1 hour ago, RMH said:

He can't be doing such a bad job when we are top of the PL and have conceded only 4 goals (including the league cup) since the change in formation to 3-4-3. I understand that he is not setting the world on fire and he is not world class, but he is not that bad either. We need a better player there, sure, but Baba is not that player. We need top class and I hope Conte has some ideas, but so far he is trusting Alonso and it is not going that bad. Now, if Conte wanted Baba and he brought him back, he'd have my backing. I trust Conte's ideas and choices, he is proving to be a top manager.

Totally agree. If Alonso is to be replaced, it needs to be with someone who is genuinely better than him. Not sure Baba is that guy. Wouldn't mind seeing Kennedy back in January and playing back up to Alonso. I think he has the attributes to become a top class wing back.

We have endless talent in the youth system. We need to start bringing them through and save on these huge transfer fees. I might be in the minority here but i'd rather we start giving our youth players chances even if it is detrimental to our title chances. I think it would be beneficial in the long run. 

Apparently Ashley is back training at the club on his off season, lets hope he can give him some pointers 

On 07/12/2016 at 14:34, Saru said:

He was a great option for us in his first spell here Xfactor. Not sure what you mean by "average" but he was a very solid player for us, and added a lot of balance to the side instead of just playing Oscar, Mata and Hazard together. Always put himself around and tried his best, and at the time I did not see evidence of his poor positioning or poor options as you are saying... he was really good for us, both defensively and going forward -- being more direct. He was key in getting us to the Europa League final too, and put in great performances in the PL. Liverpool wasn't great for him, there he was just bang on average... and West Ham he started off amazing, but then faded. As for his performances at Chelsea, he played amazing every single pre season that I saw him feature in... I was pretty annoyed that Moses wasn't given a chance by Mourinho, and am on record in plenty of threads saying he's a great substitute or option for the first team to have (initially saw him as back up for either Hazard or Willian). But obviously this new formation change has made him EVEN better.

Anyway I guess we can agree to disagree. He was never a world beater, but he has always been a very solid player -- and for Chelsea levels that says a lot. Always worked hard and contributed, and what's important now, is not our opinions of how he used to be: But that finally he got his chance and given the circumstances he is one of our best performers!

Totally agree with your post. I don't quite understand the desire by fans to denigrate,criticise or nit pick their players . Every player has a weakness including the world's best. I see teams with a Messi, Aguero, Kompany, Ramos, even Terry concede goals and lose games. Yes there is room for improvement but at the moment even though some of these players who let's face it are relatively new to chelsea (and i include Moses because though he's  been here for years only the waiter **cough** really gave him a run in the team and maybe not the next Arjen but he did well) or the current set up, they're not losing games. Yes they may get skinned a few times a game which may result in goals but luckily it hasn't. It's a learning experience. its not Ivanovic bad yet and even he got chance after chance by our most proven manager and even the new gaffer who then changed things up and is putting his trust in these players some feel are not good enough. Let's be happy using what we have until it's obviously not working and I'd rather unearth the next Terry from our academy than that terrifying joke bid of 50m plus being bandied around for Kalidou in the close season. Some pined for and gnashed their teeth when we didn't get Stones but he's not particularly setting the world ablaze with lightning performances is he?  Let's appreciate the ugliness in our house and see the beauty in it than all the time lavisciously eyeing up the beauty next door.

Alonso's 5-time European Cup winning granddad, and La Liga winning dad, both of whom just happened to also be called Marcos.

 

His resemblance of his father is uncanny.

Thought he played well today. 

Slightly annoying that he has no pace and therefore no ability to get past opponent when attacking. Solid defensivly today though.

Solid performance last night against his former club. 

Whipped in some really good crosses. 

Did well with his defensive work too. 

Had a good game against Sunderland, I think he was better defensively at this game.

Gets way too much FLAK for a player who is part of a team on a 10 match winning streak.

I dont think he is defensively poor. Yes, he has no acceleration, but the way people talk, you would think he was PVA.

I do have a complaint in attack where he simply cant use his right foot (watch the first everton goal against arsenal and how baines uses his right foot to give a pin point cross) and sometimes even when he gets the ball at his left foot, his end ball/decision just is not what you want. Needs to improve, BUT, dont think we need another LB/LWB

Thought he looked good today, especially 2nd half, more confident and aggresive than he has been, and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet.

Excellent performance against Crystal Palace, also great free-kick.

Forgot  to say, my Italian friend , who follows Milan religiously , said along has an amazing free kick on him and happy he left , Coz he apparently used to always score against Milan.  

On ‎12‎/‎8‎/‎2016 at 11:25, Van Butsen said:

But that's just that.  Even if he is a work in progress, he is well below the prerequisites needed to qualify as a work in progress.  He is not doing a pretty good job.

 

Oops!

I actually thought he was pretty poor in the first half, very wasteful and a bit all over the place. In the second half he was back to normal though. I actually thought everyone's game went up a gear when Fabregas came on. The pace of our game picked up and it really suited our players. I would really like us to start playing with pace again and not let teams settle from the start. At the start of this 11 game winning run, we were getting at teams from the start and our pace and movement was too hard for them to deal with. Since the last international break, i think we have slowed our play down a bit and i'm not really sure why.

He's the whipping boy for many supporters at the moment, but he's been solid for us overall.

In the long-term I see him as a good depth player, but Conte seems happy with his contribution at the moment which is the most important thing.

Gets a lot of stick because he's not a trendy name and played for Bolton and Sunderland  but has been very solid In our run of games and I'm sure Conte is pleased with him. Needs to take over free kicks duties from luiz as well.

He needs to take our free kicks

Seems to be the scapegoat of this side. I guess even when winning 11 games in a row, someone's doing something wrong!

Has been shaky at times but been solid last couple against Sunderland & Palace especially. Hard to fault a defender who's played every game as part of an 11 game run in which we've conceded 2 goals...

Only problem I can see is he's pretty much got that LWB spot nailed on as we have no cover, which is dodgy for injuries if he picks one up and also could allow an element of coasting to come in as there's no pressure from anyone else. Don't think Conte fancies Kenedy and can't see him having the discipline to play LWB in this system, maybe a young and up and coming player is worth a signing in Jan?

On 12/18/2016 at 11:55, Jezz said:

He's the whipping boy for many supporters at the moment, but he's been solid for us overall.

In the long-term I see him as a good depth player, but Conte seems happy with his contribution at the moment which is the most important thing.

Has been woeful defensively.  How can you say he's been solid? 

 

23 hours ago, Ivanov87 said:

Gets a lot of stick because he's not a trendy name and played for Bolton and Sunderland  but has been very solid In our run of games and I'm sure Conte is pleased with him. Needs to take over free kicks duties from luiz as well.

Get's a lot of stick because he's terrible.  Victor Moses played for Wigan and Crystal Palace.  Dave played for Marseille.  It matters not where you once played.
 

2 hours ago, Batshuayi said:

Seems to be the scapegoat of this side. I guess even when winning 11 games in a row, someone's doing something wrong!

Has been shaky at times but been solid last couple against Sunderland & Palace especially. Hard to fault a defender who's played every game as part of an 11 game run in which we've conceded 2 goals...

Only problem I can see is he's pretty much got that LWB spot nailed on as we have no cover, which is dodgy for injuries if he picks one up and also could allow an element of coasting to come in as there's no pressure from anyone else. Don't think Conte fancies Kenedy and can't see him having the discipline to play LWB in this system, maybe a young and up and coming player is worth a signing in Jan?

If you'r are not always looking to improve then you are doing something wrong.   We need to be improving the player in that role.

I don't know what games what you've been watching that makes you think a player who's part of a defence that has conceded 2 goals in 11 games is woeful. 

Yeah Alonso has been dependable IMO. Not amazing but certainly not woeful. I think he's looked a 7/10 player pretty much every game which is absolutely fine.

Where would we be if we didn't sign Alonso?

11 winning streak and only 2 goals conceded despite playing the likes of City, United, Spurs etc. if we didn't sign him then maybe the 3 4 3 formation wouldn't be as successful and Hazard wouldn't be on fire. Excellent addition!

i agree he isn't the world's best but he's good enough and he's playing a huge part in our epic form like everyone else is.

Woeful and terrible, what a load of nonsense. He's been solid, had some very good games and a few poor ones but overall he's definitely contributed to a superb run of victories. 

Double post.

Edited December 19, 20169 yr by Ivanov87