Anyone that has been watching the games could have seen a clear improvement that Kante has made over the past few months and I have been saying it over and over. He adapted to the new role perfectly fine and he's not a problem, in fact if all 11 players had the same mentality of Kante where would we be now?
He listens to the coach and just works hard. I bet you could make a case study about how a player can improve and have that as a dependent factor to a perfect behavior and hard working player like Kante where the result would be that if you are like Kante you improve as a player.

Lets hope he scored against City again.

.

Edited February 4, 20197 yr by JMaher94
Quoted wrong person.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Funny I read this and knew someone would bring up Eden ahead of kante before I caught up on this thread.

I agree with you just. Time and again I can trust Kante to give his all for the shirt.

Consistancy. To be fair Eden is consistant too, consistant at talking about his love for Real Madrid and his dream move. 

When he wants to play few are better, but sometimes he just does not want it. Chelsea are his fall back option if Real dont make a move. The consolation prize.

For Kante we are the prize and he plays like it game after game.

That is an unbelievably harsh assessement of a player who basically dragged us towards two league titles.

In 13/14, he was far and away our best player.

In 14/15, he won PFA POTY and pulled us through many games when Costa and Cesc's form dipped post-January.

In 15/16, he came back overweight from pre season, staggered for a while under Mourinho like the rest of the squad and then had a 3 month injury lay off and still came in that season and ruined Spurs' title hopes.

In 16/17, once again he was one of the best players in the league along with N'golo who rightly deserved to win PFA POTY. However, Hazard basically carried our whole attack when Costa decided he wanted a move to China and Willian was back to being his inconsistent self.

In 17/18, he was once again our best attacker (aside from a two month spell where Willian was exceptionally good).

In 18/19, he's scored 12 goals and has 10 assists (only Salah has more). Before Boxing Day, he was literally carrying us through games and scored one of the best goals I have ever seen.

I think his constant comments about Real Madrid are a bit unnecessary now and he should either put up or shut up but he's given us nearly seven years of brilliant service aside from one season. Don't blame him, blame our board for not surrounding him with the quality that he deserves.

This doesn't mean that I'm not a fan of N'golo because I absolutely adore the man. A very rare commodity in modern football and he should be applauded for not just his out of this world ability but for the way he conducts himself. However for me, Hazard is still our best player even if he does go missing from time to time, he's not Lionel Messi and we shouldn't expect him to be every game.

 

May be harsh but if it were possible and Real came out and said "Eden you are our man" or courted him like Bayerns aggressive approach to CHO do you or do you not think he would be off like a shot?

Same approach made to Kante and I think he stays. With Eden he goes imo and, as CHO has shown even with a Chelsea fan and youth product, loyalty is hard to buy and worth its weight in gold.

 

On to the talent side of your point though and for me I dont compare Eden to the freakish Lionel messi. No one around can compare to him.

Eden has been amazing, is amazing and rightly one of our greatest ever players. I just take issue he turns it on when he wants to. I Dont expect messi from him, I expect Zola. You do remember Zola had to play against players like Julian Dicks, Roy Keane, the whole arsenal back like etc who would kick him black and blue just like Eden gets? 

Zola did not hide, he was not always amazing but every game he put in a shift. Eden does not, he hides, he sulks.

But he has helped the club do amazing things, more than franco ever did. I know who I would pick out of the two at prime form. Eden had everything needed to be greater than Zola, cause he has pace to go with his amazing talent. He could be so much greater and that frustrates me, that untapped potential.

9 hours ago, axman2526 said:

May be harsh but if it were possible and Real came out and said "Eden you are our man" or courted him like Bayerns aggressive approach to CHO do you or do you not think he would be off like a shot?

Same approach made to Kante and I think he stays. With Eden he goes imo and, as CHO has shown even with a Chelsea fan and youth product, loyalty is hard to buy and worth its weight in gold.

At this point I think he probably would go, but its worth remembering he stuck around when we had bad times in the past. He's been far more loyal than I ever expected when we first signed him.

On 03/02/2019 at 13:17, dkw said:

How about when Kanté can do both? 

Well technically this is the first time in Kante career where he is scoring more than 1 goal, and being more creative. Before this season he was scoring one goal a season. I stand by my comment, that's why forwards get paid more money.

He's definitely one of the good guys. Talented in every aspect of his play and he can seemingly do it all.... it's a shame we don't have 11 of him...

My only concern is when we are really high up and exposed, then caught in the break,  he is nowhere near the middle to stop it, like he always does when he's in the middle...!

2 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

Well technically this is the first time in Kante career where he is scoring more than 1 goal, and being more creative. Before this season he was scoring one goal a season. I stand by my comment, that's why forwards get paid more money.

That's because this season is the first he's been encouraged to get forward and join the attack more. 

On 03/02/2019 at 13:17, dkw said:

How about when Kanté can do both? 

But can he do both efficiently? I would say this new position has nullified his defensive qualities, that's fair enough to say. 

I would say it's his weakest season at Chelsea so far but who's to say it's not a worthy investment for the future. If Kante goes on to adapt and develop his game it could definitely be worthwhile. 

2 hours ago, Zola said:

He's definitely one of the good guys. Talented in every aspect of his play and he can seemingly do it all.... it's a shame we don't have 11 of him...

My only concern is when we are really high up and exposed, then caught in the break,  he is nowhere near the middle to stop it, like he always does when he's in the middle...!

It's not even so much defensive cover, I think it's attacking output that he's not efficient in. 

Someone brought up stats that he's been involved in the highest amount of goals in the team while Barkley is right next to him in that stat even though he's played much less games and this is a season where we've been crying out for goals. I don't think Kovacic and Kante have offered enough in attack and I've often felt were a player short in the attack, but with a striker now we might see a difference fingers crossed. 

I'm reserving my judgement still, a lot can change from now until the end of the season. 

 

35 minutes ago, Slojo said:

But can he do both efficiently? I would say this new position has nullified his defensive qualities, that's fair enough to say. 

I would say it's his weakest season at Chelsea so far but who's to say it's not a worthy investment for the future. If Kante goes on to adapt and develop his game it could definitely be worthwhile. 

Agree with this. I do wonder if we would be more defensively stable if we had Kante playing closer to Jorginho to cover against counterattacks. Sometimes, it feels like both Kante and Barkley/Kova are pushed so far up, that it's really no wonder we get caught out once we lose the ball. 

I really would be interested in seeing Willian playing as our LCM. Kante would drop back more to provide cover, allowing him to do be in the right position to do what he does best. While Willian can push up more and interchange with Hazard on the left side, playing that Hamsik role. Some of the positions that Barkley found himself in against Huddersfield, if it was Willian, might've had another goal from open play.

On top of that, Willian's defensive workrate and speed would also help cover for Alonso when's he's pushed too far up and can't track back quick enough. 

Might end up being disastrous with Willian and Hazard taking turns to slow the game down, hog the ball and try dribbling through 5 men....but I feel like it's worth a try?

Edit: However, I must say that I've been super impressed with how Kante has reinvented himself at Sarri's bidding. As Slojo said, maybe in the longterm, we may end up with an AMC star that can chip in with 10 goals and 10 assists a season?

 

Edited February 4, 20197 yr by dustbin719

1 minute ago, dustbin719 said:

Agree with this. I do wonder if we would be more defensively stable if we had Kante playing closer to Jorginho to cover against counterattacks. Sometimes, it feels like both Kante and Barkley/Kova are pushed so far up, that it's really no wonder we get caught out once we lose the ball. 

I really would be interested in seeing Willian playing as our LCM. Kante would drop back more to provide cover, allowing him to do be in the right position to do what he does best. While Willian can push up more and interchange with Hazard on the left side, playing that Hamsik role. Some of the positions that Barkley found himself in against Huddersfield, if it was Willian, might've had another goal from open play.

On top of that, Willian's defensive workrate and speed would also help cover for Alonso when's he's pushed too far up and can't track back quick enough. 

Might end up being disastrous with Willian and Hazard taking turns to slow the game down, hog the ball and try dribbling through 5 men....but I feel like it's worth a try?

 

In this current philosophy and set up there is no room for the Kante of last season, he has to adapt in order to play here and that's what Sarri is sticking with. I can completely understand it, and I've never once claimed otherwise, I just have my doubts about whether or not it will work because I don't think Kante has ever been that player. 

As much as people try to say Kante's best position was this and that I think he's always known for breaking up play and being a consistent ball-winner, preferably playing in counter-attacking sides. Right now that's not the case, he's not playing in that philosophy and he's not playing as a ball winning midfielder. That's pretty much because he can't, Sarri has come here to implement his philosophy. Kante's attacking aspects are far from his best aspects, that's not to say that he can't be of use though. I don't think it's helped with Kovacic and Barkley not excelling here, I like Kovacic but he's too pragmatic, he lacks the flair to contribute with the attacking line and final 3rd, he just doesn't take enough risks. Barkley is different but he's inconsistent, has great games then houlers. 

And as for Sarri Ball which involves moving the ball around quickly I think that's far from Kante's best attribute, Kante takes too much time on the ball and often slows the tempo of the attack. 

The Willian idea you've just gave could work, it seems to work for Pep when he plays central attackers in central midfield positions, could be worth a try? 

12 minutes ago, Slojo said:

In this current philosophy and set up there is no room for the Kante of last season, he has to adapt in order to play here and that's what Sarri is sticking with. I can completely understand it, and I've never once claimed otherwise, I just have my doubts about whether or not it will work because I don't think Kante has ever been that player. 

As much as people try to say Kante's best position was this and that I think he's always known for breaking up play and being a consistent ball-winner, preferably playing in counter-attacking sides. Right now that's not the case, he's not playing in that philosophy and he's not playing as a ball winning midfielder. That's pretty much because he can't, Sarri has come here to implement his philosophy. Kante's attacking aspects are far from his best aspects, that's not to say that he can't be of use though. I don't think it's helped with Kovacic and Barkley not excelling here, I like Kovacic but he's too pragmatic, he lacks the flair to contribute with the attacking line and final 3rd, he just doesn't take enough risks. Barkley is different but he's inconsistent, has great games then houlers. 

And as for Sarri Ball which involves moving the ball around quickly I think that's far from Kante's best attribute, Kante takes too much time on the ball and often slows the tempo of the attack. 

The Willian idea you've just gave could work, it seems to work for Pep when he plays central attackers in central midfield positions, could be worth a try? 

Think LCM is where Pulisic will end up.

44 minutes ago, Slojo said:

But can he do both efficiently? I would say this new position has nullified his defensive qualities, that's fair enough to say. 

I would say it's his weakest season at Chelsea so far but who's to say it's not a worthy investment for the future. If Kante goes on to adapt and develop his game it could definitely be worthwhile. 

Do we have to keep going over this, his defensive work is diminished because we don't do anywhere near as much defending as the past few seasons. He is on a position now where he still does excellent defensive work when needed but has also shown he is extremely capable of playing a part in the attack. Sarri doesn't have defensive or attacking midfielders, he simply has midfielders who attack and defend. 

15 minutes ago, dkw said:

Do we have to keep going over this, his defensive work is diminished because we don't do anywhere near as much defending as the past few seasons. He is on a position now where he still does excellent defensive work when needed but has also shown he is extremely capable of playing a part in the attack. Sarri doesn't have defensive or attacking midfielders, he simply has midfielders who attack and defend. 

My main issue is his positioning in his new role. Sometimes when he is involved with our forward-most attacking moves, if we lose the ball and the opponents break quickly, he isn’t in a position to even catch up with them (despite his amazing engine)

If he’s positioned a little deeper when in possession (Not DM deep) , he is still in a position to contribute to an attacking move if he picks his spots, but he’s also in a position to win back possession or stop counterattacks in the middle third of the field.

Given how Allan played at Napoli, I do believe he’s an almost perfect fit to play that role. However, with the lack of attacking production from our LCMs (Hamsik role), Kante is perhaps asked to contribute more in the attacking third?   Or feels he needs to contribute more and hence will start to “creep” further up the field?

Edit: Basically if we can get more attacking output from the LCM position, Kante can sit back a touch, giving us a bit more balance when we lose posession. This is not a Kante issue but a tactical issue

Edited February 4, 20197 yr by dustbin719

Those two passes on Saturday, especially the first one, were sublime.

25 minutes ago, dkw said:

Do we have to keep going over this, his defensive work is diminished because we don't do anywhere near as much defending as the past few seasons. He is on a position now where he still does excellent defensive work when needed but has also shown he is extremely capable of playing a part in the attack. Sarri doesn't have defensive or attacking midfielders, he simply has midfielders who attack and defend. 

Calm down lad, I've pretty much already said that.

His excellent defensive work isn't utilised as well as it was last season or the season before that, simply because it can't be in this system. I don't think anybody is not understanding that, but I disagree that he's shown he's "extremely capable" of being part of the attack, I think he has ways to go before he can fully play sarri ball, he's not quick enough with the ball. 

But it's not just him having this problem, it's Hazard and Willian both who are at times often dwelling on the ball and not being fast enough, however, I could easily bet on them two being the more likely to adapt to fast paced attacking football than Kante. 

28 minutes ago, Argo said:

Think LCM is where Pulisic will end up.

I think Sarri might prefer him out wide with his pace, he likes to run onto the ball. 

His runs of late into the are beyond the attack have been as good as any attacking midfielder, even as good as lampard. im not saying he's as good an attacker as lampard before anyone jumps on that, but his angled runs and timing showca fantastic attacking instinct that can't be trained in, it's part of his game and we should use it as best we can rather than restrict him to defensively patrolling an area. 

5 minutes ago, dkw said:

His runs of late into the are beyond the attack have been as good as any attacking midfielder, even as good as lampard. im not saying he's as good an attacker as lampard before anyone jumps on that, but his angled runs and timing showca fantastic attacking instinct that can't be trained in, it's part of his game and we should use it as best we can rather than restrict him to defensively patrolling an area. 

I love when he runs onto the ball and with it at the defence, that's always been an underrated ability of his, we used to see him do that before and it was impressive, like his goal against United in the 4-0 spanking. 

But it's mostly when we're dominating the game and sat in the oppositions half I'm concerned in, and there will be a lot of games like that under Sarri against the lower sides. We saw against Newcastle earlier in the season when they had a stupid low possession, Kante kept disrupting the rythem of the attack, we were too predictable, couldn't even trouble Newcastle's defence. 

I think this is the part where we'll see the limitations in Kante in attack, and it doesn't help when Kovacic isn't really contributed towards the attack either, that's mostly why we've been stagnant in the last couple of months or so. 

It's his runs behind the defence that shows me he is able to play a part in our attack. His timing and vision is excellent, his poisoning against the defenders also excellent. 

Really tough spot with Kante.. Hes adapting to his new role really well, but at the same time he was so so good defensively idk where to put him atm 

N'Golo Kante: No player has won possession in the attacking third more times than @nglkante (22) in the Premier League this season

 

Maybe he adjusting to his new role better than what the media are making out. 

7 minutes ago, JM7 said:

N'Golo Kante: No player has won possession in the attacking third more times than @nglkante (22) in the Premier League this season

 

Maybe he adjusting to his new role better than what the media are making out. 

And our so-called loyal supporters

2 hours ago, robdog said:

And our so-called loyal supporters

God forbid people have a different opinion from one another. You should give it a try one of these days.