Clockwork

I remember there was a debate if RLC should go on loan mainly on the basis of what would be the best for his development. I argued that it would be in his best interest to stay and learn from Sarri, even if that meant less playing time. Nearly half way through the season, i still stand by that. RLC has improved a lot from a tactical and defensive standpoint, improved on his biggest weaknesses and developed into a proper CM. Sometime more playing time is not the only answer to a players development, training and coaching by a proper manager could be even more important.

Still lot of football left this season, but at this point the safest bet would be RLC staying next season. He is the one who has seen more minutes as the season gone on, and improving at a higher level. Ross Barkley is the most ordinary, and Kovacic is not owned by Chelsea.

Got to think one of Kovacic, Barkley, and RLC will not be here next season.

How about Azipiculletta as CB, i think his attributes fits that role much better than as a RB for Sarri. Maybe Hysaj signing make that possible.

Hazard will undoubtedly stay if Chelsea show the ambition of a top club. He wants to win and challenge for European glory. Honestly can’t fault him if he doesn’t want to spend his prime years on a team not prepared to meet those challenges.

Alonso is a murderer, being called a donkey is actually an insult to the donkey.

Defense matters just not individual defense, he had a great game but our challenge still remain the same. We are going to need our FBs to create width and stretch the opposition.

My gawd you could see the lack of quality from Azpi and Kante to play this type of football.

I am his biggest fan right now, don't want him back at Chelsea but every good performance makes it more likely we recoup this disaster signing.

Sarri is making RLC a much more rounded player, if he continues to improve tactically and defensively the way he has i am sure a lot of manager will find it very difficult not to utilize him. My biggest thing for him is staying healthy, can't improve if you are not available and fit. He deserves a start, i think he will start against Wolves.

Still like him a lot; just not very offensive to what we require in midfield with Jorginho and Kante. It can potentially be solved if we had a much stronger front 3, and FBs that contributed much more to our attack.

He really fits what Sarri wants though; He is a high energy player that will press and work for the team, technical and one of the best young dribbler in the world, pacy and direct, intelligent and composed player always has his head up and look to make the right pass. I think he is a good fit for what Sarri wants to implement and achieve here.

After how much we paid for Bakayoko and Drinkwater, i honestly stopped caring how much a player cost. I am a huge fan of Pulisic, we desperately need more goal scorers in our attack though. Not a solution to what we need.

I am not buying he has been overused excuse, he plays once a week and was not called up for international break either. He should be one of our most rested starter. He is not good, more than that I really hated his demeanor. For instance before he was subbed, there was a moment he was tugging for the ball, and was pushed out of bound. While the ball was in play, he was walking around complaining to the ref instead of focusing on a dangerous situation.

My point is one coach is willing try something new while the other has not made changes do early results. You know the saying if it is not broke don't it, and that is exactly why Alonso and Azpi have started every PL game unchallenged, same for Luiz, doing nothing in midfield beside rotating Kovacic and Barkley, and same in attack. We are no better than we were in the beginning of the season mainly because we have persisted with the same issues.

haha what are we doing, why are we giving out a new contract to a soon 30 year old FB that doesn't fit our current team.

Quite of a contrast between us and Arsenal, early results in the season made Sarri conservative and reluctant to make many changes to last years side. On the other hand early poor results for Arsenal, forced Uni to make changes to find his best side. We have stagnated while they have improved.

Hopefully this is the beginning of the end for Alonso as LB#1. At what point do you give a preference to RLC over Kovacic. RLC has performed remarkably well when given the oppertunity, and quite frankly we have seen enough of Kovacic to know what he offers and i would not purchase him. He maybe better suited to play Kante role, he simply does not have attacking instinct to play the LCM role. Most importantly one is a Chelsea player and the other is not, at this point you are investing a lot of time and resource on a player you don't own. My stance would be different if Kovacic made us much better, and clearly he does not in the current role. It has been quite evident since the beginning of the season that this major weakness outside of striker is our FBs, Emerson should get his oppertunity if he doesn't cut it go out in January reinforce that position. Azpi continues to show that he does not fit this side.

He has poor awareness and decision making always been the case.

I think he is a very good player, but his intelligence and decision making will prevent him from being a great player. Maybe in a system like Sarri he could thrive, but i am not sure he has the discipline to buy in.

He really is useless now that his Goals and Assists have ran out, which was always predictable.

Every game he has started he has been arguably the best player, based on merit he definitely deserves more playing time. Think Kovacic, Barkley, and RLC all are playing well. Think Kovacic should be in more of competition with Kante.

Despite his large statute it always impresses me how quick RLC is with his feet. He can improve a lot still, but first needs to stay healthy.

Ferland Mendy is growing on me, i think he can be better than City's Mendy.

FBs are a huge concern neither Alonso or Azpi are good enough in the buildup against competent oppositions.