Official Chelsea FC Thread

[5DOM]

Anyone got some info on Lewis Baker?

Doesn't have quite the ceiling of other youth prospects at the academy, but is probably the most pro-ready and consistent player Chelsea have ever sent to Vitesse; very good with both feet, and above-average at pretty much everything.

[treiz]

Anyone got some info on Lewis Baker?

All-around midfielder who can do a lot of things on both feet. Not the best at anything, heck even great at anything but he's really good in a lot of areas. Namely running the midfield, passing, dribbling, vision etc. As what you'd expect from a technically gifted midfielder.

Not a huge physical presence so will get brushed off the ball a lot offensively and defensively, but he does try when defending so that counts for something.

Should do well at Vitesse, given that he also improves his tactical discipline.

[5DOM]

More exciting development: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3143769/Chelsea-owner-Roman-Abramovich-unveil-Stamford-Bridge-expansion-plans-club-aim-increase-capacity-60-000.html

[treiz]

Thank God, we've needed to increase our capacity for almost a decade now. Good to see plan is finally coming to fruition.

[MaliBrah]

how would match day revenue work for the 3 years at wembley for example?

[treiz]

how would match day revenue work for the 3 years at wembley for example?

Wembley's a bit tricky, since that stadium is only allowed to host a certain number of games per year due to council restrictions and considering it already has multiple gigs per year as well as the NFL and England games. I just don't see us moving to Wembley temporarily, I see Craven Cottage as more of a realistic temp home.

But to answer your question, Wembley hosts around 90k being local and all, and quite frankly closer to most Chelsea fans in London than the Bridge I can see them filling that up to 75k a game (conservatively), the demand is high and there's a waiting list for season tickets and the added capacity will bring in more people, not sure how the revenue will be since I suspect there'll be a pricing change. Let's just hope they bring down the prices.

[5DOM]

how would match day revenue work for the 3 years at wembley for example?

Wembley's a bit tricky, since that stadium is only allowed to host a certain number of games per year due to council restrictions and considering it already has multiple gigs per year as well as the NFL and England games. I just don't see us moving to Wembley temporarily, I see Craven Cottage as more of a realistic temp home.

But to answer your question, Wembley hosts around 90k being local and all, and quite frankly closer to most Chelsea fans in London than the Bridge I can see them filling that up to 75k a game (conservatively), the demand is high and there's a waiting list for season tickets and the added capacity will bring in more people, not sure how the revenue will be since I suspect there'll be a pricing change. Let's just hope they bring down the prices.

I heard as long as the capacity is brought down to 50k or less, there's no restriction to the number of events it can host. Otherwise, the events are considered major events.

[treiz]

I'm not entirely sure on that to be honest, I hope that's the case

But my skepticism comes from Wembley Arena which is next to the stadium which hosts 12.5k, and this is where most of the gigs are held in Wembley, and these gigs despite being under that limit I believe still count for the restrictions. The stadium and arena is also really close to houses around the area but like I said I'm not too certain about 50k or less thing to be honest.

[lukekarts]

Capacity restrictions at the Bridge have always been around access and how quickly the stadium could be evacuated, given that there's railway lines etc preventing access from two sides of the stadium.

Looking at the (Strangely old-fashioned?) plans - it appears they are building over the railway line... I wonder if they're creating access routes from different sides of the stadium?

It will be strange not having a 'home' for three years, but I do feel this is the best option.

[MountainDrew]

Thanks for the info guys! Seems like he could be useful. 2 of 3 spots are taken at midfield, CDM is Yeini and there's Qazaishvili. Perhaps Baker can play a role as well.

[treiz]

Capacity restrictions at the Bridge have always been around access and how quickly the stadium could be evacuated, given that there's railway lines etc preventing access from two sides of the stadium.

Looking at the (Strangely old-fashioned?) plans - it appears they are building over the railway line... I wonder if they're creating access routes from different sides of the stadium?

It will be strange not having a 'home' for three years, but I do feel this is the best option.

Makes sense that they would create other access routes, gives them more leeway to increase capacity further in the future if they wanted to. But I feel like if they wanted to increase further they might as well build another stadium.

It will be strange, but if we do get Wembley I suppose we'll hear our fans constantly sing the Wembley chant

[Navas]

All I want this transfer window is Schneiderlin.

[lukekarts]

All I want this transfer window is Schneiderlin.

I'd like Pogba

[BusinessMayne]

I wish we could get Pogba!

[TheOGJabroni]

Does anyone have any guesses on whether or not they will sell jerseys at the games coming up in North America? I would love a jersey but I am unsure of size and there are not too many readily available online right now.

[MountainDrew]

Of course we'd draw Southampton, no way we're winning that.

In other news, we got Nathan and Izzy Brown. Any of these I should be particularly excited about? Still don't have a **** left back, I don't think I'll survive another season with the prick named Achenteh.

[fatlever]

disappointing transfer window, so far.

What is the depth chart looking like these days?

Keeper: Courtois, Begovic
Right Back: Ivanovic, ? (Zouma?, Cuadrado?)
Left Back: Azpilicueta, ?
Center Back: Terry, Cahill, Zouma, ?
Midfield: Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Mikel, Loftus-Cheek
Attacking Mid: Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Cuadrado, Traore
Forward: Costa, Remy, Falcao

Players already loaned

Christensen -> Borussia Mönchengladbach
Baker -> Vitesse
Brown -> Vitesse
Kalas -> Middlesbrough
Omeruo -> Kasımpaşa
Pantić -> Vitesse
Atsu -> Bournemouth
Nathan -> Vitesse
Pašalić -> Monaco
Perica -> Udinese
Bamford -> Crystal Palace

Most likely to be loaned soon (or possibly sold in some cases)

Ake
Wallace
Chalobah
Romeu
Marin
Moses
Piazon
Kane
Delac
Solanke
Blackman
Kenedy

Already sold/out of contract

Luis -> Atletico
Drogba
Cech -> Arsenal
McEachran -> Brentford
T Hazard -> Borussia Mönchengladbach
Kakuta -> Sevilla

Anyway, only a handful of days away before the Chelsea/PSG match in Charlotte. I can't wait.

[treiz]

Think Jose is just waiting to see more from his fringe players before deciding to dip into the market. Let's hope that Cuadrado shows something when he's back

Baba Rahman should be signing in the next couple of days

Also, hasn't Blackman already been stated to be the 3rd keeper?

Glad to see Bamford get an extension, hopefully he does well next year for Palace

[fatlever]

Keeping Blackman as 3rd keeper makes sense.

[Lakers415]

Keeping Blackman as 3rd keeper makes sense.

If you wanna concede 5 goals, yea...