I thought that he had a his average game, especially in the first half. He got turned by Mitoma several times. He also had some good moments, like he usually has. His side got targeted all night and he got turned around multiple times. In the second half, one of the chances they created on their left (the one that hit the side of Sanchez’s goal), he got dribbled like twice in a space of a metre or so. He also had some good recoveries. He’s not as bad as people claim but he was certainly not one of the best players last night, he just had to work a lot more than Chilwell because many of the attacks came from his side.

20 minutes ago, RMH said:

I thought that he had a his average game, especially in the first half. He got turned by Mitoma several times. He also had some good moments, like he usually has. His side got targeted all night and he got turned around multiple times. In the second half, one of the chances they created on their left (the one that hit the side of Sanchez’s goal), he got dribbled like twice in a space of a metre or so. He also had some good recoveries. He’s not as bad as people claim but he was certainly not one of the best players last night, he just had to work a lot more than Chilwell because many of the attacks came from his side.

The first FB ever to be turned by Mitoma? He who has embarrassed some of the best FBs in the PL? Give over. Playing out of position by necessity, he was excellent, better and better the game went.

5 minutes ago, dermott said:

The first FB ever to be turned by Mitoma? He who has embarrassed some of the best FBs in the PL? Give over. Playing out of position by necessity, he was excellent, better and better the game went.

He doesn't help himself though, opening few minutes when Mitoma bypassed him he adopted a stance with his feet wide and his weight on his heels, did the same later in the game up against Joao Pedro. It's a fundamental error, inexcusable at the top level. Chalobah performed better in right back against Mitoma last season, and he was also being played out of position, and had hardly played for months.

I agree he played better in the second half, I think either Poch or the jeers of the Brighton supporters lit a fire under his arse, but his defensive frailties are there for all to see, Gallagher finished the game in RB whilst Cucurella was pushed up into LW, hardly a vote of confidence in his ability to see out a narrow lead.

13 minutes ago, dermott said:

The first FB ever to be turned by Mitoma? He who has embarrassed some of the best FBs in the PL? Give over. Playing out of position by necessity, he was excellent, better and better the game went.

Not the only one to get turned over by Mitoma, but certainly his positioning did not help either (he mistimes his moves several times per game, giving an advantage to the attackers). He was playing out of position and he got better in the second half and when he swapped to the left, but he was no way one of the best players last night (better than Palmer, Jackson, Mudryck, Colwill, Chilwell, Caicedo, Ugochukwu, etc) nor excellent.

His attitude in the game was something we need to go forward in the season. We need this fired up frustrated player to push and kick opponents to show we are not pushovers. I really liked what I saw from Cucu in this game. He is still massively limited footballer but his sheer pitbull-approach was great to see.

25 minutes ago, evissy said:

His attitude in the game was something we need to go forward in the season. We need this fired up frustrated player to push and kick opponents to show we are not pushovers. I really liked what I saw from Cucu in this game. He is still massively limited footballer but his sheer pitbull-approach was great to see.

Maybe this is a turning point for him, and depending on where we play Colwill, this opens up a run at left back with Chilwell’s injury. 

I couldn't watch the game so can't really comment on this, but I'm seeing people praise his energy and eagerness which in turn was used to criticize him as that often meant he was mistiming his tackles, being totally out of position and just being an overall poor defender because of that same lovely but fruitless energy, so which was it?

You guys seem split as well, so just wondering if it was a case of same old performance not being punished or an actual improvement on last season.

30 minutes ago, Brigadeiro Mk II said:

I couldn't watch the game so can't really comment on this, but I'm seeing people praise his energy and eagerness which in turn was used to criticize him as that often meant he was mistiming his tackles, being totally out of position and just being an overall poor defender because of that same lovely but fruitless energy, so which was it?

You guys seem split as well, so just wondering if it was a case of same old performance not being punished or an actual improvement on last season.

He was his usual self. He has never been as bad as he was painted last season or beginning of this one but he was no where near the best player on the night as some think. He approached the game with a very good attitude and energy, which he has always shown not only last night, but he is all over the place sometimes and suddenly makes a great recovery. He's not a good defender but he's not dogsh*te as some say. And yesterday, for me, he was his normal self, trying hard and sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

2 hours ago, evissy said:

His attitude in the game was something we need to go forward in the season. We need this fired up frustrated player to push and kick opponents to show we are not pushovers. I really liked what I saw from Cucu in this game. He is still massively limited footballer but his sheer pitbull-approach was great to see.

This we looked more robust last night not getting bullied.

1 hour ago, Brigadeiro Mk II said:

I couldn't watch the game so can't really comment on this, but I'm seeing people praise his energy and eagerness which in turn was used to criticize him as that often meant he was mistiming his tackles, being totally out of position and just being an overall poor defender because of that same lovely but fruitless energy, so which was it?

You guys seem split as well, so just wondering if it was a case of same old performance not being punished or an actual improvement on last season.

He was poor imo. The case of players doing the bare minimum by giving effort seems to be valued very highly over actual performance.  

1 hour ago, Brigadeiro Mk II said:

I couldn't watch the game so can't really comment on this, but I'm seeing people praise his energy and eagerness which in turn was used to criticize him as that often meant he was mistiming his tackles, being totally out of position and just being an overall poor defender because of that same lovely but fruitless energy, so which was it?

You guys seem split as well, so just wondering if it was a case of same old performance not being punished or an actual improvement on last season.

Good performance by Cucurella standards, bang average performance for a regular player.

Some of his performance 

https://reddit.com/r/chelseafc/s/rL3bQpUUfi
 

 

It was Caicedo that was low key brilliant. 

Glad for him, he played well.

4 hours ago, evissy said:

His attitude in the game was something we need to go forward in the season. We need this fired up frustrated player to push and kick opponents to show we are not pushovers. I really liked what I saw from Cucu in this game. He is still massively limited footballer but his sheer pitbull-approach was great to see.

Exactly right. He got my vote as a MOTM for just that reason. He is never, ever, gonna be a top class defender IMO, but his effort and desire, especially in the second half, was superb. We should be getting that commitment and passion from every player.

I loved it near the end when the ball broke free on the edge of the Brighton box and he went full pelt flying into a 50-50 challenge on the ground with Estupinian. Wasn't worried about getting hurt, just total, whole-hearted commitment to try and win the ball. Reminded me of Jorginho at his bravest.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He was poor imo. The case of players doing the bare minimum by giving effort seems to be valued very highly over actual performance.  

And the case of very good players not giving  maximum effort is even more damaging and has been part of our problems.

4 minutes ago, just said:

And the case of very good players not giving  maximum effort is even more damaging and has been part of our problems.

Probably explains why we are 14th. 

9 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Good performance by Cucurella standards, bang average performance for a regular player.

Exactly how I feel about it RIP, I can't knock his spirit and urgency, he seemed genuinely pissed off when the 2nd goal got disallowed. But we are giving him praise simply because he was a bit less sh*tter than usual. The reality is he needs to go, nothing against him as a bloke, he's just not cut out for the team.  

15 hours ago, Brigadeiro Mk II said:

I couldn't watch the game so can't really comment on this, but I'm seeing people praise his energy and eagerness which in turn was used to criticize him as that often meant he was mistiming his tackles, being totally out of position and just being an overall poor defender because of that same lovely but fruitless energy, so which was it?

You guys seem split as well, so just wondering if it was a case of same old performance not being punished or an actual improvement on last season.

I actually think both can be true and that's a huge part of the overall issue with Cucurella. He lacks defensive fundamentals in positioning, the way he tackles etc. and he's not strong, big or fast enough to simply outmuscle attackers. He makes up for it to an extent with seemingly limitless energy. It seems we rely on him to play at 100% of his energy every single game. The moment he dips and gives anything less than 100%, he becomes a liability. 

From a practical standpoint that makes him a problem player because no player is capable of putting in 100% energy every minute of every game.

Would rather him not play RB against Fulham as he did not offer anything for us on attacking front. Would rather him play LB if anything.

Not that I think he's been out of this world but he's been excellent for two games in a row now. Don't quite think I remember anyone else having been booed as often as Cucurella has by his own supporters (unfairly may I add) so very happy for him if he can keep this up.

 

Fair play to Cucurella. He's apparently come in on days off for extra training, and has now forced himself back into Pochettino's thinking with two solid displays out of position at right back.

Might now be ahead of Chilwell as a left back option, even if they were both fit (a big "if" in Chilwell's case !).

Be interesting to see what happens when Gusto is available again after his suspension.  I think Cucurella keeps his place !

39 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Fair play to Cucurella. He's apparently come in on days off for extra training, and has now forced himself back into Pochettino's thinking with two solid displays out of position at right back.

Might now be ahead of Chilwell as a left back option, even if they were both fit (a big "if" in Chilwell's case !).

Be interesting to see what happens when Gusto is available again after his suspension.  I think Cucurella keeps his place !

I wouldn't put him back at left back or drop him for Gusto. Needs to stay at right back, hasn't put in performances like this at left back for as long as I can rememeber. 

Happy to hold my hands up, was really good last night. Finally playing with that fire in his belly that we saw against Dortmund. 

Yeah, I was critical of him against Brighton (didn't think was the bad but nor that he was amazing), but he was very good last night. So credit where credit's due.