9 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Hope you are limbering up those typing fingers Jim lad !

It's a week of bad news.

Been on holiday in Japan and Indonesia - but the break is over and heading home tomorrow. At the same time, I applied for a new job in Tokyo - and didn't get it....and now nico is back.

I can't catch a break!

5 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

It's a week of bad news.

Been on holiday in Japan and Indonesia - but the break is over and heading home tomorrow. At the same time, I applied for a new job in Tokyo - and didn't get it....and now nico is back.

I can't catch a break!

I have a feeling he won't let you down !

12 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

It's a week of bad news.

Been on holiday in Japan and Indonesia - but the break is over and heading home tomorrow. At the same time, I applied for a new job in Tokyo - and didn't get it....and now nico is back.

I can't catch a break!

Shame about not getting the job those 04:00 kick off are a blast.

11 hours ago, Scott said:

Shame about not getting the job those 04:00 kick off are a blast.

Yeah - but balanced that against the toilet seats, which are great for piles....

Couldn't tell he was on the field until that yellow card. I suppose we could give him some credit, he was playing and we won a game.

2 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Couldn't tell he was on the field until that yellow card. I suppose we could give him some credit, he was playing and we won a game.

Amazing contribution.

1 shot (off target)

1 big chance missed

Zero goals

Zero assists

3 dribbles attempted - none completed.

Underperformed xg

Yellow card

Big difference with Jacko on the pitch is he puts himself about and occupies defenders. Much much better than having a wet lettuce like Nkunku in the team.

32 minutes ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Big difference with Jacko on the pitch is he puts himself about and occupies defenders. Much much better than having a wet lettuce like Nkunku in the team.

The ultimate backhanded compliment.... next you will be telling us she has a good personality....

Good to have him back and finally have a outlet up top.

3 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

The ultimate backhanded compliment.... next you will be telling us she has a good personality....

I think its a real strength and essential for a lone striker up top.

4 hours ago, Gordon Bennett said:

Big difference with Jacko on the pitch is he puts himself about and occupies defenders. Much much better than having a wet lettuce like Nkunku in the team.

Jacko is still very raw, has many faults within his game. Definitely not the finished article, temperament is a little suspect,he does though give energy and pace to the frontline being a willing runner. More importantly he creates space for others to operate. Can we improve on him? Definitely. For now though he is the best we’ve got.

Well we had a few months with him in top form, a few month of him looking completly nackered and a few months with him out and then yesterday wich was abit of column A and a bit of column B

opinions on his quality might range, and you can make the argument we need an upgrade (you can cirtainly make a case of at least another number 9, although I guess that was Marc) but any chance of top 4 this season means we need him starting, we have no other viable option.

11 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Amazing contribution.

1 shot (off target)

1 big chance missed

Zero goals

Zero assists

3 dribbles attempted - none completed.

Underperformed xg

Yellow card

I saw a fantastic meme the other day, so shocking I had to confirm it. Lukaku has more career goals then Ronaldo (the Brazilian Flavour) (I'm old so im not using the initial number nickname)

What i saw yesterday was a player giving us somthing we had been missing for a while, he put us on the front foot, no one else has done that in his absence, ill ignore that stats for now thanks

We need to stick with him, for now, as he is the best option we have. Sad, but true. For exactly the same reason, Sanchez continues as our keeper.

Second rate players, (arguably third rate), but the best we have in those positions at the moment.

9 hours ago, charierre said:

Jacko is still very raw, has many faults within his game. Definitely not the finished article, temperament is a little suspect,he does though give energy and pace to the frontline being a willing runner. More importantly he creates space for others to operate. Can we improve on him? Definitely. For now though he is the best we’ve got.

Worth mentioning he was never in a youth academy. So he is veeeerrrrrryyyy raw.

19 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Amazing contribution.

1 shot (off target)

1 big chance missed

Zero goals

Zero assists

3 dribbles attempted - none completed.

Underperformed xg

Yellow card

Ah this is what lack of practice does to someone.

Jim was at an elite level as a critic, the best the Shed could offer. Now his dormant period has reduced him to pedeling stats and uttering a few words, while @Ukraine Bolt has taken his crown...sad times...

Edited April 4, 20251 yr by axman2526

I thought he bullied Romero and VDV in the first half without ever really accomplishing anything. We definitely look a better team with him in it though.

The difficulty comes when our wingers and Palmer don’t score because Jackson isn’t reliable enough to get the big goal to get us a result. He’s a much better proposition when Palmer is scoring obviously

He’s the best we have at the moment though without doubt and Palmer seems to enjoy playing with him. He definitely gets more space in dangerous areas when Jackson plays.

Hopefully they both end their goal drought on Sunday.

12 hours ago, charierre said:

Jacko is still very raw, has many faults within his game. Definitely not the finished article, temperament is a little suspect,he does though give energy and pace to the frontline being a willing runner. More importantly he creates space for others to operate. Can we improve on him? Definitely. For now though he is the best we’ve got.

I don’t think they have any intention of signing an elite forward. They had ever chance to do that last summer but spent all that time pussyfooting around. Elite forwards require elite wages, and they are not going to pay it.

“Chelsea have been pleased with the progress of Nicolas Jackson this season and now appear to be targeting a younger deputy for competition, rather than spending big on a new elite first-choice striker.”

Anyone who comes in will be playing backup to Jackson.

Without wishing to be unkind the thing Jackson lacks is a Footballing Brain.

He's good at hounding the back line of the opposition and taking the ball towards goal...

But then he has to make a decision. Too many options:

"Hmmm... where do I put the ball ?"

"Hmmm... maybe I should try to hold it up and wait for another player ?"

"Hmmm... maybe I should take on the keeper ?"

"Hmmm... the coach says, when in doubt, play it backwards ?"

Etc,

And then the moment, as Ruud Gullit (those were the days!) would have called it, is lost 😁

Edited April 5, 20251 yr by Bebe1980

12 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Ah this is what lack of practice does to someone.

Jim was at an elite level as a critic, the best the Shed could offer. Now his dormant period has reduced him to pedeling stats and uttering a few words, while @Ukraine Bolt has taken his crown...sad times...

lol - so true.

A mix of things combined to lead me to the current sorry state of affairs. I hate the person that Jackson has forced me to become. I hate the visceral feelings he provokes in me - so there is a conscious effort suppress these down and hide them. My therapist said this is best for everyone involved.

Oh, and over the last few days I have been globetrotting and making my way back home from Japan and Indonesia- so timing and focus has been a bit off.

I am sure with 1 more bad game normal service will be resumed.... we just can't tell the therapist.

Jackson hasn't forced you to do anything, he doesn't know you are alive. Get a grip man.

2 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

lol - so true.

A mix of things combined to lead me to the current sorry state of affairs. I hate the person that Jackson has forced me to become. I hate the visceral feelings he provokes in me - so there is a conscious effort suppress these down and hide them. My therapist said this is best for everyone involved.

Oh, and over the last few days I have been globetrotting and making my way back home from Japan and Indonesia- so timing and focus has been a bit off.

I am sure with 1 more bad game normal service will be resumed.... we just can't tell the therapist.

Your therapist does not know what he is talking about. Clearly has not considered my need for entertainment!

3 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

lol - so true.

A mix of things combined to lead me to the current sorry state of affairs. I hate the person that Jackson has forced me to become. I hate the visceral feelings he provokes in me - so there is a conscious effort suppress these down and hide them. My therapist said this is best for everyone involved.

Oh, and over the last few days I have been globetrotting and making my way back home from Japan and Indonesia- so timing and focus has been a bit off.

I am sure with 1 more bad game normal service will be resumed.... we just can't tell the therapist.

Be glad that you were not offered a job there. You would go batty in a months’s time.

Contrary to popular opinion, the food sucks in Japan, and the cost of living is super high.

Though I do love me some soba noodle (served cold on a bamboo tray).

Edited April 5, 20251 yr by Phillip

16 minutes ago, Phillip said:

Contrary to popular opinion, the food sucks in Japan, and the cost of living is super high.

Though I do love me some soba noodle (served cold on a bamboo tray).

I thought the food was so so as well. It always looked a million dollars, but often was lacking a little in delivery. Overall though we had an awesome time - and continue to love much of the country. I particularly like the social contract - no music/videos blaring out of phones on public transport, no super strong perfume (or BO!) - a nice change from the strong oud we smell regularly in the UAE, and the fact the queues were orderly and well managed/obeyed. I also like that there is no tipping. :D

The Yen is pretty weak at the moment, so was more affordable than when we went 10 yrs ago - although that is balanced against it being peak Cherry Blossom season - so hotels were sky high.