robsblubot

yup you see how much success PSG has had over the years... but don't let facts ruin the fun of blissful imagination. 😃 Seen what PSG has been doing done 10 times before and it failed 10 times: too many maestros and not enough players.

couldn't agree more.... question is tho, does the owner also agree with that? 😅 Neymar weakness is quite simple actually: he lacks intensity... the competitive side of his game is lacking. The rest is just a result of his personality or the lack thereof.

you are forgetting Neymar 😅 (new rumor)

yeah let's strongly disagree on that then, because for me age is extremely important in high-performance sports, which includes football at this level. Sure I understand transition. On the other hand, clubs like Chelsea are always at the mercy of *some* success. If for whatever reason some of these players don't deliver immediately (very common) that will affect success, may affect management, which in turn would affect any long-term plans the club may have. My only point is that there is risk in doing what you suggested (esp around age). And regarding Fofana, I sure did not see anything special: bit of impetus and physicality as I wrote earlier and little else. He will play and improve, but just stating about what I see/saw right now... as a short-term solution. Fofana scored how many goals in Norway? how many would Kai score in that league? This is all very relative.

Sorry, but that's a very single-minded look at a particular stat. Perhaps Mudryk's movement is shit (right now it kinda is), so Cucu is having a hard time finding a forward pass. It would be easier if Chilwells presence alone changed that, which I find hard to believe. The same was said about Reece, and the improvement was only marginal. Don't get me wrong, I still think Chilwell is twice the player, but one or two players coming back won't magically fix the obviously lacking teamwork. I thought both our wingers were shit for example. yeah I know they are young and will improve, but that does not help in this particular game.

You guys are clearly being paranoid. Guy is clearly not looking at the ball, not reaching towards the ball, and everything is happening by accident. clearly. 🙄

I don't know... he looked very similar to United days for us as he does now. That Inter run was the exception.

Would be strange indeed, except that nobody did that. What I read above was a criticism of the tastefulness of the whole thing, which I also find questionable. Little or really nothing to do with Potter himself tho. As an *extreme* example, had Potter been wearing a blackface too, then I'm sure more/most people would think it was tasteless. The way it happened, only a few/couple did. Really not a big deal. 🤷‍♂️ Nobody is saying he shouldn't do it. Again, very cool he's involved. Normally, for rich folk, it's better to just donate money, which is a better use of their time (and money), but for public figures, their actual presence does make for a more powerful message, no doubt about that. 👏

That can't possibly be true! here any player who isn't the [maligned player of the month] is always a win/win by definition! Mount tracks back as did Werner! the horror! 🤭 Their momentum is indeed bad, and reckon losing Jesus has finally caught up with them. That's what many of us have been saying from the first day. It isn't a question of "what's Potter ceiling as a manager?", because that's not a question to be answered at a club like Chelsea. He should've done more *before* getting a shot at Chelsea, and of course! it affects how much sway Potter has with the players. Brighton is just way TOO different from Chelsea as a club, which made the assignment really odd in my mind. I'm convinced that Potter does not have the squad like Tuchel once did. I think he's got some players playing for him, but not nearly enough. The club is giving him support, but it is all about whether the key players will buy into that or not. Time is on their side, which makes for all the "player power" these days.

Of course Mount should start because any manager would want to improve the form of good players who are in poor form. If the manager would go for performances alone Mudryk would be playing u20 for a couple of weeks after what he did against Fulham. Thankfully, it's a bit more nuanced than that. BTW, 🤦‍♂️ on the Gallagher and Mount comparison. For me the starting lineup matters very little. We need to start playing A LOT better as a team, which also includes a bit more running and dedication when not in possession. I know some folks here think we are missing a striker or whatnot, but I simply do not see the team doing enough to win matches... simple as.

Not only that, but also the signings the club has been making. They all aim next season + and do not necessarily address the issues the team has today. I suspect the club will be working hard to determine which players will remain and which players will be let go/involved in deals in the future. I'm not a fan of his work (previous as well), but I don't see Potter going anywhere this season.

We agree that AT THIS MOMENT Kai is NOT playing well, but my point was ☝️ ☝️ Dude! So, basically, WTF?! You literally wrote above that "[age] was nothing but a number," which I addressed... perhaps I shouldn't have? So, basically, it was your tangent! 😅Again, it's not my fault the club spent everywhere but in the striker/FW position. Perhaps they don't see anyone worth investing at this time? 🤷‍♂️ I agree that Kai has been poor and I'm not sure he's going to make it at this level... few truly do. I am SURE Kai is a good player, but good isn't always good enough at this level. Wanna bet he'd tear it elsewhere? @Thor I'm not sure the modern game can fit a player with Kai's characteristics in any position other than striker/FW. He's just too slow and his work rate not high enough to do the job anywhere else I'm afraid. Perhaps as a second FW, but we don't play like that today. TBH, I think his work rate needs to improve period -- regardless of position.

hmm I thought that point was pretty obvious and non-controversial tbh. A Haaland is an extremely rare thing for a reason. 🤷‍♂️ Speaking of which, absolutely dreadful game against Spurs today -- City won't win the PL because of Halland even if they will likely win more in the future also because of him. As an older guy I can absolutely tell you that age is not just a number. 😅 Science pretty much tells us it's not a number. First thing a doctor wants to know is someone's age, then sex (gender is largely irrelevant). That's science. I played amateur level football in Brazil (semi-organized) and spoke with plenty of professional players, even the way you play changes from your early to late 20s . It's not just a number in either end of the spectrum. VERY FEW players can stretch the limits but it's extremely rare (for every Thiago Silva...). Now, to the established pattern: very young teams, filled with young players (esp 20yo) have never won shit... esp at this level. The so called "transition" periods are called that because they never include silverware, but they usually include lots of young unproven players (aka bets). Median age of a squad IS very much so a thing that clubs think about when they plan and sign players. They also know what the likelihood of a 20yo, who is not a genius, delivering the goods this early is. For this reason, younger players are given time without much pressure. Would I like if Fofana were a young R9 who scored goals at 19yo? sure! Do I think he's one? nope. Honestly, this is not opinion, but rather what I know how teams go about building a squad. Would really take some new information for me to think that that has changed - IMO I think it has shifted towards older players given better fitness levels. So, perhaps agree to disagree.

He was by far the worst player on the pitch against Fulham. Absolutely dreadful in every aspect of the game, and you know what? it's OK. He's young and he's entitled to performances like these. It happens and he will learn form it, or not... in which case he won't make it. Still way too early to tell and games like these, not mediocre, not average, but really poor, are typical of younger players.

Yeah there is no magic needed to play better, but more work, a better manager, and better attitude -- Kai used to play a lot better himself! Strikers miss a lot of chances (1 in 3 is not uncommon), now if you are going to pick from the handful in-form strikers of the month, then yes they would likely score from these half chances we've been producing against weak opposition. I don't think Kai missed any sitter tbf and the assist from mount (which was the best chance today) was slightly deflected by the defender. however, my original point wasn't Kai vs a [better striker], but Kai vs a 20yo who has shown little more than impetus and physicality in the few minutes he played.

Best chance was definitely Kai hitting the post, but that's besides the point. It's not my fault the only option as a striker is a disinterested Kai. Just pointing out that a 20yo striker has to be a genius to play at this level, and despite showing quality, Fofana looks far from one. Expecting him to do what the more senior players have not been able to do is what I call "magical thinking." I will point out the obvious: we are playing like shit. Strikers will struggle no matter who plays.

Fofana looked completely out of his depth -- holding to the ball way too much and missing the clear pass. Overplaying him at this time could be not only risky for us, but to him as well. We all like a world beater youngster, but you could count in one hand the ones who actually deliver the goods this young.

yeah I thought he did OK in the first half considering how poor we were, but his second half was concerning. It might have been that his confidence was shot, but still, the demeanor just wasn't right. Don't think he deserved to be on the pith for all 90 mins.

Not all terrible news... the young/new players all look good/decent/promising except Mudryk unfortunately -- looked completely lost. To be perfectly clear: I like what I see from Badiashile... just mentioned what he lacks to play at this level. Plenty of time to work on that and he seems to have the tools for that. Kepa looks good today and not "ready to produce a blunder" like other times.

Other times in the first half he was all alone and still hoofed it up. Once again, it's completely normal considering his age, but at this level we need more (I sure hope he can do better with his weaker foot in the future). We can't praise Thiago silva and then say the simpler play is enough... bit contradictory. Big teams have different standards taking Willian as a very obvious example: guy could no longer warm up at the bridge. BTW, we are playing Fulham, not City or United today. ---- On Gallagher I think he's actually pretty smart considering how unskillful he is. Some of the stuff he tries to do somehow works. eh

once again Badiashile is in the right place at the right time for the interception but instead of a quick side pass he hoofs it up front producing a 50/50. Nothing wrong with that considering his age, but it does affect our play.

not a foul but mount needs to cool off all the same

he is passing from the back and keeping possession is part of "playing well" at this level... see Thiago Silva.

heh Mount has been the better player of the team and not even close. Team is disjointed because of the number of changes: passes are played to the feet or to the obvious empty space, rarely a clever quick pass because they'd not know how atm. This slows down the play and makes use easier to handle. Badiashile is having a poor game for these standards. He's been good defensively, but really poor on the ball. It's natural given his young age, but at this level he needs to better keep possession once we retake the ball.

Pretty predictable outcome for when you toss a bunch of new players into the team. Team looks disjointed and can't press high. Still, a few good moves by Mount, Ziyech and Kai who was unlucky on those two chances. I know folks will disagree, but I think Kai is having a good game, but our volume of play isn't there for a game at home esp.