Chelsea Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2017

Jan_de_Bakker

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38105031

Sad, perhaps one of our greatest players..it's a shame he never won the balon d'or ..

GavRedKing

duploelabs wrote: »

FULL CHUB

Ya, it would be a dream but to get Griezmann in this type of market you're going to spend about 70m I'd reckon.

Theres also the fact that Atletico are already a top tier club so it would take something really special to get him to leave Atletico.

I do think though that on that side, we can certainly improve on Willian, Oscar and Pedro. I'd love to see a left footed player come in there and cause havoc, while the formation isnt rigid, as we've seen Hazard and Pedro drift alot in it, having Hazard cutting in one side and Alonso overlapping and a potential left footer cutting inside with Moses overlapping would cause serious problems.

Of the players that fit the mould of the above, left footed and cutting inside, theres not many viable options that arent in dream land.

Griezmann, Di Maria, Bale, James, thats just off the top of my head but we've got some talented players in the squad who could do a similar role, Traore and Kenedy are just two but I dont think either will make it with us, time will tell.

GavRedKing

In other news, Solanke is reportedly after turning down a contract with Chelsea in is meant to be going in the summer, any transfer would be the subject of a tribunal.

His father came out last summer looking for 50k a week from the club, looks like that hasnt paid off, literally and hes going to be looking for a new club.

Another that could be on the way out is RLC, the guy has barely got a sniff, Cahlobah is a head of him as a CM and despite what Conte says, hes no way a Cf or capable of playing in the supporting roles.

MaroonAndGreen

GavRedKing wrote:

Hazard and Griezmann flanking Costa would be a thing of beauty.

= title

GavRedKing

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

= title

Ya, you're talking easily about 15-20 league goals from Costa and Griezmann and Hazard would chip in with 10+ goals, which would push any team towards a title.

Last year, I was all for a swap for Griezmann for Costa but wanted to play both together and at Chelsea, had Costa gone back to Atletico theyed have been very strong.

If Atletico continue with their poor domestic season, by their standards maybe his head will be turned, doubtful but you never know.

Theres no way, right now though, any EPL side is a bigger draw than Atletico, more money yes, but in terms of what they can offer him in the UCL, theres no English side able to match Atletico or the other 2 Spanish sides, so I dont think he'll jump ship in the very near future.

GavRedKing

JT and Mikel out of the Spurs game.

Everyone else fit.

Turtwig

Could very easily see griezmann at PSG.:p

duploelabs

GavRedKing wrote: »

Griezmann, Di Maria, Bale, James, thats just off the top of my head but we've got some talented players in the squad who could do a similar role, Traore and Kenedy are just two but I dont think either will make it with us, time will tell.

The most viable of all those methinks

duploelabs

Jan_de_Bakker wrote: »

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38105031

Sad, perhaps one of our greatest players..it's a shame he never won the balon d'or ..

He scores when he wants

GavRedKing

Turtwig wrote: »

Could very easily see griezmann at PSG.:p

Its possible anyway, biggest side in France, should be winning the title at a canter for the foreseeable future but they've regressed sligtly this year with Emry, IMO.

Although that could be down to losing Ibra too.

I think Atletico, IMO, are at a higher level than PSG and only, Bayern and the other 2 Spanish sides can offer a very awinnable solution to the UCL for him, although Bayner have also been a bit more normal under Carlo than they were with Pep.

He'll never sign for Real and I doubt Barca would (a) stump up the cash and (b) fit him in right now with thier front 3 (c) get Atletico to sell him to a direct rival.

Only other option is to work under Tony Conte, clearly :pac:

GavRedKing

duploelabs wrote: »

The most viable of all those methinks

Ya, easily but I dont think hes got the work rate to appease Conte.

Pedro and Hazard reguarly drop in to form a 5-4-1 when we're under a bit of pressure and both are pretty decent at it. Its something that he could clearly work on and hes a brilliant footballer but the money Real would expect in return could be pretty absurd.

I think he wont be long more at Real though, just a hunch I've got.

TimRiggins

Really hope somebody goes through Dembele nice and early.

TimRiggins

Haven't been looking forward to a game this much in ages.

COME ON CHELS!

micknail

Probable lineups, ours is pretty certain, not sure about the Spurs back 4.
Moses vs. Vertongen at LB would be tricky!

Son didn't impress me midweek, seems very flaky.

GavRedKing

Come on you blues.

GavRedKing

Shocking opening 5mins

Duck Soup

A skyer from Dier.

SlipperyPeople

whats the story?

can't watch

in the pub with no screens

LightningBlue

**** sake. We're all over the shop so far.

Letting Spurs dominate all over the pitch.

GavRedKing

Shocking start

GavRedKing

If we cant beat our rivals we can forget any title challenge.

Especially if we lost to arsenal pool and spurs

LightningBlue

We have nothing in the middle of the pitch.
Kante and Matic are getting overloaded.

GavRedKing

Teat of the side here can we comeback from going a goal down.

GavRedKing

All too comfortable for Spurs.

Crackle

Midfield is being completely overrun.

LightningBlue

GavRedKing wrote: »

All too comfortable for Spurs.

Its down to the fact they've matched up perfectly v the 3-4-3.

They're using Alli to draw out Luiz going forward and to drop into a midfield 3 when they lose the ball, which is killing Kante and Matic as they've no time on the ball.

LightningBlue

We need to start pressing them back in their half. We're far too passive.

Crackle

LightningBlue wrote: »

We need to start pressing them back in their half. We're far too passive.

As well as that they need to stop ****ing around passing at the back and move it up the field faster. With the way spurs are pressing there is space to exploit.

LightningBlue

Pedro has done his usual disappearing act.

LightningBlue

If we time one of those runs right Spurs are ****ed. It's a ridiculously high line.

GavRedKing

We look like the side that played during the week. If we get anything here we'll be doing well.

GavRedKing

This is kante and matic worse game so far

GavRedKing

Get in

LightningBlue

GavRedKing wrote: »

We look like the side that played during the week. If we get anything here we'll be doing well.

They've created very little bar a couple of long shots.

Spurs have tired badly in the second half of games this season. There's no way they'll keep the pressing up.

Great finish Pedro. I apologise profusely.

Johner

Totally undeserved but **** it. Great goal.

GavRedKing

We deserved that :pac:

Crackle

**** yeah. Get in. That was much better. Quick passing and good movement.

Duck Soup

A thing of beauty.

GavRedKing

Pedros been brutal but f**k it. We'll take it.

Andersonisgod

LightningBlue wrote: »

Pedro has done his usual disappearing act.

Uh oh. The guy is quality, pure quality.

LightningBlue

GavRedKing wrote: »

This is kante and matic worse game so far

They're being overloaded 3/4 on 2 with Alli and sometimes Dier joining Dembele and Wanyama.

It's what was happening last season in the 4-2-3-1 with Fab and Matic.

The one thing is if we can get quick balls out to Moses and Alonso there are plenty of 3-on-3 attacks for Pedro, Hazard and Costa to destroy them if we go direct.

LightningBlue

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Uh oh. The guy is quality, pure quality.

It's literally the only time he's got on the ball all half Captain hindsight.

GavRedKing

LightningBlue wrote: »

They're being overloaded 3/4 on 2 with Alli and sometimes Dier joining Dembele and Wanyama.

It's what was happening last season in the 4-2-3-1 with Fab and Matic.

The one thing is if we can get quick balls out to Moses and Alonso there are plenty of 3-on-3 attacks for Pedro, Hazard and Costa to destroy them if we go direct.

I think if pedro didnt score, chalobah or oscar would have come on to make it more balanced in CM.

Spurs cant keep this press up hopefully, if they tire out we have a chance to get back into it but weve got to start pressing together to force mistakes.

LightningBlue

GavRedKing wrote: »

I think if pedro didnt score, chalobah or oscar would have come on to make it more balanced in CM.

Spurs cant keep this press up hopefully, if they tire out we have a chance to get back into it but weve got to start pressing together to force mistakes.

I'd say we'll see that for the last 20 mins with Chalobah coming on for Pedro. Its happened the last few games.

GavRedKing

LightningBlue wrote: »

It's literally the only time he's got on the ball all half Captain hindsight.

Ya, hes been brutal, flash of magic thougg and fine finish, like Hazard last year.

The spurs goal though was a shot that should have been stopped before it came in, we kept backing off and off and invited it. Fine goal though.

TimRiggins

Very poor start, Spurs are everywhere, well up for this. Surely they can't keep this up for 90 mins? Alonso has been very poor for me. Offering little going forward and being caught out of position defensively. Hopefully Conte tears into them at the break. Super goal by Pedro

Andersonisgod

LightningBlue wrote: »

It's literally the only time he's got on the ball all half Captain hindsight.

Then the issue is with the supply out from the back (which has clearly been the problem along with not winning the ball back higher up the pitch) than it is with Pedro's contribution on the ball.

GavRedKing

We could still do with dropping hazard in as a 3rd cm/ #10, push pedro up top.

For the first 10mins of the 2nd half.

LightningBlue

GavRedKing wrote: »

Ya, hes been brutal, flash of magic thougg and fine finish, like Hazard last year.

The spurs goal though was a shot that should have been stopped before it came in, we kept backing off and off and invited it. Fine goal though.

Pedro has always been capable of fantastic goals from anywhere around the box. It's the one thing that separates him from Willian and its why he should stay in the starting eleven - the front 3 need to score goals not just graft.

But its easily been his worst game since he's come back into the team.

GavRedKing

Andersonisgod wrote: »

Then the issue is with the supply out from the back (which has clearly been the problem along with not winning the ball back higher up the pitch) than it is with Pedro's contribution on the ball.

Kante and matic cant deal with the press, theyve been caught a few times or forced to go long or back. If spurs keep it up theyll catch us again.

If they tire out and thy should and if its still 1-1, its advantage Chelsea as our bench is still strong.

Luiz being booked is another issue, hes been rash this half, 2 or 3 late tackles and hes been out of position being dragged out because of the numbers in CM its not his job but hes doing it anyway.

We cant be that bad again for 45mins surely?