• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Dani Ceballos

SpurSF said:
As tough as it is to see us moving for a player without a buy option, I wonder if the club will look at what happened with Kovacic and Tielemans for some inspiration. Even if you can't get the option in the contract, get the player in, get him around Poch and the squad, get him out in our new stadium, and allow him to feel a part of the club... and who knows? Maybe we can then get him next summer, especially if Pogba or Eriksen goes to the RM midfield which is just packed with players.

I'd rather have an option (or just a permanent), but I'd rather get the loan without the option than miss out on him all together. Looks like a hell of a talent.
Click to expand...

Well to counter that... Tielemans came in with a new manager bounce but I’ll agree looked good

I still can’t believe they brought Kovacic as he was average at best and basically swapped with Barkley every game. I wonder if they triggered a deal by playing him so much
 
Kovacic - I watched the EL final with a Chelsea fan. He says while Kovacic didnt pull up any trees he was actually a low-key big performer for them.

Id also add, under a different manager - not Sarri who had strange ideas about positions for players! - he could look a very different prospect.

He is a very highly rated player, one whom many here were very keen on (myself included), Im not sure he was as much a bust last season (or will be a bust this season) as people seem to think...
 
They signed him cos they already held his registration and are on a ban so have to take what they can get
 
I don't think Chelsea will be quite the car crash that people are thinking they'll be.

Lampard will get Kante back in the right position and that's a massive bonus. He's still the best in his position (ahem, please read this N'Dombele), and this may let Kovacic finally prove his worth.
Pulisic is of course by no means a Hazard, but he's still a very very capable player who I think will be suited to the Prem.
Defensively they're set up fine. Players familiar with each other.
The team will have to pull together as they can't be a one-man-bail'em-out job anymore.
And I don't think they'll revolt against Lamps like they have for other foreign managers.

Top 4 still for me.
 
Last edited:
Ade's folks are ok really said:
I don't think Chelsea will be quite the car crash that people are thinking they'll be.

Lampard will get Kante back in the right position and that's a massive bonus. He's still the best in his position (ahem, please read this N'Dombele), and this may let Kovacic finally prove his worth.
Pulisic is of course by no means a Hazard, but he's still a very very capable player who I think will be suited to the Prem.
Defensively they're set up fine. Players familiar with each other.
The team will have to pull together as they can't be a one-man-bail'em-out job anymore.
And I don't think they'll revolt against Lamps like they have for other foreign managers.

Top 4 still for me.
Click to expand...

I agree. They also have a lot of loan players coming back which will add a lot of depth, and even if just 1 or 2 of them has made a step up whilst away on loan, they're effectively new players which they didnt have last season.

Subject to what happens in this window, I'm expecting Chelsea to start the season being tipped by a lot pf pundits and bookies to finish 4th, some perhaps 3rd or 5th. I think they're a good bit ahead of Arse, probably marginally better than Man U and a little behind us.
 
Ade's folks are ok really said:
I don't think Chelsea will be quite the car crash that people are thinking they'll be.

Lampard will get Kante back in the right position and that's a massive bonus. He's still the best in his position (ahem, please read this N'Dombele), and this may let Kovacic finally prove his worth.
Pulisic is of course by no means a Hazard, but he's still a very very capable player who I think will be suited to the Prem.
Defensively they're set up fine. Players familiar with each other.
The team will have to pull together as they can't be a one-man-bail'em-out job anymore.
And I don't think they'll revolt against Lamps like they have for other foreign managers.

Top 4 still for me.
Click to expand...

AdamB said:
I agree. They also have a lot of loan players coming back which will add a lot of depth, and even if just 1 or 2 of them has made a step up whilst away on loan, they're effectively new players which they didnt have last season.

Subject to what happens in this window, I'm expecting Chelsea to start the season being tipped by a lot pf pundits and bookies to finish 4th, some perhaps 3rd or 5th. I think they're a good bit ahead of Arse, probably marginally better than Man U and a little behind us.
Click to expand...

They've still got a decent squad but surely the question is where do Hazzard's goals and assists come from this season?
 
milo said:
They've still got a decent squad but surely the question is where do Hazzard's goals and assists come from this season?
Click to expand...

Agree that its always going to be hard to replace someone like Hazard, but Pulisic will provide some, and I'd also expect Lampard to play a midfield with a bit more goal threat in it or change formation. One thing which I found amazing about Sarri's tactics was the way he played 3 CMs, none of whom were a true goal-scoring threat - placed huge responsibility on the front 3 and Hazard in particular

Lampard could go 4-2-3-1 with, for example, two of Jorginho, Kovacic, RLC, Barkley and Kante in CM and then Pulisic, Pedro and Willian behind a CF. Question is getting the blend right, but I can see them being mroe likely to finish above Man U and Arse than below either
 
AdamB said:
Agree that its always going to be hard to replace someone like Hazard, but Pulisic will provide some, and I'd also expect Lampard to play a midfield with a bit more goal threat in it or change formation. One thing which I found amazing about Sarri's tactics was the way he played 3 CMs, none of whom were a true goal-scoring threat - placed huge responsibility on the front 3 and Hazard in particular

Lampard could go 4-2-3-1 with, for example, two of Jorginho, Kovacic, RLC, Barkley and Kante in CM and then Pulisic, Pedro and Willian behind a CF. Question is getting the blend right, but I can see them being mroe likely to finish above Man U and Arse than below either
Click to expand...

Still zero fudging goals there. They're fudged.
 
milo said:
They've still got a decent squad but surely the question is where do Hazzard's goals and assists come from this season?
Click to expand...
Coupled to that has got to be Lampard's inexperience! The top 4 is highly competitive. Solsjaer had arguebly more experience and after an initial bounce has struggled. A season in the Championship does not prepare you to manage the squad in the big games Vs Klopp, Poch, Guardiola and Emery. Not to mention the wily managers such as Pellegrini, Dyche and Nuno.

Don't think he will finish top5, that's even if he survives the season.

Mourinho, Sarri and Conte have shown a talented squad needs a high quality manager and even that is not a guarantee of success.
 
AdamB said:
Agree that its always going to be hard to replace someone like Hazard, but Pulisic will provide some, and I'd also expect Lampard to play a midfield with a bit more goal threat in it or change formation. One thing which I found amazing about Sarri's tactics was the way he played 3 CMs, none of whom were a true goal-scoring threat - placed huge responsibility on the front 3 and Hazard in particular

Lampard could go 4-2-3-1 with, for example, two of Jorginho, Kovacic, RLC, Barkley and Kante in CM and then Pulisic, Pedro and Willian behind a CF. Question is getting the blend right, but I can see them being mroe likely to finish above Man U and Arse than below either
Click to expand...

There were two points between Chelsea and Arsenal last season, I don't see a better formation and a Dortmund reserve making up for the loss of their most creative player.
 
milo said:
There were two points between Chelsea and Arsenal last season, I don't see a better formation and a Dortmund reserve making up for the loss of their most creative player.
Click to expand...

A better formation can make an immeasurable impact, I wouldnt write it off too readily.

In terms of comparison to Arsenal, I think its clear Arsenal have a far superior front line - but basically fudge all else. Chelsea have more quality throughout the team/more balance in quality and composition of player.


Robspur12 said:
Don't think he will finish top5, that's even if he survives the season.
Click to expand...

He has the advantage of CL, both Utd and Arsenal will be nobbled by the EL.

And to be honest, I think he has the best squad of those three as well.

As it stands I expect Us, City and Liverpool to take the top 3 - and those 3 to be fighting out for 5th.

Despite his inexperience right now I think its advantage Lampard. Though admittedly not by a huge amount.

As you point out - itll get interesting when more settle teams get in the mix as well - Everton, Wolves and maybe Burnley might fancy a run at them....
 
nayimfromthehalfwayline said:
A better formation can make an immeasurable impact, I wouldnt write it off too readily.

In terms of comparison to Arsenal, I think its clear Arsenal have a far superior front line - but basically fudge all else. Chelsea have more quality throughout the team/more balance in quality and composition of player.
Click to expand...

Agreed on both counts. I'm not writing them off but I think that it will be tough for them without Hazard and not being able to replace him. Their best two young players are out with ACLs too.
 
The benefit of their current front line is that its a few wiley old heads, could end up being quite effective if Lampard can get a tune out of them.

Giroud, Willian and Pedro have massive experience between them
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back