Chelsea 1 v Brentford 4. Poor mainly from Chelsea. Werner had another stinker and does not seem up for the physical PL. A definite sell in the close season, and a loan / sell for Lukaku is also probably on the table. Lewandowski might be a good option, and bring Hazard back!
Big no for me. When you analyse our time under Roman, the quick fix approach with regards to STs never worked. (Drogba was actually monitored whilst Mourinho was still at Porto) You can argue Costa but even he was a ghost the second half the season when we needed him. Had to rely on Hazard in both 2015 & 2017 to secure the title. If we want to reap the rewards of having a great attack we need to change our approach. Patience and efficient scouting. Personally, I would absolutely love going into next season with Broja, Gallagher, Cowill and Maatsen. A ST, CM, CB, and LB sorted and more academy players in the team. Focus on the funds we do have under new management on areas where we can effectively strengthen. An attacking winger and a defensive midfielder.
A definite for Gallagher and Broja. Broja is fast and prepared to run, which Lukaku doesn't seem up for. Hazard could still be a match winner if managed correctly. Need experience as well as Academy players.
Hazard is finished. The ankle injury he suffered against PSG permanently ruined him. Add his terrible work ethic he isn't a benefit for any top side. Injury prone now and doesn't have the explosiveness he used to.
Real Madrid 2 v Chelsea 3 An outstanding effort and performance. Werner and Loftus Cheek played very well. Still not convinced by Pulisic though who missed some good chances. Tuchel could have made changes earlier; some very tired legs on the pitch.
I'd like us to have adequate wing back options before we think about upgrading the attack. Vital we find appropriate backups for Chilwell and James. It's what hurt us the most this season.
Cheslea 2 v Crystal Palace 0 Not the best performance but got there in the end. Strange to see James behind Azpi in the formation. Could Azpi be moving on? Kounde in to allow James to play wing back again? Could Jorghino also be moving on? A move back to Italy? Would be nice to see Rice and Gallagher brought in. That would make for a phenomenal midfield. Great to see Werner and Loftus Cheek continuing their run of form. Tuchel seems to be a very good man motivator, and players often need that.
Everton 1, Chelsea 0 The same weaknesses are resurfacing, and can Tuchel turn things around? On the players front, it's clear that some players need to move on and a major rebuild is needed. Azpi is now looking like Ivanovic did in the latter stages of his career, a liability not an asset. Jorghino similar. Overall there's a lack of steel in the side, and forwards who need to leave imo are Pulisc and Werner. They are just not cut out for the PL and don't have the fight in them. Re' Rudiger and Christensen's contracts, surely the club needs to start selling players with one year left on their contracts if they refuse to sign new deals. Replacing those two alone would cost well over £100 million, and the club will receive nothing if they both move on. Azpi on a free is OK considering his age, but not players in their prime, that does not make any sense and sets a dangerous precedent.
FA Cup final, Chelsea lose their 4th final out of 5 over the last 6 years. The club used to win all their finals pretty much. What has gone wrong?! To be fair, the team played very well again, but the warning signs are there, and changes are needed. Werner refused to play at the last minute, and Pulisic yet again was largely ineffective. Two examples of players the club have bought who looked like the next Hazard in a less physical, slower league, but put them in the PL and they struggle. Diaz at Liverpool shows it is possible to get players from other leagues who can adapt, and the club are failing there in part. Tuchel is great at being all inclusive and rarely criticises his players, but enough is enough for some of them. Must sells: Azpilicueta, Pulisic and Werner. No more luxury players, and no more players who are not up for a fast, physical league. Azpi has had a great career, and like Ivanovic some years ago is now way past his best. Players in: Kounde, Koulibaly, Dest?, Perisic.. Rice? if two midfielders can be sold, Barkley being one of them.
Armando Broja and Levi Colwill will be given the chance to force their way into Thomas Tuchel's thoughts, while Conor Gallagher will be immediately put into the first-team squad after his outstanding season at Crystal Palace. - @jamesalanrobson — Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) May 19, 2022
Transfers. Surely the club are going to have to introduce a sell policy for players who refuse to sign a new contract with one year remaining. Rudiger seemed genuine in waiting for an acceptable offer from the club, but Christensen seemed to have made his mind up to leave but wanted to string the club along. Are Mount and James going to do the same thing? If players are just going to hold out for a club that is going to pay the most wages with no club loyalty, a policy of sell with a year to go on contracts seems wise.
If the club is going to mirror the Liverpool / City model closer of retaining managers for longer and allowing the manager to have the final say in transfers, I thing it will be a good thing. Let's be honest, the club has wasted / lost hundreds of millions on the likes of: Kepa, Lukaku, De Bruyne, Salah, Drinkwater, etc. One question mark that is now rising re' Tuchel is rotation and trying to keep everyone happy. It isn't working, and some transfer targets are voicing concerns about it. I would keep Ziyech as his impact can be high, and sell Pulisic and Werner who aren't strong enough. A successful team needs players that will perform in the middle of winter against a tough, physical side away from home. If Richarlison or Lewandowski came in, there could still be room for Broja who looks strong and quick. Not sure about Sterling.
Your examples of the club wasting millions are all from backing the manager’s decision tbf. Kepa (Sarri), KDB/Salah (Mourinho), Drinkwater (Conte). Ziyech and Pulisic should both be sold IMO. I think Werner’s the only one who can still add value to the squad but for what we’re paying him we can’t justify him being an impact/squad player.
Hard to predict what we might look like next season with no players actually signed just yet and only multiple rumours to go off but it’s possible we could line up like this: ———————— Mendy ——— Kounde - T. Silva - De Ligt James ———————————- Chilwell —————- Kovacic — Kante ——- Sterling ——————- Mount ———————- Havertz Still feel we’re short in central midfield. It’s possible Tuchel might see Gallagher as the answer but personally I’m not sure he will make the cut here so hopefully we have someone in mind that the media haven’t picked up on just yet. Dembele: Has felt for while now he’ll stay at Barcelona. Raphina: No idea. Probably a 50/50 chance a deal will happen. Ake: Get the vibe he’s one of our backup options to De Ligt. Koulibaly: 31 year old CB with no PL experience and hasn’t played in a back 3. Not sure I think there’s a genuine interest here.
Kounde rumors died down once de Ligt links started. It’ll be de Ligt and Ake for CBs I reckon. Raphinha interest gives me the impression Tuchel wants a back 4. Think we also will stick with the same midfield until next summer when Rice/Bellingham are available.
It’s definitely possible we’ll shift to a back 4 next season but with De Ligt being our top CB target it seems we’d be a bit short on pace with him and T. Silva at the back so I’m not too sure. De Ligt and Ake are sounding more likely then Kounde at the moment but I wouldn’t rule out it being part of the negotiation strategy either. Seville have banked on selling him this window so unless Barca actually have the money for him their stance is weakened if we have other options and they don’t.
A lot of interesting opinions. First things first, Conte did NOT want Drinkwater! Many of the transfers in have been club transfers and what the Board wanted, not what the manager wanted. That has got to change. Gallagher has what it takes, and maybe Broja. This season's forward line?: Ronaldo, Havertz, Sterling. Ronaldo could be our Silva up front. Forget Raphina, he wants an easy life in Spain. Defenders? It's a lottery, and whatever the club can get for the best price. Balancing the books. As already said, Pulisic and Werner hopefully gone. The club has got to learn that players who look good in Germany aren't necessarily going to cut it in the PL. Rahman, Pulisic, Werner, Sancho..
