I think the only way rlc will get minutes, us if we are winning 3 nil, or if we get the league sewn up early. The trouble is, he isn't on the bench every game, so it becomes even less likely that he plays.

Maybe it would be better if teams could name 20-22 in the squad, so there is more of chance for the youngsters to play. I'm pretty sure that's how it is in Italy, and it would give us the chance to play the kids a bit more if we got a few goals up.

We've already had chances this season to do just that, Drogba normally came on or on the odd occasion the youth were subbed on it was for 5-10 mins.

We've already had chances this season to do just that, Drogba normally came on or on the odd occasion the youth were subbed on it was for 5-10 mins.

Yeah but there have been games like swansea away where we were winning comfortably with no youth team player on the bench. So it is an opportunity missed. Like you said there's been occasions like maribor at home? when the youngsters should have been on much earlier.

Pretty tough balancing act with regards keeping the squad members match fit and happy, or bringing through the youth. I think if we had rotated a little more in the earlier part of the season, then the squad players would need the cameo minutes as much.

Agree with all of that Nibs. Always thought when the fa increased the number of subs to 7 they should have stipulated a minimum of 2 u21 players on the bench.

Oh to be 18 again, I think. Imagine playing for a big team at 18; imagine playing for Chelsea at 18! Surely, the country now has some promise in these youngsters for the next and following world cup?

Have little chance if R Hodgson still in charge, he has the technical savvy of a bull elephant.

If we win the title this year and if we wrap it up early these young players might get some minutes in the last few games

If we win the title this year and if we wrap it up early these young players might get some minutes in the last few games

 

Ooh, steady on!

 

'I had Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the bench and I have to say that, in my opinion, next year, this kid will be a big surprise in the Premier League,' Mourinho said after the win over West Ham.

 

'This season, if I was not playing for the title and if we were not playing with the pressure we have when you are playing for the title, this kid would already be on the pitch.

 

'But it's step-by-step and today was again a day for (Kurt) Zouma to help John (Terry) and (Gary) Cahill in a game when (Diafra) Sakho and (Enner) Valencia are very difficult opponents.'

 

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2980800/Jose-Mourinho-says-Ruben-Loftus-Cheek-good-play-Chelsea-s-team-won-t-risk-youngster-title-run-in.html#ixzz3TVf0OfPG 

 

 

Always next season with Jose. Honestly I think he's a bit of a liar when it comes to young players, he says the right things and has a nice big press conference next to our next young star but doesn't actually play them.

 

Fact is he's spent the majority of his second spell here bringing in 'proven' talent like Costa, Fabregas, Cuardrado, Eto'o, Drogba, Willian and Remy. When you have our resources it's the way to obtain success but with the one young player he's shown faith in, it's been successful.

 

Can't argue with results though and that's all that matters.

Too much pressure this season to win the league and other silverware. I think he might actually have a chance to try out some of these boys once the pressure eases a bit.

Too much pressure this season to win the league and other silverware. I think he might actually have a chance to try out some of these boys once the pressure eases a bit.

 

Is there a season coming up when we don't have pressure to win the league? 

 

Fact is Jose said similar things about Chalobah when he came back to the club and managed to f**k up that young man's development. You could give Jose the second-best goalkeeper in world football and he'd drop him for about 25% of the matches including a league cup final that he played a key role in getting us to.

 

I'd love to be optimistic about Loftus-Cheek's future but I think he's going to have an uphill struggle because in Jose's mind, he's done nothing to get a spot in the team. It'd be safer to sign Sami Khedira.

Hehe, that's the priority though, isn't it blue daze? It has to be about ruthlessly winning at this point.

Bringing youngsters into the team isn't really an immediate priority - it's not the sensible option from Jose's point of view or the club's, I would argue.

After this season, where a league title and a cup (hopefully two) has been won, there will be a slight easing of pressure, especially if the plan is to have the manager at the club for a long time as they say it is.

Edited March 5, 201511 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Hehe, that's the priority though, isn't it blue daze? It has to be about ruthlessly winning at this point.

Bringing youngsters into the team isn't really an immediate priority - it's not the sensible option from Jose's point of view or the club's, I would argue.

After this season, where a league title and a cup (hopefully two) has been won, there will be a slight easing of pressure, especially if the plan is to have the manager at the club for a long time as they say it is.

 

I like that notion but the reality is, it never transpires. Maybe this time it will be different but you'd be a fool to put money on it.

 

Bringing through youngsters is a similar argument to playing better football. "This season let's just win at all costs and get some trophies under our belt, then we will look to improve our style of play / bring through some youth". But when the times comes it won't happen as the fear of losing takes over.

Hehe, that's the priority though, isn't it blue daze? It has to be about ruthlessly winning at this point.

Bringing youngsters into the team isn't really an immediate priority - it's not the sensible option from Jose's point of view or the club's, I would argue.

After this season, where a league title and a cup (hopefully two) has been won, there will be a slight easing of pressure, especially if the plan is to have the manager at the club for a long time as they say it is.

 

I absolutely agree that winning is the main objective and Jose has to go about the way he knows best. I just think he should stop talking about giving young players a chance and maybe just do it. Zouma was this year's project and he's done magnificently but lets see if Jose will do it with someone who hasn't already played more than 3000 minutes of first-team football in one of Europe's domestic leagues.

 

I agree that next year we'll be one more season along, one more year developed and more stable but is that going to change Jose's mentality?

 

In my opinion Jose should just stop teasing the fans and the young players with talk about them playing and just play them - that would be the real surprise.

 

Let's not forget that he tried to sign Tiago in the summer. I reckon there's as good a chance of him going for him again as there is of Loftus-Cheek getting more minutes.

What position would RLC play in if he played in the 4-2-3-1? One of the '2' or the AM position which Oscar plays in?

Ooh, steady on!

I did say IF

Very encouraging words. I'm surprised this is being likened to what he said about Chalobah. This was a very clear statement, not about bringing in youth but about RLC's ability.

I hear exactly what you're both saying, and I do agree that's how it is more than likely to turn out.

When the time comes, the stakes are always too high it seems.

BUT, there does seem to be a different feel to it this time. Abramovic has bought Jose back for va second spell which does msje you think he will be a little more patient this time around, and give him a bit more time and allowance for that sort of thing.

Most of us have been complaining about a small squad. Who knows, perhaps the board are trusting some of these youngsters and returning loanees to come through.

It would be, though, nice to see some of them getting first team minutes from sub appearances soon, at least.

Blue daze, by saying these things, he isv at least acknowledging them, which is better than nothing at all. To be honest, these sort of gestures are common with him, when he can't play a player, he'll say b something positive about him, just part of his management strategy I guess.

RLC is learning from Matic:

 

"We’re both tall players and central midfielders. I can see why there would be comparisons there. I try to watch Nemanja defensively because I don’t think there’s anyone better than him in that role as a defensive midfielder and that’s what I think I need to improve on."

"I watch him and try to pick up things. I do like attacking more, but I enjoy defending as well. I like both parts of the game."

"I’ve worked hard to get rewards, and it feels great so I’m going to continue with that and try to push on. My body has got stronger, so I’m able to cope with training with the first-team more and training with them has improved my technique. Watching those players train, when I came over to them as an academy player makes me want to kick on."

What position would RLC play in if he played in the 4-2-3-1? One of the '2' or the AM position which Oscar plays in?

 

He's not going to be an AM in my view, but probably closest to someone like David Luiz in that role. Stick him alongside Matic and Cesc in a midfield three.

More words from Jose on RLC

 

“Loftus-Cheek is to stay and I think to stay and to play,” said Mourinho as he commented upon the club’s newly adopted strategy to insert buy-back clauses into deals which see young talent depart Stamford Bridge. “I think next year to play, not just to stay. Stay and play. But you don’t have this kind of talent every couple of years so it is also important to make business.

 

“At the age of 18 or 19, sometimes you don’t believe that the player can go in a certain direction so you make a couple of million (through a sale) for a player and you are just happy with that. At academy level you know clearly that not everyone is going to become a player for your first-team. So sometimes, if you can capitalise on that and make money in small deals, you can make the money you need to invest again and again and again in the academy to get the right talents that you bring to the first-team. Loftus-Cheek is one of those who will stay.”

So he's staying to play? Playing to stay? Play and stay?

 

Loan to Vitesse all but confirmed. 

Wish Jose would stop talking about the lad and just play him. Actions speak louder than words and the truth is the young lad featured more in the press conference before his debut than he did on the pitch.

I hope Jose is sincere.

 

Any chance he is just saying all of this to make sure RLC doesn't do a Pogba on us?

Wish Jose would stop talking about the lad and just play him. Actions speak louder than words and the truth is the young lad featured more in the press conference before his debut than he did on the pitch.

It seems to be the youth he doesn't talk about that get played, Ake being the main one. I think Christensen played a bit as well before Jose spoke about him, then he didn't play again! Same with Kalas, he was tossed in the deep end and then praised and shipped off on loan never to be heard from again!

 

It's all adding up!

It's funny because every time I read his quotes about RLC, I just see 'f**k off Chalobah, f**k off Kalas etc.'.

 

Loftus-Cheek is a very special player but there are other young players in our squad who have never let us down but don't get half the attention he does. On this one subject I'd love for Jose to just be quiet.