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But Btshuayi did play just as bad when he came on, as he usually does. Aside from his goals, which he does take well when coming off the bench, his overall play is consistently very poor. Morata was indeed poor today against roma, but honestly who was good? Azpi and Hazard for 15min or so and barring his finishing?

Agreed. Worse I've seen from him, but I blame Conte tbh. You play in Italy against Roma and you start the game with Fabregas and Baka in midfield... just bizarre.

poor game against Roma. Not only a ridiculous mistake that led to the second goal, but poor on the ball as well. His technique is just OK - cahill level really. He is quicker than cahill and more physical, but that's it. For me the two best defenders in the squad are Azpi and Christensen, with Luiz as the quirky quality player that needs a special setup around him - should've been permanently moved to midfield long ago.

I'm sorry to say it, but at this moment it's not down to form or fitness; he's just not a very good player. He needs to improve to start for us. His position is just too important to start him at this time.

yup more like though that's because even though he's only a decent/good player, our lack of strength in depth is such that we miss decent/good players...

could they (pundits) just quit moaning about the corner that shouldn't have been? WTF!? If you cannot defend a freaking corner than perhaps you deserve to lose the game? BTW, as someone who like Alonso for what he is, which again has not changed by the time we signed him, he was so poor today that I agree he needs to be benched.

they have to spend the money somewhere... every transfer window they target 5 superstars who have no interest in playing for us, but they only find out at the end of the transfer window... then they end up with a lot of cash from selling loanees, as designed. ^^ fabinho would have made a lot more sense considering that we already had Kante.

Funny how opinions go: after scoring that goal, and considering Luiz is a cb playing in the mid, he could very well just stroll around for the rest of the game for all I care.

well this is part of the "package"... he does pick up injuries often. Not his fault, but his sub will relish the (several) opportunities that he will get.

About the Palace game, and being one who does criticize him when he does not play to his potential, I just think he's not match fit yet... that simple. While he may be physically fit, it takes a bit longer to get the rest of your game back after an injury (that included surgery).

Heh sound advice, but too late now... It was really awful and palace did deserve the points tbf. Partially disagree... United play with 10 men all the time with Lukaku strolling about too, but yeah Michy is unplayable (in a bad way ). For me the midfield did not show: both Baka and Fabregas were just way too slow and immobile, which is indeed a stark contrast from what Kante does. Baka is really scaring me... even when he has a decent game, he is just too defensive and unskilled on the ball. It is just very difficult to play when you lose the midfield like we did today/yesterday. Defenders will take the blame as usual, but they were exposed all game, esp first half. Thought Willian had a normal game - pretty much what he normally does, which is not much. This team is mid table material... sorry to say it. BTW, still think Luiz should've played in the middle and should always play in the middle until Drinkwater and/or Kante are back.

haven't watched the game yet (recorded), and not looking forward to it, but it was a bad starting XI IMO. One that gives a chance to the terrible side that Palace certainly is. Yeah, why did he not put Luiz in midfield considering the abundance of defenders and nothing else in the squad?

Or the Gk might be asleep Or he may pull a tim howard From a supporter point of view, I'm fairly certainly Hazard cannot possibly reach Messi/Ronado's level. He has neither the drive nor the raw talent IMO. Which is ABSOLUTELY fine! As a chelsea supporter, I don't think we could ask for a better player to be honest - and not many are better (much less much better). I say give him a 300k/w and tie him up for life... From a personal point of view, if Hazard has his own ambitions to become a top3 and challenge CR, Messi like Neymar is doing, then he does need to improve his finishing. I don't believe he can improve it that much tbh. I really really cannot imagine a move to Real or Barca helping him to improve his game given his characteristics as a player.

It seems like you are referring to the discussion above, so could you please point out where it shows we were discussing City's game? or that I say that Matic would've made a difference in that game? Ironically, you are the one who's referred to a single match as proof of Baka's quality. I've been explicitly, and repeating myself on that, talking about team balance and mostly criticizing the board/manager for going for a player (Baka) we did not need. Had we not had Kante and Baka would've been an amazing signing. you wrote, "His game is based on stamina", (and I'd add power) which I agree with completely and think is a problem, because the other guy in midfield is pretty much the same. Now about the City game... if every time we have 2 matches in a week, which will happen a lot this season with CL and cups, we lack aggressiveness and play like shit, then we are not good enough. Personally I think these type of excuses are bollocks. The best team won...

Kante skillful? nope... I said "more like Fabregas", and yes Matic is "more like Fabregas" than Baka is or will be in the near future in my opinion. I guess we will have just agree to disagree on this one. Like I said the one-footed thing is completely overplayed around here...

Baka won't change his characteristics as a player anytime soon, so I do say, categorically that he is not going to be an improvement over Matic, because in my view we needed someone more technical: someone more like Fabregas, as opposed to Kante. Baka is just a more powerful (and tall) and less mobile (and skillful) kante. We can revisit every point that "proves" Matic is a terrible player, but since I don't agree with them - and find quite silly that a player that had so many MotM performances for us, some in very tough away games, is still questioned esp about his ability to play under pressure. I can speak for myself and am NOT impressed by Baka's technique. Would love to be proven wrong and that he himself produces many MoTM performances for us, but right now I just don't see it happening. In my opinion Matic is/was far more technical despite his flaws - some of which are overplayed around here (Diego Maradona was ridiculously one-footed).

Not sure what the disagreement is on the first part of the reply: yes based on the few games he's played. I don't need a season to see how a player fares with the ball at his feet. No Matic was not perfect, but his flaws were covered by Kante; the same way Kante's somewhat hectic and uncomposed game was complemented by matic's slower and more technical handling of the ball. That's why Matic, IMO, was a better partner than Baka is at the moment. Well, I disagree with most of the "valid points" (on Matic) you are referring to, so that's a moot point to me.

It's not only the fact that he was poor against City, but his ball control is just not there. He's young and can improve, but any idea that he'd be an improvement over Matic when going forward can be put to rest. Baka is better than Matic defensively, but considering that Kante is very strong defensively, I reckon Matic was a better fit for the squad in terms of characteristics. All in all, I think this last window was a lot worse than I imagined by the lack of movement.

Heh I'm one who actually appreciates the qualities Alonso has, not the ones he does not (pace and defending) - he was one of the few players today not dangling on ball under pressure and producing some pretty good one-touch passes, one to morata's chest in the first half. Think he would make a pretty good midfielder if moved/trained there tbh. We are committed to this system though, because the squad has abundance of CBs and no fulllbacks other than azpi. BTW, Azpi is not a good wingback... He's just too defensive for a wingback and the team lacks quality and intent going forward when he's there. Team has the wrong balance at this time: way too defensive...

Really have nothing bad to say about our defense line today as they've got relentlessly hammered the entire game, esp second half. Alonso was good defensively despite the worry there. Andreas was a monster and should prob play along with Luiz when he's back - we miss Luiz' drive today. It's all about the midfield and it did not show except, as usual, Kante. Baka has been a big disappointment to me and I must have been watching different games, because at this time he just isn't good enough. Fabregas I've already given up long time ago - good squad player, but must not start tough games like this one. I've always disliked Willian, but lately every time I watch him play, he's the worst player on the pitch. All in all, we have a good team, poor squad and have no business challenging for any silverware this season (perhaps FA cup or something like that). If Bats is not trusted, because he might not be good enough, why is he still in the squad and why hasn't the club picked a replacement?

the issue here isn't so much that we are playing at home with no striker on the pitch, but playing without a forwarder on the pitch! Embarrassing stuff from the manager and club (lack of ambition in the transfer window).

And technique? while I think Baka is a bit more pedestrian (technique wise) from what I expected, Kante is indeed a top top midfielder - doesn't matter which league or competition.

Leaving the player's characteristics aside, I do agree that he is fairly weak defensively and lacks pace (again personal preferences), and going into team balance: isn't one of the main reasons of playing 3 in the back to free the wingbacks? What might explain my disagreement with some here is that for me, wingbacks in a 3-cb system are midfielders, not wingers or lbs. So, I'm actually far more concerned with the right side as I feel moses does not offer enough as a midfielder. We play with 3 CBs plus 2 very defensive CMs in front of them (some may call either one a DM). Azpi would be too much of a good thing in my book. Perhaps only in certain circumstances, when we want to defend. While Azpi does produce a good cross here and there, his contribution in attack/linkup/middle is generally poor. Honestly, I think as it is now we are way on the defensive side of things; lacking fluidity on occasion. Perhaps we've just been missing hazard, but that'd be worrisome too.

heh.. Think his passing range is a bit better than decent (as he finds moses often), and while he does not have the pace to consistently beat players, he can and has dribbled in very tight spaces. Excellent in the air, and really good first touch (technique again). Still think personal preferences work a bit against him, because folks may prefer a pacier wingback... Don't usually like these videos, but think this one showcases his qualities quite well:

He's superb technique is underrated around here, and in the league, which is unsurprising tbh. The pl values pace and power over technique, but Europe is a different story, not to mention what city is turning into. Yes he's a bit slow for a wb and perhaps not a great defender for an lb, but he has very strong attributes in other important areas, which haven't changed really. my point being is that we signed Alonso for what he is and reckon we got even more than what we expected, esp considering his direct influence with key goals and assists. he was a bit reckless in his tackles today at stoke and was happy conte noticed and acted on it. He's wasn't bad though with good passing, sometimes one-touch passes that only few in the squad are comfortable doing.