Thor

In a season where we have been collectively terrible, I'm willing to give him a pass. For as bad as he has been, the first couple of games he had with us, he did show some signs of brilliance. When he gets the ball and carries it out, taking on players, he looks like an unstoppable force. His middle game is just horrible though. As far as being a physical beast goes, he excels, but passing, decision making, and general field awareness is fairly terrible at the moment. If we get an offer, I wouldn't be opposed to letting him go, but at the same time I wouldn't mind if he stays. He needs another chance IMO. First season, and extremely young. If Monaco want him, and we get Fabinho instead... perfect.

Does anyone get a Martial type vibe from him? Strikes me as very similar. Both strong, quick feet, and quite direct. Both seem comfortable on the wing or in the middle as well. Obviously CHO has a little while to get to that level, but their build and style of play is very similar IMO.

Hoping this increases his value a little bit and we can offload him to one of the big teams.

Morata is more than good enough. Slagging him off when the whole team was playing like garbage isn't fair. Giroud comes on and Conte changes the whole formation and tactics to a far more attacking one... Of course we're going to produce more chances. Giroud is a great sub, but saying he is better than Morata is a joke. Just because our manager can't set up properly, don't take it out on the players.

Agreed. The amount of red card tackles I've seen on our players go unpunished... From Tottenham alone this year there were about 4.

We did moan, but Mata has gone to United and played under 3 different managers in that time, and none have preferred him, or found him to be the magician that some claim he is. On any big team looking to win the title, he is a useful squad player. You could get away with having him in your starting line up if you're fighting for top 4, but I just don't see him as effective enough. Where do you see him fitting even if we do have a more attacking style of play? Simply not quick or dynamic enough for me to stick him at CAM.

When we were at our lowest, he was our best player. He just isn't a transcendent talent, or dynamic enough to be a truly big time player. He was great for a season and a half, but I use that term loosely. Cesc was great for us too, but like a lot of these slow, unathletic players, at times they go missing and don't impact the games. Compare him to someone like Willian. Another player who was our best when we were at our low point. Difference is, Willian is dynamic, and can use other assets to impact a game even when he is completely off the mark. In turn, it makes him a better player than Mata. I'm not sure which bit was revisionist... I said he was good when we were going through a rough patch. That is factually correct. He didn't want to fight for his place, which was fine, since we played better without him. Just another player at United? He became that here once the team started clicking. He was the odd man out. It is like when people went mad here when we couldn't get Gotze. Another that fits in the form of the Mata type. These small, unathletic and slow players have a small window of good play in them, and not to mention, it having to be under the right circumstance. A lot of them need the team somewhat centred around them, or the play to go through them, yet they aren't impactful enough to justify it.

He was simply a big(ish) fish in a small pond at the time he was doing well here. He certainly didn't deserve the second player of the year award, but regardless, once the team got better, he was phased out. He was never as good as touted, but was someone who was exciting to watch at times in our transition period.

Touche haha. But honestly, his crossing in general is horrible. And like I mentioned, he rarely does it.

Absolutely infuriating to watch. I've never been more livid watching a player for Chelsea. If reports are true and the like of Barcelona or Real Madrid are looking into him... Sell. He slows up any build up play we have going, He is one footed. I can't remember the last time I've seen him cross it in on his left. Constantly cuts the ball back, and simply plays a back pass. Has no pace. Is either too deep in attack, playing on the shoulder of the last few defenders, or is too far back, not providing support. And like I said, when he is, he is too slow to get rid of it, terrible at dribbling, and cannot take his man on. The one thing he does do well, is win headers in defence. I actually cannot think of any other thing he does average to well apart from his free kicks. How is it that everyone that supports the club can see it, yet Conte can't? How is he a sure fire, locked in starter every single week? Seriously? Moses is three times the player, and he is someone we could probably look to upgrade as well. Moses is good enough to be a rotation/squad player though. Alonso isn't close. At least not at WB. Play him as a striker.

The players are what in the end make the club successful. No one is placing the players above the club. At the end of the day, bar the plastic fans, most on here would support the club if we were dead last or in the championship or below. Why should I not be thankful that Hazard chose us when he had the option to go to a number of different clubs. I love my club, but realistically, we aren't the biggest club in the world, and when Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man United, or other big clubs are available to a player, it is nice to see a player choose us. Grateful to the club? Of course they are. They have all become better players here. That doesn't mean there is no room for further progression for a player though. Hazard would undoubtably be better at Barca or Real. Even PSG or City. They are built to support his style of play. How is it not a two way street? How has Hazard not given it his all while here? He has won how many titles with us? Put in how many amazing performances? It is as if you think only the gritty, hard working types give their all and play up to it every time. Hard to play up to it when on days against great opponents, Hazard doesn't sniff the ball because of the way we play. You can't blame a player who has stayed here as long as Hazard has, and him finally becoming frustrated in the way we play. The false 9 performance against City was hard to watch for anyone. Who would enjoy playing in that given your skill set and what you could offer on the pitch with proper support? Nearly 300 games, and nearly 100 goals with us. He is a club legend, regardless of what happens. He is 27 now, and if he is as good as we say he is, he would be an ambitious person. Say what you want, but playing with a run down Cesc, and having Alonso to link up with on your side of the field isn't good enough. Having Moses as someone to link up with when he switches wings isn't great either. Who are we to blame him if he wants to leave and go to a club more suited and more ambitious that actually buys the right players with a vision in mind? Plays with a manager with an attacking vision in mind that wants to maximise his players potential. Yes, you do need players that compliment each other on the field. That is the way you make the most out of everyone on the field. That is the way you capitalise on what you have at your disposal. Making it fit, and doing the best with what you have is nice, and you can get away with it, but we are trying to build a team that can win the champions league here, are we not? That is the goal for a team like Chelsea, right? Having mismatching pieces won't cut it. We gave Drogba, Lampard, Terry that chance back in the day. A balanced team that all fit. We have absolutely not given Azpi, Hazard, Willian and Kante that chance yet.

Those clubs actually seem to build teams that compliment their best players. Us on the other hand... haven't given Hazard players to link up with.... haven't given Kante a proper midfield partner the whole time.... played Azpi out of position even though he is amazing anywhere. That is why I'm happy to have them. Not to mention this is the first time where we seem incredibly reliant on two or three players. Never got that feeling from our teams before. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

He seems to really love the club, but obviously is extremely frustrated with the situation. It is not hard to see why in all honesty. All these years we've had him, and we have never really built around him the way other teams have around their best players. You can talk about his consistency all you want, for me he is. Hard to look consistent on a team like this, when the team is not catered towards you at all. Ronaldo has it. Messi has it. Even Neymar has it and he only just got to PSG. Get a manager who will play attacking football, allow Hazard to get into space and work magic. He looked brilliant carrying the ball through the park in the middle in the last game. Just at times had no one to pass to or build up with. Alonso is especially useless. Either too deep in attack playing on the shoulder almost as a striker, or he is lagging behind. Not to mention when he does get it, slows it up due to being one footed and unable to beat his man to keep the attack going. Get him someone decent on that wing to work with, and a manager that wants to push forward and he will look even better. I honestly think Emerson might fit the bill. Pace and engine for days, and great with the ball at his feet.

Absolutely unfair. We completely changed tactics once we went 2-0 down. Now back to 5 at the back after taking the lead.

LOL at blaming Morata. No service today, and even that ball that went in was average and made into something. Great goal.

No top tier player is going to go out there and play like this on purpose. Too much pride. Hazard, Kante, etc.

Great subs. Not like Alonso is clearly the worst player out there.

Hoping he gets banned for the season. And I mean next season. The entirety.

For as bad as we are, we have never been shafted more by refs than this season. Ridiculous.

Why is Alonso a sure fire starter? Play him as a striker. He doesn't do shit as a wingback. He kills every attack with his lack of pace and shitty passing.

Him and Odoi strike me as similar types of players. Hopefully Odoi can continue to improve so getting Martial won't be necessary.

Two hands in the back and a kick around the side. Only reason it is up for debate is because of when it happened. That is 1000% a penalty. You could pull him up for so many infractions on the one play.

Really appreciate his skillset. Extremely underrated, and I thought he was under-appreciated big time at City. When he was actually getting game time in the PL, he was scoring every second game essentially.

Go through the thread and you'll see a decent number of posters, myself included saying he is clearly a forward/winger type and not one for the wing back position. He has pace, skills, tidy on the ball, is powerful, and can beat his man with his direct play. I'm not sure what others are seeing, but it is blatantly obvious he is an extremely gifted player. Just because he wasn't involved in games with us, and at times out of position, doesn't mean he isn't a good player. Same way Hazard looks useless playing as a false 9 against City... Yet he is one of the world's best. Was always more suited up the field, and is one of the good talents we have. Odoi, himself, Willian, with the possible purchase Bailey, and I don't think it would be catastrophic if Hazard left as far as filling those wing positions. Give our young players a chance. We didn't give it to KDB, Salah or Lukaku. KDB is the only one I'm really bummed about, since he is the only one I thought had world class potential, but as you can see, it takes a little bit of time and patience and you get absolute gems. Kennedy has all the attributes to be great. I'm not sure what his detractors can point to as far as missing skills for the winger position. Say what you want about Liverpool and Tottenham, but they give their young players a chance. I will say that I'm pleased to see a talented player like Odoi being given one, so hopefully it is the start of something new here. Build a high powered offensive system, one that doesn't rely on a single player like ours does (Hazard, or Willian at times) and consequently free up room to give younger talents a chance to shine and build confidence.

And I give him credit for it. Always have. What he has done after has been pathetic. And by that, I mean 90% of it being his attitude. Pathetic. Holier than thou bullshit.