21. Ben Chilwell

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

1 minute ago, Jase said:

Who can we realistically buy that doesn't require us to spend big in January?

Unless we're ditching Alonso at the end of this, I don't see the point in buying a LWB in January because when Chilwell returns, we would have 3 LWBs on our hands.

The choice is indeed slim and I dont see anyone available for cheap, even if we just loan (which would make no sonse, given we still have saul on loan who has played that position for ages) Below is the list of all leftbacks. Only wank after place 17. It is rumoured my top choice, theo, would cost 65m€. IMO absolutely worth it. Ferland mendy is someone real madrid have tried to get rid of before. Not sure on how much money he is on tho.He is a bit overrated anyway.

Best choice would possibly be benzebaini. best age, scores goals, good in the air. can be useful as an alonso replacement.

https://www.transfermarkt.de/spieler-statistik/wertvollstespieler/marktwertetop/mw/spielerposition_id/4
 

1 minute ago, MoroccanBlue said:

We are going to be fleeced from other clubs. If the tear is grade 1 I say recall Maatsen. 

lol yeah but clubs always try to fleece us, nothing new.

Just now, NikkiCFC said:

In the market in case Chilwell is back in March? No chance.

We have many options. Alonso is great LWB. And now for me best options after him are CHO/Pulisic for that role. In majority of games we have like 65-70% possession and in our system wing backs are more important in attack.

Wing backs really dont have much job to do defensively for us... And we have behind 3 world class CBs and best GK in the world. My major concern is will players who replace Ben deliver in attack not that bothered about defensive part because we are so good. Also zero issues with CHO/Puli being right footed. Look at Cancelo, best LB in the world this season. Emerson/Kenedy/Maatsen and Azpi as 3rd and 4th possible option. We will be fine.

I respect your opinion but have to strongly disagree. For me Alonso is a poor player and catastrophic athlete who shold not be playing at this level with a deceiving purple patch every blue moon. As you say, his main weaknesses dont get exploitedin matches vs shit teams parking the bus but in PL there are a ton of matches against fast attackers who will be licking their teeth. Alonso will get absolutely roasted by ManUre on Sunday if he plays. I think the loss of Chilwell is the biggest challenge to our title bid this season. Cant see us winning the league or CL with Azpi or Alonso. Could possibly live with CHO there.

[Tomo 21,733]

7 minutes ago, Jase said:

Is this a serious post or not? 

Well on the assumption Azpi is going we will need some cover/competition on that side.

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Tomo said:

Well on the assumption Azpi is going we will need some cover/competition on that side.

But the signs are that he will sign an extension.

Even if he doesn't do so, not sure if Livramento would be content with rotating with James for the RWB spot. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

2 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

 

I'd rather just recall Maatsen as he already understands the system. Not to mention players that jump from the Championship to the Premier league in recent history have shown to adapt far quicker than those abroad. 

Castagne at Leicester has failed to make any sort of impact as he did with Atalanta. 

[Superblue 6,372]

With an ACL is the absolute minimum 3 months? Is it possible that a minor tear or even a sprain of some sorts can be a few weeks?

Matt Law hasn't even confirmed it to be an ACL injury yet it's still a suspected one, which makes me wonder still whether it's quite as bad as feared. Hopefully with no surgery required it's something that can see him back for the business end of the season.

I think Alonso can do a job in his absence it's just his lack of athleticism which hinders him. Chilwell and James' ability and desire to get up and down the pitch regularly and at pace has added a new dimension to our attack in recent weeks. 

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

1 minute ago, MoroccanBlue said:

I'd rather just recall Maatsen as he already understands the system. Not to mention players that jump from the Championship to the Premier league in recent history have shown to adapt far quicker than those abroad. 

Castagne at Leicester has failed to make any sort of impact as he did with Atalanta. 

I am not against the idea but we both now that recalling Maatsen is never gonna happen.

[MoroccanBlue 5,320]

2 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

I am not against the idea but we both now that recalling Maatsen is never gonna happen.

We recalled Ake when forced to didn't we? 

[Superblue 6,372]

1 minute ago, Magic Lamps said:

I am not against the idea but we both now that recalling Maatsen is never gonna happen.

It's not beyond the realms of possibility.

I don't think anyone expected Chalobah to come back and break through in the summer, and similarly that RLC would have earned as many minutes as he has so far this season.

Tuchel has shown that if you're good enough and suit his system, he'll play the player and not the name.

[Jase 43,479]

3 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

With an ACL is the absolute minimum 3 months? Is it possible that a minor tear or even a sprain of some sorts can be a few weeks?

Matt Law hasn't even confirmed it to be an ACL injury yet it's still a suspected one, which makes me wonder still whether it's quite as bad as feared. Hopefully with no surgery required it's something that can see him back for the business end of the season.

Both Telegraph and Guardian have so far stated it as ACL damage as opposed to tear. If we're looking at silver linings, that is good and hopefully it's not worse. *touch wood*

[Superblue 6,372]

7 minutes ago, Jase said:

Both Telegraph and Guardian have so far stated it as ACL damage as opposed to tear. If we're looking at silver linings, that is good and hopefully it's not worse. *touch wood*

Yes fingers crossed with this.

If it's say a few weeks through to the end of the year or into January it's not ideal given the volume of games to come but it becomes far more of a manageable situation.

Anything that becomes months or end of the season I feel will need to be addressed as a priority in January.

[King Kante 1,521]

Not great news. However, Alonso isn't as bad as some are making out. Will he get roasted at times against really fast players? Yes, he will. However, is he still a good option against 80% of teams? Yes, he is. 

In my opinion, let's just get on and roll with Alonso and Saul until Jan and then look to whether we need Matasen back as cover. 

No way do we need to go out and blow €70m on a LWB; unless of course Chilwell's ACL is so bad he may not play again. 

[Blue Armour 4,328]

46 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Not great news. However, Alonso isn't as bad as some are making out. Will he get roasted at times against really fast players? Yes, he will. However, is he still a good option against 80% of teams? Yes, he is. 

In my opinion, let's just get on and roll with Alonso and Saul until Jan and then look to whether we need Matasen back as cover. 

No way do we need to go out and blow €70m on a LWB; unless of course Chilwell's ACL is so bad he may not play again. 

True. I'm also hoping for Chillwell to make it back sooner rather than later., but don't understand the shade being thrown Alonsos way. 

Did we not win a PL title with him as the main left wing back? Plus he's started this season brightly.

If we were stuck with Emerson..that would suck IMO.

[Clockwork 1,794]

46 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Not great news. However, Alonso isn't as bad as some are making out. Will he get roasted at times against really fast players? Yes, he will. However, is he still a good option against 80% of teams? Yes, he is. 

In my opinion, let's just get on and roll with Alonso and Saul until Jan and then look to whether we need Matasen back as cover. 

No way do we need to go out and blow €70m on a LWB; unless of course Chilwell's ACL is so bad he may not play again. 

Alonso doesn’t bring anywhere the energy or pressing Chily brings, it adversely effects our entire play. It is just not the 1vs1. It is a big problem.

[Stats 7,060]

The biggest compliment I can give him is that when he joined, I think there was a huge fanbase who was so against the signing. I was one of a few, I say gladly now who was delighted about the signing. He was ridiculed by a lot of people who thought it was waste of money and were angry money was not spent on Reguilon. Well he has proved a fantastic signing and has proved the majority wrong. He will be missed for sure!

[different level 1,056]

Still hoping the injury is not as bad as the reports suggest and he returns as soon as possible. Waiting for the official news.

[DDA 9,701]

What a fucking downer... he is vital to the way we play along with James. We 100% cannot rely on Alonso to play the rest of the season if we want to win the league and/or CL. 

[Clockwork 1,794]

59 minutes ago, DDA said:

What a fucking downer... he is vital to the way we play along with James. We 100% cannot rely on Alonso to play the rest of the season if we want to win the league and/or CL. 

I am completely out on Alonso, give Saul an opportunity. At least he has the physical ability to play the position the way we want to play. He started the first two games at Atletico in that position. 

[NikkiCFC 8,067]

32 minutes ago, Clockwork said:

I am completely out on Alonso, give Saul an opportunity. At least he has the physical ability to play the position the way we want to play. He started the first two games at Atletico in that position. 

And him playing there is major reason why he wanted to leave Atletico. He wants to play in MF. 

Also dont know why suddenly no one trusts Alonso... Our record under TT with him is great... Last season but also this season. Not to mention under Conte, title in first season, TOTY in 2nd season.

With Alonso in 2021 under TT we beat: Atletico x2, Spurs x2, Arsenal, City, Everton, Palace, Villa... I mentioned these 9 games where we conceded  just 1 goal (Chris mistake against City). And many more...

Just in August he was nominated for PL POTM...