if rlc had scored people would be raving about him. he can't do enough at the moment. he needs to be like pogba to be considered good enough. the lad has only started getting first team games.

It's not about him scoring goals. He played as a number 19 yet there was no connection between him and Costa throughout the game, he did not create a single chance!

there's a good article on WAGNH that compares RLC's performance on the pitch last season against WBA and last night against City
granted, the writer didn't analyze the performance thoroughly so we have to watch the videos and conclude it ourselves
however, from what i watch i think it's pretty clear that he has progressed a lot over the course of the season
what's funny is as the writer pointed out, this season RLC actually barely plays, one can wonder how good he can be if given a regular playing time

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2016/4/17/11445338/loftus-cheek-loftus-cheek-loftus-cheek

He showed some nice touches on the ball and dribbling was good too. Passing was very average with a lot of passes being over-hit. Shooting is still very very poor.

 

If he is going to start for us next season then we will be in a lot of trouble.

there's a good article on WAGNH that compares RLC's performance on the pitch last season against WBA and last night against City

granted, the writer didn't analyze the performance thoroughly so we have to watch the videos and conclude it ourselves

however, from what i watch i think it's pretty clear that he has progressed a lot over the course of the season

what's funny is as the writer pointed out, this season RLC actually barely plays, one can wonder how good he can be if given a regular playing time

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2016/4/17/11445338/loftus-cheek-loftus-cheek-loftus-cheek

I read that too. The video is telling. Even with playing limited minutes you can see hes already improving and adjusting. He'll be a good player if he continues to play.

I read that too. The video is telling. Even with playing limited minutes you can see hes already improving and adjusting. He'll be a good player if he continues to play.

I've been pretty harsh on him and am thrilled to see that he's giving me and other critics less and less reason to be hard on him.

Guus has done a good job developing him and rewarding him for showing improvement. It was a great move by Guus when Ruben asked to be subbed off but Guus refused to do so.

I hope that rather than going to the beach for a month that he stays behind and works with the fitness coaches. Sacrificing his holiday this year could really pay off in the long run.

I've been pretty harsh on him and am thrilled to see that he's giving me and other critics less and less reason to be hard on him.

Guus has done a good job developing him and rewarding him for showing improvement. It was a great move by Guus when Ruben asked to be subbed off but Guus refused to do so.

I hope that rather than going to the beach for a month that he stays behind and works with the fitness coaches. Sacrificing his holiday this year could really pay off in the long run.

You'd think he would work hard to impress Conte in the offseason, it would go a long way with a manager like him

Edited April 18, 201610 yr by TheChelseaBlues

I'm not sure how things work, but do the players get paid in between seasons or does it start with them returning to pre-season? If they are being paid all year round, then they should be hitting the gym constantly and even if they're not they should do so if they aspire to be the best players they can.

They get a yearly salary = 12 x 1 months pay, so paid ridiculous amounts for sitting on a beach, nice if you can get it, lol

He just needs to work on his stamina, that's his biggest issue. He fades as the second half goes on. Hopefully that's something that Conte can pick up.

I'm not sure how things work, but do the players get paid in between seasons or does it start with them returning to pre-season? If they are being paid all year round, then they should be hitting the gym constantly and even if they're not they should do so if they aspire to be the best players they can.

 

They get paid all year round like most people, however they deserve a holiday. Most 'normal people' get weekends off as well as 25(?) days holiday a year. Footballers don't. I think footballers are entitled to a break come summer to do as they please personally.

They get paid all year round like most people, however they deserve a holiday. Most 'normal people' get weekends off as well as 25(?) days holiday a year. Footballers don't. I think footballers are entitled to a break come summer to do as they please personally.

LOL when did this myth of the over worked footballer begin?

Before Xmas alone 3 international breaks of 9-10 days each. Oh diddums, so tough. I know some sap is going to come and tell me "but some of them play during those breaks" true, but as the poster above said, they can do as they please on their personal time. To me, representing your country is not part of your job. Well, to the facts too.

I know many people who work as many days a week as a BPL footballer (6) but then again, the non-footballers also have to work 8 hours each of those days meaning they put in more than double the hours the footballers do.

I suspect if you had to tally the total working hours or days for a BPL footballer, it would be the wet dream of the vast majority of workers around the globe...and thats just on the working hours, never mind the perks and ridiculous compensation.

Sorry, seeing these empathetic posts for some of the most pampered people in the world kind of erks me. I just see Gwenyth Paltro infront of a podium giving a speech on how being a celebrity is comparable to being a soldier in a warzone......

They get paid all year round like most people, however they deserve a holiday. Most 'normal people' get weekends off as well as 25(?) days holiday a year. Footballers don't. I think footballers are entitled to a break come summer to do as they please personally.

I think they do as well. However a month in Ibiza isn't a break and part of their job rests on their fitness. Take a week or two off after the season then back to 'work'. As Barry pointed out, training a few hours a day isn't really work when you compare it to most jobs

LOL when did this myth of the over worked footballer begin?

Before Xmas alone 3 international breaks of 9-10 days each. Oh diddums, so tough. I know some sap is going to come and tell me "but some of them play during those breaks" true, but as the poster above said, they can do as they please on their personal time. To me, representing your country is not part of your job. Well, to the facts too.

I know many people who work as many days a week as a BPL footballer (6) but then again, the non-footballers also have to work 8 hours each of those days meaning they put in more than double the hours the footballers do.

I suspect if you had to tally the total working hours or days for a BPL footballer, it would be the wet dream of the vast majority of workers around the globe...and thats just on the working hours, never mind the perks and ridiculous compensation.

Sorry, seeing these empathetic posts for some of the most pampered people in the world kind of erks me. I just see Gwenyth Paltro infront of a podium giving a speech on how being a celebrity is comparable to being a soldier in a warzone......

Hi, sorry but as someone who once played semi professional football, 90 mins in the football pitch isn't easy,cases of cramps,cruciate ligaments etc are the easiest, some faint, slump to their death, look at the case of fabrice muamba for instance he was able to escape death, so many don't. Desler a talented German midfielder had to retire at 26 because his legs couldn't carry on any more, Jack Wilshire who had to use crutches for months etc. It's never easy mate but I understand your annoyance at most of our players this season, I am too.

Players need to have rest time. You can't train 365 days a year for years on end without something giving way. Gotta have the time to recuperate. Having said that, light jogging every other morning while on holiday just to keep the weight down *ahem, Costa* is pretty light workload and makes pre-season somewhat easier 

LOL when did this myth of the over worked footballer begin?

Before Xmas alone 3 international breaks of 9-10 days each. Oh diddums, so tough. I know some sap is going to come and tell me "but some of them play during those breaks" true, but as the poster above said, they can do as they please on their personal time. To me, representing your country is not part of your job. Well, to the facts too.

I know many people who work as many days a week as a BPL footballer (6) but then again, the non-footballers also have to work 8 hours each of those days meaning they put in more than double the hours the footballers do.

I suspect if you had to tally the total working hours or days for a BPL footballer, it would be the wet dream of the vast majority of workers around the globe...and thats just on the working hours, never mind the perks and ridiculous compensation.

Sorry, seeing these empathetic posts for some of the most pampered people in the world kind of erks me. I just see Gwenyth Paltro infront of a podium giving a speech on how being a celebrity is comparable to being a soldier in a warzone......

 

Pretty sure runnng at full capacity for hours and hours a day is a bit harder than sitting on your ar*e behind a desk. 

 

I'm not saying footballers are over worked, i'm saying they deserve a break like everyone else. 

 

Do you book your holidays and sit in a Villa in some foreign country with your laptop out doing work? I highly doubt it. If we all deserve holidays then so do they at the end of the day. 

 

But no of course you're right, maybe we shouldn't give the players a break and run them completely in to the ground. That isn't going to affect their morale and fatigue at all. I'm sure they won't be miserable at Chelsea with no breaks from the game. 

I think they do as well. However a month in Ibiza isn't a break and part of their job rests on their fitness. Take a week or two off after the season then back to 'work'. As Barry pointed out, training a few hours a day isn't really work when you compare it to most jobs

You don't want to increase the risk of injury. So many things are decided these days according to sports science. I'm pretty sure science would say that their bodies need the break.

I'll happily eat the humble pie if I'm wrong..... (and I hope i am)....

But I don't believe Ruben Loftus-Cheek is going to turn out half the player we hope he will be.

He's got wonderful talent and size, but I don't feel he has the drive and determination to really make it at the top level.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, but I'm getting this prediction in now rather than later.

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I've always thought Baker was the better prospect of the 2.

Pretty sure runnng at full capacity for hours and hours a day is a bit harder than sitting on your ar*e behind a desk.

I'm not saying footballers are over worked, i'm saying they deserve a break like everyone else.

Do you book your holidays and sit in a Villa in some foreign country with your laptop out doing work? I highly doubt it. If we all deserve holidays then so do they at the end of the day.

But no of course you're right, maybe we shouldn't give the players a break and run them completely in to the ground. That isn't going to affect their morale and fatigue at all. I'm sure they won't be miserable at Chelsea with no breaks from the game.

Im not saying they shouldnt get breaks, Im saying they do get breaks. Who else gets as many breaks as a footballer? Who gets months off in the summer, multiple weeks during the season and such limited work hours during working weeks?

I dont do work on my holidays and clearly neither did many of the CFC players.

I do, however, need to come back from work in a manner where I can resume work. If I took a month vacation and came back to work in a shape where Icouldnt perform for another few weeks to a month, I'd get sacked. You too.

But yes, clearly I was saying footballers should work 24/7 with zero days off a year. 100% what I said, very clear.

I think Ruben will be the next Lampard, but only if the coach give him more chances. Now is the perfect opportunity.

I'll happily eat the humble pie if I'm wrong..... (and I hope i am)....

But I don't believe Ruben Loftus-Cheek is going to turn out half the player we hope he will be.

He's got wonderful talent and size, but I don't feel he has the drive and determination to really make it at the top level.

Again, I hope I'm wrong, but I'm getting this prediction in now rather than later.

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Drive and determination are difficult to predict. We see it go both ways not just with players but with people in our personal lives. No one would have predicted that when my mother and aunt were young adults that my mother would have been the one with the drive later in her life.

I'm not expecting him to be a superstar goal scoring machine, and that's okay. My hope is that he'll have a solid career as a one club player and be a good role model and leader for our next generation of academy players.

Drive and determination are difficult to predict.

That's true, after all Lampard was once a lazy overweight footballer.

But I do worry us giving RLC a big fat contract, coming out of an academy with all the trimmings into one of the biggest clubs in Europe isn't conductive to the kind of drive we need to instil in him.

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That's true, after all Lampard was once a lazy overweight footballer.

But I do worry us giving RLC a big fat contract, coming out of an academy with all the trimmings into one of the biggest clubs in Europe isn't conductive to the kind of drive we need to instil in him.

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Its certainly not the best thing we could do in regards to youth development but lets not think we are alone in doing that, wasnt sterling on about 30k on his first contract at liverpool? its something that should be addressed but you would need to have the fa put it in the rule book to enforce it, keep the basic down but the playing bonuses high maybe

That's true, after all Lampard was once a lazy overweight footballer.

But I do worry us giving RLC a big fat contract, coming out of an academy with all the trimmings into one of the biggest clubs in Europe isn't conductive to the kind of drive we need to instil in him.

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Unfortunately we had no choice on that one. His contract was approaching the final year-18 months and his agent was making noises about other clubs being interested. We had to tie him down and clearly he had a lot of power in those negotiations as we either pay what he wants or he joins a rival for free. Tough situation, no real way of the club coming out the winner.

No one knows wgat kind of drive and ambition these players have. Hazard was touted a world beater a few years ago, but then he comes out and says he'll never be a goal scorer like messi and ronaldo, so what's his drive and ambition? At the end of the day these guys are being paid fantastically well for something they love doing, so what other drive is there after that? It's like if any one of us had our dream job and were being paid crazy amounts of money to do so. What else is there in life after that? We are all just chasing happiness and, to a smaller extent, money.