They still have a 33-man senior squad, it's truly wild. Someone needs to tell Todd that the 40-man roster is not a thing in European soccer.
Clubs can no longer amortize past five seasons.Amortization!
I'm assuming Boehly will not mirror Roman and forgive a multi-billion receivable from the club when he exits.
They're going to run out of holdover players from last season's roster to sell...Romano also now tweeting that Chelsea have activated Olise’s release clause, personal terms agreed, final details left to hammer out.
Do they develop them or just hoard them?Will they ever get any trophies to show for developing players?
They can't develop 35 young players, a bunch of them will just rot on the bench.They're going to run out of holdover players from last season's roster to sell...
All of this is going to blow up if some of these young players turn into the next Salah, KDB, Hazard, Courtois, Lukaku and get courted away by RM, Barca, Bayern. Will they ever get any trophies to show for developing players?
Well, actually the 5 year contract thing doesn’t apply to Chelsea as they aren’t in Europe.Clubs can no longer amortize past five seasons.
As a common complainer about how big clubs, specifically in England, seem to have never have FFP issues, I do recall several big sales to Saudi clubs.
I’ll admit that I forgot that Chelsea didn’t qualify for Europe. Now I’m laughing all over again. Thank you.Well, actually the 5 year contract thing doesn’t apply to Chelsea as they aren’t in Europe.
However , the Premier League is looking to adopt the same practice - probably by next season.
There is apparently a strong indication it will be applied retroactively - is that the CAS music I hear?I’ll admit that I forgot that Chelsea didn’t qualify for Europe. Now I’m laughing all over again. Thank you.
Ooooh, what's their entrance song?? End of the Line? The Waiting? I Fought the Law andThere is apparently a strong indication it will be applied retroactively - is that the CAS music I hear?
Because they’re Wolves and Everton. Chelsea has carte blanche. The riff raff can’t get away with it (Everton still might not, the FFP inquiry that was launched last season is not concluded).Why don't Wolves and Everton pull a Boehly? Everyone should be doing this. Is Boehly that persuasive where he can get the sellers to take installments?
Working 9, to 5Ooooh, what's their entrance song?? End of the Line? The Waiting? I Fought the Law andthe LawWon?
Seems like a great pickup. He's got some real strong attributes, although I can't say whether or not he's a well-rounded player. Strikes me as possibly one of those 'wingback only' type players we're seeing more of lately (e.g., Porro, Pedro). But if it's a fit for the manager, then there's usually a pretty good floor-ceiling proposition.Robin Gosens to Union Berlin from Inter Milan for a team record transfer fee of €14 million. They were also looking at Leonardo Bonucci, but I'd assume that is over now.
OK, this Chelsea shopping spree really doesn't make sense to me anymore from any angle. I get how amortization works, but still. Is this just a giant middle finger to FFP and saying 'whatcha gon' do bout it'? Or is it really just down to having €255M in transfer income (plus fully leveraging amortization)? TM shows them having a transfer deficit right now of -€68M, but that's without Lavia and Olise. Caicedo (116M), Nkunku (60M), Disasi (45M), Jackson (37M)--those are expensive transfers, and there are a few other 25M+ too! We haven't even begun to talk about the wage bill either.And the bad news
https://theathletic.com/4714044/2023/08/15/michael-olise-transfer-news-chelsea-palace/?source=user_shared_article
Olise to Chelsea
How high can Liverpool bid up the price? For all the issues I have with FSG, I'm all for them screwing Chelsea financiallyThe only explanation that makes a modicum of sense at this point is denying talent to rivals. If spending £60 million to keep Lavia away from Liverpool is the difference between Chelsea making a UCL spot, it seems like money well spent.
You know a lot more about Bonucci than I do, but I’m also willing to give Fischer and Ruhnert the benefit of the doubt on this and pretty much everything. They have a system, and they have been nearly infallible in putting the right pieces into it to make it work.It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where Bonucci can be considered an upgrade. He can still ping a 40 yard pass but he’s such a defensive liability the benefit is minimal.
Wembley? Seems optimistic.
That’s amazing - minimum salary & donating revenue from sales of his jersey to the club’s academy. Legendary move.In one of the cooler signings this window, Santi Cazorla has signed for Real Oviedo.
https://x.com/realoviedo/status/1691853608113819758?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Santi is the best. Fantastic little wizard of a player and an even better person.That’s amazing - minimum salary & donating revenue from sales of his jersey to the club’s academy. Legendary move.
It’s his boyhood club and he came out of the academy. He was one of the many people who financially contributed to save the club when they were on the verge of bankruptcy, along with Juan Mata and Michu, and one or two SoSH members I believe.That’s amazing - minimum salary & donating revenue from sales of his jersey to the club’s academy. Legendary move.
Isn't Everton in a pretty rough financial place in general without their Uzbek sugar-daddy? My understanding was that they spent quite a lot with his support even though it was mostly indirect as a corporate sponsor. Did they replace that lost income yet?Because they’re Wolves and Everton. Chelsea has carte blanche. The riff raff can’t get away with it (Everton still might not, the FFP inquiry that was launched last season is not concluded).
Its like Jerry Tarkanian said: “The NCAA is so mad at Kentucky, it's going to give Cleveland State two more years probation.”
Is Tom Davies the oldest 25 year old in world football?
I just came to post this - got the push notification from the team just now!Wow, Olise who was rumored to be close to joining Chelsea yesterday has signed a new contract at Palace.
I believe that Moshiri was/is only a front for Usmanov and Usmanov’s money. His fortune, such as it is, was built as Usmanov’s accountant. I don’t think he’s got the wealth to own the club on his own, but even before Russians etc. were made persona non grata with the Ukraine invasion Usmanov was a little too shady for Arsenal.Isn't Everton in a pretty rough financial place in general without their Uzbek sugar-daddy? My understanding was that they spent quite a lot with his support even though it was mostly indirect as a corporate sponsor. Did they replace that lost income yet?
See Gallagher, Conor.Good for Palace and great for the player, rather than scrapping for playing time at Chelsea , he will get consistent minutes at Palace.
Fabrizio hints that Palace will consider legal action Vs Chelsea.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1692157676522799530?s=20
Crystal Palace informed club’s lawyers of their intention to consider going to a tribunal with Chelsea over approach for Olise.
That’s how the story changed — Palace very strong on that and Chelsea left the conversations. Olise accepts new deal, #CPFC v happy with that.
Yeah my impression was that Usmanov was in control but wanted to do everything indirectly. As an Arsenal fan I had read a bit about him, and none of it was good. Everton's issue isn't amortization, it's just having their revenue stream almost completely cut off and having to find a new one. The EPL will bend over backwards to accommodate extreme (even sovereign!) wealth, but they have no time for broke bitches. And I say that as someone who wants to see Everton work things out and stick around.I believe that Moshiri was/is only a front for Usmanov and Usmanov’s money. His fortune, such as it is, was built as Usmanov’s accountant. I don’t think he’s got the wealth to own the club on his own, but even before Russians etc. were made persona non grata with the Ukraine invasion Usmanov was a little too shady for Arsenal.
Everton have been frugal over the past few windows and they are chasing new investment so they appear to be doing what they need to do. But yeah, you’re correct.
Tammy Abraham did his ACL and is out for the year.
Elye Wahi has some really bad off field behavior that has reportedly scared a lot of clubs away.
To be honest, I don't see why Spurs don't just roll with Richarlison, Son, and Veliz at the striker position if Kane leaves. I don't think Richarlison or Son really have the skill set for the winger position in that tactical setup anyway.
Correct on Wahi, I want absolutely no part of him.
I don't think a similar striker is what they need to replace Kane. It's basically him, Benzema, and Lukaku that fit that bill. Kane would be great in this system because he is great, but he isn't a great fit per se. Rolling with Son and Richy at striker is certainly a good option, they would still really need to add at least one quality winger.
WHU had no such qualms re Wahi.Yeah to be clear, I don't think Spurs NEED to buy another striker, but rather thinking about whether they might. I think it's more important to buy Tapsoba or another elite CB for results THIS season. Put another way, if Spurs find themselves flush with cash, who might they consider the best striker (or best youngish striker) for Ange.
I didn't realize Tammy was out for the season and had no idea about Wahi. I should probably put this in the Spurs thread, but does Alvarez constitute a good fit?
Wahi's accusations are also kind of vague apparently. Basically he was accused of hitting someone in a club 2 years ago, but not charged, and then some sketchy rumors about why he got expelled from Academy at age 15. He might be a scumbag, but there is less evidence than many others, so if a team does their DD and thinks it's not bad wouldn't be surprised to see him signWHU had no such qualms re Wahi.
Edit: To be clear, I'm not supporting WHU in signing Wahi or saying that I want him at Spurs, but rather that pro sports clubs are more than willing to look past egregious behavior and that he got signed (even if at a lower fee and at lower wages) was entirely predictable sadly.
“The Chelsea Drug Store”Should this thread be sub-titled "Chelsea's Playground"?!