Get him back VK. Chelsea will listen to offers. Perhaps a loan with a view to a permanent. He’ll no doubt want to see who’ll come in for him first. Maybe he’d re consider Turf Moor. We’ve definitely missed him and Tella imo.

Unsure if the bridge might be a little charred

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 11:36 am

Unsure if the bridge might be a little charred

Maybe, but it wouldn't hurt to inquire.
Would certainly improve the squad imo, if a deal could be struck.
Probably depend on cost and of course his willingness to come.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 11:36 am

Unsure if the bridge might be a little charred

I don’t think it will be. Matt Williams pointed out that respect remains high between Maatsen and Vinny in his interview.

At face value, he’d been given some reassurances he’d get in the Chelsea side which haven’t proven to be true. I imagine it’s more likely that he wants to run his contract down than anything else though.

That’s assuming Chelsea don’t have an option to extend, which they might and potentially depends on how many CL games he’s played in his final year so perhaps a complex picture.

I’d love him back here but feel it’ll be a hard one to do and he’ll have other suitors if OOC in the summer and especially if we’re relegated.

He was also not the strongest defensively and we’ve just been shoring up a bit.

Not one for Jan for all the reasons above imo.

I think Maatsen will end up at a much bigger/better team than ours unfortunately

Chelsea activated a clause in his contract, so his contract now runs to June 2025.

I believe he is contracted until the summer of 2025 due to a clause in his contract which Chelsea have activated which means he won’t be going on the cheap.

Furthermore, the fact he will probably have several teams across Europe interested and his rejection of us at the start of the season would in my opinion suggest he is unlikely to return on a permanent deal.

I'd be tempted to take him on loan for the rest of the season, but not sure if we have any space in the squad do we?

Also, a lot of our conceded goals this season have come down our right hand side - not left as far as I can remember? Might be better off strengthening right wing

Have just checked transfermarkt and it now says June 25 so correct it’s been extended by Chelsea.

Time to look elsewhere I think, especially with him getting minutes at the bridge and rejecting is in summer.

Can’t waste another window chasing a lost cause.

Could CT perhaps enquire about getting a 'yawn' emoji added to the options?

He can't even get a game in the worst Chelsea side for 25 years.
We got lucky with him rejecting that huge bid.

We need to be smarter with the cash.

He would be an absolute car crash in this team at left back. Would be happy with a cheap backup to Taylor tbh, hes having a good season and is one of very few in this team who sees defending as his principle role.

AfloatinClaret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 1:21 pm

Could CT perhaps enquire about getting a 'yawn' emoji added to the options?

Best i can do

He won’t come here
He’s made his bed, so to speak, he can lie in it

Rumours were Barca wanted him next summer when he was maybe going to be free, so we’ve no chance

Interesting that clubs can still activate the additional year when they’re not even using the player, that should really be looked at legally

he's been learning Spanish, he won't be coming back here and to be honest, look around the league at how physical it is - there's a huge reason Chelsea don't play him at left back and they have better players further up the pitch

Vegas Claret wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:16 pm

he's been learning Spanish, he won't be coming back here and to be honest, look around the league at how physical it is - there's a huge reason Chelsea don't play him at left back and they have better players further up the pitch

Vitinho has developed the physical aspects well, I'm sure IM could too

He’s not coming back here imagine your bird runs off with your best mate and sends you a vid of herself in action , you’re probs not gonna invite her round on Xmas day .

No thanks we need a defender at left back

Exciting player when he is on the ball. However, his defending needs a bit of work.

I'd have him back in a heartbeat. Short term loan is probably the only chance.

He’s a class act who’ll go on to have a fantastic career at the very top but I’d still prefer Taylor in that role for the rest of the season.

From a defensive point of view, a left side of Maatsen and Odobert would be worrying.

He was linked with City recently, defo not coming here.

AGENT_CLARET wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:52 pm

No thanks we need a defender at left back

No we don’t, the system would revert with maatsen. It’s astonishing the amount of fans that cannot see this.

gandhisflipflop wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:16 pm

No we don’t, the system would revert with maatsen. It’s astonishing the amount of fans that cannot see this.

Exactly this and for the same reason he was linked with City.

MrTopTier wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:22 pm

Exactly this and for the same reason he was linked with City.

He would be loaned out by City for big loan fees, if he went there.
As a business decision with him being free is sound.

Would he play regular for City? I would be very surprised.
Their youngsters at left back are further on in their development, despite being younger.

gandhisflipflop wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:16 pm

No we don’t, the system would revert with maatsen. It’s astonishing the amount of fans that cannot see this.

Whilst you may think you have some sort of superior undiscovered scouting ability, i think the majority of fans are aware of this. However last seasons system would likely leave us even more likely to give the ball away in stupid areas which we are already liable to and would make set pieces an even bigger weaknesses.
Its also likely that teams would directly exploit Maatsens defensive weakness by targetting him either in the air or with direct running.

Its taken us long enough to adapt as it is, weve finally found a system where we arent shipping goals quite as regularly, with Taylor able to slip in as a 3rd centre half nearly to balance out either Roberts or Vitinhos lack of ability to put it bluntly. Its right back which should be the priority for me not left back.

I'd personally take Charlie over Maatsen any day of the week, but unfortunately not this weekend

I'd have him back in a second. If anything our defence would be under less pressure with him in the side because we'd give the ball away less.

Unfortunately can't see him being interested while we're deep in the relegation zone.

More pressing areas than this.

burnley007 wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 2:20 pm

Vitinho has developed the physical aspects well, I'm sure IM could too

the very experienced Pochetino clearly disagrees

Goliath wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:46 pm

Whilst you may think you have some sort of superior undiscovered scouting ability, i think the majority of fans are aware of this. However last seasons system would likely leave us even more likely to give the ball away in stupid areas which we are already liable to and would make set pieces an even bigger weaknesses.
Its also likely that teams would directly exploit Maatsens defensive weakness by targetting him either in the air or with direct running.

Its taken us long enough to adapt as it is, weve finally found a system where we arent shipping goals quite as regularly, with Taylor able to slip in as a 3rd centre half nearly to balance out either Roberts or Vitinhos lack of ability to put it bluntly. Its right back which should be the priority for me not left back.

No superior scouting ability needed. It’s obvious that this is a system to see us through til Jan.

Linked with Barcelona and Man City but Charlie Taylor is better, this place never ever fails.

I’d have him back without even thinking and so would VK, shame Maatsen laughed at us once we had a bid accepted. Desperate for us to get back to the same tactics as last season to see how we get on, unfortunately we can’t do that with Taylor

northernpowerhouse wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 4:01 pm

I'd have him back in a second. If anything our defence would be under less pressure with him in the side because we'd give the ball away less.

Unfortunately can't see him being interested while we're deep in the relegation zone.

I think you could shorten the 2nd sentence by 7 words.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:17 pm

Linked with Barcelona and Man City but Charlie Taylor is better, this place never ever fails.

I’d have him back without even thinking and so would VK, shame Maatsen laughed at us once we had a bid accepted. Desperate for us to get back to the same tactics as last season to see how we get on, unfortunately we can’t do that with Taylor

I might have missed it but haven't actually seen anyone say Taylor is better. Just that Taylor offers a better balance to the team.

We would get absolutely battered playing like we did with Maatsen in the prem, our left side would be totally overrun seeing as he plays more like a winger.

Missed our chance dithering with the opening bid in the summer only for it to increase to £30m which is just too much.

There must be good alternatives out there.

You'd think it's in Chelsea's interests to get him out on loan to put him in the shop window, if they can't sell him in January.

JBR wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 6:15 pm

We would get absolutely battered playing like we did with Maatsen in the prem, our left side would be totally overrun seeing as he plays more like a winger.

Missed our chance dithering with the opening bid in the summer only for it to increase to £30m which is just too much.

There must be good alternatives out there.

He wasn't available earlier in the window. Nothing to do with us.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:17 pm

Linked with Barcelona and Man City but Charlie Taylor is better, this place never ever fails.

I’d have him back without even thinking and so would VK, shame Maatsen laughed at us once we had a bid accepted. Desperate for us to get back to the same tactics as last season to see how we get on, unfortunately we can’t do that with Taylor

I agree, a penny for a pinch of sh1t if he would have signed or even if it would have been remotely likely he would have been the best thing since sliced warburtons because he hasn't charlie taylor now is the real deal in that position.

TheFamilyCat wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:21 pm

He wasn't available earlier in the window. Nothing to do with us.

Are you sure? I thought Chelsea wanted £20m and we dithered.

bobinho wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 4:07 pm

More pressing areas than this.

Although it won’t be Maatsen we’ll sign, the fact we don’t have a left back this weekend because of a suspension shows that it is our most pressing area.

There are other gaps too of course.

Surely one of the wingers could learn to be a left back same as Maatsen and I thought we had agreed a price but he said he wanted to stay at Chelsea, surely there are others available at not silly money as we are more than likely getting relegated, just get some young lad in for next season.

With a manager that has played a RB at LB, surely there's cover? CR at LB? Vitinho at LB?.

No, I don't think so either, but perhaps there's something/someone we are overlooking?

Don't ask me, I'm overlooking whatever it is...

I'm conceding by the way - it's an issue, but had there been no suspension for CT, the CF position would still be looking spectacularly weak.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:17 pm

Linked with Barcelona and Man City but Charlie Taylor is better, this place never ever fails.

I’d have him back without even thinking and so would VK, shame Maatsen laughed at us once we had a bid accepted. Desperate for us to get back to the same tactics as last season to see how we get on, unfortunately we can’t do that with Taylor

It's my opinion. If Maatsen's so good how come he's not getting much game time in a struggling Chelsea team?

ashtonlongsider wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 9:54 pm

It's my opinion. If Maatsen's so good how come he's not getting much game time in a struggling Chelsea team?

Chelsea have spent a billion quid in 3 windows, they might be struggling but they’re not short of quality players. He’s young inexperienced and hasn’t yet earnt the trust of the manager and been given a real run in the side. Maybe Poch likes Chilwell, Cucurella and Colwill more? I don’t think that makes Maatsen a bad player at all nor does it affect how good he would’ve been for us.

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 5:17 pm

Linked with Barcelona and Man City but Charlie Taylor is better, this place never ever fails.

I’d have him back without even thinking and so would VK, shame Maatsen laughed at us once we had a bid accepted. Desperate for us to get back to the same tactics as last season to see how we get on, unfortunately we can’t do that with Taylor

Remember that time when Ashley Barnes was linked to Chelsea?

Interesting that Chelsea are playing Ian as a winger because I would have him way down the list compared to our left wingers - Koleosho, Odobert, Tresor, Redmond and maybe also Zaroury I would start ahead of Maatsen at left wing. Mainly because of their ability to make things happen in a goalscoring sense.

Maatsen is in danger of being the dreaded “utility player” who is decent back up in every position but not good enough to be first choice in any of them at this level, even for the lower sides, e.g. Luton have Townsend and I’d rather have him than Maatsen in that position.

Perhaps a wider point with regards to Maatsen but Chelsea must be getting concerned about FFP. From what I understand they've gambled a lot with their transfer kitty over the next couple of seasons (having payments spread out).

In short with Europe looking unlikely they will need to start rebalancing the books ahead of next season. Unsure he'd come to us but I would be surprised if they weren't open to offers.

JBR wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 14, 2023 7:28 pm

Are you sure? I thought Chelsea wanted £20m and we dithered.

I thought it was Maatsen's decision, to see how he would get on at Chelsea.