So it sounds like Oscar did a job as a true CM? Is that true? Was unable to catch the match, but people (myself included) have been clammouring to move him back for some time now out of a number 10 role. We see so much about how Eden turned it in against Tottenham at the end of the season to bring us back and get the tie, but when Oscar came on for the last 20 minutes or so he consistently won us the ball back with exceptional tackles.

Edited July 21, 20169 yr by TheChelsRVA

Moses motm, Oscar, RLC, Batshuayi, Willian, JT, Traore all did very well. Matic, Papy, Branna, Baba were not so impressive.

Conte's style of 4-4-2 switched to 4-2-4 in attack looks it might fit to our squad. It is early days but most better counter attacking teams would have destroyed us yesterday so it needs work and probably tweaking. Against WAC it was very very effective. We had 60% of the ball.

So the wingers situation is wide open. Pedro is probably on the strong side as he can be one of the strikers as long as a winger or a wide player however you want to label it. Willian and Eden are the first choice. Then we have Moses, Cuadrado, Kenedy of which one is probably gone. Moses looked very impressive so tough decision for Conte to make.

As the game went on, the more the youngsters were surrounded by other youngsters and less 'big names' the better we looked.

Oscar looked so much more dynamic in that CM role.  He actually had to sprint, lay some tackles. I liked it

As the game went on, the more the youngsters were surrounded by other youngsters and less 'big names' the better we looked.

Agreed.

We looked pretty unimpressive until later on in the second half when guys like Oscar went off.

so did oscar do well or not? how come there is contradiction review on oscar? did you people watch the same game?

so did oscar do well or not? how come there is contradiction review on oscar? did you people watch the same game?

It was hard to judge as for starters he made a number of fouls that would have seen him certainly booked by half-time in the PL & possibly could have been sent off, especially for one nasty 2 footed tackle that missed the ball completely. He moved the ball forward well, but the opposing team gave us an unreal amount of space to do so which you would never get in a competitive top-flight game. There were some good long balls, but nothing Fabregas can't do and has proven to do week-in/week-out at his best.

Agreed.

We looked pretty unimpressive until later on in the second half when guys like Oscar went off.

 

don't agree, thought we looked at our most fluent in the first third of the match.

 

don't see oscar having a future in that position, certainly not in that system anyway.

 

meanwhile- loftus cheek as a striker! weird. guess he has some of the qualities a target man has but he's not exactly a player with a natural instinct for goals. 

 

we're also seeing that first time pass from a wide player to the target man who in turn lays it off to a runner. that was a feature of his italy team. interesting to note already how much of the play starts in the flanks and ends in the middle. wonder if that will change when fabregas and hazard are back in the team. I still don't see a space for the former and the latter at the moment could only be viewed as a forward rather than a wide man in this 442.

I will be very interested to see where Fabregas does indeed fit into this team.

 

Interesting to hear Conte's comments post match about how impressed he is with the youngsters, and I think he even called a couple of them out as potential first team players.  I really hope we use a smattering of youngsters to take the backup roles, and integrate them into the team.  I think Aina, Chalobah, RLC, and Traore all as back ups is a fine enough squad.  

 

Looking forward to seeing more in the pre-season.  Including in person versus AC Milan.

Apparently are playing a local team now, we're 3-0 up, Remy with two and Obi wan with the goals.

I dont think oscar played that well tbh. Made some good tackles, but he receives the ball too often without having a look first to see whats around him.

They say snooker players have the next 4/5 shots ahead of themselves, oscar doesnt know what be wants to do with the ball until its at his feet.

I think oscar looks better when he is trying to get on the end of things, i dont think he is the most creative, and i dont think he is a good play maker.

I'm an Oscar fan, but his problem is consistency and he does need to prove aspects of his game, but I'm excited at the prospect of him playing deeper. He's a tough tackler and I disagree on the point that he's not a good playmaker, he can score too, he just needs to find a higher level of consistency and to improve his passing, but he's very talented, a big season for him.

So Moses still leading us to the promised land in preseason but can't part the waters to enter the first 11 during the proper season.

Maybe he should change his name. I'm always surprised he hasn't done better on loan. He was great for Wigan the season before we bought him.

I'm an Oscar fan, but his problem is consistency and he does need to prove aspects of his game, but I'm excited at the prospect of him playing deeper. He's a tough tackler and I disagree on the point that he's not a good playmaker, he can score too, he just needs to find a higher level of consistency and to improve his passing, but he's very talented, a big season for him.

I am in the exact same boat.  

Did any of you guys know we had a behind closed doors friendly against the local team? We won 8-0. Remy hat trick, Batshuayi got two and mikel had one. Cant remember the other scorers

Edit: pedro got two I think

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Edited July 21, 20169 yr by Surf

No idea this was happening, probably due to it not being televised.  Nice to see Remy and Batman getting some goals.

 

As if Mikel scoring was ever in doubt

Does anyone think Moses is just a naturally fit guy who needs little to no preseason to get up to speed? Given he looks to be our best player every preseason only to be left out the final squad.  Do the rest of the team just catch up in fitness and sharpness and overtake him leaving him looking not so impressive?

 

 

Out of all the youngsters I do think Ola Aina should be in the squad for the new season.   I think the fact that unlike the other full back options we've used he's gone by slightly unnoticed, but in a good way feels like he's been there for years, no drama just steady and safe.  He may need to be tested against better attacking teams, but Ivanovic and Baba didn't look safe against the weak opposition we've played so far.

We haven't put the foot down like that in a while!

Does anyone think Moses is just a naturally fit guy who needs little to no preseason to get up to speed? Given he looks to be our best player every preseason only to be left out the final squad. Do the rest of the team just catch up in fitness and sharpness and overtake him leaving him looking not so impressive?

It's strange with Moses. He always looks good in these early stages but he can never hold a place down when out at lesser clubs with smaller ambitions and lesser players ahead of him.

He's not a kid anymore so you would have thought he'd have kicked on and stood out in the EPL for one of the sides he was loaned to but it's never happened.

Some photos from the 'secret' friendly

I

I have no idea why pedro is wearing no pants

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Watch the Pellets game last night.

 

Few points. Can see he is encouraging width, and particularly the blind pass round the corner into the front, with runners coming to help. Slight worry that a 424 in the PL would be dangerous. They had a few opportunities to hit us, but lacked the quality.

 

Moses was not MOM. Played well, but i think against these sides he has too much strength and power. This levels out when he faces a strong PL Full back. I slated Willian in the last game but he was our best player for me. Costa was useless it has to be said. Twice he should of got a shot away in a decent area, but lacked the finesse of touch. 

 

I do want to add something about Oscar. I am his biggest critic but the deeper role suits him much better. He doesnt need to drop a shoulder or have to have excellent close control or creativity unlike when he is no10. He is bright and can keep us ticking in that position and offers good energy.

'Interesting' attire from Pedro.

Pedro, mate....

I have no idea why pedro is wearing no pants

 

 

You must be American.

 

If he was wearing no pants, it would be another story altogether!

You must be American.

If he was wearing no pants, it would be another story altogether!

Nope I'm irish just a brain fart on my part. I meant knicks lol

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