17 Dec 2021 09:18:04
Think there’s a massive overreaction over the results from the last few weeks. We’ve had injuries to key players for the most part.
I’m not saying Lukaku is going to turn out to be great for us, but he’s played like 5-6 games and then got injured and yet people want him sold back to Italy already ? Italian clubs are in dire financial straits, we’d be lucky if any of them could afford £50m for him.
Ziyech, RLC, Barkley all definitely need to go. Saul let him go at the end of the season. Same with Azpi and alonso. The rest of our forwards I’d wait and see how they do for the rest of the season and potentially what players are available to replace them.
17 Dec 2021 09:56:46
The way he is playing at the moment I can see some value in keeping Ziyech, at least to the end of the season.
I would also keep RLC until then as well.
I think we are stuck with Saul until the end of the season so let’s hope his form improves.
17 Dec 2021 10:09:59
I agree if Ziyech played consistently he would be a decent player. can't expect to do wonders with a game here and there.
Agree tho.
Alonso
Dave (as much as I hate to say it)
Saul (looks lost)
Barkley
Sarr
need to be replaced.
Need fresh and exciting youngsters to come in.
17 Dec 2021 10:13:35
I also thought Ziyech first half looked very good. there's quite a player there potentailly for us, and he has been one who has for me improved in recent games and worked really hard. Was involved in many of what were fine movement with no end result in first half, with Pulisic and Mount so nearly with stunning team goals. So nearly.
17 Dec 2021 11:33:01
But Ziyech needs to play as a an attacking-mid not a number 6 as we was moved to after the substitutions on 56 mins.
17 Dec 2021 11:05:15
Smart additions are needed, can't really argue too much with those who you say could / should be replaced. Although I do think Ziyech is currently performing better than a lot of our attacking options, even if he fades in and out of games. I'd also argue (ok so I can argue with a couple of them) that RLC is a good squad option, although him starting so many games in a row has shown our lack of depth through injuries / C.V. at the moment.
Azpilicueta looks to be heading back to Spain, I'd imagine him, Saul and Alonso can all travel together come the summer. CB's will be signed, I imagine at least one attacker will be signed and one, possibly two, of CHO, Ziyech and Pulisic will leave.
There has been an overreaction to what, for now, I'd consider a stutter, rather than a collapse. The criticism of Lukaku is pretty crazy. This squad is definitely capable of winning trophies, could win the UCL again. But, over the course of a League season we still look short of Liverpool and Man City. Nothing wrong with that, they're probably to two best teams in Europe at the moment, and we're clear of the rest of the league. Smart additions, not mass additions, will allow us to close that gap.
Could be worse, try being an English cricket fan struggling through the Ashes at the moment. Tune into that to see really poor coaching, team selection, captaincy, tactics and general play.
17 Dec 2021 11:05:15
Smart additions are needed, can't really argue too much with those who you say could / should be replaced. Although I do think Ziyech is currently performing better than a lot of our attacking options, even if he fades in and out of games. I'd also argue (ok so I can argue with a couple of them) that RLC is a good squad option, although him starting so many games in a row has shown our lack of depth through injuries / C.V. at the moment.
Azpilicueta looks to be heading back to Spain, I'd imagine him, Saul and Alonso can all travel together come the summer. CB's will be signed, I imagine at least one attacker will be signed and one, possibly two, of CHO, Ziyech and Pulisic will leave.
There has been an overreaction to what, for now, I'd consider a stutter, rather than a collapse. The criticism of Lukaku is pretty crazy. This squad is definitely capable of winning trophies, could win the UCL again. But, over the course of a League season we still look short of Liverpool and Man City. Nothing wrong with that, they're probably to two best teams in Europe at the moment, and we're clear of the rest of the league. Smart additions, not mass additions, will allow us to close that gap.
Could be worse, try being an English cricket fan struggling through the Ashes at the moment. Tune into that to see really poor coaching, team selection, captaincy, tactics and general play.
18 Dec 2021 06:43:20
Few tweaks needed obviously and u would let go off cho, rlc, barkeley to add effective players who can perform when called up on. With these players we feel we have depth but when required to play games in a row, you realise they are not good enough which will only be the best to sell them and get in players who disciplined and dedicated enough. Big things were expected of rlc but its better to sell now before as usual he goes for another months. being English we can at least realise a reasonable amount if sold to an epl club. its obvious kante is our most important player and lots weaker without him in the squad but we don't have a proper cover for him which is one of the reasons we have been poor lately. We can't remain stubborn for tchoumani and look for alternatives ASAP, i will look at kassel or bissouma.
Imo i disaggree on the gap between us and city and Liverpool. We can both of them with our full squad but struggle with limited squad more. liverpool almost missed out on the top 4 last season when they lost a few key players to injury.
Tom you can be so pathetic with your sentiments, you don't wait until season end to do the needful when things are bad when things become irreversible. You were hiding your support to keep lampard last season on waiting until the end of the season to assess him when we were in 9th position in the winter. Rlc has been with the 1st team for some seasons yet he is been overtaking by James, Mount and even Connor at cp. like barkeley he's not good enough for Chelsea and should be used to exploit the English privileges by selling for premium and get proper Chelsea standard players and move on.
Again I hope that toress/ ancelotti won't happen to tt and lukaku. Except certain players are brought in to help lukaku his flaws are much to fit into the team now and will soon start weighing on the coach. Was against resigning lukaku he's not a team player and limited in skills. I will take werner everyday in our team over lukaku even if he missed chances but lukaku not free of this unfortunately our attack is weaker and rigid with lukaku. He may not have played so many but its obvious he's a misfit. If we can get haland with him included I will be over the ?. A striker with such first touch as his and not clever with his builds is not one Chelsea should have. I would try to get auba in the January to add options. Stop gap though until we sort out the striker situation in the long term but imo lukaku is not the solution. shouldtnt have giroud go.
We need to have squad be good as the starter or else we lose grounds on our rivals with rlc, cho barkeley etc.
{Ed014's Note - don’t be rude to other posters fella, if I find you doing it again I’ll just delete your post. It’s not the first time you’ve done it either.
18 Dec 2021 08:44:18
Zealot, I certainly didn’t hide my support for Lampard last season in what I believed was a club project. When he was sacked I also took the typical Chelsea supporters view of “The king is dead long live the king” and said I would give my 100% support to TT.
I will continue to be critical of the players, manager and if necessary the club on a game by game basis but I will always try (not always successfully) to be constructive.
As far as players leaving mid-season are concerned I have given my views several times. I think Barkley will leave and think the situation with Rudiger’s contract may make it difficult for TT. I would like Alonso to leave but obviously only if we can get a quality replacement.
Im generally happy with the squad but not with some performances and unfortunately there are a few players who I don’t think will improve if they stay at our club but I will give them my full support throughout this season.
I will continue to give my end of season summary on individual performances also adding who I think will be leaving and who I would like us to sign or not sign.