Zouma is 21. Baba as well.

Neither came through our system though and both cost over 10m.

I'm taking about youth team graduates.

IMO RLC needs to extend his Chelsea contract and then be sent out on loan to any premier league side where he gets a chance to play. As another poster pointed out, He is no better than Mikel or Ramires but with more games under his belt he has a chance to be. I want him to do a Victor Moses and get more game time. Even if he does not get into the Chelsea lineup - he will be putting up enough of a show to warrant being selected by a Premier league team. 

Loans in the premier league havent worked out for us so far. Bamford, Mceachran, Chalobah all struggled to get enough game time for it to be worthwhile. Moses has had gametime but not done enough to impress the manager here. Loans just havent paid off so is it worth risking sending RLC on loan to train with lower quality players and still be on a bench every game?

I think baker is a better centre midfield prospect than rlc. He did well at mk dons on, and he has been the most impressive out of the vitesse players this season.

I also think boga and musonda are better attacking midfielders too.

The one thing rlc has over every prospect that gone before him, is his size. He us physically already able to compete with men.

I'm not sure if he will ever make it here, I have pretty much given up hope of seeing us bring through a world class player. You have to be one of the best players in the world by the time you turn 20, or it is impossible to break into the team.

 

Maybe he does still have a chance after all as we all know that seems to be the number one priority if you're going to succeed in a Mourinho team.

People need to stop bringing up Zouma as an example here. FFS Jose loves Zouma so even if he is sh*t Jose will still play him and give him a lot of time just to prove he knows why he signed him. But RLC won't get that chance here unless a new manager comes in and gives everyone the chance to fight for a place unlike Jose who has his own preferred players who will always start even when they are underperforming like Fabregas and co

Youth should never be seen an answer to a teams problems. That's why you have experienced players. However you should be able to develop youth to a stage where they can become the answe.

People need to stop bringing up Zouma as an example here. FFS Jose loves Zouma so even if he is sh*t Jose will still play him and give him a lot of time just to prove he knows why he signed him. But RLC won't get that chance here unless a new manager comes in and gives everyone the chance to fight for a place unlike Jose who has his own preferred players who will always start even when they are underperforming like Fabregas and co

 Do you think its a blind love for Zouma or a love of giving a young player a chance and seeing them seize it with both hands and a great big f**king smile?

 

If you are of the notion that JM just gives Zouma's games regardless, I would question what you were watching last season instead of Chelsea.  Zouma had a slower start than KDB and is on par with RLC (I believe, if not worse) for minutes, in terms of their first half of their first season in the senior team.

 

 So by that logic, JM loved KDB and loves RLC just as much as he loves Zouma....or do you not like bringing up Zouma because it shows your narrative of JM hating all youth to be utter tosh?  JM has a clear and slow system of bringing in promising youth....the club has very high standards of what it takes for that youth to feature regularly and that's never changed even with any of our numerous other managers under Roman.

So it's bad that Jose doesn't play young players. Yet when he does you argue he's only doing it because he like's him? And that's wrong? f**k me, it's hard keeping up with this blame Jose for everything stance.

Neither came through our system though and both cost over 10m.

I'm taking about youth team graduates.

Surely it doesnt matter where the player comes from if hes good enough. Barry hit it on the head. We have high standards, if the academy players cant meet them why should they play? Every player we have is roasted when they arent up to snuff so why should we treat youth players like they are children. Thats one thing I love about Jose, he treats every player like a man regardless of age or experience.

Jose didnt live up to his promise unfortunately but we dont know why. Its time to stop blaming him. He gives young players a road to the first team. You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink

Surely it doesnt matter where the player comes from if hes good enough. Barry hit it on the head. We have high standards, if the academy players cant meet them why should they play? Every player we have is roasted when they arent up to snuff so why should we treat youth players like they are children. Thats one thing I love about Jose, he treats every player like a man regardless of age or experience.

Jose didnt live up to his promise unfortunately but we dont know why. Its time to stop blaming him. He gives young players a road to the first team. You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink

It should matter where players come from, but players that come in for large amounts are likely to get more opportunities than players that gave come in for free.

It's the nature of the beast.

I certainly don't advocate player in youth players just for the sake it, but the current are some of the best prospects in Europe, and I do think at least 1 will go on to be a world class player, whether that's at chelsea or somewhere else, time will tell.

People keep using Zouma as an example but Jose isn't using Brana as a centre back so he is rotating 3 players for 2 positions. That's why Zouma is getting game time. There are lots of experienced players challenging for the midfield positions and maybe Jose doesn't like what he see's on a day to day basis from RLC.

Jose been proven right on the two boys that stayed in England on loan Chalobah was in the Prem with Burnley, championship with Forest and Boro. Hasn't developed enough to come back. I watched Josh's debut for Chelsea and thought he was going to be special, but went to Swansea, Boro Swindon? And eventually finished up at Brentford. Social life and women didn't help his progress. People have to realise playing against fellow 18 or 21 yr olds and looking good is along way from first team football.

Good chance for him to start against Bournemouth, isn't it?

He must be sh*t if Cesc keeps starting ahead of him.

He must be sh*t if Cesc keeps starting ahead of him.

Either that or he has murdered Mourinhos favourite pet.

Strange for him to come on today for a couple of minutes. No appearances for ages and the suddenly, put in for a couple of minutes in a big derby.

Either that or he has murdered Mourinhos favourite pet.

Maybe cesc has said pet hostage?

Strange for him to come on today for a couple of minutes. No appearances for ages and the suddenly, put in for a couple of minutes in a big derby.

Fresh legs and probably finallt earned some game time

Maybe, and this is just me being pessimistic here, José decided to give him some time so he will sign a contract extension?

It was obviously a time wasting sub, but I think he picked Cheek so that he feels he is close to getting some actual time and puts the pen to the paper.

 

Don't think the club wants a Pogba situation.

Maybe, and this is just me being pessimistic here, José decided to give him some time so he will sign a contract extension?

It was obviously a time wasting sub, but I think he picked Cheek so that he feels he is close to getting some actual time and puts the pen to the paper.

 

Don't think the club wants a Pogba situation.

I doubt a short cameo here and there will do much to convince him. I think at his age, with his ability, he will be looking for occasional starts, and regular appearances of 20 mins +

Also, while his contract must be a concern to the club, I havent heard any stories about him wanting to move/run it down. Im sure if there is even a mere suggestion of him becoming available then the big clubs will be circling like vultures and putting stories about to turn his head

He should be asking the club though what's the point of signing a new contract if I'm just going to sit on the bench or go out on loan. He should use it to show his worth.

Either play him or sell him Jose.

I doubt a short cameo here and there will do much to convince him. I think at his age, with his ability, he will be looking for occasional starts, and regular appearances of 20 mins +

Also, while his contract must be a concern to the club, I havent heard any stories about him wanting to move/run it down. Im sure if there is even a mere suggestion of him becoming available then the big clubs will be circling like vultures and putting stories about to turn his head

Well there have been some rumours of United, Bayern and Barca being interested in RLC. I don't know how credible they are ofcourse. He hadn't even made the bench a couple of times, out came rumours about him not extending his contract and suddenly he makes the bench again for Maccabi and gets a cameo against tottenhan.

What does he have to do to get on the pitch? Jose said he deserves a run of games after Southampton game. Since then, all he has done is play 45 minutes vs Villa.

What does he have to do to get on the pitch? Jose said he deserves a run of games after Southampton game. Since then, all he has done is play 45 minutes vs Villa.

Have his name changed to Cesc Fabregas?

Branislav Fabregas.

Don't understand these decisions at all. The team is struggling to get shots away and create chances from open play, with not enough bodies in the box.

What does the manager go and do.

Oh I know, let's play with 0 strikers. That should really work! We'll have a bunch of midgets run around outside the box.

If anything, we should be playing with 2 centre forwards - Like he did in his second season during the first spell.

Hazard looked fantastic in the AM role and he decided to scrap that. This is Jose's fault. You can blame the players all you want but it comes down to the manager. How can Leicester city be top of the league with that bunch of relegation battlers as their squad, and these supposed superstars be down at the bottom?

Mourinho began a new phase in his career with an ambition to build a lasting empire at Chelsea under himself, but he isn't cut out for it. He's out of his depth, clearly, and needs some sort of inspiration, help, etc from somewhere, because at the moment, he looks really incapable of changing things.

Why doesn't he just stick with two strikers for a while. At the very least their natural instincts would mean more genuine threats in the box.

I know this is a deeper problem than personnel and shape, but while he is still here, I would really like to see something like the following:

Courtois

--------------

Baba

Cahill/Terry

Zouma

Azpilicueta

-------------

Matic (DM)

RLC (LCM)

Willian (RCM)

Hazard (AM)

-------------

Remy (ST)

Costa (ST)

He's used a 4-4-2 diamond before with Shevchenko and Drogba IIRC, and I seem to renember Drogba had one of his best seasons, commenting that Shevchenko's mere presence as a second striker did him a huge favour, by taking the defenders' attention away from him.