7 minutes ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

I've always been someone who enjoys watching the physicality in football as much as the fancy stuff, which is why I was so fond of the old midfield of Essien, Ballack, Lampard... I've been saying it for a while. They do try... Jorginho, kovacic, they've got a lot better, but the lack of physicality and height combined means the team loses that dimension. It's worst when you see set pieces and how opposition teams tower over must of the Chelsea players. 

Obviously that small frame and nimbleness and better technique helps in other ways (as well with the pressing in theory) but I always prefer to see the team have players who can 'bully' oppponents or at least hold their own. 

It's also another reason I like Loftus Cheek so much and really want to see him become a permanent fixture in the side. 

We'll be better if Rudiger gets back in successfully and I like RLC's strength too, though realistically only see him as playing around 10 games a season due to his injury profile.

My Ajax supporting colleagues asked me who "that tank" in our defence was, meaning Zouma. So we have at least one bulldozer type  

Edited December 10, 20196 yr by Valerie

8 minutes ago, Valerie said:

My Ajax supporting colleagues asked me who "that tank" in our defence was, meaning Zouma. So we have at least one bulldozer type  

In those set pieces I pin my hopes on Zouma clearing... A lot of the time It feels like Zouma Vs the entire lot of opposition players ?, and even he's been shaky in that area. He was playing really well for a period after that bar start but his form's dipped again. 

Liking this topic because I have been saying it for awhile. It's so obvious we are lightweight in midfield. We have good players in there with good touch and the stamina to cover good ground, but they are all physically small. Especially for an EPL midfield. It is why I have said I feel we need a genuine physical presence in there for certain games. An  Essien, Ballack, Keane, Viera type player who has the size and power to intimidate. A player who can put it about when needed, because opposition managers are starting to see we are a bit soft in the middle and they are asking their players to go in hard and leave a foot in, we struggle to compete with that.

I know everything looks different in retrospect, but my abiding memory of discussing Ballack on this forum was the vast majority of people complaining that he was languid and useless.

12 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

I know everything looks different in retrospect, but my abiding memory of discussing Ballack on this forum was the vast majority of people complaining that he was languid and useless.

 

He was.

2 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

I know everything looks different in retrospect, but my abiding memory of discussing Ballack on this forum was the vast majority of people complaining that he was languid and useless.

I'd say he was past his peak when he joined us Plokkers but still added a physical presence (and guile) to our midfield. Yep, not an enforcer like the other players I listed, but a big guy and he could certainly hold his own in terms of power challenges. I hope RLC will do the same job when he gets fit.

Having Rudiger back in the team, like adding cement to sand.

1 hour ago, just said:

Liking this topic because I have been saying it for awhile. It's so obvious we are lightweight in midfield. We have good players in there with good touch and the stamina to cover good ground, but they are all physically small. Especially for an EPL midfield. It is why I have said I feel we need a genuine physical presence in there for certain games. An  Essien, Ballack, Keane, Viera type player who has the size and power to intimidate. A player who can put it about when needed, because opposition managers are starting to see we are a bit soft in the middle and they are asking their players to go in hard and leave a foot in, we struggle to compete with that.

What players do you get like Keane and Viera these days? Kante is one of the best engines in football. I think you're stuck in the 90's tbh. 

Is the midfield really the problem? What about Jose's midfield on his 2nd tenure, was Matic-Fabregas really that much better? Fabregas was extremely lethargic, and I think Kante is much better than Matic.

7 hours ago, Slojo said:

What players do you get like Keane and Viera these days? Kante is one of the best engines in football. I think you're stuck in the 90's tbh. 

There is that Bakayoko fella I think he plays in Italy, meant to be the next Yaya ? 

5 hours ago, Bonzodog29 said:

There is that Bakayoko fella I think he plays in Italy, meant to be the next Yaya ? 

Playing with Cesc at Monaco, now in mid-table.

By contrast, I loved the way our players were throwing themselves into tackles last night. They looked up from it right from the start and perhaps the team benefited from having the likes of Rudiger and Jorginho back in the team to keep up the intensity. I'm not saying Jorginho is the strongest by any means, but when he's on the pitch he puts everything into it. 

26 minutes ago, Shweaves said:

By contrast, I loved the way our players were throwing themselves into tackles last night. They looked up from it right from the start

Proof if needed that Frank is trawling these forums and taking notes. ?

1 hour ago, coco said:

Proof if needed that Frank is trawling these forums and taking notes. ?

I've have considered whether RA has scouts following our threads though in this case think it was about Frank making it clear we did not physically compete with Everton so think yesterday was the knock-on effect.

20 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

I've have considered whether RA has scouts following our threads

Don't know about scouts, more likely bots and analytics.

38 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

I've have considered whether RA has scouts following our threads

 

7 minutes ago, coco said:

 

I guess one is RA's man the others have been banned ?