On 23/06/2022 at 09:20, RIP Mourinho said:

Physicality for the Prem is a myth imo, so long as you're technically good enough. David Silva was one of the best players in the league for a decade with zero physical presence.

I don't think it's a myth. Players like Gilmour, Pulisic and Jorginho struggle because of their lack of physical strength. When I talk about physicality in the Premier League though, I think more about intensity. That is the hardest part of the English game to adjust to. Ziyech and Havertz are both excellent footballers, but they struggle to show it consistently because they struggle with the intensity of the Premier League. If Ziyech and Havertz could adjust to the intensity, I think they would be 2 of the best players in the league. 

23 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't think it's a myth. Players like Gilmour, Pulisic and Jorginho struggle because of their lack of physical strength. When I talk about physicality in the Premier League though, I think more about intensity. That is the hardest part of the English game to adjust to. Ziyech and Havertz are both excellent footballers, but they struggle to show it consistently because they struggle with the intensity of the Premier League. If Ziyech and Havertz could adjust to the intensity, I think they would be 2 of the best players in the league. 

But on the flip side, Mata and Silva came here and got even better than what we saw from them in Spain.

There has to be balance, for years we focused too much on the physical aspect which (in my opinion) is what caused us to drop so far behind City in the first place and what has caused Jose to decline so hard compared to his prime self. When it truly came home to roost for us was 17-18, any half decent team with good pressing and technical ability had us tripping over ourselves. I'll maintain Jorgi and Kova were crucial signings as they allowed us to compete toe to toe and not have to rely on low block counter in those type of games, atleast in a one off game (ofcourse we still haven't mastered the consistency aspect yet).

1 hour ago, Argo said:

But on the flip side, Mata and Silva came here and got even better than what we saw from them in Spain.

There has to be balance, for years we focused too much on the physical aspect which (in my opinion) is what caused us to drop so far behind City in the first place and what has caused Jose to decline so hard compared to his prime self. When it truly came home to roost for us was 17-18, any half decent team with good pressing and technical ability had us tripping over ourselves. I'll maintain Jorgi and Kova were crucial signings as they allowed us to compete toe to toe and not have to rely on low block counter in those type of games, atleast in a one off game (ofcourse we still haven't mastered the consistency aspect yet).

You need both. Arsenal under Wenger often used to annihilate us in midfield before Jose. They had a real physical presence back then with players like Edu, Parlour, Vieira, Petit. And of course United had Roy Keane who if he couldn't win the tackle was still happy to go flying in and break your leg. Whereas we had the likes of Dennis Wise, Jody Morris, Eddie Newton, Jon Harley, Sam Dalla Bona. All we needed was Snow White and Disney could have done a film remake!

I remember one game I went to at Highbury and Jody Morris was trying to get the ball off Vieira. It was like watching an 8 year old school kid trying to tackle The Hulk!

There is no question, whatsoever, that we are seriously missing some physical presence in our midfield right now and have been for a while.

Has apparently signed a new four-year deal and is going on loan to Hull for the season. Good news.

I see Harvey Vale is back in the development squad after being recalled from his loan at Hull City, where he hadn't been able to force his way into the starting line up. Only played 137 minutes in first half of the season apparently, and not able to go on loan anywhere else as he's already turned out for our U-21s as well as Hull this season, and 2 clubs is all you are allowed to play for in a single season !

3 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I see Harvey Vale is back in the development squad after being recalled from his loan at Hull City, where he hadn't been able to force his way into the starting line up. Only played 137 minutes in first half of the season apparently, and not able to go on loan anywhere else as he's already turned out for our U-21s as well as Hull this season, and 2 clubs is all you are allowed to play for in a single season !

 

 

18 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

I see Harvey Vale is back in the development squad after being recalled from his loan at Hull City, where he hadn't been able to force his way into the starting line up. Only played 137 minutes in first half of the season apparently, and not able to go on loan anywhere else as he's already turned out for our U-21s as well as Hull this season, and 2 clubs is all you are allowed to play for in a single season !

Wonder if the threadstarter will be as worried about his gametime for us this season now that he's back 😅

 

From the glimpses I saw when he played for us, he just didn't look anywhere near ready for this sort of level. I'm not surprised he's struggled to get game time in the championship.

Yeah I’m really not seeing what he offers for the team but of course he’s young and I’ll give him a lot of time. Likewise with Omar Hutchinson etc.

11 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

Yeah I’m really not seeing what he offers for the team but of course he’s young and I’ll give him a lot of time. Likewise with Omar Hutchinson etc.

Hutchinson looks more promising from what he's showed so far, I think he could shine at a Championship club on loan.

Vale has gone on loan to League One Bristol Rovers. Hopefully will get significant game time.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66516038

11 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Vale has gone on loan to League One Bristol Rovers. Hopefully will get significant game time.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66516038

Isn't this a reduction in his profile rather than a progression. Wasn't he somewhere like Hull City last season?

3 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Isn't this a reduction in his profile rather than a progression. Wasn't he somewhere like Hull City last season?

Yes exactly, but he didn't get the anticipated minutes so had dropped down a league.

 

Make or break loan for Harvey Vale I would think ; not sure he has much future at Chelsea either way though to be honest. Could say the same for Anjorin. 

30 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Make or break loan for Harvey Vale I would think ; not sure he has much future at Chelsea either way though to be honest. Could say the same for Anjorin. 

Yep. Still only 19 but Harvey seems to have stagnated. Hull was definitely not a good option. 

Scored his first goal for Bristol Rovers on the weekend.

Is Harvey vale being bombed out ?

Sky Sports reporting

Harvey Vale to QPR - no fee but with a sell on clause.

26 minutes ago, OneTommyLangley said:

Sky Sports reporting

Harvey Vale to QPR - no fee but with a sell on clause.

Good luck to Harvey. Been waiting around for a while, I hope he gets in the team and gets regular minutes 

What a f**king waste, Vale is a tremendous and stunningly versatile player.

f**k BlueCo; Eghbali, Boehly, and all the other green-eyed sycophants: useless c**ts all.

If we are ever successful again, it will be thanks to Cobham. I hope all of the private equity c**ts (and I mean all of them) can just about watch it from their prison cells.

Harvey joins the lengthening list of our former Academy Players of the Year who have left to join other clubs, and in most cases at very decent clubs as well.

Can't help but think a lot of these lads would have done as well as, if not better than, their expensive replacements, had they been given more of a chance with us.

• 2015 Solanke (Liverpool/Bournemouth/Tottenham)
• 2016 Tomori (AC Milan)
• 2017 Mount (Manchester United)
• 2018 James 🙂 
• 2019 Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
• 2020 Gilmour (Brighton, Napoli)
• 2021 Livramento (Newcastle)
• 2022 Vale (QPR pending !)
• 2023 Hall (Newcastle)
• 2024 Gilchrist (currently on loan at Sheffield United)

Best of luck to him anyway !

On 31/01/2025 at 21:02, Sexyfootball said:

Harvey joins the lengthening list of our former Academy Players of the Year who have left to join other clubs, and in most cases at very decent clubs as well.

Can't help but think a lot of these lads would have done as well as, if not better than, their expensive replacements, had they been given more of a chance with us.

• 2015 Solanke (Liverpool/Bournemouth/Tottenham)
• 2016 Tomori (AC Milan)
• 2017 Mount (Manchester United)
• 2018 James 🙂 
• 2019 Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
• 2020 Gilmour (Brighton, Napoli)
• 2021 Livramento (Newcastle)
• 2022 Vale (QPR pending !)
• 2023 Hall (Newcastle)
• 2024 Gilchrist (currently on loan at Sheffield United)

Best of luck to him anyway !

Solanke, Gallagher, Livramento and Hall all start for this current Chelsea team with ease. 

Vale won't ever make it in the PL. He's nowhere near good enough.