^ Why not aim to the best? Talent alone might not trump hardwork. You look at players like Bale & Lamps who through sheer hardwork & determination became world class players. There is always another level, but you are right their pay package means they live in an alternate universe.

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.

If his agent was making sincere noises about other clubs with Ruben's blessing, then I'm disappointed in Ruben. I could understand him asking for a loan if he didn't get more playing time, but I'd expect him to sign a contract with us.

A lot of times agents say things without the player telling them to, and a lot of times they play the "he's considering other clubs" line as posturing without being serious about it, so it's hard to say where Ruben's heart was.

I don't understand why the club gave him 65,000 a week. That's similar to Willian and Azpilicueta. Frankly Ruben hasn't shown himself to be worthy of that, and no other club would have given him that.

If his agent was making sincere noises about other clubs with Ruben's blessing, then I'm disappointed in Ruben. I could understand him asking for a loan if he didn't get more playing time, but I'd expect him to sign a contract with us.

A lot of times agents say things without the player telling them to, and a lot of times they play the "he's considering other clubs" line as posturing without being serious about it, so it's hard to say where Ruben's heart was.

I don't understand why the club gave him 65,000 a week. That's similar to Willian and Azpilicueta. Frankly Ruben hasn't shown himself to be worthy of that, and no other club would have given him that.

£65,000 a week is a lot. I can't imagine that it will actually be high, especially considering the only times I have seen a speculated figure as high as £60,000 a week were in articles trying to bash Chelsea.

The only way I would see this figure having some truth behind it is if it were to be including large bonuses but I still would imagine his wages are more likely to be around £36,000-£40,000 a week, as that is slightly over double what he was previously on and is another figure that I have also seen floating about in the media.

This is still ridiculous but much more conceivable than £65,000 a week.

Edited April 20, 201610 yr by PedroMendez

£65,000 a week is a lot. I can't imagine that it will actually be high, especially considering the only times I have seen a speculated figure as high as £60,000 a week were in articles trying to bash Chelsea.

The only way I would see this figure having some truth behind it is if it were to be including large bonuses but I still would imagine his wages are more likely to be around £36,000-£40,000 a week, as that is slightly over double what he was previously on and is another figure that I have also seen floating about in the media.

This is still ridiculous but much more conceivable than £65,000 a week.

You may be right. I don't know how reliable the £65,000 figure that I heard is. I thought it was from someone close to Ruben but upon looking into it further it doesn't seem to have been. Roman is a shrewd businessman so it's probably not that much. Like you said, if it were true it might be the potential maximum after many essentially impossible bonuses (e.g. winning both the PFA award and Ballon d'Or).

£40,000 guaranteed would still be too high for him in my opinion.

Got a Brilliant oppurtunity last night. 1 whole minute of experience. Kudos to (gutless) Gus on taking such a massive risk in such an important game. 

 

Honestly, if I was Rlc, i would be preparing my transfer request to save my career. Next we would make him a part of our excellent loan system. 

Got a Brilliant oppurtunity last night. 1 whole minute of experience. Kudos to (gutless) Gus on taking such a massive risk in such an important game. 

 

Honestly, if I was Rlc, i would be preparing my transfer request to save my career. Next we would make him a part of our excellent loan system. 

 

Gus, Started Traore. He also gave a good deal of minutes to Tammy Abraham. He also gave Kennedy a chance. If there was any game to beat for not playing youth, this is not it. My thought on this whole situation is that I don't think RLC showed enough in practice to warrant starting this game. 

Gus, Started Traore. He also gave a good deal of minutes to Tammy Abraham. He also gave Kennedy a chance. If there was any game to beat for not playing youth, this is not it. My thought on this whole situation is that I don't think RLC showed enough in practice to warrant starting this game. 

RLC was our best player by a country mile against City. Which was also his last start. WHy? Any thoughts on that? We dont know how RLC practises, but honestly why should he even care when he knows that the minute matic comes back from injury he will be out of the team irrespective of how well he has performed.

 

Gus HAD to start Traore. Costa is injured, Remy is injured. 

We were playing a team which just like us had nothing to play for. Gus keeps on sh*tting about playing youth, yet comes up with excuses about keeping it "fair". What was the reason of starting Mikel as a CB? What is the reason of not starting RLC inp place of either Pedro (shofting willian to the wing) or cesc (playing the DLP).

There are no excuses.

I am sure he will come up with the same sh*t against Leicester saying that we have to give the champions the respect by putting in our best team, right?

If it was not for the fact the JT, Zouma, Matic, Pedro, Hazard, Willian, Costa, Remy were all injured/suspended he would never even have started a single youngsters as shown by how he has treated RLC.

Honestly, cant wait to see him out of the dugout. Hopefully Conte throws Gus' analysis of the squad in the dustbin right where it should belong.

Gus, Started Traore. He also gave a good deal of minutes to Tammy Abraham. He also gave Kennedy a chance. If there was any game to beat for not playing youth, this is not it. My thought on this whole situation is that I don't think RLC showed enough in practice to warrant starting this game.

Costa and Remy were injured, who else was going to start up front?

Willian went off injured, who else was going to come on but Kenedy?

It's a mirage that Guus has given youth a chance, the majority of their playing time has been forced through injuries and suspensions.

Playing RLC for 30 seconds is pointless and a little insulting to player.

Although Ruben is probably dishearted by it he will look at Guus leaving soon and know it's not a long term issue.

Tbh I'm one of the ones who doesn't think RLC is that good. I don't think he'll make it here personally and I see him becoming a decent mid table player.

Don't think he's got the drive to become a top player. Seems happy to coast a lot of the time.

Costa and Remy were injured, who else was going to start up front?

Willian went off injured, who else was going to come on but Kenedy?

It's a mirage that Guus has given youth a chance, the majority of their playing time has been forced through injuries and suspensions.

Playing RLC for 30 seconds is pointless and a little insulting to player.

Insulted?  For being brought off the bench to relieve one of your team mates, add some height for the long ball and ensure your team gets through the game with a point.  I hope he doesn't feel insulted to do is job.  Christ if he bought on one of the even younger players they may have been so insulted that they would never have recovered

Even 30 seconds is something for him, he should respect everything he got. But we have to play him much more to let him gain more experience, confidence and use his talent until the end. I think he deserves more than 30 seconds, but he can't lose his head, he has to focus and go forward to impress Conte. 

Even 30 seconds is something for him, he should respect everything he got. But we have to play him much more to let him gain more experience, confidence and use his talent until the end. I think he deserves more than 30 seconds, but he can't lose his head, he has to focus and go forward to impress Conte.

Yeah 30 seconds is going to do wonders for his development...

I'm baffled the lad signed a new contract, having Mikel playing in alien positions must hammer home how reluctant we are to giving our youngsters a chance.

30 seconds is pointless, it makes absolutely zero contribution to his development.

It wouldn't be as much of an issue had our youth teams not dominated the youth leagues and also the European competitions.

I mean you cant really get better than that for a youth side, looking at it we have one of if not the best group of youngsters in Europe yet we seemed terrified to use them.

It's really puzzling.

Felt really sorry for RLC last night. It's never nice seeing a sub come on so late in the game. They are normally just being used to wind the clock down which is bad enough for any pro but must be soul destroying for a youngster desperate to prove themselves. Even worse to do it when we have just conceded an equalizer and everyone was pretty much waiting for the ref to blow the final whistle. He could have easily come on for Pedro or Matic and got a good 20 minutes. Really poor from Guus, just hope he makes up for it by starting the lad in the final game.

It's not about his development.

It wasn't RLC 1 - Liverpool 1.

It was for the team, the most senior player on the bench was brought on to see out the game.  It only takes 1 mistake to score a goal.  

It's not about his development.

And there is the problem at this club.

And there is the problem at this club.

It's easy to act like the club have easy decisions, with a fan base demanding success but also demanding the youth be blooded whilst not wanting to be beaten by a rival.

We can't go an put 11 youths on the park, I struggle to see how having more than 3 would be beneficial to any of them really.  Maybe he would have been a better option than Matic for developments sake last night from the beginning, but you have to remember we now have a new manager on board with some tough decisions to make and needs to be certain players like Matic are just having a blip.  But then again, we were down on centre halfs last night so having a more senior midfield duo would probably help Mikel so that we didn't lose to a rival and give the fans another reason to be unhappy.

The reasoning is endless, the club can hardly have a problem with development.. they've pumped more money into development than any other club.

i thought we were terrific last night.

It's easy to act like the club have easy decisions, with a fan base demanding success but also demanding the youth be blooded whilst not wanting to be beaten by a rival.

We can't go an put 11 youths on the park, I struggle to see how having more than 3 would be beneficial to any of them really. Maybe he would have been a better option than Matic for developments sake last night from the beginning, but you have to remember we now have a new manager on board with some tough decisions to make and needs to be certain players like Matic are just having a blip. But then again, we were down on centre halfs last night so having a more senior midfield duo would probably help Mikel so that we didn't lose to a rival and give the fans another reason to be unhappy.

The reasoning is endless, the club can hardly have a problem with development.. they've pumped more money into development than any other club.

i thought we were terrific last night.

The season is over and has been for a long time.

We have nothing to lose and the one thing we have to gain is playing the young players giving them vital experience going into a new season.

Bringing on one of them for 30 seconds is pitiful no matter how you try to dress it up.

Insulted? For being brought off the bench to relieve one of your team mates, add some height for the long ball and ensure your team gets through the game with a point. I hope he doesn't feel insulted to do is job. Christ if he bought on one of the even younger players they may have been so insulted that they would never have recovered

Why is the manager looking to "secure a point" for his team that are sat 9th in the table?

Especially when one minute earlier we were in a position to gain two more points.

Guus has kept speaking about giving opportunities to the younger players and RLC despite playing well whenever he has started has found game time extremely hard to come by for the last month despite us having nothing to play for.

So after inexplicably being exiled from the starting XI and watching on from the sideline whilst Mikel and Matic put in some dog turd performances he should be happy to trot on for 30 seconds so that Mikel can launch some hopeful time killing long ball punts up to him so we can earn a point?

Edited May 12, 201610 yr by ForeverCarefree

Can't agree with either of you I'm afraid.  I for one did not want to see us lose last night so I'm very happy Gus decided to secure a point.  Imagine if we'd conceded again in the last minute and lost, would have been devastating in my eyes.  Not saying RLC was the difference at the end, but that's why the change was made.

I struggle to see what would make either of you happy.  There was a start for a young striker, a start for a left footed full back, a substitute appearance for a 20 year old with plenty of time on the clock and a debut for a promising 18 year old.

As I mentioned in my earlier post there are so many reasons why Matic/Mikel have been preferred lately so its not inexplicable at all.  I for one think the only question mark over last nights side would be to play an out of position midfielder in defense when there was an opportunity for a youth player to play in his rightful position.

 

Why is the manager looking to "secure a point" for his team that are sat 9th in the table?

Especially when one minute earlier we were in a position to gain two more points.

Guus has kept speaking about giving opportunities to the younger players and RLC despite playing well whenever he has started has found game time extremely hard to come by for the last month despite us having nothing to play for.

So after inexplicably being exiled from the starting XI and watching on from the sideline whilst Mikel and Matic put in some dog turd performances he should be happy to trot on for 30 seconds so that Mikel can launch some hopeful time killing long ball punts up to him so we can earn a point?

Totally agree with you. Even tho matic has been terrible this season I would have rather given RLC 10 games beside him instead of playing Mikel. A lot of the young kids must be wondering how they will ever get a game when some of the senior players have been so poor this season and they still can't get a game.

Conte will have done his home work he knows what William can do why not play Kennedy the whole game last instead of william or pedro.

Just to pick up on another point I seen someone saying a lot of the fans wanting instant success. I would rather see conte be given a target of top four for the next 2 seasons with the hope of playing some of the younger players then hopefully being ready to challenge for the league in his last year.

I don't think it's a case of Guus looking to secure a point, I think his intention was to bring on RLC to help secure the three points. It's just unfortunate that Begovic f**ked up so late.

 

Granted I was disappointed that RLC or Kasey were not introduced sooner, given that it was a dead rubber.

Edited May 12, 201610 yr by the special one