guess. I'd be hugely disappointed in this transfer, especially at the prices quoted – although his output would probably be higher than Mudryk at least, saying that isn't saying much.
I wish Maresca wasn't treating Chucky like this. I get that he's coming back from a severe injury, so a loan might make sense, but every time he plays he's looked more dynamic than, say, Enzo, to me (although in recent European sub appearances, understandably a bit nervous. Wish he'd scored one of the chances he had in the last game he played) . I really rate him, and we're killing his career at the moment. Casadei also always looked good to me when he's been given minutes by the club – though clearly asked to do a much more conservative safety-first Lavia-style job by Maresca this season, he wins headers in the midfield and can bomb forward. Maybe not the profile of midfielder we want in this setup, but another talented player on the pyre of the SDs' confusion.
Nkunku looks a cert to be sold. He's looked disinterested last five games or so – guess he's known the writing's on the wall for a while. Not a great reflection on him, that – I'm not a fan of players sulking and feel you should give your all if you play, regardless – but he looked so dynamic in his first games back from the injury and it seems a strange one to be letting our club's top scorer go when we have an issue with scoring goals.
{Ed001's Note - thank you EdW. He is very missed.}
6.) 22 Jan 2025 07:18:15
Garnacho surely not, the last type of player we need both positionally and personality wise.
The two obvious positions are keeper and centre forward, may as well give the nos 2 keeper a run although I wouldn't start him against city but the games after that.
Centre forward Delap or Duran at Villa
An experienced midfielder would be useful but not vital
If it was up to me would sell Nkunku, Felix Casadei, Diasi, Veiga, Chucka on loan.
7.) 22 Jan 2025 11:50:50
Enjoyed reading all responses to my questions about the logic of our transfer policy and current transfer rumours. Reckon we are all largely on the same page in terms of degree of puzzlement although clearly some (slight) differences in terms of who we should keep and who we might let go.
EdW good to see you back posting and in your typically well considered way.
Yes Ed02 is hugely missed and perhaps particularly in this first transfer window without him. He shed so much light on what were nonsense rumours and what had legs and could happen. We loved his input and even if some replies were (usually justifiably) short and sharp e. g. as in when he used the one word 'twitter? ' (ie did we get this from twitter) .
JBS's banter posts with other poster's replies to JBS's banter posts
17 Jan 2026 11:29:18
At this stage of the EPL season 2023-4 - after 21 games - under Poch when we had veen suffering and still were the worst injury crisis in the clunb's history we had 31 points. Exactly the same as we have right now.
In May 2024 we finisjhed in 6th place on 63 points.
Can't help but wonder and ask others on here how many we will end on this season?
I had been so hopeful pre-season. Even if I was cautious with pre-sason prediction that we would finish between 3rd and 7th I had not thought we would be likely to finish lower than 5th and thought we'd get ECL football next season.
Trust we still will. But that pre-season hopefulness has been knocked a great deal in last six weeks or so. We badly need a convincing win Brentford this afternoon - who are currently two points ahead of is - to give a boost to my hope again though I ealise there will be sixteen games left still to out a great run together if LR can keep morale and belief up. What impressed me about the dreadfully injury affected Poch season was that we only lost one of our last 14 games winning 5 in a row at then of it. But we will need to do better than that perhaps to get ECL football? .
1.) 17 Jan 2026 14:33:20
I. meant to write 'five in a row at the end of it'. sorry.
2.) 17 Jan 2026 15:39:53
what points did we have under Tuchel and Potter and Lampard and Maresca under same time of season if you make comparison with pochetino?
3.) 17 Jan 2026 16:02:35
I think we’ll finish on 62 to 64 points.
11 Jan 2026 12:11:56
There is a good article by Paul Hayward easily available online today titled 'One call to Sir Alex exposed the deep. mailaise at heart of Manchester United' that will strike a cord with most of us Chelsea fans id think. Thrust of it is putting footballing success on the field at all times ahead of allowing a club's ' mutation into investment meat'.
Yes change and modernisation needed including global selling of 'the brand' yet not at cost of losing the soul of the club and perhaps loyalty of many core fans who go to games with it.
07 Jan 2026 13:19:24
I liked Liam R's first official. interview as CFC head coach. He cam across as very genuine, passionate but modest. Do hope he can preside over a successful second half to. our season.
1.) 07 Jan 2026 14:36:31
JBS, I hope the grass is greener!
2.) 07 Jan 2026 14:56:50
We all do Tom.
3.) 07 Jan 2026 15:19:23
The grass is rarely greener Tom as I pointed out a few times to Bill who was always calling for Maresca to go.
4.) 07 Jan 2026 15:40:31
We will just have to wait and see. It would be nice to have a period of stability but, of course, this is Chelsea. Also be good to get these charges resolved, one way or another.
5.) 07 Jan 2026 16:20:23
Hope dread hope Tom!
6.) 07 Jan 2026 16:47:00
Greenaway there is no guarantee in life but that does not mean that you do not strive for something better, hopefully LR is that but as I say, there are no guarantees.
7.) 07 Jan 2026 21:18:09
Maresca was never going to work. Awful tactician. Everyone got well over excited after the club World Cup.
8.) 07 Jan 2026 22:19:36
I’m easily pleased. I was well chuffed before that competition when we finished 4th and qualified for the champions league again.
Having said that, the CWC was a brilliant bonus.
01 Jan 2026 09:44:17
Happy New Year to all on here with special shout out and thanks to Ed001 and all other Eds.
How happy the year will be for CFC fans remains to be seen if especially there. is discord and manager change yet again as rumoured. Will ( shouldnt) SDs go too given their failings in terms of obvious gaps and almost sole focus on youth only in squad rebuild? The Villa defeat for me waa huge disappointment for us and players. Bournemouth had to be a win but wasn't.
{Ed033's Note - Happy New Year.
1.) 01 Jan 2026 10:37:06
Thanks Ed033 and Happy New Year to you.
16 Dec 2025 22:41:03
Well we beat Cardiff but the game demonstrated lack of realdepth in quality of squad. Gittens missed a chance to build confidence and impress v lower league opposition and Garnacho looked a league or two above him tonight and scoted two good goals and Neto immediately impactful too. Tosin poor again. Badiahile and Hato underwhelmed.
Anyway we won against weakest team left ib rhe competition as we were expected to so are in a semifinal again.
27 Jan 2026 18:30:59
Agree that Kante back at Chelsea til end of season would be great but apparently he would like a longer contract?
23 Jan 2026 17:10:56
Too true Ed001. Has happend to me quite a few times over the years!
23 Jan 2026 17:14:40
Wonder whether he may still need surgery or whether that option off then table until after the World Cup?
23 Jan 2026 15:29:42
Very interesting posts Ed001. Insights into the emotions of players battling with injuries and also you as swimmer with Olympians, coach and player fitness trainer to local team! Great reads and many thanks for them.
{Ed001's Note - I was only really learning to swim properly as I was intending to do triathlons, so it was really good to get to learn off them. Though it was quite depressing having the Paralympians flash past you with no arms while you were trying to do sprints. Just when you think you are getting quite good, life has a way of reminding you how far you still have to go!}
19 Jan 2026 16:09:02
Hope he has a future in the game Tom but right now what are the rumours suggesting in terms of likely return or timing of this? What is the state of his case/punishment or lack of this?
29 Jan 2026 18:25:32
Good post RPD and thanks for it. 'Brave' seemed like an understatement when I saw the lineup and funnily enough also thought of AVB while watching the first half. But have already commented on things I found strange there.
Yes CP did become a game changer as he is probably the best we have in terms of passing between the lines/defense splitting passes. Estevao and Enzo next best bets perhaps. Point is that though Pedro does his best as a classic hnumber 9 -playing hold up with back to gaol and pass ball to others or be fighting in box for headers etc - he will thrive far more if ball played through for him to run on to.
Who would we prefer PSG or Newcastle? Might be different reasons for choice.
28 Jan 2026 20:38:49
Huge mistake Jimbo to have paid so. much money and put him on such huge wages when clearly on the decline in his career and often on the bench for City.
26 Jan 2026 15:19:28
I see that Anselmino broke down in tears won hearing that CFC had cut short what he th0ught was going to a a seaon's long loan at Dortmund where he had been playing so well and was happy. I guess that he fears relatively little game time at CFC plus didn't think that CFC activating the clause was likely.
Anyway, it means LR is going to have both to make him feel welcome on return but also that there is something in it for AA and not just the club in him returning now - ie opportunity to impress.
Will he get more or less time than Guiu recalled from Sunderland? Again would Guess Guiu less unhappy to be recalled as had not been at Sunderland much plus has at least got some game time thoughnot much and little by way of a chance to build greater understanding in match circs with teammates. But he hasn't done badly when called upon to play and may arguably be at least as effective as Delap if not more so cos a better presser?
26 Jan 2026 11:33:55
Agree Tom and Bill which is partly why I often learn from the banter of others!
26 Jan 2026 11:32:50
To have been able to bring in a Thiago Silva quality/experienced type player (on a free a bonus) to lead and educate our CBs would have been ideal. A cool minded quality old hand at the back -if especially when Reece being rested/rotated/subbed - who had wonderful sense of positioning plus ability to spot a long pass and was dangherous in attack from set pieces.
But what litte I've seen of Alsenmino - not least in the one pre-season game live playing close to where I was sitting at that one - I liked in terms of hysical strength and apparent calmness on the ball. So would think he will het a run out at LCB v eg Hull away in the FA cup. Yes there is some quality in BB which we saw at its best before his injury but he does also seem now to have a bad error in him most games and/or perhaps never quite regained initial confidence or have quite the physical command over an oppisng player - including at our attacking set piees - his physqique would suggrest he should have. So expect there is quite a lot of monitoring for LCB back ups/rotational with LC when fit that LR and others in club will be watching. Alsenmino and BB among them. Lad from Rennes too possibly. But would be nice to thing there is also a TS quality veteran out there too who could help out - if not TS himself next season in mentoring/coaching role.