Thought he was pretty average to poor last night. A couple of good moments, defensively asleep a number of times. he's young and the team was cheacked out so lots of mitigating circumstances but he didn't show anything that makes me think it will be ok move Mikel on YET

 

In fairness he looked gassed at the end. Premiership speed maybe taking him a little by suprise

What a player!! Was the lone shining light for last night's dismal performance. Kept his cool everytime... hardly misplaced any of his passes even when we were 10 men. Bright future ahead.

 

Have to agree. Considering we went down to 10 men and Jose didn't reinforce the midfield, it was a fairly remarkable achievement for him to cover as much ground as he did. 

 

Plenty of touches, few misplaced passes and with nothing up front to really hit with a pass, it was a composed performance. I've seen some people elsewhere actually writing him off already which I don't understand. What he needs now is minutes and that's why it's pointless keeping Mikel around. 

José Mourinho said prior to this game that Chelsea’s youth team, despite winning the FA Youth Cup and Uefa Youth League, should look to Ruben Loftus-Cheek as their biggest title of the season. The reason being that the midfielder, 19, has come up through the ranks, made his debut in the Champions League in December, and last weekend against Liverpool made his first start in the Premier League.

 

Gary Neville said he was impressed with the physicality of Loftus-Cheek in that 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, although he glossed over the fact that he was taken off after an hour as Liverpool began to get a foothold in midfield.

 

But if Loftus-Cheek’s team-mates in the youth side should look to him, it is to be hoped Loftus-Cheek is not looking to those who have gone before him. Names such as Ryan Bertrand and Josh McEachran spring to mind as two youth players who have promised much but were deemed not up to the required standard.

 

Bertrand is at Southampton, having made the move permanent in February, at least having played and won the Champions League in 2012 while at Chelsea. McEachran, richly feted once upon a time, but now on loan at Vitesse, is doomed, surely, never to be a first-team player under Mourinho. He and Bertrand have been barged to one side by older, more experienced and illustrious players bought in by the manager.

 

Yet Loftus-Cheek now finds himself given a chance. The scrutiny is intense and he knows he will not be given much time. Mourinho was talking before the match about the process of sending Chelsea players away – 26 players are on loan at the moment – but at least Loftus-Cheek was not mentioned as one of those he has in mind to farm out next season.

 

His role here was on the right of Nemanja Matic, with licence to get forward more frequently than the Serb but he was needed to screen in front of John Terry and Gary Cahill for the first 15 minutes, as West Bromwich got on the front foot. Unfortunately for him the first part of the game appeared to pass him by, up to and including the moment Saido Berahino gave the hosts the lead. As the forward spun round to shoot from 22 yards, Loftus-Cheekwas tracking back but too far away to put in a challenge. Maybe he was unsure of his footing. After six minutes he had shaped to shoot, slipped, and the ball trundled harmlessly away. He was on his backside again shortly after the goal, going in with two feet on Berahino. It was a desperate challenge, deserving of a yellow card. It was the last time the referee Mike Jones showed any sympathy to a Chelsea player.

 

To Loftus-Cheek’s credit he stayed out of the fracas that saw Diego Costa bumping his way around the West Bromwich defence and which inadvertently led to Cesc Fàbregas, 20 yards away, wanting to get involved as well. It was his chip on to Chris Brunt’s head that resulted in the Spain international’s red card.

 

Shorn of a team-mate, Loftus-Cheek’s life became harder, as the channels through to the Chelsea penalty area opened up. He began to see more of the Albion midfield than he would have liked. With the prospect of being overwhelmed, he may then have realised what life would be like against Manchester City or Real Madrid next season. Neville had evoked that very idea when he said he thought Matic needed a partner, other than Fàbregas, in the big games next season. Fàbregas will be suspended at the start of next season, which could be the silver lining for Loftus-Cheek from this difficult game made harder by Berahino’s penalty and effectively finished by Brunt’s hammer shot inside the left-hand post.

 

But Mourinho would not have given Loftus-Cheek consecutive starts in the league if he had not seen something he liked and one first-half dribble and jink through midfield gave a glimpse of what he likes to do when given some space.

 

His short passing was tidy but smacked of someone inclined to look for the easy ball out. Meanwhile his team‑mates from the youth side watched on from the bench. Nathan Aké, who came on for the final 17 minutes, and Isaiah Brown, who managed 11 minutes were presumably as delighted as their friend, but the goalkeeper Jamal Blackman will have to wait another day for his debut.

 

Yet having got this close to the first team, Loftus-Cheek and his young team‑mates will no doubt be keeping a nervous eye on Chelsea’s incomings from the transfer market this summer. After this performance, some of the senior players will too.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/may/18/chelsea-ruben-loftus-cheek-audition-west-brom-premier-league

Edited May 19, 201511 yr by ForeverCarefree

Nice article, only bit I didn't like is where RLC was accused of playing the "easy ball out", because thats exactly what you don't want from a young midfield player right? Better to have someone try and hit 40 yard passes all night like St. Stevie hoping to be the hero.

 

Speaking of which, Xavi is w**k, always looking for the easy ball out.

It is hard for a youngster just breaking into the first team. The last thing they want to do is cock-up and risk further opportunities so it is no surprise that RLC was fairly unadventurous and kept it simple. He did show a couple of bits of great footwork and turns of pace, but on the whole it was okay but nothing to get you out of seat excited about.

 

I'm hoping that Jose and the coaching staff (and the likes of JT) are telling him to of course find his feet and walk before you can run but with each appearance look to be more adventurous and start trying things. To make it in the game these days you do need that something special which catches the eye (unless your name is Mikel!!) and it certainly looks like he has it in his locker so I just pray it doesn't get coached out of him.

Edited May 19, 201511 yr by Nibs

The one worry I have for him is some fans see him as a bit lazy, or rather not as energetic as is needed. He has a laid back style, and sometimes especially in England that can be seen as a negative, the "up and at em" style seems to preferred.

It is hard for a youngster just breaking into the first team. The last thing they want to do is cock-up and risk further opportunities so it is no surprise that RLC was fairly unadventurous and kept it simple. He did show a couple of bits of great footwork and turns of pace, but on the whole it was okay but nothing to get you out of seat excited about.

 

I'm hoping that Jose and the coaching staff (and the likes of JT) are telling him to of course find his feet and walk before you can run but with each appearance look to be more adventurous and start trying things. To make it in the game these days you do need that something special which catches the eye (unless your name is Mikel!!) and it certainly looks like he has it in his locker so I just pray it doesn't get coached out of him.

 

What is perhaps a tad overlooked is that last night Jose didn't make any changes to the team after Cesc's dismissal so RLC and Matic had to cover a lot more ground.

 

The greatest compliment you can probably pay to Ruben is that in his last couple of matches he hasn't looked out of place in the side.

What is perhaps a tad overlooked is that last night Jose didn't make any changes to the team after Cesc's dismissal so RLC and Matic had to cover a lot more ground.

 

The greatest compliment you can probably pay to Ruben is that in his last couple of matches he hasn't looked out of place in the side.

 

 

Nor did Josh, and I'd actually go a little further as in to say Josh's first few appearances for us he was one of the stand out players, the game against Newcastle still living in the memory. Now RLC has a few advantaged over Josh and no two situations are the same. I want the boy to succeed but I'm trying to be realistic, it seems to really make it at the club you have to be one of the top players in your position, and honestly rightfully so. 

 

Hopefully he proves to be another JT and not Harley, Morrison, Nichols etc 

I honestly never seen anything in Josh McEachran to say he'd make it at our level.

The boys coming through today seem to have more ability and certainly better technique from what I remember seeing from Josh.

Nor did Josh, and I'd actually go a little further as in to say Josh's first few appearances for us he was one of the stand out players, the game against Newcastle still living in the memory. Now RLC has a few advantaged over Josh and no two situations are the same. I want the boy to succeed but I'm trying to be realistic, it seems to really make it at the club you have to be one of the top players in your position, and honestly rightfully so. 

 

Hopefully he proves to be another JT and not Harley, Morrison, Nichols etc 

 

Josh's physicality and lack of hustle was always something people thought might be an issue and that's proven to be the case. At the moment there don't seem to be any glaring chinks in Ruben's armour but it's early days.

 

BTW, Jon Harley was a great youngster and I'll never understand why we sold him. Nicholls was worth it for his goal at Spurs

Like dkw said, he has a very laid back style, and I've seen him look really lethargic in some youth team games.

However he has improved alot this season, and he has a similar ability to yaya, where can power through players in midfield. We saw a couple of glimpses last night, and as soon as he gets the confidence and experience to utilise that power and drive, I think he will be a major asset for club and country.

I really don't get the comparisons to mikel, you only have to look at his movement to see they are world's apart. Mikel will make a pass and hold his postition 9 times out 10, rlc is more inclined make forward runs.

I'm really excited to see if can break the mold, im glad he has had a steady start, too many players have explosive debuts, get hyped up, and they think they have already made it. Slow but steady will more likely garner better long term success for him, especially under a manager like Mourinho who demands the basics to be done first and foremost.

I really don't get the comparisons to mikel, you only have to look at his movement to see they are world's apart. Mikel will make a pass and hold his postition 9 times out 10, rlc is more inclined make forward runs.

 

And which one do you want more from your defensive midfielder.

And which one do you want more from your defensive midfielder.

exactly what I was going to post. he's not the same type of player as mikel at all so I'm not sure where the comparison comes from.

Money is a problem for so many young players. Too much too soon, thinking they've made it before they've achieved nothing in the game apart from reaching the first team.

 ChelsTransferChamps retweeted

David Weiner ‏@davidweiner9  22m22 minutes ago

Mourinho shows he still means business with withering assessment of loftus cheek performance

2 retweets1 favorite

Reply

 Retweet2

 Favorite1

Follow

 

 

 ChelsTransferChamps retweeted

 

Sami Mokbel ‏@SamiMokbel81_DM  22m22 minutes ago

Jose Mourinho says his relationship with Loftus-Cheek has 'taken a step back' after clash against Sydney FC. More on @MailSport soon #CFC

 

 

 

 

 ChelsTransferChamps retweeted

Richard Bayliss ‏@RichBaylissFOX  24m24 minutes ago

Mourinho scathing of young Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek's work rate. Not impressed with his young group as a whole.

 

 

Showing a bit of tough love and making sure the lad knows he still has a long way to go. 

I've never been impressed with rock really always thought baker was much better

Rlc not rock this ducking phone

Let's hope he gets his head out of his arse

Well he better improve his attitude in the next few weeks or he will be left in the reserves

Harsh words, but its definitly a test of his character from Jose. So he should take that as a good sign, work really, really hard this summer and show up for the coming pre-season in the shape of his life.

More here:

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11646093/Jose-Mourinho-blasts-Ruben-Loftus-Cheek-after-poor-Chelsea-display.html

 

Glad JM tells it how it is

Well, i guess we won't see much of him next season...

 

Sounds a bit harsh for me. Looks like Mourinho is paving the way to buy players instead of giving our youth a chance.

Disappointed to see that. From what I remember players that had problems with Jose were out or weren't playing. I just hope he will has time to improve.

Saying the relationship has 'taken a step back' is a shocking thing to say. The lad did superbly in games that actually mattered when other players put in sh*te performances so I think this is overstepping the mark, even if he's trying to make a substantial point to him.