robsblubot

At least Kudus is 23 and not 19! Aiming low these days. 😆

Of course not, when a CB can make forward runs, push his team forward, and start attacks like Rudiger did over and over again in that CL run, that would never help the attack. 🙄 When David Luiz used to hit a long ball assisting our attackers, nope he's a defender only! 🙄 When Timo Werner "ran like a dog" closing down runners that did not help our defense one bit because he's an "attacker." 🙄 City must be a mystery to folks here: who's in attack? why is Stones moving up, or why is Ake behind Grelish now? 😕 And I thought "total football" was an old and known thing. My bad.

You must be confusing the footballs. 🤣 There is one where the defense and the offense are different teams.

Yeah nothing like Luiz who was super skillful esp for a CB. I think Cuccu more like Azpi when employed in CB (3cb). He did well in some matches playing like that last season. Look I'm trying here... 😉 he's been pretty poor so far.

The "they" there is so very selective tho. 😆

Once again, I'm not interested in going back to the discussion about the players who have left -- I disagree 100% with every simple thing you wrote above, as I've disagreed before. Nothing will change here. My issue was with calling actual winners -- of an amazing Champions League run beating the best teams at that -- "the biggest bunch of losers in Chelsea history."

Yeah nitpick last season, which is, by your own words a transition season w/ ownership change. Mudryk and Madueke played last season too, but I don't hear you talking about them. Reece James, Chilwell, played a bunch of games too. So did Thiago Silva, so they are all losers by your batshit crazy definition, of course. 🙂 Enzo played every game once we signed him and the record wasn't great was it? Was it his fault then? One poor season does not erase a good season, much less a prior win. Winning takes a team. Some players do mundane tasks in a team and contribute for a win. Only one team wins each competition. It's freaking hard to win. How is rewriting history different from lying?

Loser: a person, team, nation, etc., that loses: Winner: a person or thing that wins; victor: Dude IT IS A TEAM SPORT! INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES DO NOT MATTER WHEN THE TEAM WINS!!!!! I have zero intention in discussion these opinions again, we've already disagreed 100% before. That's not the point here. I have an issue about you redefining what winning and losing is, that is pretty much it. 🤣 "A loser is someone that doesnt fulfill his potential and disappoints on all levels." WTF

Sorry, but none of that matters. It's wrong to call actual winners, losers. If you call them "the biggest bunch of losers in Chelsea history." then what would you call the players who never won a thing, which are most players really? Players go through long careers winning little to nothing, and never get close to a CL win. They've won! like it or not, that's factual... the silverware is in Chelsea's trophy room. The rest is just your opinion about 4-5 starters of a team who won big and did not quite scrape wins like prior teams did. They did not suffer as other teams did. Also played the best there was in that run and beat them all. It does not matter what they did in other competitions... why should it?! I personally have tremendous respect for winners; even players who I personally dislike for one reason of another. "Not a single one of this team is actually performing well elsewhere atm." way too soon for that opinion. They've just left and some are fairly young. Kovacic and Kai are yet to TIE a game, but whatever. 😅

I think you are both right: it's an *and* Tbf, they are related. If the player struggles to control the football, he will have less focus avail for other aspects of the game. Typically players with sublime technique have an easier time with decisions.

Please explain the logic here, how can you call actual CL winners, "the biggest bunch of losers in Chelsea history." Wouldn't that statement be factually incorrect? note that I'm not discussing whether you must like the players or not, just what they actually achieved.

I don't dispute that as a fact. My disagreement is when you compare that with what Mudryk and Madueke have delivered, or are capable of delivering.

agreed. Disappointing with Broja injury issues. Always nervous about 20yo and injuries tbh. still wish Cucurella can become useful in the right system; I don't what that system ought to be tho. Maybe he can cover as a mobile CB in the 3-cb system as he has done last season, or a defensive LB if we even go back to 4 at the back. 🤷‍♂️

Fofana is extremely injury-prone. Nkunku may be injury-prone based on his past history... let's see. James is definitely injury-prone. 😓 Regarding Carney, my understanding is, as a general rule, that under 23yo often lack muscle mass, which could make them more susceptible to joint injuries; that's because muscle mass can protect joints against contact as well as turns/movements. That's one of the reasons clubs, esp PL clubs, usually get players to bulk up before employing them a whole lot. PL is also the most physical league in the world. 👆evidently not an expert, so please correct me if you have a different understanding.

I disagree. You are comparing current/recent form vs "ever form." One of them one day in a blue delivered really good performances esp in a season which got him the #10 jersey. Then he was decent as a sub in the CL win contributing in the single elimination games in a different season. Yes, then he turned into shit likely helped by his frail body. The other 2 have done jack shit for Chelsea tho -- they play at a level way way below what should be our standards. I'd say that right Mudryk is slightly better than Madueke, but I have more hope that Madueke turns out to be employable eventually. Needs to bulk up and improve.

That is the most bizarre correlation I've seen done, tbh. I have eyes don't I? Been watching the game for a few decades already. Have played at amateur level and amongst professions--can certainly understand the differences in level of play. Besides, I said Mudryk and Madueke are rubbish, and I've seen plenty of them. I did not need 5 games to see that Bakayoko was shit. The ball bouncing off of his shins told all I needed to know; I'm sure his stats and high price tag coming from Monaco were amazing tho. What I disagree with, again, generically, is with the type of players the club is going after. Never seen it work in all my years watching the game. I just can't find a single instance of this ever working. Even Barcelona was a grounds up from their academy, not a bunch of 19yo coming from little leagues tossed into the start XI or the whereabouts. In general, 19yo are even more injury-prone than older players--they haven't had the time to build up body mass, which can protect joints during game situations. So, let me be perfectly clear here: I see signing and "the board" (including scouts) as part of the club. I will be happy or unhappy with the outcome of what they do, but that does not mean I have to pretend to know how to do their jobs. For me the most important things in football are: 1. opposition level (who do you play against) 2. who do you play with (practice/training w/ teammates and coaches).

Thank you for the invitation, but no thanks. It's great that you have fun doing that research as a hobby, but I don't. Club has plenty of well-paid scouts to find the right player of the job. The good ones, I hear, would know pretty much everything about the players before they are signed.... like personal details. Besides my comment was specifically unspecific. I understand Kudus ain't another 19yo--he's 23 actually. I haven't seen him play, so I won't comment based on stats which mean little coming from a totally different league with totally different characteristics and demand. It's always hard to project and see whether a player can replicate what he does elsewhere in the PL.

MLS is a different sport. Messi dribbles past players as if they were cones... like he's back to 25yo all of the sudden. Even the speed and power of shots between MLS and the top leagues would be very different for a goalie. Regarding the striker, I'd prefer a 3rd option from a big club in a strong league. Kudus is too much of the same--even if a good thing longer term. We need something different right now. One, preferable two, ready players who won't think twice about being at a big club or strong league. Look for composure above all else.

I disagree with that. Most teams no longer play with a dedicated striker--City does now because they have him, but they've won plenty of PLs without that player. United Rashford is pretty much an attacker who links up pretty well. Arsenal employs false 9 if not just attackers. The list goes on. Now, Jackson was a bit disappointing against WHU. He needs to be a bit quicker to apply the finish, and that big miss from sterling back pass was not cool.

It's just the abundant difference in quality. TBF to them, there was no pressure from Palace until Arsenal got that ridiculous red card. Before that, the better changes were all Arsenal. Honestly, the better team won today.

Looked like a penalty by Partey... extremely harsh red card against Arsenal tho; so they will not be happy if CP ties it.

Much stronger Arsenal starting XI, albeit very attacking-minded. Defending will demand more from the whole team. They got rid of their weak links: Xhaka and Partey Hmm looks like they are still working on offloading Partey.

True, not being a starter was a role he was unwilling to take. My post was to answer folks who put him, the club, and fans who like his football down, which I find silly considering the status he achieved in football, but that's me. 😅 I have concerns about super young players fitness for a number of reasons, and Nkunku had issues with that before. Discussion for a different thread tho.

Here's the worrying part tho: WHU aren't really a very good team. Yes, they've got some power in Antonio, a a bit of skill in Paqueta, but they aren't that pacey--team lacks pace. So, that should've limited their range against us, but well you know how it tuned out. Lots of work for Poch, but no it wasn't a good game by any standards; would suggest not to focus on the penalty miss, but the overall performance. There were good moments esp in the first half--tho some useless possession too, but something was off in the second without carney. Perhaps Sterling got tired too.. as usual. Either way, second half wasn't very good.

He was pointing to the inside of the knee when the physio asked him. 😕 Kid was having a great game -- even before the sweet strike for the goal, he was pretty good.