King Kante

One through ball through a massive hole doesn't make for a good passer, but if you want to pretend it does go for it. A little bit like that video that got posted saying that he was a good passer and all it showed were long balls hit with zero zip. Anyway, I don't want to piss on the parade today. Another good result, albeit WH were awful. Noni was the MotM for me and it is good to see how the front line are coming along. Trev also showed to me again why he should be kept, Badman also had a good game, using his size well. That is yet another game where the defence has looked stable without Disaster being all over the place positionally.

Let's see. If the club can get him to agree to 2-3 year extension. That would be ideal. However, if I were his advisors I would personally tell him to not sign anything and go back to Ipswich on loan. A half decent season next year and he will will get a very nice sign on bonus and wage owing to his HG status. At most I would tell him to sign a one year extension to get the loan if Chelsea play hard ball. As for the player himself, I watch quite a bit of Ipswich for their run-in. He isn't ready now, but if he becomes more consistent and develops at the same rate you could easily see him becoming a decent PL winger or better in a couple of years.

Just realised Omari has only one year left on his contract. He would be insane to renew unless we throw massive money at him, at which point we would be insane for the club to do that. I have a feeling it may be best to sell him to Ipswich and insert a low buy back with first refusal. He will need another year loan to develop anyway.

Been our best CB since coming back. Wonder if he be able to avoid the FFP youth scrafice.

They're clearly want him out for FFP. It is a shame that they spunked so much on Caicedo as I think they're similar players but Gallagher actually has the better passing range and gives more to the cause. Anyway, I suspect him and Maatsen will be sold without much chance of a reversal. My only hope at the moment is Trev doesn't leave, he is our best CB on current form, or second depending on how you rate Colwill - Silva I exclude as he is leaving.

Let's see. I will need a bigger sample and see more instances of him breaking lines with the ball at his feet and display more progressive passing before I can be satisfied he is moving in the right direction. For me, if we want a scrappy ball winner in CM, Gallagher is similar and has better passing - even though his (Gallagher) isn't great either. This said, I will give him (Caicedo) that he seems to have improved his positional play/ball chasing and isn't getting pulled around so much which is a bonus even if he set the bar pretty low to begin with.

I get what you're saying but in that game we were on top until extra time where we went Conservative which was clearly from the manager. He has done this on numerous occasions this season as well (City away being another prime example.) For me, Poch plays 'scared' in that he will 'play out for a draw' rather than go for the win when things get tight. For me, that really isn't the type of mentality I want instilled into a young team.

I will go early with my lists for the Summer: Stay Petrovic Bettilini Trev Fofana Colwill Chilwell James Gusto Enzo Lavia Caicedo Palmer Carney Noni Mudryk - Just. Jackson Sell for right money Cucu - I am ok with him staying as he has been ok this season, however if the right money comes in then you have to take it owing to his fee and wages. Gallagher - I wouldn't sell him personally but imo we need a more progressive CM and unfortunately he is the easiest one to shift. Personally I would rather shift Caicedo but I know that just isn't realistic. Maatsen - personally I think he would be fine as a back-up but FFP and all that. Sanchez Badiashile - I actually don't mind him. I think he had just been out of form owing to his bad injury and having to play next to that clown Disaster who has made everyone who had played alongside him this season look awful. Sell at any cost Disasi - guy is one of the worst players I have seen down Chelsea and I have been going since 1989. Kepa Lukaku Sterling Loan Hutchinson - still too raw and drifts in and put of games. Ipswich again if promoted would be ideal. Broja - really need him to get a decent loan purely for FFP reasons. Santos - needs a full season Lesley Alfie Fofana Casadei Buy GK - keep Sanchez if not LB - Only if Cucu is sold. CB - Would love Silva but don't think that is realistic. CM - need an experienced player who is progressive on the ball. CF - not convinced Fofana is the answer so we need someone.

Well yes and no. We aren't going to be challenging for any serious trophies in the near future and yes, Poch will likely be a safe pair of hands for the next year or two. However, we also have to look at the dangers of keeping him. First and foremost for me is the mentality that will be left. Poch seems to think it is fine to play for penalties in a final against the Dippers youth team - that for me was unforgivable and is a dangerous precedent to set. Second, he appears to be very bad at spotting players that need dropping. Sanchez, Disasi and Sterling should all of been dropped way before they were. As a result, he could end up prolonging the development of the squad because he cannot judge a player properly. Third, his tactics haven't got across to the side much - people get excited about the Everton and Spuds games but forget quickly that we were bummed by Le Arse and could hold onto leads against Burnley and fecking Sheffield, thus I am not sure the players will develop enough tactical awareness/knowledge under him. For me, just sticking with him because he is a 'safe pair of hands' is also fought with danger.

Whatever happens Disaster should be nowhere near the first XI.

I am still yet to be convinced. Yesterday he had three opportunities to hit a forward ball to a player who would've been played directly in on goal and he over hit all three. For me he still isn't doing enough other than being a ball winner.

Another game without Disaster on the pitch and a another assured defensive performance. Surely this guy won't came back into the first XI.

He is quite raw still and flits in and out of games in a way that isn't too dissimilar to Mudryk. I have watched quite a bit of Ipswich in the past month or so and I reckon he needs another year or two of development before he is ready to play for a club that is aiming for the top 6 in the PL.

My theory has been that the owners weren't happy with his decision to decline Burnley and told Poch to isolate him/restrict his minutes so they could get him out in January. His Father's comments also indicate this imo.

I like Noni. I think unlike some people in the squad he has some grit about him and is actually trying to improve/develop. Again, he is a development project, but at least I can see signs with him that he could develop into a consistent PL winger. His tracking back and willingness to challenge for the ball is also helpful. I think with some respect, he gets criticism/grief for his demeanor. I grew up in a similar area to Noni so understand that his 'attitude' is really confidence/a front to not be picked on/messed with.

Yes. Current rules rigg the system for the big clubs. Why can't a team like Bournemouth get a new owner who wants to put their money in to make them PL champions? Currently, the system insists that clubs spend what they generate, but how can clubs realistically grow without investment? For me, as long as the owner is using their own money, they can do what they want. We have no right to be a 'Big Club' forever.

When we have players like Disasi, Mudryk and Caicedo starting regularly, we have much bigger problems than Jackson. For me, Jackson, as Cole says, just needs to get a little more confidence and sort his feet out. For me people are getting too caught up with the finishing. Nico has improved quite a lot with his hold up play and off the ball runs. The chances he got against City last week were a lot down to his own hold-up play/off the ball running. He wasn't doing that at the start of the season - particularly the hold-up play. I am not saying he will be great or even good enough long term, however at least we have have actually seen improvements in his game this season and he hasn't even been as bad as some of the other players I have mentioned above. Lastly, he has only had two pro seasons playing in the most difficult position on the pitch. If anyone of the 'project' players we've got deserves some slack, it is him.

Feel like Enzo should've had this surgery a while ago. Not sure having him play at 50% was either good for his reputation or offered much more than blooding Casedei whilst he was out. Hopefully the surgery will work and we get him back 100% for next season.

+ Disaster staring.

Yeah, no Palmer, no chance.

Disasi for me is the worst player in the squad. I don't like Caicedo but at least he can win a ball. Dasasi doesn't do anything to the level you would expect a reasonable PL player to do. I mean, look how we have been defending all season and then look at our defending in the last two games. In the last two games we have played the PL's best team at set pieces (Everton) and the PL best team (City.) In both games we defended really well and limited both teams to zero chances. Compare that to when Disasi is on the pitch. One tiny bit of movement loses him, he cannot hold a line properly, he doesn't jump for balls half the time, he ball watches and he lacks awareness. For me he is the biggest hard sale in the squad. I literally call the guy Disaster. He only gets away with his level because he is big and can stay fit.

I think it was a shame his finishing let him down badly yesterday otherwise he would've likely been man of the match imo. A number of times against City he was able to bring long balls down under pressure and turn in tight areas to bring the ball out. I have actually seen a lot of improvement in his game in the past month or so, even if the finishing hasn't been there. I do not think he is a great player, as of now, but he is clearly developing and improving.

We lost our shape when he came on and he couldn't get anywhere near Doku. Not sure I even want him for deep cover anymore.

As @lucio says if that is true, he should've subbed them off and he should've done the same with Sterling against Leicester. The reason why that happened if because we have a young team being guided my a manger who doesn't have authority. Fair enough for it to maybe happen once - Sterling - but this also happened in the Utd game with Noni trying to take the second one. This has been going on and he doesn't have the clout with the players to sort it out. If these were experienced pros, I would maybe give him more of a benefit of a doubt - as you would then say the players should know better - but these are kids.

Exactly I actually blame Poch more than the players.