3. Marc Cucurella

[ZAPHOD2319 4,593]

 

[Milan 17,895]

I really enjoyed his latest presser. He seems very humble and sounds like a definition of a team player. Looking forward to seeing more of him.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Very energetic player perfect for the high press. I think he's very different from Chilwell, which is good of course.

2 quality players with vastly different characteristics! 

 

[Magic Lamps 11,677]

Yesterday showed his limitations in attack. He's great energy and defensive prowess but he had two open shots and failed miserably. Prime Chilwell puts one of them away.

[Fulham Broadway 17,076]

  On 22/08/2022 at 19:49, Magic Lamps said:

Yesterday showed his limitations in attack. He's great energy and defensive prowess but he had two open shots and failed miserably. Prime Chilwell puts one of them away.

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Alonso smashed a few of those in the back of the onion bag

[OneMoSalah 8,832]

Only been a few games but already very impressed with him. Chilwell’s got a lot of work to do to get back in the team for me (although he’s maybe not fully fit yet)

Edited August 28, 2022 by OneMoSalah

[Vesper 29,384]

asshat article of the month

'He doesn't look great': Agbonlahor claims one of Chelsea's new signings is in danger of getting dropped already

https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/pundit-view/he-doesnt-look-great-agbonlahor-claims-one-of-chelseas-new-signings-is-in-danger-of-getting-dropped-already/

TalkSPORT pundit Gabby Agbonlahor has criticised new Chelsea signing Marc Cucurella by saying he’s not made a great start to his career at Stamford Bridge.

Cucurella, 24, is one of several new faces to arrive in the Blues squad this summer.

With Ben Chilwell being eased back in from a long-term injury, Cucurella has been thrown in at the deep end by his manager Thomas Tuchel.

The 24-year-old defender has started four of the five Premier League games for Chelsea.

It can’t have been easy for the left-back to adapt to his new home when the team are out of sorts, but overall he’s made a fairly positive impression on the Blues fanbase.

Agbonlahor criticised Cucurella

Agbonlahor hasn’t been impressed by the way Cucurella has slotted into the Chelsea line-up so far, though.

He adds that he could be dropped from the XI when teammate Chilwell is fully fit to start a run of games.

“I just think some of them have been wild,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT when discussing Chelsea’s summer signings.

“£60million [for Cucurella], and Ben Chilwell is a better player.

“Bring in maybe another left-back but a £60million one who’s probably going to be second choice when Chilwell gets going. I just think that money could have been used somewhere else. He doesn’t look great at the moment for Chelsea.”

[Pizy 18,543]

Even yesterday when the whole team struggled I loved what I saw out of him. Aggression, passion, getting stuck in to players like ache Adams who are much bigger than he is.

[Vesper 29,384]

£62m for this mediocre player

wtf

disasterclass buy

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,322]

  On 30/10/2022 at 15:31, Vesper said:

£62m for this mediocre player

wtf

disasterclass buy

 

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Way, way too harsh. 

Bloke has been asked to play out of position at LCB, where the LWB is no where near helping him defensively and there is a gaping hole in midfield. Cucurella, as our other CBs, have been fucked over and exploited. 

Cucurella isn't 2014 Cesar Azpilicueta. You can't expect him to take an attacker out of the game on his own. 

Edited October 30, 2022 by MoroccanBlue

[Vesper 29,384]

  On 30/10/2022 at 15:40, MoroccanBlue said:

Way, way too harsh. 

Bloke has been asked to play out of position at LCB, where the LWB is no where near helping him defensively and there is a gaping hole in midfield. Cucurella, as our other CBs, have been fucked over and exploited. 

Cucurella isn't 2014 Cesar Azpilicueta. You can't expect him to take an attacker out of the game on his own. 

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not too harsh

the price was MADNESS

[MoroccanBlue 5,322]

  On 30/10/2022 at 15:43, Vesper said:

not too harsh

the price was MADNESS

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Not for me. Still think he's a quality player and once Potter smartens up and plays uncomplicated football and a recognizable formation, we will see the best out of him and our other signings.  

[Vesper 29,384]

  On 30/10/2022 at 15:56, MoroccanBlue said:

Not for me. Still think he's a quality player and once Potter smartens up and plays uncomplicated football and a recognizable formation, we will see the best out of him and our other signings.  

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he is worth half what we paid

[robsblubot 3,595]

He seems the polar opposite from Alonso as a footballer. Unfortunately for us, Cucurella's weakness is precisely Alonso's one saving grace: technique (esp skill on the ball). 

Cucurella has aggression, pace, work rate, but lacks technique (esp on the ball skills) which is essential at this level. I cannot think of a single reason, other than rotation, where he would play ahead of Chilwell.

I do hope he improves and at least becomes serviceable, but things do not look good at the moment.

[Superblue 6,372]

He's definitely been in poor form recently, but I read that he was hospitalised with a bad bout of tonsilitis a few weeks back and lost a few kilos in weight.

It's easy to dismiss things like this hitting an athlete so hard, and he has been rushed back almost through necessity to play game after game because we're thread bare in senior defensive options and even in the left back/wing back role the other option is still having his minutes managed due to a serious injury.

He's clearly not right as he's being caught out for pace and power in situations that he wasn't last season at Brighton or even earlier this season.

We've probably overpaid for him, realistically like we have with a number of players in the summer and recent years, but I don't think by any means he's a busted flush and I think in time he'll prove to be a good addition to the squad. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,423]

  On 30/10/2022 at 15:56, MoroccanBlue said:

Not for me. Still think he's a quality player and once Potter smartens up and plays uncomplicated football and a recognizable formation, we will see the best out of him and our other signings.  

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He's got some qualities but there should have been a massive question mark on the fee we were paying (when City pulled out at the 35 million mark). 

I was sort of surprised that we never looked at alternative options for the LB/LWB spot when the Cucurella fee was so high, he'll never be a 55 million dollar player.  I felt even United overspent on Martinez but he's getting the job done and he has helped Ten Hag build out a solid base moving forward. 

[Special Juan 27,608]

Needs to be played in his right position first and foremost- I mean you only have to look at CP and RS as wing backs- it simply does not work and Cucu needs to be that left side option.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,911]

  On 30/10/2022 at 20:56, robsblubot said:

He seems the polar opposite from Alonso as a footballer. Unfortunately for us, Cucurella's weakness is precisely Alonso's one saving grace: technique (esp skill on the ball). 

Cucurella has aggression, pace, work rate, but lacks technique (esp on the ball skills) which is essential at this level. I cannot think of a single reason, other than rotation, where he would play ahead of Chilwell.

I do hope he improves and at least becomes serviceable, but things do not look good at the moment.

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If the transfers we're all dreaming about come to fruition, then it looks like our current left backs will have done my work for me so no one will need convincing that Jasko Gvardiol should become our starting LB/LWB.