I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
comment by jp1911 (U9072)
posted 16 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We can only strap in and see what happens i guess. The fact Sarri was given his model player plus a keeper of his choice both at large expense leads me to think/hope the board trust his judgement in the market in ways they simply didn't with Conte.
Im very happy Pulisic looks like it ain't happening though, he's bang average.
comment by jp1911 (U9072)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazard wants to become a Chelsea legend but will leave in the summer for sure.
Not sure what all that bull was about!
As I have stated previously, in order to keep Hazard we need to make the CL
This depends on two things..one is winning the Europa League, which is a huge ask given the sides still in it, despite us being favourites.
The second is making top 4 staving off Arsenal who have the advantage of two strikers to none over us,and a manager that looks like he's got what it takes, coupled with a Utd side slipped of the shackles of Jose's awful brand of football
And frankly, even if we do make top 4 Hazard is likely to go to Madrid anyway, much as i'd like him to stay, it's probably right for him that he moves
Then we have to rebuild in summer, to the tune of half a dozen players at least - & if we aren't in the CL we are not attracting the calibre of player we need
Sarri will be doing VERY well to achive top 4 this term
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 minutes ago
As I have stated previously, in order to keep Hazard we need to make the CL
This depends on two things..one is winning the Europa League, which is a huge ask given the sides still in it, despite us being favourites.
The second is making top 4 staving off Arsenal who have the advantage of two strikers to none over us,and a manager that looks like he's got what it takes, coupled with a Utd side slipped of the shackles of Jose's awful brand of football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually out of curiosity i looked at the Emery thread on Arsenal mania and very few are actually that convinced by him, i think opposition fans are overrating him a bit purely because he isn't Wenger. They don't really see what Emery is trying to do and are even more reliant on one man coming up with the goods than we are.
If we can't hold off Arsenal then we only have ourselves to blame, Sarri would do well to finish top 3 but 4th should be minimum requirement.
Kovacic looks a bit of a disappointment when I’ve seen him play. You can see why he’s spent his Madrid career in the bench. Probably one to avoid after loan?
I don't envy the manager. There's a lot of work to do with this squad as alluded to in the OP. Certainly if we want to become genuine title contenders again.
At the moment we're not there. And if we lose Hazard over the summer then we really do have a problem.
I just hope that the board step up over the next two transfer windows and actually bring in the players we need in the positions we need them, starting with new strikers that actually score goals consistently.
5 article. Disagreed with none of it.
Hazard staying at least one more year could solve the striker problem. If we gave him the rest of the season to fully adjust to the false 9 role by next year I have no doubt he'll be banging them in next term but it's a catch 22 scenario. Playing him there means Willian has to start every game which is replacing one handicap with another, difficult balancing act especially with Hazard's uncertain future.
The Kante problem is becoming more and more significant as the season progresses. Jorginho & Kovacic or Jorginho & Kante is a perfectly fine two of the three piece puzzle but all three together doesn't really gel, lacks a goal threat and the onus is on Kante to improve in that department (which he's doing too slowly). Another difficult balancing act.
And in defense we have a really difficult balancing act. Shaky as Alonso & Luiz defensively are (especially in tandem) they're critical to how we attack. The Watford game summed it up very well, they're both very effective at breaking the high press to instigate counter attacks but you just clench up whenever both of them have to defend/opposition's running at the high line. The only way I can see to remedy that situation without changing our style is signing Koulibaly who'd make VVD look like a pocket change transfer.
Sarri has no excuse if he finishes below Emery. That Arsenal team were way below us last season, so if they finish above us this season that will be because they bought better players, prepared better for the season and have a better manager than Sarri. If that happens, then that's failure for Sarri.
In terms of having to bring in players, why has he not already done that? He decided to sign Kovacic on loan despite him not having any more of an impact than Loftus-Cheek would have had playing in that role all season. He had no problem shelling out £80m on a goalkeeper after we lost our previous one but didn't think it would be a good idea to spend that kind of money on a striker, the position we most needed to sign someone for? He was the one who didn't address glaring weaknesses in the squad and if those weaknesses cost us, then that has to be on him for not taking his best chance, last summer, to address them.
Wahl you're making big assumptions that the manager is entirely in charge of transfers when we know that isn't the case here. Especially with someone like Sarri who's always maintained he has little interest in the transfer markets and leaves all that to others.
If anything all you've done is highlight how weak our board is and their decision to go into the season with just Morata and Giroud as our strike force is a baffling one.
Superb why are you saying "our" in response to someone who isn't a Chelsea fan in the slightest?
Jorginho and Kepa is evidence that the board are listening to Sarri though. My question is why did Sarri not make signing a striker a priority over arguably both of those signings and definitely the Kepa signing? I would rather have gone into this season with Caballero in goal and a £80m striker than Kepa and Morata/Giroud.
Either way you're right, everyone at the club involved in the decision to not sign a striker is to blame because literally anyone with even a passing interest in Chelsea could see the team needed a new striker more than anything last summer.
Indications are that Sarri wanted to sign Higuain last summer and that the board didn't want to make that signing. I don't think that Sarri particularly fancied Morata but he's been working with what he's been given.
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
Indications are that Sarri wanted to sign Higuain last summer
------------------------
That's only one target though. A striker was a priority for the club and he should have made sure that one was signed. I appreciate a manager who can get on with things when he doesn't get his way unlike our previous manager, but this could seriously cost the club if we miss out on Champions League for another season because of this. For Sarri to accept going into the season with Morata and Giroud as his strikers means he has to take responsibility for the consequences of that decision in my opinion.
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
If we want to have a truly quality first XI, we just need to be ruthless. We all know who the weak players are in the XI, its whether the board are ruthless enough to improve them. New LB, new CF, new winger at the very least.
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 30 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty sure Sarri said it himself after he signed him.
That's only one target though. A striker was a priority for the club and he should have made sure that one was signed.
----------------------------------
Again you're overestimating the role that the team manager has at the club. He's not in charge of transfers and for the most part he has to work with what he's given.
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
I don't think I'm overestimating it, I think you're underestimating it. He does have to work with what he's given, but it seems obvious to me that he didn't make signing a striker last summer as big a priority as it should have been.
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok so he said he admired him as a very young keeper:
"I saw him one year ago [when I was at] Naples, and my first impression was he was a very good goalkeeper," the Chelsea head coach said. "Very young, but very, very good."
And this was said after we signed Kepa so I'm not sure that exactly equates to Sarri wanted him at Napoli.
You have bargaining tools atleast. drinkwater for chillwell, moses n loftus cheek for wan bisaka or zaha. Morata for someone from italy. Hazard for madrid players
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Massive transition
Page 1 of 2
posted on 29/12/18
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
posted on 29/12/18
comment by jp1911 (U9072)
posted 16 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
We can only strap in and see what happens i guess. The fact Sarri was given his model player plus a keeper of his choice both at large expense leads me to think/hope the board trust his judgement in the market in ways they simply didn't with Conte.
Im very happy Pulisic looks like it ain't happening though, he's bang average.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by jp1911 (U9072)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
I don't actually think we are that far away but the key is to somehow keep Hazard.
Do that combined with January and summer windows being as successful as the one just gone (in terms of adding further players suited to Sarri's football) and i believe we are challenging next season.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Can't disagree, but going on the recent past in the transfer market, I'm not massively hopeful on us signing a top centre back, top attacker, keeping hazard and signing a world class striker
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazard wants to become a Chelsea legend but will leave in the summer for sure.
Not sure what all that bull was about!
posted on 29/12/18
As I have stated previously, in order to keep Hazard we need to make the CL
This depends on two things..one is winning the Europa League, which is a huge ask given the sides still in it, despite us being favourites.
The second is making top 4 staving off Arsenal who have the advantage of two strikers to none over us,and a manager that looks like he's got what it takes, coupled with a Utd side slipped of the shackles of Jose's awful brand of football
And frankly, even if we do make top 4 Hazard is likely to go to Madrid anyway, much as i'd like him to stay, it's probably right for him that he moves
Then we have to rebuild in summer, to the tune of half a dozen players at least - & if we aren't in the CL we are not attracting the calibre of player we need
Sarri will be doing VERY well to achive top 4 this term
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 8 minutes ago
As I have stated previously, in order to keep Hazard we need to make the CL
This depends on two things..one is winning the Europa League, which is a huge ask given the sides still in it, despite us being favourites.
The second is making top 4 staving off Arsenal who have the advantage of two strikers to none over us,and a manager that looks like he's got what it takes, coupled with a Utd side slipped of the shackles of Jose's awful brand of football
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually out of curiosity i looked at the Emery thread on Arsenal mania and very few are actually that convinced by him, i think opposition fans are overrating him a bit purely because he isn't Wenger. They don't really see what Emery is trying to do and are even more reliant on one man coming up with the goods than we are.
If we can't hold off Arsenal then we only have ourselves to blame, Sarri would do well to finish top 3 but 4th should be minimum requirement.
posted on 29/12/18
Kovacic looks a bit of a disappointment when I’ve seen him play. You can see why he’s spent his Madrid career in the bench. Probably one to avoid after loan?
posted on 29/12/18
I don't envy the manager. There's a lot of work to do with this squad as alluded to in the OP. Certainly if we want to become genuine title contenders again.
At the moment we're not there. And if we lose Hazard over the summer then we really do have a problem.
I just hope that the board step up over the next two transfer windows and actually bring in the players we need in the positions we need them, starting with new strikers that actually score goals consistently.
posted on 29/12/18
5 article. Disagreed with none of it.
Hazard staying at least one more year could solve the striker problem. If we gave him the rest of the season to fully adjust to the false 9 role by next year I have no doubt he'll be banging them in next term but it's a catch 22 scenario. Playing him there means Willian has to start every game which is replacing one handicap with another, difficult balancing act especially with Hazard's uncertain future.
The Kante problem is becoming more and more significant as the season progresses. Jorginho & Kovacic or Jorginho & Kante is a perfectly fine two of the three piece puzzle but all three together doesn't really gel, lacks a goal threat and the onus is on Kante to improve in that department (which he's doing too slowly). Another difficult balancing act.
And in defense we have a really difficult balancing act. Shaky as Alonso & Luiz defensively are (especially in tandem) they're critical to how we attack. The Watford game summed it up very well, they're both very effective at breaking the high press to instigate counter attacks but you just clench up whenever both of them have to defend/opposition's running at the high line. The only way I can see to remedy that situation without changing our style is signing Koulibaly who'd make VVD look like a pocket change transfer.
posted on 29/12/18
Sarri has no excuse if he finishes below Emery. That Arsenal team were way below us last season, so if they finish above us this season that will be because they bought better players, prepared better for the season and have a better manager than Sarri. If that happens, then that's failure for Sarri.
In terms of having to bring in players, why has he not already done that? He decided to sign Kovacic on loan despite him not having any more of an impact than Loftus-Cheek would have had playing in that role all season. He had no problem shelling out £80m on a goalkeeper after we lost our previous one but didn't think it would be a good idea to spend that kind of money on a striker, the position we most needed to sign someone for? He was the one who didn't address glaring weaknesses in the squad and if those weaknesses cost us, then that has to be on him for not taking his best chance, last summer, to address them.
posted on 29/12/18
Wahl you're making big assumptions that the manager is entirely in charge of transfers when we know that isn't the case here. Especially with someone like Sarri who's always maintained he has little interest in the transfer markets and leaves all that to others.
If anything all you've done is highlight how weak our board is and their decision to go into the season with just Morata and Giroud as our strike force is a baffling one.
posted on 29/12/18
Superb why are you saying "our" in response to someone who isn't a Chelsea fan in the slightest?
posted on 29/12/18
Jorginho and Kepa is evidence that the board are listening to Sarri though. My question is why did Sarri not make signing a striker a priority over arguably both of those signings and definitely the Kepa signing? I would rather have gone into this season with Caballero in goal and a £80m striker than Kepa and Morata/Giroud.
Either way you're right, everyone at the club involved in the decision to not sign a striker is to blame because literally anyone with even a passing interest in Chelsea could see the team needed a new striker more than anything last summer.
posted on 29/12/18
Indications are that Sarri wanted to sign Higuain last summer and that the board didn't want to make that signing. I don't think that Sarri particularly fancied Morata but he's been working with what he's been given.
posted on 29/12/18
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
posted on 29/12/18
Indications are that Sarri wanted to sign Higuain last summer
------------------------
That's only one target though. A striker was a priority for the club and he should have made sure that one was signed. I appreciate a manager who can get on with things when he doesn't get his way unlike our previous manager, but this could seriously cost the club if we miss out on Champions League for another season because of this. For Sarri to accept going into the season with Morata and Giroud as his strikers means he has to take responsibility for the consequences of that decision in my opinion.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
posted on 29/12/18
If we want to have a truly quality first XI, we just need to be ruthless. We all know who the weak players are in the XI, its whether the board are ruthless enough to improve them. New LB, new CF, new winger at the very least.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 30 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pretty sure Sarri said it himself after he signed him.
posted on 29/12/18
That's only one target though. A striker was a priority for the club and he should have made sure that one was signed.
----------------------------------
Again you're overestimating the role that the team manager has at the club. He's not in charge of transfers and for the most part he has to work with what he's given.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
posted on 29/12/18
I don't think I'm overestimating it, I think you're underestimating it. He does have to work with what he's given, but it seems obvious to me that he didn't make signing a striker last summer as big a priority as it should have been.
posted on 29/12/18
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 49 seconds ago
comment by DD11 (U21614)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 26 seconds ago
Sarri clearly asked for Jorginho and that was probably a condition to him coming here. As for Kepa I think he was a club signing, not a Sarri recommendation at all.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarri wanted Kepa at Napoli.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
First I've heard about that. You have a source for that ?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ill try and find a more accurate article when i have more time but i remember it was covered on cfcnet forums after his signing but here is a quote from Sarri.
http://www.espn.co.uk/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3588721/chelsea-boss-praises-kepa-arrizabalaga-very-youngbut-veryvery-good
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok so he said he admired him as a very young keeper:
"I saw him one year ago [when I was at] Naples, and my first impression was he was a very good goalkeeper," the Chelsea head coach said. "Very young, but very, very good."
And this was said after we signed Kepa so I'm not sure that exactly equates to Sarri wanted him at Napoli.
posted on 29/12/18
You have bargaining tools atleast. drinkwater for chillwell, moses n loftus cheek for wan bisaka or zaha. Morata for someone from italy. Hazard for madrid players
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