The Chelsea Thread

[Alc]

The best deals are rarely found at the end of the window. Exceptions do not prove the rule.

No exceptions at all. In terms of value, the best deals are found at the end of the window. Its why Levy always conducts his business at the very end and strikes some excellent bargains for Tottenham.

People forget that Chelsea is no longer the club of the old that throws money around. Finances are being managed very carefully which is why its taking so long to do business. Even a club with a bottomless war chest like United were struggling in the market before we handed Matic over on a silver platter.

Only club who got their business done early is City by overpaying considerably for most of their signings.

 

[Alc]

Really? That's a very dodgy strategy to have!

Only if you don't know what you are doing.

 

[Alc]

Many rival clubs are gloating but every single EPL club has struggled this window. Spurs have not brought anyone in yet. Liverpool are going to be more occupied trying to hold onto Coutinho and have not strengthened in their weak areas. United were doing terribly before we handed Matic on a silver platter. Arsenal plod along like they always do. City overpaid considerably for their signings.

Chelsea have secured three major signings at bargain prices in today's market. We are four okayers short who will likely make up numbers in the squad. Barkley and Ox will most likely move for sure closer to deadline day. Same for VVD. Drinkwater looks likely this week. Bakayoko, Pedro and Hazard still to return to full fitness.

 

[zzeezzy]

Many rival clubs are gloating but every single EPL club has struggled this window. Spurs have not brought anyone in yet. Liverpool are going to be more occupied trying to hold onto Coutinho and have not strengthened in their weak areas. United were doing terribly before we handed Matic on a silver platter. Arsenal plod along like they always do. City overpaid considerably for their signings.

Chelsea have secured three major signings at bargain prices in today's market. We are four okayers short who will likely make up numbers in the squad. Barkley and Ox will most likely move for sure closer to deadline day. Same for VVD. Drinkwater looks likely this week. Bakayoko, Pedro and Hazard still to return to full fitness.

Hey you're entitled to your opinion but I don't think getting Lukaku and Linfelof is terrible. Sure it may not be an ideal window but far from terrible.

 

[Alc]

Hey you're entitled to your opinion but I don't think getting Lukaku and Linfelof is terrible. Sure it may not be an ideal window but far from terrible.

Definitely were not strengthening the areas that Mourinho had set out. Lukaku is a replacement for Zlatan. Only Linfelof a value addition. Woody was struggling to get any other deals over the line. Still is. Matic was handed to you lot on a platter.

 

[RhQQ]

Definitely were not strengthening the areas that Mourinho had set out. Lukaku is a replacement for Zlatan. Only Linfelof a value addition. Woody was struggling to get any other deals over the line. Still is. Matic was handed to you lot on a platter.

If that's your logic then you've had a terrible window too. Morata replaces Costa and Bakayoko replaces Matic (*arguable* slight downgrades in terms of PL, time will tell). Rudiger your only "value addition"

 

[Alc]

If that's your logic then you've had a terrible window too. Morata replaces Costa and Bakayoko replaces Matic (*arguable* slight downgrades in terms of PL, time will tell). Rudiger your only "value addition"

I never argued otherwise.

 

[Mike.]

Definitely were not strengthening the areas that Mourinho had set out. Lukaku is a replacement for Zlatan. Only Linfelof a value addition. Woody was struggling to get any other deals over the line. Still is. Matic was handed to you lot on a platter.

What the holy **** are you talking about?

United wanted a central defender, deep centre mid, main striker and winger. They have 3/4. United have strengthened in 3/4. And even now zlatan will arrive again in Jan as back up

 

[Mike.]

No one does good business end of the window

 

[Mike.]

I really don't know how you're trying to spin Chelsea's business as good when your own manager is ****** off about it. Sound like Wenger "we've bought players for good value"

You're 4 players short with 3 weeks to go, and your manager is ****** that the club have lost him two targets in Lukaku and Koulibaly (thank goodness Morata was available), that he's lost a player he counted on in Matic, and most of his rivals are beefing up. Its a good thing Liverpool shot themselves in the foot over VVD or it would be worse

 

[Alc]

What the holy **** are you talking about?

United wanted a central defender, deep centre mid, main striker and winger. They have 3/4. United have strengthened in 3/4. And even now zlatan will arrive again in Jan as back up

And they only strengthened 2/4 and were struggling to get other deals over the line. They would still be in the same
predicament if we had not given Matic iver.

 

[Alc]

I really don't know how you're trying to spin Chelsea's business as good when your own manager is ****** off about it. Sound like Wenger "we've bought players for good value"

You're 4 players short with 3 weeks to go, and your manager is ****** that the club have lost him two targets in Lukaku and Koulibaly (thank goodness Morata was available), that he's lost a player he counted on in Matic, and most of his rivals are beefing up. Its a good thing Liverpool shot themselves in the foot over VVD or it would be worse

Please tell me where I said Chelsea had a good transfer window? All I said was that every single EPL club is struggling. Even United were struggling to get deals over the line before we handed Matic over. They still have not managed to complete a single deal since even though its well known Mourinho wants one more player. If we had not handed Matic over, woody would be scrambling for two first team players this late into the window as well.

Club never lost Koulibaly and that never showed an interst in him this summer anyways. The reason they did not get him last summer was because Napoli demanded a crazy price.

Only club that have strengthened quickly is City but they overpaid massively for some mediocre players.

 

[ninjaskill]

And they only strengthened 2/4 and were struggling to get other deals over the line. They would still be in the same
predicament if we had not given Matic iver.

But the club did get him so the situation is different, Chelsea have to do a lot of buying and every man and his dog knows it and will put an extra few million on the price tag that they reserve for premier league teams

 

[ninjaskill]

Please tell me where I said Chelsea had a good transfer window? All I said was that every single EPL club is struggling. Even United were struggling to get deals over the line before we handed Matic over. They still have not managed to complete a single deal since even though its well known Mourinho wants one more player. If we had not handed Matic over, woody would be scrambling for two first team players this late into the window as well.

Club never lost Koulibaly and that never showed an interst in him this summer anyways. The reason they did not get him last summer was because Napoli demanded a crazy price.

Only club that have strengthened quickly is City but they overpaid massively for some mediocre players.

Can only hypothesise as to what would have happened at United had Matic not joined, for all we know Woodward could have responded by paying over the odds for a couple of different players just to get them in.

Also doubt the Shiekh really cares if City overpay by a couple million pretty sure his cleaners find that when they pick up his sofa cushions

 

[Alc]

But the club did get him so the situation is different, Chelsea have to do a lot of buying and every man and his dog knows it and will put an extra few million on the price tag that they reserve for premier league teams

They were struggling in the market like most other EPL teams until we handed Matic over. That is my whole point. I fact that they are stable now largely due to Chelsea's largess is besides the point.

 

[Alc]

Can only hypothesise as to what would have happened at United had Matic not joined, for all we know Woodward could have responded by paying over the odds for a couple of different players just to get them in.

Also doubt the Shiekh really cares if City overpay by a couple million pretty sure his cleaners find that when they pick up his sofa cushions

Didn't look like woody was willing to overpay for Perisic and complete the deal quickly.

Yes City do not mind overpaying, its a different situation for Chelsea. Club knows that if they hold their nerve and do not panic, there are some abolsutely great deals to be struck late into the window. Its why Levy, one of the savviest transfer dealers in the world, almost always does his business so late.

Is it a high risk strategy that could backfire? Absolutely yes. Which is why I have been saying to wait till the end of the window before judging a teams transfer dealings. As of now, you can be 90% sure that three players in Ox, Barkley and VVD will be on the move and all three could plausibly end up at Chelsea. If those three come in, all of a sudden Chelsea will be the true winners of the summer isn't it?

Patience and lets see how it all plays out.

 

[Alc]

No one does good business end of the window

Blanket statement that does not take into account the different circumstances each player finds themselves in. If a player is in the last year of their contract like Ox and Barkley (both Chelsea targets), you are more likely to extract excellent value at the end of the window than by getting them in the beginning. PSG are looking to offload players. VVD has burnt bridges at Southampton.

There is a reason why so much business is done on deadline day despite the summer window being open for three months. Its not because every club is suddenly desperate and scrambling around for signings. Its because thats when you have the potential to make the best deals if you play your cards right. It is a high risk strategy undoubtedly but one that is necessary as Chelsea are trying to manage their finances carefully. If it backfires, so be it. Fans have seen the club lift every trophy the last five years. Another trophyless season is a blip in what Roman is trying to build.

 

[Mike.]

Except Conte didn't want to be scrabbling round for targets less than 3 weeks before the window closes. Barkleys price hadn't changed since the start of the summer. Why hasn't that been dealt with. Ditto Ox-chamberlain. There hasn't even been a bidding war over the former. VVD is only still available because Liverpool ****** up. Levy does business late because he waits till he fleeces another team, and half his signings have been horrible. Teams do business pm deadline day because they often failed throughout the window to hit targets and they end up scrambling

This isn't some great financial plan by Chelsea. They are buying now because they have failed to recruit earlier

 

[Scouseinthehouse]

..... in what Roman is trying to build.

There's a contradiction in terms. 'Build.' Unless short-termism and the here and now constitute building theses days.

No doubt you'll point to the younger aged incomings. But that would be to completely ignore the constant turnover in managers. (Likely to be added by Conte gone after this season. Regardless of if he could hand pick his signings or not.). And a complete disregard for youth development outside of selling for profit.

That's as mad as a Utd fan saying Mourinho's there for the long term and building for the future. When that never has and never will be the way he works.

Chelsea are all about the here and now and have been right through the PL era.

 

[zzeezzy]

You'd take a draw from that next Spurs game right now wouldn't you?

I mean given your squad as it is, players unavilable/injured etc. Unless you make a miraculous signing this week, I can see Spurs really fancying themselves against you.