Flash I was just saying pretty much exactly the same thing.

Better to get the ban over and done with now. Would give us a season to establish which of our many good loanees and youth have a future at the club and which don't.

Would also avoid getting rinsed in this transfer window as clubs will know we're desperate. Better to wait until next summer by which point we'll know which players to keep and exactly which positions need strengthening.

And Tammy definitely deserves a chance. I've seen some fans say that he's a Championship player. Just because he's played in the Championship it doesn't mean he's a Championship player. Really shortsighted view that.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 18 minutes ago
Flash I was just saying pretty much exactly the same thing.

Better to get the ban over and done with now. Would give us a season to establish which of our many good loanees and youth have a future at the club and which don't.

Would also avoid getting rinsed in this transfer window as clubs will know we're desperate. Better to wait until next summer by which point we'll know which players to keep and exactly which positions need strengthening.

And Tammy definitely deserves a chance. I've seen some fans say that he's a Championship player. Just because he's played in the Championship it doesn't mean he's a Championship player. Really shortsighted view that.
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Frankie.....

There was another English Striker a few years ago who returned to his parent club having had a lower league loan.

He was given his chance by his club and now people are saying if he stays reasonably healthy then he stands a good shot of getting close to Shearer's PL goals record.

I'm not saying Tammy is at Kane level, but how do we find out if he's good enough if we don't give him a shot?

Even if he went back to Villa for a season and got 20 goals for them in the PL. That doesn't guarantee success at Chelsea, so lets just find out what he'd do for Chelsea.

I see both sides. On the one hand we might as well get it over with now, assemble the squad options we have, and focus all our energy on getting the managerial appointment right. It's a clearer 'knowing where we stand' position and gives us an entire year to draw up hundreds of potential targets going into next summer which is always the better window to get value for money. Makes a lot more sense than dragging out an appeal process which takes valuable time out of this window (if we're successful) and could cause us to have a panicky January window when it's over.

But then again, losing Hazard is a VERY big deal. The we've become overly reliant on him argument is very shady, it assumes we have a squad who'll blend together without the star power which I don't necessarily buy into, especially if they'll be an infusion of youth into it next season. A lot of it also depends how quickly Pulisic will adapt to the league/if CHO will fully recover from his injury. Too many uncertainties.

Yup, we'll only know what Tammy can do in a Chelsea shirt when we actually give him a chance in a Chelsea shirt.

Considering some of the big name flop strikers we've had and given untold chances to in recent seasons it's about time we gave the chance to one of our own.

Sadly as a club we're often too snooty for our own good in this regard and that includes the fans.

D.A, losing Hazard is undoubtedly a very big deal but even if there was no transfer ban to worry about would we have been thinking to bring in another wide player this window?

As things stand we've just shelled out nearly 60 million on Pulisic who we've obviously bought to play and we're also trying to convince Cho that he has a future here and to sign a new contract.

I don't think we would urgently unless we sold Willian or Pedro, but I think the club would wonder replace his starpower factor with a big signing somewhere else - sort of like Aubameyang indirectly replacing Sanchez at Arsenal.

*wanna replace

DA

“But then again, losing Hazard is a VERY big deal. The we've become overly reliant on him argument is very shady, it assumes we have a squad who'll blend together without the star power which I don't necessarily buy into………”

I’ve assumed nothing as I’ve said

".....after we've got over the initial shock next season of not having Hazard, we should become a better team. We have to if we want to compete."

I believe that. I think take away Hazard last season, no top 4. Maybe still win Europa because we had (even after the group stages) a very favourable draw.

I do think we’ve got the players to cope. And whether I like it or not. My team cannot rely on a player who’s not an option for us, so we either become a better team or fall away imo.

Well this is the thing, we don't actually have that many spaces for new players in our first 11. Up front is the main issue but we have Tammy to bring in.

Wide positions are covered (especially if Cho returns soon), midfield is pretty much covered (hopefully Loftus-Cheek isn't out all next season), as is defence. Azpi has looked creaky and slow this season but we have Reece James to bring in.

I get that but I'd understand the board's dsire to try and minimize the risk by signing a replacement. Not necessarily a direct replacement (that's Pulisic) but a caliber of player good enough to build a team around. Without Hazard we don't really have that IMO.

That reply was to Flash but could apply to Superb aswell

I'm not sure we need a player to build a team around though, we just need a good team. And even if we do need a player to build a team around we may well already have one within our ranks. Until we try out what he already have at the club we're never going to know.

Personally I think that Cho has all the attributes to become our star player in future seasons and Loftus-Cheek looked immense in the last few months of the season before that injury in Boston.

That's true. And tbf there's a argument that says we can spend a year properly scouting for who that player should be based off how the team next season operates/whether or not it even needs one.

comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago

Yup, we'll only know what Tammy can do in a Chelsea shirt when we actually give him a chance in a Chelsea shirt.
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I don't buy that notion , should we say that about every single player?

While they'll always be the odd surprise (Kane) if our coaches can only work out who's got a chance of making it here by seeing them in the first team then quite frankly they should all be sacked on the spot.

comment by DL11 (U21614)
posted 29 minutes ago
comment by Superb (U6486)
posted 1 hour, 54 minutes ago

Yup, we'll only know what Tammy can do in a Chelsea shirt when we actually give him a chance in a Chelsea shirt.
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I don't buy that notion , should we say that about every single player?
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Absolutely not but Tammy has been scoring goals for fun (25 in 37 last season) while our big name big money strikers haven't been able to hit a barn door in the league over the last two seasons. The guy deserves a chance with us.

DL11

Yep, with you there. Abraham as 2nd choice next season is perfect. If he earns 1st choice by being better than Giroud (shouldn't be that hard tbh), fantastic. Shouldn't be thrown into the first team on the premise of 'being one of our own' though.

Many fans don't consider the players, how it'll effect dressing room structure, when they think like that. Take the CHO example, imagine being Willian & Pedro, two incredibly decorated players with medals coming out their backsides/one being a big part for one of the best club sides of all time, but this 17 y/o upstart deserves your spot after a few months of bad form because.... fans like seeing the loyal lad? I'd feel quite irritated by that.

I know that's just one aspect of a much larger debate when it comes to youth integration, it's not even the most decisive one, but it's very relevant and nobody ever considers it.

D.A I'm not saying that we should guarantee Tammy as our first choice striker by the way so my view alingns with your last comment

He fully deserves to be one of our two strikers next season though, especially with a ban. But even without one in my opinion.

Fully agree with that, with or without the ban he's earned a place in the squad for sure.

Ah.....

Question answered about the ban. We've only requested it be overturned. Therefore we're not asking for it to be frozen and i'm not sure frozen is on the table.

Does not appear to be.

Flash, I didn't mind the idea of a ban either, if it meant we would start to utilize our youngsters. I really believe that James, Mount and CHO (when he's fit) all have the ability to press for first team positions in the coming year.

BUT, that was before RLC was injured. A central midfield 3 (assuming whichever manager wants to play 3 in the middle) of Jorginho, Kante and RLC is strong enough to compete with virtually any team. We could have CHO on one side and Pulisic on the other - and Giroud/Tammy in the middle which is definitely NOT as strong as any of the other top 6, but no worse than we have endured since Costa left. But without RLC I am concerned that we will re-sign Kovacic and spend half our Hazard money to do so. I really hope we will give Mount the chance to cement that position for himself - but fear that without RLC the board will panic and sign Kovacic as he is the only person we are allowed to sign. That would be a waste - and personally I believe would weaken our squad rather than strengthen it.

I don't particularly want us to sign Kovacic either. He just doesn't offer that much, certainly not in attack. He played well in the EL Final but we haven't seen enough of that performance level from him.

Given the injuries to James, RLC and CHO I believe it is crucial we get the ban delayed. Otherwise we will be in the market in a couple of windows, trying to attract top players to a non CL club.