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Fair enough, we fundamentally disagree on whether Alonso is a good footballer - remember you were never a fan even as a LWB and despite his strong contributions under conte. IMO he's really good at passing, ball control, and first touch. Great at winning high balls. Poor at crossing and fairly slow. However, reckon many times Alonso was not able to pass the ball well, esp in away games due to lack of movement and others did not do too well in that regard either. As a classic LB, Alonso seems unplayable, but nobody is holding a gun to Sarri's head and saying that's how we have to play or how alonso has to play. That's what I see regarding tactics: Alonso does play as a LB who needs to drop back very often esp in away games when we are under attack. The whole defense works in a high line, which I also dislike. Azpi goes up way too often considering how poor he is in attack, and so does Kante. Seems like you may also not like possession systems, because defending in possession systems is mostly done by keeping possession. Those sides don't usually do too well without the football. Let me emphasize that the discussion would've been very different if we were talking about a sure quality player to replace alonso. And yet, we are discussing Emerson, who again, has mediocre stats while playing far easier games in average.

Really depends on what type of football we want to play. If it is possession, then I'm afraid Zouma is never going to work for us. If a different manager goes back to a more direct style, then he can certainly do well and could even become an important player for us.

Disagree. That’s very arbitrary and static view imo, a bit classic too if you consider how dynamic the possession sides play these days. The stats are incomparable for the reason I mentioned above: Emerson played in FAR FAR easier games in average. Alonso has just helped us win an away game we were going to lose! tactics exist so that teams can make use of the best attributes the players have. If the player is capable of winning games, he should be allowed to try. Others who can't should cover for him. therefore alonso being poor defensively should never be an issue with so many players in the squad who are not really contributing with goals and key moments. If kovacic cannot cover Alonso’s runs then what exactly does he do? Should kante drop back a little more so alonso can attack, win headers and games? Can't Azpi drop back and become the CB while alonso attacks? These are all possible with tactical tweaks. let me put it his way: If alonso moved to Leicester the manager would immediately tweak the tactics so that alonso could win games for him. Even if he has to give him sort of a free role. That’s how important game winners are imo. we have so few game winners in the team that I find it incredible that the one we do have is ostracized and hated by fans. Just because this manager insists in making him play like a classic LB. While I don’t disagree alonso has been poor, I disagree with the reasons for that. I also find folks here a bit inconsistent regarding their position with sarri.

Those were not pl right? Perhaps why I missed them. yeah we have a big disagreement on what having a good game means: for me if the player directly helps us winning points, like winning that header in a tough away game, that’s def good game for me. so for Emerson to be average, he needs to contribute something to the team. Merely looking like lb and running well is just not enough. I’ve hardly seen him play, but so far, his actual contributions are not even on par with an underperforming alonso.

Is he though? I don't actually know because he usually plays against the weakest opposition. So much so that I have barely watch him play: the games he starts usually don't show in the US. Wish he would start more games away from home, when we have the in-your-face players at all times, which makes passing a lot harder.

wow that'd be a long-ass deal, if true. Speaking of which, wonder how big his ass will be at 32 or so.

While Sarri may not have been a good choice to develop youth, the club knew that. Also, since it is a recurring thing, it's easy to guess that the contracts with the managers do not list developing (and start) young players, or at least not as a high priority goal. With all that out of the way, it's going to be very hard to find managers who will give meaningful minutes to a 18yo CB, who's not even that tall.

If Odoi broke a leg, you know one of those clean fractures (no ligament damage), which would merely delay his development. Would that be good or bad for Chelsea? I'd say probably very good for the club, because the likelihood of the player signing a new deal would probably be extremely high. I'm not wishing this on the player - chelsea will go on with or without him. Just a hypothetical to illustrate a situation where the interest of the players and the club, can be vastly different.

Tactics were exactly the same. Just fielded the players fans wanted to see against awful opposition. We will struggle against better teams same as we have before. Still don't see top4 this time around, regardless who starts.

yup. However, hope they are different lawyers than the ones who assured the club that signing Traore was OK in the first place.

Mostly because the opposition does not press high up, I'm afraid. Much easier and quicker to pass the ball without pressure. Careful not to compare the incomparable.

fair enough, it just wasn't explicit and I've seen this mistake here in these forums quite a bit, so not entirely directed at your post. Sarri's system, as well as Guardiola's simply do not use DMs. Take fernandinho from City: as a sole DM, or even pivot he's awful, but works in possession quite well. Keep the ball at all times and the opponent cannot attack. Sure, but RLC just isn't good enough in defense to help there. Same with CHO. That's why we'd lack in numbers when playing stronger opposition. That's a problem for a diff time tho.

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.