On top of comparing matches played we need to compare distance traveled, as pressing in today's game is far more rigorous than in the 80s. 

Doubt that data is available anyway. 

The big difference between now and 40 years ago is back them 1 maybe 2 teams played a lot of games as they got to finals, they had the best players.

Now it's 6, 7 or 8 from each country, plus more internationals with meaning, more pre season games, more young players playing massive amounts of games.

It's an accumulation, season after season with barely any breaks, other than injuries, then they are constantly chasing fitness.

5 minutes ago, dkw said:

The big difference between now and 40 years ago is back them 1 maybe 2 teams played a lot of games as they got to finals, they had the best players.

Now it's 6, 7 or 8 from each country, plus more internationals with meaning, more pre season games, more young players playing massive amounts of games.

It's an accumulation, season after season with barely any breaks, other than injuries, then they are constantly chasing fitness.

Could it be all the teenage international games also? Because I've noticed it's happening to our youth most of the time. We've lost countless of young talents to injuries, it's tragic. 

2 minutes ago, Victor90 said:

Could it be all the teenage international games also? Because I've noticed it's happening to our youth most of the time. We've lost countless of young talents to injuries, it's tragic. 

Quite easily, like I said there was an International u21s tournament that didnt finish until mid July this year, and the vast majority of players were in their clubs first team squads. It's ridiculous. 

I really hope I'm wrong, but it's starting to feel like his injury could be a sliding doors moment for his Chelsea career.

He may only be out for a couple of months, but that time represents a vital missed opportunity for him to have cemented his long term starting place.

When he returns, the landscape of our starting 11 will look very different, with the competition for first team places likely to be much higher.

Edited August 30, 20232 yr by Fatty_Speeding

4 minutes ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

I really hope I'm wrong, but it's starting to feel like his injury could be a sliding doors moment for his Chelsea career.

He may only be out for a couple of months, but that time represents a vital missed opportunity for him to have cemented his long term starting place.

When he returns, the landscape of our starting 11 will look very different, with the competition for first team places likely to be much higher.

If he’s good enough  ( and he has so far shown he is)he’ll play. 

On 25/08/2023 at 18:52, dkw said:

The big difference between now and 40 years ago is back them 1 maybe 2 teams played a lot of games as they got to finals, they had the best players.

Now it's 6, 7 or 8 from each country, plus more internationals with meaning, more pre season games, more young players playing massive amounts of games.

It's an accumulation, season after season with barely any breaks, other than injuries, then they are constantly chasing fitness.

Close season meant closed season for many unless there was a World Cup which was greatly reduced. 

On 25/08/2023 at 19:02, dkw said:

Quite easily, like I said there was an International u21s tournament that didnt finish until mid July this year, and the vast majority of players were in their clubs first team squads. It's ridiculous. 

That's why I don't get the "if we sign X player it blocks Y" many spin when we sign players. Only way round these schedules now is to have a huge squad.

And there's the stoppage time rules now that are insane, we finally get a "normal" season after Covid or the mid season world cup derailed the previous four and for all intents and purposes multiple games are now added.

17 hours ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

I really hope I'm wrong, but it's starting to feel like his injury could be a sliding doors moment for his Chelsea career.

He may only be out for a couple of months, but that time represents a vital missed opportunity for him to have cemented his long term starting place.

When he returns, the landscape of our starting 11 will look very different, with the competition for first team places likely to be much higher.

I think if he comes back from the injury as good as his last game he'll make the side easy. He had the potential to be one of the first names on the team sheet. Still very young.

18 hours ago, Argo said:

That's why I don't get the "if we sign X player it blocks Y" many spin when we sign players. Only way round these schedules now is to have a huge squad.

And there's the stoppage time rules now that are insane, we finally get a "normal" season after Covid or the mid season world cup derailed the previous four and for all intents and purposes multiple games are now added.

Add the new Champions League format also. 

Club is being proactive with these signings. 

On 30/08/2023 at 19:11, charierre said:

If he’s good enough  ( and he has so far shown he is)he’ll play. 

If only it were that simple. What happens when Chukwuemeka is good enough, but Nkunku and Sterling are a bit better?

1 hour ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

If only it were that simple. What happens when Chukwuemeka is good enough, but Nkunku and Sterling are a bit better?

Injuries happen, innit.

2 hours ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

If only it were that simple. What happens when Chukwuemeka is good enough, but Nkunku and Sterling are a bit better?

The most in form player plays. Competition raises levels, if Chukky is good enough he’ll play

2 hours ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

If only it were that simple. What happens when Chukwuemeka is good enough, but Nkunku and Sterling are a bit better?

We buy M'bappe and they all sit on the bench?

12 hours ago, charierre said:

The most in form player plays. Competition raises levels, if Chukky is good enough he’ll play

Did Salah and De Bruyne play?

4 minutes ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Did Salah and De Bruyne play?

Mourinho tax sadly.

Poch actually rates and and trusts youth players to play games. 

Just now, RIP Mourinho said:

Mourinho tax sadly.

Poch actually rates and and trusts youth players to play games. 

Poch trusted them when he had no choice at Spurs, but I'd wager that when he has ready-made, world class alternatives, he'll choose those alternatives. Though I guess we shall see.

2 minutes ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Poch trusted them when he had no choice at Spurs, but I'd wager that when he has ready-made, world class alternatives, he'll choose those alternatives. Though I guess we shall see.

TBF, our current squad only really has Enzo/Jackson who have cemented their place in every starting 11 i'd say. Every other position is fair competition between two players on equal standing.

2 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

TBF, our current squad only really has Enzo/Jackson who have cemented their place in every starting 11 i'd say. Every other position is fair competition between two players on equal standing.

I would add Nkunku when fit, i reckon

Returns to train with the ball.

He's probably our best attacking midfielder until Nkunku is back . We need him.

On 01/09/2023 at 18:07, RIP Mourinho said:

TBF, our current squad only really has Enzo/Jackson who have cemented their place in every starting 11 i'd say. Every other position is fair competition between two players on equal standing.

Sterling is by far our best attacker. 

On 25/08/2023 at 18:32, Sconnie Blue said:

On top of comparing matches played we need to compare distance traveled, as pressing in today's game is far more rigorous than in the 80s. 

Doubt that data is available anyway. 

And then there's the pitches. Often the pitches in the 60s, 70s and 80s were like ploughed fields much of the time.

A bit like the Chicago pitch that N'kunku got injured on in pre-season.

19 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Sterling is by far our best attacker. 

I don't disagree, I was one of the few on the forum all summer stating we absolutely shouldn't be considering trying to ship Sterling off to Saudi. He has beenthe best attacker for 60% of our games this season, also been anonymous in a few games, but there's fair competition between him, Madueke, Mudryk, Palmer, Maatsen etc. Jackson has no competition and Enzo is head and shoulders above anyone at the club, hence their position being cemented in the 11. 

23 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I don't disagree, I was one of the few on the forum all summer stating we absolutely shouldn't be considering trying to ship Sterling off to Saudi. He has beenthe best attacker for 60% of our games this season, also been anonymous in a few games, but there's fair competition between him, Madueke, Mudryk, Palmer, Maatsen etc. Jackson has no competition and Enzo is head and shoulders above anyone at the club, hence their position being cemented in the 11. 

There is no healthy competition  for Sterling

Madueke, Mudryk, Palmer are at least 3 level below Sterling. 

12 minutes ago, Bob stark said:

There is no healthy competition  for Sterling

Madueke, Mudryk, Palmer are at least 3 level below Sterling. 

I think you're digressing. Sterling started the season well, then had two average games. Madueke isn't that far from him, was our best player from March-May last season by FAR.