Chelsea Banter Archive April 30 2016

30 Apr 2016 13:08:48
Some rumours are going around regarding the future of courtois. I believe that next season is our biggest test since Roman joined the club. It is highly important that we get back into champions league if we want to keep hazard, courtois etc. Conte will be under pressure from the start and I hope he gives the 3-5-2 formation a go as I think we have the players that would benefit from this. JT i hope stays on and eventually becomes part of contes' back room staff.

02 May 2016 10:23:53
I have to agree with you mate, I eould live JT to stay for at least another season, even though if i meant that he won't be starter.

In case our defensive going to be bad at the start of the season, to who will we turn then if JT will not get a new contract?

02 May 2016 11:17:55
The problem with JT, as it was with Frank Lampard, is wages. Chels would want to significantly reduce JT's wage to offer a 1 year contract to a 36 year old who would probably be a squad player.

29 Apr 2016 23:56:27
Hey guys and eds, hope all is well.

Just a quick question asking posters and eds if they want to give their views on our youth integration. Do people think their is an issue? Or is it blown out of proportion?

Personally I have long felt the only real issue with our current setup in the last few seasons is that our youth teams seem to be set up to play a completely different way to our first team squad, and if anything the first team's style should be changed to match the youth, who from games I have seen of them seem to play much better football than the seniors.
To me, this difference in style is the main thing that stops our youth players from garnering more meaningful substitute minutes and backup squad spots, which hopefully lead to them earning starting roles.

What do you guys think?

30 Apr 2016 01:59:42
But as fans we have to be more realistic, yes the youth teams have done well in there accomplishments but the quality between youth league and pro games in my opinion is vast in the premier league almost every player is capable of that level of football we have seen with loans it doesn't mean because someone shines in youth league the player is ready look at the viettese loanees or bamford, feruz, JM anther way to view it is lukaku and kdb they took a couple of seasons even after there moves from us to become what they are. people will say look at rashford or alli both have had there chance through circumstance rather then merit yes both have done well but united haven't been in cl or challenging and spurs have been in shadows its only been last two weeks theve even been mentioned fact is like barca, bayern, madrid you rarley see a player make the grade because the expectations are such they should be challenging for every trophy and we have it even worse them 3 are in leagues where you can bring on odd player when 6-0 up we don't get them opportunity in prem if the club can integrate 2 or 3 youths per generation that's great but we are not going to have 5 or 6 18 year olds in first squad people need to lower there expectations a little i mean we could say swift, baker, boga, coilkett, musonda, solanke, ainna, brown, abraham, christensen, rlc are good i think out that list maybe 2 or 3 will reach the level required and unlikely to hit that until early 20's.

30 Apr 2016 04:27:24
I agree entirely with what you are saying that people need to lower their expectations, I'm not saying that all of our backups should be youths by any stretch of the imagination. I'm just saying that as an example, the Falcao loan this season, in another season rather than loaning in a guy to be third choice and get such limited minutes, would having Youth player X there really be such a big deal? I know the argument is if we get a long term injury then we have a problem, but our youth ARE good young players, a little faith in them could be rewarded.
We seem to have actually followed this template with RLC being used to fill the void left by Ramires (though ideally a like-for-like box to box type replacement for him wouldn't go amiss in my opinion), but still, I think a lot of us will agree that it has been encouraging to see RLC gaining increased minutes as the season has progressed. I would just like to see this a little more in other positions, and if our youth teams and first team played the same style (which was a point I tried to make earlier too) then players playing U-21 matches with us to keep match fit, then stepping up to the first team squad a couple of times a month, to cover suspensions/ injuries or during cup games, as well as having the ability to be rewarded for playing well by actually being promoted to the first team squad permanently (which doesn't really seem to have happened with us sadly) it could be very good for our youth development. I too am only suggesting perhaps one forward, one midfielder and one defender will actually be the ones getting these roles, so 3 or maybe 4 as you have said. I'm not one of those to suggest my future ideal team and to list it as 11 made of 10 current academy players or anything, but to see a match day squad including the bench with say, 3 in there would be a great achievement in my opinion, and would really vindicate the great work our youth teams have done in the last decade or so.

30 Apr 2016 06:12:38
I think a couple fantastic points have been raised.
1. U19 football and the premier league are not comparable. You can't even compare u19 football and the championship. The general competitiveness of the league also doesn't cater towards youth development as the top clubs in Spain and Germany can field a half strength side and still blow out 1/ 2 of the league.
2. Our youth teams play in an open attacking system that greatly aids their technical development. However this style of play greatly contrasts the style of the senior team and more importantly the teams these players get loaned to. While I won't say we shouldn't have our youth play that way, that's just one of the inevitable drawbacks.
3. Ultimately people will not be satisfied until we have a kid who came through the academy (from a young age) as a regular in the first team. Being a reserve/ sub won't suffice as historically the squad players move around quickly once they realize they can get major minutes at a different club.

30 Apr 2016 09:00:16
Our academy is a real success and is bringing through some very talented young footballers who, providing they continue to develop and maintain their diet and correct attitude should go on to play the game professionally. Some will play for our first team but the majority, because of the standard that is required at the highest level, will play elsewhere. The odd one will slip through the net but that happens everywhere. Pogba at Manchester United! Where there is success there is also envy and jealousy and even hatred. The journalists and papers and pundits who dislike Chelsea are now starting to pick up on our success at youth level and this in turn is knocking on to parents and agents who read and listen to these people. This in turn then starts to effect the young players who start to believe they are suddenly at a level where that are actually not yet at. Solanke wanting £50k a week, Scott demanding a transfer having just signed a new contract etc. Ruben has shown us all what a potential talent he is but would you build a team around him right now? Any truly exceptional talent will go straight in, I'm sure of that. What we have are a group of highly talented young players whose careers need nurturing at a pace the coaches and management understand. Hopefully their heads won't be turned and in a year or so the likes of Christiansen and Musunda will return from loan and move into our first team. Patience is needed.