2 hours ago, Ballack & Blu said:

And your actual point is, he should be gotten rid of, i love Kova, but your end product is nearly as sh*t as his is apart from a once in a lifetime worldie, Im not the only dude to Q your obtuse posts, but its fine banter, and i love a bit of Pen sword fighting...En Garde

What are you rambling on about mate?

It's bad enough making ridiculous comments that Loftus Cheek is the new Yaya and a clear upgrade on Kovacic but you really shouldn't argue against imaginary points.

I've never suggested we need to get rid of RLC I think he's perfectly servicable as a back up wing back particularly in games Tuchel wants to play Reece central and the way he comes inside when Reece goes up the right works.

But RLC absolutely does not work in central midfield. We've seen it time and time again how easily we get cut open with him there because he's so lacidazical with his defending.

Infact the only way Ruben is like Yaya is that despite having the physical tools he's an absolute liability in the midfield defensively because he just doesn't track runners 

I don't understand how anyone who's actually watched us or Ruben play for years would still advocate him playing there.   Too much fifa perhaps?

Edited August 16, 20223 yr by HazardousChoice

Decent start of the season for RLC so far.

30 minutes ago, IliyaKrostin said:

Decent start of the season for RLC so far.

Yes and no for me. Has been a physical help to us for sure, but he is so so bad with his choices at times. The poor finishes at Leeds and today, and that ball he held on to and ran in to a defender instead of playing in Cucurella.

I agree. He has to work on his decision making and his end product. But he's turning out to be a very useful option for us, be it in midfield, or on the right. And as you said his physicality coupled with his ability to carry the ball is helping us. He also would have drawn a penalty today had Kai not been marginally offside.

4 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Yes and no for me. Has been a physical help to us for sure, but he is so so bad with his choices at times. The poor finishes at Leeds and today, and that ball he held on to and ran in to a defender instead of playing in Cucurella.

Kinda how I see it as well. Still a squad player for me rather than a stater, a more useful squad player now.

23 minutes ago, True Blue23 said:

I agree. He has to work on his decision making and his end product. But he's turning out to be a very useful option for us, be it in midfield, or on the right. And as you said his physicality coupled with his ability to carry the ball is helping us. He also would have drawn a penalty today had Kai not been marginally offside.

"Marginally offside". Sure let's go with that.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Yes and no for me. Has been a physical help to us for sure, but he is so so bad with his choices at times. The poor finishes at Leeds and today, and that ball he held on to and ran in to a defender instead of playing in Cucurella.

That was criminal. I really dig his style being physical yet still technically quite sound but it seems he tries to outplay his opponent by default no matter the situation and that makes him look stupid af in such situations. Glad Tuchel wasn‘t on the bench - I suppose that situation would have caused some major ruckus there. Also a tad too slow to ever become a major role in the PL imho - but still nice to see him being a good and very helpful part of the team.

Edited August 27, 20223 yr by weetee

37 minutes ago, weetee said:

That was criminal. I really dig his style being physical yet still technically quite sound but it seems he tries to outplay his opponent by default no matter the situation and that makes him look stupid af in such situations. Glad Tuchel wasn‘t on the bench - I suppose that situation would have caused some major ruckus there. Also a tad too slow to ever become a major role in the PL imho - but still nice to see him being a good and very helpful part of the team.

It really was, and clearly is a mental thing with him which I doubt he ever shakes. Real shame because if he added the vision to know and make the right choice in those situations most of the time he would be some player. As it is I expect him to make those bonehead choices.

Think he will be a useful player for us in the midfield, just need to learn when to release the ball instead of holding on forever. That muck up he had on the counter almost cost us a goal at the other end, would have been a self inflicted KO. Tuchel clearly seems something in him, let's hope RLC takes his chance, maybe his last as a Chelsea player

He has been good for us, but his end product and lack of killer instinct is what stops him being at that next level. That chance he had at the start of the game, he has to finish that. When he gets played in last man against Leeds, he has to shoot. Too often he looks for a pass and messes it up. 

Saying that though, he also has played well, but he needs to find that next gear.

Think he's one of the best players for us so far this season. Whether he's out wide or in the middle he starts every game at the moment. 

13 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Think he's one of the best players for us so far this season. Whether he's out wide or in the middle he starts every game at the moment. 

He's playing really well at the moment. He's improved his defensive game and is one player who looks to take on a man and make something happen when he has the ball. 

Just a shame when he gets into the box the composure isn't there. Hopefully it's come now he's having consistent minutes. 

really worried for Loftus Cheek after seeing Barkley and Cho shipped out. obviously Tuchel would much rather have a RCB and play james and have another type as back up. Idk if RLC has the ability to adjust to a new position when he can not really claim his own. with selling young players as well really worrying. might struggle in premier league with this depth.

I don't think he's doing particularly well. He's just like all the others, fine with short recycled passing, but when asked to do much else, he struggles. He can bring the ball forward on occasion, but he doesn't do it enough, and when he does, the final ball is always crap.

12 minutes ago, Zeta said:

I don't think he's doing particularly well. He's just like all the others, fine with short recycled passing, but when asked to do much else, he struggles. He can bring the ball forward on occasion, but he doesn't do it enough, and when he does, the final ball is always crap.

Same problem for him as always. He is too slow to think and holds the ball for too long. A decent backup to have, nothing more.

As one of the leading grahampotterologists, I have to say that this bloke is a typical player that Graham would find underrated and with bags of unfilled potential. Think you'll see a lot of him.

Edited October 5, 20223 yr by SwedishEntity

He and Kova played very well. Can they please learn how to play simple passes that are not seriously over or under hit though please?

Pure class tonight 

What an assist for Fofana's goal  

7 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

What an assist for Fofana's goal  

Proves that he was a lot more creative than Mount last night. Just look at the stats.

In all seriousness though: Good game by him and a good sign that a second manager in a row now seems to see him as a vital part of the team. Who would have thought this after he came back from a very underwhelming loan stint at Fulham. I'm surprised he doesn't seem to be in Southgate's thinking at all, given England's shortages in midfield.

Edited October 6, 20223 yr by True Blue23

7 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

What an assist for Fofana's goal  

I'm sure it will get a whole chapter in RLC's forthcoming autobiography !

So happy he's performing. Always had the raw natural talent, just needed to fine tune it and stay injury free. A much better option in the middle of the park than Jorginho.

Was pleasantly surprised with his performance. Let's see if he can keep it up though. He's very inconsistent.

Perfect example of a player who has been rewarded for choosing to fight for his place. I thought his career was over in the summer with Gallagher returning and also getting Chukz from Villa but he has stayed and fought and has started 3 games on the trot for us now and has been solid. Pleased for him after the injury he had.

Proving a lot of people in this thread wrong this season.

Seems to be staying injury free which is helping with his confidence. Absolutely bullying teams at the moment. So long as we don't overplay him, he's one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.