Ruben Loftus-Cheek

[NikkiCFC 7,624]

Impressive touch map. 

[Thor 2,167]

On 26/09/2021 at 03:23, MoroccanBlue said:

He can dribble in transition but that is it. Much like Kovacic and much like Kante, except these two are better suited in this system. He dribbles and without failure is unable to pick the open pass. I am failing to see how merely dribbling in transition alone = great performance. 

It's becoming evident he is only playing until Saul gets up to speed. 

I agree. 

I was always a big fan and wanted him to break through but... He is great with the ball at his feet, and helps us beat the press, which I thought we were terrible at against Southampton out of all teams... then he can't find a pass. Million dollar moves, two cent finish. 

[Magic Lamps 11,473]

Credit where it's due he was our best midfielder yesterday. He dominated Brentford physically, made a lot of great dribbles, never lost the ball and linked up midfield and attack astutely. After 70mins he ran out of gas but hung in there, won an important header in the box. He has a place in the squad if he continues like that.

[Johnnyeye 7,415]

 

[chelsea_4_eva 1,144]

Yeah that 70-75 minute mark you can tell he was tired.. hes always been like that

[killer1257 3,282]

Another great performance by him. 

[Blue Armour 4,176]

12 hours ago, killer1257 said:

Another great performance by him. 

Encouraging performance yes, but what do you think of Tuchel's utilization of him?

As the holding midfielder? Seems like Tuchel really saw the Ballack comparison and decided to give him a Ballack type role.

A lot better than the false 9 role Conte tried to give him, but I would still like to see him further up the pitch like he played under Sarri.

Remember the chance he created early on in the game, when he drove into the Brentford box? That's the stuff I would like to see more of.

 

[Tomo 21,685]

15 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Encouraging performance yes, but what do you think of Tuchel's utilization of him?

As the holding midfielder? Seems like Tuchel really saw the Ballack comparison and decided to give him a Ballack type role.

A lot better than the false 9 role Conte tried to give him, but I would still like to see him further up the pitch like he played under Sarri.

Remember the chance he created early on in the game, when he drove into the Brentford box? That's the stuff I would like to see more of.

 

This is what I find quite worrying, no manager seems to know what his best position really is and seem to improvise off the cuff.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

This is what I find quite worrying, no manager seems to know what his best position really is and seem to improvise off the cuff.

Don't think Tuchel had any intention of keeping Loftus-Cheek in the summer. It's just that there were no takers for him, he ended up staying and Tuchel was forced to look for alternatives due to injuries and poor form. Hindsight is 20/20 but the Saul loan is looking a waste at this point. 

[Tomo 21,685]

29 minutes ago, Jase said:

Don't think Tuchel had any intention of keeping Loftus-Cheek in the summer. It's just that there were no takers for him, he ended up staying and Tuchel was forced to look for alternatives due to injuries and poor form. Hindsight is 20/20 but the Saul loan is looking a waste at this point. 

I was worried when we signed him, Simeone letting one of his warriors joining us on loan was a red flag in itself (compare that to how stubborn they were in negotiations with Arsenal for Partey).

[Clockwork 1,770]

14 hours ago, Tomo said:

This is what I find quite worrying, no manager seems to know what his best position really is and seem to improvise off the cuff.

I think Sarri did, his best position is a 3 man midfield while being the most advanced of the 3 midfielder. He was natural fit for Sarri system. While there is no such role under Conte and Tuchel, so they will play him elsewhere.

I am honestly surprised how crisp and sharp his passing has been. It’s quite vital if you are the deepest midfielder. It’s good that he has provided quality minutes for us, long season with a congested fixtures ahead.

[Magic Lamps 11,473]

3 hours ago, Clockwork said:

I think Sarri did, his best position is a 3 man midfield while being the most advanced of the 3 midfielder. He was natural fit for Sarri system. While there is no such role under Conte and Tuchel, so they will play him elsewhere.

I am honestly surprised how crisp and sharp his passing has been. It’s quite vital if you are the deepest midfielder. It’s good that he has provided quality minutes for us, long season with a congested fixtures ahead.

But wasn't he the most advanced mdifielder in a midfield 3 vs Brentford as well? we played 3-5-2 so this is as close as it gets for a midfield 3 in a 3atb system

Anyway, we had a lot of defending to do this game so naturally he had to stay back a lot but his main strength is driving through midfield whic makes a box-to-box role the most suited.

[OneMoSalah 8,619]

9 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

But wasn't he the most advanced mdifielder in a midfield 3 vs Brentford as well? we played 3-5-2 so this is as close as it gets for a midfield 3 in a 3atb system

Anyway, we had a lot of defending to do this game so naturally he had to stay back a lot but his main strength is driving through midfield whic makes a box-to-box role the most suited.

He played as the deepest of the three, Kante and Kovacic flanked him on the right and left in the MF. 

I wonder if he played him there to use his height to try and stop the long balls directly into Toney? Maybe not but at the beginning I was a bit confused by the use of him there. 

Also, he did make a lot of tackles and ball wins to be honest which you don’t associate with him but he has to become a specialist or offer something consistently. 

He has now played as a winger, 10, 8, 6 and a CF throughout his career and nobody is sure yet where he is best. Concerning despite the snippets here and there that he is improving although again, he doesn’t offer any real end product or influence on the game of any sort.

As @Jase said, I do think he is only here because nobody would sign him for his 1) wages and 2) potential transfer cost. I think Saul will eventually usurp him and feature a lot more in the next few months once he is accustomed to the system and the intensity, he is still a quality player.

Edited October 19, 2021 by OneMoSalah

[Blue Armour 4,176]

10 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

He played as the deepest of the three, Kante and Kovacic flanked him on the right and left in the MF. 

I wonder if he played him there to use his height to try and stop the long balls directly into Toney? Maybe not but at the beginning I was a bit confused by the use of him there. 

Also, he did make a lot of tackles and ball wins to be honest which you don’t associate with him but he has to become a specialist or offer something consistently. 

He has now played as a winger, 10, 8, 6 and a CF throughout his career and nobody is sure yet where he is best. Concerning despite the snippets here and there that he is improving although again, he doesn’t offer any real end product or influence on the game of any sort.

As @Jase said, I do think he is only here because nobody would sign him for his 1) wages and 2) potential transfer cost. I think Saul will eventually usurp him and feature a lot more in the next few months once he is accustomed to the system and the intensity, he is still a quality player.

Listening to RLCs post match comments raises more questions than answers.

He also acknowledged that he has played in several positions throughtout his career.., and he said that CM is just a position that he's played in for most of his youth career.

Nothing about what he prefers. Tbf, it's a problem with a lot of 'utility' players. No specialization, and therefore they are just a good squad option.  

Mostly there as a support option. Maybe that's what RLC is going to be? Every good squad needs a good support option. 

Anyway, just glad he's fit and playing again after that injury hell.

[killer1257 3,282]

17 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

Listening to RLCs post match comments raises more questions than answers.

He also acknowledged that he has played in several positions throughtout his career.., and he said that CM is just a position that he's played in for most of his youth career.

Nothing about what he prefers. Tbf, it's a problem with a lot of 'utility' players. No specialization, and therefore they are just a good squad option.  

Mostly there as a support option. Maybe that's what RLC is going to be? Every good squad needs a good support option. 

Anyway, just glad he's fit and playing again after that injury hell.

Ruben always said that his best position is no. 8 and that is where he played his best football under Sarri

[Clockwork 1,770]

 

[Nero 1,794]

It's crazy to see he's back. I mean... he was done at Fulham, I had given up on him. 

I love Tuchel!

Edited October 23, 2021 by Nero

[nyikolajevics 2,449]

1 minute ago, Nero said:

It's crazy to see he's back. I mean... he was done at Fulham, I had given up on him. 

I love Tuchel!

Amazing. Who would have predict him or Chalobah will not only be part of the squad but performing regularly in PL/CL?

 

Who’s next? Musonda? Baker? Baba Rahman?