Cesc Fabregas signs for Chelsea (page 190)

[RandomJ]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

I think a lot of people are forgetting we are the Champions of England for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, Theoretically we could sign noone and still challenge...in fact more so as the team knows each other

Realistically if we just signed Sagna and a centreback we would be in good shape

It doesn't work like that though does it. We stood still after we won the title the first time and got left behind. Every other team is strengthening their squads especially Chelsea and if we don't do the same we will fall behind next season. It's just how football is.

 

[Jack Wills]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Why would Chelsea & PSG want to help each other out, they could get each other in the CL next season, and surely PSG don't give a fuck who wins the Premier League?

if this is the case, can't we get in with Barca, Real or Bayern and fuck Chelsea & PSG over? Bid for some of their players, force up prices for their targets etc? If those two clubs are doing this to us surely we should be doing it back. We need to be bidding for Oscar, Courtois, Thiago Silva, etc and getting it all over the press preferably just before they have big games, even though we would have no intention of actually buying them.

We really shouldn't be letting anyone fuck us over like this. Including Platini. And if PSG can ignore FFP why aren't we ignoring it and threatening serious legal action not just within football but a proper court of law in London or New York or something? Surely we can afford a legal team that can find or 'manufacture' some loopholes to make this unfair bullshit irrelevant?

 

[Nixon_The_Bike_Thief]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Surely we can afford a legal team that can find or 'manufacture' some loopholes to make this unfair bullshit irrelevant?

This "Unfair Bullshit" will actually defend our position going forwards, and after this seasons token slap on the wrist it will also become irrelevant to us going forwards. FFP will not be an issue for us going forwards but will likely discourage new owners coming into other clubs and investing to even the playing field.

 

[OB1]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

I'm not sure that's what Tolmie is saying, although I could be wrong.

FWIW I remain totally convinced that a) Chelsea won't sign Fabregas and that b) if he moves from Barca with Arsenal ruling themselves out his only destination is City.

I definitely think there's games being played by Chelsea behind the scenes to make our life difficult. There were a lot of rumours around the time of Yaya little strop that Chelsea had dangled a contract in front of his agent. I can fully see Mourinho trying to unsettle us and our key players, and also trying to make our lives difficult in the transfer market.

There's very little love lost between ourselves and Chelsea going all the way back to when Hughes was sacked. That situation was precipitated by HIddink's agent saying City wanted him, which at the time was seen as the Russian trying to unsettle us due to his very close relationship with Hiddink and the agent involved.

What's going to be interesting is just how we deal with what's currently going on. Reading the Mangala stories this morning which again have no quotes from him but is still being run by several publications, I can't help but feel there's a concerted effort going on to fuck us from all angles. Personally I think it's a fools errand doing that with Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon.

All we have to do is say "we're not interested in Fabregas anymore - bye", same with Mangala, give Toure a new contract, and go and sign players not handled by Mendes or the Russian mafia. Ultimately money trumps everything in football and we have more than anyone else.

As a side note, I don't entirely agree with people saying that we've been hamstrung by the FFP rulings. There has been absolutely zero clarity from UEFA regarding how the net spend is calculated, and much like the 21 man squad ruling, the reason for the lack of transparency is because IMO the calculations will be based on what goes through the books rather than the headline fee.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea are playing silly games: they really are a horrid little club.

Like you, I think that they are fools if they think they messing with Mansour and KAM is a good idea.; City will play the long game.

The more and more I think it over, the more I think the "conspiracy theory" I proposed about PSG and Chelsea colluding to artificially inflate Luiz's transfer fee to destabilise the market could be plausible. I think they are doing quite a bit more than that, much of which has already been proposed, but that action is the perfect platform from which to launch a more articulated strategy.

It's all a huge conspiracy linked to the Russian and Qatari World Cup bids.

 

[bluesince76]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

There are plenty of politics in play.

Chelsea know City want Fabregas, they are playing games on a number of levels.

It is also linked into Mangala and Benatia, other targets Chelsea feel they can do with or without.

Chelsea want to force City into spending big and before we are ready.

Mourinho is quite happy to wait to sign Fabregas.

Paris and Chelsea are in cahoots, they did the Luiz deal at the level they did, because PSG quickly wanted to force the issue on Yaya.

Sneaky bastards.

Ever watched Storage Hunters? Get your opponent to overspend early on and they've not got any cash left when the good stuff appears. Chelsea are quids in with their sales, PSG is just ignoring Platini and we're on a budget.

I suspect this could be a tricky window and we may have to accept we'll be at a disadvantage this season. That may be why our focus is on the long game with future profit streams at the forefront of what's happening this summer - NYCFC, M(elbourne)CFC, more seats at the Etihad etc

'Accept we are at a disadvantage'- We can't, and won't do that.

We did that last time we won the league, though the Mancini issue will have been something to do with that.

We didn't strengthen where we needed to. No way will we make that mistake again. We will want to make a real impression on next seasons Champions League.

I didn't say we wouldn't strengthen, but we have to accept there's a budget limit this window of £49m plus whoever we sell. That's still a lot of cash, but if we bought Fabregas for £30m and Fernando for £15m, that's us done in terms of first teamers unless we then sell Yaya.

Fenando and Sagna give us a lot of what we needed. Another CB would be good, unless Nastasic is fit, but even then we're short on numbers there, so a squad player at least is required.

Whilst we didn't strengthen well for last season, most of the issues seemed to come from the manager rather than lack of depth or quality yet we still finished second and made the cup final. If we have to 'accept' that again next year, I could live with it, knowing the following summer the shackles are off

 

[fbloke]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Oh what a tangled we we weave when first we practice to deceive.

As much as Chelsea think they are playing a blinder and being oh so clever I make a bold prediction - City will come out of this summer window having paid the price they wanted to pay, for the players they wanted.

PSG have made the point of buying a bang average player for world class money in Luiz and now they and Chelsea think that they can pull strings and get what they want? Well even Barca and Real at their pinnacle had to settle their differences with a few clubs to get things done.

FFP may well be City's biggest asset this summer because the perception is that City will stick to a limit on transfers that the world and his wife have seen publicised. Imagine if City were actually ahead of the curve and Chelsea were being mugged here.

 

[jimbopm]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

I think a lot of people are forgetting we are the Champions of England for the 2nd time in 3 seasons, Theoretically we could sign noone and still challenge...in fact more so as the team knows each other

Realistically if we just signed Sagna and a centreback we would be in good shape

 

[SebastianBlue]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

Wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea are playing silly games: they really are a horrid little club.

Like you, I think that they are fools if they think they messing with Mansour and KAM is a good idea.; City will play the long game.

The more and more I think it over, the more I think the "conspiracy theory" I proposed about PSG and Chelsea colluding to artificially inflate Luiz's transfer fee to destabilise the market could be plausible. I think they are doing quite a bit more than that, much of which has already been proposed, but that action is the perfect platform from which to launch a more articulated strategy.

It's all a huge conspiracy linked to the Russian and Qatari World Cup bids.

I think it goes back to the assassination of the Romanovs, personally.

 

[OB1]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

The more and more I think it over, the more I think the "conspiracy theory" I proposed about PSG and Chelsea colluding to artificially inflate Luiz's transfer fee to destabilise the market could be plausible. I think they are doing quite a bit more than that, much of which has already been proposed, but that action is the perfect platform from which to launch a more articulated strategy.

It's all a huge conspiracy linked to the Russian and Qatari World Cup bids.

I think it goes back to the assassination of the Romanovs, personally.

:-)

 

[supercity88]

Re: Cesc Fabregas

This transfer window is crucial (they all are) but the mistakes in the 2012 summer were more hard hitting because we were not actually that good a side when we won the league. We were okay but there were weaknesses in our squad depth and we were pretty one dimensional. Things are not the same now - we can compete for the league with the squad we have quite comfortably - our form taking out the early away results, was extremely impressive and we had to carry a side with key players injured for large parts of it.

To reach the next level we need to add the final pieces - a centre back, right back, defensive midfielder are the key areas - left back too possibly. If we add quality in those positions we will do well. We have a lot of versatile players who can interchange. Fernando looks a class act and Fabregas would only look to compete for that advanced central role that Ferny and Yaya can play, and that Silva excels in too. He isn't worth purchasing. We are better to get more out of Yaya by taking some of his defensive duties away and having Fernando come in as a younger option who can run the midfield for years. In terms of replacing Yaya well... you can't. Consistency wise Fabregas is quality but Yaya last season was unplayable at times. Will he score that many again this term? Barkley is the only player I have seen who may be able to fill Yaya's void. He is a raw talent - he has an intelligence on the pitch and can physically batter people (including Yaya). He has the passing range, the tricks and two good feet and will score a lot of goals. But he isn't ready to replace Yaya yet. In 12 months he may be.

Pogba is another cracking player who has time on his side too. I think Barkley is a little bit more unpredictable, though Pogba is more consistent. Fabregas will improve Chelsea but their defensive unit needs improving. What is for sure is that the league will get another level of tough next season!