All I know is we spent £27m to downgrade our squad. 

 

Worst bit of transfer business since Jose returned. 

 

I expect it will be addressed in the summer. 

All I know is we spent £27m to downgrade our squad. 

 

Worst bit of transfer business since Jose returned. 

 

I expect it will be addressed in the summer. 

 

Downgrade? You're referring to us selling Schurrle (for a profit) and bringing in Cuadrado?

 

In Schurrle's 443 minutes of league football he managed 5 successful take-ons.

In Cuadrado's 261 minutes, he managed 3 (less than SWP I believe) in a worse, less expansive team.

 

It's not a massive difference although I'm really not sure of the value of this measure to be honest.

 

Truth is that I don't think anyone seriously believes this is the real Cuadrado, or that the team he's been brought into has been conducive to an attacking player finding his feet. I agree we need better on that wing, but I think it's far too early to write him off.

Downgrade? You're referring to us selling Schurrle (for a profit) and bringing in Cuadrado?

 

In Schurrle's 443 minutes of league football he managed 5 successful take-ons.

In Cuadrado's 261 minutes, he managed 3 (less than SWP I believe) in a worse, less expansive team.

 

It's not a massive difference although I'm really not sure of the value of this measure to be honest.

 

Truth is that I don't think anyone seriously believes this is the real Cuadrado, or that the team he's been brought into has been conducive to an attacking player finding his feet. I agree we need better on that wing, but I think it's far too early to write him off.

 

Sold our most direct attacking midfielder who had a knack for scoring goals, sent out on loan arguably the fastest player in the squad. 

 

Bought in guy that made Demba Ba look like he had superb balance. 

 

Out went two wingers with varied skill sets, although both not in particularly great form but had things to offer. 

 

In come one player who was useless. 

 

Less players in the squad, worse performances from the new guy than those he replaced. More pressure on the existing squad to stay fit and maintain performances. 

 

Yes a downgrade. 

If anyone wants to write him off that's fine. And perhaps that's what the club will do in the summer. I like to think he'll get some games under his belt, build up some confidence again (and perhaps a few muscles) and look more like the player we spent all that money on. I'll admit he doesn't look good right now, but for me he started out ok and has been gradually getting worse and that shows it's not just down to the quality of the player.

He seems to have turned into a bad winger overnight so why couldn't he regain his form?.

Honestly, I thought he looked exactly the same in Italy. Only he was given A LOT more time on the ball and when he was left on the pitch for 90 minutes he eventually could create a moment of magic. Much like Salah and Schurrle before him or if we go further back just like Gronkjaer. Cuadrado just doesnt isnt a good footballer imo. Hes an athlete that happens to play football. Hope I turn out to be wrong, but what I saw of him in Italy and his first inpression here Im not holding my breath

Edited May 15, 201511 yr by Xfaxtor

Getting back on topic, last four summers for Oscar..

 

Summer 2011 - U20 World Cup,

Summer 2012 - Olympics,

Summer 2013 - Confederations Cup,

Summer 2014 - World Cup.

 

He's played 50 international matches in 4 years and 151 games for Chelsea in the last 3 seasons. An average of 60 games a season. Also keeping in mind his style of play, and the amount of energy he expends off the ball, it becomes more than just an excuse. Next season he'll be 24, had a summer off and should have some competition for his place. Hopefully we'll see the best of Oscar.

Sold our most direct attacking midfielder who had a knack for scoring goals, sent out on loan arguably the fastest player in the squad. 

 

Bought in guy that made Demba Ba look like he had superb balance. 

 

Out went two wingers with varied skill sets, although both not in particularly great form but had things to offer. 

 

In come one player who was useless. 

 

Less players in the squad, worse performances from the new guy than those he replaced. More pressure on the existing squad to stay fit and maintain performances. 

 

Yes a downgrade. 

 

Our most 'direct attacking midfielder' - which of the 150 players who made more successful take-ons than Andre (a player I like) in his matches this season should I choose to compare him with? You brought up SWP to compare Cuadrado with so how about Joe Cole for Andre? Or maybe Glen Johnson (not only a Chelsea flop, but also a full-back)?

 

How about just players who made double the number of successful take-ons per 90? Like Demel at West Ham or Hoilett or Fer at 'a woeful QPR'? Or players who made FOUR TIMES the number, like Victor Moses. If you want to talk about us losing 'direct attacking midfielders' based on this arbitrary measure then you've picked the wrong one.

 

You brought up 'successful take-ons'.

 

Schurrle completed 1.02 per 90 minutes.

Cuadrado completed 1.03 per 90 minutes.

 

This is a Schurrle who had a whole season with us, and two pre-seasons as well in a team that was playing far more expansive, attacking football. How about we give Cuadrado half that?

There's no way Cuadrado is going to magically transform into a good winger overnight.

There's a reason we're being linked to so many wingers, it's mainly that Cuadrado wasn't/isn't the answer.

The club are clearly looking for an upgrade and someone like Griezmann could help take our team up to that next level.

 

You were also incredibly harsh on Salah saying he isn't fit for a relegation side, yet hes clearly he a fantastic player just didn't fit in the setup here.

 

Cuadrado hasn't done anything with the ball, I think he needs more time to settle, whenever we go forward he only looks for a side pass. Maybe he could be deadly once he gets his act together, I say we back him.

You can hammer home the take on stat all you like, I just used it as a basis for showing how sh*t Cuadrado has been. 

 

Schurrle meanwhile in his 6 months with the team this season. 

 

You were also incredibly harsh on Salah saying he isn't fit for a relegation side, yet hes clearly he a fantastic player just didn't fit in the setup here.

 

Cuadrado hasn't done anything with the ball, I think he needs more time to settle, whenever we go forward he only looks for a side pass. Maybe he could be deadly once he gets his act together, I say we back him.

 

So Salah is a fantastic player for failing to do anything of note in a year at a league contending side, going on loan and out performing the bloke we've just dropped 27m notes on? 

 

Eh? 

I wish we had kept Schurrle definitely, I rated him highly, he offered variety in our side, great movement had a knack for scoring goals. Also a very direct player which is what I meant by variety, since we have the short sighted Willians and Oscars, not meaning that in a demeaning way of course. 

 

We shouldn't judge Cuadrado now, he needs more time, I have barely seen him shift the ball forwards, it's not that he can't do it it is the fact that I have never seen him attack the defence.

You can hammer home the take on stat all you like, I just used it as a basis for showing how sh*t Cuadrado has been. 

 

Schurrle meanwhile in his 6 months with the team this season. 

 

 

 

You bought up the take-ons stat though to have a pop at Cuadrado. Don't moan when someone actually puts it in context and uses it to prove you slightly wrong.

 

If you want to just call him sh*t then go for it. Anyone can do that. But if you want to use stats to show he's sh*t then don't be surprised when someone actually looks at the stats. 

 

That gif you linked to is great...but it's of a player who has had TWO pre-seasons with this club and a whole season to integrate himself. He's also playing in a far more attacking team. 

 

But he's also the same player who was hauled off against Arsenal for putting in an atrocious performance and who also created less chances per 90 minutes than Cuadrado has. 

 

What's interesting about Cuadrado is that the biggest change he's seen since coming here is the number of tackles he's made compared to his time in Fiorentina which suggests he's being asked to do far more defensively. That to me is worthwhile analysis, rather than simply calling him sh*t.

So Salah is a fantastic player for failing to do anything of note in a year at a league contending side, going on loan and out performing the bloke we've just dropped 27m notes on? 

 

Eh? 

 

People forgot Salah was really promising in his first season once he started playing more regularly, can people not remember his game against Stoke for instance? 

 

Season after that we basically just put him to one side, he wasn't even a back up he was treated like he was surplus to requirements. He did himself no favours mind he was awful in the cup games whenever he played but when you look at how well he is performing now you can believe that there was a bigger factor at Chelsea for him not performing well which certainly wasn't just because he wasn't good enough. 

People forgot Salah was really promising in his first season once he started playing more regularly, can people not remember his game against Stoke for instance? 

 

Season after that we basically just put him to one side, he wasn't even a back up he was treated like he was surplus to requirements. He did himself no favours mind he was awful in the cup games whenever he played but when you look at how well he is performing now you can believe that there was a bigger factor at Chelsea for him not performing well which certainly wasn't just because he wasn't good enough. 

 

The problem Salah, Schurrle and Cuadrado have all faced is Jose's insistence on playing Willian when he's done very little to deserve such faith. To me, he's the one holding us back in so many ways although I'm sure I'll cop some flak for saying that because he's looked better in the last month.

You bought up the take-ons stat though to have a pop at Cuadrado. Don't moan when someone actually puts it in context and uses it to prove you slightly wrong.

 

If you want to just call him sh*t then go for it. Anyone can do that. But if you want to use stats to show he's sh*t then don't be surprised when someone actually looks at the stats. 

 

That gif you linked to is great...but it's of a player who has had TWO pre-seasons with this club and a whole season to integrate himself. He's also playing in a far more attacking team. 

 

But he's also the same player who was hauled off against Arsenal for putting in an atrocious performance and who also created less chances per 90 minutes than Cuadrado has. 

 

What's interesting about Cuadrado is that the biggest change he's seen since coming here is the number of tackles he's made compared to his time in Fiorentina which suggests he's being asked to do far more defensively. That to me is worthwhile analysis, rather than simply calling him sh*t.

 

For £27m you'll excuse me for not being wowed by a player who's managed to put in a couple of tackles. 

 

The constantly falling on his arse, showing no signs of pace and missing a double chance from 3 yards out is probably a better thing to be looking at when judging exactly what our new attacker has contributed. 

 

He's been dog turd, no two ways about it. Maybe he'll improve next season, let's face it he can't get any worse. But end of the day he's been an hindrance and not a help to us this season. 

 

We shouldn't have signed him, we should have stuck with what we had to the end of the season and then evaluated the attack this summer. 

 

Right now it's looking like we're going to be spending £40m upwards on a new winger to replace our replacement. 

The problem Salah, Schurrle and Cuadrado have all faced is Jose's insistence on playing Willian when he's done very little to deserve such faith. To me, he's the one holding us back in so many ways although I'm sure I'll cop some flak for saying that because he's looked better in the last month.

 

I think Willian is a great asset to our side, but I don't think his performances have ever justified that much game time. Schurrle never played despite his match winning mentality. Fair enough he had quite a few bad games earlier in the season but he was definitely always getting the game forward when at times we looked pretty stale. 

 

We will have to see how Cuadrado does, I will admit his mentality troubles me a bit, as you said it will take something to bench Willian a lot, a player who comes on and always has drive, Cuadrado has lacked that so far. We've seen and heard he has immense quality, we just haven't seen it, the question is will we ever see it?

For £27m you'll excuse me for not being wowed by a player who's managed to put in a couple of tackles. 

 

The constantly falling on his arse, showing no signs of pace and missing a double chance from 3 yards out is probably a better thing to be looking at when judging exactly what our new attacker has contributed. 

 

He's been dog turd, no two ways about it. Maybe he'll improve next season, let's face it he can't get any worse. But end of the day he's been an hindrance and not a help to us this season. 

 

We shouldn't have signed him, we should have stuck with what we had to the end of the season and then evaluated the attack this summer. 

 

Right now it's looking like we're going to be spending £40m upwards on a new winger to replace our replacement. 

 

How about having some patience with a player who has been brought in at the worst time a winger could be brought in, in a terrible setup for a right-winger yet has outperformed the our most 'direct attacking midfielder' whilst contributing defensively (because God knows our wingers have to do that) without the benefit of a pre-season or any faith from the manager.

 

Or to put it simpler, how about supporting the player?

 

Ok he fell over and he's looked out of sorts. You don't get a f**king cookie for being the first person on a forum to call him sh*t, nor do you get a gold star for using stats incorrectly then moaning when something takes you to task about them.

 

I don't get the mindset of someone who looks at a Chelsea player who has played less than THREE whole matches for us and then looks for stats to have a pop at him about. See my mindset is to look for factors that may be contributing to him underperforming in the hopes that he'll improve in the future. Maybe I'll be proven wrong and lose an internet argument but I'd rather live in hope that a player will come good then spend my time trying to find reasons to call him sh*t.

How about having some patience with a player who has been brought in at the worst time a winger could be brought in, in a terrible setup for a right-winger yet has outperformed the our most 'direct attacking midfielder' whilst contributing defensively (because God knows our wingers have to do that) without the benefit of a pre-season or any faith from the manager.

 

Or to put it simpler, how about supporting the player?

 

Ok he fell over and he's looked out of sorts. You don't get a f**king cookie for being the first person on a forum to call him sh*t, nor do you get a gold star for using stats incorrectly then moaning when something takes you to task about them.

 

I don't get the mindset of someone who looks at a Chelsea player who has played less than THREE whole matches for us and then looks for stats to have a pop at him about. See my mindset is to look for factors that may be contributing to him underperforming in the hopes that he'll improve in the future. Maybe I'll be proven wrong and lose an internet argument but I'd rather live in hope that a player will come good then spend my time trying to find reasons to call him sh*t.

 

Quite amusing that you of all people on this forum should have the tenacity to say someone shouldn't have a strong opinion on something even if it goes against the grain. 

 

If he improves, great. Brilliant for him. Brilliant for Chelsea. He's happy, I'm happy, we're all happy! Happy days!

 

But I'm not going to praise a player that been pants and show a blind belief that he's going to have an epic turnaround. 

 

In fact, on a forum of all places, it's very much my right and place to call it like I see it. 

 

My assessment on Cuadrado is we haven't got what we've paid for, he's not that good and I don't think he's going to get much better. It was a bad decision to buy him. 

 

Now where's my f**king cookie? 

Quite amusing that you of all people on this forum should have the tenacity to say someone shouldn't have a strong opinion on something even if it goes against the grain. 

 

If he improves, great. Brilliant for him. Brilliant for Chelsea. He's happy, I'm happy, we're all happy! Happy days!

 

But I'm not going to praise a player that been pants and show a blind belief that he's going to have an epic turnaround. 

 

In fact, on a forum of all places, it's very much my right and place to call it like I see it. 

 

My assessment on Cuadrado is we haven't got what we've paid for, he's not that good and I don't think he's going to get much better. It was a bad decision to buy him. 

 

Now where's my f**king cookie? 

 

You can have strong opinions on anything, but people can have opinions on that too. Like I said, I don't quite get the mindset to jump on a player and his signing when he's played just 261 league minutes for the club. That to me seems a little premature and as someone who actually wants to see young players bought in as well, I think maybe we should get into a habit of supporting players who struggle when initially coming into the team.

 

I also think if you're going to use stats (or in your case, one particular statistic) to have a pop at a player you should have the courage to stand by stats and not abandon them when someone points out the flaw in using them. Or admit you made a mistake, we all do that. None of us is perfect.

 

But when we do struggle, you should expect some leeway shouldn't you?

 

How about we give him a pre-season and a run in the team and then judge him after that? Yes?

No, he's w**k. 

ForeverCarefree I don't believe this is you typing right now lmao

We all know Stats can be useful but equally very miss-leading. People get too wrapped up in stats. I prefer to just watch a game and come to the conclusion of what my eyes tell me.

 

So if Hazard goes on a run and goes past 5 defenders then plays a little ball to Cuadrado (or anyone) who miss hits a pass to Costa who puts the ball in the back o the net, the stats will tell us that Cuadrado got the assist. My eyes have told me the real story.

Again, I look at Cuadrado's performances since he arrived and I just can't imagine where all these take-on's have come from. Bar one shot against Palace which went over the bar but wasn't the worst shot I have ever seen, I can recall very little contribution. Sure, Schurrle had some shockers and didn't have his best period this season, but he did score some very crucial goals during his time with us - I saw them!! 

Assist stats sometime are stupid, ozil got one for a simple 3 yard sideways pass to Ramsey, who smashed it in from 30 yards for example. Our game is getting ridiculously stat heavy, but it means very little compared to actually watching a player.

^ Willian agrees.

^ Willian agrees.

Ah, but William has plenty of assist assists, or are they called secondary assist, or are assist assists?