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I honestly think it is quite a normal situation. Differences in requirements, differences in league quality *especially pace*! Italy is a much slower league, so quick players with some acceleration would be able to create plays there, while here they would be more dependent on their finishing. I don't particularly rate Tammy's overall game too highly, but he's a good player and would've been a good buyback at this point considering the lack of options up front. Regarding Mudryk, I disagree with @Magic Lamps Mudryk's first touch is akin to Lukaku's and that's never a good sign regardless of age and level of development. Superb skill can help with mentality, and he does not have it, so his mentality, or the lack thereof, becomes more of a problem.

speaking of which, what an obvious good signing Mitoma was. 😕 @Vesper let us down on this one! 😅 @Blue Armour I'm not even sure how Poch can make drastic changes-don't have the players to make the middle more creative for ex; and I'm honestly more concerned about losing starters to injury than anything else. The danger is Brighton fielding too many youngsters, being Carabao and all, that might prove too irresistible for Chelsea club... we can only sympathize. OK I will stop now. 😅

When Chelsea play Brighton, think about a "mass interview" opportunity; we are pretty much watching the next 10 signings the club will make. Anyone under 21 is fair game.

Out of the CM trio, or triangle if one prefers to say Enzo plays forward, who among them can score? Enzo cannot even shoot on goal. So, say Poch would want to get a more attacking-minded mid (starting or as a sub), would would that be? I mean without employing another kid and out of position? (e.g. Palmer) Maybe Carney when he's back, which would make us rely on a 19yo in the PL. You just can't make this shit up.

I don't disagree that it's a potential outcome. I think you got cause and consequence inverted there; Poch does not play the way he plays because he wants to, but because he believes he has to. Same way a new manager would arrive, take one look at this pitiful squad lacking in all areas, full of children and do exactly the same thing. For example, I think Chilwell does not play because of Mudryk.

It's fair to just point out that Azpi played 25 min; and I would point out that his presence in our children's squad alone, plus perhaps coming on after Gusto got a red yesterday might have made a difference. 🤷‍♂️ Please ignore details, that's my point: just take where the players play. Players who are at top clubs under big wages earned that. It's a very competitive market... almost auction-like. That helps removing bias. It's hard for me to respond to your post because I don't agree a whole lot with some of the premisses there; nor do I think speaking about Pochettino is very important right now. Lampard's career speaks for itself. For example, statements like, "We are very solid defensively now" make no sense to me in a fluid sport like football. If that's truly the case for us, that D and A are completely different things, then indeed we are light years from City and Arsenal. There is no doubt in my mind that Tammy is a better striker than Jackson right now. Would I want Tammy back? if you asked me before the window, nope lets go for better targets (multiple! better targets), like Jackson himself and 1-2 more experienced players for rotation/support. Right now, hell yeah Tammy would definitely help esp considering the absurd lack of options up front. We miss A LOT of the players who left. I totally understand that some could not be retained--forced exit and all that, so that's besides the point. I still think the club, esp new ownership isn't blameless for that.

This is a pretty non-debatable statement tbh. Young players demand an already built team to develop to their potential. I'd add leaders... we are also missing players with a strong competitive streak who would fight nonstop. As quoted from the post above, there is a clear confusion here around current ability vs potential ability. They are NOT the same thing. Real life is not Football Manager -- the most unrealistic aspect of FM is regarding how easy and quick young players develop. Personally I think one very easy way to assess players is merely see where they where, and where they went after their stint with us. With the exception of Zouma, they were all better (Willian just got old), yeah. Kepa is a tossup. This removes some of our personal bias. Alonso is a funny one; I was one of the few praising his *game winning* ability; players who can score goals need to be praised. Very few players are capable of doing that, so they need to be valued. Azpi (for Aleti) just had a strong game against Real yesterday... 🤷‍♂️

Agreed on Mudryk, but couldn't disagree more about the comparison w/ Salah. Salah always had quick feet, which allows him to dribble in tight spaces; mudryk can only dribble long at pace. no, he will never be a top footballer... at this point we only hope to save a PL player, but it does not look good.

Agree he did well against Bournemouth, but not today. I expect my goalie to stop that shot, esp from that angle; or at least react quicker, by lowering his hands and body to prepare for a low shot.

Azpi had a strong defensive game; he operates well as a defending RB in a low block, which is how Atleti plays.

Kepa is just being Kepa: not making mistakes, but showing his level by not making the difficult saves. He was also ball watching just like the rest of the defense.

I also prefer a more energetic manager on the sidelines, but it's just style. Anchelotti is also super chill.

yup, it can only be exciting if the squad can be competitive enough to get results, which is clearly not the case. I do think that with time, a few tweaks, and some players back, the team can improve, but I'm afraid this squad can't compete for any silverware (including cups here). "we'll finally become Brighton" 😆 that does seem like the goal doesn't it?

Poch thinks the squad is shit. He plays all defense because he believes that, and I think he's right. Like I said many times, it's a U23 Olympic team facing senior players. Just look at who have won and done well (reach semis) in the olympic football vs World Cup. Isn't Aston Villa a better team *right now*? Don't they have better, more experienced players in several key positions? Goalie for ex? One step is needed to make us a relegation candidate, and that is sacking the manager. Like I wrote elsewhere, I don't agree with all Poch's choices, but I understand why he makes them. Enzo looks like a club issue: he needs to be dissuaded about moving to a more attacking role. He looks absolutely awful playing there.

Just watched the game and the better team won. horror tackle aside, Gusto looks pretty average to me, but again like the vast majority of our signings yet another work in progress. One team had Zaniolo as left winger, while the other had Mudryk. Mudryk has one strength and that is through balls as he found Jackson (another poor game) in the 25th minute. He really can do nothing else tho. He attempted to dribble past players and consistently lost the football every time. A bit better from Caicedo, but what did people expect from him moving from Brighton? The goal: Thiago Silva error and Sanchez lack of quality (Villa's goalie is twice the player too). Colwill did well in that play actually. The midfield is really worrying: club needs to convince Enzo that he's not a CAM. I'd say he's been awful in his new role. I also think Gallagher is better going forward as he at least has mobility and shoots. Enzo does not produce anything in attack... we are losing one of the few WC players we had left. 😕 We are completely dependent on Sterling; when he's on form we can score and win, if not, like today, we will struggle. Team does not shoot enough either. Some of the blame lies with Enzo, as mentioned above. I honestly think folks here and Pochettino have a very different idea about the overall quality of the squad; I tend to agree with Poch on this one. No, I don't agree with all his choices, but I understand why he makes them.

Speaking of which, he's a crazy idea: stop trying to pass into the the net and try to shoot a bit?! It's also a lot easier to score when you shoot on goal, you know? it takes a much smaller deflection to put the ball in the back of the net. 😅

Isn't this just yet another challenge for what we are trying to do? we are NOT a club that can offer minutes to younger player, at least not without strings attached. Which means, we rely on loans and "trust" so that other clubs may provide that. Evidently that's not for granted, however much sway we may think we have.

It will happen... just not this season. 😉

I do think the team will improve, and being a home game there is a good chance that that alone will help the younger players to perform better. I suspect away games will be tough for the entire season, unless we do some very smart business in Jan. I've commented before the season started that even if we forget about the supposedly (debatable) quality of the squad, and instead simply focus entirely on teamwork, it would still take quite a bit of time to get a new team going. Add to that the fact some players are quite young and inexperienced, and we will need to have loads of patience. Because of that, I also expect performances to fluctuate quite a bit as well. So, we may have a good/great game where everything clicks, hopefully against Villa 😅, followed by another where things don't go so well. That's really the natural progression of an (almost) completely new squad. Not losing that last game was important. Need to get points and slowly build confidence, and you do that by not losing. Play like shit, still, don't lose the fucking match. I don't particularly like this team in general-one of the worst Chelsea teams I've seen tbh. I'm also far from happy with what the club has been doing, but I do think we should have enough quality to play better... mostly by improving as a team. Younger players who lack confidence, and/or are still trying to find their game, will naturally play better as the team improves. I honestly don't care a whole lot about the starting XI selection; contrary to many here, I don't see a huge gap in quality between the picks. Just need to get the result! A win here would do wonders. 🤞

OT, but Heard good things about Olimpia's Mateo Gamarra (22). Paraguay has a history for producing excellent defenders. He's short for CB at 5'11", so could imagine him moving to FB in a physical league like PL, but I've also seen some excellent short CBs in the past, like Paraguay's Carlos Gamarra who once stopped England in the World Cup.

Well he did undertake the hammy surgery before moving there. As someone who thought we should have retained him if possible (in any capacity), I also have to say the demands of Saudi league aren't really comparable with the PL.

They both look pretty average to me, but Chalobah is much quicker.

heh good point. If you consider the "expensive" bets we've been making, this will happen again as some of these players won't pan out, which means this contract is the best they will ever get. Long deals... high wages... big club... why would they leave?

There is always toxicity inside the locker room. Out of 25 or so players, we've got more today, some play and some do not. The ones who don't play, who don't get minutes, are never really happy. It's up to the the manager and coaches to keep everyone engaged and "wanting." Player's agents? just ignore them. A lot more than getting rid of a few unhappy players separate us from having a winning side.

OK so, we are safe from a Brighton buy except if it's Ferguson... 18yo, single season, from Brighton... it checks all boxes 🙂 Far weaker opposition, often physically weaker too, and a lot less pressure. Bring them back and it would be the same as before.