2 minutes ago, Vagabond said:

I'd love that scenario as it would mean there's a high chance of Alaba leaving in the summer. I doubt it though. Still, the fact remains that Davies only got into their squad because of their injury list, not because he displaced Alaba or Alaba displaced their CBs. 😛

Alaba has displaced their CB's. Saying its a fact doesn't make it so, it's still your opinion. 

Lucas Hernandez came on against Hoffenheim last Saturday. Kimmich started the following game at CB instead of Boateng. Who's the mainstay at CB though? Alaba.

5 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Alaba has displaced their CB's. Saying its a fact doesn't make it so, it's still your opinion. 

Lucas Hernandez came on against Hoffenheim last Saturday. Kimmich started the following game at CB instead of Boateng. Who's the mainstay at CB though? Alaba.

Boateng is injured too afaik.

Alaba has displaced Süle and Hernandez the same way Giroud has displaced Tammy and Mason has displaced Pulisic.

3 minutes ago, Vagabond said:

Boateng is injured too afaik.

Alaba has displaced Süle and Hernandez the same way Giroud has displaced Tammy and Mason has displaced Pulisic.

And has outperformed them in their absense, thus will keep his place.

Much like how Mount will keep his place as he has out performed Pulisic in his absence. Tammy too would walk back into the team when fit.

1 minute ago, RIP Mourinho said:

And has outperformed them in their absense, thus will keep his place.

Much like how Mount will keep his place as he has out performed Pulisic in his absence. Tammy too would walk back into the team when fit.

I doubt Pulisic would've done worse than Mount against Davies (he was horrible imo), and I doubt Davies will play when Süle&Hernandez are fully fit. But I respect your opinion.

29 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

And has outperformed them in their absense, thus will keep his place.

Much like how Mount will keep his place as he has out performed Pulisic in his absence. Tammy too would walk back into the team when fit.

Mount has more than double amount of minutes spent on the pitch, with 1 assist more to show for it. I don't think you should write off Pulisic he was pretty good before he got injured.

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

And has outperformed them in their absense, thus will keep his place.

Much like how Mount will keep his place as he has out performed Pulisic in his absence. Tammy too would walk back into the team when fit.

Outperformed Pulisic? Has he balls 

39 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Outperformed Pulisic? Has he balls 

Over the season he has.

Pulisic had a 3 game purple patch where he scored all his goals, Mount is still putting in great performances like against Spurs. 

Just now, RIP Mourinho said:

Over the season he has.

Pulisic had a 3 game purple patch where he scored all his goals, Mount is still putting in great performances like against Spurs. 

That's because he has been injured, Pulisic has nearly the same stats as Mason in half the game time, I would say Pulisic has been the better player out of the two. 

Just now, Slojo said:

That's because he has been injured, Pulisic has nearly the same stats as Mason in half the game time, I would say Pulisic has been the better player out of the two. 

3/5 of Pulisic's goals came in one game, Mount has done it against more teams. 

Even when he wasn't injured Frank still preferred Mount. 

10 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

3/5 of Pulisic's goals came in one game, Mount has done it against more teams. 

Even when he wasn't injured Frank still preferred Mount. 

That doesn't matter, when he started playing and coming off the bench, Southamton and Ajax away he set up the goals and once Frank started playing him on the wing and gave him starts he was delivering every game and playing really well, even in December when everyone was w**k he was still playing well. I don't think Mason has come close to Pulisic to be honest. Agree to disagree on it, I think what Mason brings to the team is valuable and his movement and pressing is always there, but the quality has been very hit and miss from him. 

4 minutes ago, Slojo said:

That doesn't matter, when he started playing and coming off the bench, Southamton and Ajax away he set up the goals and once Frank started playing him on the wing and gave him starts he was delivering every game and playing really well, even in December when everyone was w**k he was still playing well. I don't think Mason has come close to Pulisic to be honest. Agree to disagree on it, I think what Mason brings to the team is valuable and his movement and pressing is always there, but the quality has been very hit and miss from him. 

Simply not true, just before he was injured everyone said he'd dropped off and needed dropping for a bit, one month purple patch isn't a success.

Just now, RIP Mourinho said:

Simply not true, just before he was injured everyone said he'd dropped off and needed dropping for a bit, one month purple patch isn't a success.

How is it simply not true? in 23 games Pulisic has 6 goals and 6 assists. In 40 games Mount has 5 goals and 5 assists and Mount has wayyyy more minutes. I think Pulisic had a slow start to the season, a really good game in the Super Cup, Frank slowly introduced him into the side and when he came on for CHO against Ajax away that pretty much sealed the deal and he was starting every game from then on and playing well. I don't like this idea of purple patches, it's thrown around way too often, Pulisic has been out injured for nearly two months now right? It feels that long, he only started being a starter in early November so yes, a months success between then and his injury, that's pretty good!. 

Anyway I'm confused now, why would Mason be playing ahead of him? Frank seems to like Mason behind the striker, I don't see why Mason would be playing on the wings over Pulisic, he's only playing there now because of our lack of options. If Pulisic was fit he would be playing. 

Mount is very good at dispossessing the opposition defenders and winning free kicks in the opposition half.

Also he has a decent set piece delivery.

Currently I think they would both play, one instead of Barkley.

Mason's situation is a bit odd this season.At this moment he's good at pressing and set piece delivery ,but struggles a lot in front of goal with his shooting,passing and decision making.That's so weird for me considering that he was amazing at all those things at the start of the season.He could shoot,he could pass,he could dribble and it seems that he dropped a bit.But I think that we should all have an understanding that this is his first season in the top flight (had one in the Netherlands but still) and that he'll only get better with more experience.Pulisic on the other hand ,even though still very young,has experienced couple of season of top flight football,as well as Champions League football so obviously it would be a bit easier for him in the beginning.

Edited March 5, 20206 yr by mm24

12 minutes ago, mm24 said:

Mason's situation is a bit odd this season.At this moment he's good at pressing and set piece delivery ,but struggles a lot in front of goal with his shooting,passing and decision making.That's so weird for me considering that he was amazing at all those things at the start of the season.He could shoot,he could pass,he could dribble and it seems that he dropped a bit.But I think that we should all have an understanding that this is his first season in the top flight (had one in the Netherlands but still) and that he'll only get better with more experience.Pulisic on the other hand ,even though still very young,has experienced couple of season of top flight football,as well as Champions League football so obviously it would be a bit easier for him in the beginning.

Just a thought on the shooting/ dribbling bit of that, at the start of the season he was an unknown and maybe some prem defenders thought he was a kid from the champ and afforded him a little bit more room to get his shot off/ choose the route to dribble. after seeing him for a month or so they closed him down quicker like they would a seasoned prem player. Thats where he needs to make the step up to speed up his thought process from champ to prem level. 

This is in no way a dig at him though it takes time to develope at the highest level and I am overall pleased with his performances. 

Just now, Bonzodog29 said:

Just a thought on the shooting/ dribbling bit of that, at the start of the season he was an unknown and maybe some prem defenders thought he was a kid from the champ and afforded him a little bit more room to get his shot off/ choose the route to dribble. after seeing him for a month or so they closed him down quicker like they would a seasoned prem player. Thats where he needs to make the step up to speed up his thought process from champ to prem level. 

This is in no way a dig at him though it takes time to develope at the highest level and I am overall pleased with his performances. 

Yeah,could be that.I don't worry for Mason.The guy obviously has an unbeliveable workrate and he'll surely try to improve as much as he can over the next few months/years.

One thing I really like about Mason is the way he positions himself to receive the ball, always seemingly on the half turn. When it arrives at his feet he generally turns and attacks the goal while most of our players look to protect the ball and pass back towards our own keeper.
 

It’s the one of the main reasons (other than no Everton player being anywhere near him for no apparent reason) that he got his goal today. 

He has super quick feet, that goal today was of the highest technical skill, watch it on slo-mo, its not just the left foot touch and right foot finish, he kills it with the left, and manipulates it  to be able to swivel and bury an unstoppable finish, Van Nistelrooy-esque

He will be an ever present in Chelsea for the next decade. Despite the ridiculous criticism he receives from some sections of our support, he’s had a terrific season and really sets the tone for when we press. He has all the attributes to be a world class player. People often forget, Lampard was not performing at this high a level at the same age, I don’t think he even played a CL game until he was about 24/25. We have a wealth of quality young players who are scrapping it out for the top 4. The future is still very very bright for us, especially with the likes of Gilmour making an impact. Tino etc won’t be far behind either.

I think we are A Centre half and another quality striker away from really pushing on next season

Edited March 8, 20206 yr by Ballack & Blu

On 04/03/2020 at 22:44, Gol15 said:

He needs to really show up against Everton, he has been missing shots and not creating enough, really needs to do better in the final third specially now with all the injuries, running around without the ball isn't going to cut it now.

Fair to say he turned up today. Scored a top goal was denied by a great save for another and was, as per usual, everywhere running in behind the lines, stretching the full backs and leading the pressing when required. Top performance today. Showed why he is one of the first on the team sheet. 

Frank was spot on after the game when he said recognise he is 21 and he has come from the Championship to the CL in a season 4 years before Frank got to CL level himself. 

I'd suggest we'll be looking for another Mason in the summer instead of a replacement for him. 

On 06/03/2020 at 03:32, mm24 said:

Yeah,could be that.I don't worry for Mason.The guy obviously has an unbeliveable workrate and he'll surely try to improve as much as he can over the next few months/years.

Yup he has the mental attributes and workrate needed to be a success. He may not be a guaranteed starter every week in future years but you can believe he will be in and around our squad for a decade. 

The worst thing for the Mason haters is when they realise he is going to play a lot more starting football under Frank than Ruben will because of the attributes listed above.

Edited March 8, 20206 yr by Spiller86

He had a nice game... probably his best in months. But he's not tidy enough on the ball. Everton gave us plenty of space in the attack, they matched in a really odd way. While his pressing is nice, it's really the 4th or 5th ability you look at in your attackers. He won 3 or 4 off the press that he just gave right away, some of that will stop with experience... but some of it he just needs to get much better on the ball. Gilmour is the one that looks future world class every time he plays, he's younger and more influential. I prefer RLC to Mount... but RLC has to stay fit as well.

1 hour ago, Spiller86 said:

Yup he has the mental attributes and workrate needed to be a success. He may not be a guaranteed starter every week in future years but you can believe he will be in and around our squad for a decade. 

The worst thing for the Mason haters is when they realise he is going to play a lot more starting football under Frank than Ruben will because of the attributes listed above.

Well obviously.Mason has already probably played 40+ games this season and RLC only managed something like 70 games in his whole career and the guy is 24.For me Ruben needed a loan way before he went to Palace.He was already 21 then and while he was 18,19,20,21 he only played on youth level,reserve games and some minutes in the first team here and there.Can't help but think that lack of proper game time in his earlier years made him somewhat injury prone and low on fitness.

Ruben can still turn it around ofc,but I always felt that he was a victim of our previous ways.He had to have been given a proper chance back when Mourinho was around,but yeah that was never going to happen under Jose,nor Conte obviously.

Edited March 8, 20206 yr by mm24

18 minutes ago, mm24 said:

Well obviously.Mason has already probably played 40+ games this season and RLC only managed something like 70 games in his whole career and the guy is 24.For me Ruben needed a loan way before he went to Palace.He was already 21 then and while he was 18,19,20,21 he only played on youth level,reserve games and some minutes in the first team here and there.Can't help but think that lack of proper game time in his earlier years made him somewhat injury prone and low on fitness.

Ruben can still turn it around ofc,but I always felt that he was a victim of our previous ways.He had to have been given a proper chance back when Mourinho was around,but yeah that was never going to happen under Jose,nor Conte obviously.

Not only a victim of Jose and Conte but I think because he was the golden boy of the academy, the club forced him to be part of the squad probably despite the managers not wanting him, Conte saw a big guy like him as not useful in his system other than being a target man ffs, should've loaned him out then and there.