The problem seems to be that players like this tend to only be able to play in that position. And we only play with one who is Lavia. So signing someone who will be a certified reserve is always going to be tricky
There is the line that Lavia isn't likely to stick around here long and if we had that 'reserve' player they would have played more games this season than Lavia due to injury anyway! Lavia is also only 19 so you would think we would like to manage his playing time as much as possible (especially post injury) and not have to change the way we play everytime we take him off or rest him. Theres also the self confidence of footballers who think they are good enough to force their way into a new team (hello Kalvin Phillips). The PL in general is still a massive draw for a lot of players too (whilst we are still in it). Lavia is also so dynamic that he could play the Schniederlin role in a 2 with a more defensively minded stopper like a Wanyama or Romeu. I don't think it would really put a player off coming here just because we have one very very good player in that position already.
For other clubs - maybe. For Saints - I’m not so sure. Same as how we struggle to get in back up goalkeepers. But for a bigger example - look how long it took Spurs to get someone even close to being able to be back up for Kane. They’ve needed to for years and finally managed it this year with a player who can play with him as well as instead Perhaps it was just poor planning. But we certainly haven’t managed to have more than one for quite some time even with Romeu. Look at how we well apart when he was injured. But as soon as we get Lavia in, he decides he doesn’t want to stick around. That could be for other factors but role in the system seems to be one The ideal would be someone who can play there and CM. But those aren’t that common
Why are we so determined to sell Lavia already. The kid is only 19. I'd like to think we might get another season out of him (if we're not relegated). Totally agree we need a backup in that position though (although perhaps NJ thinks he can squeeze Diallo into a Lavia mould).
I don’t think Diallo will ever be like Lavia, he just isn’t composed enough on the ball. That is something you don’t learn if you haven’t already got it by this stage. Diallo is a good player if he does what he did last night which is to win the ball back and press and then play a simple pass to the better ball player next to him
I don’t think we are. There is just an assumption that as soon as Chelsea come in for him then he will demand to go. They are looking for a Kante replacement but they have also signed that Brazilian who I think plays in that position they seem to be doing a higher cost version of the old Chelsea approach of hoarding young players. But this time they are signing many on long deals for big fees rather than hoarding at academy level (they will probably carry on with both I expect). Their pursuit of Gordon - in a side that doesn’t use wingers - was perplexing. Maybe it is because they can bolster their squad without needing to register them so can have more than 25 players and the plan is to do almost American football style of fully rotating. I have no idea
I think most people are pretty lost when it comes to Chelsea's strategy right now. Not least Graham Potter.
Heard it somewhere credible? I would have thought him not being here reflects that. He chose to move rather than see out his contract. I’m not suggesting anything untoward by way of motive but he isn’t here anymore. He either didn’t want to stay / wanted to go back to Spain (kind of the same) or was pushed out the door. And there most definitely isn’t anything credible to support the latter of those two
Oh, I'm sorry - completely misread your post. I thought you were saying he, Lavia, wanted out, not he, Romeu, wanted out. I thought I'd missed some important gossip! Vin
Their strategy is to sign the best and most promising young players from around the world on very long contracts (6 years seems to have become common). Protects their value and puts more of the power in future contract negotiations in Chelsea’s hands as anyone leaving is quite likely to have to take a step down in both size of club and wage This is apparently very much how US sport franchises do things Where there doesn’t appear to be a strategy is how these players fit into the team / system used. Which is where it seems to be falling down I wonder if that is just highlighting the difference between US sports and football. There are set positions. Different plays, sure. But there are no basketball teams that play with three point guards, two centres and no “forwards”. There are no NFL teams (as far as I know) that play with extra linemen. You don’t have two quarterbacks on at the same time. Etc
I think they are doing exactly what he wants. It feels like what Brighton did, but with much deeper pockets. To me it looks like they are planning long term with him at the helm. The Joao Felix signing was odd though
Interestingly Ings to Southampton is only 5/2 on Skybet. I'd take him in a heartbeat, but can't see it happening as SR wouldn't spend big money on a football pensioner, who's probably seen his best years.
I think it's a stretch to say Romeu left because we signed Lavia. If I had to guess I'd expect Girona to be paying him less than we were and he talks here about having a young son and wanting to live closer to family: https://www.hampshirelive.news/spor...uthampton-oriol-romeu-transfer-girona-7606986