I partook in a Questions and Answers session with Chelsea fans on Twitter this morning; it was fun…
Q – @Zwane031 “Thoughts on Bertrand Traore though? Was it a good decision letting him go?”
A – Chelsea have been crying out for a left-footed right winger in my opinion, and once again he was another that the club lost patience with and let him go too early. Class player and he will only get better.
Q – @Prb_Bhandari “Heard anything new about Musonda?”
A – A long-term loan deal with an option to buy looking likely, perhaps La Liga or Serie A.
Q – @Chelseacentral3 “Favourite Chelsea goal you have seen live?”
A – Has to be Roberto Di Matteo’s long-range drive in the 1997 FA Cup Final against Middlesbrough within the first minute of the match!
Q – @naman_b27 ” With David Luiz being Sarri’s go to defender and Rudiger playing quite well. Do you think Christensen would start anytime soon in the premier league?”
A – Definitely. He is next in line, and as the season progresses and the matches stack up, he will get plenty of game time.
Q – @carefreeJD, @AshAnother and @VialliChelseaFC “What are your thoughts on the stadium situation? Do you think it will be shelved for long? Will it ever happen? If not, can the club compete in income terms with the likes of Arsenal, Spurs, Utd regarding stadium capacity?”
A – I’ve heard all sorts of excuses, some very laughable. But I think there are still issues surrounding Abramovich’s VISA; I can see it being scrapped for the foreseeable future. I think the profits made from other aspects such as Champions League football next year hopefully, the increased sponsorship deals that we seem to be whacking out, and general marketing, will keep us being able to compete.
Q – @Chihiyahashley “Are Real Madrid gunning for the signature of Marcos Alonso after their surprise defeat to their derby rivals yesterday?”
A – I think that rumour was started by The Daily Star, so I’d go with a pinch of salt there. Although, Barcelona’s interest was genuine, but Chelsea blocked any moves.
Q – @_ChelseaRentBoy and @dewl1905 “There have been reports that Chelsea will now actively start working on getting a DOF. Monchi being suggested as well. Do you think there is a chance that Monchi might come here?”
A – I can’t see Monchi becoming our Director of Football. I think more realistically than him, or Dan Ashworth would be Juliano Belletti or Michael Ballack. I wouldn’t be against Ballack, purely because I want us to bring someone in with footballing knowledge. He also knows the club well and is a likeable figure. Monchi is a beast though and would be the absolute dream, a no-nonsense guy who has a proven success already doing the role. No idea why it has taken so long to bring one in, but the club have always stated they were in no rush to replace Michael Emenalo, and it was something that needed a lot of consideration.
Q – @OlaseHindeJames, @rorylangsbury98 and @haylock99 “Will a top 4 finish for Chelsea and winning the Europa league be considered a successful campaign this season?”
A – Yes. Top four will be a tough target, but I think we can make it. Winning the Europa League will also be very tough, but it’s also achievable. If we did both, I’d consider that to be a VERY successful first season under Sarri.
Q – @AzpiSZN and @Murphs_ – “When do you think Kovacic will start? Possible debut this Saturday? Also, is Eden going to start from the bench again?”
A – I think we will see an unchanged team this weekend, with a slight chance of Hazard starting. I think Kovacic will have a week or so more adapting, and I think due to everyone playing so well last match he may just keep it the same to start.
Q – @Gwilsoncfc – “Have the Chelsea board lost touch with the fans? Treatment of Neil Barnett etc. no real dialogue with the fans? Let’s be radical and examine this.”
A – Definitely. The club are a business first, and we are its customers. It’s the same with a lot of the big clubs. They are there to make money and hit corporate driven profit targets. Therefore I watch a lot of local and community football; it’s the only place in the game these days where you still feel that sense of togetherness.
Q – Roge1409 “Hi Simon, so who would you select as your All-Time Greatest Chelsea FC XI?
A – Real toughie that. In my time, I’d go with Cech, Petrescu, Desailly, Terry, Cole. Makalele, Kante, Lampard, Zola, Hazard, Drogba.
Q – @F_lammie and @Montiweet ” How much game time do you think RLC, CHO and Ampadu will get this season?”
A – A lot. We are in four competitions this season so there will be plenty of chances for the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ethan Ampadu. I rate all three highly and would not be worried at all if all three were starting week in week out. Sarri seems to rate all three as well, so I can only see good things for them this season.
General questions that were asked a lot.
Q – Hazard signing a new deal? Will he still leave?
A – I believe there is a 60% chance that he will sign a new deal. I think he will begin to enjoy his football again this season, and providing we gain some success; he will sign. Hazard will NOT join Real Madrid this month.
Q – Diego Costa situation? Should we have kept him?
A – He wanted to leave before the texting drama. There were whispers though that he was going to make a U-turn and sign a new deal before Conte told him he was not wanted, but that is just a rumour. Bottom line, he DID state that he wanted to leave before the texts. He’s a real beast of a player that we truly miss, but would we even be speaking his name anymore if Morata had made more of an impact? Absolutely not. It’s more of a case of not replacing him correctly rather than missing Costa.
Q – How long will Sarri need to succeed? Will he be given the time?
A – I think this season we will have a great chance of top 4 and winning a cup. If we do that and push on next season, then the board will be happy. Even if this season we win nothing and don’t make top 4, I still believe Sarri gets next season. But it won’t come to that, his system and style of play will be in full effect by the end of this season, and we will be flying next year.
Q – Recruitment needed in January, and next summer?
A – We need a right left-footed winger and a striker. I’d like to see Lucas Paqueta from Flamengo signing next summer, Chelsea had a £36 million offer rejected for him this summer, but I believe we should pursue again. Striker wise, I still think we should go for Anthony Martial in January, should he still be at United. I honestly see him as being another Thierry Henry, wants to play as the central striker, and I rate him very highly.
Q – Best way to run the club and get it back to the powerhouse it was?
A – Right now, we need a ‘footballing’ director of football in ASAP. Then we need to have a mix of promoting and trusting our best youth players, along with adding tactical and logical big-name signings where it’s needed, not spending money on squad fillers. Integrate youth, along with adding a couple of players in areas we need strength, then watch us succeed. We have the basics; we have a good core now, we are very close to becoming a force again. Give Sarri time; we’ll be there.
Thanks all for the questions, sorry if I missed yours, I had hundreds!
