6 hours ago, weetee said:

I remember him being physically very imposing with excellent anticipation and good positioning so he looked like a rock and hard to come by. Think his passing game was good enough so that he could push forward at times as well and help in the oppos half of the pitch as well. Not sure I remember Essien or Ramires correctly (couldn't watch the PL as much then and mostly CL games) but they were pyhiscally not that impressive, right? More smart and athletic so got around very well. Ramires I would say no, Essien I dunno about. Zak I guess you could play as a CB if you want to (in a possession oriented system) - especially with a 3-at-the-back.

I'd like to think about him more of a Rodri light.

Ohh did you mention essien.. my God he was something in his prime-.. play him anywhere he could do everything.. tackle / drive / destruct / shoot / pass .. I don't think there has been anyone close to what he was in his prime. He was truly world class.. if he hadn't done both his knees.. we would still be talking about him.. I remember that fateful night in God forsaken Cyprus.. terrible.pitxh where he did his knee.. that cost us atheist one epl/ unless trophy for sure.

Huh? I was being asked whether I think Zakaria has the same profile as Essien/Ramires or not. Just because I don‘t think so doesn‘t mean I don‘t rate them. On the contrary, Essien was one of my fav players ever just because and I loved the smartness of Ramires. Great players. 
 

Anyway, Tuchel is clearly haunted by last season‘s wingback-crisis. Saw us on our way to the league title until sh*t hit the fan.

11 hours ago, weetee said:

I remember him being physically very imposing with excellent anticipation and good positioning so he looked like a rock and hard to come by. Think his passing game was good enough so that he could push forward at times as well and help in the oppos half of the pitch as well. Not sure I remember Essien or Ramires correctly (couldn't watch the PL as much then and mostly CL games) but they were pyhiscally not that impressive, right? More smart and athletic so got around very well. Ramires I would say no, Essien I dunno about. Zak I guess you could play as a CB if you want to (in a possession oriented system) - especially with a 3-at-the-back.

I'd like to think about him more of a Rodri light.

Ramirez was an athlete, his nickname was the Kenyan due to his stamina and running power.

Essien was an entirely different animal, a beast of a player, incredibly physical and imposing, his aim was to dominate the opposition, aggressive, snarling, scary. No one wanted to play against him. Was so bizarre seeing him have such an enormous presence on the pitch, then be so quiet and polite in interviews. Ilgus technical skill and ability was often overlooked too, similar to Denis Wise in that aspect who was a fantastically skillfully midfielder, but all most remember was him being a little sh*t on the pitch ha ha...

Have to jump on the Essien positivity. No midfielder ever got the better of him - just the ultimate physical and technical  engine in the middle. One of my all time favorites also. 
 

Funny we all mention Ramires as well. I was just thinking we miss players of his quality also. 
 

Both world class in their own right. Peak Essien was a different league though 

Zakaria reminds me somehow of Pogba.

6 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Zakaria reminds me somehow of Pogba.

The MU Pogba or Juventus/France Pogba? Makes a big difference.

47 minutes ago, evissy said:

The MU Pogba or Juventus/France Pogba? Makes a big difference.

Maybe Juventus version? Both look tall and have long legs and like to have this freedom to carry the ball and shoot from distance.

4 hours ago, PhilH930 said:

Have to jump on the Essien positivity. No midfielder ever got the better of him - just the ultimate physical and technical  engine in the middle. One of my all time favorites also. 
 

Funny we all mention Ramires as well. I was just thinking we miss players of his quality also. 
 

Both world class in their own right. Peak Essien was a different league though 

Peak Essien was the bomb. Had he been healthy and fit, he'd have more titles to his name

Lets hope he replaces Jorginho, who almost manage to win the game for West Ham today just before Havertz scored.

8 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Zakaria reminds me somehow of Pogba.

To me he seems to play more in the style of Matuidi and Ramires, both great players so we will have to wait and see.

Website showing Zakaria with #20 shirt recently vacated by CHO.

Hopefully CHO has a blinder in Germany, comes back and he can have #11 🙂 

10 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Website showing Zakaria with #20 shirt recently vacated by CHO.

Hopefully CHO has a blinder in Germany, comes back and he can have #11 🙂 

Or even #10

Well RLC, Kova and Jorgi have hardly made it hard for him to get a chance. Should be starting in Croatia.

Comments from Denis, taken from WAGNH. I wonder if he will get chances under Potter? I hope so, and hope he is not another Saul...

"

“It all happened very quickly. I didn’t know a move to Chelsea was possible until six hours before the end of the transfer window. I packed my things and waited for the contracts to be signed. Then I did the medical check in Turin and it was through, it was very close.”

“Thomas Tuchel was one of the reasons I went to Chelsea, he’s a great coach. But now we haven’t had much time with him...”

“...but that’s football. Everything goes fast. I might have a new chance with the new coach, about whom I’ve heard a lot of good things. I will work a lot to get my place. [...] I want to show the best face I have.”

-Denis Zakaria; source: Blick via Mail"

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Comments from Denis, taken from WAGNH. I wonder if he will get chances under Potter? I hope so, and hope he is not another Saul...

"

“It all happened very quickly. I didn’t know a move to Chelsea was possible until six hours before the end of the transfer window. I packed my things and waited for the contracts to be signed. Then I did the medical check in Turin and it was through, it was very close.”

“Thomas Tuchel was one of the reasons I went to Chelsea, he’s a great coach. But now we haven’t had much time with him...”

“...but that’s football. Everything goes fast. I might have a new chance with the new coach, about whom I’ve heard a lot of good things. I will work a lot to get my place. [...] I want to show the best face I have.”

-Denis Zakaria; source: Blick via Mail"

Such a low risk for us...if he doesn't work out we send him back to Juve. 

9 hours ago, evissy said:

Such a low risk for us...if he doesn't work out we send him back to Juve. 

Oh god, I've forgotten already he's here.

 

On 21/09/2022 at 20:45, evissy said:

Such a low risk for us...if he doesn't work out we send him back to Juve. 

I don't buy into this low risk stuff. I remember fans saying Saul was low risk, but as it turned out, it was high risk because it meant that every time he played, it was like playing with 10 men. We could have put literally anybody in the team last season and they would have done a better job than Saul.

Think he's another bust. 

Chalobah and Gallagher started in the pivot against Brighton. Bloke can't even get ahead of two players playing out of position. 

31 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think he's another bust. 

Chalobah and Gallagher started in the pivot against Brighton. Bloke can't even get ahead of two players playing out of position. 

Zakaria played along side them in that game, as a midfield 3. 

44 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Think he's another bust. 

Chalobah and Gallagher started in the pivot against Brighton. Bloke can't even get ahead of two players playing out of position. 

He could well be another bust, his injury has said to have had quite an affect on him. However....

13 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

Zakaria played along side them in that game, as a midfield 3. 

24 minutes ago, drjonesy1994 said:

Zakaria played along side them in that game, as a midfield 3. 

Thank goodness. Absolute loss cause if a CM can't get game time ahead of a CB and a CAM...

Wait he was called up? Did he even play against Brighton?

15 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Wait he was called up? Did he even play against Brighton?

Yeah that Brighton friendly was on the 17th, the weekend we were due to face Liverpool. Players didn't go on international duty until the 19th. 

If he gets fit he should be getting into the starting lineup, I think he just needs an extra month.