Lack of English players in the squad

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Cheers for proving my point. You practically picked 1 English player and categorize the entire NT as 'stink'.

Funnily enough, the core of English players in our squad - which we were all proud about - over the last decade had 2 English players who we didn't develop and got them from other clubs.

I guess it depends on how you define 'top'. I'm not disagreeing with points about England lack top quality players but to categorize everyone as rubbish just because majority, not all, are mostly that is nonsensical.

What english players can get into the Chelsea XI as is right now?

[Jase 43,479]

What english players can get into the Chelsea XI as is right now?

See above.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Just because those clubs pay big money for those players, doesn't mean they are automatically average. Not their fault that those clubs pay so much for them.

I would argue that Wilshere, AOC and Henderson could. Okay, maybe not Henderson but he would certainly be a decent option to have on the bench. He's like a more refined version of Ramires. As for the other 2, think we would all be in denial if we do not acknowledge that they have shown their qualities. If anything, they just need someone to sort out their mental attitude and consistency to be quality players, something which Wenger hasn't necessarily achieved.

What do you really think any of those 3 would start week in week out for Chelsea Jason? Cmon man....

The point was there aren't very many English players who are at the same level as players like Courtois, Fabregas, Hazard and Costa who are gonna be the backbone of this team for the next 5-7 years.

[The Skipper 20,609]

We must hope that the likes of Baker, RLC, Chalobah, Solanke etc. make the step up over the years.

I would rather try to develop those under our books because the top English talent out there isn't that impressive, and it would be way too costly. Imagine bringing in a Barkley for example? He would cost north of £30m, and that isn't justified at all. Sterling would be the same.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

See above.

Wilshere over Fabregas? doubt it. Not even over Oscar.

It doesn't even matter though the fact that you're struggling to find even three names of English players who can get into the side shows what type of talent Chelsea have assembled and the gulf in class compared to the English players.

[The Skipper 20,609]

See above.

Solid point with Wilshere tbh, might be unpopular but he could possibly start over Oscar here (as I can see him performing Oscar's duties perhaps?). He has good work rate and a good motor, clever player but has a bit more finesse than Oscar in his vision of the pitch. Oscar is probably the better goal threat though.

Wilshere would be a really interesting one IMO.

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Personally I don't have a problem with choosing the likes of Courtois over Hart, Fabregas over Henderson. For me it's only a problem when there's such little difference in quality. Players like Salah and Zouma could easily be replaced by similarly talented English players.

Perhaps yeah but you look at how much it cost could to say replace Salah with say Sterling or Lallana. An extra 10 or 15M on top of what we paid for Salah. Fuck knows how much Sterling could go for as well, he could go for anything beyond 50M

[Jase 43,479]

What do you really think any of those 3 would start week in week out for Chelsea Jason? Cmon man....

The point was there aren't very many English players who are at the same level as players like Courtois, Fabregas, Hazard and Costa who are gonna be the backbone of this team for the next 5-7 years.

I don't see how suggesting those 3 (or 2 without Henderson) could start is a ludicrous idea anyway. They might not be at the level of those players you mentioned above but with the right coaching, I don't see why they can reach that especially when we all know the qualities they possess.

On a side note, we have completely deviated from the main topic of this thread.

Wilshere over Fabregas? doubt it. Not even over Oscar.

It doesn't even matter though the fact that you're struggling to find even three names of English players who can get into the side shows what type of talent Chelsea have assembled and the gulf in class compared to the English players.

If you have really read my posts and understand it, you would know that I agree that there aren't many top talens in the England NT. Majority of them are poor-average but there are a few who are actually good, really good. It's just that some people refuse to admit that and prefer to categorize everyone as rubbish just because most of them are.

[The Chels 2,502]

Perhaps yeah but you look at how much it cost could to say replace Salah with say Sterling or Lallana. An extra 10 or 15M on top of what we paid for Salah. Fuck knows how much Sterling could go for as well, he could go for anything beyond 50M

Those are the 'big'-name upcoming English players though. I don't suggest we buy those but I doubt it would be hard to find young English players who could fill the roles of Salah, Zouma, Van Ginkel, etc. even within our own ranks (e.g. Baker).

[Tomo 21,751]

Wilshere over Fabregas? doubt it. Not even over Oscar.

It doesn't even matter though the fact that you're struggling to find even three names of English players who can get into the side shows what type of talent Chelsea have assembled and the gulf in class compared to the English players.

I don't think Jason is saying we should buy English players at the expense of our best players, that's upsurd. However there are players like AOC who in my opinion could easily be squad players here.

Like Le Chels said would we be worse with say AOC instead of Salah? for example.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I don't think Jason is saying we should buy English players at the expense of our best players, that's upsurd. However there are players like AOC who in my opinion could easily be squad players here.

Like Le Chels said would we be worse with say AOC instead of Salah for example.

AOC would potentially be pushing for a starting spot here depending on form and development I think, can't say the same about Salah tbh.

[Jase 43,479]

I don't think Jason is saying we should buy English players at the expense of our best players, that's upsurd. However there are players like AOC who in my opinion could easily be squad players here at the very least.

Like Le Chels said would we be worse with say AOC instead of Salah? for example.

Fixed.