Mons i do agree.

If we do have to keep Torres , it will not be ideal/ perfect but we will still have improved dramatically .

Our midfield will perform better and add goals.

Well said son.

What's happening with Courtois? I've just signed him in a bidding fantasy football league - was it a mistake?

Agreed, but see it from their point of view...pesimists are very rarely disappointed

No pessimism from me, I’m as excited and confident going in to a season as I’ve been in years. I don’t think the squad is perfect (although it is great to have areas to improve on for next summer) but I think our starting XI is as complete and balanced as it has been since Mourinho left. We’ve still got quality on the bench and a load of youth knocking on the door whilst remaining in pretty good finances.

In terms of first team, squad and quality coming through we’re probably the healthiest club in the league right now.


My glass is overflowing.

Lukaku was linked with Atletico as well, I don't understand why if a player doesn't join a 'top club' it means he's not a top player. Was Suarez not a top player because he joined Liverpool? It's such a weak argument

What's happening with Courtois? I've just signed him in a bidding fantasy football league - was it a mistake?

comment by The Blue Kenyan (U1641)
posted 4 minutes ago
Lukaku was linked with Atletico as well, I don't understand why if a player doesn't join a 'top club' it means he's not a top player. Was Suarez not a top player because he joined Liverpool? It's such a weak argument

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My point is,

IF he IS the player he THINKS he is then Jose would have given him a chance OR another top club would have signed him. truth is, of corse he could develop but he wasn't willing to spend the time at a top club to develop himself, he thought he was better than what he actually is.

I suspect both Cech and Courtois will be given chances to impress, I personally wouldn’t be picking either for FF till it became clearer who’ll play. I suspect they’ll be some swapping.

So you think he'll be staying - a lot of rumour about him not having a squad number yesterday, is that true? Has the club even set numbers for next season yet?

You just had to watch Lukaku to see he does not fit into how we want to play. I had my doubts since his WBA loan, ie the first time I watched him play over a prolonged period. Same with KDB, was taken in by the hype but actually watching them play over a prolonged period, their shortcomings in the game were there to see. It's not a surprise at all. Now with some serious money to spend, one more solid striker and a CB is all we need to hopefully win the title.

Cech and Courtios will both play next season.

Who will end up No 1 , thats the issue ?

As far as squad numbers go , we still have to sell or loan out at least 3 foreign players, before we can bring anyone else in and finalise the squad numbers.

I believe we will bring at least 1 more player in and we won't be selling either of our goalkeepers Cech/ Courtois.

All up for sale, Torres, Mikel, Marin,Moses,.

If i'm honest I feel it was a silly decision to sell him. Having only Drogba and Torres as back up is pretty poor to be honest.

Thanks

comment by The Blue Kenyan (U1641)
posted 50 minutes ago
Lukaku was linked with Atletico as well, I don't understand why if a player doesn't join a 'top club' it means he's not a top player. Was Suarez not a top player because he joined Liverpool? It's such a weak argument
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If Lukaku was willing to compete for number 1 striker spot he would probably be an attractive buy for most top clubs, it is purely the fact that he wants no competition at this stage of his career that he has ended up at Everton......in 3 or 4 years time it would not surprise me to CFc in a bidding war to try and get him back

It's most certainly half full, see very little reason for pessimism as of now.

Squad isn't perfect. Shame Luiz has gone but for 50mil it's clearly understandable. I'd personally have given Lukaku the floor instead of signing Costa (his original statements suggest that was the deal that pushed him away, made him realise he'll never be 'the man' here, etc...), but it is what it is - given what we've had to cope with upfront the last couple of years I'm not gunna complain too much about it.

The signing of Fabregas is a piece of business up there with our deals for Essien, Drogba & Mata. Outstanding value for a brand of player we've been searching to find for this generation, and probably the best player we could've hoped to get in the position we require of him. The Felipe Luiz-Cole exchange again is what it is, not really economically positive but it's quality for younger quality. And the striking options, bare as they may seem, are still a damn sight better than last season. In fact the way I see it we should be most concerned about Costa being a good enough no.1 than Torres & Drogba being good enough backups....... looking at this set up I'm now kind of disappointed Eto'o was released just for the right to claim at one point we had Torres, Eto'o & Drogba in the same squad

Roll on next season, no reason we should be wary.

I'm more positive than I have been since Jose part 1. Watching the game yesterday I was loving the difference Costa and Fabregas make and thinking we ain't got the 4 amigos back yet!

We can put out an awesome 18 every week.

The fact that we had two very good striking options this season which has now been whittled down to one is the thing that annoys me the most.

Yes our striking options are now better than last season's but that doesn't change the fact that we could have had a much better strikeforce than we currently have after this Lukaku sale. We've put ourselves into a position we didn't need to be in where we're now relying on Torres as our second striker.

And please for the love of god don't give me that carp about Torres being reborn. We hear it at the start of every season and guess what? He always fails to deliver. I wouldn't put one single tiny piece of faith in that player as he has consistently gone missing throughout his Chelsea career. When we have him as our second striker there is little to be optimistic about. Look at any other top team - Torres doesn't even come close to their available options.

So although I am more positive about this season than the last, the club has once again taken two steps forward and then a step back. It's been a recurring story in our transfer windows for the last few years. I just wish we'd properly sort out the striking problem once and for all but I guess that will only become a possibility once a certain player leaves.

comment by minididi (U17584)
posted 7 minutes ago
The fact that we had two very good striking options this season which has now been whittled down to one is the thing that annoys me the most.

Yes our striking options are now better than last season's but that doesn't change the fact that we could have had a much better strikeforce than we currently have after this Lukaku sale. We've put ourselves into a position we didn't need to be in where we're now relying on Torres as our second striker.

And please for the love of god don't give me that carp about Torres being reborn. We hear it at the start of every season and guess what? He always fails to deliver. I wouldn't put one single tiny piece of faith in that player as he has consistently gone missing throughout his Chelsea career. When we have him as our second striker there is little to be optimistic about. Look at any other top team - Torres doesn't even come close to their available options.

So although I am more positive about this season than the last, the club has once again taken two steps forward and then a step back. It's been a recurring story in our transfer windows for the last few years. I just wish we'd properly sort out the striking problem once and for all but I guess that will only become a possibility once a certain player leaves.
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Its not really a step back

whether Lukaku could have been a good option is by the by, without knowing whether he would means that this "step back" you are referring to is pure speculation.

Lukaku barely kicked a ball for us, how can you regard the sale of a player who forced Chelsea's hand to sell him and a player who hasn't had any impact whatsoever a step back ?

We bought Costa AND fabregas, I would think we were 3 or 4 steps forward than what we were last season

I'm talking in terms of our striking options. Clubs always have the final say in these matters. Didn't Suarez want to leave Liverpool last season? Well they didn't allow him to and he almost ended up propelling them to the title.

Also, I would put more trust in Lukaku than Torres and for good reason. What has Torres done over the past two seasons to suggest he can outscore Lukaku this coming season?

Nice post OP

Wow, someone thinks we’ve gone back 2 or 3 steps?! For all our talent last year we lacks two key areas, deep tempo and passing and a goal scorer / box presence, we’ve addressed both, the team is complete and we’ll now not just see the benefits of adding two quality players but the entire balance of the team. We’ve also added a left footed left back which gives us more attacking impetus and width.

We have time and the funds to buy another striker. I believe we will, even though we are slightly better off than last season, we can possibly be a lot better of than last season if we buy another striker.

Miranda and Balotelli please.