Romelu Lukaku

[Blues Forever 1,232]

 

[blues.bridge 343]

make an offer for adeyemi, like £50M?

[Tomo 21,733]

2 hours ago, manpe said:

I have a feeling Lukaku's presence is demoralizing to the team, not only because he said he didn't want to be at Chelsea. Yesterday Ziyech overhit a pass to him on the right flank, Lukaku got to it but obviously lost it because that's what he does. Then he turned to Ziyech and started complaining with that sourpuss face of his, instead of showing some encouragement with a thumbs up saying "thanks for spotting me" or "better luck next time" or whatever, but no he had to be all pissy about it. I would hate to play with a teammate like that. And when Ziyech scored he didn't celebrate at all, not even a smile, what was that all about? What's going on with our players' moral?

It's not a feeling it pretty clear, the spirit that was so evident as recently as Liverpool is totally gone.

Btw he was even bitching to Azpi when the rest of our team were focusing on congratulating Ziyech for scoring.

[manpe 10,861]

4 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Btw he was even bitching to Azpi when the rest of our team were focusing on congratulating Ziyech for scoring.

About what?

[Tomo 21,733]

Just now, manpe said:

About what?

Don't have a clue, probably about how Bettenelli didn't tell him how wonderful he was on the team bus or something like that knowing him.

[Clockwork 1,794]

12 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Something that really has to go is the recruitment approach which means that generation after generation we underperform in the transfer market and collect players with a flair for the spectacular but lacking in the final stamp of quality. 

How much is that has to do with the managers though? Only Sarri prided himself in attacking football. If we want to change this trend then we need a manager who brings more competency in the attack.

we also sold two of the best players in the last ten years in Salah and KDB.

 

[Superblue 6,370]

12 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Something that really has to go is the recruitment approach which means that generation after generation we underperform in the transfer market and collect players with a flair for the spectacular but lacking in the final stamp of quality. 

Not just this but we seem to have a roundabout way of dealing with players.

Some we don't seem to give enough of a chance to and end up regretting it. Salah and De Bruyne are obvious examples but I take even someone like Tomori as an example. The club appeared to rate him at one point and when a deal was done to go on loan to Milan it appeared Lampard wouldn't be far out of the door then too, so why be so quick to agree a permanent option in the deal? I'm not saying he'd definitely be the answer, but I think from what I had seen of him when he was in the first team his characteristics would actually have suited playing as one of the wider centre backs in a 3 under Tuchel.

But then at the other end, there's players we seem to hold on to forever. I understand some are difficult to shift like a Bakayoko or Drinkwater for example. They are just rubbish buys and the club has to suck that up and do what it can to claw something back through loaning them out. But some players stay in the first team picture for far too long. I'm pretty certain that a lot of this has to do with regular managerial changes seemingly giving players a fresh start again under a new manager. 

If anything our recruitment should be made so much easier now because we're no longer needing to find squad filler. That door for the academy players has been opened now and I think it will lead to a steady stream of players coming from that route moving forward who can occupy those squad roles within the squad (and hopefully develop into something more central to the first team in time). Our primary focus now should be on either buying the best players available that are going to 'fit' our team and improve the starting XI, or if there's a really promising young player who looks like becoming that player and the opportunity is there to get them at an earlier stage (like we did with Salah, De Bruyne, etc). If that isn't available then don't make a move. I think that's what we're unfortunately paying for now with Lukaku where we've panicked that we need a striker to be added to the squad. And if Tuchel has given his ok to the deal I can completely understand why. Even with the Champions League win, he knows he'll never be bullet proof here like Klopp or Pep might be at their clubs. If the team struggled to score and break teams down like last season he could be out the door and for what is likely a short term tenure, adding a proven goal scorer to the squad would make sense. 

It's the same reason why I'd rather not try and address the full back/wing back issue this January if the right options aren't there. It definitely needs addressing in the summer because Alonso and Azpilicueta aren't good enough and mobile enough to play that role in the way that it needs to be played. But I want a genuine alternative to Chilwell and James which doesn't show an obvious drop off in quality. I don't want to see another Emerson bought in January and it's yet another player to serve a purpose short term but be stuck dealing with long term.

 

[Tomo 21,733]

I've just thought if he scores against Plymouth he's so going to do a Maguire vs Albania and cup his ears, isn't he?

[chelsea_4_eva 1,157]

41 minutes ago, Tomo said:

I've just thought if he scores against Plymouth he's so going to do a Maguire vs Albania and cup his ears, isn't he?

I'm going with shushing the crowd...

Edited January 19, 2022 by chelsea_4_eva

[NikkiCFC 7,949]

9 hours ago, manpe said:

And when Ziyech scored he didn't celebrate at all, not even a smile, what was that all about? What's going on with our players' moral?

 

[NikkiCFC 7,949]

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,297]

Oh Tuchel I fear for you. 

I really do. 

[Superblue 6,370]

To be fair what do you expect him to come out and say in public?

[Laylabelle 9,351]

1 hour ago, NikkiCFC said:

 

Solution being..get rid!

[Tomo 21,733]

Leicester have been beyond shit yet Patson Daka is still making a difference.

How is that possible? I thought strikers can't score unless they're "fed properly".

Edited January 19, 2022 by Tomo

[Jase 43,479]

11 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

To be fair what do you expect him to come out and say in public?

He did just criticize Lukaku at the weekend.

[Jase 43,479]

Just read somewhere that apparently Lukaku got booed by the away fans at Brighton when being taken off. 

[King Kante 1,476]

4 hours ago, Jase said:

Just read somewhere that apparently Lukaku got booed by the away fans at Brighton when being taken off. 

I am expecting a rough ride for him from the MHL. One thing about us in there, we'll always stick by a trier (see how much love Alonso and Werner get or even how much support players like Torres or Kezman got.) 

However, if you do not give 110% when being inconsistent/poor then expect a verbal battering.