Chelsea Banter Archive January 27 2019

27 Jan 2019 22:07:49
Todays performance was rather abject despite winning 3-0.

The theme was basically passing the ball forward to our midfielders who would instantly pass backwards to the same defenders again. If anyone wanted evidence of why Luiz is so important then look no further. Its a shame that he has to unlock opposition defences with intricate passing whilst being a defender? Jorginho does the same or atleast tries and he keeps the ball ticking so well.

Barkely offers nothing, absolutely zero. His confidence is shot to pieces. That boy cannot seem to pass a ball forward anymore, his passes are all backwards, no driving runs from midfied, he doesn't take risks with through balls anymore, positionally very poor never in the box and he has no intention to take shots from distance. It seems like he doesn't want to take risks and just wants to keep it simple thinking that's enough strolling the games.

Kovacic is better defensively and is better in possession. His a good player off the bench to replace kante. Its funny that Kante who is a defensive midfielder by trade has grasped this attacking role so much better than both Barkley and Kovacic. The latter players should be ashamed that kante is outscoring them and is still is making more defensive tackles than both.

For me its important that we have a midfield 3 of Jorginho, Kante and RLC for the rest of the season. Kovacic should be on bench for kante. For the future, we need a creative midfielder like isco but that would hinder RLC who needs a proper chance now.

Emerson to replace Alonso all day long. Willian had a poor game, so many misplaced passes at this level is a crime. Good 3rd goal but that doesn't bail him out. Pedro over him if CHO leaves. Otherwide its Triple H for me.

Kepa
Emerson
Luiz
Rudiger
Azpi
Jorginho
Kante
RLC
Hazard
CHO
Higuain.

27 Jan 2019 22:41:07
Agree with that team spot on. I think Kova could be a good understudy to Jorginho. Someone like Aouar in midfield would be brilliant though.

27 Jan 2019 23:02:56
U are superlatively spot on CFCShak, ticks all the boxes.

28 Jan 2019 11:42:17
Willian was by far MoM yesterday and played his best game of the season; he is so much better on the left.

Alonso played ok - didn't have much to do defensively and retained possession well.

I would imagine that if you studied Barkley's stats for this season, you would find that he rarely gives the ball away; perhaps his lack of forward passing and shooting is the direct result of your master Sarri's negative possession-based game.

28 Jan 2019 16:35:53
I have to disagree with Willian. Although I’m not his biggest fan I was at the game and he was one of the only players who actually looked like he wanted to attack. Not a single player in that first half drove forward not even cHo. Second half it changed as Hudson Odoi did more attack wise and impressed but Willian wasn’t my man of the match by far whenever he got the ball he looked forward and when he lost it he won it back straight away.

28 Jan 2019 21:05:58
Lol MDW. Or maybe because his scared incase he makes a mistake. Seems to be lacking confidence from the player that was doing really well at the start. I wouldn't blame Sarri because Kante in the other hand is all about forward passing and driving with the ball.

27 Jan 2019 20:06:22
Tonight was proof why we need a player like barella or similar

2 banks of defenders and we struggle to break them down

might change if Emerson can play and supply early ball.

27 Jan 2019 20:13:20
A no 10 that can score, assist (play final balls to the striker) is needed badly in the team.

27 Jan 2019 20:23:50
too frightened to shoot

barkley at least used to shoot from edge of box with everton

just drummed into us to walk it in.

27 Jan 2019 20:35:38
Barella isn’t the type of player to break down defences, his a ball winner and passer . Midfielders who can u lock a defence are Isco fekir eriksen De Bruyne Silva mata. also a player who can worry a team with a shot from distance,

27 Jan 2019 21:30:30
I think we have the player that can unlock defences, he can assist and score goals. His name is Ruben Loftus Cheek. Its upto Sarri to identify the problem with his set up. Today was pretty poor. No urgency to unlock deep defensive blocks with fast quick passes.

Barkley is absolutely useless, his got no bottle to take risks. Today he played about 20 passes backwards to our defence, messed up a few forward passes and hardly any takeons. He passes and stays still, no movement at all. He needs to watch RLC and look at the pass and movement. Isn't he supposed to be the more attack minded midfielder? Ampadu was more threatening from the defensive holding midfield role. His another with potential but too scared to take ownership and take risks.

27 Jan 2019 22:09:21
His another with potential but too scared to take ownership and take risks as in Barkley.

27 Jan 2019 19:52:29
Positives for me were;
Higuain debuts
RLC returns
Cho played well.

27 Jan 2019 20:05:58
For me Shack, it was Kovacic in centre midfield.

As I’ve said, on that performance he could save the club £40 mil.

27 Jan 2019 20:14:30
u thought kova played well tom?

27 Jan 2019 20:18:04
I can't believe Willian got man of the match. he gave the ball away so much in that game and had one good move in 90.mins. most of our play come from the right flank with CHO. yes he ain't the end product but at least he is willing to run at players. if I was the club I'd reject all bids and see what the next 6 month's bring. if he still wants to move than allow him to go.
Willian should of. in my opinion gave the pen to Higuain. Would have game him confidence and something to go forward.

tonight also showed Alonso bring nothing to his system we play. he was caught so many times tonight . not even goal side. I do believe that dropping Emerson tonight mean he will play in our next prem game. because that would have been a game that Emerson would normally play.

RLC looked good when he come on . strong and much more comfortable in CM rather than RW.

27 Jan 2019 20:35:11
When Kovacic moves into CM I thought he played very well Magic.

Willian for me, ’was MOM and I think he plays a lot better on the left.

I do agree that Emerson deserves a run in the side.

27 Jan 2019 20:41:33
do u believe cho will go now tom? i was watching the game on bbc and all the panel said he should leave to play football regurlarly even guilit.

27 Jan 2019 21:01:05
I haven’t changed my view Magic, I want him to stay and I think he will be with us until the end of the season.

As fans, we are desperate for a home grown star to be in our starting eleven and I do know winning pots is what our club is all about.

The club can ask CHO if he will reconsider his transfer request at the end of the season, if he hasn’t, it’s hardly going to damage his value having stayed with us for a few extra months and hopefully playing in three cup finals.

27 Jan 2019 22:17:27
agreed Tom. give it 6 months then if he still wants to leave then let him. go. the club have done enough then.

28 Jan 2019 17:09:30
very good points tom id be very surprised if he was too leave this late in the window and don't see his value higher or lower come july.

27 Jan 2019 18:58:33
I will admit, I had my doubts over Higuain but he looks very clever. What a breath of fresh air to have somebody making decent runs in time with the play and not 5 minutes before the final ball. Not stopping the game every 30 seconds for a Morata offside should give us plenty more time to actually score goals 😏.

27 Jan 2019 19:01:58
i hope your right ceasar.

27 Jan 2019 20:00:47
Made some great runs but the team didn’t play well for him. He hardly got the ball especially second half, it’s no wonder our strikers aren’t scoring.

27 Jan 2019 17:12:52
Higuain to start.

Excellent occasion to debut.

27 Jan 2019 18:16:24
going to take some time . league is so different.

26 Jan 2019 22:51:36
Michael Emanalo sacked by monaco any chance him coming back as director of football?

was well thought of by RA and board.

{Ed002's Note - he is not one of those who has been considered.}

27 Jan 2019 17:06:30
He left chelsea saying he needed a break. However, He got back into too quick if he meant what he said when he left Chelsea.

27 Jan 2019 11:48:01
I've seen most people on here comment that the club should sell CHO. If he really wants out, then I get the sentiment. No point in keeping someone that desperately wants to be somewhere else.

However, it's already 27 January. There's no time to replace him, and 40 million in today's market isn't enough to replace the talent we'd be losing. Average players cost 40 million these days.
So I'd say we shouldn't sell him until the summer at least. If we lose him now and only have Eden, Willian and Pedro for the rest of the season then we're in trouble. Big time. And Callum needs to understand that as well. Selling him now puts us in lots of problems, there's no point in doing so.

If we keep playing him in EL and cup matches until the summer, then I'm sure his price will not go down. On the contrary, more teams could become interested and his price would go up. A sale should be out of the question this month. Reassess in the summer after having given him significant minutes during the 2nd half of the season.
Willian's been bang average for a while now. Let's grow some balls and play the younger kid. He'll make more mistakes perhaps, but he'll also make more good things happen for us.

Well, that's my view at least.

27 Jan 2019 11:57:37
100% Jackson. Willian has shown nothing for a while and still gets chances over CHO. Very frustrating.

27 Jan 2019 11:59:52
im not sure wed be in trouble jackson considering the little game time he's got as it is. the further we go in tournaments the less likely hel play as u saw the other night v spurs the bigger the game the less likely sarri will put trust in a kid. if he wants to go then its the club an sarris decision to make a decision im sure sarri doesn't want an unhappy player in his group and im sure the board will feel 40 million is a massive amount of money for a kid whos not proven he basically has payed the pulisic transfer and right now wel be getting a far more accomplished player in pulisic.

27 Jan 2019 12:28:17
CHO: I would guess that if he plays today, he stays.

27 Jan 2019 12:34:55
i very much doutb that mdw. why would u hand in a transfer request if your going to stay? plus y should he even be in the match day squad never mind the line up if he wants to leave.

27 Jan 2019 12:39:02
MandS, but it isn't up to CHO whether he plays today or leaves - he is under contract for the next 18 months. The point I'm making is that if Chelsea pick him to play today, then Chelsea are not going to sell this window.

27 Jan 2019 13:11:16
u may be right mdw but if i was sarri i wouldn't have him near the team if he's handed in a transfer request his mind is made up.

27 Jan 2019 13:26:05
The temptation to have him just cleaning the toilets for the next 18 months without ever seeing a football is overwhelming.

27 Jan 2019 18:00:50
he starts MDW . maybe your right.

27 Jan 2019 09:56:50
my thoughts? extremely dissapointed from a fan persepective that where going to lose a player with so much potential. for cho he's showing some guts to hand in a request at 18 years of age and want a move to a club like bayern. i say fair play to him he wants to be happy an play more id imagine the pulisic signing was his deciding factor. be happy for him he's a kid who wants to play more games he will at bayern cause robben an ribery will likely retire or leave come d summer. what i do like about his move to bayern is when is he ever likely to come back to the pl an join liverpool or city? probably he won't cause let's be honest if he does well in bayern when do bayern ever sell there best players they don't and dats a positive. if he joined leipzig or some1 hed more likely be brought in a few years by a pl rival.

27 Jan 2019 11:49:35
Agree there mate. But a deal with Leipzig would have involved a buy back clause.

Anyway its his choice, if bayern makes him happy then so be it.

27 Jan 2019 12:04:06
yeah but shak i suppose weigh up the options would u rather go to bayern who have an extremely ageing team or leipzig who will probably not win anything any time soon? i no who id pick bayern are 1 of d biggest clubs in world football and im sure he's been made promises of first team football which hel get given d age of ribery an robben an robbens injury prone all his career. its a sad position to be in from a fan perspective but what if he turns out to be another gael kakuta or an average player like bertrand traore whos decent but let's be honest wouldn't get near any top 6 pl teams. time will tell i guess.

27 Jan 2019 17:10:39
I agree magic, if i was CHO i would sign for bayern. But Leipzig would have given chelsea a chance to re-sign if he was exceptional with a buyback. But i see what you mean mate.

27 Jan 2019 00:23:33
Until it's confirmed about Odoi handing in a transfer request I won't believe it. Sky Sources doesn't mean anything no more it's all a money making scheme for Sky Bet. So I wouldn't jump to conclusions just yet I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

27 Jan 2019 01:52:44
BBC sport have confirmed it. He’s gone I’m afraid.

27 Jan 2019 04:29:24
Didn’t know bbc reported it they are reliable to be faur.

27 Jan 2019 13:48:36
BBC don’t have sources neither. Becoming the new Sky Sports. Don’t believe things until you read on website of the clubs involved!