RUMOUR - Lewis baker

[Nameless]

Isn’t Patrick Bamford at Boro ?

Surely they could share tales of being a much hyped Chelsea starlet who’s career is wasted on endless loan deals before settling for a bit part in the Championship ?

[royalp-we]

I'm not itk. Just have friends who like to pretend they are life long itk Chelski supporters (we all know at least 1)

Probably talking oxf*rd but both sides apparently trying to complete a season long deal to us, with option to buy.

Seems like it's shit or bust for him this year.

[Stranded]

I'm not itk. Just have friends who like to pretend they are life long itk Chelski supporters (we all know at least 1)

Probably talking oxf*rd but both sides apparently trying to complete a season long deal to us, with option to buy.

Seems like it's shit or bust for him this year.

Didn't he sign a two year loan at Boro? I know he struggled this year there but has the second year been cancelled?

[royalp-we]

I'm not itk. Just have friends who like to pretend they are life long itk Chelski supporters (we all know at least 1)

Probably talking oxf*rd but both sides apparently trying to complete a season long deal to us, with option to buy.

Seems like it's shit or bust for him this year.

Didn't he sign a two year loan at Boro? I know he struggled this year there but has the second year been cancelled?

And this is why I am most certainly not itk

[Wycombe Royal]

I'm not itk. Just have friends who like to pretend they are life long itk Chelski supporters (we all know at least 1)

Probably talking oxf*rd but both sides apparently trying to complete a season long deal to us, with option to buy.

Seems like it's shit or bust for him this year.

Didn't he sign a two year loan at Boro? I know he struggled this year there but has the second year been cancelled?

I think it was a 1 year loan with an option for a second year. However according to the local press up there it seems very unlikely due to his poor season that he will be there again this season.

[Hound]

He looked so good in that WC, suprised he struggled so much.

Wouldn't be shocked to see him come here, we were obviously close to getting him last year

[Hound]

Gone to Leeds on loan

Poor decision imo for his career. Basket case club with a massively bloated squad, tetchy fan base and a nutcase manager

May work out for him but would be surprised

[Simon's Church]

Mail have linked him with us again.
if it's true, whoever's in charge of recruitment is being taken for an absolute ride at the moment

[10539.4 Miles Away]

Gone to Leeds on loan

Poor decision imo for his career. Basket case club with a massively bloated squad, tetchy fan base and a nutcase manager

May work out for him but would be surprised

Spot on hound

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/06/l ... n-twitter/

[PistolPete]

Chelsea recalled him from Leeds, aparently he’s now, belatedly, likely to come here.

Not sure how whelmed I am

[Stranded]

I'm really not sure I would see the point in this. He has failed spectacularly at Championship level to date - now it could be that he has just been at the wrong clubs and hopefully he will fit better in to style Gomes wants us to play and we may see the player that looked so good at Vitesse.

If he is coming then surely that makes for too many numbers in an attacking central role?

Slightly concerning that we are being linked to these sort of players again rather that a striker/defender/GK but still early in the window.

[Hound]

He was properly rated a few years ago as the next big thing - getting almost into last chance saloon territory for him. Big shame

But no, wouldn't really want him here at the moment - midfield really isn't the issue imo

[genome]

Agree it's a puzzling one on the face of it, but if you think about it, if we sign Baker and Ejaria and offload Meyler and Edwards then we're not overloading in midfield any more than we already are.

That leaves us with Baker, Ejaria, Rinomhota, Kelly, Swift, Bacuna, Ezatolahi

Gomes plays 4-2-3-1 then we need 3 midfielders ready to go and then a back-up for each, and given Swift and Ezatolahi are injury-prone then you can see the thinking behind it

[Duffy]

I think it will be a good signing. He's great with both feet, would link up well with Swifty.

[Hound]

Wouldn’t be overly surprised if Kelly was sent on his way somewhere if this did happen . Need to add Aluko in there as the 10 as well

Wouldn’t be against the signing, just that other areas need far more attention

[Sutekh]

Agree it's a puzzling one on the face of it, but if you think about it, if we sign Baker and Ejaria and offload Meyler and Edwards then we're not overloading in midfield any more than we already are.

That leaves us with Baker, Ejaria, Rinomhota, Kelly, Swift, Bacuna, Ezatolahi

Gomes plays 4-2-3-1 then we need 3 midfielders ready to go and then a back-up for each, and given Swift and Ezatolahi are injury-prone then you can see the thinking behind it

But has the quality been improved or just the number of options? Swift has been inconsistent though is probably currently getting into some form. Kelly isn't in form, Eza's a crocked loan, Bacuna is inconsistent within games. Rinomhota has been superb though.

Perhaps Baker and Ejaria bring something different that isn't at the club, something that may make the other parts work better.

Have to say that at this point these are not the sorts of signings that give much of a whelm factor. They're young and they have potential but half the Reading Academy have that plus it's an area of the pitch which is already overstocked when I think we should be looking for a left back, striker and maybe keeper as well.

If you do go after a midfielder then you want someone who is puts a tackle in, breaks up the play of opponents and drives the team forward. And the lower a team sinks then the more of those types you need.

[Millsy]

Good as he may be...

is this Stamgate all over again FFS!?

When we're crying out for a striker Stam brings in midfielder after oxf*rd midfielder.

Now one place we DON'T need bolstering is midfield. Yeah it'd be nice, as would any position, but we've already signed Ovie and we're now eyeing up another midfielder?

If we get two top strikers, a CB and a LB and a keeper then yeah sure I'd welcome anyone else.

But I'm getting exactly the same sinking feeling of doom as I did under Stam when I was expecting a striker and kept seeing rumours and bids for endless fukking midfielders.

Rant over!

[windermereROYAL]

Good as he may be...

is this Stamgate all over again FFS!?

When we're crying out for a striker Stam brings in midfielder after oxf*rd midfielder.

Now one place we DON'T need bolstering is midfield. Yeah it'd be nice, as would any position, but we've already signed Ovie and we're now eyeing up another midfielder?

If we get two top strikers, a CB and a LB and a keeper then yeah sure I'd welcome anyone else.

But I'm getting exactly the same sinking feeling of doom as I did under Stam when I was expecting a striker and kept seeing rumours and bids for endless fukking midfielders.

Rant over!

Pop off over to social media, there are loads like you over there, it`s the bloody 9th of January for christ sakes, yes I know we can`t wait too long in our position but the foaming at the mouth at this early stage is pathetic.
I`m sure Jose knows what we need, he`s not blind.

[Nameless]

Is some really thinking we are going to sign 2 top strikers in this window ?
We might need one decent attacker but get Bod fit and Meite with a run of games and I’m not sure Kane or Salah would add much

[Platypuss]

Football 2019

Lewis Baker has yet to show any signs of being decent, what motivates you if your a Chelsea academy player? Enough cash already and no chance of playing first team footy, go on loan an play but not really be arsed? That's what it looks like I'm afraid.