If within the space of a year a player can:

1) Go on loan

2) Become that teams best player (as stated by the manager)

3) Make his first England appearance

4) Become a starter for his country at a world cup tournament on the biggest stage of them all

 

And still not be given a chance in the Chelsea team, we really should view our academy as nothing more than a money maker and accept the fact no player will ever make it with us. 

12 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Few rumours been doing the rounds that although we will not entertain any offers for RLC for a permanent transfer we might allow him to leave on loan again this season with West Ham and Everton apparently interested. 

I can't be alone in thinking that it's now or never for Ruben at Chelsea? If after playing his way into the England team he's not given a crack next season then we might as well sell him? If at 22 we're still not sure if we want him in the squad then why bother dragging it out with yet another loan? 

I think that's all they can be - rumours. Honestly, what would be the point of another loan move? To be honest, I think there should be a rule introduced to limit the number of times a player can be sent out on loan. Maybe two loan moves maximum and then the club have to keep or sell. Must be demoralising for a player to be sent out to one club after another with the clear message being - we don't really want you. 

But I can't imagine too many decisions have been made for any player in the squad or on the fringes - not until the coach has been confirmed and he says what players are to stay and who are surplus to requirements.

 

2 minutes ago, Nibs said:

I think that's all they can be - rumours. Honestly, what would be the point of another loan move? To be honest, I think there should be a rule introduced to limit the number of times a player can be sent out on loan. Maybe two loan moves maximum and then the club have to keep or sell. Must be demoralising for a player to be sent out to one club after another with the clear message being - we don't really want you. 

But I can't imagine too many decisions have been made for any player in the squad or on the fringes - not until the coach has been confirmed and he says what players are to stay and who are surplus to requirements.

 

Yes and no I would imagine Nibs. There may be some appeal to some players to be picking up Chelsea wages from the club and being the big cheese at a smaller club that may feel that they have to give the player a constant start to maintain the relationship with the parent club. It would not surprise me if RLC were second only to Zaha in the pecking order at Palace last season, a big difference to life here. It may also be a happier environment so he would be getting the best of both worlds, as he is still picking up top dollar.

9 minutes ago, Nibs said:

But I can't imagine too many decisions have been made for any player in the squad or on the fringes - not until the coach has been confirmed and he says what players are to stay and who are surplus to requirements.

You would think so but sometimes I'm at a loss to figure out who is in charge of stays and goes. 

Sometimes we'll sign someone and it's clearly a club signing (Barkley being the most recent example) and I think the same is true of player sales as well. I can't help but think Oscar and Ramires were sold partially because of how much money was on offer. Similarly, Ivanovic, Cech and Matic I think were allowed to leave (and to the clubs they went to) because someone higher up said it was okay, not necessarily the manager. 

10 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Yes and no I would imagine Nibs. There may be some appeal to some players to be picking up Chelsea wages from the club and being the big cheese at a smaller club that may feel that they have to give the player a constant start to maintain the relationship with the parent club. It would not surprise me if RLC were second only to Zaha in the pecking order at Palace last season, a big difference to life here. It may also be a happier environment so he would be getting the best of both worlds, as he is still picking up top dollar.

Yeah, fair point and I think that is undoubtedly the case for 1 or 2 loan moves. But when you get these players who go to one club, then another, then another............etc. It seems pointless. Sometimes I see we still own a players but they have been out on loan so long and so many times I had actually forgot (that could also be down to my age though!)

 

1 minute ago, Nibs said:

Yeah, fair point and I think that is undoubtedly the case for 1 or 2 loan moves. But when you get these players who go to one club, then another, then another............etc. It seems pointless. Sometimes I see we still own a players but they have been out on loan so long and so many times I had actually forgot (that could also be down to my age though!)

 

Hasnt Sarri said he doesnt care about transfers etc, he just takes whatever squad hes given and works with it? Or did I dream it. Not that I dream of Sarri.......much.

1 hour ago, dkw said:

Hasnt Sarri said he doesnt care about transfers etc, he just takes whatever squad hes given and works with it? Or did I dream it. Not that I dream of Sarri.......much.

You are correct. He also goes on to basically insult other managers who rely on big transfers by calling the transfer market refuge for the weak. 

The club probably love this. 

Edited June 28, 20188 yr by TheChelseaBlues

No wonder our board want Sarri. On that basis they'll be able to sell Hazard and bank £150m and on his first day introduce Sarri to his replacement he needs to work with and f**k me if we haven't re-signed Marko Marin!!!

I remember I read something possibly from Neil bath, who said that 150 games at the best level possible, is what the club see as the ideal amount to have a player ready for the 1st team. 

Ruben through no fault if his own is way short on experience, He has only 2500 mins under his belt in league and European football.

If you compare that with Christiensen who is the same age, he has played close to 10000 mins. 

Even though personally I don't think there is a magic number for when a player is ready, I think the club will see it differently  and if he isn't going to be playing regularly here, then they will push for another season out on loan. 

Whether ruben would be happy with that is anyone's guess. 

Hopefully sarri has big plans for him, and we see him make a break through this season.

 

So who is starting ahead of RLC in our first XI next season in midfield? 

 

Because I've got Kante on the team sheet before him, but then I draw a blank. Mental if we dont make him a starter. 

For me, we need to move Drinkwater and Bakayoko on. That gives us:

Kante - Defensive/Everywhere
Loftus-Cheek - Box-to-box
Cesc - Deep lying playermaker
Barkley - Attacking/Goal scorer

And I'd like to see another good CM brought in. That would give us 5 options for a 3-man midfield, is Sarri comes in and goes 4-3-3. A tank like prime Essien would be amazing, but don't know who we could get.

Edited June 28, 20188 yr by Zeta

I wonder how much we would be willing to pay if Dele Alli was offered to us & whether he would make our squad

RLC may not possess the experience Alli has under his belt but he certainly is on Alli's level when it comes to all round game , unfortunately for us the best route for RLC to get into our first 11 is to be sold and repurchased at a inflated price.

Ali is ahead of Loftus-CHeek in goal-scoring. RLC doesn't score anywhere near as many as Ali.

TBF how many chances does RLC get to play down the middle in a free role?

10 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

TBF how many chances does RLC get to play down the middle in a free role?

Pretty much every game. That's his role for Crystal Palace. His biggest problem is the lack of productivity with goals.

4 hours ago, Zeta said:

For me, we need to move Drinkwater and Bakayoko on. That gives us:

Kante - Defensive/Everywhere
Loftus-Cheek - Box-to-box
Cesc - Deep lying playermaker
Barkley - Attacking/Goal scorer

And I'd like to see another good CM brought in. That would give us 5 options for a 3-man midfield, is Sarri comes in and goes 4-3-3. A tank like prime Essien would be amazing, but don't know who we could get.

The FIFA player in me would suggest Kovacic if we could get him.

3 hours ago, Zeta said:

Ali is ahead of Loftus-CHeek in goal-scoring. RLC doesn't score anywhere near as many as Ali.

Alli plays more like a SS though. He barely contributes to games if he's not scoring or assisting. 

Been a bit sh*t really.

3 minutes ago, Total-Football said:

Been a bit sh*t really.

Such a great opportunity for him but really doesn’t seem to want to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Can’t believe he bottled that shot

 

1 minute ago, Adamrb said:

Such a great opportunity for him but really doesn’t seem to want to take the game by the scruff of the neck. Can’t believe he bottled that shot

 

But how many times do we keep saying this and making allowances and excuses. Dare i say it but i'm not sure he is the answer for us.

True colours shown. Sadly i am starting to believe that he just doesn't have it.

He can beat a man but can't do much else. Like a poor man's Traore (Who is better at tacking people on). And people think he is better than Mount...

Im trying, but i just can't see it!!!!

So wanted to see him shine and be a star for Chelsea in the years to come. Sadly,  he just strolled through the game and offered next to nothing. Just doesn't look to have anywhere near the required desire and intensity of a future top player.

1 hour ago, Total-Football said:

He can beat a man but can't do much else. Like a poor man's Traore (Who is better at tacking people on). And people think he is better than Mount...

Because he is pmsl.