43 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He's looking good, but what do we do with him? We are completely stacked in midfield these days. One thing is for sure, Saul isn't getting a permanent move here. It would be a total waste of money.

Kante is on a downhill curve, Kova gets injured from time to time. I see no reason why he can't get playing time. 

For years our club has been targeted by media and opposing fans alike about the lack of opportunities granted the young players and how we 'ruin their careers'. We can now look with pride at just how much our academy has achieved. Conor is part of a long list of players currently plying their trade throughout the leagues, he is clearly relishing his loan, maturing with every game. Hopefully next season he will be given his chance to prove himself alongside all the other  young players who are within our first team squad on merit. The coaches at Cobham must now be beaming with pride at seeing so many of their young charges that they have nurtured from an early, having clear made it in the professional game. Take a bow Neil Bath and his team you deserve all the accolades.

He is playing his way into our squad next season, and probably a consideration for starting.  There is an industry similar to Mount, slightly better tackling, and could argue more end product than many of our midfielders.  It is not a small step, but next season, I would have him ahead of Saul (we won't keep), Barkley, and dare I say Gilmour (I prefer Gallaghers physicality/engine in PL).

That may be doing him a dis-service also - could argue he'd challenge Mount, RLC each week.

3 minutes ago, charierre said:

For years our club has been targeted by media and opposing fans alike about the lack of opportunities granted the young players and how we 'ruin their careers'. We can now look with pride at just how much our academy has achieved. Conor is part of a long list of players currently plying their trade throughout the leagues, he is clearly relishing his loan, maturing with every game. Hopefully next season he will be given his chance to prove himself alongside all the other  young players who are within our first team squad on merit. The coaches at Cobham must now be beaming with pride at seeing so many of their young charges that they have nurtured from an early, having clear made it in the professional game. Take a bow Neil Bath and his team you deserve all the accolades.

Not beyond the realm of possibility that we could one day have an entire England team made up of Cobhamites ... I can see 10 potential outfielders  already in a 4-1-4-1 :

GK

James, Tomori, Guehi, Colwill

Chalobah

Hudson-Odoi, Gallagher, RLC, Mount

Abraham

 

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

He's looking good, but what do we do with him? We are completely stacked in midfield these days. One thing is for sure, Saul isn't getting a permanent move here. It would be a total waste of money.

Don't sign Sual, let Ziyech and Barkley leave and maybe there's a place for him? 

But my guess would be we might end up selling him with a first refusal option in the deal like we did with a couple of the outgoing midfielders this summer. 

2 hours ago, charierre said:

For years our club has been targeted by media and opposing fans alike about the lack of opportunities granted the young players and how we 'ruin their careers'.

If you go through all 92 clubs in the football league you could probably find a connection through a youth product with the majority of them. The Academy has always had the ethos of producing players that can go on to have a career within football not necessarily just at Chelsea. Going by that they’ve worked absolute wonders. 

Very excited about Gallagher. His pressing is immense and he has end product too. Him and Mount pressing will create lots of headaches for opposing teams in the future. The age, quality, and quantity of our attacking options is very exciting. 

He will need to displace one of Jorginho Kante or Kovacic for it to be worth his time to stay at Chelsea next year.  RLC, Barkley, Saul, and Gilmour last year, don't get enough minutes for a 20 year old to develop.   If he's only challenging for 4th choice he's still better off playing 30+ full games on loan at a team like Palace.  

18 hours ago, Deino said:

Kante is on a downhill curve, Kova gets injured from time to time. I see no reason why he can't get playing time. 

No doubt behind the scenes there is a complex discussion going on in terms of player movements out and indeed players coming in. Sort of obvious I know .

 

Come the end of the season Kante will be 31 and whilst I don’t see a massive drop in either his energy levels or indeed performances they are just around the corner and like Kova he is picking up little injuries. Can’t believe I am saying it but possibly any decent offer in the summer really will have to be considered.
 

Likewise any offer at all for Barkley and he too should  be gone either in the winter 21 window or the summer 22 window.

I read the other day that there is no way Saul will be transferred permanently that makes total sense . RLC in terms of his performances welcome spanner in the works and whilst everyone that has watched Gallagher knew he was a talent I guess his progress has again put another welcome spanner in  the works.He is already Chelsea’s first team squad ready

Then on to Gilmour. He is still a season or two away from quite being a starter at Chelsea but his progress to a degree will shape what happens with the current midfielders within the squad. 

So for me as I said I would allow Kante , Berkley and Saul leave. Integrate Gallagher and a n other and trust RLC 

The following season I would allow Jorginho to go hopefully Gilmour will be ready to make that position and of course key midfield role his own

See how simple I make it all sound !

 

19 hours ago, charierre said:

For years our club has been targeted by media and opposing fans alike about the lack of opportunities granted the young players and how we 'ruin their careers'. We can now look with pride at just how much our academy has achieved. Conor is part of a long list of players currently plying their trade throughout the leagues, he is clearly relishing his loan, maturing with every game. Hopefully next season he will be given his chance to prove himself alongside all the other  young players who are within our first team squad on merit. The coaches at Cobham must now be beaming with pride at seeing so many of their young charges that they have nurtured from an early, having clear made it in the professional game. Take a bow Neil Bath and his team you deserve all the accolades.

Amen. The club does not get the credit it deserves. Look how many young players we have given the chance too, despite all the money people are envious we have. Against Norwich last week, we had 4 academy products in the starting team and in total 5 featuring, with RLC coming on too. Every game this season we have had at least 2 academy graduates in the team. We have developed three of the brightest right backs in football right now, all playing in the PL in James, Lamptey and Livramento. Guehi, developed by us looks home in a Palace shirt. Gallagher as you mentioned. Broja kicking on at Southampton. 

Who would have guessed Chalobah would be playing games in our back three last season when most of his games at Lorient last season he played in CDM.

Proud of this club and what we are doing. I genuinely can't remember apart from the Barca days of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Busquets, Puyol, Valdes, Fabregas etc of a team whose had so many academy graduates featuring in the team and going for the title. We deserve a lot more credit.

5 hours ago, Whiskyjack said:

He will need to displace one of Jorginho Kante or Kovacic for it to be worth his time to stay at Chelsea next year.  RLC, Barkley, Saul, and Gilmour last year, don't get enough minutes for a 20 year old to develop.   If he's only challenging for 4th choice he's still better off playing 30+ full games on loan at a team like Palace.  

We would have said the same of Trev needing to displace Silva, Toni, ac, Dave, Reece etc. Now look at him 

I have watched most of Palaces games this season (mate of mine a big fan)  I’d have Conor back at the first opportunity. If he can keep this up he’ll be one of the premier league players of the season 

4 hours ago, terraloon said:

No doubt behind the scenes there is a complex discussion going on in terms of player movements out and indeed players coming in. Sort of obvious I know .

 

Come the end of the season Kante will be 31 and whilst I don’t see a massive drop in either his energy levels or indeed performances they are just around the corner and like Kova he is picking up little injuries. Can’t believe I am saying it but possibly any decent offer in the summer really will have to be considered.

I have always said the difference between success and sustained success is how proactive you are in refreshing the squad. 

I go back to the old guard, from as early as 2008 we should have started making concrete plans for their long term successors but we simply ignored a near future problem and it came home to roost big time a couple of years later and most declined pretty much at the same time.

Liverpool also appear to be sleepwalking into a similar issue in the not too distant future aswell.

It isn't too big an issue now as late 20/early 30 players in our squad are in the minority at the moment but once a player gets to that age we always need to keep half an eye out to not be caught cold.

13 hours ago, axman2526 said:

We would have said the same of Trev needing to displace Silva, Toni, ac, Dave, Reece etc. Now look at him 

Trevor is about even with Azpilicueta at 1st/2nd choice backup at centre half (3 positions) and RWB (1 position).

In midfield If you don't displace one of Kovacic Kante or Jorginho, you are not even 2nd choice backup for 2 positions.  Last year Kante Jorginho and Kovacic all played over 40 games.  If we expect about 65 games over a season that's about 130 full 90 minute spots at central midfield.  This only leaves about 10-15 full games for central midfield to be divided out in bits and pieces across 3-4 other players who are outside of the top three midfielders.  Not enough minutes.

If he can become 1st choice backup at centre midfield or gets lucky (with a longterm injury to a starting midfielder) then yes it would be worth his while to stay.

 

 

12 hours ago, Argo said:

Liverpool also appear to be sleepwalking into a similar issue in the not too distant future aswell.

 

If Klopp and Salah leave unreplaced it would be more like careering recklessly than sleepwalking! City have the same issue - apart from Foden, their attackers are already at their peak years and their coach is certain to leave shortly.

1 hour ago, SydneyChelsea said:

If Klopp and Salah leave unreplaced it would be more like careering recklessly than sleepwalking! City have the same issue - apart from Foden, their attackers are already at their peak years and their coach is certain to leave shortly.

Covid really f up pool. In normal world, they would have probably moved mane but there is simply no buyer right now.

Gallagher will compete with Mount, Kovacic, Kante, RLC and Barkley for minutes next season. That's a lot of competition if you ask me but that's how it is, as a youngster you need to take all the advantage while training with world class players such as Kante, Kovacic, Jorginho and then your time will come.

In comparison Gilmour would be competing with Kovacic, RLC, Kante and Jorginho so clearly we have a really high standard when it comes to the central midfield and in general we are seeing now just how amazing our youth is, many prospects.

Edited November 1, 20214 yr by Gol15

 

good compilation from the game against city 

He's going to be immense when he plays with Mount, and you can already see he can pick a pass, plus dig a bit, and score goals, a proper developing Gem.

On 31/10/2021 at 07:46, terraloon said:

No doubt behind the scenes there is a complex discussion going on in terms of player movements out and indeed players coming in. Sort of obvious I know .

 

Come the end of the season Kante will be 31 and whilst I don’t see a massive drop in either his energy levels or indeed performances they are just around the corner and like Kova he is picking up little injuries. Can’t believe I am saying it but possibly any decent offer in the summer really will have to be considered.
 

Likewise any offer at all for Barkley and he too should  be gone either in the winter 21 window or the summer 22 window.

I read the other day that there is no way Saul will be transferred permanently that makes total sense . RLC in terms of his performances welcome spanner in the works and whilst everyone that has watched Gallagher knew he was a talent I guess his progress has again put another welcome spanner in  the works.He is already Chelsea’s first team squad ready

Then on to Gilmour. He is still a season or two away from quite being a starter at Chelsea but his progress to a degree will shape what happens with the current midfielders within the squad. 

So for me as I said I would allow Kante , Berkley and Saul leave. Integrate Gallagher and a n other and trust RLC 

The following season I would allow Jorginho to go hopefully Gilmour will be ready to make that position and of course key midfield role his own

See how simple I make it all sound !

 

I sort of agree with this.  They should find a place for Gallagher.  If you are running a professional sports team you want to be constantly getting younger without losing too much quality.  

Seems to me that Gallagher could easily replace Barkley and give us a 4 man rotation at CM of Jorgi, Kante, Kova, and Gallagher.

He isn't going to be your ideal start in big games but we play a lot of games and someone needs to start against the lower tier EPL squads to give our better players a break to keep them fresh against the top teams.

Over time Kante, Jorgi, and Kova will start to age out of their prime play and that opens up a spot for Gallagher to move up to the starting spot. 

 

 

I'm pretty confident Gallagher will feature for Chelsea in coming years.  I've also done some thorough research to solidify this opinion, looking beyond YouTube clips and browsing Palace fan forums.  There is not better judge than a football fan! 

This kid has a bright future ahead of him.

Can't wait to see feature in our first team in the years to come.

On 01/11/2021 at 15:00, Valpo said:

I sort of agree with this.  They should find a place for Gallagher.  If you are running a professional sports team you want to be constantly getting younger without losing too much quality.  

Seems to me that Gallagher could easily replace Barkley and give us a 4 man rotation at CM of Jorgi, Kante, Kova, and Gallagher.

He isn't going to be your ideal start in big games but we play a lot of games and someone needs to start against the lower tier EPL squads to give our better players a break to keep them fresh against the top teams.

Over time Kante, Jorgi, and Kova will start to age out of their prime play and that opens up a spot for Gallagher to move up to the starting spot. 

 

 

Won’t be surprised if he starts games. He is combative, can pick a long pass, good delivery from dead balls, and can shoot. Those are attributes we don’t currently have.

40 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Won’t be surprised if he starts games. He is combative, can pick a long pass, good delivery from dead balls, and can shoot. Those are attributes we don’t currently have.

I should clarify what I was trying to say.

He will start games.  He probably won't be the first choice in a game against a big team like Man City or an important game like a knockout stage Champion's league match.  Not in his first season back with Chelsea that is.