That 45mins against Villa... The last side we beat in the league I think... Seems so long ago... Is all you, me and most importantly, rlc get.

 

And he was wrong to be subbed too, he did nothing wrong in that first half and he was our best player, or one of them at least.

 

It's bugging me to be honest. Mourinho talks the kid up, but won't play him. We are 15th in the league, your regulars are letting you down week after week, i honestly don't see how we could do much worse playing a younger player or 2 right now.

If he is not going to be giving a platform here? time to move on, how long before his contract expires?

Can't believe I actually bought it when Jose said he was going to get a run of games. Whenever he says anything like that, he then comes up with some excuse as to why the player isn't ready and we don't see them again for months.

Never bought it for a second. Would prefer if he told the truth and just said hes not going to play. But I realise theres a certain level of politics at play and he have to keep up the charades. In January or in the summer we will likely buy at least one high profile CM and that will be that for RLC.

Should be playing regularly for the next 3 matches. No way he can do worse than the other "stars"... Just f**king play him for gods sake!

Could be the one platform that loses Jose some support of the fans.

With everyone else being sh*t right now, there is no reason why he shouldn't be getting more games.

 

I said it on the match day thread, i would much rather have his passing ability and calmness than Ramires' energy. Where is Ramires' energy getting us ?

 

We need some actual quality in the team, not all of these hard workers.

Ramires' energy in the last two games got us our only goal and with a better finish should have got us a point on Saturday.. I admit that second point is a bit wishy washy, but if his energy canget us a goal every 1,2,3 games, and the rest of the team stand up, it's handy to have..  Agree RLC should be on the park though

It's utterly ridiculous that he isn't being given more game time. If he can't get it now under Mourinho he never will.

It's utterly ridiculous that he isn't being given more game time. If he can't get it now under Mourinho he never will.

Wrong. He can if he leaves or under a manager who actually appreciates youth

under a manager who actually appreciates youth

 

So Jose didn't bench 32 year old Cech in favour of 22 year old Cech? 

 

Jose didn't select a 20 year old Kurt Zouma ahead of the likes of John Terry and Garry Cahill? 

 

He hasn't replaced 30 year old Filipe Luis with 21 year old Baba Rhaman? 

 

He didn't promote Loftus-Cheek into the first team squad the year after 37 year old Frank Lampard left Chelsea? 

So Jose didn't bench 32 year old Cech in favour of 22 year old Cech? 

 

Jose didn't select a 20 year old Kurt Zouma ahead of the likes of John Terry and Garry Cahill? 

 

He hasn't replaced 30 year old Filipe Luis with 21 year old Baba Rhaman? 

 

He didn't promote Loftus-Cheek into the first team squad the year after 37 year old Frank Lampard left Chelsea? 

 

There's a difference though, the players you mentioned were all bought for millions and had already been given a chance elsewhere. Courtois was already top 3 in the world before Mourinho dropped Cech to play him, Zouma was £12m or something and had was playing very well for Etienne, and Rahman was 20 odd million and had a great season in the Bundesliga.

 

I don't like saying things like "Mourinho doesn't give younger players a chance" but he certainly prefers buying ready made than bringing through academy players. RLC is a great product of our own academy and considering how badly we're playing he should be given a lot more game time.

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by 1905.

There's a difference though, the players you mentioned were all bought for millions and had already been given a chance elsewhere. Courtois was already top 3 in the world before Mourinho dropped Cech to play him, Zouma was £12m or something and had was playing very well for Etienne, and Rahman was 20 odd million and had a great season in the Bundesliga.

 

I don't like saying things like "Mourinho doesn't give younger players a chance" but he certainly prefers buying ready made than bringing through academy players. RLC is a great product of our own academy and considering how badly we're playing he should be given a lot more game time.

 

Well Jose showed with Zouma last season that he doesn't necessarily want to throw the younger players in at the deep end if they have a lack of experience playing at the highest level. 

 

He eased Zouma into the team with occasional appearances here and there. Then after Christmas, when he'd bedded in, got some experience and was deemed ready he was entrusted with regular minutes. 

 

Chelsea fans just need to show some patience with RLC. 

Well Jose showed with Zouma last season that he doesn't necessarily want to throw the younger players in at the deep end if they have a lack of experience playing at the highest level. 

 

He eased Zouma into the team with occasional appearances here and there. Then after Christmas, when he'd bedded in, got some experience and was deemed ready he was entrusted with regular minutes. 

 

Chelsea fans just need to show some patience with RLC. 

 

I know, and all well and good when we're winning games and playing well but when the current players aren't performing I just think he should be given a run to prove what he can do. If it doesn't work it can't be any worse than it currently is, can it?

I know, and all well and good when we're winning games and playing well but when the current players aren't performing I just think he should be given a run to prove what he can do. If it doesn't work it can't be any worse than it currently is, can it?

 

And if RLC's performances don't match up the expectation and he finds himself struggling in an already under-performing side? 

 

Jose's got to have the player's long term interests in mind, throwing him into the side and hoping for the best may not be the best answer right now. 

I am a massive fan of Mourinho but every time I watch Dele Alli perform for Tottenham I just think to myself if this lad can cope with the demands of the PL than so can RLC. It was understandable last season when we were challenging for the title & RLC got limited playing time but Mourinho has no excuse not to play RLC.

 

Coming to RLC he comes across as a confidence player and every time he plays for CFC he almost lacks that confidence as he is afraid of making  any errors as he will be either taken off or criticized. He really needs a run of Games playing alongside Matic so that he can gain that well needed confidence and experience, If we are losing than I would much rather lose with RLC, Zouma, Kennedy, Rahman & Traore part of the team than the under-performing seniors. 

I reckon RLC could do no worse than any of the current CM or CAM options that are playing.

 

After the international break we've got some easier games at home and hopefully he'll see some minute in those games.

So Jose didn't bench 32 year old Cech in favour of 22 year old Cech?

Jose didn't select a 20 year old Kurt Zouma ahead of the likes of John Terry and Garry Cahill?

He hasn't replaced 30 year old Filipe Luis with 21 year old Baba Rhaman?

He didn't promote Loftus-Cheek into the first team squad the year after 37 year old Frank Lampard left Chelsea?

If Courtois didnt make a name for himself in spain by winning 2 uefa cups, a spanish league title and two golden gloves awards. Nope he would have absolute no chance.

Let's be honest. Jose's preferred centre-back pairing going into this season was always going to be terry, cahill as we saw in the first match and 1st half of the city game. He didn't anticipate the defence would be this porous. Zouma's pace is what is keeping him in the team. I didn't think if we had signed Stones it would have been an automatic pairing with zouma. Terry, Cahill, Stones would have been the 1st 3 in the roster

Same Baba Rahman who has been termed as "not a Jose signing"? You're having a laugh mate

Just as he promoted Izzy brown, Solanke, Lewis Baker, Jeremy Boga to make up the home-grown status quo

Jose use's youth as if he is frighten of them performing really well, then he has to alter his whole set-up of the team dynamics,

Take  Villa's game, promised to give the lad a run of games no matter what, then RLC was outstanding for 45mins. quick get him off,

still man of the match in many peoples eyes including mine, the game was 1 of only 3 wins & 2 of only 2 clean sheets, so why bench him?

what was his reason for benching him? Totally unfathomable.

We arent at training, we dont know why he hasnt played much. Seems telling he was taken off for Matic because he wasnt tactically ready though

Let's be honest. Jose's preferred centre-back pairing going into this season was always going to be terry, cahill as we saw in the first match and 1st half of the city game. He didn't anticipate the defence would be this porous. Zouma's pace is what is keeping him in the team. I didn't think if we had signed Stones it would have been an automatic pairing with zouma. Terry, Cahill, Stones would have been the 1st 3 in the roster

 

So you are highlighting that Jose only plays youth if they have something to offer the side.and earn their place in the side (by playing better than the other options) is that so bad it also highlights that he will give youth a chance, and he has given plenty of young players a shot this season, Zouma has been the only one that has earned his starting place. There is a case Baba deserved more of a shot but he did look very nervous and shaky in his first few appearances but now seems to have settled and has recently been a lot more consistently in the side and might well just have earned himself that starting spot. Others might suggest that Kennedy has shown a level of performance deserving a spot in the side but its hard to give him the spot ahead of our player of this season and last years player of the season. RLC has probably had the least opportunity, out of the 4 U21's with premier league chances this season, in a position some would say has been most fragile and most up for grabs. Does this not raise flags that he might not be ready for this level yet a reason highlight by Jose himself when he took him off half way through the Aston Villa game, he is very talented and great on the ball but playing in the centre of the park you need to be very tactically aware this will come and he will be a premier league player but he is still only 19 and needs some more time to develop. 

Also Stones is 21 so would preferring youth over youth really help the case you are trying to make. Personally I don't think that would be the case to me Zouma is better than Stones.  

 

Game time given to players under the age of 21 so far this season by Jose I have previously put a less updated version of this in a different post a few weeks ago but i think it helps highlight Jose has been playing youth.
 

Chelsea U21

Kurt Zouma BPL 11(868) CL 4 (360) LC 1 (120) (1078)

Baba BPL 3 (162) CL 2 (180) LC 2 (159) (372)

RLC BPL 2 (62)  CL 1 (76)  LC 1 (71)  (209)

Kenedy BPL 3 (88)  CL 1 (17)  LC 2 (119) (193)

Traore BPL 0 (0)   CL 1 (13)  LC 1 (40)  (53)

Total BPL 19(1180)CL 9 (646) LC 7 (509) (2335)


Compare that to Arsenal and City who currently have a striking crisis and spent £50m youngster has amassed less minutes than Zouma, and we have given more youngsters more minutes in all formats.  

 

Man City

Sterling BPL 11(763) CL 3 (322) LC 1 (90)  (984)

Roberts BPL 1 (4)   CL 0 (0)   LC 2 (50)  (54)

Iheanacho BPL 8 (102) Cl 0 (0)   LC 1 (90)  (133)

Manu Garcia BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 2 (22)  (22)

george evans BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 1 (1)   (1)

Total BPL 20(869) CL 3 (322) LC 7 (253) (1444)

 

Arsenal

Bellerin BPL 10(900) CL 2 (175) LC 0 (0)   (985)

Chambers BPL 3 (140) CL 1 (3)   LC 2 (180) (314)

Kamara BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 1 (59)  (59)

Iwobi BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 1 (90)  (90)

Bielik BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 1 (30)  (30)

Bennacer BPL 0 (0)   CL 0 (0)   LC 1 (71)  (71)

Total BPL 13(1040)CL 3 (178) LC 6 (430) (1549)

Our minutes given to youth players is actually more akin to Spurs a club which currently has an ethos around bringing in and playing youth, and yet we have still given more youth players an opportunity.
 

Spurs

Eric Dier     BPL 11(976) EL 4 (345) LC 1 (84)  (1405)

Bentaleb BPL 4 (165) EL 0 (0)   LC 0 (0)   (165)

Dele Alli BPL 11(759) EL 4 (280) LC 1 (15)  (1053)

Total BPL 25(1900)EL 8 (625) LC 1 (99)  (2624) 

Again I know we have been a club in turmoil and massively under performing, which has meant we have had more reasons to give youth a chance but that still doesn't take away the fact that Jose has been giving the young players a shot and has been giving them game time. 

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by PedroMendez

So you are highlighting that Jose only plays youth if they have something to offer the side.and earn their place in the side (by playing better than the other options) is that so bad it also highlights that he will give youth a chance, and he has given plenty of young players a shot this season, Zouma has been the only one that has earned his starting place. There is a case Baba deserved more of a shot but he did look very nervous and shaky in his first few appearances but now seems to have settled and has recently been a lot more consistently in the side and might well just have earned himself that starting spot. Others might suggest that Kennedy has shown a level of performance deserving a spot in the side but its hard to give him the spot ahead of our player of this season and last years player of the season. RLC has probably had the least opportunity, out of the 4 U21's with premier league chances this season, in a position some would say has been most fragile and most up for grabs. Does this not raise flags that he might not be ready for this level yet a reason highlight by Jose himself when he took him off half way through the Aston Villa game, he is very talented and great on the ball but playing in the centre of the park you need to be very tactically aware this will come and he will be a premier league player but he is still only 19 and needs some more time to develop.

Also Stones is 21 so would preferring youth over youth really help the case you are trying to make. Personally I don't think that would be the case to me Zouma is better than Stones.

Zouma is starting due to circumstances surrounding this season. He wasn't No1 for the starting berth. Have you watched sergi samper, sergie roberto these are youth integrated into the Barcelona midfield and are having much game time and scoring goals since Xavi left, how would a youth player improve his game and gain experience when he's hauled off for the slightest mistake he makes? How old is Dele Alli? called up for the Senior side and he's right at home in Spurs midfield. Sure, January/Summer we shall try again for Pogba or some expensive midfielder, I wonder what the excuse would be then for RLC's lack of game time.

Zouma is starting due to circumstances surrounding this season. He wasn't No1 for the starting berth. Have you watched sergi samper, sergie roberto these are youth integrated into the Barcelona midfield and are having much game time and scoring goals since Xavi left, how would a youth player improve his game and gain experience when he's hauled off for the slightest mistake he makes? How old is Dele Alli? called up for the Senior side and he's right at home in Spurs midfield. Sure, January/Summer we shall try again for Pogba or some expensive midfielder, I wonder what the excuse would be then for RLC's lack of game time.

Last season we didn't have these circumstances and he still amassed 1558 minutes of game time with more than a handful of starts and if Chelsea where in a less competitive league like La Liga yes I would agree these players should get a lot more game time and more chances but as proven so far this season no team can just stroll out and win you have to be at your best for pretty much every game throughout the whole season.

And on players being hauled off for making the slightest mistake I don't think RLC was pulled of for making mistakes he was pulled of to increased the solidity of the midfield and which helped us secure the win which might prove vital and without it we would be in a much more worse position.

Dele Alli like Loftus-Cheek is 19  and is actually a couple of months younger than RLC but I don't get why Alli's age matters by that logic we should have Solanke upfront as Martial is playing for Man U. Alli isn't the same player as Loftus-cheek and even though I'm pretty sure RLC could produce decent performances if he was thrust him into a stable side but the side isn't stable and isn't performing well and the slightest mistake can cost us games atm, that doesn't mean we shouldn't trust in our youth or even play our youth given that chance and as most on here have probably seen I'm a big advocate for playing youth but I personally don't think we as fans should be holding on to this idea that our club and Jose have been neglecting our youth and I really don't think it is something that we can have a go at them for as the youth have been given opportunities this season and will get plenty more.

RLC has been touted as the next Pogba who is 3 years older than Ruben and it was in the summer of 2012 a 19 year old Paul Pogba was released for free with a total of 3 appearances from Man U so I don't thin kwe should worry about RLC's lack of game time just yet.

 

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by PedroMendez

This is one thing that really annoys me with Jose, our younger players are the best in the UK yet we stick with the under performing old boys. And when big arse is fit he'll walk straight back into the team. What is the point of our academy.

I reckon RLC could do no worse than any of the current CM or CAM options that are playing.

After the international break we've got some easier games at home and hopefully he'll see some minute in those games.

Last season we didn't have these circumstances and he still amassed 1558 minutes of game time with more than a handful of starts and if Chelsea where in a less competitive league like La Liga yes I would agree these players should get a lot more game time and more chances but as proven so far this season no team can just stroll out and win you have to be at your best for pretty much every game throughout the whole season.

And on players being hauled off for making the slightest mistake I don't think RLC was pulled of for making mistakes he was pulled of to increased the solidity of the midfield and which helped us secure the win which might prove vital and without it we would be in a much more worse position.

Sorry mate according to Eurosport,

asia.eurosport.com/football/kurt-zouma_prs286729/person.shtml

He played 689 minutes and started on 7 games, Chelsea played ~4860 minutes in all competitions last season, I don't think he amassed much minutes. The Spanish is less competitive yes, but that doesn't mean there aren't every strong teams in it, given the pressure on managers in Madrid/Barca to deliver trophies at season's end or face the chop, yet at Barca they ensure youth are given chances as it is part of their tradition. If he wasn't hauled off would you kindly explain why he was subbed off and also Jose's post match comments on him.

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by lesblues