On ?07?/?02?/?2018 at 09:03, RIP Mourinho said:

Surely we want a striker that will pull us through a slump though? Not just show up when things are nice and easy. 

I think this is key really.

I don't know what you'd call this quality exactly: Leadership? Grit? Cojones? Essentially a player's ability to ignore poor form or a poor club atmosphere and drag a team to results which the collective performance doesn't particularly deserve, and which in turn can inspire a team to steady themselves, or even to reach a greater ceiling of achievement.

It is this quality which we used to have in such abundance and which we now lack so egregiously. What players do we have who can consistently transcend the gloom or lack of confidence which currently pervades the club? Hazard? Maybe Kanté? Within the squad we have a large number of very talented players who can play a role incredibly well, but who are completely incapable of avoiding falling victim to this; if the team plays poorly, they seem to follow suit. They lack this essential je ne sais quoi which is imperative to a winning side, especially to a truly great side.

Props for spelling je ne sais quoi 

On 07/02/2018 at 13:01, benjsross said:

You dont buy world class in January of a World Cup year unless someone comes on the market - who did? 

Alexis Sanchez, Auba, Mikhitarian, VVD, Laporte, Lucas Moura.

All of these players were available in January and I’d say that’s a high level group of footballers.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by dansubrosa

IF PSG come in for Morata (who looks like another Torres to me), maybe insist on Mbappe or Cavani. There are stories of Cavani wanting out.  

33 minutes ago, ZippyNW said:

IF PSG come in for Morata (who looks like another Torres to me), maybe insist on Mbappe or Cavani. There are stories of Cavani wanting out.  

I'd say Cavani is on par with Morata in the 'who can miss the most sitters' awards.  

2 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

Alexis Sanchez, Auba, Mikhitarian, VVD, Laporte, Lucas Moura.

All of these players were available in January and I’d say that’s a high level group of footballers.

Sanchez, maybe, all the rest a level or two down,

All several levels above Barkley, Giroud and probably Emerson though.

That's true

 

20 hours ago, sonic90 said:

I didn't say world class just those who would make a difference, most of the players we signed seemed to have just come back from injury and haven't played for a long time.

That being said, if we threw enough money at a single better player instead of buying DW, Baka, Barkley I'm sure we could've got Vidal or Nainggolan. 

Nainggolan never wanted to leave Rome, and bayern weren't going to let vidal leave. I think it's rather arrogant to think clubs like bayern are going to let a key player go no problem. 

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'd say Cavani is on par with Morata in the 'who can miss the most sitters' awards.  

Just seen that PSG have a 180 million option on Mbappe so we will not be able to match that....or come near.

Conte doesn't seem all that convinced with Morata's "pain" in the press conferences when I've heard him talk about it.

12 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Conte doesn't seem all that convinced with Morata's "pain" in the press conferences when I've heard him talk about it.

Seems like Morata's "pain" in his back has become a "pain" in Conte's arse. 

Probably getting back pain from carrying his wallet around with him, poor lamb. 

 

Seriously though, been really disappointed with Morata this season. We made him the club's record signing, we made him the outright first choice striker for the first time in his career and he's largely failed to deliver. He's not an elite striker and will never make that extra step to be as good as a Drogba, Kane, Suarez, Shearer, Rooney, Van Nistlerooy. 

This back "injury" is concerning me and not doing much to dispel my opinion that he's mentally lightweight. 

It's quite pathetic. I assume the club have done plenty of scans of his back by now and if none of them can find anything wrong in particular with it which obviously is the case here then Morata needs to either man up or get out of this club.

Why is it the assumption that Morata is inventing his back problem? Is this based on actual evidence or complete guess work?

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by bluedave

Ahead of the World Cup it wouldn't surprise me if Morata doesn't want to worsen his injury however minor. Still have faith in him but we may not see the real Morata until next season.

27 minutes ago, Sindre said:

It's quite pathetic. I assume the club have done plenty of scans of his back

It's not his back they should be scanning, needs to see a neurologist or psychiatrist if you ask me.

3 minutes ago, the special one said:

Ahead of the World Cup it wouldn't surprise me if Morata doesn't want to worsen his injury however minor. Still have faith in him but we may not see the real Morata until next season.

F F F ..... fiddle sticks the World cup !!!

10 minutes ago, bluedave said:

Why is it the assumption that Morata is inventing his back problem? Is this based on actual evidence or complete guess work?

Because the manager refuses to say he is injured and just calls it a 'situation'.

42 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Probably getting back pain from carrying his wallet around with him, poor lamb. 

 

Seriously though, been really disappointed with Morata this season. We made him the club's record signing, we made him the outright first choice striker for the first time in his career and he's largely failed to deliver. He's not an elite striker and will never make that extra step to be as good as a Drogba, Kane, Suarez, Shearer, Rooney, Van Nistlerooy. 

This back "injury" is concerning me and not doing much to dispel my opinion that he's mentally lightweight. 

That's a big step based off a big assumption.

It's speculation at best that Morata isn't injured. 

And he's been here for about 7 months you can't really say he'll never be as good as Drogba, how was Drogba at 24 years of age? Regardless he's proven that he's a good footballer, he just needs to prove he's consistent and improve certain areas of his game. It's definitely doable. 

6 hours ago, bluedave said:

Why is it the assumption that Morata is inventing his back problem? Is this based on actual evidence or complete guess work?

The club clearly can't find anything wrong with him.
And listening to Conte it clearly suggest Morata is simply dictating when he feel ready to play football again.

I'm sure he does have some kind of discomfort in his pack but discomfort is not a valid reason to not play. Hell, who doesn't have some kind of discomfort in their lives? My lower back hurt right now and i am about to play football for free this evening. Morata can man up and at least try.

Edited February 9, 20188 yr by Sindre

8 minutes ago, Slojo said:

That's a big step based off a big assumption.

It's speculation at best that Morata isn't injured. 

And he's been here for about 7 months you can't really say he'll never be as good as Drogba, how was Drogba at 24 years of age? Regardless he's proven that he's a good footballer, he just needs to prove he's consistent and improve certain areas of his game. It's definitely doable. 

But in that 7 months what have we learned.

Not strong enough at 24yo, not going to get any stronger either.

Talented football player, but not that talented enough to make up for the lack of strength.

Has no left foot at all, so doesn't play centrally as a front man has to, and tends to hang left,,, right into Hazards fav position.

Has completely messed up his trust with the referees due to his diving and as such has to now prove himself to them as well now.

Brilliant at headers.

Brilliant poster boy.

3 minutes ago, Slojo said:

That's a big step based off a big assumption.

It's speculation at best that Morata isn't injured. 

And he's been here for about 7 months you can't really say he'll never be as good as Drogba, how was Drogba at 24 years of age? Regardless he's proven that he's a good footballer, he just needs to prove he's consistent and improve certain areas of his game. It's definitely doable. 

I'm just saying that for the manager to be saying the medical team have to find a "solution" for the pain to me reads that it's as much on Morata as anything else. The club haven't specifically said he's got a strain, torn muscle, slipped disc... Whatever just the vagueness of "pain". 

I get the impression other players would play through it, Morata appears to be a bit more on the softer side. 

I can't say definitively how good he'll be but Drogba was an exception rather than the norm. Strikers don't tend to be late bloomers and generally by the age of 24 you've got a pretty good idea for what their ceiling is talent wise. Based on what I've seen of Morata I don't think he'll be anything more than a good player, certainly don't see enough there to suggest he'll develop into the sort of player that's the envy of the world's best teams. 

23 minutes ago, bluedave said:

Why is it the assumption that Morata is inventing his back problem? Is this based on actual evidence or complete guess work?

probably same as luiz didn't have knee issues and it was all a smokescreen for him to leave in january. i am not doubting morata has back pain. i have had lower back pain due to hip issues in the past and it's taken weeks to get back to normal. morata works his body a lot more intensely than i ever do, so i refuse to disbelieve he hasn't got a problem there. it's unfair to critique a player of pretending he has got an injury. 

4 minutes ago, coco said:

But in that 7 months what have we learned.

Not strong enough at 24yo, not going to get any stronger either.

Talented football player, but not that talented enough to make up for the lack of strength.

Has no left foot at all, so doesn't play centrally as a front man has to, and tends to hang left,,, right into Hazards fav position.

Has completely messed up his trust with the referees due to his diving and as such has to now prove himself to them as well now.

Brilliant at headers.

Brilliant poster boy.

It's not that he's not strong enough, it's that he's used to going down rather than staying on his feet, that doesn't mean he can't adapt. 

I mean the guy is like 6'2/6'3, he's definitely strong enough for the league, it's not a situation with Pedro two seasons ago, and Pedro adapted fine in the end. 

I can't promise he will be a great player but I think we definitely have to be more patient with him, however, we could do with a good backup. I don't think Giroud is the answer but who knows.