Emerson looks to have finally got his foopt in the door at LB. He ended the season pretty well and put in a great shift against Arsenal in the EL Final.

I'm certainly more confident in him starting LB than Alonso, Emerson isnt the best LB we've seen in the last few years but hes certainly a better all rounder than Alonso for the FB positions. 

 

Thought he had an excellent game yesterday. Very threatening offensively and did well defensively as well. By far the best of our back 4.

Happy Lampard have made the decision to make him our starting LB from the get go. 

Was only a matter of time before Emerson became our first choice LB when we signed him. 

19 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Was only a matter of time before Emerson became our first choice LB when we signed him. 

But Sarri sticking with Alonso for almost the entirety of last season was a baffling decision so it's good to see that Lampard have made the correct LB-decision already.

21 minutes ago, Sindre said:

But Sarri sticking with Alonso for almost the entirety of last season was a baffling decision so it's good to see that Lampard have made the correct LB-decision already.

Emerson was first choice by Christmas. 

6 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Emerson was first choice by Christmas. 

No he wasn't he. He only started seven league games so clearly he wasn't first choice at any point.

Expect maybe at the very end of the season.

Edited August 12, 20196 yr by Sindre

5 minutes ago, Sindre said:

No he wasn't he. He only started seven league games so clearly he wasn't first choice at any point.

Surely your starting LB starts both cup finals you're in, which Emerson did. 

4 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Surely your starting LB starts both cup finals you're in, which Emerson did. 

Alonso was injured or suspended for the CC-final. Can't remember what it was but he was unavailable. And yes, Sarri may have come to his senses in may but Alonso was our main leftback for 90 percent of last season despite being awful.

 

2 hours ago, Sindre said:

But Sarri sticking with Alonso for almost the entirety of last season was a baffling decision so it's good to see that Lampard have made the correct LB-decision already.

I heard the one issue with Emerson under Conte and then under Sarri was he enjoyed nights out and partying a bit too much. Not sure if true as only rumours, but if true he needs to be a professional and take the game more seriously. 

Yesterday when that ball dropped to him and he hit it at the crossbar, I feel like he should and could have hit that first time rather than control it first and then hit it.

I think Alonso would have netted that chance. That's the only great thing about Alonso that emerson lacks tbh. 

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Was only a matter of time before Emerson became our first choice LB when we signed him. 

A matter of time?! True, a loooong time. 

 

Good game from him thou, and IF he can put it in the back of the net even better. 

Edited August 12, 20196 yr by Nevamind

7 hours ago, Sindre said:

Thought he had an excellent game yesterday. Very threatening offensively and did well defensively as well. By far the best of our back 4.

Happy Lampard have made the decision to make him our starting LB from the get go. 

Who knows what decision Lampard would have made had he started with us last season, Emerson became increasingly first choice for Sarri as the season went on also.

I think it's merely down to the fact Emerson has improved vastly to this time last year.

41 minutes ago, Argo said:

Who knows what decision Lampard would have made had he started with us last season, Emerson became increasingly first choice for Sarri as the season went on also.

I think it's merely down to the fact Emerson has improved vastly to this time last year.

Who knows but Emerson have always been the sensible choice as our LB in a back four.

He has been absolutely unbelievable so far this season, like best LB in the world good.

Insane on both ends, rock solid defensively, but his ability to carry the ball has really been on show so far, which was something that has always been one of his main strengths, but Sarri really restricted him when It came to it. Happy with the way he is playing so far

16 hours ago, Lucashm said:

He has been absolutely unbelievable so far this season, like best LB in the world good.

Insane on both ends, rock solid defensively, but his ability to carry the ball has really been on show so far, which was something that has always been one of his main strengths, but Sarri really restricted him when It came to it. Happy with the way he is playing so far

He has started the season very well. However, the bit in bold - he’s not even the best LB in England.

3 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

He has started the season very well. However, the bit in bold - he’s not even the best LB in England.

We need to see If he keeps up this form, If he does, i actually think he might be

Thought he actually done quite well today.

6 hours ago, Lucashm said:

We need to see If he keeps up this form, If he does, i actually think he might be

Sorry, not having that - he’s no where near Robertson’s level & I highly doubt he ever will be. I rate Emerson, I think he’s a really good LB but for all the praise he’s got about his ability going forward what has he actually contributed from it? a shot hitting the bar where he arguably should have scored. I can’t think of one cross in the last 3 games where I thought ‘wow that was a great ball, xxxxx should have scored’.

13 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Sorry, not having that - he’s no where near Robertson’s level & I highly doubt he ever will be. I rate Emerson, I think he’s a really good LB but for all the praise he’s got about his ability going forward what has he actually contributed from it? a shot hitting the bar where he arguably should have scored. I can’t think of one cross in the last 3 games where I thought ‘wow that was a great ball, xxxxx should have scored’.

low driven into Giroud at the front post who knocked it back to Kante to nearly score. All came from Emerson's vision and delivery.

5 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

low driven into Giroud at the front post who knocked it back to Kante to nearly score. All came from Emerson's vision and delivery.

It came from Giroud vision and ability to back heel that in to the path of Kante. By the same token, Pedro's volley all came from Azpilicueta’s vision and delivery to find Giroud to chest it down for him. My point is he hasn’t offered anything significantly above what Azpilicueta does other than his ability to go past a player in my opinion but the reaction they get from some members on the board are of stark contrast.

He’s not Alonso, that’s enough for me!

1 hour ago, EdinburghBlue said:

It came from Giroud vision and ability to back heel that in to the path of Kante. By the same token, Pedro's volley all came from Azpilicueta’s vision and delivery to find Giroud to chest it down for him. My point is he hasn’t offered anything significantly above what Azpilicueta does other than his ability to go past a player in my opinion but the reaction they get from some members on the board are of stark contrast.

Difference being Emerson hasn't costed us several goals this season due to his lack of pace/ability to recover. 

15 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Sorry, not having that - he’s no where near Robertson’s level & I highly doubt he ever will be. I rate Emerson, I think he’s a really good LB but for all the praise he’s got about his ability going forward what has he actually contributed from it? a shot hitting the bar where he arguably should have scored. I can’t think of one cross in the last 3 games where I thought ‘wow that was a great ball, xxxxx should have scored’.

Played a lovely ball over the top for the disallowed pulisic goal. 

I dont think its the inch perfect crosses that necessarily make a good attacking full back. Its the timing of runs, the abililty to retain the ball under pressure, and link up well with the players around them. Cole wasnt the best the best crosser, but he was excellent in all those areas.

Defensively he has also been pretty good, not perfect, but he's been aggresive, and he has excellent recovery. 

5 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Difference being Emerson hasn't costed us several goals this season due to his lack of pace/ability to recover. 

I mean he's not been directly at fault but he's also been caught out on the counter like everyone else.

Still very far from convinced that Emerson is anything other than an average player who is occasionally capable of individual moments of excellence.

A team with ambitions of joining the elite (which we are not at the moment) would realistically need someone better in that position, especially if we are going to persist with not protecting the defence properly. I'm comfortable with Emerson as a squad option, less so as our undisputed starter. 

Unless we are going to create a system which is more accommodating to Alonso (the better overall footballer, probably the worse cog), I imagine that a new left-back will be on our list of priorities when we re-enter the transfer market in nine months' time.