I've got to say the more I see of the lad the more I believe he's not going to cut it at the top level. Positionally he seems completely unaware of what's going on around him, strength he seems seriously lacking.

I'd love to be proved wrong about him but having seen Adebyeor run him ragged at the weekend I'm worried that he might not be as good as we all hope. I do understand that he's out on loan to learn and improve in these types of things, but is he where he should be at this stage in his career - is he as good as Eavans at manure or as good as JT was at that age?

He's only 20, give him a chance! I think he has the potential, but he's still a bit naive.

he's not at evans' level and not near jt at that age- but he doesn't have to be.

supposedly he was outstanding in the first game and adebayor has and will give much more experienced players a difficult time...

if he becomes a good squad player, our o'shea for example, I'd take that. that would be progress IMO- if we can stop buying the squad players and start making them then that's positive surely?

It was his lack of pace which worried me. Adebayor is a good player but he shouldn't be running away from a 20 year old like that.

Good points, and I totally agree, I'd settle for some home grown squad players.

From what I've seen he need to spend some more time in the gym, get abit stronger and bigger, just me that thinks he is really skinny compared to others in his age, Richards from city etc.

MM needs to lose the dreads................they are so 1997. :P

I'm still waiting for him to fill out and look like a man and not a skinny teenager.

Have you've seen Jack Cork lately, he looks about 25 and about JT's size.

Edited August 24, 200915 yr by Scott

Mancienne's best position is at right back. That is where he plays for England and, from what my QPR supporting friends tell me, that is where he looks best. I think he is playing more of a central role at Wolves. He may adapt to that position but will take a few games. He is also playing week in and week out at the top level for the first time is is career and without a quality mentor alongside him. Lets not forget that JT had the luxury of Desailly and then gallas alongside him in the early years. Likewise Evans has had Rio and Vidic to play alongside. It much easier to look good when you are surrounded by that sort of quality.

Just glad he's getting first team EPL playing time, there is still time for him to grow.

Is he good enough to start for us? No.

Has he potential to be a great back up? yes

Will he stick with Chelsea just to be a back up, or will he go mid-table and play week in week out? Probably

JT would appear crap in Wolves. In the first half the midfield done nothing and Citeh were free to run at the back four unhindered. Mcarthy made a couple of half-time changes and things got better. Give the lad 20 games or so in the PL with Wolves and then judge - two games is being a bit harsh

Mancienne's best position is at right back. That is where he plays for England and, from what my QPR supporting friends tell me, that is where he looks best. I think he is playing more of a central role at Wolves. He may adapt to that position but will take a few games. He is also playing week in and week out at the top level for the first time is is career and without a quality mentor alongside him. Lets not forget that JT had the luxury of Desailly and then gallas alongside him in the early years. Likewise Evans has had Rio and Vidic to play alongside. It much easier to look good when you are surrounded by that sort of quality.

100% agree with the right back notion forbzy. I think this is where his future lies and I think he can do a great job there too.

100% agree with the right back notion forbzy. I think this is where his future lies and I think he can do a great job there too.

He's a player I've always really hoped would make it, but I don't know whether he will.

When he was on loan to Wolves in the championship he was getting rave reviews. Does anyone remember whether that was as a centre-back or right-back?

Cheers

JT would appear crap in Wolves. In the first half the midfield done nothing and Citeh were free to run at the back four unhindered. Mcarthy made a couple of half-time changes and things got better. Give the lad 20 games or so in the PL with Wolves and then judge - two games is being a bit harsh

Although in fairness he hasn't looked good at all this summer and had a fairly disasterous under 21 Euro as well as I seem to recall.

Although in fairness he hasn't looked good at all this summer and had a fairly disasterous under 21 Euro as well as I seem to recall.

Very true. He started the euros as first choice but ended up on the bench.

ive said for the last year or so that for me he simply isnt big enough to play centre back. its not so much his height as his build. any time ive seen him play against a big powerful forward hes been easily bullied and had a bad time of it. its a shame as hes obviously a very talented player, but unless he can make a full back position his i dont think he will play at the top level.

ive said for the last year or so that for me he simply isnt big enough to play centre back. its not so much his height as his build. any time ive seen him play against a big powerful forward hes been easily bullied and had a bad time of it. its a shame as hes obviously a very talented player, but unless he can make a full back position his i dont think he will play at the top level.

It's not often you're wrong but you're right this time

If he's not 1st team material in 2 seasons we should let him go. It's a shame he hasn't really flourished, but we could make a nice bit of money from him in a couple of years.

Can't believe how different it is reading about Mancienne on here, and reading about him on a certain other Chelsea forum! In particular the comments about his lack of pace are quite baffling I think, he's certainly a lot quicker than JT, Ivan and Alex from what I've seen.

Here are some quotes from the Wolves forum, just for a different perspective:

MM - MOTM - Superb. Calm and composed on the ball. Reads the game with ease. Brings the ball out. WIll be the difference between us staying up. Amazing good in the air as well! Reminds me a lot of Lescott. 9

Mancienne - Absolute man-mountain - can't remember a missed header, tackle or clearance... coul'd be the difference between staying up or going down - simple as that... 9

Mancienne....a colossus tonight, lost only 2 challenges, one where Ward got in his way and the other when he went a forward run and overran the ball. Absolutely outstanding. MOM by a mile. 10

My MOM's Keogh, Mancienne, and Henry, but not to take anything away from the other players, it was a total team effort.

Mancienne despite his age plays how Craddock should, composed, solid good in the air quite frankly after 10 games last season and the 2 of this season I want him snapped up now no matter what the price, I can see him getting better and better

Keogh was awesome - hit the woodword, scored a neat header, and denied a blatent penalty. This on top of his amazing work rate. 10/10 but not MoM - that goes to Mancienne who we simply must buy. He's better than our other CBs combined.

Not that far behind was Mancienne, who looks to have settled straight in there at the back. I lost count of the amount of times he got in front of his man to intercept the ball as well as winning numerous headers. Rodallega was completely anonymous as a result. 9/10.

If we can keep Mancienne fit, we will not go down. Can't really see us having the money to buy him though -- with performances like his first two he's adding a million quid a week to his price tag.

Mancienne - Gash. Just kidding. He was faultless. Reads the game well, good in the air, and composed. One dribble in the last 5 minutes had me calling him all the irresponsible little $$$$$ under the sun, but hey. 8

Mancienne – Excellent. Won tackle after tackle and also a lot in the air against players much taller then him. We need him here for the season. I’ll be gutted if Chelsea call him back in January. 8

Mancienne - another who's continuing to make rapid progress. Seems to be coping better with the physical side of the game. However where I feel he's made the biggest difference for us has been in his distribution; helping to bring the ball out and ensure we play it through the park instead of bypassing Henry, Milijas and co. Must surely be one of - if not the first - name on Mick's team sheet.

Jordan - i hope that comment was a joke! Could you be more defeatist?

Yeah, he's 20, been brilliant for Wolves, and has already made it into the full England squad, but I agree he isn't really flourishing...

Hang on....???

is a bizarre attitude to youth- people want it, but only on their own terms it seems.

no patience, and people will still say things from time to time like "where is our messi?"

you don't discard kids who don't look amazing from day one if you know they have the quality to be useful.

forget messi and fabregas- look at fergie's work with fletcher- has taken years but his faith has been rewarded.

I truly hope that he comes good for us G4, and i think the fletcher reference is a good one, was always promising and got his way into the team more and more. Right now I don't think he's good enough to be in our starting CB pairing, but he is pretty damn close to being good enough to be back up for Bosingwa.

Wolves seem to love him, and they see him as the difference between them staying up or going down! That is huge testament to the lad.

The thing that worries me the most is whether or not we'll see him back with us. I'm glad that he's out on loan as I think week in week out is the amount of playing time he needs at this stage in his career, and I fear that he'll want that level of playing so much that he may be lured away. I mean Wolves are wanting to buy him already...the fans that is, not the club itself

Scott

People were saying Ivanovic was crap after his first game and a waste of money, and then he turned into a God with two goals at Liverpool. Patience my friends, Mancienne will be better than Terry and Carvalho together.

Not much point having a youth policy, if all you want are ready made professionals, get a bigger cheque book.

Glad I asked the question now, the responses have restored my faith - specially the bit from the Wolves forum, that's excellent feedback.

G4's point about Fletcher is a great one, as is the 'where's our Messi' comment.

If I remember rightly, the latter had to be given hormone treatment etc as he was so small/fragile when he moved to Barca, so based on how impatient a lot of us seem to be about our own youth prospects, we would have presumably advocated selling him immediately -'far too small,' 'can you imagine him getting run over by Danny Sh*ttu etc'

I think, given the chance, Michael can play a role in our first team squad. Beyond that, who knows, but surely that is impressive progress in itself?

Edited August 25, 200915 yr by Tim