robsblubot

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).

well everybody knows he can't does not read.

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.

yeah it looks that way, unfortunately. Easier said than done tho (contracts 😕 ) Maatsen does not even look like a LB to me: looks like a winger and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he moves up. He's just not good enough defensively and not sure that's going to change anytime soon.

That used to be all I knew once... good times.

Now now you seem to not be a believer of our brilliant and novel strategy of turning an elite club into a feeder club. 😉 While I think these swaps are pretty common actually, depending on opposition and circumstances, it would be nice to get an LB assuming that Cuccu is really a bust. In theory he was supposed to be the perfect alternative for Chilwell: far more defensive and energetic, providing exactly what Colwill does in the LB position. That's the reason I don't blame the manager: he wants a defensive (his prerogative to balance the team) LB, so who does he pick? It's really between Cuccu and Colwill atm. Cuccu being yet another player who looked much better at a smaller club.

If we are fair game, like we are now, and anyone can attack us away and at home, then yes, perhaps Madueke can contribute with his pace and directness. In which case, we are fucked anyway. If we regain some of our strength and opponents end up respecting us again, he will have to do things he hasn't shown he is capable of. That's why I think he is still a big question mark at this level. Can he make a career? Sure, but at this level he needs to learn to operate in tight spaces, and I haven't seen him doing that yet. His game is long; his touches are long w/ long strides. Suppose we will see.

Tbh, I think you are missing the point with Trump. He is 100% dictator and tried really hard to be one in his first term. He had some success considering he went against old and established democratic institutions. Most people couldn't care less about what he says... he's an idiot. I don't like the comparisons either, but a mandatory question would be: does a dictator have the power to commit mass murder on a whim? it gets a bit nuanced, but compared to president in a democracy, it wouldn't surprise me. Does the world want another Russia?

fair enough. 👍 And yes, I definitely agree that a competent striker/attacker esp if ready (not another project) could be making the difference, which would might also improve the confidence of the young players in the team. I do. This team as-is is nowhere near CL qualification IMO. It's also a new team built from scratch, which was not the case last season.

High intensity and good technique... good player indeed!

Honestly, I don't trust these stats on face value. Take the Broja play as an example: it was a long ball (Silva I think) and Broja's first touch was fantastic, and his finish wasn't bad. If the stat counts that as a "should've scored" does it consider the quality of the first touch, or that the ball travelled 50 meters and had quite a bit of weight on it? Not sure Palmer has the physique for false 9 tbh. I'd prob do similarly, but Nkunku.

Where are they playing now? Kovacic is average now? Kai is getting Arsenal points.... if he is average what the fuck is Madueke then? Pulisic would be a sure starter in this squad... he starts for Milan regularly.

yup. Kante is playing regularly and making big bucks... his choice likely due to fitness questions. Kovacic is rotating in midfield for the best PL team and club. Havertz rotates for the second/third best PL club atm. Quality available isn't really comparable, but young players have the "unknown" allure for fans. I share that esp the super talented youngster coming thru! Too much of that at the same time and it's trouble eh.

Agreed, but I don't know to what extent that's already been done or not. It could be that they are doing a good job, but it's taking time for the youngsters to understand, and especially put it into practice. I've always played (amateur level along some semi-pro players) mid/forward and always struggled in defensive positions. Played FB a few times and it was always a struggle. Reading of the game is hard. 🙂 Trying to guess what pacey players will do is hard. Esp at this level where the opposition plays so quickly, you have to be quick to read the other team's movement.

Yup and we talked about this during pre-season. That also has a cost, on top of the overly youth side.