Chelsea Thread - 2023/24

[waspish]

I've no problem with Chelsea spending whatever they want.

I just don't get why some of the latest signings would agree to go there, knowing that there are another 2 or 3 new signings for their position already there.

What are they being told in discussions? Why isn't their agent warning them that it might not be the best move?

They'll probably buy again in January as well

 

[BerkshireBlue]

They can spend a billion every transfer window without any questions being asked.

This has already been covered they are fine for FFP it just means they'll be screwed in about 3 years as they won't be able to sign anyone without selling for a similar price

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

I've no problem with Chelsea spending whatever they want.

I just don't get why some of the latest signings would agree to go there, knowing that there are another 2 or 3 new signings for their position already there.

What are they being told in discussions? Why isn't their agent warning them that it might not be the best move?

I presume that the signings are being offered big salaries, which the agents are happy to accept.

I have a mistrust of motives of the majority of agents, so not convinced that they work with their clients best interests as their focal point.

Perhaps the player(s) they are bringing in believe they are better than the competition, or perhaps the money is the big pull ?

 

[Vialli98]

I've no problem with Chelsea spending whatever they want.

I just don't get why some of the latest signings would agree to go there, knowing that there are another 2 or 3 new signings for their position already there.

What are they being told in discussions? Why isn't their agent warning them that it might not be the best move?

That isn't always true though. Chelsea have 3 wingers currently, one who is currently injured and another who is very injury prone. That's the group Palmer joins. If he wants to play more centrally there's space for him there too. At the moment it's just Gallagher and Enzo, and Gallagher has been linked with a move away all summer, and my feeling is he will probably get a deadline day move somewhere. Latest rumours linking him with Spurs.

Sometimes I feel like people just pay attention to incomings at Chelsea. Pulisic is gone. Ziyech is gone. CHO is on the verge of being gone. Havertz is gone. Mount is gone. That's 5 players Chelsea have used on their wing in the last 2 years, all gone. Mudryk, Madueke and Sterling are here. Palmer joins that group and if he stays healthy will probably get his fair share of starts.

 

[mattcity5]

That isn't always true though. Chelsea have 3 wingers currently, one who is currently injured and another who is very injury prone. That's the group Palmer joins. If he wants to play more centrally there's space for him there too. At the moment it's just Gallagher and Enzo, and Gallagher has been linked with a move away all summer, and my feeling is he will probably get a deadline day move somewhere. Latest rumours linking him with Spurs.

Sometimes I feel like people just pay attention to incomings at Chelsea. Pulisic is gone. Ziyech is gone. CHO is on the verge of being gone. Havertz is gone. Mount is gone. That's 5 players Chelsea have used on their wing in the last 2 years, all gone. Mudryk, Madueke and Sterling are here. Palmer joins that group and if he stays healthy will probably get his fair share of starts.

Tbh I wasn't meaning really about Palmer specifically, just generally. There's a point where I don't see why a top young talent would want to join Chelsea because of the amount of other purchases.

But you mention if Palmer wanted to play centrally - it really isn't just Enzo & Gallagher there. There's those who'll play deeper too, but you can only fit so many in there at once. You've got Caicedo, Lavia, Chukwuemeka and Ugochukwu plus Andrey Santos (out on loan). Palmer also could take up similar positions to Sterling, so that's another for him to compete with.

You're kind of right though, it isn't totally overloaded and I had assumed these players were being added to a squad, but they more or less are the whole squad. It's a bit mad really.

That said, just in terms of Palmer I don't think the move makes sense, but we'll have to wait and see. With us having Champions League this year (as per usual), he would have had chances for games if he was patience. At Chelsea he's got a lot of competition for places, but less matches available to play in. A couple of bad games early on and we might not see much of him all season.

 

[Vialli98]

Tbh I wasn't meaning really about Palmer specifically, just generally. There's a point where I don't see why a top young talent would want to join Chelsea because of the amount of other purchases.

But you mention if Palmer wanted to play centrally - it really isn't just Enzo & Gallagher there. There's those who'll play deeper too, but you can only fit so many in there at once. You've got Caicedo, Lavia, Chukwuemeka and Ugochukwu plus Andrey Santos (out on loan). Palmer also could take up similar positions to Sterling, so that's another for him to compete with.

You're kind of right though, it isn't totally overloaded and I had assumed these players were being added to a squad, but they more or less are the whole squad. It's a bit mad really.

That said, just in terms of Palmer I don't think the move makes sense, but we'll have to wait and see. With us having Champions League this year (as per usual), he would have had chances for games if he was patience. At Chelsea he's got a lot of competition for places, but less matches available to play in. A couple of bad games early on and we might not see much of him all season.

Well I would say Ugochukwu, Lavia, Caicedo and Santos are more defensive mids and if Palmer wants to play centrally then those players would be in competition with each other and not Palmer.

I think we are kind of overloaded in certain positions. DM is one of them, maybe CB if everyone is fit. But beyond that, I think we have a healthy number of players for each position.

Wingers: Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke and now Palmer.
Strikers: Jackson, Broja, potentially Nkunku if needed and Burstow, Fofana (when he returns from loan).
Attacking mids: Nkunku, Chukwuemeka
Midfielders: Enzo, Gallagher potentially Palmer if needed, Caicedo at a stretch
Defensive mids: Caicedo, Lavia, Ugochukwu, Santos (when he returns from loan)
CB: Silva, Colwill, Disasi, Badiashile, Fofana (out for a season), Chalobah (being sold), Humphreys (will go on loan).
RB: James, Gusto.
LB: Chilwell, Maatsen
GK: Sanchez, Petrovic.

 

[mattcity5]

Depends on the formation also though. With the number of defensive midfielders signed (and the cost of 2 in particular) I'd expect 2 deep midfielders which may only leave one other space in there for a more attacking central midfielder.

And Chilwell seemed to have been playing almost as a winger - I expect he was a wingback but that probably meant 3 centre backs, so usually means not playing wingers at all.

Forgetting about players loaned out, that squad is big compared to ours. Though I guess ours feels small at times because we know which players have Pep's trust and those that don't and won't get picked. We dont quite know that with some of the Chelsea players yet.

 

[Vialli98]

Depends on the formation also though. With the number of defensive midfielders signed (and the cost of 2 in particular) I'd expect 2 deep midfielders which may only leave one other space in there for a more attacking central midfielder.

And Chilwell seemed to have been playing almost as a winger - I expect he was a wingback but that probably meant 3 centre backs, so usually means not playing wingers at all.

Forgetting about players loaned out, that squad is big compared to ours. Though I guess ours feels small at times because we know which players have Pep's trust and those that don't and won't get picked. We dont quite know that with some of the Chelsea players yet.

Yeah for sure, this is true. Who can fit in where will always depend on the formation Poch wants to go with in any given match. I don't think Lavia is guaranteed to start every game for example, so if Poch fancies being a bit more attacking, he could go with a 433 with Caicedo at the base, Enzo and an attacking mid.

Another thing I would say is, with our injury history over the last 2 seasons (we already have like 10 injured players now) there will be plenty of chances for everyone to get a run of games and stake their claim.

I would say the only untouchables right now are Enzo, Caicedo, Chilwell, Silva and James (when he's fit). Everyone else, including Palmer, will have to earn their place and fight to keep it.

 

[bluetonium]

Thirty one players signed now under Boehly with Palmer going there!

Not so much a scatter gun approach, more akin to the 'last time you soiled yourself ' thread in our classics section.

 

[I'm With Stupid]

Well I would say Ugochukwu, Lavia, Caicedo and Santos are more defensive mids and if Palmer wants to play centrally then those players would be in competition with each other and not Palmer.

I think we are kind of overloaded in certain positions. DM is one of them, maybe CB if everyone is fit. But beyond that, I think we have a healthy number of players for each position.

Wingers: Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke and now Palmer.
Strikers: Jackson, Broja, potentially Nkunku if needed and Burstow, Fofana (when he returns from loan).
Attacking mids: Nkunku, Chukwuemeka
Midfielders: Enzo, Gallagher potentially Palmer if needed, Caicedo at a stretch
Defensive mids: Caicedo, Lavia, Ugochukwu, Santos (when he returns from loan)
CB: Silva, Colwill, Disasi, Badiashile, Fofana (out for a season), Chalobah (being sold), Humphreys (will go on loan).
RB: James, Gusto.
LB: Chilwell, Maatsen
GK: Sanchez, Petrovic.

You missed out your man with the hair from Brighton.