The beauty of him being involved in our squad this year and hopefully getting a good amount of game time will be that it hopefully dispels the media bias that, there is no way through from our academy to the first team which is repeated over and over again. I would also  like to think it would be a boost to the rest of the players in the academy to prove that if they’re good enough, they will get their chance.

 

I disagree that if we lost Willian we shouldn’t look to sign a bailey etc. I wouldn’t be overly happy going in to the season with Hazard, Pedro & CHO. One bad injury and we’d be down to 2 wingers, I don’t think signing someone like Bailey would block his path at all, we need 4 wingers in the first team squad IMO.

 

it would all depend on whether Willian stays or not whether we need to sign someone IMO. (I don’t think Moses is good enough on the wing to count).

54 minutes ago, big blue said:

There's no chance sarri will change his formation to fit CHO in his team. 

Maybe there's an argument for hazard playing as a false 9, or as the attacking midfielder.

CHO is pretty flexible from what I've seen in the youth teams, maybe he could play on the right. Mbappe is probably better on the left but he still has managed to cause teams damage from the right aswell. 

I honestly think he will be used mainly as an impact sub, and in cup competitions. 

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but didn't wide players used to regularly switch mid game. Hazard can play on the right. Causes untold problems for the full backs.

Also, what's with this thing about right-footed people playing on the left. Bloody hipsters.

Right-footed players should play on the right. To put the crosses in. 

8 hours ago, Theafonis said:

I can't think of a single game we've won that Hazard played false 9. Maybe the 3-0 win against Bournemouth at home 16/17 when Costa was suspended but thats it. 

Hazard is a creator whether thats through space or chances by pulling opposition defenders towards him. With him being in the middle, it just clogs up the channels. 

I know some have made the Mertens argument as he blossomed under Sarri as a striker, but I just can't see Hazard having the same effect in the middle.  

Sorry I was not clear. That was meant only to be our midfield. Still with 1 striker and 4 defenders.

Does he have a chant yet? Does he does he does he? 

We should just sign a few two-footed wingers and then all these issues of which side they can play on just fade away !

He's been with Chelsea from 2007 and he is 17. You can really say he is a product of our club.

I hope he actually does get play time but he's 17, he was going to stay with the team regardless. I don't recall us ever loaning out a 17 year old. 

As it stands, we've 5 wingers for 2 spots going into the new season :

Hazard, Pedro, Willian, Odoi and Moses.

I'd get rid of Willian, hes got the best re-sale value of all the wingers other than Hazard.

 

Moses just isn't good enough going forward to be included. He found his niche and that's wingback. I think having him as one of our attacking options will just be a waste of a spot.

4 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Moses just isn't good enough going forward to be included. He found his niche and that's wingback. I think having him as one of our attacking options will just be a waste of a spot.

Just bury him on the bench and keep him for homegrown status this season.

23 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I hope he actually does get play time but he's 17, he was going to stay with the team regardless. I don't recall us ever loaning out a 17 year old. 

Solanke and chalobah both went out. But it's tricky with under 18s

32 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I hope he actually does get play time but he's 17, he was going to stay with the team regardless. I don't recall us ever loaning out a 17 year old. 

He can't leave anyway. Has to stay for another year to qualify as homegrown. The 3-year rule starts after age 15.

10 hours ago, Theafonis said:

 I can't think of a single game we've won that Hazard played false 9. Maybe the 3-0 win against Bournemouth at home 16/17 when Costa was suspended but thats it. 

Hazard is a creator whether thats through space or chances by pulling opposition defenders towards him. With him being in the middle, it just clogs up the channels. 

I know some have made the Mertens argument as he blossomed under Sarri as a striker, but I just can't see Hazard having the same effect in the middle.  

I'm fairly certain we won our first 6/7 or something games playing false 9 averaging 3 a game in the process (off the top of my head Bournemouth, Leicester, Qarabag, Huddersfield, Saints think there's a couple more).

When we were playing attacking football it was actually working really well, it's when we went all Pulis ball post January last year it started looking rancid.

Edited August 2, 20187 yr by Argo

2 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

The beauty of him being involved in our squad this year and hopefully getting a good amount of game time will be that it hopefully dispels the media bias that, there is no way through from our academy to the first team which is repeated over and over again. I would also  like to think it would be a boost to the rest of the players in the academy to prove that if they’re good enough, they will get their chance.

The myth i want debunked is the "Chelsea could have Mbappe and thed send him on loan to Vitesse and sell him at 25", can't abide that statement.

48 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Moses just isn't good enough going forward to be included. He found his niche and that's wingback. I think having him as one of our attacking options will just be a waste of a spot.

Moses is a waste of spot alright but id prefer to get rid of Willian and Zappacosta and keep Moses who can play RW and RB, worse case scenario and we're freeing up 2 non HG spots and probably 70/80m as lets face it, nobody is going to buy Moses.

Thats the Football Manager in me speaking, in reality, we'll keep all 3 but it should at least be considered.

54 minutes ago, benjsross said:

Solanke and chalobah both went out. But it's tricky with under 18s

Forgot about Solanke, didn't realise Chalobah was loaned out at 17 though. 

2 hours ago, Ilya said:

Also, what's with this thing about right-footed people playing on the left. Bloody hipsters.

Right-footed players should play on the right. To put the crosses in. 

This is the one thing which is a bit confusing. I mean left footed attacker for the RW would make sense for cutting in to shoot, so it's kind of the same for the LW having a right footed player on that side. I don't think it's terribly necessary though. I mean Napoli had a right footer playing on the RW and City had Sterling playing on that RW too; he's a right footer. I think the fascination with stronger footed players playing on the opposite side is, they can cut in and shoot. Like I say though, I don't think it's a necessity at all. 

18 minutes ago, Delnino said:

Moses is a waste of spot alright but id prefer to get rid of Willian and Zappacosta and keep Moses who can play RW and RB, worse case scenario and we're freeing up 2 non HG spots and probably 70/80m as lets face it, nobody is going to buy Moses.

Thats the Football Manager in me speaking, in reality, we'll keep all 3 but it should at least be considered.

Moses isn't a RB though, so seems a bit silly to try make him one. Azpilicueta and Zappa are much more natural right backs than Moses will be. 

1 hour ago, Zeta said:

Moses just isn't good enough going forward to be included. He found his niche and that's wingback. I think having him as one of our attacking options will just be a waste of a spot.

He could be utilized in Europa behind Odoi and Willian or Pedro. However, I do agree that his quality going forward isn't good enough to be a mainstay as a winger at Chelsea. But, maybe Sarri will be able to get him to improve his crossing (so many blocked crosses) and play in the final 3rd

59 minutes ago, enigma said:

This is the one thing which is a bit confusing. I mean left footed attacker for the RW would make sense for cutting in to shoot, so it's kind of the same for the LW having a right footed player on that side. I don't think it's terribly necessary though. I mean Napoli had a right footer playing on the RW and City had Sterling playing on that RW too; he's a right footer. I think the fascination with stronger footed players playing on the opposite side is, they can cut in and shoot. Like I say though, I don't think it's a necessity at all. 

Especially when most players who cut in and shoot are often terrible at it. Robben is one of the only players who is actually good at it. The majority just hit their shots high and wide.

I prefer wingers who take on their full back, beat them with skill and pace and hit the ball into the danger area for a tap in. I think this is more effective than the constant cutting in and trying a shot.

3 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

The beauty of him being involved in our squad this year and hopefully getting a good amount of game time will be that it hopefully dispels the media bias that, there is no way through from our academy to the first team which is repeated over and over again. I would also  like to think it would be a boost to the rest of the players in the academy to prove that if they’re good enough, they will get their chance.

 

I disagree that if we lost Willian we shouldn’t look to sign a bailey etc. I wouldn’t be overly happy going in to the season with Hazard, Pedro & CHO. One bad injury and we’d be down to 2 wingers, I don’t think signing someone like Bailey would block his path at all, we need 4 wingers in the first team squad IMO.

 

it would all depend on whether Willian stays or not whether we need to sign someone IMO. (I don’t think Moses is good enough on the wing to count).

I think if Bailey comes in it should be more Pedro in a position of concerns that CHO.  I might be overly optimistic and I know it's not actual competitions yet but Ive seen a lot more that encourages me from CHO than Pedro despite the fact I've seen about 100x more of Pedro.  To me, he can be the one to leave or just a seasoned vet to help settle the upcoming talents.

2 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Sorry I was not clear. That was meant only to be our midfield. Still with 1 striker and 4 defenders.

I saw that as needing a striker up front and being a great attacking lineup for when we need a goal or face a team that we shouldn't need a super strong midfield for.

46 minutes ago, Barry Bridges said:

I think if Bailey comes in it should be more Pedro in a position of concerns that CHO.  I might be overly optimistic and I know it's not actual competitions yet but Ive seen a lot more that encourages me from CHO than Pedro despite the fact I've seen about 100x more of Pedro.  To me, he can be the one to leave or just a seasoned vet to help settle the upcoming talents.

I’ve not watched any of the pre-season games other than the highlights that have been posted on here as I’m not a great fan of taking a lot from friendlies which are more about fitness than performance. 

 

Having said that, I’ve heard Pedro has played pretty well in the games due to suiting Sarri’s style as well as reading the rave reviews about CHO.

 

I used Willian because it’s been rumoured he’ll be leaving.

 

If he did, I don’t think there’s any downside to signing someone like Leon Bailey who is 20.

 

That would give us 4 wingers of, Hazard, Pedro, CHO & Bailey.

 

Pedro is 31 and a big part of his game is pace, over the season/next two seasons I think we’ll need to start to phase him out to the point of possibly being 4th choice.

 

We’re more often than not in some form of European competition so there would be more than enough games for CHO & Bailey to both be in the squad and see a significant amount of game time - as well as setting us up for a decade going forward!

 

As I say though, one of our wingers would need to go first. (Just not hazard) 

 

5 hours ago, enigma said:

Moses isn't a RB though, so seems a bit silly to try make him one. Azpilicueta and Zappa are much more natural right backs than Moses will be. 

Moses wasn't a wing back but still played that role well, could certainly play RB. Lets be honest, Azpi is going to play 98% of games this season. Having Moses as cover for RB would be fine.