robsblubot

he doesn't. He plays a DLP role, like a Pirlo. Kante and the LCM should provide that support, but the system does not quite work. RLC as LCM does not provide that, hence my comment about using this lineup against strong opposition.

Well we are playing Brighton, 15th, at SB. It's definitely a good lineup for a home game against weak opposition. A bit suicidal against stronger teams: not enough players defending (pure math).

yeah I get that, but loaning out a player also needs to be sanctioned by FIFA, so while we can still prob sign contracts, few would be willing to do so without the option of being loaned out, at least.

beg to differ. What you said applies to pretty much every player and system. Moses also did not have as much an impact as Alonso did... (where in the world is Moses?) Alonso also had quite a few MoTM performances as a LWB, with important goals and assists. While I understand folks are unhappy with him, and his contract extension, he did do well under Conte. Signing a new deal after good performances is not that crazy. I kinda find it hard to criticise the player when he's consistently poor in a system/position/role, when it is the manager who insists in doing the same and expecting a different result. While I disagree with the notion that everything that is bad with the club is because of the poor FBs, because I think it's about the system, he's definitely not great in that position/role. Take last game for example: I thought he was OK. Absolutely horrible crossing, as usual, but lovely passing (ironic). One exchange with Eden in particular was pretty impressive, with alonso producing a perfectly weighted throughball back to eden. And he won the header that tied the game... players capable of these key moments are a bit under appreciated around here IMO. Perhaps because we are used to a key player who has not delivered many key moments in CL games for example, but that's a totally different rabbit hole.

yeah that makes more sense -- all registration -- with only recalls as possible since they are already registered with the club. this guy has it wrong apparently https://www.forbes.com/sites/cybrown/2019/02/22/chelsea-banned-from-signing-players-for-two-transfer-windows/#491dd7225229

hmm wouldn't be much of a ban, that is intent to punish a club for signing a (too) young player, which would allow the same club to go again and sign another young player, just to loan them out, like they've been doing.

Nope. transfers are banned. Can only recall players on loan and sign free agents.

No excuses here. I honestly don't care who plays, because this is the easier of the next 2 matches. If the players need a rest, they should get it this time. Of course it is crunch time, so can't relax and/or rest too many players, but something's gotta give. Scoring goals is the concern of course, so perhaps RLC needs a start more than anyone esp since this is a home game against weak opposition. Prob the better one for Odoi to play since there is less need for defense work.

Most clubs do finger-prick blood tests to assess fitness and likelihood of injuries. So, they decide who can play or not, except for Azpi who always plays.

when I used to play footy with good (amateurs and prof on occasion) players, they always made fun of players who run/play with their heads down... Just watch Ashley Young. I know we complain a lot about our players, but even the ones we dislike know how to pass a ball. Smalling does not. Jones is just mediocre, and not athletic enough given his mediocre technique.

When folks feel depressed about our squad, just read United lineup out loud. Their defense line has Ashley Young, Phil Jones (not today), and Smalling... That's drinkwater level right there.

And there is nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, you, and others here, who claim that "Sarri is the reason we are going to lose Odoi" are the ones making the assumption, not I. The assumption being that a different manager, under similar circumstances, would've done differently. not to mention the other assumption that odoi only wants to move to Bayern bc of lack of playing time. heh yup... imagine Jose Mourinho dealing with CHO... haha players need to be past 30 to play for that guy. I think it's because fans confuse potential with quality. Odoi may have potential, but he does not yet have the quality. And now it is difficult to justify developing him after he handed in a transfer request. Should we care this much for a player who wants out and is likely working with his agent towards that goal?

Now you understand, thank you: I admit that you very wrong. Wrong... I mean he may be a bad manager, but I do not believe a different manager, in his first season at the club, would've given Odoi much more playing time. That's reality... While I agree with the other points you made, they point to the mismanagement in Odoi's contract, which I happen to believe is the root cause that he will leave.

So, I ask again, if Bayern did not see him enough, why do they want him? For his nice smile? Because Odoi's agent convinced Bayern that Odoi is the next messi? Come on! They want him because Bayern scouts saw him play (senior and youth levels) and liked what they saw. My point remains that the club has control over that and could have made his appearances more difficult until he signed a new deal. While I know it has happened before, the players rarely stays once he hands in a transfer request. The relationship between player/agent and club becomes more difficult than before. You may have your opinion and I have mine: trusting that he will become happy with more appearances is naive. There is no guarantees and the club should not bend backwards for this little shit.

Bayern saw him play somewhere did they not? Or was it just agent talk? when a young player does not have much time left, it is very common practice to remove him from rotation in all fronts. thats literally the only power the clubs have these days, with the scale tipped heavily towards players and agents. Trusting loyalty or that he will sign a new deal if given enough minutes is naive at best imo.

Agreed. Also, imo the problem wasn’t that he did not play enough, but that he played too much given his contractual situation. had he been under the radar, there would be no England, no Bayern, and he’d be far more willing to sign a new deal. imo the fuckup wasn’t the lack of minutes. Do that with the other youngsters and watch them all go or cost a fortune to renew. It’s a no-win situation for the club: player does well, attracts buyers, making hard to renew; player does poorly and is willing to renew no prob yay!

So, basically you are saying lack of confidence will never be a problem?

Have to disagree with you: higuain first touch against Cardiff was embarrassing... something you’d expect from a retiree who’s way past his prime. i was never a fan, but this was way below his or this level.

Losers’ cry. He has a legitimate complaint about the goal, obviously, but that’s about it. And refs do miss that type of offside a lot because when alonso wins the header it’s a different check and refs might have been looking elsewhere. Of course it’s a bad mistake, but just pointing out it does happen. cardiff is stil a shitty side that prob deserved to lose, but we were very poor. higuain was the worst player on the pitch today and I am honestly missing morata.

heh always thought stones was going to become a great player: technique was always there and his poor decision making was normal for age I'm really not a fan of Coutinho as a footballer. He's got great technique in specific areas, and not so good in others. He's like the polar opposite of Eden as characteristics goes for an attacking mid... he's also super fragile which is a bigger problem in tough matches.

heh this is good news actually. Obviously Sarri is just parroting what the club told him to say.

And had s monster game against Malta. weak opposition changes everything doesn’t it?

"it's Montenegro but," well the most important thing is that it was against very weak opposition. While I do like Ross and agree he can still improve becoming an important player for us, this performance means very little. The same applies to Odoi, but CHO fans will have a meltdown as usual.

yeah I have a feeling a 3-year tenure plus a package would've been the goal. can't see that happening now tho.

Not sure credit with the fans will help sarri much. Reckon only results would appease the trigger-happy owner. Yes that’s the situation we are in... it made no sense to me that Odoi would have been out in the showroom with not enough time left on his contract... that’s very weird and suggests someone fucked up big time. now it is a bad situation for the club, having to convince him to stay. Odoi’s agent, and himself must be loving it... auction is On!