I still think he is ok for a squad player but hes going to get even less minutes next season with Gallagher coming back.

He's 26 and still nobody knows where his best position is.

30 minutes ago, jack_super_class said:

I still think he is ok for a squad player but hes going to get even less minutes next season with Gallagher coming back.

He's 26 and still nobody knows where his best position is.

Think Tuchel sees him in a very different role to where Gallagher operates.

The thing about him I hate is he offers absolutely nothing going forward. Nothing.

He’ll beat a man with a nice turn in middle of the park, then he’ll hold onto the ball and struggle to find a pass forward, and then pass back or sideways. Every. Time.

I actually liked his play when he was a wing back against Real, he actually had an impact and he was dangerous going forward.

As a centre midfielder, even Jorginho offers more going forward.

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

The thing about him I hate is he offers absolutely nothing going forward. Nothing.

He’ll beat a man with a nice turn in middle of the park, then he’ll hold onto the ball and struggle to find a pass forward, and then pass back or sideways. Every. Time.

I actually liked his play when he was a wing back against Real, he actually had an impact and he was dangerous going forward.

As a centre midfielder, even Jorginho offers more going forward.

Agree with everything. I thought he did brilliantly against Madrid in that role and would like to see Tuchel play him again in there. 

Problem with loftus cheek is his positioning in the middle where as wing back he can play more freely and show is natural raw talent. 

3 minutes ago, Gentian said:

Agree with everything. I thought he did brilliantly against Madrid in that role and would like to see Tuchel play him again in there. 

Problem with loftus cheek is his positioning in the middle where as wing back he can play more freely and show is natural raw talent. 

Based on the fact that Reece was played in the middle yesterday to rest him from the wing back exertions, I am really surprised that TT didn't consider RLC in that position for the game.

2 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Based on the fact that Reece was played in the middle yesterday to rest him from the wing back exertions, I am really surprised that TT didn't consider RLC in that position for the game.

I really wanted to see him in there again but unfortunately Tuchel had no other options in the middle. Kovacic injury has messed us up a little bit because Jorginho is out of form too. 

11 minutes ago, Gentian said:

I really wanted to see him in there again but unfortunately Tuchel had no other options in the middle. Kovacic injury has messed us up a little bit because Jorginho is out of form too. 

Saul could have been given a go. I would even consider using youngsters like Lewis Hall or Xavier Simons. At least they would play with some hunger.

15 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Saul could have been given a go. I would even consider using youngsters like Lewis Hall or Xavier Simons. At least they would play with some hunger.

Its hindsight talking. He could have being murdered if he played them and we lost. People would have accused him that he is not taking the rivalry seriously etc etc. However, he could have played 4-3-3 with mount and loftus cheek supporting kante in the middle. Sarr would have being on the bench and instead Ziyech and werner would have being the supporting attackers for Lukaku. Arsenal seem to hate playing against 4.3.3 too. Thats hindsight talking ofcourse. 

5 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Think Tuchel sees him in a very different role to where Gallagher operates.

Yeah, Gallagher will operate in the team whereas RLC will be on the bench (if he's lucky!!)

On 21/04/2022 at 14:36, dansubrosa said:

The thing about him I hate is he offers absolutely nothing going forward. Nothing.

He’ll beat a man with a nice turn in middle of the park, then he’ll hold onto the ball and struggle to find a pass forward, and then pass back or sideways. Every. Time.

I actually liked his play when he was a wing back against Real, he actually had an impact and he was dangerous going forward.

As a centre midfielder, even Jorginho offers more going forward.

I find it quite bizarre, considering the impact he made under Sarri.

Easy to forget that RLC actually scored 10 goals and had 5 assists that season from his 1702 minutes of playing time !

2 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

I find it quite bizarre, considering the impact he made under Sarri.

Easy to forget that RLC actually scored 10 goals and had 5 assists that season from his 1702 minutes of playing time !

That was when we had Hazard playing too .........

1 hour ago, strider6004 said:

That was when we had Hazard playing too .........

Probably a contributing factor, but possibly more pertinent that this was all pre-injury ... RLC has never looked the same since sadly ... 

7 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Probably a contributing factor, but possibly more pertinent that this was all pre-injury ... RLC has never looked the same since sadly ... 

I think it's just as likely that run of form was an outlier.

Having seen him a few times on the right side maybe, just maybe he has a future here there as he looks decent at least. As a central midfielder no, not good enough.

Thought he had a good showing again yesterday, Tuchel’s words seem to be working for him. Until the end of the season I’d like to see him at RWB and James at RCB to cover for Dave. 

What does he do though? As a CM he isn't great at tackling, he isn't great at passing, Doesn't score many, is not a significant threat at set pieces, and regularly makes bad decisions. 
 

Apart from short bursts forward with the ball, which although eye catching invariably don't lead to any thing, it is not clear what he offers. 

I think he is like a utility player for us when the first team players are not available.

Reminds me of Milner  being a utility player for Liverpool.

RLC is a bit more limited though if TT rates him more than others available he must be doing something right. 

Keep him as a utility player until his contract expires. Or if Palace want to reignite their interest I say sell. 

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

What does he do though? As a CM he isn't great at tackling, he isn't great at passing, Doesn't score many, is not a significant threat at set pieces, and regularly makes bad decisions. 
 

Apart from short bursts forward with the ball, which although eye catching invariably don't lead to any thing, it is not clear what he offers. 

As a CM he is the English version of Kovacic.

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

What does he do though? As a CM he isn't great at tackling, he isn't great at passing, Doesn't score many, is not a significant threat at set pieces, and regularly makes bad decisions. 
 

Apart from short bursts forward with the ball, which although eye catching invariably don't lead to any thing, it is not clear what he offers. 

Flatters to deceive is the best way to describe Loftus-Cheek. These 3 or 4 bursting runs from midfield are eye catching, but it ultimately never leads to anything. He doesn't play the killer pass or take a shot himself at the end of it and just ends up playing safe. He's got an excellent touch, quick feet and can power through midfield with ease, but like a lot of players at the club, he doesn't seem to have the motivation to do that for the full 90 minutes, game after game.

Edited May 2, 20224 yr by Scott Harris

42 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

As a CM he is the English version of Kovacic.

Kova passes better, tackles better, tracks back better and presses better.

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Flatters to deceive is the best way to describe Loftus-Cheek. These 3 or 4 bursting runs from midfield are eye catching, but it ultimately never leads to anything. He doesn't play the killer pass or take a shot himself at the end of it and just ends up playing safe. He's got an excellent touch, quick feet and can power through midfield with ease, but like a lot of players at the club, he doesn't seem to have the motivation to do that for the full 90 minutes, game after game.

He had a good left-footed shot yesterday that Pickford tipped over.

Other than that, though, I agree.

11 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Kova passes better, tackles better, tracks back better and presses better.

Hence why he starts ahead of RLC. They are the same type of midfielder though.

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

What does he do though? As a CM he isn't great at tackling, he isn't great at passing, Doesn't score many, is not a significant threat at set pieces, and regularly makes bad decisions. 
 

Apart from short bursts forward with the ball, which although eye catching invariably don't lead to any thing, it is not clear what he offers. 

Basically just described Kovacic too, similar skill sets 

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

Flatters to deceive is the best way to describe Loftus-Cheek. These 3 or 4 bursting runs from midfield are eye catching, but it ultimately never leads to anything. He doesn't play the killer pass or take a shot himself at the end of it and just ends up playing safe. He's got an excellent touch, quick feet and can power through midfield with ease, but like a lot of players at the club, he doesn't seem to have the motivation to do that for the full 90 minutes, game after game.

The most damming thing is his managers seem to improvise as they go along with him.

Jose tried him as a DM, Hiddink tried CAM, Conte tried him as a ST, Roy as a LM, Sarri a CM and RW, Lampard CAM, Parker moved him pretty much anywhere and everywhere and now Tuchel is trying to make him a wingback.

He's not properly nailed down a position on the pitch (even as a squad player) under eight different club managers.