Christian Pulisic

[Tomo 21,733]

6 hours ago, King Kante said:

Have been thinking a lot about Puli over the international break and his injuries/style of play and something occurred to me. Is he a type of player who should be designated as a super sub? 

For me, his injury record tells us he is always going to struggle with 90 mins × 50 games a season. However, what about 30 mins x 50 games + 90 mins when others are injured, a season? 

Personally, I think this may be something to think about as when he comes on as a sub he is someone who seems to pick the speed of the game up quickly and it also allows him to use his best qualities: off the ball movement, take ons and pressing, to tired legs. 

 

If he's going to break into this team i feel it will either be as that or even a wingback.

His direct competition for a place here either simply offer more (Werner) or are just better (Callum).

[King Kante 1,476]

20 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

You mean  sort of like a Salamon Kalou version of Eden Hazard?

I was kind of thinking of a OGS version of Hazard but I guess Kalou will also do!

19 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

good one. But Sala was virtually never injured.

Would he pick up the injuries with less minutes? For me, he is in that position where if he plays 90 mins or 60+ mins x1 or x2 a week, he breaks down with injury. Part of the reason for my suggestion is that as he picks up so many muscular injuries, it may be he could handle 30-45 mins x1 or x2 a week. 

Edited November 22, 2021 by King Kante

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

5 hours ago, King Kante said:

I was kind of thinking of a OGS version of Hazard but I guess Kalou will also do!

Would he pick up the injuries with less minutes? For me, he is in that position where if he plays 90 mins or 60+ mins x1 or x2 a week, he breaks down with injury. Part of the reason for my suggestion is that as he picks up so many muscular injuries, it may be he could handle 30-45 mins x1 or x2 a week. 

Perhaps. Kalou just missed 4 games inured in his entire Chelsea career. Only when he played more regularly for hertha he accumulated 9 games missed in his 30ies, so not quite sure which reason preponderated. then again Kalou was always in great shape, did yoga and was smart in dodging challenges. This for me is the biggest diference.  I think it is Puli himself who seeks the danger. I am not convinced fatigue is the main driver of his injury record. Rather, I suggest a combination of  that, his genetic disposition( short muscle bellies, long tendons, limited mobility and overall below average tissue resilience) and his reckless die-hard attitdue.  In some situations he is so overzealous, like chasing lost balls into a brutal challenge long after the whistle is gone. Sure he can put his body on the line if there is a goal at stake but he so often doing it in completely needless situations. Sure it is not ideal to play with a bit of a handbrake on, but he needs to be smart about it. Get a better understanding of when it is worth it and when not. The time he ignored the US medical team and subsequently got injured speaks volumes. Even when there is time to consider he always chooses his ego over his body. A good wide receiver puts himself out of bounds instead of running into a massive safety the moment he realizes he won't get another yard. Pulsisic would run into a brick wall just to prove a point

[King Kante 1,476]

12 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

Perhaps. Kalou just missed 4 games inured in his entire Chelsea career. Only when he played more regularly for hertha he accumulated 9 games missed in his 30ies, so not quite sure which reason preponderated. then again Kalou was always in great shape, did yoga and was smart in dodging challenges. This for me is the biggest diference.  I think it is Puli himself who seeks the danger. I am not convinced fatigue is the main driver of his injury record. Rather, I suggest a combination of  that, his genetic disposition( short muscle bellies, long tendons, limited mobility and overall below average tissue resilience) and his reckless die-hard attitdue.  In some situations he is so overzealous, like chasing lost balls into a brutal challenge long after the whistle is gone. Sure he can put his body on the line if there is a goal at stake but he so often doing it in completely needless situations. Sure it is not ideal to play with a bit of a handbrake on, but he needs to be smart about it. Get a better understanding of when it is worth it and when not. The time he ignored the US medical team and subsequently got injured speaks volumes. Even when there is time to consider he always chooses his ego over his body. A good wide receiver puts himself out of bounds instead of running into a massive safety the moment he realizes he won't get another yard. Pulsisic would run into a brick wall just to prove a point

This is true. My feeling with him is that he is one of the few players we have that is capable of doing this (playing in a full bloodied fashion) as well as what I mentioned before and he is actually a big miss when injured.

Personally, I think he is likely to be injury prone for his entire career (this I think is more to do with his genetics; although play style doesn't help.) Hence, if that is the case I think a super sub role would work for him and the club.

Furthermore, he is also someone who picks the pace of the game up pretty quickly (this is actually not that common) and if you combine that with his play style, you may actually exacerbate his effectiveness as he'll have a full tank of energy to burn through in 30 mins against tired legs. 

To some extent, this is why I also think Kante may be here for quite a few years still with the emergence of Gallagher. If Gallagher can continue developing and step up to the demands of playing for Chelsea, then I can see a situation in the next 18-24 months where Gallagher starts and Kante mops up in the latter part of the game. That way, you can kind of have full energy versions of Gallagher/Kante for the full 90 mins. 

Edited November 23, 2021 by King Kante

[Tomo 21,733]

The only way he should be anywhere near this team right now is either a) an impact sub or b) trying him as a wingback in Ben's absence.

Callum is infinity times better.

[Jase 43,479]

5 hours ago, Tomo said:

The only way he should be anywhere near this team right now is either a) an impact sub or b) trying him as a wingback in Ben's absence.

Callum is infinity times better.

Careful, Tomo. You're gonna attract a bunch of American fans onto your back...

[Tomo 21,733]

6 hours ago, Jase said:

Careful, Tomo. You're gonna attract a bunch of American fans onto your back...

I know someone who went to school with him, the internet warriors are small fry by comparison......

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

9 hours ago, Jase said:

Careful, Tomo. You're gonna attract a bunch of American fans onto your back...

We have actually not been that protective of him here. In fact I was the one who said he needed to go on Loan embarrassingly 😅

 

We arent like Belgians or Egyptians on here. I remember when even implying that Hazard did something wrong would get you paragraphs on paragraphs from Stingray using some obscure European philosopher to tell you why you are wrong ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[ZAPHOD2319 4,479]

I hope he gets past the injuries because the kid really does have his head screwed on straight. He also absolutely loves the sport and club. Interesting interview.

 

[Jase 43,479]

I know Pulisic has been playing in different positions of late but think @Tomo hit the nail on the head not too long ago. Barring the purple patch after the lockdown back in 2019/20, Pulisic has not been good/consistent at all when he starts (unless it's against Crystal Palace). He has been better when coming off the bench against tired legs etc. Tuchel was onto something with his comments and usage of him last season. 

[Fulham Broadway 16,852]

Bit anonymous tonight - on the positive looks like hes been in the gym, beefed up a bit

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

He is useless as a false 9. Even better as rwb. Would rather use him as a sub. But is a sub worth the fee? Can easily see us selling him for those 40m in summer 

probably time we buy some proven wc winger  like chiesa. Tho there are very few of those 

[Tomo 21,733]

1 hour ago, Jase said:

I know Pulisic has been playing in different positions of late but think @Tomo hit the nail on the head not too long ago. Barring the purple patch after the lockdown back in 2019/20, Pulisic has not been good/consistent at all when he starts (unless it's against Crystal Palace). He has been better when coming off the bench against tired legs etc. Tuchel was onto something with his comments and usage of him last season. 

If he was still showing signs of class despite his so so performances (Kai or even Ziyech) or still producing good metrics (Callum) I'd say persist with him for a while.

My issue is, what is he actually demonstrating right now that gives any hope he will 're explode? I've said it as a joke a few times but he's really starting to look like an American version of Alex Iwobi.

[NikkiCFC 7,953]

Pulisic and Ziyech are only of our 7 attackers I ever saw delivering from the bench. Pulisic in Chelsea had 10 games with goals or assist from the bench Ziyech 2 times this season.

And this may trick you Pulisic won his place sometimes and deserves to start but once he does nothing happens.

Use his as super sub.

[LAM09 6,749]

4 hours ago, Jase said:

I know Pulisic has been playing in different positions of late but think @Tomo hit the nail on the head not too long ago. Barring the purple patch after the lockdown back in 2019/20, Pulisic has not been good/consistent at all when he starts (unless it's against Crystal Palace). He has been better when coming off the bench against tired legs etc. Tuchel was onto something with his comments and usage of him last season. 

That was the case at Dortmund & nothing has changed. If we can cash in, we ought to.

[Mário César 975]

Him or Ziyech need to go in the summer. One of them.

[Blues Forever 1,232]

1 hour ago, Mário César said:

Him or Ziyech need to go in the summer. One of them.

If we are going to be honest two of Pulisic, Ziyech, or Werner need to go in the summer.

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, LAM09 said:

That was the case at Dortmund & nothing has changed. If we can cash in, we ought to.

At Dortmund, that is somewhat forgivable considering he was only a teen but he's been around long enough now.