Ruben Loftus-Cheek

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

He didn't sum anything up. That's just a strawman. He's bigging up the use of fringe players yet Remy & Ramires didn't start, Salah was subbed off early. There's absolutely no excuse for Jose's antics last night. RLC won't buy another game this entire season and you can quote me on it.

He needs to stop selling these kids dreams so they can further their careers by moving elsewhere.

Costa must improve his fitness and he can do that only with games. There was a sense to start with him instead of Remy. And Ramires just back after injury.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

He didn't sum anything up. That's just a strawman. He's bigging up the use of fringe players yet Remy & Ramires didn't start, Salah was subbed off early. There's absolutely no excuse for Jose's antics last night. RLC won't buy another game this entire season and you can quote me on it.

He needs to stop selling these kids dreams so they can further their careers by moving elsewhere.

Have faith gil. If we have the league secured by the last match day he just might get another 5 or so minutes

[CHOULO19 24,332]

RLC won't buy another game this entire season and you can quote me on it.

Of course he won't!

He's 18 years old and not anywhere near ready to be in the first team. Naturally, he wouldn't even get his debut for at least 2-3 more years but because we had a low-pressure match Jose decided to give him something of a motivation and a good moment for the lad, but it was never going to be more than a gesture.

[robdog 2,084]

Wasn't that Baker? I cant really remember :/

It was RLC. You can go here for the match report.

[Tomo 21,733]

He laid his cards bare in this regard with the team selection and the subs for the Shrewsbury game. In a way it's good because it helped me (completely) temper expectations after I'd let myself get carried away with his comments about Baker, Solanke, Brown etc in preseason.

Three teenagers and a further two on the bench, compare that to City the following night when the youngest player Pellegrini named in the 18 man squad was 24 year old Boyata.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Of course he won't!

He's 18 years old and not anywhere near ready to be in the first team. Naturally, he wouldn't even get his debut for at least 2-3 more years but because we had a low-pressure match Jose decided to give him something of a motivation and a good moment for the lad, but it was never going to be more than a gesture.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

WHAT!!?!?

Luke Shaw was a starter at 16, Rooney at 16, Cesc was starting CL finals at 18, Hazard made his debut just aged 16, Mario Gotze at 17, Pogba was a starter for Juve at the same age, Ronaldo and Messi at 18. Then you have the likes of Oxlade, Verratti, Sterling, Wilshere etc who were all getting consistent gametime before they even hit 18 at big clubs.

"Naturally, he wouldn't even get his debut for at least 2-3 more years". The fact that you actually believe this is normal is exactly why he should leave the club ASAP if he had any ambition.

[lionsden 4,689]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

WHAT!!?!?

Luke Shaw was a starter at 16, Rooney at 16, Cesc was starting CL finals at 18, Hazard made his debut just aged 16, Mario Gotze at 17, Pogba was a starter for Juve at the same age, Ronaldo and Messi at 18. Then you have the likes of Oxlade, Verratti, Sterling, Wilshere etc who were all getting consistent gametime before they even hit 18 at big clubs.

"Naturally, he wouldn't even get his debut for at least 2-3 more years". The fact that you actually believe this is normal is exactly why he should leave the club ASAP if he had any ambition.

He will just come back with "those players were special and most of them werent playing for a big club"so save yoursf the stress.

And people wonder why we have failed miserably to bring through a player since JT. Choulo's attitude is consistent with the manager and hierarchy at the club and thats why.

Thank goodness ranieri had a better attitude towards youth development otherwise who knows what would have become of terry

[Tomo 21,733]

He will just come back with "those players were special and most of them werent playing for a big club"so save yoursf the stress.

And people wonder why we have failed miserably to bring through a player since JT. Choulo's attitude is consistent with the manager and hierarchy at the club and thats why.

Thank goodness ranieri had a better attitude towards youth development otherwise who knows what would have become of terry

What about Leon Knight? disgraceful we signed Hasselbaink when we could just have promoted him

[Tomo 21,733]

He will just come back with "those players were special and most of them werent playing for a big club"so save yoursf the stress.

And people wonder why we have failed miserably to bring through a player since JT. Choulo's attitude is consistent with the manager and hierarchy at the club and thats why.

Thank goodness ranieri had a better attitude towards youth development otherwise who knows what would have become of terry

On a serious note tho, if it was up to some people Conor Clifford would have got promoted and groomed as the next captain after that youth cup win.

There's a reason there are very few teenage starters at topl level.

[iseah100 5,612]

He will just come back with "those players were special and most of them werent playing for a big club"so save yoursf the stress.

And people wonder why we have failed miserably to bring through a player since JT. Choulo's attitude is consistent with the manager and hierarchy at the club and thats why.

Thank goodness ranieri had a better attitude towards youth development otherwise who knows what would have become of terry

The club is much bigger now than it were then, they can't really afford to bring up youth players like that. Very few top teams have youth players in their ranks, the effort is being made. Give it time, sheesh.

[lionsden 4,689]

What about Leon Knight? disgraceful we signed Hasselbaink when we could just have promoted him

Did he show the same potential or possess as much talent as rlc and boga?.

The idea that a teenager cannot cope with first team football is a myth that has been disproved countless times throughout history.

People act like the youngsters that made it at a young age (which was only possible because their managers had a pair of balls) were performing hudini tricks and walking in water at youth and reserve level before being promoted and given a chance.

Majority of the players that made it young show similar level of performance and pitential to some of our current crop. A lil more faith and trust by the manager is what makes the difference sometimes

[Tomo 21,733]

Did he show the same potential or possess as much talent as rlc and boga?.

The idea that a teenager cannot cope with first team football is a myth that has been disproved countless times throughout history.

People act like the youngsters that made it at a young age (which was only possible because their managers had a pair of balls) were performing hudini tricks and walking in water at youth and reserve level before being promoted and given a chance.

Pogba is used as an example a lot, however Conte signing and playing Pogba came at a detriment to Luca Marrone who was a HG lad for them.

Ultimately we don't see these lads on training, the difference in standard between youth league and first team (even lower first team) is ridiculously high especially in England, something that will get drastically laid bare (in my opinion) if the U21s start playing in league one.

Don't get me wrong, if we one day win the treble with Chala, Baker and RLC as our midfield trio you won't find a happier and prouder fan than me, however if it was as simple as chucking these players in and bang, manager's would do it and save money spent on transfers, especially in FFP era.

[lionsden 4,689]

The club is much bigger now than it were then, they can't really afford to bring up youth players like that. Very few top teams have youth players in their ranks, the effort is being made. Give it time, sheesh.

Yer effort like giving the four of christensen, baker,solanke and rlc a combined total of 120 odd minute in all competitions this season. Yer I can see the effort

[iseah100 5,612]

Yer effort like giving the four of christensen, baker,solanke and rlc a combined total of 120 odd minute in all competitions this season. Yer I can see the effort

Yer?

If it were up to you Christensen, Baker, RLC, Ake, Solanke and boga would have started 5+ games by now.

[nyikolajevics 2,576]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

WHAT!!?!?

Luke Shaw was a starter at 16, Rooney at 16, Cesc was starting CL finals at 18, Hazard made his debut just aged 16, Mario Gotze at 17, Pogba was a starter for Juve at the same age, Ronaldo and Messi at 18. Then you have the likes of Oxlade, Verratti, Sterling, Wilshere etc who were all getting consistent gametime before they even hit 18 at big clubs.

They are good examples but where were Drogba, Reus, Makelele, Diego Costa, Falcao or Yaya Touré at the age of 20?

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I have to say that I too find Mou's decision poor this time.

The success this season depends very much on players such as Fabregas, Matic and Costa, not to mention a few others, and yet they get to play most of a basically meaningless game. Imagine if Matic or Fabregas got a serious injury in the 80th minute, how idiotic and needless would that have been?

Injuries are hard to guard against, but one thing the manager can do is not to risk key players in games that are utterly meaningless, and certainly refrain from keeping them on the pitch even after the game is all but won.

The argument in favor of doing what he did could be to improve moral by winning after having lost to fucking pardew again, but with 2-0 at halftime and 3-1 with a good portion of the game left, even that argument falls flat.

I understand that introducing youngsters gradually might be beneficial, but 15-20 min is the least RLC should have received.

I guess it was meant as a carrot to RLC, to show him that there is more to get if he provides the effort, but I still think that the decisions of Mou were poor yesterday.

Reminds you Fabregas suspended for the Hull match and Matic has been well rested because he is not playing against Newcastle. Both has reasons to play a lot yesterday. More like RLC's bad luck.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

WHAT!!?!?

Luke Shaw was a starter at 16, Rooney at 16, Cesc was starting CL finals at 18, Hazard made his debut just aged 16, Mario Gotze at 17, Pogba was a starter for Juve at the same age, Ronaldo and Messi at 18. Then you have the likes of Oxlade, Verratti, Sterling, Wilshere etc who were all getting consistent gametime before they even hit 18 at big clubs.

"Naturally, he wouldn't even get his debut for at least 2-3 more years". The fact that you actually believe this is normal is exactly why he should leave the club ASAP if he had any ambition.

The VERY simple explanation is that those players were good enough at that age to start for their respective clubs because at the time they did not have anyone better in their squads.While RLC, and all of the other youth players, although very promising, are no where near the quality of the first team.

We always over-hype our youngsters and delude ourselves of how good they are, but fact is, NONE of the youth products here have amounted to anything after leaving Chelsea. Jack Cork is the most successful of the whole bunch!

Our perception of those young players is always soooo far away from reality. Take Chalobah, for example, who might still be able to salvage a career here. But he had a few good games at Watford (and a few bad ones which no one likes to remember) and he was suddenly better than Ramires and Mikel and someone even said that he would a good shout for the England NT for the 2014 WC! Look at reality, though, he can't get a game for Burnley and last season was poor in the championship.

[Jase 43,479]

Reminds you Fabregas suspended for the Hull match and Matic has been well rested because he is not playing against Newcastle. Both has reasons to play a lot yesterday. More like RLC's bad luck.

So what? The Sporting Lisbon game was effectively a dead rubber and it was a chance for Mourinho to rest key players and play the fringe/youngsters but he didn't. Had someone like Matic or Fabregas picked up an injury on Wednesday, Mourinho would have had a lot to answer for. He's been saying that we have a lot of games coming up over the Christmas/New Year period (for the record, we'll have 5 games in 14 days!) and it will be tough but yet, he's like trying to flog them to death. Should be giving them as much rest as possible now given there's an opportunity. The tiredness/fatigue would eventually accumulate and it won't be a surprise if someone suffers a burnt-out next month.