I don't think this is as strange as it appears to be. Conte is the type of manager to use a players' specific skill-set to the teams advantage -- see Victor Moses.

Chelsea do need a bounce-board for Hazard, Pedro, Willian etc., and they do play a lot of crosses into the box; there is no one better than Carroll in an aerial battle. 

Chelsea make contact with West Ham to sign Andy Carroll

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11685/11210093/chelsea-make-contact-with-west-ham-to-sign-andy-carroll

It's been a tremendous window already, but I would like to see us push Docherty over the line too. 

I can take or leave Jones.

I'm actually pleased with this signing. He's a wee bit old, and he's not the best CB -- as his Scotland performances will attest -- but I think he'll be a solid option for us over the next couple of years; he's experienced and will give us that physical presence at the back. Murty also suggests Martin has leadership qualities, which we have been crying out for.

A Martin-Alves pairing at the back should be solid in the air! But slow as stop! 

1 hour ago, Uilleam said:

Cutlery drawers? in Leith? These people think knives and forks are jewellery.

But their spoons are practical tools...

Watch yourself: you can't say "sh*thole" nowadays...

Promising player, but I think his value was inflated by City paying so much for him, in terms of fee and wages. Sunderland had to offer a relatively high sum, but he wasn't worth it. 

Although, the main trouble was injury; if he was a mainstay in the side, Sunderland would've been better off.

They're in a really troubling situation.

Considering the number of players we've seen come in, this struck me as quite a good point from Murphy:

Quote

"It's been terrific. Sometimes, when you go to a new team, you don't really get to know the boys for a couple of weeks because you only see them for a couple of hours a day.

 

"The fact that we've been away and we've all been together, I know has definitely helped me."

The fact that they've been spending so much time together should help them gel. 

Shame Cummings wasn't there... for the LOLZ.  

1 minute ago, ian1964 said:

Based on football and immediate effect Naismith would be the best option?, he can play on the left and has done many times

Has he? I thought he was a Right-midfielder (or off the striker), but I'll take your word for it.

If it's a straight choice, it's a ... "no-brainer".  But that's purely hypothetical.  

5 minutes ago, ian1964 said:

Naismith, (aye I know!), said he would play for nothing?, would he be a better option than being held to ransom by Killie?

Only in the sense that he'd walk into the first-team, but he's not a Left-midfielder. 

Yes, Murphy looks to be the option at Left-wing. 

I agree with Ian: I'm not sure he's first-team material. I'd take him as a squad player, but only if it's for a decent price.

Pains me to admit it, but I agree with @Tannochsidebear ...  

I really don't see it; specifically, I can't see Murty doing it. Technically, we're always going for the title, but realistically it's still a wee bit off. 

The window thus far has been great -- credit to Murty and Allen -- but I'm not convinced.

Just now, pete said:

He doesn't actually know the league that well. He was only 17 When Hibs went down. I believe he had scored 2 goals back then.

Good point. 

I'll amend it to 'knows Scottish fitbaw'.  

4 minutes ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

If he's barely worth £500k why are we trying to sign him? 

Clearly the football department think he's a good option. It doesn't mean we should be spending way over the odds for any player.

6 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

Frankly J-J, I don't care about Arsenal, but it looks like any Sanchez deal, now, will involve a cash hit. 

A buyer's market it would seem.

 

Most definitely. 

Arsenal should never have been in this situation, though. 

I'd be more than content with a decent 2nd place finish. 

#WalkBeforeYouRun

He's barely worth 500k, but take £1M because it's 'unsettling everyone'. Just take £2M because we're made of money... 

32 minutes ago, Ser Barristan Selmy said:

I think he speaks a lot of sense.

6 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

Sanchez has surely burned his boats, and he and Wenger have made James Hunts of each other. 

The loser will be Arsenal FC, whichever way you cut it, unless there is a bidding war between the heavy hitters -ManU, RM, PSG, rasellik- which seems doubtful.

 

 

Oh no... 

("rasellik"! )

4 minutes ago, lenny3k said:

While I agree with this to an extent, I think Sanchez is more likely to play regularly at United than at City. Theres much much more competition for places in his position at City in my opinion.

 

Mourinho could have told him that at United he would build the team around him with his quality, which, lets be honest is not going to happen at City...

I hadn't thought of that, actually. While I don't think Utd would build a team around him -- he's 29 -- I agree he's pretty much guaranteed to start; not so much at City.

10 minutes ago, JFK-1 said:

I think he has to start someplace and I would imagine it's the case that many players get their first management job on the basis of their playing career in the sense of who they played for and at what level.  It's what got Souness his first management job and that at a high profile club.

Oh, Yes, it's a good move for him, but I think it's a poor appointment for Wales. They've still got a golden generation there, and a better appointment would allow them to push it as far as possible. Giggs, IMO, will not take them anywhere.

Good signing: knows the league, scores goals, young, and a good prospect.

And it gets the cutlery drawers rattling in Leith.

10 hours ago, Bluedell said:

I'll leave you to work out what's wrong with your sentence. 

8 hours ago, ian1964 said:

 

No harm, no foul. 

I was going to say he's probably looking for a longer-term job, but I'm not sure Lambert will last 6 months...  

Boyd's a t*t. Just when you think he couldn't sink any lower with his baseless aspersions. 

It's a normal process, everyone does it. It seems there's only an issue when we do it.