23 Apr 2021 12:41:35
Can one of fellow supporters or Ed please help clarify what the situation is in terms of our midfield priorities for this summer or going forward?

1.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 13:09:11
As I see it we have one slot available with Jorghi Kante and Kova all likely to stay.
We then have a number of youth candidates who could fill the 4th spot and Barkley who is likely to be sold.
Personally I would give a chance to either Gilmour (if he is going to get games) Ampadu or Gallagher because I can't see much point in spending a fortune on a midfielder unless we intend replacing one of the experienced players.

2.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 15:07:12
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be returning from Fulham and TT has spoken highly of him.

3.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 15:39:53
In as much as I would like to promote the youth I also don't like allocation of positions to youth aswelll. if you are góod enough you are old enough like Mason, Reece proved
bG may have the talent but he's not ready yet regardless expectedly of the hype. He needs time and game time.

4.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 17:44:48
RLC isn't a midfield player in the style of Jorghi/ Kante or Kovacic.
He is playing as part of a front three currently but like Havertz involves himself in midfield as well.
We need a fourth member of trio we have who would need to be good defensively and comfortable developing the play and ideally someone with the ability to pick a long pass.

5.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 19:56:27
Some game time for BG would have been nice.

I would like a Makalele type player but I guess every club in the world wants that type of player.

Some would say Kante is that type of player but successive managers have rarely played him in the centre of a midfield. So I will bow to their superior knowledge.

6.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 20:55:15
The dynamic of the players we have now is very different from that when Makalele was playing.
The element we are missing is either a box to box midfield player who contributes goals or someone who creates regular chances.
Where we would find a Lampard or Fabregas I have no idea but buying another midfield anchor wouldn't help our current deficiencies.

7.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 20:57:49
I think the club could integrate Ampadu ego would be capable of playing in such a midfield role as well as providing cover at the back as I expect we'll have some turnover among our cbs as well.

8.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 21:10:12
I have seen Ampadu a couple of times this season. Obviously playing n a struggling team doesn’t help but he hasn’t looked brilliant.

I disagree agree Strasbourg. The only way I can see Havertz and Mount in the same side is if we have a mobile defensive midfielder. I do want to see them both in the same side and by that I mean in midfield not Havertz as a false nine.

9.) 23 Apr 2021
23 Apr 2021 21:38:06
Sorry for the confused post .

I meant I disagree Strasbourg. Very Vicar of Dibley ish.

10.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 10:18:20
TomB, I agree with you about Ampadu - I have watched Sheff Utd 5 or 6 times and in every game Ampadu made basic mistakes and I was generally underwhelmed by his performance - it's a shame because he did look the real deal.

11.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 11:25:10
Sometimes loans don’t always work out and I guess that is especially the case when a player is at a struggling club. It can’t do there confidence any good.

12.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 11:32:20
Havertz isn't going to be played as a traditional midfield player that much is clear.
So unless he is sold the team will be built around Mount and Havertz in the same team so any additions need to be looked at in this light.

13.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 11:40:50
I disagree Strasbourg. In fact, I will be gutted if we constantly use Havertz as a false nine next season. In my opinion it’s almost a total waste of his talent.

14.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 13:36:42
You can disagree all you like but a £70m player isn't going to be benched and regarding his position he and the manager have said his best position is a 10 or in essence a roving 9 but certainly not in midfield.
Personally I can see the team developing similar to City without a recognised striker given the players we have.
The caveat to that would be taking the plunge on Haaland which would require re thinking a number of the existing squad.

15.) 24 Apr 2021
24 Apr 2021 13:53:58
Thank you I will.

16.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 11:21:47
I think ampadu, BG, RLC, Barkley, gallaghar need to step up further to be part of the Chelsea first team.

Even TA . Only mm did it and that too with his sheer will to run and make an impact in any position he played . But now his talent is showing up and he is amazing.

No one from the academy has matched his progress.

KH is a player that can net the team together . but only when we play a certain kind of team. He is not suited for all games.

17.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 13:21:55
I agree dareryk - although I think you're a bit unfair including Billy Gilmour who is only 18 and has never looked out of place when he has played.

18.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 14:49:00
I think James is a bit of a beast but he is still not the finished article when it comes to defending. I occasionally he can still be to casual and sometimes gets caught on the wrong side of a player. Playing against top players in big games will teach him a lot and I fully expect him to become a top class defender.

I’ve been saying from the start of the season I would have love to see him play a game or two as a holding midfield player but I can’t see that happening now.

19.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 15:00:03
tbh BG has to do more. even in the games he has played i thought he could have done more.
if your good enuf you are old enuf . BG has to use any time he gets to play to showcase that he has the right attributes to play for chelsea.

20.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 15:17:53
I think there is a very good chance BG will be going out on loan next season.

Maybe Ed could give us an insight if that’s likely?

{Ed002's Note - There is no agreement for a loan right now. It will become clearer in the coming weeks but the club may look to hang on to him depending on others leaving.}

21.) 25 Apr 2021
25 Apr 2021 17:25:04
Thanks for the update Ed. Much appreciated.

22.) 02 May 2021
02 May 2021 03:39:43
Mount has hands down been our best player this year (100% future captain) . I would love to see him develop a bit deeper as he has all the attributes to succeed there. He has a great pass on him, good close control and an unbelievable ability to turn a player, not to mention his attitude and energy. With him, kante, Jorghino, Kova and Billy there is no need to reinforce cm right now.
I hope RLC can fulfil his potential for us because the guy exudes class. For someone so strong, he very rarely has to use his strength because of his technique. For me, he’s not a cm though. Much better further forward and similar to Pogba where he gets pigeon holed there due to his size and ability to do everything. Whether he can get back to his previous form is a whole other kettle of fish.
Ampadu has spent the season at CB for the worst team in the league and hasn’t stood out, he looked great a couple of seasons ago but hasn’t pushed on.
Gallagher has done OK this season but not enough to break into the team for me.
What we really need is a striker and another CB for me. Ideally we would be playing 4 at the back which opens up a place for another attacking player. Chilly and Reece look like great players to me, both great going forward and solid defensively (although both have had a couple of mistakes defensively, they are both still young) . I’d actually go with James as England RB as I think he’s the most well rounded player we have there.
We have struggled going forward this year but have the talent and squad depth to threaten every team. If you then put in a striker who will get us 20+ goals, we will be laughing.
We have such a bad history with strikers and I understand people’s frustrations with Werner BUT, he adds so much to the team. While he hasn’t scored as many as we would like, he has created so much for the team and I genuinely believe he will start to hit that barn door!
What we really need is a clinical finisher. I’m not sure who that is but I’m certain once we have 4 at the back, Captain America, Havertz, Mount, Ziyech, Werner, CHO and (hopefully) RLC will create ample chances for them to bury.