KingThistle

We're not overly blessed (putting it kindly) with defensive quality. I can't see them being sold either but possibly not for the reasons you indicate. I think we're stuck with them as there is no one else or anyone available. The Tosin experience will be interesting as I thought he may dislodge Badiashile permanently, but that's like replacing one soggy sock with another on the face of it so far. No one knows what the best back 4 of 5 is so I reckon while that is all in flux, they'll be around a wee while longer.

Sad, but true. Although I don't care for what the press ever say; good or bad. He's not unlikeable, I didn't want him to fail - but neither made him someone to stick with as the ceiling is obviously quite low. Take Sancho for example; less than a year older but the difference in how high he could go is staggering. Even in Sancho's darker United times, you know there are gears and levels. Mudryk might just be a good player, and that's where it ends.

Considering we won't win either of those well, I care actually - massive overspend and financial waste on a player in a position we didn't need at the time which we'll have our arse handed to us if we keep or sell regardless.

Financially, what does the loss look like on the books should be sell Mudryk? I can only assume "rather large" is the answer. A rather expensive punt although I don't know what the salary looks like as I'm rather preoccupied by the £80m price tag. Perhaps it's one to mitigate the financial exposure because he just doesn't look like he'll ever get to where we may have hoped.

If so, this is the most pointless job in the world

After we signed 36 of them across the last 5 windows, a scout to identify wingers and 10's is just what we need.

Shit. Show.

Having read through the threads over the last few weeks, there are some great football minds and I've enjoyed reading much. On that, I'd be really interested in views, opinions and standpoints on the "Football Trial of the Century" as it's being billed - Man City and their 115 charges. What do you know? What do you think? How will it pan out? What should the penalties be? Discuss!

A goal every 4 games - majority of those games either subbed on or off. Joint top scorer in first season (top outright for G/A), third top scorer last season (third also for combined G/A). Goals towards the end of last season against Forest and Bournemouth where we nicked vital wins to finish as high as we did. 200G/A total over league career. 80 England caps with 21 goals. Now played for 4 of the biggest teams in the country. Been a knob in the past, turned it round. Criticised heavily time and time again (unfairly for some of it IMO), still chunked out impressive stats. Was he wasteful, did he run down blind alleys and not pass when he should? Yes he did and I threw my slipper at the tele more than once. Did he hit the heights he did at City? No, I'm not daft enough to try and suggest so. Was he one of our better players the last 2 years as I suggest? Absolutely he was, prove me wrong. EDIT: One more thing - de factor leader BTW. Age, experience, international caps, highly regarded by his managers and peers, serial trophy winner. Couldn't be anything other than a leader - especially in our kindergarten of a dressing room.

If true - I can't help but agree with Boehly as the treatment of Sterling and a few others stinks. Definitely earned the right of respect throughout his career before and during his contract with us so not sure what warrented him being fibbed to and then shown the door quite so bluntly. And he being one of our better players and leader/mentors too. We are a funny bunch.

I get that Johnny, but I wonder just how much - or little - leadership and accomodating there is from within the club. He's a kid, a rich one granted, but he's no different to thousands of kids up and down the country. Not excusing him of any of it - if anything the racist shit online was a free-pass - but I do wonder how we deal with bringing in so many kids from all over the world and all at once when there are no role models in the club any more to grab hold of him and others and to show them what it means to be a professional footballer at Chelsea Football Club. Perhaps all of that goes on and he is still a tit, but we don't know for sure.

He's massively disliked in here, hey?

This is answered quite simply - nationality. The American ego demands that they shout and demonstrate about how rich or powerful they are. Vulgar, but not uncommon from our friends across the pond.

Anyone going? What do you think of the 8pm Saturday night kick-offs?

I think you are answering a different question that which was asked. I agree with you assessment - when did we last sign a top player? A bloody long time ago! The original post asserted that we had signed a number of top players - even players coveted by other clubs - and I'm not sure that happened, personally. But of course, the bold quote above is very true and I think that there is subjective nuance from fan to fan, club to club in answer to that.