comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 22 minutes ago
Djok still the GOAT 🐐. Congratulations to Alcaraz though, if he wins half as many slams as Djok has I'm sure he'll be happy. Doubt we see any other male tennis players get to 23 Slams and counting in any of our lifetimes.
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I doubt that's it for Novak - it's one final
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There's no doubting this will have affected him

comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 22 minutes ago
Djok still the GOAT 🐐. Congratulations to Alcaraz though, if he wins half as many slams as Djok has I'm sure he'll be happy. Doubt we see any other male tennis players get to 23 Slams and counting in any of our lifetimes.
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I doubt that's it for Novak - it's one final
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There's no doubting this will have affected him
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, he will want to win even more

comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 22 minutes ago
Djok still the GOAT 🐐. Congratulations to Alcaraz though, if he wins half as many slams as Djok has I'm sure he'll be happy. Doubt we see any other male tennis players get to 23 Slams and counting in any of our lifetimes.
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I doubt that's it for Novak - it's one final
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There's no doubting this will have affected him
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, he will want to win even more
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He'll still carry on, Father time is inevitably catching up with him but I still think he has at least one more Slam left in him. Maybe the Aussie Open.

#Chelsea have rejected a bid from Fulham for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

[via @SkySportsNews]

comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 19 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 22 minutes ago
Djok still the GOAT 🐐. Congratulations to Alcaraz though, if he wins half as many slams as Djok has I'm sure he'll be happy. Doubt we see any other male tennis players get to 23 Slams and counting in any of our lifetimes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I doubt that's it for Novak - it's one final
----------------------------------------------------------------------
There's no doubting this will have affected him
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, he will want to win even more
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He'll still carry on, Father time is inevitably catching up with him but I still think he has at least one more Slam left in him. Maybe the Aussie Open.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alcaraz now he’s finally done it should be able to win a lot of slams however he is very, very injury prone. Have to remember he’s still only 20, hasn’t had a long career (that was only his 4th grass tournament) and he’s body won’t be use to the high level and quick turnaround in so much tennis. I would imagine he might average 1-2 slams a year for the next few years until potentially hitting 3-4 unless other people start coming up or he fades a bit with the celeb lifestyle

Djokovic for the next 2-3 years is still a complete and utter league above every player bar Alcaraz, and even on his B game should get to most finals and should share them with Alcaraz.

At Djokovic age the quick turnaround from winning a tough gruelling French open to then Wimbledon he wouldn’t of been able to did what he use to do and would of had more niggles (hands arms chest leg were all taped), but he still got to the final and took it to 5 sets and nearly won

So Djokovic has at least 5-6 more grand slams in him in my opinion

Unless some other player comes up

But as it stands there is nobody on the same level as Djokovic and Alcaraz in tennis and not even close to hitting that level

They both had a tough gruelling French open and still made the final of Wimbledon absolutely in cruise mode in 3/4 sets most of the time

Both prefer hard courts as well clay and grass are their weakness (or least best) surfaces out the 4

Funny thing is I remember 6-7 years ago when Novak got knocked out in the 3rd round of Wimbledon or maybe 2nd and everyone was like that’s him done

Guy then won like the next 6 Wimbledon’s

comment by CFC_Steve (U1194)
posted about 2 hours ago
#Chelsea have rejected a bid from Fulham for Callum Hudson-Odoi.

[via @SkySportsNews]
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Good

Must’ve been a low ball offer. Should be looking for £15-£20m.

comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 18 minutes ago
I won't join the chorus of misery on here about out signings.

Priority for me was getting rid of dead wood and players who don't want to be here.

I am realistic about the fact top four is unlikely


But I am glad we have ditched players who don't want to be here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a great first step and it definitely should be getting more acknowledgement by our fans. I think it is for the most part, we're just especially negative on the Haven in general.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can’t give this ownership any credit for anything obvs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They’ve fecked the club so bad that it’s hard to praise the one or two things they do right.

3 obvious areas of weakness in the team and they’re briefing that they only want to fix one of them. And they’re taking fking ages to do even that.

All the sales are great but it means nothing if the incomings aren’t right.

Very frustrating as IMO they’ve added a lot of the right players to the squad since January, why deliberately leave yourself short now?

GK - sorted if we get a quality keeper
RB - sorted
LB - sorted
CB - sorted
CM - sorted if we get Caicedo
ATT- sorted if we get a quality striker

3 players away, yet we’re blowing wads on children and back up strikers. Stupid.

comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 46 minutes ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 18 minutes ago
I won't join the chorus of misery on here about out signings.

Priority for me was getting rid of dead wood and players who don't want to be here.

I am realistic about the fact top four is unlikely


But I am glad we have ditched players who don't want to be here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a great first step and it definitely should be getting more acknowledgement by our fans. I think it is for the most part, we're just especially negative on the Haven in general.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can’t give this ownership any credit for anything obvs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They’ve fecked the club so bad that it’s hard to praise the one or two things they do right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They haven't fecked the club, we were in a mess when they took over, look how much shlt we've had to get rid of from the previous regime.

Really hope Alcarez can stay mostly free from injuries. If he can do that and doesnt let the early success get to his head, he could end up with 20+ slams

comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 9 minutes ago
comment by ＴＬＬＬ (U4640)
posted 46 minutes ago
comment by RtM (U1097)
posted 5 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 18 minutes ago
I won't join the chorus of misery on here about out signings.

Priority for me was getting rid of dead wood and players who don't want to be here.

I am realistic about the fact top four is unlikely


But I am glad we have ditched players who don't want to be here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a great first step and it definitely should be getting more acknowledgement by our fans. I think it is for the most part, we're just especially negative on the Haven in general.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can’t give this ownership any credit for anything obvs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They’ve fecked the club so bad that it’s hard to praise the one or two things they do right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They haven't fecked the club, we were in a mess when they took over, look how much shlt we've had to get rid of from the previous regime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They sacked a top manager, they hired two crap managers, they made a mockery of the physio hire, they spent 600m on a squad that currently has zero identity, they have stuffed us on FFP, they have made us the easiest club to screw in the transfer market, and have overseen the worst season for the club in 30 years, resulting in quality players wanting to leave the club,

I havent got a crystal ball, perhaps from here on the way is up with these new owners, but their first year in charge has been a shambolic disaster, with the only positive outcome being Boehly being moved to the sidelines.

I don’t understand why some people are keen to defend these new owners.

End of the day we were 3rd before they arrived and dropped down to 12th.

Yes there were a lot of factors which contributed to that, some of which the previous regime are to blame for instead. But a lot of those reasons are their own doing too.

Like I said last year, I was expecting us to have a crap season because of some of those reasons that were the fault of Roman/Marina. But I still thought we’d qualify for Europe even in the worst case scenario. We weren’t even close to that.

The one thing I think they have been smart about is keeping the wage bill under control. But if we want to compete at the top again, that will eventually have to go crazy again.

comment by Superbettino (U6486)
posted 6 hours, 33 minutes ago

comment by NPE - Bottom Half FC (U22712)
posted 18 minutes ago
I won't join the chorus of misery on here about out signings.

Priority for me was getting rid of dead wood and players who don't want to be here.

I am realistic about the fact top four is unlikely


But I am glad we have ditched players who don't want to be here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It's a great first step and it definitely should be getting more acknowledgement by our fans. I think it is for the most part, we're just especially negative on the Haven in general.
----------------------------------------------------
Flawed logic. If someone breaks something by applying too much pressure, do you give them credit for cleaning up the debris?

This transfer window in isolation's been good, but it had to be like this because of decisions this ownership made last year. They've had three windows so far, one where we spent 250mil odd, another where we spent 300mil odd, yet so far this is their best one (imo). That's an indictment.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted less than a minute ago
I don’t understand why some people are keen to defend these new owners.

End of the day we were 3rd before they arrived and dropped down to 12th.

Yes there were a lot of factors which contributed to that, some of which the previous regime are to blame for instead. But a lot of those reasons are their own doing too.

Like I said last year, I was expecting us to have a crap season because of some of those reasons that were the fault of Roman/Marina. But I still thought we’d qualify for Europe even in the worst case scenario. We weren’t even close to that.
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Just a reminder prior to take over, we finished top 4, lost two cup finals on penalty shoot outs to an excellent Liverpool team and arguably gave one of the greatest CL away performances in the club's history in Madrid.

This false narrative about how bad a state we were in footballing terms prior to takeover is a sick joke.

CSTP, I think it's because for all their numerous faults it is clear they do care where it matters. Their crime is incompetence, not ambivalence, which is a bit of a plague in football atm.

comment by Randomer (U5245)
posted 32 minutes ago
GK - sorted if we get a quality keeper
RB - sorted
LB - sorted
CB - sorted
CM - sorted if we get Caicedo
ATT- sorted if we get a quality striker

3 players away, yet we’re blowing wads on children and back up strikers. Stupid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
This mountain of youth signings combined with the fact we have a small army of sporting/technical directors makes it a bit hard to accept that we don't have the time/energy/resource to focus on signing key players for the first team alongside sorting out the numerous outgoings.

A backup/starting GK is essential imo. Bettinelli is not a Begovic - no way I'm trusting him to step in if Kepa's injured.

CM need is obvious - need at least 1 defensive minded player to come in, possibly 2 (if Caceido gets injured we're back to a Gallagher-Enzo pivot). I struggle to believe Poch is willing to give Santos the backup DM role considering he hasn't even played in Europe before.

Striker is a tricky one - we have 2 very young, inexperienced options. Nkunku could play there at a push but I have a feeling Poch also wants to take a look at Broja/Jackson in preseason before we pull the trigger on another expensive striker signing. In any case, we still need another body in attack as Madueke doesn't really have anyone backing him up at RW. Sterling, Mudryk and Madueke for the wide attacking positions isn't enough even without European football

I'm looking forward to our first preseason match on Wednesday but our lack of proper CM options means that it'll offer little insight into what formation Poch actually wants to play.

And to me that sounds like a clear failure on the ownership's part.

I think we’ve sold one too many wingers as well. It’s why I wouldn’t mind keeping CHO if his contract wasn’t running out.

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted 16 minutes ago
I think we’ve sold one too many wingers as well. It’s why I wouldn’t mind keeping CHO if his contract wasn’t running out.
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I'd be down for keeping him as an emergency option. And his loan at Leverkusen being such an utter and complete failure may work in his favour. His value is probably at an all time low so we may end up keeping him and letting his contract run out rather than selling him for a pittance

comment by CSTP (U1453)
posted about 2 hours ago
I think we’ve sold one too many wingers as well. It’s why I wouldn’t mind keeping CHO if his contract wasn’t running out.
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Me too