Rumoured Luke Shaw

[The Skipper 20,593]

PVA might be kept because of HG status. If we aren't resigning Ashley and we sign a player like Shaw or RR we'd be okay with PVA and either going forward, especially with Azpi also being able to man that position.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

227 games. That's how many matches Bertrand's featured in and he's never really done anything exceptional. Even at Villa he's looked meh.

Van Aanholt looks good going forward against weaker teams who leave spaces because they lack a lot of tactical rigidity. He could surprise everyone and be a good option for us but personally I think he'd get bullied way too easily and found out defensively.

The simple fact is that no-one really gave a stuff about Rodriguez at 18. It's an incredible achievement in itself that Shaw is where he is, two months shy of his 19th birthday. He's composed, technically very good for his age but he also has a maturity on the pitch which is mightily impressive. That to me is what is most impressive about watching him week-in and week-out.

Rodriguez is a great attacking full-back but for the amount of money being bandied about for him, there are serious concerns over his ability to stay focused for 90 minutes.

Being behind Ashley Cole may have stunted his growth is all. You could be right though, maybe he's just not good enough... I always valued Van Aanholt over Ryan anyway.

Yes the weaker teams argument... So we should refrain from buying anyone who played in a weaker league than the strongest league in the world... Listen man I'm not all too concerned about where someone applied their trade previously, I watch them for what types of qualities they bring to the pitch. Patrick, if brought back will be playing against "stronger teams" but will be aided with stronger teammates too. I think he's actually physically ready to at least challenge for a spot here, I'm not calling him our starting LB but an option off the bench.(Club Trained)

Has it ever occurred to you that the reason Shaw is so hyped has something to do with the league he's in and the academy he's out of? I don't give two shits about whether or not I've heard of Rodriguez at 18, to be honest with you I don't follow the swiss league at all so it would be hard to tell you who the next up and comer is in that league. Also, it matters not when you've heard of said player, what's important is how he looks now! And in every category measurable, Rodriguez is miles ahead of Shaw. The only thing that sort of tips the scales back a bit is Shaw is a Chelsea fan and in homegrown, from a footballing standpoint you can't tell me Shaw is on his level. He does look like he is more composed and maybe more focussed but lets not forget Rodriguez is still young too in football and that sort of composure/focus usually comes at an older age. Shaw has that now but his skills don't measure up.

[Barbara 15,149]

van Aanholt has spent so much time everywhere and he still hasn't learned how to defend. A guy like him has absolutely no chance in a Mourinho system unless Mou is able to do to him what he did to Marcelo. The thing is Marcelo was already much a better player at the time than Aanholt is now (although I don't know their ages, but Marcelo was hardly much older - if at all - than van Aanholt.

I'm not giving up on hope yet on Shaw, although I do agree, it's a risk. How many English players we've seen looking promising and then just fade away? We've had our share of those, and tbh it's not even about English players, it could be about anywhere. In Brazil we see those guys fading away playing here or in Europe, every year. It's always a risk with youngsters, but let's hope we end up signing the good ones.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

When people think of Rodriguez, I'm sure they're just imagining him making overlapping runs for Hazard. That's all well and good but the defining image of Ashley Cole for me is him stifling Ronaldo at Old Trafford. What I like about Shaw is that he seems more than capable of doing both.

Although if he does join United I retain the right to renounce all comments about him, referring to him only as a gloryhunting cunt and will immediately be moving the hype train to the tracks marked 'JAY DASILVA COUNTRY'.

On that note, Jay Dasilva is only two and a bit years younger than Shaw. Sign Luis, blood Dasilva and then let him take Shaw's spot in the England squad.

Who said anything about Ashley Cole? the best LB of his generation? Anyways I'm starting to think you've never seen Ricardo play, he is a very good defender right now and also possesses the ability to get forward. Much closer to Ash than Shaw for sure.

[The only place to be 11,313]

And in every category measurable, Rodriguez is miles ahead of Shaw.

He does look like he is more composed and maybe more focussed but lets not forget Rodriguez is still young too in football and that sort of composure/focus usually comes at an older age. Shaw has that now but his skills don't measure up.

And that's my point. Shaw is actually capable of putting in good crosses and looks solid defensively, but it's the composure that he does everything with that sets him apart. That's why I'd have him over Rodriguez even if he costs a bit more. I think Rodriguez would get found out defensively.

Who said anything about Ashley Cole? the best LB of his generation? Anyways I'm starting to think you've never seen Ricardo play, he is a very good defender right now and also possesses the ability to get forward. Much closer to Ash than Shaw for sure.

Cole is the benchmark.

You're more than welcome to think that and I agree he looks fantastic going forward in the Bundesliga. I just have reservations over his ability to replicate it here.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

van Aanholt has spent so much time everywhere and he still hasn't learned how to defend. A guy like him has absolutely no chance in a Mourinho system unless Mou is able to do to him what he did to Marcelo. The thing is Marcelo was already much a better player at the time than Aanholt is now (although I don't know their ages, but Marcelo was hardly much older - if at all - than van Aanholt.

I'm not giving up on hope yet on Shaw, although I do agree, it's a risk. How many English players we've seen looking promising and then just fade away? We've had our share of those, and tbh it's not even about English players, it could be about anywhere. In Brazil we see those guys fading away playing here or in Europe, every year. It's always a risk with youngsters, but let's hope we end up signing the good ones.

A guy like him can benefit from having Mourinho teach him. We can all agree Patrick looks fantastic going forward and I will say this, what I saw from Azpilicueta last year left a lot to be desired, this year he looks WAYYYY better! Same can be said for Cahill.

I'm advocating giving Patrick a summer in the World Cup and a training camp with Jose before we look to spend 20-30m on a left back. I mean its not like we struggled in that position this year with Azpi. Let Jose be the one to evaluate him up close, if he fails to impress there will be other targets to acquire

[The only place to be 11,313]

A guy like him can benefit from having Mourinho teach him. We can all agree Patrick looks fantastic going forward and I will say this, what I saw from Azpilicueta last year left a lot to be desired, this year he looks WAYYYY better! Same can be said for Cahill.

This pertains to your comments on Van Aanholt and Rodriguez. Left-backs are first and foremost defenders.

I think Nathan Ake probably has more chance of starting a game at left-back for Chelsea than Van Aanholt does.

[Barbara 15,149]

A guy like him can benefit from having Mourinho teach him. We can all agree Patrick looks fantastic going forward and I will say this, what I saw from Azpilicueta last year left a lot to be desired, this year he looks WAYYYY better! Same can be said for Cahill.

I'm advocating giving Patrick a summer in the World Cup and a training camp with Jose before we look to spend 20-30m on a left back. I mean its not like we struggled in that position this year with Azpi. Let Jose be the one to evaluate him up close, if he fails to impress there will be other targets to acquire

Azpilicueta still has a lot of trouble attacking. I'm not saying Patrick doesn't have a spot here, I'm saying it's unlikely, he's Bertrand 2.0 imo and until he proves me otherwise, that's what I'll always think of him. It took us long enough to get rid of Bertrand and I hope we get rid of him completely. It seems like not even the Mourinho effect helped him because Mourinho can develop, not create things - and even then he's not able to develop all players under him. So yeah, not holding my breath at all about Patrick

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

And that's my point. Shaw is actually capable of putting in good crosses and looks solid defensively, but it's the composure that he does everything with that sets him apart. That's why I'd have him over Rodriguez even if he costs a bit more. I think Rodriguez would get found out defensively.

Cole is the benchmark.

You're more than welcome to think that and I agree he looks fantastic going forward in the Bundesliga. I just have reservations over his ability to replicate it here.

Shaw has not shown much going forward, lets be honest here. Ricardo has shown much more attacking acumen than Shaw even if he's 3 yrs older. I would agree composure is essential in a footballer and that the quality may go down in a faster paced league but even having said that I believe that even if Ricardo's skill of picking a pass and crossing is somewhat downgraded in the EPL vs BL he will still be ahead of Shaw in those areas.

If Cole is your benchmark I feel you're going to be disappointed.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

This pertains to your comments on Van Aanholt and Rodriguez. Left-backs are first and foremost defenders.

I think Nathan Ake probably has more chance of starting a game at left-back for Chelsea than Van Aanholt does.

Not in this day and age. Most LB's we see today are basically wingers.

Again only time will tell, not claiming to be a know it all like some here just think from what I've seen it wouldn't be a bad idea to recall him and give him a look.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I'm still surprised Bertrand wasn't able to get a chance under Jose. I never liked him going forward but I always felt he was very good defensively and that would be enough for him under Mourinho.

It's not like our fullbacks get forward anyways so Bertrand wouldn't have hurt.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Not in this day and age. Most LB's we see today are basically wingers.

Again only time will tell, not claiming to be a know it all like some here just think from what I've seen it wouldn't be a bad idea to recall him and give him a look.

First and foremost, especially in a Mourinho system, they're defenders. If you can't stop the guy in front of you then you won't make it at the top level - as Van Aanholt will prove.

The thing is the desperation to get Shaw was based on us not really having anyone coming through. If we can get someone like DaSilva then maybe we can look to develop an Ake or a DaSilva or even Aina.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Azpilicueta still has a lot of trouble attacking. I'm not saying Patrick doesn't have a spot here, I'm saying it's unlikely, he's Bertrand 2.0 imo and until he proves me otherwise, that's what I'll always think of him. It took us long enough to get rid of Bertrand and I hope we get rid of him completely. It seems like not even the Mourinho effect helped him because Mourinho can develop, not create things - and even then he's not able to develop all players under him. So yeah, not holding my breath at all about Patrick

I may have thought that way of him too until I saw him play this year, he's improved quite a bit this year. And this Bertrand hate is so misplaced! HE HAD THE BEST LB IN THE BUSINESS AHEAD OF HIM! I think you guys have been spoiled, Bertrand was serviceable, just not Cole.

And I don't understand why people paint every player with the same brush! Is Van Aanholt and Bertrand the same player??? NO so don't evaluate them the same way. What makes Ryan tick and what makes Patrick tick are completely different! Perhaps Ryan comes back from the world cup and is buoyed by the experience and his career kicks on? Perhaps seeing that he doesn't have the best LB in the world to contend with spurs him on to greater things? Its so silly to assume that because one hasn't made it that another can't.

[bababoom 4,478]

I'm still surprised Bertrand wasn't able to get a chance under Jose. I never liked him going forward but I always felt he was very good defensively and that would be enough for him under Mourinho.

It's not like our fullbacks get forward anyways so Bertrand wouldn't have hurt.

Personally for me he was average at both, he gets beat far too easily against pacey/skillful players and going forward he doesn't have the skill to beat players, i never really got the hype with him.

Regarding Shaw, my Avi is gone, so maybe i'll stop jinxing it?

[Nike 373]

I'm surprised that the Shaw saga is taking so long for United, even though they placed a high bid for him...

Unless, LVG doesn't want him and wants to bring in a dutch/german.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Bertrand was serviceable,

Easy with the compliments, you'll make him blush.

And I don't understand why people paint every player with the same brush! Is Van Aanholt and Bertrand the same player???

Good point. Bertrand and Van Aanholt are both unique snowflakes, not good enough for us in their own ways.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

First and foremost, especially in a Mourinho system, they're defenders. If you can't stop the guy in front of you then you won't make it at the top level - as Van Aanholt will prove.

The thing is the desperation to get Shaw was based on us not really having anyone coming through. If we can get someone like DaSilva then maybe we can look to develop an Ake or a DaSilva or even Aina.

Marcelo, Coentrao, Arbeloa?

Aina, Ssewankambo, Wallace, Cuevas? Don't we have Jay Dasilva?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Marcelo, Coentrao, Arbeloa?

Aina, Ssewankambo, Wallace, Cuevas? Don't we have Jay Dasilva?

Ivanovic, Ferreira, Azpi, Cole, Del Horno, Gallas.

I actually meant to say if we could get Luis then we'd have time to develop a young-un like Aina, Ake or DaSilva.