Rumoured Luke Shaw

[The Skipper 20,609]

I also consider that Mou played Ivanovic as right back because of his aerial ability, and I know which one of Shaw and RR is better in the air. If Cesar is going to displace Ivanovic then we would have two players on the flanks who are weak aerially.

I wouldn't say Shaw is "weak" aerially or that RR is superior in the air. Shaw is 6 ft 1 after all and is just a pure athlete...

Shaw wins 55% of his aerial duels, so does RR, so I don't think you should be worried about that.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I wouldn't say Shaw is "weak" aerially or that RR is superior in the air. Shaw is 6 ft 1 after all and is just a pure athlete...

Shaw wins 55% of his aerial duels, so does RR, so I don't think you should be worried about that.

But whoscored.com says that Rodriguez is strong at aerial duels but Luke Shaw isn't. That's a concern.

I've also had a look on whoscored.com but can't see any mention of Luke Shaw having two legs. Until they verify this I think we should proceed with caution.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Our homegrown quota is suffering with Ash leaving and will suffer much more if Frank and Ryan leave too. So basically, any team that has an English player that we want can blackmail us for twice the price that the player would usually go for.

There just aren't enough good English players around. I mean Shaw aside, what English player would be a useful addition to our team? Rooney and Sturridge? Barry and Milner if you want to stretch it a bit? Now, how many of those are realistic transfer targets? None. That's why the homegrown status adds 10-15m on the price.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

£25 million is a lot but it's not too bad. If he's the full-back we all hope he can be for the next 12 years then it's actually a bargain. The problematic part is probably the wages to be honest. £100k p/w is a crazy amount and it sets him up to be earning 200-250k p/w by the time he's 27 with the way wages are going.

With the money we've got from transfers and the wages we're saving then it's very doable, and it's not like we need to spend massively elsewhere (beyond Costa).

To be fair I've not read him demanding such wages, the transfer fee is down to Southampton he can't do anything about it. Chelsea can always compromise on his wages over a long term, if he's indeed a fan I'm sure he'll be open to such negotiations.

[Rekin 835]

The Skipper > I was looking at the aerial duels won per game, where RR has roughly double the amount. Of course it is possible that Shaw will improve, but at the moment RR strikes me as better. I followed both Soton and Wolfsburg for 10+ games this season (which you of course might have done aswell) and I can not help but feel that RR is the one who threatens more in the air.
I do not actually base my whole argument on who is the better player by checking WS, it is just a tool to improve ones understanding as no one actually sits and counts the amount of interceptions and tackles etc. We know that Matic is good, but statistics let us understand what elements of the game he really excells in.

TOPTB, I get that you do not like referring to statistics (especially when it weakens your position), but trying to counter an argument by ridiculing it without actually adding content yourself is playground level. You can do better.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Again, I think Bertrand or PVA will be good enough as Azpi backup. And both are homegrown. We doesn't need another main LB, Azpi has done a good job this season and I expect he will mainly deploy in that position again next season.

[The only place to be 11,313]

TOPTB, I get that you do not like referring to statistics (especially when it weakens your position), but trying to counter an argument by ridiculing it without actually adding content yourself is playground level. You can do better.

Once again, stats have their place but it seems like for some they are the be all and end all. I like Rodriguez. I think he's a good young player but I think his stats need context (do you even know if his key passes stats includes his set-pieces because that would skew his stats considerably?).

The one thing I would say Shaw most definitely has over him is his composure. There's a remarkable maturity to Shaw's game and he seems to step up to tougher challenges whereas I've seen Rodriguez look a little dodgy at times. For proof, even whoscored says 'concentration' is a weakness for him (like omg )....is that something Mourinho would ever accept in a defender?

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

Again, I think Bertrand or PVA will be good enough as Azpi backup. And both are homegrown. We doesn't need another main LB, Azpi has done a good job this season and I expect he will mainly deploy in that position again next season.

I'll eat my hat if van Aanholt or Bertrand are still at Chelsea come September 1st/2nd. Be it sold or loaned out, i think they're goners

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I'll eat my hat if van Aanholt or Bertrand are still at Chelsea come September 1st/2nd. Be it sold or loaned out, i think they're goners

It is a shame thats what most likely will happen. No chance for our academy players even for a backup.

[The Skipper 20,609]

The Skipper > I was looking at the aerial duels won per game, where RR has roughly double the amount. Of course it is possible that Shaw will improve, but at the moment RR strikes me as better. I followed both Soton and Wolfsburg for 10+ games this season (which you of course might have done aswell) and I can not help but feel that RR is the one who threatens more in the air. I do not actually base my whole argument on who is the better player by checking WS, it is just a tool to improve ones understanding as no one actually sits and counts the amount of interceptions and tackles etc. We know that Matic is good, but statistics let us understand what elements of the game he really excells in.

You're probably right in saying that RR has the edge in the air; he's definitely has won more than double but he has also lost more than double. If we take it on the average, which I think is a fairer reflection, they both win 55% of their aerial duels. RR is perhaps better in the air but my whole response was in regards to your original point i.e. thinking Shaw is a liability or weak in the air which he isn't as those stats reflect. Taking into account his physical build and height as well... Shaw isn't an Ivanovic (barely any fullbacks are) in the air but he is definitely solid enough. Solid enough to not call him "weak in the air" anyway.

I also have no problem in you using WS as a reference to back up your points because if used correctly it definitely enhances an argument - just didn't agree with you on saying Shaw is weak in the air.

[Pizy 18,961]

It is a shame thats what most likely will happen. No chance for our academy players even for a backup.

Why would we give them a chance if they aren't good enough? Neither of those two are good enough to consistently start for us.

Annoys the shit out of me when people say this constantly. We are a club competing for the highest honors and every single match is important. We can't afford to just throw in a teenager in this day and age unless he's an exceptional, potentially world class talent. Even matches against bottom table sides aren't sure things anymore as we proved last season.

Unless this teenager is like Luke Shaw who has proven himself against proper competition then it's too risky. Our academy players who look amazing at that level would most likely get ripped apart at PL level. Only a couple of them could probably blend right away and PVA isn't one of them. Not nearly good enough for a top European side.

[iseah100 5,612]

Why would we give them a chance if they aren't good enough? Neither of those two are good enough to consistently start for us.

Annoys the shit out of me when people say this constantly. We are a club competing for the highest honors and every single match is important. We can't afford to just throw in a teenager in this day and age unless he's an exceptional, potentially world class talent. Even matches against bottom table sides aren't sure things anymore as we proved last season.

Unless this teenager is like Luke Shaw who has proven himself against proper competition then it's too risky. Our academy players who look amazing at that level would most likely get ripped apart at PL level. Only a couple of them could probably blend right away and PVA isn't one of them. Not nearly good enough for a top European side.

This.. i would love to see Chelsea produce top notch talents, but some of these players just aren't good enough. They arent tearing it up on loans right now, what makes people think they can have a big impact on a star studded Chelsea squad? The academy players that play will be the ones that deserve it and show the most potential, like Baker.

[Rekin 835]

The Skipper > I looked over my previous post and it was a typo at the end, I meant to write "weaker" rather than "weak", so you are correct in adressing that.

As for the aerial duels it is generally a better accomplishment to keep a ratio where the frequency is higher. If Shaw won 6/10 duels that would give him the higher %, but the sample would not indicate consistency. Shaw is however not weak in the air, that is true.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

This.. i would love to see Chelsea produce top notch talents, but some of these players just aren't good enough. They arent tearing it up on loans right now, what makes people think they can have a big impact on a star studded Chelsea squad? The academy players that play will be the ones that deserve it and show the most potential, like Baker.

Would you rather have Chalobah starting for us or Pogba banging them in from 30 yards? I know which one I would like.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Would you rather have Chalobah starting for us or Pogba banging them in from 30 yards? I know which one I would like.

Or why not both? I.e. Matic gets injured and Chalobah replaced him for a few games.

Chalobah - Pogba is still a very good pivot.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Or why not both? I.e. Matic gets injured and Chalobah replaced him for a few games.

Chalobah - Pogba is still a very good pivot.

Yep this would definitely be the best option. The thing is with some people there is no middle path, just homegrown academy players are expected. Also imo that might work well but eventually the sub will likely want to leave if he is truly ambitious enough and good enough i.e Courtois, Lukaku, Tiago a few years ago. Imo eventually we will have to commit to one, buying best young talents or let good talented players from the academy into starting 11. Me personally as long as success keeps on coming I wouldn't mind either too.

[Styles 9,790]

Is Chalobah really that good? I still think of him as a CB, and from what I've seen Baker/Swift/RLC are more promising midfielders.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Why would we give them a chance if they aren't good enough? Neither of those two are good enough to consistently start for us.

Annoys the shit out of me when people say this constantly. We are a club competing for the highest honors and every single match is important. We can't afford to just throw in a teenager in this day and age unless he's an exceptional, potentially world class talent. Even matches against bottom table sides aren't sure things anymore as we proved last season.

Unless this teenager is like Luke Shaw who has proven himself against proper competition then it's too risky. Our academy players who look amazing at that level would most likely get ripped apart at PL level. Only a couple of them could probably blend right away and PVA isn't one of them. Not nearly good enough for a top European side.

As a backup I don't think it would be a problem. Take Kalas against Pool as an example. If they given a chance in a big game they will perform as the game of their life(s). Also they could play against lesser team or between CL games for sure. You maybe right for Bertrand (even though he played brilliant as a midfielder in Munich), as I could see he would never get a call up for England with Shaw around, but I don't think PVA is that bad. He is included in Netherlands provisional squad for WC. I don't think he will be there if he is 'that bad'.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Is Chalobah really that good? I still think of him as a CB, and from what I've seen Baker/Swift/RLC are more promising midfielders.

Watched a lot of Chalobah over the years, his true position IMO is as a DM. Certainly good enough to be our back up DM, also ahead of those you've mentioned in his development.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Pochettino officially confirmed as new Spurs boss, maybe we'll hear about where Shaw's going soon.