Ruben Loftus-Cheek

[lionsden 4,689]

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.

And this is very clear to those that follow youth football. Since he became a regular in the youth and reserve team, he's always been outperformed by other midfielders. 3 seasons ago Chalobah was the standout midfielder, 2 seasons ago, Lewis baker was the main man and last/this season, Colkett has been pulling the strings. To his defence, when he's playing well, He looks like a top top prospect but that doesn't happen often enough.

I attribute his hype amongst Chelsea fans to his performance in the friendly against City (I was guilty of overhyping him after that performance as well, I will admit). The sentiment back then was, if he could play that well against the champions and a midfield consisting of Toure and Silva albeit in a friendly then the sky was the limit. his inconsistency and tendency to fade out of games has always been apparent.

However he's still a very good prospect with strengths and weaknesses just like any other player

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Exactly. I forgot who I told that Ake has impressed me more than RLC.

Ake has more technical quality and is robust in challenges and energetic in his overall play. I value those qualities over anything I've seen from RLC.

RLC is a good tackler from what I've seen but if Aké is given equal opportunities you'll see who the fans will love more.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Exactly. I forgot who I told that Ake has impressed me more than RLC.

Ake has more technical quality and is robust in challenges and energetic in his overall play. I value those qualities over anything I've seen from RLC.

RLC is a good tackler from what I've seen but if Aké is given equal opportunities you'll see who the fans will love more.

It was me. I don't understand why you compare the two? It's like comparing Makelele to Ballack.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It was me. I don't understand why you compare the two? It's like comparing Makelele to Ballack.

Why I compared the two was because people say RLC is our best academy player while I say Aké is better.

It doesn't mean RLC won't get to be the best maybe in future, but I value technical quality in young players more than anything because it's hard to develop that aspect in players and I think Aké is better in that aspect.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Why I compared the two was because people say RLC is our best academy player while I say Aké is better.

It doesn't mean RLC won't get to be the best maybe in future, but I value technical quality in young players more than anything because it's hard to develop that aspect in players and I think Aké is better in that aspect.

I certainly don't think RLC is the best academy talent (my favourites are Boga and Solanke) but I don't think Ake as better technique than RLC... They're both pretty technical players but RLC has more to his game, he can drift past players and does everything Ake can as well or better (technically speaking here). You will never see Ake getting the ball past players with close control like RLC does tbh. I've never seen it in his game, whilst RLC has shown a lot of flashes.

For me it's not even questionable that RLC has a higher ceiling due to his ability to make a difference on both sides of the pitch.

With all respects to ja1 (who I think is a fantastic poster), I think he's undermining RLC a bit. I've seen about 20 games from him myself over the last year or so and he's shown in enough games that he definitely has the talent. What I'm happy about with RLC is that he's been given the opportunity. He's a project. He's definitely not there yet but if he applies himself in the right way he definitely has the body to become a very good player. RLC has had enough games where he's shown that he's the best player on the pitch by a mile for me.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I certainly don't think RLC is the best academy talent (my favourites are Boga and Solanke) but I don't think Ake as better technique than RLC... They're both pretty technical players but RLC has more to his game, he can drift past players and does everything Ake can as well or better (technically speaking here). You will never see Ake getting the ball past players with close control like RLC does tbh. I've never seen it in his game, whilst RLC has shown a lot of flashes.

For me it's not even questionable that RLC has a higher ceiling due to his ability to make a difference on both sides of the pitch.

With all respects to ja1 (who I think is a fantastic poster), I think he's undermining RLC a bit. I've seen about 20 games from him myself over the last year or so and he's shown in enough games that he definitely has the talent. What I'm happy about with RLC is that he's been given the opportunity. He's a project. He's definitely not there yet but if he applies himself in the right way he definitely has the body to become a very good player. RLC has had enough games where he's shown that he's the best player on the pitch by a mile for me.

Fair enough. Let's hope they both succeed.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

You need size in central midfield. If anyone other than Matic played next to Cesc our midfield would be raped. Jose clearly wants both more solidarity there and wants to be able to play Cesc higher, especially in big games, and that allows Jose to drop one of our AM 3 if they're under performing.

That's just my opinion, though. Personally I think we should have had Frank for one more year.

[Rekin 835]

And this is very clear to those that follow youth football. Since he became a regular in the youth and reserve team, he's always been outperformed by other midfielders. 3 seasons ago Chalobah was the standout midfielder, 2 seasons ago, Lewis baker was the main man and last/this season, Colkett has been pulling the strings. To his defence, when he's playing well, He looks like a top top prospect but that doesn't happen often enough.

I attribute his hype amongst Chelsea fans to his performance in the friendly against City (I was guilty of overhyping him after that performance as well, I will admit). The sentiment back then was, if he could play that well against the champions and a midfield consisting of Toure and Silva albeit in a friendly then the sky was the limit. his inconsistency and tendency to fade out of games has always been apparent.

However he's still a very good prospect with strengths and weaknesses just like any other player

Not saying I disagree with you, but could the bold part not be a strength itself? RLC might not be shining a lot, but he is able to allow his midfield partner to do so by giving him more time on the ball and space through his actions?

We are at any rate on the path were the youth get more chances than before. Many of them (and us) will get kicked hard by the reality of how big the step up is, which is why it is important that we are patient and trust our manager and coaches to help develop the players.

[Waterfall 893]

What makes him special is his potential. Baker and Swift were significantly better players for us last season, but Loftus-Cheek can do things that not many 19 year old midfielders can. It's the same with Boga who always seems to be injured or often invisible in games, but shows flashes. Watch RLC's game against Italy to see how dominant he can be. If he can gain the consistency that Baker was able to last season, sky really is the limit for him. People say as if him being stronger and bigger than everyone else is a bad thing when in fact he will be stronger than bigger than grown men. Also I could not disagree more when it was said that he's not impressive on the ball. If his physical attributes were the only things that stood out, our youth team would be full of 6'3" giants with no real football skills

[lionsden 4,689]

Playing the devil's advocate here. What's to say his timidness and unadventurous approach isn't down to Jose's instruction?.

Knowing the type of manager Jose is, i wouldn't be surprised if he's given RLC the Zouma role in midfield which will be typical and disappointing.

[lucio 5,418]

Playing the devil's advocate here. What's to say his timidness and unadventurous approach isn't down to Jose's instruction?.

Knowing the type of manager Jose is, i wouldn't be surprised if he's given RLC the Zouma role in midfield which will be typical and disappointing.

Probably true. He came on as a 10 against Lisbon and looked powerful. I'm sure he will never make it as a holding midfielder.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

130 mins and still no screamers? Off with his head to Vitesse!

Seriously, people need to calm the fuck down. He had a very good game, made no mistakes, got all the basics right, movement and covering were good, and to me looked more comfortable in the system than against pool. I really like his composure and calmness, not trying too hard or being too eager to impress which is incredibly tempting for a young player coming into the team.

The 'flashiness' can come latter. He needs to first establish himself as a reliable option for the manager and that can only be done by constantly getting the basics right.

We had 10 players on the field, and you expect the only teenager among them to be the one taking the risks? Sorry, that make little sense.

Age shouldn't matter. You'd expect midfield players to take risks in trying to create chances for others to score or others to assist. He looked slightly tentative at times like I said, never criticized him apart from that and possibly positioning but thats really an experience thing.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Age shouldn't matter. You'd expect midfield players to take risks in trying to create chances for others to score or others to assist. He looked slightly tentative at times like I said, never criticized him apart from that and possibly positioning but thats really an experience thing.

You expect a terrified 19yo on his first ever game with the first team to take risks? I bet you anything that Jose's and JT's advice for him would have been to relax, enjoy and keep it simple. That's what you'd want from your debutantes, to not make big mistakes so they gain in confidence. He can take risks when he's an integral part of the first team.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Jose making sure that RLC does not take anything for granted. Gave him some pretty tough love after the match today.

[Special Juan 28,111]

According to the Mail Online and their news banner it says "Jose Mourinho says his relationship with RLC has take 'A Step Back' after unacceptable work rate