🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Ruben Loftus-Cheek

[The Skipper 20,609]

Jose has already committed to RLC that he now has to rank him ahead of more deserving players like ake in the pecking order to save face atleast. I do agree with the skipper however that rlc has the higher ceiling but that counts for little in reality as it's about what a player is able to do now and how well they develop. A few seasons ago, many thought chalobah and van anholt were superior or had higher ceiling than ake and Bertrand respectively.

Honestly speaking, I still rate Chalobah very highly, I'm really mad at how the club have treated his development.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I bit undeservedly to be fair. He's a good prospect but no way has he shown more this year that someone like Reed, or even Baker and Swift.

Breaking through to the CFC first team and getting highly praised by Jose is no mean feat by itself.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I bit undeservedly to be fair. He's a good prospect but no way has he shown more this year that someone like Reed, or even Baker and Swift.

Don't think he'll play to be frank.

Southgate left out Sterling, Barkley, Wilshere, Ox etc because he considers them senior players. RLC's inclusion seems like he's there to fill the numbers in the squad, hope we'll see a bit more of him though!

[The Skipper 20,609]

Don't think he'll play to be frank.

Southgate left out Sterling, Barkley, Wilshere, Ox etc because he considers them senior players. RLC's inclusion seems like he's there to fill the numbers in the squad, hope we'll see a bit more of him though!

If he trains well I think he'll surprise a few on here.

A midfield 3 of Chalobah, Ward-Prowse and RLC would be very balanced and interesting.

[lionsden 4,689]

Don't think he'll play to be frank.

Southgate left out Sterling, Barkley, Wilshere, Ox etc because he considers them senior players. RLC's inclusion seems like he's there to fill the numbers in the squad, hope we'll see a bit more of him though!

TBH his competition isn't impressive at all. outside of ward Prowse, I can't name one midfielder who's definitely superior to him in that named squad.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

If he trains well I think he'll surprise a few on here.

A midfield 3 of Chalobah, Ward-Prowse and RLC would be very balanced and interesting.

TBH his competition isn't impressive at all. outside of ward Prowse, I can't name one midfielder who's definitely superior to him in that named squad.

True, it does seem like this a more attack minded squad. Lot of onus will be on Kane & Bamford.

[lionsden 4,689]

Personally I will line up like this

Butland

. . .Dier. . . .Stones. . . . .Chambers. . . .jenkinson

prowse......Cahlobah . . . .Cheik. . . . Redmond

Beharino Kane

That team is not balanced and has width problem (It's somewhat negated by the threat of dier from the right and Redmond from the left) but that is the sacrifice that must be made in order to squeeze two of England's best players (Beharino and kane) into the same team.

In any other formation, one of Kane or saido will have to be dropped. Whatever the case, Stones and Kane will be the first names on the team sheet.

. .

[lionsden 4,689]

True, it does seem like this a more attack minded squad. Lot of onus will be on Kane & Bamford.

I will be surprised if banford starts ahead of Beharino. Think it will be Kane and saido as the focal point.

As much as I rate bamford and as well as he's done, those two are ahead of him in the peckig order due to their premier league experience

[The Skipper 20,609]

Personally I will line up like this

Butland

. . .Dier. . . .Stones. . . . .Chambers. . . .jenkinson

prowse......Cahlobah . . . .Cheik. . . . Redmond

Beharino Kane

That team is not balanced and has width problem (It's somewhat negated by the threat of dier from the right and Redmond from the left) but that is the sacrifice that must be made in order to squeeze two of England's best players (Beharino and kane) into the same team.

In any other formation, one of Kane or saido will have to be dropped. Whatever the case, Stones and Kane will be the first names on the team sheet.

. .

Can Saido (and Bamford) not play out wide?

So something like:

Butland

Chambers - Dier - Stones - Garbutt

Chalobah

RLC - Ward-Prowse

Bamford - Kane - Berahino

[lionsden 4,689]

Can Saido (and Bamford) not play out wide?

So something like:

Butland

Chambers - Dier - Stones - Garbutt

Chalobah

RLC - Ward Prowse

Bamford - Kane - Berahino

First off, You haven't explained how they would trick UEFA into allowing them field 12 players

It just might work. Bamford has played on the right wing multiple times before for Derby and Middlesborough and Beharino is a versatile forward. it still feels like overkill to me with no natural width.

[The Skipper 20,609]

First off, You haven't explained how they would trick UEFA into allowing them field 12 players

It just might work. Bamford has played on the right wing multiple times before for Derby and Middlesborough and Beharino is a versatile forward. it still feels like overkill to me with no natural width.

Haha it was meant to be a 4-3-3. Ward-Prowse looks like it were two names but I've edited it now.

I agree that there's a lack of width but with no Sterling or Oxlade the wide players are poor, so it should definitely be a narrow system, regardless.

[Tomo 21,751]

First off, You haven't explained how they would trick UEFA into allowing them field 12 players

It just might work. Bamford has played on the right wing multiple times before for Derby and Middlesborough and Beharino is a versatile forward. it still feels like overkill to me with no natural width.

That's the national team for you.

It still annoys me that Sven went 4-4-2 in Germany 06, 4-3-3 with Hargreavs or Carrick holding was staring him in the face, Lampard and Gerrard would have worked and England would have had a serious shot at the World Cup.

[herpthederp 122]

True, it does seem like this a more attack minded squad. Lot of onus will be on Kane & Bamford.

I doubt there will be any onus on Bamford. He'll probably continue to be the fourth choice striker in the group.

I expect the starting line up to look like this based on what Southgate has done so far:

Butland

Jenkinson Stones Gibson Garbutt

JWP Carroll Hughes

Redmond Kane Berahino

[lionsden 4,689]

That's the national team for you.

It still annoys me that Sven went 4-4-2 in Germany 06, 4-3-3 with Hargreavs or Carrick holding was staring him in the face, Lampard and Gerrard would have worked and England would have had a serious shot at the World Cup.

With England, it's always been about shoehorning all the best/star players available into the starting line up with little consideration for balance.

[ja1 1,166]

This is my opinion on RLC, bearing in mind I've seen him 30-40 times over the last 2 seasons and I'm just being honest. It really wouldn't surprise me if other people who have watched him silently agree or see where I'm coming from.

In general, he's been massively overhyped and his accelerated development (IMO) is down to the fact he's physically bigger than everyone else. In youth games he very rarely stands out on the pitch, it is often the players around him that perform better but he gets rated extremely highly. (Remember how good Lewis Baker was last season?)

There's no part of his game other than the fact he's strong that really stands out for me. (From what I've seen) He doesn't have a great passing range, a good shot, even on the ball he is not very progressive and forward thinking. He has poor stamina (often taken off at around 70minites for the youth team) and can be lazy when defending. It is often mentioned that he is actually quite underwhelming at youth level. People then say he's 'saving himself/too good' for youth level. Nothing I've seen in his last two starts has altered my above thoughts. He genuinely has a flawed game that needs so much more work if he's to develop into the player people want him to be.

I don't really know what type of midfielder he is as a result. For whatever reason (6"3 and black?) people seem to have this perception he will be like Pogba/Toure Yaya, and this his ceiling is higher than other youth players around him. I'm still trying to fathom what exactly people see when they make these claims. I equally can't fathom why he has been getting such praise in his last two games for really quite average performances, and I think some people are probably putting their heads in the sand. He has been slow and extremely unadventurous on the ball and when defending espiecally against WBA was poor. Mikel gets lambasted for EXACTLY the same type of performances. I mentioned his lack of passing range - the only two times against WBA he attempted a pass that wasn't a 5-10 yard nothing pass they were off target (one was for Costa where he waited so long Costa was offside, the other he tried switching the play and the ball was 10 yards above the recipient's head).

I appreciate that Mourinho himself does seem to rate this guy very highly. That's not the be all and end all, given he also wanted to build a team around Oscar and didn't rate Alex. There are two talents contracted to us right now that, for me, are better than RLC and make far more sense to have in the squad next season in Aké and Chalobah. Aké within 2 minutes of coming on against WBA made a forward through ball pass for Solanke, showing more adventure and vision than RLC had all game. He equally with the ball at his feet rarely took more than 2 touches and looked to pass forward, not to the CBs. Chalobah is nearing 100 senior appearances and is still a very good talent, I don't feel the club have handled his development well at all.

This won't be popular and feel free to disagree, and it is also possible that Mourinho sees more in training that makes him rate RLC so highly but as of now I don't think he'll make it and certainly don't think he'll be a world class box to box midfielder who'll save us 40-50m on Pogba. I hope I'm proved wrong. Watch him closely next time he plays, objectively and you'll probably see some of the flaws I mentioned.

[zolayes 14,489]

always read your posts with interest .. you probably are the best judge of your young players ,, certainly now Esk has left ..

PLEASE post more often

[lucio 5,418]

From some of the games I've seen , arsenal in the cup , italy and for the main team against lisbon. I don't see how you can write him off but still talk up chalobah.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

he nearly hit me with Celery today at the parade! it flew just past my head.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

~~~~~~

But he will be better and certainly is no worse than Ramires. He can also hold the ball and can dribble unlike Ramires. And he is English, and in today's market place that is priceless.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

This is my opinion on RLC, bearing in mind I've seen him 30-40 times over the last 2 seasons and I'm just being honest. It really wouldn't surprise me if other people who have watched him silently agree or see where I'm coming from.

In general, he's been massively overhyped and his accelerated development (IMO) is down to the fact he's physically bigger than everyone else. In youth games he very rarely stands out on the pitch, it is often the players around him that perform better but he gets rated extremely highly. (Remember how good Lewis Baker was last season?)

There's no part of his game other than the fact he's strong that really stands out for me. (From what I've seen) He doesn't have a great passing range, a good shot, even on the ball he is not very progressive and forward thinking. He has poor stamina (often taken off at around 70minites for the youth team) and can be lazy when defending. It is often mentioned that he is actually quite underwhelming at youth level. People then say he's 'saving himself/too good' for youth level. Nothing I've seen in his last two starts has altered my above thoughts. He genuinely has a flawed game that needs so much more work if he's to develop into the player people want him to be.

I don't really know what type of midfielder he is as a result. For whatever reason (6"3 and black?) people seem to have this perception he will be like Pogba/Toure Yaya, and this his ceiling is higher than other youth players around him. I'm still trying to fathom what exactly people see when they make these claims. I equally can't fathom why he has been getting such praise in his last two games for really quite average performances, and I think some people are probably putting their heads in the sand. He has been slow and extremely unadventurous on the ball and when defending espiecally against WBA was poor. Mikel gets lambasted for EXACTLY the same type of performances. I mentioned his lack of passing range - the only two times against WBA he attempted a pass that wasn't a 5-10 yard nothing pass they were off target (one was for Costa where he waited so long Costa was offside, the other he tried switching the play and the ball was 10 yards above the recipient's head).

I appreciate that Mourinho himself does seem to rate this guy very highly. That's not the be all and end all, given he also wanted to build a team around Oscar and didn't rate Alex. There are two talents contracted to us right now that, for me, are better than RLC and make far more sense to have in the squad next season in Aké and Chalobah. Aké within 2 minutes of coming on against WBA made a forward through ball pass for Solanke, showing more adventure and vision than RLC had all game. He equally with the ball at his feet rarely took more than 2 touches and looked to pass forward, not to the CBs. Chalobah is nearing 100 senior appearances and is still a very good talent, I don't feel the club have handled his development well at all.

This won't be popular and feel free to disagree, and it is also possible that Mourinho sees more in training that makes him rate RLC so highly but as of now I don't think he'll make it and certainly don't think he'll be a world class box to box midfielder who'll save us 40-50m on Pogba. I hope I'm proved wrong. Watch him closely next time he plays, objectively and you'll probably see some of the flaws I mentioned.

Thoughtful and independent post. Thank you.

When asked to compare the chances of Jed & RLC two years ago, I replied that Boga was 50-50 but that Ruben had virtually no chance and that unless he bucked up his ideas he'd be lucky to build a career at League One level. To be fair that judgement wasn't based on any thoughts about his lack of talent but rather on my assessment of what he does with it. My main charge was that he spent most of his time drifting around the pitch doing nothing in particular and indeed too much time literally walking. Even when he did something good he seemed often to stand around waiting for the game to drift back his way.

Two years later I'm more sold than ever on Ruben's talent but the old question marks about the way he impacts matches remain. He is always a star name at development level but he is almost never a star player. Ruben has a Mikel like ability to retain possession under pressure but coupled with the skill to manipulate the ball with deft touches and power past opponents to take them out of the game. He needs to be more active, to be involved in the ordinary passage of play without hurting the team but then use what he has to damage opponents when the opportunity presents itself. If Ruben learns to do that we have a player, if not, it'll be a big, big shame.

BTW, my 50-50 assessment of Jed is looking a bit optimistic at the moment. I've seen no development in his game over the last two years and that is not just disappointing, it's worrying.