robsblubot

Heh every time I read that I cringe to myself. It's akin to saying that Hazard is a liability defensively and therefore should be dropped and sold. Or that Azpi is a liability in attack and therefore needs to be dropped or sold. Players have different characteristics and roles and the system should support them in those roles. If Alonso is not adding enough given his attacking role, sure, let's get someone better... who does not seem to be Emerson. The liability word is a bit overused here tbh... all players appear a liability when exposed even an excellent defender like Azpi.

Ah in this game, sure. Never been a big fan of Napoli style of play, so have no problem criticizing sarri, but I honestly think people are overly blaming him for losing the locker room. It's not about wanting him out - perhaps the players just don't believe in him or in his system enough to make it work. Seems to happen a lot with these players.... Just be ready that the next manager will use CHO sparingly too. Expect the same if the team is struggling. My 2-cent prediction. Unless CHO is killing it in practice sessions, which I don't believe. When that happens coaches and management would usually step in.

Hmm while that can indeed negatively affect confidence, many GK have thrived and used the team in poor form to do really well and catch the attention of bigger clubs. I'm sure Kepa himself had such opportunity playing for a smaller team in Spain and attracting a Chelsea. Goes both ways too: perhaps the defense is not confident with their goalie either. I don't like his GK style and think he's too short for a top GK. Wish we had gone a diff direction, but oh well. Now I hope he improves.

Never seen a manager turning to a young player, who hasn't yet shown anything, to *fix* a failing team. People are expecting CHO to get minutes because the team is not working, but it's exactly the other way around: manager and coaches will try to preserve him from the criticism and the stench of failure. Next manager will come in and do exactly the same, at least initially.

Determination to score, unfortunately, does not count. Not American football... perhaps the quality of the balls that did us in wouldn't be so good if the rest of the team was defending better... This same defense line was better early season, or were they just as average, but better protected? Where has hazard been?

Lost cause to speak well of alonso with this crowd. He's the cause of all our problems... In a working system, it wouldn't really matter if it's a back 4 or 3, but the issue is that the system is not working very well just yet. So, players, like Alonso and luiz are exposed and look bad. The CHO thing is just as tiring. It's going to be very funny if the next manager starts the same players, changing little. @MoroccanBlue Alonso is not there to primarily defend, Azpi is. Emerson defended as poorly when he was on against City -- yes they scored after alonso left too.

This is going to be a statement by the players. Either they are behind Sarri and and will run for him - you know chasing the opposition, tackling, not letting them become comfortable - or they will do what they did against City. Of course, we may still lose even if the players show up, but then it won't be that ridiculous thing that happened against city. Not too bothered by who plays, since I think City was a collective thing, but would prefer Kovacic is fit for the extra steel and retention in the middle.

Bullshit! If they cared enough about youth development that would have been in the managers contract... not hearsay...

Thanks, but no thanks. I see that you enjoy this game. the thing is when you are wrong, and I can guarantee that you will be wrong in some of your predictions (someone will breakdown either physically or mentally and won’t develop). And then neither you, nor I, will care one bit... unless we have money in it.

I don't know which CL finals you watch, but the ones I do have a lot 30s who seem to handle all wingers just fine. Out of the list, Mbappe is the only one at prime... Again, the only player in this list dominating in CL is Mbappe, the others have not faced the the strongest opposition, which is always in CL. How can you list those other players along with Mbappe, who won a freaking World Cup as the MoTM is beyond me. My VERY personal opinion is that Bundesliga is pretty much unwatchable for the most part. Disorganized, open, and pretty poor technique esp in the mid tier teams. However, I do know there are good players there, and I'm sure you've spotted some of them. But only when they move to a top club, probably at CL, they will be truly tested. That's how it works: bigger club, bigger wages, and more pressure. Some will make it others won't. Maybe you haven't seen enough promising players fail, but I have... not pretty. And by disorganized, I say players enjoy too much time on the ball, which is not the case in strongest leagues. See Bakayoko for example.

Perhaps.. some will, some won't. Either you make money off of it, perhaps as a scout, in which case you wouldn't be wasting time posting here (nor sharing your knowledge base), or you merely have an opinion like everyone else here. Interesting... now you use valuation as a variable... but when talking about Alonso and Willian, whatever they are sold for, is irrelevant because they are "shite."

how can't you see that is subjective and merely one's opinion is beyond me.

I'm not sure what this means... if that is indeed my squad, then I'd put money on them against your random list or youngsters (who haven't done nothing yet) any day of the week and twice on sundays. I'd suggest looking into stats regarding the number of youngsters starting in top clubs' senior squads and their success rate... It suggests one must be very careful in employing too many youngsters. Hint: the teams playing the CL final are usually NOT on the younger side.

Just to clarify, that when I disagree with your assurances about players and/or leagues (and I do), I'm not saying we shouldn't make a move, even when (in my view) they play in smaller leagues/clubs under a lot less pressure. I can tell you for example, that Brazilian players will only really catch scouts eyes when performing well in libertadores, not Brasileiro. Where their perform, and against who,are the most important factors in accession what they will be able to do against the strongest opposition. Precisely why I rate Eden Hazard less than most folks here (Willian consistently outperformed him in CL!). Some of them have the quality and deserve a shot. Personality and other factors may help selecting which would likely succeed abroad. However, with the current managerial situation, betting on such players may be unwise. They would not be given too many opportunities to succeed, and could end up becoming eternal subs, even if underserved.... see AC who is a good player in my book (just a bit green for CB). CHO is not of Sarri's making -- that is my main disagreement even when I couldn't care less about Sarri. Thought Napoli was entertaining to watch even if a bit gung-ho, like a team who would lose to pragmatic Jose 9 out of 10 times in single elimination games.

Sure! I'd be totally on your side if I knew there was a possibility he would stay if given more minutes. However, all the evidence I have (certainly not as much as the club has), points to him wanting to leave pretty much like Eden. Though the conclusion is that we don't really know for sure, which makes the outcry a bit much too. Maybe Sarri sees CHO in practice and he does not look into it?

Going in circles again here. You think my definition of big club is narrow and I think yours is wrong. Agree to disagree. A lot those players play in tiny little leagues, which are not comparable to the pl. and/or play in smaller teams with a lot less pressure against a manager and players. If they lose a few games it’s all good! Big clubs == pressure... so for me you leave out the most important factor when analyzing players! once again, if he’s not going to stay regardless of playing time, he’s simply not good enough to justify the outcry. Esp if we know our managers are always under additional pressure. will be the same again with the next manager. either folks criticize sarri signing, wasn't a fan myself, at the time or it’s silly to criticize it now. His lack of wins hasnt changed since, then had it? @Clockwork my point exactly - that was known at the time we signed him.

Sorry we seem to strongly disagree on what a big club is. Many in the list above are medium smaller ones in my book. regardless, my point remain that the ones who play routinely at top clubs are actually better than the alternative, hence why they play. CHO is simply not at that level atm. Or st least to pushing his way into the team. And again he may be leaving anyway, in which case the criticism is exaggerated.

This is a perception that is difficult for us to have - the coaches who who have access and assess his physical condition do. From the outside, he looks better fit than Giroud actually, who may no longer be suited for a back up either. Not a big Higuain fan, but wouldn't mind him staying either, but only if we also have younger prospect(s) along.

For a moment there I thought you were suggesting Gary should try his luck as an NFL kicker... luiz might be better suited for that tho

Zola is correct when he refers to big clubs like Chelsea. No not many 18yo, who don’t dominate games like Mbappe did at this age, play for top clubs. Then you add the pressure that our managers are constantly under, and they have little incentive to take additional risks. ironically many folks here who want cho to play more, are also asking for sarri’s sacking, which will just keep the vicious circle going. a legit question on Twitter: if cho is leaving anyway, so we still play him? Some here will say yes, but I’d say no or even a does not matter/up to the manager. The club seems to think he will leave regardless of minutes given and if that’s the case he just does not add enough at this time to justify all the moaning here.

Being against Malmo is the most important thing about this match. Against much weaker opposition you can only find out what does not work, not what works.

Good points, but you are leaving out the attackers, whose omission caused the middle to get overwhelmed. Esp the wingers who need to stop the runs of their FBs. The whole team defended poorly which overwhelmed every other section. Little Kante could do. Strange to start with the striker in this game too when you needed more bodies chasing... esp an immobile one as Higuain.

It's not about who we give them, but why would he join us? We keep talking about price and fees, but if the players would rather play elsewhere, in a a more stable environment, and/or not in England, it does not matter how much you offer to the cubs. You can inflate the wages, but that comes at a cost too... Gotta get them *before* they are famous. There is Messi and then Mbappe... you are all dreaming...

No argument there. Gary worked well in certain systems and not so well in others (high def lines). I, and quite a few people (including sarri early season) think Alonso had some important qualities for the position: namely passing, defending high balls, and scoring. His goals have dried up - unlucky too as he hit the post a few times - but his passing is definitely worse than it used to be... more laborious and testy. Maybe confidence as said above. He's in bad shape and form... it happens! Now, my point is that this scapegoating in football doesn't make much sense. 11 play and the system was meant to cover the attacking LB (not the defensive RB). So, there is something terribly wrong with the team, and I suppose that some of the players are no longer running for the manager and the system. Everybody is focusing on Alonso decision, but the most interesting for me was that Hazard was strolling about doing nothing. So, you stick another attacking LB there, Emerson, esp because he's average, and it's going to be the same shit. As it was in the 4 nil and second half against City.

because he got rattled and was having a terrible game. One thing leads to another. The problems with this team go a lot deeper than the LB choice. Case in point, the 4 nil defeat and how easy City scored after Alonso was gone.... we can't defend as a team because the players are not playing for the manager.