Rekin

The Skipper > I was looking at the aerial duels won per game, where RR has roughly double the amount. Of course it is possible that Shaw will improve, but at the moment RR strikes me as better. I followed both Soton and Wolfsburg for 10+ games this season (which you of course might have done aswell) and I can not help but feel that RR is the one who threatens more in the air. I do not actually base my whole argument on who is the better player by checking WS, it is just a tool to improve ones understanding as no one actually sits and counts the amount of interceptions and tackles etc. We know that Matic is good, but statistics let us understand what elements of the game he really excells in. TOPTB, I get that you do not like referring to statistics (especially when it weakens your position), but trying to counter an argument by ridiculing it without actually adding content yourself is playground level. You can do better.

I do not really think that the fee is the big issue with Shaw. The money remaining from January in combination with the Luiz fee can basically cover Shaw and Costa by itself. I am also quite certain that players like Moses, Marin, Romeu and one of Torres/Ba will leave, they will propably add £15-20m between them. Chelsea also have a transfer budget that is unrelated to sales that is not exactly unsubstantial. The team could propably see additions like Shaw (£30m), Costa (£32m) & Pogba/Vidal (£50m) without having more than a ~£35m net spend, and would still see an overall decline in wages. The issue is whether it is worth paying £30m and £100k/week for an 18-year old who while good does in no way yet warrant such money. The issue becomes more complicated when we add cheaper options (that include better players) such as Moreno and Rodriguez (and possibly Sandro). I would not be sad if we ended up with Shaw, but I would propably feel more Confident about the upcoming season with RR in leftback. I also consider that Mou played Ivanovic as right back because of his aerial ability, and I know which one of Shaw and RR is better in the air. If Cesar is going to displace Ivanovic then we would have two players on the flanks who are weak aerially.

As a person who played football for 15 years in a club with a physio in it I can say that hamstring injuries (of the kind Costa had) require above all rest. I had the same type of injury twice, and both times I tried to rush back and got re-injured within minutes. The second time I doubled the recommended rest (rested for one month with treatment), and I have never had any problems since. Maybe I got lucky, but I would never ever consider a hamstring injury to be even close to the type of injury Torres had or Falcao has. The best thing would be if Costa skipped the World cup, but as it is unlikely I at least hope he does not play in the first two games. It should at any rate not be too big an issue when considering signing him.

Statistics are used as an element of an argument. One does not only look there and draw final conclusions, but it is a very helpful tool.

I see your point (sarcastic as it is), but a better comparison for Jedinak would be matic, as pogba is more offensive (which can be seen if you compare offensive and passing stats, how does jedinak do then?).

I am not sure actually. Considering that set-pieces and key passes are two different categories (where the first one is measured by accuracy) I would say it is possible that one is not included in the other. He is at any rate taking the set-pieces because he is very good at them, his corners and free-kicks are fantastic (goes hand in hand with good crosses I guess).

But what context or interpretation do you feel is lacking? If I write that he has 2,3 key passes per game, what exactly am I conceiling? Having had statistics several times at university-level I am perfectly aware of its limitations, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Wolfsburg might be playing differently than Chelsea, Bundesliga might be different from the premier league, but a player who is able to succesfully find his targets with a cross or set-piece does not magically lose this ability when traveling to a new country, neither does he forget how to dribble or pass. The player might have difficulties in some departments (tactics or physically [altough RR is built very well]), but he does retain his skills. Shaw would also share some of the difficulties that RR would encounter. You say that Shaw is MILES ahead of RR at the same age, but I think that it is too bold a statement. Did you actually follow RR three years ago so that you can claim this? Being Swiss he obviously had to go through a different career-path that might not have provided the exposure a young talent like Shaw gets in his own home-country. We might actually say that RR has an advantage in adapting to a new league in a different country, something Shaw has yet to do. Rodriguez is right now far ahead of Shaw. It is possible that Shaw will be as good at 21, but we already know that RR is excellent right now. I would be happy with either of them, but if we are looking at minimizing risk, RR would be the better choice.

Dismissing stats is popular, but to be frank they are very useful at helping us understand players we do not see as often as we would like. Here are some examples on why RR is a great choice for left back: Key Passes: At 2,3/game RR would be in the top10 players in all of the best leagues (Serie A, La liga, PL & Bundesliga), and remember that he is a left back up against the like of Ribery, Messi, Silva & Hazard (as a matter of fact he is not far behind Hazard). Crossing: There are currently six (!) players in the previously mentioned leagues who have more accurate crosses Dribbles: Only one defender has more succesful dribbles than he does. Those two are far far ahead of the other defenders in this department. Tackles: When looking at defenders he would be in the top5 in all the main leagues when it comes to tackles (one person that has more is our own Cesar) Now, there are other great attributes (such as his excellent skills when it comes to set-pieces), but I cant be bothered to go through all of them. The point is that he is the best left-back statistically in all of the best Leagues, and he is only 21. Is he unproven? It depends on how you define proving yourself, but he is first choice in Wolfsburg which is a good german club. He has achieved high ratings against clubs like Dortmund and Bayern who we know belong to the absolute elite. He is in the fifth highest ranked player on WS in total. Do all of this guarantee success? Of course not, but the way I see it we are taking a smaller risk than with Shaw for a better price (again, I highly rate Shaw, but if it was a contest between the two of them RR would win easily).

He is one of the best young left backs in the world. Shaw, Sandro and Moreno have also been rumoured to Chelsea, but Rodriguez is the best one at the moment. Development is rarely linear and we have no idea if Shaw will ever become as good as Rodriguez (or, for that matter, whether he will become twice as good). Trust me, I too prefer local lads who are supporters of the club, but not at any cost. Especially not when it is required to pay more both for the transfer and wages in order to secure a currently inferior player. WhoScored has no opinion, it only reports the statistics of the player. If he has a high rating then it is because he has earned it.

If you compare the profiles of Pogba and Toure you will find that there actually is a lot of similarities between the two. Check WhoScored for example, an excellent website. The two players share four out of six defining strengths over there, them being concentration, key passes, long shots and through balls. The key passes and through balls are especially important as we are looking for a creative outlet in the middle. Their height is similar (Toure is 3 cm's taller) while Toure also weigh 10 kg's more (which some time in the gym can fix). The difference in weight might however also be partially why Pogba has "very strong" in dribbling while Toure does not even have "strong", Pogba is more mobile and have a better technique at 21 already. Also worth mentioning is that Toure has been weak in tackling and contributing in the defense, weaknesses he does not share with Pogba. One might also consider the synergy of Matic and Pogba. If we keep looking at WS we will see that both share the strengths key passes, aerial duels, concentration and dribbling. The others accentuate that Pogba is the more offensive one (through balls, long shots) of the duo, while Matic is the more defensive one (tackling). In other words, Pogba is the closest we can get today to a young Yaya Toure with his best years ahead of him. With him next to Matic we would have two tall and very strong players who win most aerial duels, are gifted technique-wise, provide a lot of key passes and complement each in order to balance the middle. I love Loftus-Cheek, and I rate Van Ginkel, but we are basically hoping that they could become as good as Pogba. In this scenario I would rather take the real thing, especielly now that the Luiz-transfer might have made the transfer a lot more realistic.

What I meant was that his perfomances against top teams as a midfielder allows him to show of his strengths better than his job in defence has. If he played as a CB in a possession-based team he would be able to act more like a CB-DM hybrid (Think Martinez in the german cup final) and would be allowed more of the freedom that makes him a worthwhile player.

Brilliant player, would take him in a heartbeat. He might not have the pace of Gundogan, but he is a true visionary from deeper positions. It is nice having someone quick in the pivot (especially with the mighty glacier Matic) but it is not as important as in other positions. Cesc is an offensive weapon who can contribute both directly and indirectly in the attack, and he is (contrary to what people believe) quite capable in the defence, better than Gundogan or Kroos. If we can get him for around £40m it is a no-brainer.

Luiz gets a lot of slack, but I think the main problem is the way we play. Just like any other player, Luiz will fit some formations and tactics better than others. If we look at his perfomances from midfield against top clubs it can be seen that he is at his best when he has a more creative role and the team has more space to run into which he can exploit. If he played in a team that revolved around possession, and where he is allowed more creative freedom from his deep defensive position, I think he would truly shine and justify a hefty price tag. Cahill has benefited from the way Mou wants the defence to play as it hides his weaknesses, while it is the other way around for Luiz. I like Luiz, just as I liked Mata, but what is the point of having a highly valued asset if it is never going to reach its potential under the current boss? Is it not better for everyone if the money received can be used to purchase someone who can actually add to the team on a potentially consistent basis? As for the midfield issue I consider it a bit of a dilemma. None of Ramires, Lampard or Chalobah is good enough to be first choice next to Matic, neither do they truly complement him perfectly. Van Ginkel is a possibility, but surely there is no knowing where he is capability-wise right now. I trust Mou, and I would be overjoyed if someone like Chalobah or Loftus-Cheek got time in the midfield, but a smart manager never bets too much money on an unproven player unless he has good enough cover (so the debate is whether Ramires, Lampard & Van Ginkel is quality rather than quantity).

I agree, a duracell bunny in a tiny body. Brilliant player that would be wasted if he was limited to a very defensive role. He is very small though, I would have some concerns about him in PL but then again fullbacks do not rely on strength as much as other players. This summer seems to be the transfer window of brilliant leftbacks, just like last summer was about strikers. Alex Sandro, Roberto Rodriguez, Luke Shaw and this guy, all available for a mostly reasonable price. I predict all four will be unattainable within two years, so this is the time to move. For £12m I would seriously consider going for it. I think Rodriguez is better overall (he also benefits from being great at set-pieces) but he might be twice as expensive. Wolfsburg is a very rich club that would never let such an important player go for anything else than an amount far above market value.

Rodriguez has been one of the best players in bundesliga. I like Shaw too but he is more than one step behind RR right now. That is not to say that Shaw won't end up better, but right now there is quite a difference.

While I have never been strictly against signing Kroos or Gundogan, I sometimes wonder whether it isn't a purchase we should leave for the summer of 2015. I was very impressed with Marco in pre-season and I really thought he would take the step to the starting lineup as the season progressed. While a knee-injury can have very bad consequences he is still young and recovered very fast. The central midfield is a curious thing though. We might lose Lamps and Mikel which leaves us with Matic and Ramires. That really implies that we will keep Marco and possibly move up a youngster/loan to the first team. Personally I think Baker or Swift might complement Matic but I know it is wishful thinking. Still, the point is that with players like Gundogan or Moutinho hard to buy this window for different reasons it might be a good idea to not change things around too much just yet. Chelsea have too much to gain from having a player they already own making the step to the first team, buying should only be an option when it becomes obvious that we need to improve in a position and we lack the right player in our ranks. This can be argued for the striker and left-back position which is why we will most likely end up with Costa & Shaw/Rodriguez/Sandro. It is not the case in midfield which is why the club needs to be patient and make use of the elite talents it already has.

I actually find it irrelevant whether Matic is only able to play in one position. We bought him to play as the slightly more defensive one of the two CM's, his job is to primarily close down danger-areas and shield the back four while distributing the ball to better positioned players. He has done that task very well, and I would personally already be happy if it ended there, which is not the case. Matic has often ventured forwards and closed down attacks before they begin but also when we are in posession of the ball. Just look at his assist against Stoke, how often do you see our DM's making runs to the end of the pitch and then provide a cutback? Have anyone forgotten his rocket against City? it was him being open to a play far more forward on the pitch than we would expect. He has several times dribbled past a couple of players and provided a very good pass (he has actually provided many key passes the last few games) and still offered a short option. Also, he has four assists which for a DM with 11 starts is fantastic. He has basically replaced Ramires, Lampard and Mikel. The only thing he does not really provide that they do is Ramires's offensive bursts and Lampard's frequent shots outside of the box. When it comes to positioning, passing, aerial duels, tackling or interceptions he is superior. As to him being overrated, I actually think he deserves the praise he receives. CFC-Fans are not the only ones thinking he is great, check The Guardian, Sky, the forums of other teams or WhoScored and you will find that there is basically a consensus that he is an excellent player. Speaking of WhoScored, they rank him as the fourth best player in PL who has 10 starts or more.

I might look like a fool later for writing this but whatever. Salah reminds me of Robben when he arrived at Chelsea, and I believe that based on the limited sample shown to us he could go as far. He needs to improve his strength a bit, and improve his finishing as he could have grabbed three goals today with ease. I really hope that he fulfills his potential, because he got bags of it. I want to see him start the remaining games this season.

In my opinion absolutely. His skills are of the kind that does not exclude you to the flank. He is excellent at through-balls, he tackles very well and is good in small spaces. He works very hard and is above all an intelligent player. If it is true that he has a buy-out clause of £17m that I think it is a no-brainer. I hope we get Atletico in the semi, that way Mou can analyze Atletico in-depth and later see Koke in action.

I have to say that I am a bit suprised that so few have suggested this player. While he does mostly play on the left side, he has the necessary skills to play in the pivot, and has several games in central midfield under his belt. We keep looking at Kroos and Gundogan when this player would be the safer (and cheaper most likely) card. Personally I believe that Matic - Koke would offer great synergy. One is excellent in the defense but very capable offensively, while the other is excellent offensively but very capable in the defense. That is the kind of balance you want in a pivot. Add to that the fact that Koke is excellent at set-pieces and we have a player that could answer a lot of problems that the Chelsea squad has today. Just to repeat myself; I am aware of the fact that Koke is primarily a wide player, but some wide players were meant to remain there, while others can be retooled into central positons (besides, look at Hazard who is excellent both on the wing and in the middle).

As someone who watches a lot of football (but I am in no way a preacher of the universal truth) I just want to add my five cents about Mario. First of all, check any goal-compilation of him and you will see one thing straight away; Almost all his goals come from a pass/cross out wide. Roughly half of these are a result of pure strength (and excellent heading) while the other come from excellent passing from the wide player but also very good positioning from Mario. He is a very good combination of a boxplayer and a target man. The best way to use him is to quickly get the ball to him and let the rest of the team advance forward, let him lay it off to a wide player and then try to find him in the box. It is a very simple and playable strategy that should pay off many times without really needing Chelsea to move from the strategy it uses today. It would however be necessary to engage our fullbacks more offensively though. He is a dirty player no doubt, but then again it kind of comes with being a target player. Few strikers can hold the ball well while at the same time being pleasant to the opposition. I talked with a friend of mine who has been supporting Bayern for 30+ years, his guess was that Mario could go for as low as 15m euro (which doesnt really mean much, but an educated guess at any rate). I Think he would be a steal at a price like that, even if it is slightly higher. He will be 28 in may though, so he is hardly a spring chicken, but I believe that players with his characteristics age better than sprinters and dribblers who rely on pace to bring results. I have been in the pro-Costa camp and I would still be very happy with him, but Mario would also be an excellent acquisition and people should be happy whomever of those we end up with.

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/3/11/5495482/marco-van-ginkel-injury-update So, MVG is back! :blue scalf: I must say it makes me very happy, he will propably not play a great role this season, but I think he could very well be a part of our future midfield pivot. Even putting the team aside, I think we can all be happy that he recovered so quickly for him personally, he seems like a hard-working guy with a great attitude. Like Barbara above I too think that he is similar to Azpilicueta. Maybe he used his rehab to build some muscles? He would benefit from being a bit more buff.

Which numbers make Torres seem like a top striker? No one is just showing one aspect while hiding another, statistics can be very revealing if you know how to use them.

One just has to mention the crosses today, he is no worse than Luiz during his good performances in that regard. I think we have yet to find a good midfield partner to Matic, but once we do we are set. Amazing performance from an amazing player. He should have won the player of the month in february.

Was average but grew into the game the longer it went. He got into some good positions and offered others space, but he also had a poor first touch throughout the game