robsblubot

Tbf, that was no sitter. It was a nice cross from Mudryk, but the goalie was pretty much on a 1x1 with Broja. Totally fine to score some and miss some esp for younger players. Broja did well today for me. Out of the players, perhaps Madueke and Palmer weren't great. Palmer because I expect a lot from him. Madueke played his usual game which I very much dislike -- looks like a giraffe trying to control the football. Mudryk has improved his overall game, so he is no longer a liability when he plays. he can consistent one twos, track back, and participate. I remain convinced his tight control is nowhere near good enough for a WC player, but he's been looking decent.

Super young players haven't had the time to build enough muscle mass, which provides protection against injuries.

yeah @bluesman2610 mentioned the city academy above and that's indeed reassuring. You guys have seen more of him, so I hope you are right and he can improve our team from the get-go. First he needs to get and remain fit. 😕

Nkunku needs to stay healthy. He's a big question mark fitness wise. He hasn't played 90 minutes for us yet, then we can talk about his place int he PL. Sterling is the only winger we got. 🤷‍♂️ Yeah Poch has made it perfectly clear that he will not play attacking FBs w/ this squad, so either the club addresses that (it seems Cuccu is a bust), or Colwill will keep playing there for the foreseeable future. Playing Colwill in LB provides some strategy alternatives like becoming 3atb at times, without needing to replace players. It's all been done before, but it does demand time to get it right. Regarding the bolded part, completely agree. I've said the same thing to @Vesper I think early on this season. That we don't need WC players in every position, and an experienced mid might help more than another WC project... however good he may become a few years from now.

"Play the kids" does not mean a whole lot these days. That would pretty much look like our starting XI.

Fun fact (although you prob know already), but SC Internacional faced a small team in Brazil called Guara for the Brazilian cup in 1997. The game was away from home and ended 0x7 for Internacional. One would think there was nothing salvageable from Guara, but Internacional decided to sign Guara's CB on the spot ... yup after they conceded 7 goals in a match! You might be familiar with the player: a Lucimar Ferreira da Silva (aka Lucio). 😉

I'm aware. Is that a good thing tho? considering where they ended up? 😅

Haven't see much of Lavia yet, and the mandatory caveat that he's fucking 19, but it does look like an unbalanced midfield to me. Aside from Enzo, the other players aren't very skillful. Compared that to a Kova and Jorgi, and it's really night and day. Kante's skill on the ball was very underrated IMO -- ball control at the speed he plays(ed) is very difficult.

ah I did not know that. That's indeed reassuring... given Palmer. 👍 I just don't expect him to set the PL on fire just yet.

indeed. What scares me tho is that our hopes lie on a 19yo who was playing Championship just a moment ago. Feels like way too much pressure on these very young players.

And yet they may not improve enough (considering the requirements we have)... we just don't know. I don't think the disarray we had was only down to players. it was a relatively young squad too. It isn't that that squad was old, but rather that this squad is way too young. I think the biggest criticism one can make is that there was no need to make such a drastic change all at once. We could've done what we are doing and at the same time keep some foundation, or sign some foundation. It was just so weird to go full feeder club at this level, but it is what it is I guess.

yeah prob right unless Salah does not come back (picks up a knock). The PL title will be very tight this season and anything might tip the balance. Yeah I know. We had plenty of opportunity to retain him back then... it sucks. 😕

yeah football is funny at times. Mo Salah might be the best player in the world today--certainly the best winger for me. Klopp makes 3 changes in attack (even replaces Diaz who was doing very well) and it works... so much quality off the bench. Gapko is still not settled tho.

Nice goal by Isak. Have to confess I did not think Gordon could play this well. Still it's a massacre by Liverpool--they will find themselves hard done if they don't win this.

1. you are talking about perceived quality and I'm talking about team setup, strategy, and team/player characteristics. BTW, what's this love for Brighton?! Last time I checked they are sitting mid table same as us. They play like shit same as us, but we used to play better a couple of years back, while they never did. The difference is that if our owners get their shit together--just a bit--we will be top6 next season, and Brighton will be sitting mid table again, which is where they belong. 2. you were the one complaining to "you all" above, not me. I just don't drool over any kid who puts on a Chelsea shirt, albeit I admit they usually do look better wearing Chelsea's colors. 3. you wrote, "he went to a better team, that is more settled and could slot in" about RIce, and then you wrote "We on the other hand this year - have undoubtably been better with Caceido in the team. No conjecture about that - it is blatant, stone cold fact." about Caicedo. Personally I prefer to embrace the former (it's really either one) and say there are too many variables. So, no "fact" just an opinion, which is what we do here for: RIce is the better player right now; he's more skillful and decisive. 4. Can't speak for anyone, but I used Rodri as an *example* of a player with very different characteristics in a very different team setup, which would skew defensive stats--nothing else. The only point here was about cherry picking stats don't always work in football. Other sports tend to be more easily represented in numbers, IMO. Another example, I'd be saying Jackson is shit and should be sold ASAP by his xG alone, but even that I don't fully trust. In short, I don't really feel strongly about Caicedo atm. I personally don't value a whole lot a midfielder of his characteristics at a big club. I (personally) prefer to always go for the skillful side of the game, but that's me. I also don't really care he's 21. He's starting every game for Chelsea FC, so he should play the part. I do hope and expect him to improve over time, but (fodder for a diff thread) I'm afraid he will remain underdeveloped unless we improve as a club; as in get to a competitive state to help players like Caicedo reach their potential, whichever that may be.

Yeah that's a difficult point to get across around here. Different circumstances w/ vastly different variables diminish the value of such stats. Heh I'd say you might be the one overreacting. We just don't see anything special about this 100m signing the club made. I think we are all aware that he's 21, and hope he will improve, but our roster is filled with "but he's only..." and it shows on the pitch. Rice has made key contributions for Arsenal, while Caicedo not so much just yet. Rice is older and more experienced, so there is that. Now regarding stats, take Rodri again, just as an example: reckon his defensive stats at City would look pretty average compared to Caicedo at Brighton. It's the vastly different team setup. Possession teams would for instance rely on, yes, possession as a form of defending, not a hard tackling DM. (CIty also relies on every player to regain the football). Just my 2cps on stats in general. I agree with @Magic Lamps there that football is a bit of an oddball of a game.

And you don't? They let go of all senior players all at once. Signed a bunch of kids and many of us, myself included, predicted this most obvious outcome of midtable struggles. Here's another, without addressing the weaknesses of the team (w/ senior players not U23), next season won't be any different regardless of manager or whatnot. Regarding your initial point, Cucurella also looked pretty good at Brighton. And once again, I think Caicedo is a good player and I don't even think having a pure DM is needed these days. It really depends on your team setup. We won CL with passers and B2B players. I REALLY do not care what he did for Brighton. His career started now, if he is to fulfill his potential that is. Right now, he's not all that great tbh -- call the way I see it. Money matters because there are limits and because it sets precedents. For all the money spent, our midfield is pretty average without Enzo, or when Enzo struggles. Maybe Lavia will help, if folks here are right about him, but I think it's pretty much the same as with Caicedo: this is also Lavia's big test.

lol such overreaction... you can feel the love for Arsenal around here. 😆 Seriously though, BBC article is spot on: they do need a striker... like really any competent goal scorer maybe not even to be a sure starter, but to help when you need to pressure the opposition. nketiah is a pretty poor footballer slow as fuck--reminds me of newcastle's Isak. Regardless of how tall you are, gotta move a bit quicker at this level eh. Jesus is at most a false 9, better on the wings. Martinelli is the same, and he hasn't recovered from his hamstring -- really bad injury for pacey players too. It does look like they aren't going to keep up again this time. Liverpool are playing better, and so is City. Liverpool did so well in the transfer window! they addressed their weaknesses nothing else. Liverpool is the most fun team to watch in the PL atm.

"you all" is a lot of people. Who are you discussing this with? He did not impress me at Brighton, which means I certainly did not want him, esp at that obnoxious price tag. I also don't think he's shit. Yes, they are good players (still not sold on Conor tbh), but the price we paid for Caicedo wasn't for "a good player." I know the market is crazy, but Liverpool for ex got quality midfielders for reasonable fees. You pay 100m for key players, players who give you a big advantage over the opposition.. does Caicedo?!

dunno he's easily outmuscled out of plays while playing in less contested areas of the pitch. I'd prob go with Nkunku as (false) 9 and keep Palmer where he is. Then get someone in Jan as an option up front (senior player ready to go).

yeah, perhaps a smart move in Jan can fix some of that? I'd say LB, Striker, and an attacking player either CAM or winger. With some of the players still looking raw going out on loan... perhaps Maatsen himself.

yes, but not by characteristics. It's not what the manager wants to balance the lack of defending up front, so what is he to do? Not an opinion, but fact: between an attacking FB and a defender, Poch picks the defender. It's his prerogative. Chelsea hired him for his "way to play" not ours.

Yeah I'm going to be the dissident opinion here: club above player always. Until we find an adequate solution to LB Colwill it is. If Cuccu can put in decent performances, problem solved, but really not a whole lot else to do from the Manager's pov.

Good players have poor games. Every single player we've got has had a stinker since the beginning of the season. Liverpool must be laughing right now. Arsenal is still short of goal scorers; Gabriel Jesus ain't one and Martinelli's form dipped after the injury.

Looks like he found his level. Keeping an eye on Joao Pedro ... he was highly rated at Fluminense and Brazil U23 level.