Oscar still created chances despite playing poorly, can't say the same for Fabregas.

Can't agree with that. 2 out of our best/only chances came from fabregas. The other was created by rlc and Pedro. Oscar didn't do anything all game.

Can't agree with that. 2 out of our best/only chances came from fabregas. The other was created by rlc and Pedro. Oscar didn't do anything all game.

He put two dangerous crosses in,in first half i remember. There you have it, not much but not the worst. For some Oscar a plague or something.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be starting the remaining games, I think he did okay today and support his progress as much as anyone on here - but for a player who seems to have found his position at #10 I just don't see him developing into a player who can be regarded in the same league as the likes of Lampard/Ballack (in terms of goals/assists). I know it's unfair to place high expectation on Loftus-Cheek's shoulders, but if you play for Chelsea that's the level that should be expected - anything less is just accepting mediocrity (case in point we lost 1-0 to Swansea today and it looks increasingly likely we won't qualify for the Europa League).

 

That's fair enough.

 

Personally speaking, Lampard wasn't the player he would become at 20 but I didn't watch much of Ballack at that age. According to wikipedia he was playing at some team called Chemnitzer FC who appeared to be playing in the third tier of German football apparently.

 

Did you watch him at that age? I suspect that you might not have followed him at that time which means it's hard to compare him to Ruben. Isn't it the case that he probably wasn't the finished article overnight though, and that he took some bedding in time?

 

With Ruben there's been a fairly consistent upwards curve despite the team struggling quite a bit this season and I don't think either of the players you've compared him to had anywhere near the expectations placed on them that he does. Just give him time and maybe we have a gem on our hands.

There's no doubt that Conte spoke to Guus before the game and asked that he try a couple things. I wouldn't be surprised if they even had a quick chat at half time such as switching to 3 5 2 which is Conte's most common setup.

So the players knew that this was their only chance to make a first impression to their new manager. Then why the hell didn't they play like it?!

That's fair enough.

 

Personally speaking, Lampard wasn't the player he would become at 20 but I didn't watch much of Ballack at that age. According to wikipedia he was playing at some team called Chemnitzer FC who appeared to be playing in the third tier of German football apparently.

 

Did you watch him at that age? I suspect that you might not have followed him at that time which means it's hard to compare him to Ruben. Isn't it the case that he probably wasn't the finished article overnight though, and that he took some bedding in time?

 

With Ruben there's been a fairly consistent upwards curve despite the team struggling quite a bit this season and I don't think either of the players you've compared him to had anywhere near the expectations placed on them that he does. Just give him time and maybe we have a gem on our hands.

 

Ballack/Lamps/Scholes/Gerrard/Pogba were all showing glimpses of "world class" potential in their youth, RLC just isn't that type of player and yet he's playing at #10 (which I might add may be why Oscar was seemingly given licence to roam today). A lack of goals/assists is fine if RLC is 'recycling possession' and making lung busting runs while his teammates are scoring goals/making assists, but when they're not I just question if RLC will produce when it matters.

Edited April 9, 201610 yr by the special one

That's fair enough.

Personally speaking, Lampard wasn't the player he would become at 20 but I didn't watch much of Ballack at that age. According to wikipedia he was playing at some team called Chemnitzer FC who appeared to be playing in the third tier of German football apparently.

Did you watch him at that age? I suspect that you might not have followed him at that time which means it's hard to compare him to Ruben. Isn't it the case that he probably wasn't the finished article overnight though, and that he took some bedding in time?

With Ruben there's been a fairly consistent upwards curve despite the team struggling quite a bit this season and I don't think either of the players you've compared him to had anywhere near the expectations placed on them that he does. Just give him time and maybe we have a gem on our hands.

Well done mate

Time for a huge clear out. Let Conte do whatever he wants.

 

Our team is crying out for passion and heart, Conte is a fiery character and will probably try to install that passion, but I'm not sure our current players will be able to deal with Conte's attitude. This useless lot will most likely crumble and down tools, just like they have this season, then the likes of Tibo etc..have the nerve to moan, honestly no exaggeration, let's not pretend that most of these players haven't been a disgrace this season.

Ballack/Lamps (Scholes/Gerrard/Pogba/etc) were both showing glimpses of potential in their youth, RLC just isn't that type of player and yet's he's playing at #10 (which I might add may be why Oscar was seemingly given licence to roam today). A lack of goals/assists is fine if RLC is 'recycling possession' and making lung busting runs while his teammates are scoring goals/making assists, but when they're not I just question if RLC will produce when it matters.

 

So Ballack was showing potential at that German div.3 club then? Honestly he could have done but I have no idea if he did. Ruben on the other hand has shown potential throughout his time in the academy, in England age ranks and in his very limited showings in the Premier League. I think this whole thing is slightly hyperbolic to be honest. He was good last week and he was good this week in severely flawed mid-table teams. It's a good foundation and I expect him to build on it.

 

He's a young player, he's not going to come in and be an immediate hit like Macheda or Franny Jeffers or Seth Johnson. He might take longer to get there but so long as he's improving then that's all you can ask.

Such a muted performance, I know there's nothing really to play for but show a bit more drive for the fans that could make the trip.

 

Hard to judge most of the young layers when they didn't really seem to have a decent focal point for attack or a leader to organise/inspire them. This game definitely gives the board/new manager a good evidence that they keep Terry for another season

 

I think Oscar's got to go now, he's offered very little this season and isn't showing signs that he's going to improve any more.

Watching the highlights, Pato's movement is okay, he just can't finish for sh*t, two absoule sitters that even I would have scored, what he thinks he's doing with the flick is beyond me.

Edited April 9, 201610 yr by Floyd25

Awful performance. sadly we are getting used to this. A lot of our players failing their Conte audition. no one seem to care but the supporters. 

Watching the highlights, Pato's movement is okay, he just can't finish for sh*t, two absoule sitters that even I would have scored, what he thinks he's doing with the flick is beyond me.

 

Come on mate that's a bit strong....his movement was decent today, yes he missed a couple of chances but he is rusty as f**k. Could he offer more...probably. The poor sod came in overweight and unfit and has had no game time.  Can't expect miracles overnight. I'd let him hang around a bit, he's only about 26 I think, and unless Conte can go out and get so called 'world class strikers' who don't care if they play CL football he could work out as a second striker.....I was a great fan of his when he played in Milan, super player when he is on his game....he just needs to find it again.

What a load of bollox...Europa league place is still there for the taking and we play like we don't give a sh*t? Yes we played a few fringe players, but you can't help but get the vibe the club don't want to be in Europa league next season.

Come on mate that's a bit strong....his movement was decent today, yes he missed a couple of chances but he is rusty as f**k. Could he offer more...probably. The poor sod came in overweight and unfit and has had no game time. Can't expect miracles overnight. I'd let him hang around a bit, he's only about 26 I think, and unless Conte can go out and get so called 'world class strikers' who don't care if they play CL football he could work out as a second striker.....I was a great fan of his when he played in Milan, super player when he is on his game....he just needs to find it again.

Don't get me wrong, certain things about the way he plays suggests to me that he can be a good player for us, I still wish to see more of him, I don't want him dropped, but the way he took his chances today simply wasn't good enough. I'm not exaggerating, those two sitters that he missed are two of the worst misses of the season, rusty he might be, but a half fit Sunday league player could have taken at least one of those chances, the flick that he tried to pull off was horrendous, I don't want to get on his case, as I said I like his movement and I want to see more of him, but a striker wanting to play for us has to be burying those chances, as even Torres and Sheva would have and as we know their confidence was shot.

Edited April 10, 201610 yr by Floyd25

Watching the highlights, Pato's movement is okay, he just can't finish for sh*t, two absoule sitters that even I would have scored, what he thinks he's doing with the flick is beyond me.

Watching the full match, he isn't fit. This is a damning statement on someone who is supposed to be a professional. Compare this to Tammy Abraham the previous evening who made all the correct runs plus a lung busting 70yd dash to get onto a clearance he began and you see the difference. One sees football as very easy money the other aspires to get to the top. I know who I would put my faith in.

Boy were we poor. It is time for a spring clean up.

Why did Pato start before traore?

Patched up back 4 just didn't work. The MLS Miazga

was found out big time.

Got to mitigate the awfulness of it all by the absence of a lot key players. But still .......

Can't wait for next season, 10th or bust !!

What a load of bollox...Europa league place is still there for the taking and we play like we don't give a sh*t? Yes we played a few fringe players, but you can't help but get the vibe the club don't want to be in Europa league next season.

Yeah we will not reach that. No europa league for us next season

loftus-cheek was the only one who impressed me. he looked mature with the ball and looked like he was clearly thinking about what to do with the ball, the rest of them were f**king sh*te. i would have preferred to have seen colkett over fabregas and ola aina instead of azpi. i think azpi needs a rest tbh, he's a consistent first team player every week. 

Boy were we poor. It is time for a spring clean up.

....didnt get to see the game....were we really that bad?

Watching the full match, he isn't fit. This is a damning statement on someone who is supposed to be a professional. Compare this to Tammy Abraham the previous evening who made all the correct runs plus a lung busting 70yd dash to get onto a clearance he began and you see the difference. One sees football as very easy money the other aspires to get to the top. I know who I would put my faith in.

Tammy has been rumoured to get first team game time between now and the end of the season, I just hope its sooner rather than later, he does look like a hot prospect.

What a load of bollox...Europa league place is still there for the taking and we play like we don't give a sh*t? Yes we played a few fringe players, but you can't help but get the vibe the club don't want to be in Europa league next season.

Why do fans complain that we're not giving youth a chance, we're not giving fringe players a chance, we're being too unadventerous, etc etc. Then when we actually do, they complain about that.

Why do fans complain that we're not giving youth a chance, we're not giving fringe players a chance, we're being too unadventerous, etc etc. Then when we actually do, they complain about that.

Erm, he didnt.

Why do fans complain that we're not giving youth a chance, we're not giving fringe players a chance, we're being too unadventerous, etc etc. Then when we actually do, they complain about that.

wasn't having a dig at playing fringe (youth) players, it was the lack of intensity of the team I was having a pop at...and the senior ones in particular...also think Guus sent out wrong message before the game basically saying he didn't care if unbeaten record goes - it was asking for trouble and he got it with a lame display