2 minutes ago, Jon Stakes said:

Is that a suggestion he should cost 120 mln? :)

No but Pogba never justified that price and hasn't played anywhere near as good as Vic so far this season, different positions granted.

 

Moses is now for me best Wing in the world it's like he was made for this position if only he was given the chance before

I'm shocked how good he's been

Well am not surprised about his form. I always knew he has that quality in him. Despite being poor on loan, he was still given a new long term contract so someone in the board also believe he will make it here.

I'm not saying he never had any quality but he certainly wasn't a top 4 level player before. This new role is definitely something he's adapted nicely too. Maybe he's finally found his position? 

17 hours ago, Brutos said:

Moses is now for me best Wing in the world it's like he was made for this position if only he was given the chance before

nope, Chicken is the best wing in the world. Moses comes a close second

Before this season he was a decent winger but lacked in the goal department and also creating things which saw him stagnate on loan never really impressing enough for anyone to show any long term interest in him. Bar his first season with us where he did  reasonably well IMO he looked to be another player we would never hear of again.

Under Conte in this new system he has shown a real urgency and quality to become a top level wing back. I’ve been super impressed with him playing in the new system and he looks a totally different player than he ever did playing further up the park.

 

Maybe this is the role he and we have been waiting for since he joined.

I'm not saying he never had any quality but he certainly wasn't a top 4 level player before. This new role is definitely something he's adapted nicely too. Maybe he's finally found his position? 

If he wasn't a top 4 player he would have flopped in his first season with us. So I think whoever signed him for us from Wigan knew what he was doing. If José had not loaned him around for the past 3 seasons he would have improved far more than what we are seeing now.

In his debut season he made a total of 43 appearances and scored 10 goals, how was that a poor season for our board is beyond me. He was always sublime in every pre season but was ignored every time. Conte is actually the first manager to give him a decent chance, and Victor took it pleased for him. He is also just 25 years old, could prove to have a big career at the club. Rumor is that West Ham had an option to make the loan deal permanent but they turned it down, lucky break for us i guess.

Let's not revise history, his stats looked good on paper but he ranged from average to pretty bad most of the times. Consistently losing the ball, if he wasn't dribbling head down into players legs he would be losing it with is terrible attempts at passing. His goals and the fact that he was our only actual winger at the time masked those issues. 

I do think it was the right decision to loan him, just not to Liverpool as he was never going to play. The Stoke loan was a good choice and developed him somewhat, could have brought him back after that loan and his performance in pre season but I can understand why he was loaned yet again as there wasn't really any space of him at the club unless we shifted some players, which was unlikely as we had just won the league with that bunch. 

Regardless, he's doing well now and that's all that matters. Would like to see him go on a goal scoring run similar to that of Antoino at West Ham who plays a similar role but that's probably being too greedy. 

Sometimes in football history players come together at a time and place for greatness. There are countless examples of misfits who improved well past their station, because their oddball skill-set suddenly became a valuable commodity because of tactical changes in the game, sometimes purely by a manager's happy accident. Perhaps Moses will fit that category?

A couple of similar, modern examples I can think of:

Gareth Bale: Most obvious example, an above-average attacking left-back who translated his skill-set into a world-class goalscoring winger/forward. 

Andrea Pirlo: Decent attacking midfielder who started his career just as playmakers were changing from classical, static no. 10 types to more dynamic dribblers. Developed into one of the best playmakers in history by operating deeper in midfield where his physical attributes were less caught out and he was able to use his playmaking to assist his teammates while football became a more counter-attacking game.

Thierry Henry: Decent winger. Showed that target-men could use pace and agility to destroy defenses and create mismatches against weaker fullbacks or lumbering centre-backs.

Claude Makelele: Started his career as an okay, somewhat skilful central midfielder. Defined the tactical role of the defensive midfielder as teams realised the value of dominating the opposing midfield

Diego Costa: Brought to Atletico as a no 10/attacking midfielder. Pushed into attack after Falcao's departure and never looked back.

Cesar Azpilicueta: Bought as a top prospect for right back. Was arguably the world's best left-back from 2013-2015. Now excelling as a right-sided central defender in a back three.

These are just off the top of my head, but I'm sure there's probably a million other examples of how sometimes happenstance can define or turn around a player's career.

 

 

Some stellar opinions from earlier in the thread...

On 1/28/2014 at 08:31, Bobbywoodhogan said:

They can have Moses

On 1/28/2014 at 12:29, Remodez said:

Not sure why, they have youngsters like Suso who are better.

 

Didn't want Moses in the first place, he did a good job in fairness to the guy but I would rather the game time he got was given to a player like Piazon.

One in particular, from this ungrateful twat:

 

On 8/11/2014 at 19:20, SydneyChelsea said:

 

He's sh*t and stops a youth player from coming through, that's why.

 

 

I think most of us felt Moses was not good enough to get into our starting 11 given how he performed at other clubs whilst on loan.

We can only judge on what we see after all, who knew he would flourish as a flying wing back!

 

4 hours ago, wallosh said:

If he wasn't a top 4 player he would have flopped in his first season with us. So I think whoever signed him for us from Wigan knew what he was doing. If José had not loaned him around for the past 3 seasons he would have improved far more than what we are seeing now.

He did fine as a squad player that season but if you ever think he had the quality to start on the wing for us then I think you're overrating his abilities. He's excelling now cause he's in a system that works in a position that works. Let's not get carried away he's been doing well lately but it's early doors.

Edited November 8, 20169 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

He has no right to be as good as he has been. In particular regard to defensive concentration when the ball is on the other side of the pitch. 

All hail victor thuram

 

 

1 hour ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

He did fine as a squad player that season but if you ever think he had the quality to start on the wing for us then I think you're overrating his abilities. He's excelling now cause he's in a system that works in a position that works. Let's not get carried away he's been doing well lately but it'sere early doors.

Exactly. Most complaints about Moses were:

1) he's a square peg in a round hole; our team struggled to utilise genuine width

2) he was blocking the progress of then-promising youth players who had the ability to fit into the system

3) At his age he wasn't starting calibre.

These complaints weren't wrong then. I think it's hard to say people were "wrong" about him because they were still valid criticisms until October this year.

We've changed the team and the system and suddenly all three points no longer apply. 

Long may it continue. I for one welcome our new Nigerian overlord.

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Exactly. Most complaints about Moses were:

1) he's a square peg in a round hole; our team struggled to utilise genuine width

2) he was blocking the progress of then-promising youth players who had the ability to fit into the system

3) At his age he wasn't starting calibre.

These complaints weren't wrong then. I think it's hard to say people were "wrong" about him because they were still valid criticisms until October this year.

We've changed the team and the system and suddenly all three points no longer apply. 

Long may it continue. I for one welcome our new Nigerian overlord.

As do I, I'm delighted he's found a place in the team and so far has excelled. Long may it continue.

8 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

He did fine as a squad player that season but if you ever think he had the quality to start on the wing for us then I think you're overrating his abilities. He's excelling now cause he's in a system that works in a position that works. Let's not get carried away he's been doing well lately but it's early doors.

Exactly, and even now in advanced positions he makes dodgy decisions that remind me why i never liked him as a winger, case in point the first minute against Everton where he just dallied on the ball for too long and the Everton player picked it off him.  The beauty about him at wingback is with his different role requirement he Isn't that far up that often thankgod and when he is the fullback is more occupied by  Pedro . Im curious as to what Moses would be like in a flat back 4 if for whatever reason we have to revert back this season, i say this because i think Alonso would be tragic in a back four and i Wouldn't want Ivan back in either, Moses has been really good defensively so if it came to it with our current squad would Moses RB and Cesar LB be the best choice? 

I'm very pleased he's finally worked out at Chelsea, his life story is one of overcoming extreme adversity, and after he's finally been given a Proper chance at the club he's shown us all his class

deserves another winner's medal, sooner rather than later

 

 

 

From the Old Testament to be precise 

Suddenly religion makes sense!

Nice strike. This guy is really a top player.

Moses MOTM and two goals (Mikel with the third) to basically put Nigeria in a commanding position for the 2018 World Cup from the group of death.

 

^ Is that Pedro in the crowd? :D

this commentator on moses goal 

 

https://streamable.com/zcmn

20 hours ago, Saru said:

^ Is that Pedro in the crowd? :D

My, has he put on some weight !! 

Big Vic getting MOTM