N'Golo Kante

[Cosmin 2,484]

 

[Unionjack 7,531]

5 hours ago, Cosmin said:

 

Bless his little cotton sox. I'd be very tempted to slip him a mickey and keep him as a pet.

[Milan 17,848]

Massive three years for Mr.Kante.

[!Hazard! 3,394]

Am I the only who would like to see Kovacic in the "Kante/Allan" role and Barkley playing the "Hamsik" role? Just to see how that would work. I feel like against West Ham we would have won if Kovacic or Barkley was getting those chances Kante got.

[LAM09 6,687]

Just now, !Hazard! said:

Am I the only who would like to see Kovacic in the "Kante/Allan" role and Barkley playing the "Hamsik" role? Just to see how that would work. I feel like against West Ham we would have won if Kovacic or Barkley was getting those chances Kante got.

That would mean Kante not starting?

Barkley is built for the Hamsik role, but he failed to impress after Perth. I'm sure he'll get his chance to do so tonight

[!Hazard! 3,394]

Just now, LAM09 said:

That would mean Kante not starting?

Barkley is built for the Hamsik role, but he failed to impress after Perth. I'm sure he'll get his chance to do so tonight

Yes, that would indeed mean Kante not starting. He's obviously incredibly important member of the squad but that doesn't mean he has to start every game against lesser sides in the league. Barkley-Jorginho-Kovacic would offer more going forward.

[LAM09 6,687]

Yes, that would indeed mean Kante not starting. He's obviously incredibly important member of the squad but that doesn't mean he has to start every game against lesser sides in the league. Barkley-Jorginho-Kovacic would offer more going forward.

And defensively?

That midfield would not be running back to goal, so it could be suicidal away from home. Might get away with that at home if we take our chances.

The main takeaway from recent weeks is that Kante shouldn't be furthest one forward at all regardless of his "energy".

[!Hazard! 3,394]

9 minutes ago, LAM09 said:

And defensively?

That midfield would not be running back to goal, so it could be suicidal away from home. Might get away with that at home if we take our chances.

The main takeaway from recent weeks is that Kante shouldn't be furthest one forward at all regardless of his "energy".

I don't know mate, I think you might be underestimating Kovacic's defensive abilities. If we was playing 4-2-3-1, I'd be more than happy to play Jorgy-Kova pivot for example. There is still so much to see from him and I feel that to his standards his performances have been mediocre thus far. If he hits that top gear he'll be unstoppable, the complete player excelling both offensively and defensively.

And yeah, I agree with you last point. If Kante ends up starting against teams like West Ham from now on Sarri has to make sure he's not the furthest one forward.

[LAM09 6,687]

I don't know mate, I think you might be underestimating Kovacic's defensive abilities. If we was playing 4-2-3-1, I'd be more than happy to play Jorgy-Kova pivot for example. There is still so much to see from him and I feel that to his standards his performances have been mediocre thus far. If he hits that top gear he'll be unstoppable, the complete player excelling both offensively and defensively.
And yeah, I agree with you last point. If Kante ends up starting against teams like West Ham from now on Sarri has to make sure he's not the furthest one forward.

I just don't think he has it in him to excel on both sides of the field. However, I agree with the sentiment that he's far from hit his stride thus far.

[Vesper 28,349]

On 26/09/2018 at 4:32 PM, !Hazard! said:

Yes, that would indeed mean Kante not starting. He's obviously incredibly important member of the squad but that doesn't mean he has to start every game against lesser sides in the league. Barkley-Jorginho-Kovacic would offer more going forward.

The Kante situ (after Hazard and his refusal to renew, plus our HORRID striker situ,and also CB (as long as Luiz is rammed down our throats), RW, and LB) is a huge issue at MANY levels.

Sarriball cannot have a pure DMF destroyer role, it destroys the system ( see this  https://theprideoflondon.com/2018/09/24/chelsea-sarrismo-ngolo-kante-midfield/ ), so we have effectively removed the world's best player at that role. The system will always win out as long as Sarri is the manager. The only other top 15 team in world that would have trouble integrating Kante would be Shitty,as Pep also employs a DH DMF as the deepest MF'er (the ageing and soon to be replaced Fernandinho,I am sure they go for Neves from Wolves, he is by far the best option other than Busquets, who is too old and will never leave Barca until he goes cashes in in the USA or maybe (doubtful) China at the end of his career,or maybe, maybe Rodri,who is now off the table via Atletico Madrid buy 3 months ago). All other teams would use him (even Barca)as atrue DMF destroyer.

IF Kante cannot adapt and excel (we need to give him the full year to try,obviously) at the CMF/AMF hybrid role, we face a massive choice. Do we hold onto him,and wager that Sarri will be gone before he (Kante) is too old and has lost insane value? Or do we sell him (OUT OF THE EPL!!!!!!!) and collect £120m, £130m?

I lean towards sell, BUT ONLY on 3 conditions.

1. We are FULL-STOP invested in Sarriball for multiple years. I AM at this point completely,I see the unique potential, it can dominate if we get the RIGHT players.

2. Kante simply cannot adapt,and is utterly wasted being shoved into a position he simply is not cut out for.

3. We take the sale money and at least TRY to grab Neves, thus blocking one of the few pieces to the Shitty puzzle It really WILL fuck them up, Fernandinho is going to be 35 in middle of next season,and it will force them to probably buy Julian Weigl or Leandro Paredes, or maybe, maybe maybe (or very soon) a young 21yo Argentine who plays with Stuttgart, Santiago Ascacíbar.Those 3 the only other remotely great young DH DMFs left at thsi exact moment, unless Shitty are insane and try to prise away Rodri from AM after only one year, which will cost, knowing AM) ,at least £100m. There is a wild card (see below at end)

DH DMF is by far the main thing left that is stopping them from being the clear best team in the world (The only ones who can MAYBE block them, IF they do further big moves (and they surely will), are Barca and Real, Barca more so). Neves is not only 5 and half years younger than Jorginho (so a natural heir apparent down the road) BUT is also far more versatile, and could easily slot into the Sarriball CMF/AMF hybrid role with aplomb. He would be an amazing Kovacic replacement IF we lose Mateo back to fucking Real.

By far the best thing for us is he DOES adapt, but come May/June 2019, if it has NOT worked out,and IF Sarri has been a success (CL football, etc), we really need to look at the long term picture. If that means sell Kante for £125m plus, then so be it. I will not lose my mind, as long as those 3 conditions above are met.

 

My post on Shitty's only true needs is here:

Wildcard there (and in this discussion) is Frenkie De Jong of Ajax. He is perhaps very likely might be capable of becoming a true Jorginho/Busquets level DH DMF. I am not sure on this. He seems capable of playing anywhere on the field, other than GK and Striker.

DH DMF's is the hardest position in football to learn and master. Neves and Dejong are also the best young (21yo and younger) MF's, along with AMF Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen on the planet atm.

After those 3 comes Valencia's Carlos Soler, then followed by (NO ORDER) CMF Amadou Haidara of RB Salzburg, the above mentioned DH DMF Santiago Ascacíbar of Stuttgart, CMF Nicolò Barella of Cagliari, CMF's Tanguy Ndombélé and Houssem Aouar, both of Lyon, DMF Denis Zakaria of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Youri Tielemans of Monaco, DMF Amadou Diawara of Napoli, Franck Kessié of AC Milan, AMF Amine Harit of Schalke, AMF Lucas Paquetá of Flamengo, AMF Pedrinho of Corinthians, CMF Gerson of Fiorentina, and CMF Donny van de Beek of Ajax, IMHO, of course

 

the post:

 

[Johnnyeye 7,432]

we need to extend Kante's contract asap, he along with Hazard is our most priceless asset, PSG are sniffing around too much for my liking, they can fuck off

[Stats 7,029]

He has looked really average again tonight for France. He has made a couple decent tackles but he needs to show more to his game. He has been caught in possession a couple of times. I want to see him dominate games more. Maybe I am coming across harsh but he has set such high standards and I am yet to see him but in a dominant type of performance he used to put in, this season for club or country.

[!Hazard! 3,394]

11 minutes ago, Stats said:

He has looked really average again tonight for France. He has made a couple decent tackles but he needs to show more to his game. He has been caught in possession a couple of times. I want to see him dominate games more. Maybe I am coming across harsh but he has set such high standards and I am yet to see him but in a dominant type of performance he used to put in, this season for club or country.

He's only a human. Give the man some rest.

 

I'd like to see Barkley, Jorginho and Kovacic midfield in some game

[Stats 7,029]

15 minutes ago, !Hazard! said:

He's only a human. Give the man some rest.

 

I'd like to see Barkley, Jorginho and Kovacic midfield in some game

He improved a lot more after my comment tbf but first half, especially, him and Pogba got completely overran by Germany. Did improve a lot though after, like I said so my comments must of enraged him

[Sideshow Luiz 2,310]

2 hours ago, !Hazard! said:

He's only a human. Give the man some rest.

 

I'd like to see Barkley, Jorginho and Kovacic midfield in some game

I was going to say the same.  I know he makes us question it sometimes, but he is still just a human.  

[mccg 1,528]

On 16/10/2018 at 9:24 PM, !Hazard! said:

I'd like to see Barkley, Jorginho and Kovacic midfield in some game

I'd like to see Barkley,Kante,Ruben in some games , or a change in formation 4231 with Kante+Jorginho as a two , don't think we are getting the best out of Kante playing this position 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I dont know why people wanted more from Kante. The man is a destructor. A hard worker that breaks play. Yet people point out he needs to do more in attack. More goals, better passes, more creativity? What the fuck? Did media completely brainwashed everyone into thinking everyone is good only if they score goals and make assists? I dont remember people saying "oh this dude Makelele is ok, but he needs to work on possesion and score more goals". 

Give the man a break. He is a DM beast while he is only allright in this advanced role. But he wont be the great game changer because thats not his style. 

People seriously dont appreciate anything anymore. 

Regardless of what anyone says, Kante isnt suited in this advanced role because his attacking outlet simply isnt that prolific. And his defensive atributes dont come as visible. But that doesnt mean he isnt crucial to the team. He does the hard work, so Jorginho can do his job and Kovacic can do his. Yet all we hear is "Kante man you gotta improve; better passing, better control, more goals, more efficiency, because we dont realy mind about the fact you are destructor so just drop that shit and focus on attack. We dont want you to be who you are, we want you to be more, something else, score goals and make assists because thats what counts"

[Stats 7,029]

1 hour ago, BlueLyon said:

I dont know why people wanted more from Kante. The man is a destructor. A hard worker that breaks play. Yet people point out he needs to do more in attack. More goals, better passes, more creativity? What the fuck? Did media completely brainwashed everyone into thinking everyone is good only if they score goals and make assists? I dont remember people saying "oh this dude Makelele is ok, but he needs to work on possesion and score more goals". 

Give the man a break. He is a DM beast while he is only allright in this advanced role. But he wont be the great game changer because thats not his style. 

People seriously dont appreciate anything anymore. 

Regardless of what anyone says, Kante isnt suited in this advanced role because his attacking outlet simply isnt that prolific. And his defensive atributes dont come as visible. But that doesnt mean he isnt crucial to the team. He does the hard work, so Jorginho can do his job and Kovacic can do his. Yet all we hear is "Kante man you gotta improve; better passing, better control, more goals, more efficiency, because we dont realy mind about the fact you are destructor so just drop that shit and focus on attack. We dont want you to be who you are, we want you to be more, something else, score goals and make assists because thats what counts"

The thing is that, yes he is a hard worker that breaks play but he just looks a little lost in this system. In the recent matches I have seen him, I just don't think he is doing anything special. It is like you could put any other B2B and they can do what he is doing. He has been sloppy in possession too. People also agree that he is not at his best in the advanced role and that is something we need to address because he is having no way near the same impact as he did with us when he first arrived. And while he is a destructor, I am concerned regarding his overall game. There were times last season, where I was saying his technical ability has very much improved but this seems to be an area of concern again.

I just feel that his reputation since Leicester and his first season at us, makes him exempt of a lot of criticism because this season bar the Huddersfield game, I am yet to see a game where I have thought, "wow, Kante has been exceptional". Sometimes I am seeing a player run around who makes the occasion tackle but not actually contributing anything special. I may sound controversial but I just don't think he has been impressive this season. Another concern is that he is not always wining his 50/50 duels too and I know he has a small frame but this never used to a problem for him. Now it seems it is.

For instance when we played Liverpool, I thought Wijnaldum showed a complete DM/CM performance. Dominated the midfield and was a like a Kante type performance. That is what I have failed to see from Kante this season and the reason why it concerns me with Kante more is because majority of fans would say our 2 best players are Hazard and Kante. When a player is described as your best player or up there, I expect a little more than people just saying his job is to break up play. He is playing for a top team so there should be a better level of technical ability. He made one brilliant interception from Pogba in the game but other than that thought he was a passer by and Pogba constantly was controlling our midfield. Compare that to last season and the season before when we beat United 4-0 and 1-0, Kante was simply brilliant and controlled the game on a technical basis and was everywhere.