Everyone seems to moan about RLC but don't mention the fact he's being played out of position. Do you really think a 6 ft 3 giant is suited to playing that number 10 role or as a shadow striker. His best performance to date has either been Liverpool or Maccabi, both of which he was playing deeper. I really don't understand why we keep playing him higher up when its obvious he isn't comfortable there and he's publicly said he isn't. 

 

Agree with this, I had (another I should say) dig at RLC post match, he was anonymous in the first half but as you allude to given he seemed to be playing as a shadow striker it wasn't through any fault of his own (though irrespective of position he still didn't seem to make the effort to get involved etc etc). Peter Taylor at the U21 tournament in Toulon this summer seemed just as confused as to what his best position actually is, though suggested it may be as a right sided centre mid in a diamond. My concern is that the uncertainty about where he fits in will be to the detriment of the team so will be happy if his opportunities here are limited this year, perhaps a loan would be the best option. If his second half performance v Vienna is anything go by Chalobah is the one I think we should give more opportunities to this year.

Agree with this, I had (another I should say) dig at RLC post match, he was anonymous in the first half but as you allude to given he seemed to be playing as a shadow striker it wasn't through any fault of his own (though irrespective of position he still didn't seem to make the effort to get involved etc etc). Peter Taylor at the U21 tournament in Toulon this summer seemed just as confused as to what his best position actually is, though suggested it may be as a right sided centre mid in a diamond. My concern is that the uncertainty about where he fits in will be to the detriment of the team so will be happy if his opportunities here are limited this year, perhaps a loan would be the best option. If his second half performance v Vienna is anything go by Chalobah is the one I think we should give more opportunities to this year.

 

Think its a case of Stamina/Fitness. In an ideal world he would play a deeper CM role, box to box. All the vibes suggest he isnt fit enough at the top level yet to be able to do this. Therefore we are employing him further forward where his defensive duties are far less.

 

Closest case i can compare to is Yaya. Lots of power and technique, but a liability in a 2 man midfield.

A lot of just concerns, a lot of over the top reactions and a lot of moral high grounders. It was fun to read though.

 

My thoughts (and people can categorize mine too in any way they want, feel free)

1. We lacked physical as well as match fitness, which is to be expected. Cant blame the players or the coach for that.

2. Vienna were in a much better shape than us, which is also to be expected.

3. We looked confused through out the game. We have no identity. The gap between the midfield 2 (mikel and matic) and RLC/costa was immense. 

4. RLC was poor but he was also playing as a second striker rather than a no.10 or a 3rd midfielder

5. We lack QUALITY. iva, baba - atleast 1 on of them will be a season long starter and both of them are notches below our 1st or 2nd team. matic-mikel in the midfield together is a disaster. whats worse is that that, this is our proper 2nd team give or take a couple of players. We need a massive overhaul or atleast give some of our kids a chance. Unfortunately a lot of good players - Baker, Ake, Christensen, have already gone on loan. 

A lot of just concerns, a lot of over the top reactions and a lot of moral high grounders. It was fun to read though.

 

My thoughts (and people can categorize mine too in any way they want, feel free)

1. We lacked physical as well as match fitness, which is to be expected. Cant blame the players or the coach for that.

2. Vienna were in a much better shape than us, which is also to be expected.

3. We looked confused through out the game. We have no identity. The gap between the midfield 2 (mikel and matic) and RLC/costa was immense. 

4. RLC was poor but he was also playing as a second striker rather than a no.10 or a 3rd midfielder

5. We lack QUALITY. iva, baba - atleast 1 on of them will be a season long starter and both of them are notches below our 1st or 2nd team. matic-mikel in the midfield together is a disaster. whats worse is that that, this is our proper 2nd team give or take a couple of players. We need a massive overhaul or atleast give some of our kids a chance. Unfortunately a lot of good players - Baker, Ake, Christensen, have already gone on loan. 

 

About the last two points.

 

This is make or break season for Ruben, he looked promising in stages last season, but is going to have a lot more impact on the game to make it under Conte, the fans may be easy on him not bothering to close down Danny Drinkwater because he's young and a Chelsea lad but you can bet you're bottom dolla Antonio won't be as forgiving.

 

This time next year RLC will either be a fully established member of our squad or he will be on his way.

 

Baba or Ivan is a problem but unfortunately we have other areas of the pitch to prioritize this summer, with Azpi on the other side and a solid CB partnership (please Koulibaly and Zouma), the damage shouldn't be that bad, after all Del Horno was part of a defense that broke records.

I don't see why this should be RLC's make-or-break season, he's only 20! This will only be his second season in the first team proper; I can imagine a certain other young English midfielder who took a couple of seasons to hit his goalscoring best.

I don't see why this should be RLC's make-or-break season, he's only 20! This will only be his second season in the first team proper; I can imagine a certain other young English midfielder who took a couple of seasons to hit his goalscoring best.

 A valid point but at the moment all the signs suggest that RLC's loping, non-urgent looking body language is not going to fit in with AC's need for passionate, box to box, heart on their sleeve fighters through the middle of the pitch.

What you do learn from these games is the system. I didn't see this one, when is the next?

Are we playing 4:4:2 with a higher defensive line and fullbacks killing themselves? That seems to be the conte style.

If so terry won't cope at all, and Ivan won't do the fullback role.

Should suit Costa though and maybe hazard

Edited July 18, 201610 yr by ozboy

 A valid point but at the moment all the signs suggest that RLC's loping, non-urgent looking body language is not going to fit in with AC's need for passionate, box to box, heart on their sleeve fighters through the middle of the pitch.

 

In which case I hope we negotiated a good buy-back price on Ramires with Jiangsu Suning.

It will be interesting to see how we develop in the coming weeks. Clearly by Conte's comments he feels that we have a mindset that needs altering, our approach to games has been to sit too deep. Getting his ideas across initially will be hard and a couple of big names might get their noses pushed out of joint. Given time though we will benefit from the coach's new ideas and probably become better to watch again as a consequence.

 

"I am not angry, I couldn't be considering we only started working together three days ago and were facing an opponent at a more advanced stage than us."

"I really appreciated the effort of all the players. We have to work on a tactical level and find the right solutions for this team."

"We certainly need to work and shake out some skeletons from last season, that is without doubt. In some situations, especially at the start, the team was very deep and too defensive. That's not what Chelsea are about."

"We need to change the mentality in that sense, but I have at my disposal a group of lads who are ready to work."

-Antonio Conte;

Clearly doesn't know Chelsea well enough does he? I like that he's trying to change that, though.

What you do learn from these games is the system. I didn't see this one, when is the next?

Are we playing 4:4:2 with a higher defensive line and fullbacks killing themselves? That seems to be the conte style.

If so terry won't cope at all, and Ivan won't do the fullback role.

Should suit Costa though and maybe hazard

 

Next game is tomorrow.

 

To be honest if you didnt know any different, it was a performance very reminiscent of last season. With similar personal. 4231, with Full backs quite low and a big space between Matic/Mikel and forwards.

 

However in 3 days he cannot perform miracles. His system will take time, and work. Alot of pre season work will be physical, rather than low intensity tactical work. Dont expect to see big changes for a few weeks minimum. But make no doubt the players will be fully aware in a few months of whats expected of them.

I don't understand people saying Ruben isn't fit enough yet. He's been around the first team for almost 2 years now. If he still isn't fit in that amount of time i do worry about him. 

 

However, if Jordan Ibe is being sold for £15m then we should get a very healthy amount of money for Ruben should we ever sell him.

People are incredibly harsh on Loftus-Cheek. Even in a friendly he is still getting singled out, a friendly where the whole team looked behind the opposition in match fitness.

He is under the magnifying glass as we expect him to be our next Frank Drogba-Terry.

Rubén isn't an attacking midfielder, I've no idea why we insist on playing him there, I'm not a manager, but it's strange to persist on playing him out of position.

He is under the magnifying glass as we expect him to be our next Frank Drogba-Terry.

 

Then people should lower their expectations, it's unlikely that we will find anyone as good as these 3 for a very long time.

I don't understand people saying Ruben isn't fit enough yet. He's been around the first team for almost 2 years now. If he still isn't fit in that amount of time i do worry about him. 

 

However, if Jordan Ibe is being sold for £15m then we should get a very healthy amount of money for Ruben should we ever sell him.

 

Its not that he isnt fit, He just probably lacks the natural Stamina for the Premier League. It is something you can work on. Lamps is a prime example doing 'Spikes' every day after training. 

Its not that he isnt fit, He just probably lacks the natural Stamina for the Premier League. It is something you can work on. Lamps is a prime example doing 'Spikes' every day after training. 

 

He's had two years to work on that though with very little improvement. 

He's had two years to work on that though with very little improvement. 

 

Hard to say as he hasnt had a true run. The lad is only 20, we do need to gve him a break. I think its because we all see technically/ talent wise its all there.

About the last two points.

 

This is make or break season for Ruben, he looked promising in stages last season, but is going to have a lot more impact on the game to make it under Conte, the fans may be easy on him not bothering to close down Danny Drinkwater because he's young and a Chelsea lad but you can bet you're bottom dolla Antonio won't be as forgiving.

 

This time next year RLC will either be a fully established member of our squad or he will be on his way.

 

Baba or Ivan is a problem but unfortunately we have other areas of the pitch to prioritize this summer, with Azpi on the other side and a solid CB partnership (please Koulibaly and Zouma), the damage shouldn't be that bad, after all Del Horno was part of a defense that broke records.

Del horno had midfielders like lampard, makelele, essien to support him. right now our midfield is porous, sh*t and absolutely shambolic.

I would rather we go after a good LB than a CB because in today's football, a fullback is a very vital player both defensively and in attack.