On 15/11/2024 at 06:38, just said:

But what all the times he has done his job, beat his man and put the ball across, only for our esteemed centre-forward to be stood in the wrong position, or behind a defender, or too static and not anticipating the ball coming across? Does that not matter?

Sorry for the late reply, just saw the comment. Lets be honest, he has being very poor most of the times lately. I am not even talking passing to Jackson but he had an opportunity to pass numerous times to Palmer who was in a better position and wasted the opportunity. I am not saying he is a bad player, he has his moments but needs consistency otherwise he will be out sooner rather then later.

On 15/11/2024 at 00:57, Remodez said:

Are we going to pretend we've never seen Jackson in the same spot waiting for Noni to pass the ball to him?

Jackson gets lots of criticism too and rightly soo. However, Jackson does score important goals and its the only recognised centre forward we have.

Stinker today.. 

Palmer was gifting him the ball throughout, and he wasted everything. Couldn't beat his man, couldn't find anybody with a cross. I don't see how these performances are making him undroppable when there are plenty of other attackers that can take his spot.

I don’t know if it’s an instruction, but whenever we beat a press and run through at their back 4 centrally, noni drifts so far central that it destroys the chance.

There was a scenario of this in the second half where Palmer recieved it. Rather than staying wide to spread the defence, noni ran inside to try and create a pass for himself. Rather than staying wide and giving space for Cole or the other forwards by making the defender think about him.

Really annoying as it’s just small things he’s doing that are stopping both his chances but the other forwards too 

Was poor today, has been poor for most of the games lately. 

I can’t fault Madueke’s for trying but, today Palmer and Madueke were interfering with each other’s space. Whenever Cole got the ball, Noni would drop centrally into the area Palmer was covering. Whether it’s because Palmer was going too much to the right or because Noni was drifting too much towards the centre, I know which one I want dropped. In the first subs, I would have liked to see Madueke being subbed by Nkunku, with Palmer going to the right and Nkunku playing centrally behind Jackson. I’d like to see how that would work out.

Given Neto not being an option today I don't blame Maresca for sticking with Noni, and credit him for starting Felix, who impressed, rather than Mudryk and thr not fit Sancho.

You cannot fault Nonis work ethic, and he was denied a very nice goal. 

However he is not performing at a level, imo, that meana he should be undroppable, which Maresca has made him.

He has all the swagger but his ability is far below his self confidence. The amount of 1 on 1 situations he has game after game and the lack of end product from them is insane. 

His goal line block was rather unlucky, just one of those things.

Thankfully it did not cost us. Just been Cole Palmers luck of late as well, not at his best, and getting the Robben/Hazard treatment each game while refs just let it happen.

Good again today. Only a quality finger-tip save from their keeper denied him a goal after the dreadful foul on Felix. Then a fantastic finish from Noni sadly ruled out because VAR deemed Cucurella's humongous perm was a hair offside. As ever constantly running at the opposition. Love that Noni is never on the fringes of a game, like Mudryk. He's a player who is always involved, a player who makes things, (sometimes good, maybe sometimes bad), happen. Laughing my nuts off at those plums who are trying to make out Noni could have got out of the way of Palmer's shot. Perhaps he should have pressed his "invisibility" button. But then again, on the other hand, dont they realise it just proves how good he is defensively? Either way, very important member of our young team. Viva La Noni.

Edited November 23, 20241 yr by just

Seems he's become the new English player targeted by the social media vermin chelsea "fans", the abuse he got for being hit by the ball is moronic, shame we have some on here too.

8 hours ago, dkw said:

Seems he's become the new English player targeted by the social media vermin chelsea "fans", the abuse he got for being hit by the ball is moronic, shame we have some on here too.

 I blame Palmer... all his fault, shut his eyes and waved his peg at the ball...🤣

 

In all seriousness, he hasnt delivered much since his hatrick in output for goals and assists. But the guy absolutely horrifies defenders when he goes at them. He swept the ball home for the offside goal, We just need a bit of patience with him. Think he's having a good season for us and enjoy watching him turn defenders inside and out. 

Cheeky assist today. 

Thought it was a great assist. Madueke locked eyes with Palmer deep in midfield, and held up the play until Palmer got into position, passing between the two defenders to create a better chance. Had Madueke taken the obvious pass in front of the second defender, Palmer wouldn't have had as good a shot.

I really like him coming off the bench to be honest, solid direct option to run at tired legs. Cross was pretty good actually I didn't think he had it in him to spot the pass. 

57 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I really like him coming off the bench to be honest, solid direct option to run at tired legs. Cross was pretty good actually I didn't think he had it in him to spot the pass. 

Ideally we are getting to the point where those positons are really interchangeable in terms of recource. Throw back to Robben, Duff, Cole and then SWP who didn't really succede but added somthing. Sancho is so good on the ball I would just love to see him shot a bit more

MOTM tonight. Clearly has a lot of trust from Maresca.

Maresca blasted him for his display, called him out for taking his foot off the gas and that he can become a much better player if he fixes his mindset.

As was posted in the match thread.

You could see his talent right from when he was signed I thought. Good player that I’m happy we have but as Maresca said he just needs a bit more drive/consistency. 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Maresca blasted him for his display, called him out for taking his foot off the gas and that he can become a much better player if he fixes his mindset.

As was posted in the match thread.

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-fc-maresca-madueke-southampton-b1198164.html

 

Yes.. This. 

Manager keeping him on his toes.. 🙂 

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Maresca blasted him for his display, called him out for taking his foot off the gas and that he can become a much better player if he fixes his mindset.

As was posted in the match thread.

100% agree you could see he wasn’t taking it seriously after a while. Glad Maresca is calling this out.

Goal. Assist. MOTM.

Motm for us was Southampton's keeper 

Another good performance by Noni. At this rate he'll be ending the season on 20+ G/A's. 

Good to see both him and Neto pushing each other for the RW position.