robsblubot

No argument there -- I'm the one who values where the player comes from big teams vs small team. I think the question is that if we bring Vlahovic he comes to start, which would move Jackson to rotation/option. Striker is a position where having 3 options isn't bad esp players with diff characteristics. Nobody is proposing that Broja should be made a starter atm. Haven't heard how well he recovered from his injury tho.

He also looks like a player with different characteristics from Jackson and Nkunku who are more mobile players. Broja is more of a positioned "old school" number 9, which is usually nice to have even if only as an option.

I know Poch has said that he'd like to work with a much smaller squad, but considering the number of unknowns, and younger unknowns at that, that decision as to who is to be given a shot vs loan/sold, should be made later on after as much observation as possible. For me the most, and perhaps only, sure thing I see so far--big caveat of friendlies--is Nkunku. He looks like a player capable of contributing from the get go. Middle of the park remains a huge concern esp after the poor midfield display against Fulham; players kept on insisting on long balls even after the water break where Poch specifically asked for more short passing. 😕 Players just weren't close enough working as a team for that tho.

Different league, different spoken language, different opposition, and most importantly: one playedfor a big club against smaller tighter compact defenses, often with a low block, while the other played for a smaller club and for that reason had more space for counters. I haven't seen enough of either player, again friendlies are training sessions -- aside from Jackson's horrible miss yesterday, he looks like a good player. If I had to put money on which would be able to provide an immediate impact, I know where my money would go.

Fair enough... still I know what I saw in that CL run. 🤷‍♂️ Highest level there is. Heh we've replaced players who delivered before with players who are largely unknowns. I'm even beginning to suspect that Sterling is the Oscar case, not Mount--player who's run into the ground playing years in a demanding role. My money is on a stuttering attack, and team, but let's see. I'd be pleasantly surprised with a mere fight for top4 this season.

He's got really good technique esp passing ability... there is no question there. His defensive numbers are on the weak side, as one can perceive while watching him play. Not great aerial duels, but that comes from his height. Perhaps defending isn't really his thing, which is why we are looking for a more defensive player to play alongside him. Thought he had a few poor games toward the end of the season, but that can be attributed to a number of different things. Numbers are funny though... for example take 21/22 season stats for ex: Kevin De Bruyne: 15 goals, 8 assist Mason Mount: 11 goals, 10 assist If you read the posts on mount here today and you'd question whether he's a professional footballer much less a millionaire. 😅 I still expect Enzo to give us a competitive advantage, but that still has to happen. We need to enable him, put him in a position so that he can do just that. Don't think this is going to be that season, I'm afraid, but let's see.

hmm aren't you saying that last season *was indeed the worst* but there were reasons for that? And that 15/16 was maybe almost as bad, but you think it was worse because there was no reason for it. That's how I read what you wrote anyway. I think we all know and understand why last season was so bad. Some of us think a different owner, one a little more knowledgeable of footy might have helped things, but it is what it is. The fact remains that last season being such a write-off makes assessments very difficult. It's much much worse because 1) the amount of changes in the squad and 2) the overly young squad esp for PL (never seen it actually work). So for me this is the season we will find out which players will make the cut or not. The notion that all of them will turn into world beaters is fantasy imo. Look at what Poch said about Jackson, for ex. He praised his skill, but at the same time cautioned about his physique and the demands of PL.

That's exactly my point: some may need to go, and we just don't know it yet. Because last season was so much of a write-off. Enzo was pretty poor towards the end of the season to me. He was playing way too slow for a player of his quality. Yes, I do attribute that to the team form, but the point again is that *we have not yet seen these players performing at the level we need them to*. We all can expect this or that player to perform or not, but the fact remains the sampling from last season was (almost) useless. However, I was disappointed with the first touch and overall technique of certain players, which makes me very dubious with claims of immediate success.

Our players are proven shit until they aren't. At this level you aren't "top" by decree. Enzo had a poor season... he needs to improve a lot. Caicedo isn't even our player yet (if ever) and you talk as if he's the next best thing. 🤷‍♂️

Nothing that happened on the pitch thus far corroborates what you are saying above. It's all wishful thinking in my book. Mudryk are you kidding me? What I saw from him last season, he's not even employable much less comparable with the better wingers in the league.

Sure, I saw the same. It's all connected though; confidence makes players want it more. An achievable goal helps a lot with that. Couldn't disagree more. Caicedo is just another bet... and very expensive one. Paying more to players don't help them play better. Team has no quality on the wings... no playmaker either. I just don't see how we are going to face squads with experienced and established players. Even if we start strong, and without that things can turn ugly real fast, my concern would still be around dec-feb. Dunno, I just don't see the quality in the squad most here see. Like I said, way too many bets all at once. Situation does not make top4 likely. No Europe actually helps this year tho.

These are observable weaknesses, which makes his (panic) signing even more baffling.

Top 4 would be extremely unlikely IMO. Not only the young squad thingy, but also the number of bets that need to come through. Realistically only a percentage of those will work, which will make top 4 very difficult this season. Evidently, it depends on what the other teams do, but I'm assuming the strong teams of last season will remain strong, which will make it a packed top 6. Our starting XI is the weakest among the top clubs IMO. if you consider Tottenham a top club, I don't, that's the only club with a weaker starting XI. Don't think we have more quality than Newcastle either.

Jorginho was gone long ago. Both Kova and Kante were gone fairly early in the window. And the club is going all-in on a 21yo Brighton CM? Looks like it's not just the owners who may be learning on the job. It's already fairly late for that (obvious) replacement. Whatever we do will affect the first few matches already. Worried about a downward spiral and its effect on an overly young squad. Hope they start strong so that the younger players get a confidence boost.

Ah good point. I was focusing on the main technical aspect I dislike about his game, but his demeanor as a goalie isn't great either. Man... Cech and then the snake.... We had it good. Ah got you... yeah I can't comment on that because, like I said, friendlies are glorified training sessions to me. Just thought weird to quote what the manager said, as he will aways praise his player: it's not only *his* player, but also a club asset. Managers get in trouble when publicly criticizing their players as it may affect finances; the players don't like it and neither does the club. When that happens is usually the first clue that the manager is about to get sacked.

I'm on the minority here, but I think Caicedo shouldn't really be "the" starting CM to play alongside Enzo. We already have a VERY young squad, which will likely translate into an overly young starting XI. We need someone in the mold of Kova -- ready player with experience who can *lead* his younger teammates. At this point we don't even know if Caicedo had his "birthday season", and he certainly does not have the experience right now. I totally get that you need to "bet" on him becoming a World Class player; it will be too late once he has the attention of clubs like Madrid, but again, that's not what we need right now. I see him as a complementary signing, not the one we need.

I really don't get opinions like this. Are you talking specifically about a friendly game? If you ever played for fun like I did, a remotely competitive game vs a friendly/pickup is literally a different sport. I'm not criticizing your opinion, because you did not give it in this particular post, but I assume you may think Kepa is a good/decent goalie. Here we just agree to disagree and move on. The part that I don't understand is that you are using someone else's opinion, or rather not even that, an official statement from the club/manager which IMO only shows that the club is resigned with the current situation. And yet you present it as if it were some kind of proof of quality. What did you expect them to say? "Kepa is a poor goalkeeper, really not good enough at this level, but it's what we got?" 🤷‍♂️ Speaking for myself, but think I'm not alone here, I don't think Kepa makes "mistakes;" it's not something that he can correct here and there. He just does not have the reach of a top goalie. He will always be vulnerable to shots from afar. I honestly wish that was not the case, and that he became the goalie we always wanted him to be, but tbh I always thought his signing was a bit too much wishful thinking.

Would be interesting to see Nkunku link up with anyone tbh

Milner has always been underrated. Gallagher needs to improve a lot to reach that level, and tbh I don't see it... he's just not good enough on the ball. Chalobah is not a very good player, I'm afraid. He's pacy, strong, but that's about it. He can definitely become a good PL player in a small outfit, but he does not look like top 4 material...nowhere near. That's the problem with "developing" players at this level. We can't "wait" until players reach an acceptable level of play (assuming they ever do).

hmm he might be thinking that not a whole lot of fighting will be necessary with the CMs in contention. 😕

Maybe he plays like shit in training? Maybe he ain't good enough? Chelsea, and esp Chelsea in the PL, is not the place to develop skills.

Yeah sure Enzo looks good, but I talk more about actually fitting in a team and winning. "looking good" is only guarantee for some ticket sales. Kai was a starter and Mount was very close to a starter--perhaps rotation. Nowadays teams never finish the game with the same starting 11 due to the physical demands. I don't think the club mistreated them, maybe Mount may have a valid point but debatable. I mean that they all saw other clubs, some very close by, as better options... something that perhaps wouldn't have happened before the new ownership.

Yeah there is always risk, but my point above was that there is a distinct difference in risk incurred when buying a 25yo rotation player from RM vs a 21yo starter from Brighton. Was it worth it? Enzo was less of a bet because of his WC performances, but I'd say that he's still pretty much a question mark. I like what I see, but we still need him to deliver the goods. "All the players we sold actually wanted to leave" yup and I'm afraid that says more about us than them.

Wow Tuchel won the CL alone! He may have scored all the goals too! Dominated the midfield with excellent passing and even pressed high, which is remarkable at his age! Then a moment later he was shit and that nobody from Brighton was the solution to all problems.

What I wrote above also applies to Kova vs Caicedo. One was a reality even at the time he was signed--coming from Real. The other is an expensive bet from a nothing club. Folks WANT him to succeed, but there are no guarantees at this level. in a couple of years, Caicedo might be the player you want out for being underperforming--not a super unlikely situation either. Also, doesn't the point above hurt your own argument regarding Kai, and Mount? I mean they went out for big fees and to big clubs. Saudis are snatching up players who could easily play in many big teams. And they are offering a lot of money so that they choose a non-competitive league. By the numbers alone, it seems they've been even more aggressive than China a few years back. Pulisic only had 12mo left in his contract, did not want to stay, and was on high wages for his level. All these will push his fee down, evidently. He wasn't really a Chelsea starter, but then again, all bets now on Mudryk and Madueke? good luck to us.