Yeah I think we’ll change to a back 4 next season and there will be an extra spot opened up. Tuchel said himself you have to be extra disciplined to defend as a back 4 and that can be drilled into the team in pre season (albeit a shortened one with the Euros.)

I’m surprised how little Tuchel has used Pulisic given his previous history with him. I expected Pulisic to be more involved and also to have had more of an impact. 

1 hour ago, rtwelch said:

Yeah I think we’ll change to a back 4 next season and there will be an extra spot opened up. Tuchel said himself you have to be extra disciplined to defend as a back 4 and that can be drilled into the team in pre season (albeit a shortened one with the Euros.)

Back 4

Giroud 

Werner - Mount - Cho

Kovacic -Jorginho 

Alonso-Rudiger-Silva-Azpi

 

Where is the spot? 

Replace Giroud with Werner, then slot Pulisic in Werner's spot.

 

16 minutes ago, haviet1 said:

Replace Giroud with Werner, then slot Pulisic in Werner's spot.

 

This has been discussed gazillion of time. Timo is not a central striker. Tuchel does not use him as such, lamp didn't, nagelsman didn't. 

These best Xl theories are pointless at the best of times let alone under a manager like Tuchel who swears by rotation. I would wager they'll be 16 outfield players minimum with enough minutes to keep them happy next season.

Although that said we do have one attacking player too much (unless Kai becomes a striker) so one will probably make way in the summer and early noises are that will be Ziyech.

41 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

This has been discussed gazillion of time. Timo is not a central striker. Tuchel does not use him as such, lamp didn't, nagelsman didn't. 

 

Go see what Tuchel did with Auba.

30 minutes ago, haviet1 said:

 

Go see what Tuchel did with Auba.

Why? Are they the same player? 

9 hours ago, Argo said:

These best Xl theories are pointless at the best of times let alone under a manager like Tuchel who swears by rotation. I would wager they'll be 16 outfield players minimum with enough minutes to keep them happy next season.

Although that said we do have one attacking player too much (unless Kai becomes a striker) so one will probably make way in the summer and early noises are that will be Ziyech.

I think the noises are that Giroud will be leaving this summer and the club will be looking to bring in a striker, if we are unable to bring in Haaland or any striker of a similar ilk Tuchel may go into next season with Tammy & Kai as the CF options with Werner fulfilling the 3rd striker slot if the other 2 are unavailable.

Not sure what to make of that if that was to be the case as Kai is still a little bit of an unknown entity especially in the false 9 role. 

16 hours ago, sonic90 said:

He's our best player attacking wise and I feel like he needs some special treatment like Hazard did, a free role to do what ever his genius wants to do.

Curious why you feel he's our best attacking player? 

Players like Abraham and CHO have some of the best goals/assists per minutes played out of the attacking players we currently have. 

Pulisic has shown flashes of good form since joining Chelsea but I'd argue that for the most part he over plays things and wants too many touches and his overall decision making is probably his biggest weakness. 

He's still a young player and has potential to become a quality player but no way would I be making special concessions for him as a player right now. 

Injured again and will miss the saints game. Its so ironic how Hazard has been so injury prone at Madrid and our replacement has suffered in some shape or form as well.

Ofc Covid hasn't helped anyone and could be a sufficient reason due to the lack of pre season at least where this season is concerned but they were both injury prone the season before as well. 

I wonder if Pulisic needs a change in diet and lifestyle. He seems like a really good professional so I doubt he doesn't take care of himself but there must be something that can be done to avoid all these frequent issues.

Tuchel noted that he's not actually injured. It's a pre-injury injury. 🙂 In other words, he felt some tightness in a calf and they pulled him out of training to prevent a real injury. It's probably the kind of thing that wouldn't prevent most players from continuing, but given his history they are being ultra cautious. I suppose the thinking is why risk him against the bottom team in the league. Gotta be frustrating for the kid. I'm impressed by the fact that he seems to be pretty transparent with training staff. If I knew that the mention of a little bit of calf tightness were too keep me out of a game, I'm not sure I would say anything.

I really think if he keeps up this injury record to the end of season we should think about finding a replacement. I’m not saying sell him this summer, but find a player who can replace Pulisic if he keeps getting injuries next season.

He’s had it whole career and it’s beginning to look like it’s not going to change.

He's still young, so he has times on his side.

But if he's unable to find ways to get past these little injuries, his stay at Chelsea will be short. Heck, his overall career would be disappointing because of it; since he has so much talents and potentials. Definitely would understand if Chelsea decides to move him along if his injuries keep reoccurring. Who wants to keep an employee if they can only show up for work half the time?

 

 

21 hours ago, JM7 said:

I’m surprised how little Tuchel has used Pulisic given his previous history with him. I expected Pulisic to be more involved and also to have had more of an impact. 

Still early days yet, Pulisic had a home emergency which took him out of one game he was going to start. The more rest the better in my eyes, I want to see him back, fresh and ready to go. Still time for him to hit some good form for the end of the season, same with Ziyech.

9 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Curious why you feel he's our best attacking player? 

 

Pulisic during his run last season after the reset is the best Chelsea "attacking" player I've seen to date out of all the talents on the squad.

However, Pulisic in his current form is far from it.

11 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Curious why you feel he's our best attacking player? 

Players like Abraham and CHO have some of the best goals/assists per minutes played out of the attacking players we currently have. 

Pulisic has shown flashes of good form since joining Chelsea but I'd argue that for the most part he over plays things and wants too many touches and his overall decision making is probably his biggest weakness. 

He's still a young player and has potential to become a quality player but no way would I be making special concessions for him as a player right now. 

Pulisic has only been here a season, and imo what he did last season was better than anything CHO has produced. And that's not a diss towards Callum, but look at that performance against Liverpool last season, it's clear that this kid has serious talent. Abraham, not sure why he's even getting compared. 

On 19/02/2021 at 07:22, JM7 said:

I’m surprised how little Tuchel has used Pulisic given his previous history with him. I expected Pulisic to be more involved and also to have had more of an impact. 

Way too many attackers in the team,most of them are also quite limited (can't play multiple position/role) 

7 hours ago, Slojo said:

Pulisic has only been here a season, and imo what he did last season was better than anything CHO has produced. And that's not a diss towards Callum, but look at that performance against Liverpool last season, it's clear that this kid has serious talent. Abraham, not sure why he's even getting compared. 

Pulisic was spectacular at times last season. The problem is Pulisic is only great when he  play as lw, where he can cut in to shoot or create. On the other hand Werner doesn't like to stay in the middle, he like to drift to the left. So it is either werner or puli

16 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Pulisic was spectacular at times last season. The problem is Pulisic is only great when he  play as lw, where he can cut in to shoot or create. On the other hand Werner doesn't like to stay in the middle, he like to drift to the left. So it is either werner or puli

And right now they are choosing werner....it seems no matter how mediocre/poor Werner is he keeps his spot. 

If Pulisic came into this season 100% fit and played this poor I would be worried. But he had a bad injury and I contend no matter what they say he has not been fully fit all season.  

 

 

I hope he's available for A. Madrid tomorrow. Could be a game where he can make an impact.

 

 

5 hours ago, haviet1 said:

I hope he's available for A. Madrid tomorrow. Could be a game where he can make an impact.

 

 

I hope he starts we know he isn't injured they just didn't want to risk injury last game. I love CHO but it would be nice if Puli gets a go from the start

8 hours ago, LongtimerLurker said:

I hope he starts we know he isn't injured they just didn't want to risk injury last game. I love CHO but it would be nice if Puli gets a go from the start

Where do you want to play Pulisic? 

9 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Where do you want to play Pulisic? 

 

Three possibilities

LF - move Werner to CF

AM - put him next to Mount as dual 10s

RF - which likely mean CHO sits

 

1 hour ago, haviet1 said:

 

Three possibilities

LF - move Werner to CF

AM - put him next to Mount as dual 10s

RF - which likely mean CHO sits

 

Not for this game but for next season I would really want to see something like a 4-4-1-1 formation:

                     Mendy

James T.Silva?  Zouma/NEW CB   Chilwell 

CHO     Ndidi/NEW DM  Mount   Pulisic

                      Havertz

                      Werner

Having CHO and Pulisic on the wings for the next years looks really nice, huge threat on both sides and then Mount and Havertz in the middle with 1 new more classic DM that stays back.