Squad Status: 2023/24 Season

[Mark Kelly]

I think we have to look at the Villa game and replicate that line up or as close as possible given the injury to Badiashile , it appears that the consensus of opinion is that in a two CB pair Silva is not quick enough but Palace are without their two quickest players so I don't think we need to panic too much .

What we must see is more on Enzo and Caicedo working together .

I really cannot imagine we lose this but I'm not confident that the coach won't try to be clever and show off to his protectors in the media.

[Ham]

1 hour ago, Sciatika said:

@Ham, I suspect he will play Disasi rather than Badiashilein in your second lineup and, possibly, Disasi instead of Silva in your first.

You may well be right now.  👍

[Bob Singleton]

Alfie Gilchrist has extended his contract until 2026 with an option for a further year

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/i-cant-speak-highly-enough-of-him-chelsea-coaches-reflect-on-gilchrists

[Rob B]

Watching the West Ham v Spurs game and it got me thinking -  we really lack height and physicality in our team.   We read a lot about leadership and this is also true,  but I think a couple of monsters would do us the world of good.  

According to this article we have the second smallest team in the league 

https://www.givemesport.com/the-average-height-of-every-premier-league-squad/

Given we have a (much needed) set piece coach joining in the summer, I think we should be looking at a tall left-back, a CB to replace Silva/Chalobah and somehow keeping Lavia, Ugo and Carney fit long enough to get regular minutes. 

I can’t help but see about a lot of our players on the weekend (Cucurella, Enzo, Palmer, Gusto, and Mudryk) and it remind me of when I played 7 a side football as a 35 year old against teams of 21 year olds, who were way better but you’d end up beating them because you’d physically dominate them and they’d end up hiding.  Chelsea are the elite equivalent!   A team of very talented, high potential, weaklings! 

And though they split opinion at the time, even a prime Cahill, Alonso and Matic would transform this team, despite none of them being  “world class” 

[Rick1977]

Random thoughts on what I would dream of seeing next season 

 

 new forward =Gyokeres/ Sesko

 

 new  cm = Kimmich

 

 new winger =Nico Williams

 

 new cd = Ousmane Diomande 

 

And last priority 

 

New keeper = Gregor Kobel

[Mark Kelly]

14 minutes ago, Rick1977 said:

Random thoughts on what I would dream of seeing next season 

 

 new forward =Gyokeres/ Sesko

 

 new  cm = Kimmich

 

 new winger =Nico Williams

 

 new cd = Ousmane Diomande 

 

And last priority 

 

New keeper = Gregor Kobel

Best I can do is, four Brazilian teenagers and Kepa

[My Blood Is Blue]

16 hours ago, Rick1977 said:

Random thoughts on what I would dream of seeing next season 

 

 new forward =Gyokeres/ Sesko

 

 new  cm = Kimmich

 

 new winger =Nico Williams

 

 new cd = Ousmane Diomande 

 

And last priority 

 

New keeper = Gregor Kobel

I just don't see any of them signing for us if we can't offer at least Europa League football. If we're out of all European competitions for 2 years running, then it's going to be hard to sell any decent player on 'the project'.

[My Blood Is Blue]

Alfie Gilchrist has won the Chelsea Academy player of the year!

Delighted for him, what an amazing season for him!

[My Blood Is Blue]

Cole Palmer has won the Chelsea Men’s Players Player of the Year award!

Couldn’t be anyone else really, what a player, what a season.

[My Blood Is Blue]

Cole Palmer has also won the Chelsea Men’s Player of the Year!

Star boy, Cold Palmer!

[JaneB]

End of Season Award winners revealed! | News | Official Site | Chelsea Football Club (chelseafc.com)

Never in doubt.

[Sleeping Dave]

So we are approaching the end of the season and the summers ins and outs. Would be fun to see what everyone predicts will happen so here’s my take on it;

Goalkeepers:

Petrovic, Sanchez, Bettinelli

Realistically we won’t do anything here. We just bought two young promising keepers and I’d let Petrovic and Sanchez battle it out next season. Slonina out on another loan at a higher level and Arrizabalaga sold for a nominal fee.  

Defenders:

James, Gusto, Badiashile, Chalobah, Colwill, Disasi, Fofana, Chilwell, Cucurella, Gilchrist

Fofana, James and Chilwell are all massive doubts in terms of fitness long-term. Ideally I’d want to keep Maatsen but that is not going to happen. Gilchrist can hang around as a utility option at RB and CB. 

Midfield:

Fernandez, Gallagher, Caicedo, Lavia, Ugochukwu

I don’t think we need to do anything here to be honest. A goal scoring midfielder would be nice, but it won’t happen this summer. 

Attacking midfield:

Palmer, Nkunku, Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke, Chukwuemeka

If we can find takers for Sterling I’d be tempted, but we need experience and with our injury troubles I’m hesitant to go into a new season with too few attacking players. We have bodies and potential - Palmer needs another super season and we need more from Sterling, Mudryk, Madueke and Nkunku. Maybe also a loan for Chuk… 

Strikers:

Osimhen, Jackson

Only reinforcement is Osimhen - we need more goals and he can help us with that. He fits the bill and perhaps we can work out some part exchange deal with the lump of lard currently residing in Rome? 

26 players including Fofana and who knows what will be of him (25 if we also loan out Chuk). We can’t go into a season with 32 players, we just need to pray for a more reasonable season when it comes to injuries. 
 

In:

Osimhen 

 

Out:

Lukaku (part exchange with Osimhen)

Arrizabalaga (small fee)

Broja (£20-30m)

Maatsen (£10-15m)

Silva (free)

Ziyech (free)

Cumming (free)

Anjorin (free)

Rankin (free)

Sarr (free)

Morerira (loan)

Santos (loan)

Angelo (loan)

Casadei (loan)

Slonina (loan)

Bergström (loan)

Beach (loan) 

Humphreys (loan)

Hutchinson (loan)

Vale (loan)

Webster (loan)

Matos (loan)

Burstow (loan)

Washington (loan)

Datri Fofana (loan)

Edited May 16, 2024 by Sleeping Dave

[My Blood Is Blue]

@Sleeping Dave I would try and bring in a quality CB. Chalobah has ended the season well and Badiashile has had a decent run of form, but I’ve not seen anything from any of the CBs we’ll have that makes me think they are a top level CB that can run our defence, so I’d be looking for someone like that. Fofana could have been this player, but he’s barely played in the last 4 years!

Goalkeeper, I’ve said a few times that I’d give Petrovic another season, unless a top quality option is available, so that would depend on the market. Sanchez I’d move on if we can’t get rid of Kepa.

I wouldn’t sign Oshimen, I don’t think he’s worth the money they’ll demand we pay. I’d rather go for Sesko I think.

I also think an experienced CM would do us the world of good. Someone that knows how to manage the trickier matches and can be a bit of a coach on the pitch.

I’d probably look at another AM as well, someone who can contribute with goals and assists as we can’t put it all on Palmer again.

In terms of profile of players, I’d be looking for experience as much as anything else, wherever possible.

[Sleeping Dave]

1 hour ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

@Sleeping Dave I would try and bring in a quality CB. Chalobah has ended the season well and Badiashile has had a decent run of form, but I’ve not seen anything from any of the CBs we’ll have that makes me think they are a top level CB that can run our defence, so I’d be looking for someone like that. Fofana could have been this player, but he’s barely played in the last 4 years!

Goalkeeper, I’ve said a few times that I’d give Petrovic another season, unless a top quality option is available, so that would depend on the market. Sanchez I’d move on if we can’t get rid of Kepa.

I wouldn’t sign Oshimen, I don’t think he’s worth the money they’ll demand we pay. I’d rather go for Sesko I think.

I also think an experienced CM would do us the world of good. Someone that knows how to manage the trickier matches and can be a bit of a coach on the pitch.

I’d probably look at another AM as well, someone who can contribute with goals and assists as we can’t put it all on Palmer again.

In terms of profile of players, I’d be looking for experience as much as anything else, wherever possible.

So you want/or believe (?) we will sign a GK, a CB, a CM, an AM and a striker? I get the ask for experience, but don’t understand how that translates into us buying Sesko. An u proven 20 year old is the last thing our attack needs imo. 

 

[martin1905]

We have to sign a CB.

As good as Fofana,  Colwill and Badiashille are/will be they are far too young to for any sort of partnership and clearly Disasi isn't the answer.

Chalobah has been quietly brilliant since he came back and I love him but he can't be the one.

Joachim Anderson at Palace for me. Ticks every box, looks a potential star and wouldn't cost silly money. Just about to turn 28 and 6ft 4 and captained Fulham when he was there.

Edited May 17, 2024 by martin1905

[Sciatika]

Does anyone know where we are with Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia?

[My Blood Is Blue]

39 minutes ago, Sleeping Dave said:

So you want/or believe (?) we will sign a GK, a CB, a CM, an AM and a striker? I get the ask for experience, but don’t understand how that translates into us buying Sesko. An u proven 20 year old is the last thing our attack needs imo. 

 

I don't believe we will make all those signings, no, but that's what I would look to be doing if I had any say.

I think we'll only sign a GK if the planets align and we can get in a top quality GK, otherwise, we stick with what we have.

I think we should sign a proper quality, proven CB. Whether we will or not I don't know, as the outlay in that position has already been fairly significant since the ownership change.

I do think we should sign an experienced CM, I think we need someone in the middle of the park in the trickier games when we need to be smarter in controlling things. Whether this happens, no idea, this is just something I want.

Experienced and quality AM, yeah, I don't think Sterling's output is good enough and I feel that players like Palmer, Madueke & Jackson have the potential to be brilliant for us, but could do with an experienced player alongside them to help them and for them to turn to for advice etc. 

Striker, I was just giving someone I would prefer to Osimhen. I don't think we will go for Sesko, but I really like the look of him. He obviously doesn't tick the experience box, but I'm not suggesting we only sign experience, but high on the list of areas of improvement for this squad should be getting more experience in there. 

[My Blood Is Blue]

15 minutes ago, Sciatika said:

Does anyone know where we are with Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia?

Poch has said he 'hopes' to have Fofana back for pre-season, but I've not seen anything mentioned about Lavia, however, he posted a picture of himself running on the grass recently, so that's progress of sorts.

[Mark Kelly]

Matip is leaving Liverpool, 32, experienced and I've always thought him quite decent personally, worth a punt? 

[My Blood Is Blue]

7 minutes ago, Mark Kelly said:

Matip is leaving Liverpool, 32, experienced and I've always thought him quite decent personally, worth a punt? 

He's been out injured since the start of December, so would be perfect for us.

[martin1905]

 

51 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

I think we'll only sign a GK if the planets align and we can get in a top quality GK, otherwise, we stick with what we have.

For me, we keep what we have for now and then go for Emiliano Martinez.

He will be 32 at the start of next season, would have been at Villa 5 years, had a taste of champions league football and will only have two years left on his contract so will almost certainly be looking for one last big move.

[paulw66]

3 hours ago, martin1905 said:

We have to sign a CB.

 

I think a lot of this will depend on injuries / fitness. IF Fofana and James are fully fit, then for CB we have

Chalobah, Disasi, Fofana, Colwill, Badiashile (ignoring the likes of Gilchrist and Humphreys) 

If James and Gusto stay fit, then you don't need Trev or Disasi to fill in at RB, so you have 5 centre backs for two slots. I don't see how you buy one without selling two. Assuming the CB we sign is with the aim of being a first choice pick, someone who plays 80-90% of the games, fitness pending, that leaves very little game time for the 5 others. 

[My Blood Is Blue]

30 minutes ago, paulw66 said:

I think a lot of this will depend on injuries / fitness. IF Fofana and James are fully fit, then for CB we have

Chalobah, Disasi, Fofana, Colwill, Badiashile (ignoring the likes of Gilchrist and Humphreys) 

If James and Gusto stay fit, then you don't need Trev or Disasi to fill in at RB, so you have 5 centre backs for two slots. I don't see how you buy one without selling two. Assuming the CB we sign is with the aim of being a first choice pick, someone who plays 80-90% of the games, fitness pending, that leaves very little game time for the 5 others. 

Regarding Fofana, I don’t see how he can be considered a realistic option for many many months. He needs to prove he can stay fit, but also, he’s got a hell of a lot of football to catch up on having played very little in the last few years.

If we count him out (in the short/medium term) it leaves us with Chalobah, Badiashile, Colwill and Disasi. All reasonable and Colwill and Badiashile have the potentially to be Bert good, but that is not a group of CBs you’d want to take into a race for the top 4 or even CL.

If that means you need to move someone on then so be it. Disasi is probably top of the list to go at the moment, but they’ve all arguably been top of that list at various times this season based on form.

I honestly think decent game time out of Fofana next season will be a bonus, because I think he needs serious management to get him back to the level we’d want from him.

[paulw66]

19 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

 

If we count him out (in the short/medium term) it leaves us with Chalobah, Badiashile, Colwill and Disasi. All reasonable and Colwill and Badiashile have the potentially to be Bert good, but that is not a group of CBs you’d want to take into a race for the top 4 or even CL.

I dunno......I would expect both Badiashile, Colwill and Disasi to all improve next year. and bear in mind we are only 8 points off 4th now (having had a "disastrous" season and with an absurd injury crisis) I could easily see this squad getting top 4 without buying a single player*

*assuming we have a moderate season with injuries, not even a good one. 

Also, are those CBs any worse than Villa's, Man Utd, Newcastle or Spurs? Looking at the collective group of CBs that our main rivals for top 4 currently have? 

[My Blood Is Blue]

45 minutes ago, paulw66 said:

I dunno......I would expect both Badiashile, Colwill and Disasi to all improve next year. and bear in mind we are only 8 points off 4th now (having had a "disastrous" season and with an absurd injury crisis) I could easily see this squad getting top 4 without buying a single player*

*assuming we have a moderate season with injuries, not even a good one. 

Also, are those CBs any worse than Villa's, Man Utd, Newcastle or Spurs? Looking at the collective group of CBs that our main rivals for top 4 currently have? 

Yeah, I agree they will improve next season, but I think it's fair to say a big weakness this season has been at the back (not helped by the constant changes to the back 4 due to injuries) and with Silva's experience also going, I just feel it's a position we could do with strengthening.

Whilst what we have are all good options, none of them are at the level of say a Silva, Rudiger or Terry. I think certain CBs improve whoever they are partnered with, but none of the ones we'll have next season are that.