OneMoSalah

Theres no point comparing a left winger/forwards stats to a regista even if they play in the same team, have same teammates and whatever else. Regardless of the situation. Its like comparing Alonso to Higuain or Kepa to Azpilicuetas, they have different roles in the team. It makes no sense. Even talking about Fernandinho's 0.8 key passes to Jorginhos 0.7 per game. For all the difference anyways, both are still under 1 key pass per game anyway. Lets look at this way, Sergio Busquets averages 0.5 key passes per game, Jorginho 0.7, Fernandinho 0.8 but it still doesnt mean they are better than Busquets who has probably been the standout player in that position since 2009. Even Xavi and Iniesta when they played at Barca, amazing players but even then before Pep came in they were never truely appreicated in England or outside of Spain because they werent traditionally physical, all action players like some of the traditional all action midfield players such as Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes among whoever else (who I still think that is what British football pundits, British fans and British media seem to compare any sort of midfield player to regardless of their actual role or skillset). In short: Xavi only got 58 goals and 49 assists in La Liga, over 17 seasons. Iniesta only got 35 goals and 48 assists in La Liga. Over something similar, 15 seasons or whatever before he left Barca for Japan. Considering the sort of players they were goals and assists didnt define them. It doesnt define Jorginho, who is different but I feel in his defence, could probably have the same case made for him. Even Busquets, the guy is brilliant but he doesnt score a lot of goals or get a lot of assists and he probably is the guy with a close role to Jorginho out of those 3 players although defensively he is severely underrated a lot and has been for years at Barca and with Spain. I dont think people understand how cruical Jorginho is for us still, hes maybe not been as good as at Napoli, as we havent taken to Sarris philosophy as well as Napoli did but honestly there is a reason why Pep was desperate for Jorginho. If you dont think so, I dont know. I doubt Pep who was a 6 himself in Johan Cryuffs famous dream team as it was called would of wanted him if he was average.

Thats why he struggled at Porto after his breakout year before Wolves got him, he played as a 6 and was vulnerable there at times. Personally I dont think he will be a sitting midfielder, even at Wolves he plays in a 2 and gets up and down the pitch, Moutinho is probably more disciplined as he is a lot older and doesnt have the ability to get around as much as he used to in his younger days.

For a guy who plays as a 6 in terms of his position, I would hope people dont look at him as well as at the likes of Busquets, Pirlo, Makelele and whoever else over the years who played that positions and judged them for some goals and assists either (before someone decides to trip me up on it yes, Pirlo took set pieces and could score long rangers but he was a regista). Fans here should kind of be used to it now, John Obi Mikel got similar treatment and that dickhead Florentino Perez famously said something about Makelele when he left Madrid to come here along the lines of he didnt offer anything, didnt score goals or assist either and would be easily forgotten. Although all these guys are different players in their own ways they all played at the base of midfield and their average positions over the course of games are probably 10 or 15 yards past the halfway line in the oppositions half when the teams have the ball and without it probably 10 yards in front of the CBs... The lack of goals and assists from midfield this season really should be pointed at Kovacic and Barkley. Both capable players with skillsets you would associate with more offensive minded midfielders but their output has been below par.

I think this is something he has improved a lot, despite maybe not playing as many minutes this season but could you imagine him playing that 2-0 game v City in the league in Decemver where we just sat deep and soaked it up? The likes of Willian and Pedro, despite their flaws, do this ever so well at times and although it isnt exactly what you would first consider when looking at attacking players it can help. Callum has improved on this a lot though, clear to see in that how often he gets back and helps Azpi. He started to drift inside a lot more yesterday too, I think Zola and Sarri instructed him to do so to get more involved in the game in the second half because West Ham were pretty comfortable with him. I hope he and Ruben both get rested for the next PL game. Think Sarri has to continue with this 11 in the PL.

Absolutely. I think as long as we secure CL football in whatever way, he will stay, its undoubtedly true that regardless of whoever was our manager right now we need to improve certain areas of the squad. Transfer ban complicates that indeed but I am sure there is news on the 11th regarding it.

It is a dangerous game also. Look at Spurs when they sold Bale, a lot of guys flopped. Same with Liverpool selling Suarez. I would hope we will do better but has to be seen. I honestly think Callum and Christian should be given a big chance next season and the money be invested, if we overturn our transfer ban, in a striker, another winger to compete with them 2 as I think one of Pedro or Willian will go, a LB and another offensive minded MF player because Kovacic and Barkley have disappointed and we could do with quality to compete with RLC who has probably moved ahead of Ross and Kova for that position. Sarri said he wants to sign Kovacic too and apparently there is a clause to sign him (hopefully to play more as a 6 or rotation for Kante as opposed to more advanced) as well as Higuain coming out saying he would like to stay I think those 2 will be signed 100% if it is possible.

Tbf I think its fair to assume some folk are sick of Sarri regardless of tactics, whatever else and even at the game, the amount of folk who boo'd when he subbed RLC summed it up. Id like to see him get next season and even the one after if he can have better results next year but I suppose some folk want him out and have done for months, which I would say is wrong but its been the tradition of the club to chuck managers when things havent gone well which is probably why a certain amount of fans think it wouldnt be the worst move because its been successful in the past. I put in a post up there why I believe it was always gonna be a tougher season, the early signs were there in the first 10 to 15 games regarding our attack and defense which has been ponderous and poor at times. There was a French guy on here years ago called Seb Chaupis who is a pundit and coach who wrote a very good article regarding what could derail our season, with some excellent points made regarding pressing, being exposed out wide, lack of rotation among other things. Fair to say some of things he mentioned have been features at somepoint this season. https://www.google.com/amp/s/weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/platform/amp/features/2018/10/10/17958730/chelsea-sarri-sarriball-analysis-attack-defence-issues-progress

Tbf its a odd quote because he says maybe he is the best in Europe before going on to say maybe he can be the best left back in the world. Surely it would be fair to assume the best LB in Europe is going to the be the LB in the world considering the higher standsrd of football, which is no disrespect to the other leagues but inevitably undeniable. Still regardless. Its an odd quote to make regarding Alonso. He started well but wouldnt say he was best in the PL at that phase yet alone the world.

Are people still annoyed hes not playing DM although hes never played as a DM? He maybe started slow but hes got used to that position now and I think hes shown he can cut it there. Hes never gonna score 10 goals a season but I think if he plays in his current role with RLC in the more advanced role and Jorginho, who has been good the last while too (whos unfortunately not getting a lot of praise), it could be a very good MF if Sarri goes with it from the start next season. Depends if he stays or is sacked though.

In all fairness what did you expect at the start of the season? A title challenge? With Morata upfront? With Willian a regular? With David Luiz playing CB? With Kovacic/Barkley playing attacking midfield? With Alonso playing LB? Under a manager whos style is totally different to any approach weve had in the last 5 years? Under a guy who has never actually won anything either. It is fair to say this season has been disappointint in some regards yes and last nights game was a decent team performance but individual talent won it for us more than a team effort, fair, but I think after the first 10 games under Sarri it was easy to see there was still huge amount of work needed to actually compete for the top 4, also when you take into account the mid season struggle we had as well as Arsenal, Spurs and Uniteds revivals so to speak (all 3 of them have got more regular goalscoring CFs like Kane, Aubamayang, Son, Lacazette, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku), it made it more awkward. The Arsenal game showed our defensive frailness and that was the third match of the season. The Newcastle game, the week after, was lucky in terms of an own goal to win it as we werent efficient enough in attack. We were too ponderous against West Ham in the 0-0 draw, week 6 or 7 of the season. Against United, 9th game, again ponderous at times after a decent enough first half and frail defensively. Then few weeks later 0-0 draw with Everton and a loss 3-1 to Spurs. Few weeks later lose to Wolves as well before beating City. The early signs were inevitably there, we were conceding big chances and were lucky not to concede more than we did in some games. Our start under Sarri was alright but hardly quite as good to be considered to automatically get top 4 in my opinion (even though it was put down to like 11 games unbeaten or whatever), especially considering how United were inevitably gonna change manager at some point meaning theyd get results like most big clubs do after a managerial change reinvigorating big players, Arsenal were always gonna improve as opposed to get worse than theyre start and Spurs are Spurs, who were somehow gonna be there or theres about as they usually are. I think a CF capable of 15-20 goals could have swung it a bit more for us but we didnt go for Higuain in the summer and hes clearly unfit and struggling just now, if we got him in the summer maybe hed have veen fitter maybe hed still have struggled though who knows. I suppose hoping hed come in, when severely unfit, having never played in this league, pinning high hopes on him in January was always going to be a huge risk. Also anyone who watched Napoli when Sarri first arrived will have seen how it took time, in a slower league, for him to implement his methods as well before they really clicked. I know the Klopp and Pep comparisons are also inevitablely wrong in some regard but its took Klopp like 3 years to turn Liverpool into actual title competitors and even Pep needed a full season and various signings in key areas (full back, GK, wide areas) before going on and winning PL last season. I still think if we somehow get good results at Liverpool and United (who havent been good since Solskjaer was actually appointed as manager on a full time basis) we will get the top 4, I hope we dont really prioritize the Europa over the top 4 but I would imagine we will, which is risky. Suppose for neutral fans outside of Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, United it will be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 or 6 games.

I dont see the club selling a GK we just paid 71m for signing on a 7 year contract in the summer for any price, yet alone 50m or whatever that stupid article says. The board have done some stupid shit but selling a 71m investment at a loss?

Good performance. Bit annoyed the fans bood Sarris decision to take him off when he got subbed off tbf. The guy played 70 minutes looked a bit leggy and Sarri has repeatedly stated he has to be carefully monitored regarding his back basically. Probably sensible actually.

Was quite embarrased when the fans boo'd Sarri when he took off RLC but honestly nothing surprises me anymore. Although he had said that fitness is his only problem in regards to making it as a top top player... Anyways, good team performance. Starting 11 was good, Higuain unlucky at times, looked a bit sharper although still needs to improve. Callum lost a lot of balls but again its to be expected hes not the finished article yet. Same 11 v Liverpool in the PL please.

Tbf if I was on 90k or 100k a week, knowing Im not gonna play at all for the rest of the season... Id be on the piss every night. Why hes here still I have no idea, seriously makes me wonder if we will get rid of him in the sunner too.

No Christensen a bit annoying but the same team more or less bar Rudi and Higuain. Lets get a good result. And a good performance.

Tbf Fernandinhos passing has always been pretty good regardless. He was a box to box midfielder and now he is so much than just a holding midfielder, he can create plays from deep, has improved tactically. He may commit tactical fouls but even then, I think hes probably surprised Pep morw than anybody else at how good hes been playing more disciplined as a fixed pivot as opposed to more free as he was under Pellegrini at times. Honestly hes been one of the best and consistent MF players in the PL since shifting to that role. Pep wanted Jorginho because of Fernandinhos age, honestly with that City team and how vital Fernandinho really is (Gundogan cannot do the same in that role for them and they struggle bigtime without him), I dont think Pep would of dumped him for Jorginho (or Fre) straight away if he signed him.

Aoaur would be a great move. More offensive minded, capable of playing between the lines. Dont think we will get him though. We were linked in the summer i think.

I think Kepa is the perfect GK for us for the next 10 years tbf. Good shot stopper, still has huge potential, his distribution for me is pretty class too which helps building up. Dont see why we would ever entertain selling him. To Madrid as well who we just sold Tibo to last summer.

Fernandinho was a box to box player at Shakhtar, Guardiola just did what Ancelotti did to Xavi Alonso at Real basically.. asked him to play as a 6, run less and read the game more when out of possession. Because of Fernandinho's ball winning attributes and tenacity from playing that box to box role he is maybe better suited or maybe this js better worded, more balanced, for that role too but I dont think either are in the team purely to be used as defensive players. They both build the game for their teams and het the ball into the final third. When out of possession yes they need to be able to shield the defence and that but City normally press high and win it or make the opposition punt it long.

Raul Jimenez and Diego Jota are brilliant together. Both had poor stints at Atletico but turning their careers around and proving their worth.

I think its something like 4 league goals in 2 seasons. Costa only has 8 goals in 25 games this season in all comps, although 3 were for Spain at the world cup so hardly counts. Morata has 4 goals in 9 hames in comparison in La Liga and 15 in 40 apperances although 7 of them were for us in PL and Europa League. Mental whod have thought Costa wouldnt do as well back at Atletico, although he has played some good games in Europe for them.

I think hed suit this current Bayern team very well. Hes not as rounded or physically strong as Lewa but they play very direct and counter attacking in phases of the match so he would be an ideal option for them. They like keeping the ball too but once they get into final third they are direct and have purpose a strong runner like Werner would give them a huge threat in behind in transitions.

Dortmund for all their excellent football and impressive run earlier in the season look very poor. Sancho and Reus have been hugely disappointing so far. Bayern strolling it, Lewandowski, Coman and Gnabry looking very good. Coman has so much untapped potential but hes gone off injured.

True. I think with Moses, Cahill and Drinkwater all having no future here, Reece will be one of the ones everyone at the club is expecting to play here at some point in the next few years. I think Zappacosta has got like 15 or 16 apperances this season and I doubt hes happy with that and was linked away in Jan. If he goes in the summer and lets say we round his season apperances upto 20 at least with Europa games still to play, if Reece came back and got that amount of games next year (as I would imagine Europa will be more likely to CL next season), it would be a good amount for him to break in and get accustomed to a higher level of football as well as possibly feature more if we were cruising games and wanted to rest/rotate Azpi who has been dogged for about 5 seasons straight now. Its a cynical way to look at him only being brought back next year because hes home grown and we lack HG numbers with potential departures but realistically it gives him a foot in the door and if his season at Wigan is anything to go on, he could surprise Sarri, Zola, his team mates and fans like he has undoubtedly done in the championship this season.

Apologies. And to @Bobo.