Shhhh, come on Luke, what's Jamie Carragher going to spit everywhere over if he sees this? Thank God I've got a firestick and don't have to suffer Sky and their hideously biased coverage.
Anyway when the transfers are closed for the season lets look at the actual squad left to play in the first team and do this one again, right now this is coming to the end of the magical 4th window.
We need a striker we need some height in midfield.
Seeing other comments below, the shambles really is how it affects other players, ones that may join ones being pushed out, some will be in limbo... I can also see press and fans alike still not understanding the spreading of costs over many years on a contract.....
On the info diagram there are a couple that are up for sale with no takers or just enquiries going know where fast
Super article Luke !!! Thanks for telling it like it is ! Great to see the Chelsea haters called out, including the ones in the media !
Now we've got Jamie Carragher, telling players to stop signing with Chelsea !!!
I'd love to get your comments on Carragher, Luke !!!
I think the families and agents of footballers, are more than capable of advising them as to where to sign.
No one forced Cole Palmer to extend his Chelsea contract by two years ! Jamie Carragher must be really upset with Cole ! LOL !!! 😆 😂.......dreadful pity about that, eh !!!
At last an article that confirms what I’ve been saying to so many people over the past 10 to 14 days. Thank you Luke for putting it out there. The journalists and commentators are just talking down on us because they don’t like us and they cannot look at the bigger picture There is a plan, there has always been a plan. It just hasn’t been put together and presented in a calm way that we would all like. I have to be honest I used to look forward to the Spare window now. I just want this one over!
I appreciate it’s hypothetical but it’s going to be impossible to get some of these players out if they are not prepared to take a huge loss on most of them. They overpaid for so many. On the chart even after getting rid of a lot of players some of them left are very average. Let’s wait until the end of the transfer window (which should finish before the season starts) to see where we are. I’m sorry but their track record so far doesn’t give me much confidence.
Given we have about 80 players under professional contract (about a dozen are out on loan, so ~70 are 'at Cobham' as of today) I'm not sure we should be spending any energy on trying to convince people that actually we've only got about 25. We have a hell of a job on our hands to find solutions for all of them - and we are paying them - and it feels almost inevitable that some will fall into the Malang Sarr zone this season, even if a bunch are punted to the U23s. And that's a waste all round, irrespective of how good or bad we might think any one player is. We have too many players on our books and I don't think it's a media conspiracy to acknowledge that.
Luke Mitch is making a valid point in by playing this game we are validating the mess the SD's have made of recruitment and how unbalanced the team is.
Defence from James/ Gusto.. Chalobah/Gilchrist/Fofana/Toisin/Colwill... Cucerella/Veiga Open to change depending on defensive purchase but must be an upgrade...
Midfield Coicedo/Lavia/ Fernandez... Carney/Lesley/Palmer .... LW Neto/Felix RW Madueke/ Gusto/Palmer (weak area) Striker Jackson/Guiu open to change on striker purchase mustnt be a stop gap must be an upgrade.
If elite striker is bought Jackson left wing Neto Right
I have severe concerns about how the treatment of players will affect team moral this season especially at the start and possibly again in the january window.
Player awards I'm hoping it will be Palmer all the way with Lavia Ypoty, but goals scored with an elite striker staying fit could be the new striker.
Everyone saying its the press on the Chelsea back I suggest you go and check the Chelsea website and read thelisting for the mens team which lists 33 squad players although several clearly now aren't in the squad and 5 are goalkeepers.
How long before Egghead sees that the SDs have made a hash of it, its a blinding bit of PR that Todd gets all the pain and Egghead gets away with it as he is the one pulling strings with his man a CEO as well.
I think Nizaar is exactly right with the current squad. Felix will obviously be added. If Joe Gomes comes in, that 100% chance Disasi gets sent out somewhere/somehow. I do think they will also get a striker (likely either Osimhen or Toney) and then send Guiu out on loan.
Given all those potential moves, my starting 11 would be:
CF - {new striker or Jackson}
LW - Neto
AM - Nkunku
RW - Palmer
CM - Enzo
DM - Lavia
LB - Cucurella
LCB - Colwill
RCB - Fofana
RB - James
G - Jorgensen
And then during cup games I know the common wisdom is to only rotate a few players, but unless there is injury I would keep the starting 11 above for all PL games but do almost a complete swap of starting 11 for cup games:
CF - { Jackson or Guiu depending on if new striker comes in }
LW - Mudryk
AM - KDH
RW - Madueke
CM - Enzo
DM - Caicedo
LB - Viega
LCB - Badiashille
RCB - Tosin
RB - Gusto
G - Sanchez
Felix will get a ton of minutes as a sub and/or when there are injuries, but I wouldn't have him as a locked in starter unless he really heats up. Disasi just rides the bench unless there is an injury need.
This has been blindingly obvious to anyone with half a brain for ages. I don’t expect any favours for Chelsea from the media, who are having far too much fun perpetuating the bloated squad/club of chaos narrative - but the numbers of Chelsea ‘fans’ who’ve gone along with it is a bit annoying.
Do the owners understand what an actual squad consists of as to positioning. If they do then we’ll be okay. Your chart makes sense if all the moves actually happen. With this ownership group who knows.
Shhhh, come on Luke, what's Jamie Carragher going to spit everywhere over if he sees this? Thank God I've got a firestick and don't have to suffer Sky and their hideously biased coverage.
How did I miss this Luke
Anyway when the transfers are closed for the season lets look at the actual squad left to play in the first team and do this one again, right now this is coming to the end of the magical 4th window.
We need a striker we need some height in midfield.
Seeing other comments below, the shambles really is how it affects other players, ones that may join ones being pushed out, some will be in limbo... I can also see press and fans alike still not understanding the spreading of costs over many years on a contract.....
On the info diagram there are a couple that are up for sale with no takers or just enquiries going know where fast
Almost 50 players and only one central midfielder, who is struggling to cope in the Prem. Unbelievable
Super article Luke !!! Thanks for telling it like it is ! Great to see the Chelsea haters called out, including the ones in the media !
Now we've got Jamie Carragher, telling players to stop signing with Chelsea !!!
I'd love to get your comments on Carragher, Luke !!!
I think the families and agents of footballers, are more than capable of advising them as to where to sign.
No one forced Cole Palmer to extend his Chelsea contract by two years ! Jamie Carragher must be really upset with Cole ! LOL !!! 😆 😂.......dreadful pity about that, eh !!!
Top Scorer and Top Assists: Cole Palmer
Usung hero: Neto
At last an article that confirms what I’ve been saying to so many people over the past 10 to 14 days. Thank you Luke for putting it out there. The journalists and commentators are just talking down on us because they don’t like us and they cannot look at the bigger picture There is a plan, there has always been a plan. It just hasn’t been put together and presented in a calm way that we would all like. I have to be honest I used to look forward to the Spare window now. I just want this one over!
Top Scorer New striker or Jackson
Top Assister Palmer
POTY Nkunku or Colwill
YPOTY (20 or under) Lavia
Unsung Hero Caicedo
I appreciate it’s hypothetical but it’s going to be impossible to get some of these players out if they are not prepared to take a huge loss on most of them. They overpaid for so many. On the chart even after getting rid of a lot of players some of them left are very average. Let’s wait until the end of the transfer window (which should finish before the season starts) to see where we are. I’m sorry but their track record so far doesn’t give me much confidence.
Jorgensen, James, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Caicedo, Palmer, Nkunku, Neto, Jackson.
As you can tell, unfortunately my best team doesn’t include Enzo.
Top Scorer - Palmer
Top Assister - Palmer
POTY - Palmer
YPOTY (20 or under) - Lavia
Unsung Hero - Gusto
Given we have about 80 players under professional contract (about a dozen are out on loan, so ~70 are 'at Cobham' as of today) I'm not sure we should be spending any energy on trying to convince people that actually we've only got about 25. We have a hell of a job on our hands to find solutions for all of them - and we are paying them - and it feels almost inevitable that some will fall into the Malang Sarr zone this season, even if a bunch are punted to the U23s. And that's a waste all round, irrespective of how good or bad we might think any one player is. We have too many players on our books and I don't think it's a media conspiracy to acknowledge that.
I'm sorry, but looking at the graphic is just depressing. Here's a 25 man squad that would be better (and would have cost significantly less).
Mendy, Petrovic, Bettinelli (a saving of over £40m)
James, Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Badiashile, Colwill, Chilwell, Maatsen (no signing of Tosin, Veiga; Disasi and Cucurella sold)
Lavia, Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher
Neto, Madueke, Palmer, Nkunku, Chukwumueka, Sterling, Mudryk (no Dewbury-Hall or Felix, a saving of £75m)
Jackson, Duran
The glaring weakness there is left wing, but then I'd never have signed Mudryk and would simply have kept CHO.
The sheer fact that we have spent so much to make the squad demonstrably worse is sickening.
No use living in the past, makes no sense
Against the point of the article really as KDH and Felix are Chelsea players. Mendy and Duran are not as well as all the others you’ve discounted
Luke Mitch is making a valid point in by playing this game we are validating the mess the SD's have made of recruitment and how unbalanced the team is.
My Team incidentally would be
Goal Petrovic, Jorgenson & Bettinelli. Sanchez sold.
Defence from James/ Gusto.. Chalobah/Gilchrist/Fofana/Toisin/Colwill... Cucerella/Veiga Open to change depending on defensive purchase but must be an upgrade...
Midfield Coicedo/Lavia/ Fernandez... Carney/Lesley/Palmer .... LW Neto/Felix RW Madueke/ Gusto/Palmer (weak area) Striker Jackson/Guiu open to change on striker purchase mustnt be a stop gap must be an upgrade.
If elite striker is bought Jackson left wing Neto Right
I have severe concerns about how the treatment of players will affect team moral this season especially at the start and possibly again in the january window.
Player awards I'm hoping it will be Palmer all the way with Lavia Ypoty, but goals scored with an elite striker staying fit could be the new striker.
Everyone saying its the press on the Chelsea back I suggest you go and check the Chelsea website and read thelisting for the mens team which lists 33 squad players although several clearly now aren't in the squad and 5 are goalkeepers.
How long before Egghead sees that the SDs have made a hash of it, its a blinding bit of PR that Todd gets all the pain and Egghead gets away with it as he is the one pulling strings with his man a CEO as well.
I think Nizaar is exactly right with the current squad. Felix will obviously be added. If Joe Gomes comes in, that 100% chance Disasi gets sent out somewhere/somehow. I do think they will also get a striker (likely either Osimhen or Toney) and then send Guiu out on loan.
Given all those potential moves, my starting 11 would be:
CF - {new striker or Jackson}
LW - Neto
AM - Nkunku
RW - Palmer
CM - Enzo
DM - Lavia
LB - Cucurella
LCB - Colwill
RCB - Fofana
RB - James
G - Jorgensen
And then during cup games I know the common wisdom is to only rotate a few players, but unless there is injury I would keep the starting 11 above for all PL games but do almost a complete swap of starting 11 for cup games:
CF - { Jackson or Guiu depending on if new striker comes in }
LW - Mudryk
AM - KDH
RW - Madueke
CM - Enzo
DM - Caicedo
LB - Viega
LCB - Badiashille
RCB - Tosin
RB - Gusto
G - Sanchez
Felix will get a ton of minutes as a sub and/or when there are injuries, but I wouldn't have him as a locked in starter unless he really heats up. Disasi just rides the bench unless there is an injury need.
Top Scorer - { new striker }
Top Assister - Palmer
POTY - Nkunku
YPOTY (20 or under) - Lavia
Unsung Hero - Guiu
Good shout about the 3rd goalkeeper used by the man who shall not be named last season.
The media is just all click bait these days. Next week it'll be another team in the spotlight
This has been blindingly obvious to anyone with half a brain for ages. I don’t expect any favours for Chelsea from the media, who are having far too much fun perpetuating the bloated squad/club of chaos narrative - but the numbers of Chelsea ‘fans’ who’ve gone along with it is a bit annoying.
Do the owners understand what an actual squad consists of as to positioning. If they do then we’ll be okay. Your chart makes sense if all the moves actually happen. With this ownership group who knows.
Let’s go hypothetical, which is the sort of point of this article and not speak about the owners
Luke
The start point is as a result of the owners actions therefore its impossible to be hypothetical.
Incidentally I think the owners saved us form a very bad position as much as I appreciate what Abramovitch did for the club and the trophies.
However I also look at Ratcliff at Man U who essentially could have been our owner as well and dare i say I'm starting to be slightly envious.
Palmer, Palmer, Palmer, Lavia and Caicedo (think he’s going to quietly and efficiently come very good this year)