For 3 years our midfield has been hopeless. Kante solved one problem, but attack, power , speed and scoring ability have been and still are missing from all our midfielders. Drinkwater might yet be the best buy we have ever made. Now the Russian transfer genius' have identified Ross Berkley as the "missing link". Therein lies the reason we will not be competitive as long as Romans dopes are in charge. Berkley at best is an OK midfielder, but light years below what we need. If Pogba cost 90 million, then we need a 150 million midfielder to get our lot moving. Aint going to happen , which is why Conte is off, and the next sucker arrives. We spend millions on mediocrity, have only 2 world class players,Hazard and Kante, but pay 2nd raters more than world class players. Why? Because Roman still thinks money solves all problems and surrounds himself with syncophants. Manager after manager goes because the Club never buys the players they want to build a team around. Roman thinks it's just a case of putting 11 overhyped and overpaid players on the pitch. He has not a clue about teams. Good luck to Berkley, another under achieving but soon to be grossly overpaid piece of Chelsea mediocrity.Welcome to the Club.
For all Roman's money, he should have used Genetics to clone a young Frank Lampard. How we could do with an "in his Prime" Frankie in our midfield right now!
Whilst he’s not the ideal signing, he’s not that bad for the money. I would have to argue that your opinion is wrong on the way the club is run. Every time there seems to be a disaster, Roman and Chelsea always come up trumps. The past two seasons have been prime examples. 10th one season, champions the next. We’ve evens seen dramatic improvements since Emenelio, or whatever his name is, departed. Who could we really get that would dramatically improve our midfield, a, at this time in the season, b, is of world class quality and, c, won’t cost over £100m? Do we want to see our youth get a chance? Absolutely, but really think about how many youngsters we have out on loan and who’s pulling up trees? A chance anywhere is a chance and if they aren’t making it, they aren’t good enough. It’s not all doom and gloom so allow the football people to do the Football and the business people to do the busiensss.
Regarding youth and the loan set up, Courtois and Christensen prove it can work to an extent, as long as they perform whilst on loan. If not, they are likely to be sold for profit or loaned out again.
Done nice and quick, five and a half year deal. Is he fit yet? Weekend is probably too soon but might play some part in the semi? As said on the other thread, 15m is a reasonable price and even if he's unhappy due to lack of playing time in the next couple seasons we'll at least get our money back.
I appreciate your opinion, but when Roman and Chelsea come up trumps, as you say, it seems to be always for the short time, and is usually down to a great manager, like Conte ,Jose even Hiddink and De Mateo. By seasons end the disquiet starts again and always for the same reason, the Club won't get in who the manager wants, instead buying who the Russian friends want. Occasionally they agree and hit the jackpot, like with Kante, more often we get the Michys and Bakayokos' and sell the Bertrands and Akes'. Each manager sees the need to build on success by bringing in players to improve positions and make an overall stronger, longer lasting team. The owners want instant success and spend more on inappropriate players than they would on the right ones. Maybe Bakayoko is a wrong call by me, he does seem to have improvement in him. Anyway, we now have Berkley at a bargain basement price, so good work there, but is he another Ballack or Lampard? I hope so, but not much evidence except chronic inconsistency and long term injury. Good luck to him and good luck to Conte who has the job of trying to get him to play.
WOW, blimey, do you remember where we were in the 80s? We were struggling to survive with long spells in the second tier of English football. Ross Berkley could turn out to be a gem and an absolute bargain for £15 million. Every match we play these days is sold out and we always put out a team capable of winning everything and anything.
It's BECAUSE I remember where we were in the 80s that I am mystified by our transfer policy !!!!! After all, my brother is an Arsenal fan and my son in law a Spud !!!! I also hope Berkley turns out a winner, but when I see PSG getting Nymar and Barca paying 135 mill for Coutinho, the difference in ambition is pretty clear. Not that we need to rejoin the "spend big set", but midfield in particular is our achilles heel and we should be bringing in the big strong attack minded player we need, like the Belgium bloke at Roma, Nangalolin (or something like it) not hoping Berkley turns into something he has rarely achieved, a top notch reliable and consistent player. Kante was exactly what we needed and has been among our best every match he's played. If we had an attacking midfielder of equal quality, we'd be transformed. That said, I do hope Berkley proves me wrong, as I think Drinkwater might. I was not impressed with that buy either, but he is starting to look the business.
Are your hands not badly tied by the homegrown rule? Pretty sure you can't fit any new players in the squad without them replacing other non homegrown ones, only Fabregas, Cahill, Drinkwater and Moses count as homegrown so you are essentially playing with a 21 man squad atm. If the aim is to replace Fabregas or Drinkwater in CM with a decent creating attacking force then you have no choice but a homegrown player, and pretty much no good options as a result. Unless you want to spend the £200m plus it would probably take to prise Alli from Spurs...
Yeah that probably is an issue actually. Although Courtois and Christensen are both counted too. We've got quite a few home grown in the nation but I'm not sure we have any who are counted from the club, unless Christensen will be at some point, assuming that's how it still works.
