🇫🇷 N'Golo Kante

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Who is saying sell Kante? Have you seen how top heavy the team is? How shite we were in transitions last season and if we keep same approach will likely continue to be this season? And selling Kante is still in some people’s minds? Fuck me

[Superblue 6,372]

9 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Who is saying sell Kante? Have you seen how top heavy the team is? How shite were in transitions last season and if we keep same approach will likely continue to be this season? And selling Kante is still in some people’s minds? Fuck me

I think the idea of selling Kante is based around us playing a 4-3-3 with a proper sitting midfielder and two "number 8's" which has been reported to be Lampard's preference.

The problem with this is where does Kante fit in. He's not really a natural holding midfielder. He's the best option we have at present if Lampard wants to use that formation, but if the option was there to sell him in order to buy a natural holding midfielder would that be a better option?

If the idea however is to play 4-2-3-1 then Kante fits in well for the two man midfield then.

The best possible solution would be to sell Jorginho and buy a natural holding midfielder (just for argument sake let's say Rice) in his place. I think that would give us the best possible balance and options for next season but I think it'll be unlikely to move Jorginho on in the current climate.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

55 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

I think the idea of selling Kante is based around us playing a 4-3-3 with a proper sitting midfielder and two "number 8's" which has been reported to be Lampard's preference.

The problem with this is where does Kante fit in. He's not really a natural holding midfielder. He's the best option we have at present if Lampard wants to use that formation, but if the option was there to sell him in order to buy a natural holding midfielder would that be a better option?

If the idea however is to play 4-2-3-1 then Kante fits in well for the two man midfield then.

The best possible solution would be to sell Jorginho and buy a natural holding midfielder (just for argument sake let's say Rice) in his place. I think that would give us the best possible balance and options for next season but I think it'll be unlikely to move Jorginho on in the current climate.

I dont see how selling Jorginho or Kante is going to make this squad work. In deeper midfield those two are our best players if I am honest and Lampard has to get one of them in at least if he is to be successful.
 

Its more guys like Ross or Ruben who will be likely to find playing time hard to come by and likely to go eventually if I am honest. Even more so in a 433 with two 8s say to how City play, it would still be same scenario if I am honest. Havertz has to play. Mount has shown he is incredibly hard working and Lampard is a keen admirer hence the minutes he got last season despite playing through sticky spells. Jorginho is still our only midfielder truely capable of dictating a game and the tempo. 

our best football came with Mount-Kovacic-Jorginho actually last season. 

[Special Juan 28,141]

Barkley should be sold, as for RLC I cannot see him playing much at all.

[Superblue 6,372]

7 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

I dont see how selling Jorginho or Kante is going to make this squad work. In deeper midfield those two are our best players if I am honest and Lampard has to get one of them in at least if he is to be successful.

Its more guys like Ross or Ruben who will be likely to find playing time hard to come by and likely to go eventually if I am honest. Even more so in a 433 with two 8s say to how City play, it would still be same scenario if I am honest. Havertz has to play. Mount has shown he is incredibly hard working and Lampard is a keen admirer hence the minutes he got last season despite playing through sticky spells. Jorginho is still our only midfielder truely capable of dictating a game and the tempo. 

our best football came with Mount-Kovacic-Jorginho actually last season. 

The problem with Jorginho is how much his lack of athleticism and presence leaves us exposed defensively. Yes our best run during the season was earlier on when he was playing at the base but a lot of those games were completely gung ho and open. Once Tammy's goals dried up, the cracks started to appear. It was clear later in the season that Lampard started to prefer other options, and I personally prefer someone more defensively sound in that position. If Lampard wants two offensive minded players in midfield and two full backs shuttling up and down the wings, someone else besides the centre backs has to defend! I don't think any of the top teams currently don't have someone in midfield to shield and protect the defence.

I genuinely think long term Lampard would like to have a midfield three of Rice, Mount and Havertz but we'll see. That's why I think Jorginho is dispensable. And the times when Lampard wants a more creative player at the base (which I don't think would be anywhere near as often) he still has Gilmour to come in and do that.

With regards to the squad options, I would attempt to loan out RLC again. I wouldn't give up on him yet but he needs to be playing regularly and get rhythm back into his game to play himself out of the injury he's had. He won't get that here because the competition for places won't afford him a few games to get going. His loan at Palace was the initial making of him, and I think he needs to do something similar again to reset. It's different circumstances with CHO because I don't think the competition for places wide is nearly as strong as in midfield so he should get plenty of game time and opportunities this season.

If RLC were to go out on loan for that reason I'd keep Barkley another year to backup Mount and Havertz.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

53 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

The problem with Jorginho is how much his lack of athleticism and presence leaves us exposed defensively. Yes our best run during the season was earlier on when he was playing at the base but a lot of those games were completely gung ho and open. Once Tammy's goals dried up, the cracks started to appear. It was clear later in the season that Lampard started to prefer other options, and I personally prefer someone more defensively sound in that position. If Lampard wants two offensive minded players in midfield and two full backs shuttling up and down the wings, someone else besides the centre backs has to defend! I don't think any of the top teams currently don't have someone in midfield to shield and protect the defence.

I genuinely think long term Lampard would like to have a midfield three of Rice, Mount and Havertz but we'll see. That's why I think Jorginho is dispensable. And the times when Lampard wants a more creative player at the base (which I don't think would be anywhere near as often) he still has Gilmour to come in and do that.

With regards to the squad options, I would attempt to loan out RLC again. I wouldn't give up on him yet but he needs to be playing regularly and get rhythm back into his game to play himself out of the injury he's had. He won't get that here because the competition for places won't afford him a few games to get going. His loan at Palace was the initial making of him, and I think he needs to do something similar again to reset. It's different circumstances with CHO because I don't think the competition for places wide is nearly as strong as in midfield so he should get plenty of game time and opportunities this season.

If RLC were to go out on loan for that reason I'd keep Barkley another year to backup Mount and Havertz.

Loan RLC out for another year? Havertz is like 21 and so is Mount. Plus Kovacic and Kante are probably going to be here for another 2 or 3 seasons. There isn’t really any room for one of Ruben or Ross if I am honest. We have left and right sided midfielders for a 3 man MF. Despite Barkleys obvious limitations I think FL will keep him ahead of Ruben right now, we all seen him try shove Ruben in as a winger at times the 2nd half of the season, he doesnt suit playing there and he looks well short of being the player he was under Sarri. It will be interesting but Mount, Kovacic, Havertz and Kante are going to be ahead of both this season for those roles in a 3 man MF. Jorginho as a 6 although I do think your right and Frank wants Declan Rice.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Looked great for France against Sweden

 

[Dimitr 488]

If he stays without injuries we are ok for this season, we can rest him with ampadu .  Rice would be ideal signing and plays two positions,but we have to sell before we buy . 

Sell: batsuayi,Barkley or Christensen/Rudiger and buy Rice .

[Dimitr 488]

                            Werner 

Pulisic.                   Havertz.            Ziyech 

  
                   Kante.   Kovasic 

chilwell.      Silva.  Zouma.    Reece 

                       Mendy 

 

probably our best XI for the season .

[Superblue 6,372]

2 hours ago, OneMoSalah said:

Loan RLC out for another year? Havertz is like 21 and so is Mount. Plus Kovacic and Kante are probably going to be here for another 2 or 3 seasons. There isn’t really any room for one of Ruben or Ross if I am honest. We have left and right sided midfielders for a 3 man MF. Despite Barkleys obvious limitations I think FL will keep him ahead of Ruben right now, we all seen him try shove Ruben in as a winger at times the 2nd half of the season, he doesnt suit playing there and he looks well short of being the player he was under Sarri. It will be interesting but Mount, Kovacic, Havertz and Kante are going to be ahead of both this season for those roles in a 3 man MF. Jorginho as a 6 although I do think your right and Frank wants Declan Rice.

Again it all depends on exactly what formation Lampard wants to favour. If it's a 4-3-3 then I think you would be looking at 4 first team players needed for those two advanced midfield positions. Three of those would probably be Havertz, Mount and Kovacic, so it would probably be then one of RLC and Barkley.

My point is unless somebody comes in with a big bid for Barkley, I'd be inclined to keep him this season and loan out RLC to somewhere he'll play regularly. He had a year out injured with arguably the worst injury a footballer can suffer. He looks a shadow of the player that he was evolving into at the back end of Sarri's season here and I think it's a massive struggle for him to get anywhere near back to that playing sporadically. I don't think he should be written off yet but he should be given the best opportunity possible to see if he can come back fully from his injury and in my opinion that opportunity would be by going on loan and playing regularly.

 

[Atomiswave 6,117]

Great against Sweden today and I also thought he was very good in our pre season game against Brighton.....he was everywhere vs Sweden.

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

 

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

That formation suited him to a T. That and the more adventurous second cm in a 442

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[Magic Lamps 11,692]

9 minutes ago, Supermonkey92 said:

That formation suited him to a T. That and the more adventurous second cm in a 442

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they played 3-5-2 tho i thought.

 

But if a more adventurous cm is what he needs then we have no problem. there is also the hypothesis aroudn that he needs a sitting cm next ot him... ig uess we will see but our best shot next season is probably going 4-2-3-1

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

they played 3-5-2 tho i thought.
 
But if a more adventurous cm is what he needs then we have no problem. there is also the hypothesis aroudn that he needs a sitting cm next ot him... ig uess we will see but our best shot next season is probably going 4-2-3-1

That was my main point either having the 3rd cb behind him or a cm partner that sits deeper brings the best out of him. 343, 352 makes no difference.

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[Magic Lamps 11,692]

1 minute ago, Supermonkey92 said:

That was my main point either having the 3rd cb behind him or a cm partner that sits deeper brings the best out of him. 343, 352 makes no difference.

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a fair enough. i thought you said 4-4-2

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

a fair enough. i thought you said 4-4-2

Yeh in a 442 where his partner sits behind him. I think hes great in that role too. His movement almost makes up for the fact the team has only 2 cms.

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[Jase 43,479]

Mbappe tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the France squad. Not sure if others are infected and/or need to be quarantined.

[NikkiCFC 8,324]

I am worried about this season. They should have left international games and European comps for next summer in the bubble (if no vaccine by than).

This travelling around Europe is going to be pain in the ass.

[ahmedou 192]

Don't sleep on him...