13 hours ago, Simplymo said:

Back to Chels.

 

Nevin:

 

Cole Palmer and his Chelsea colleagues are growing up very quickly, even if they are not yet totally mature. The naivety for the ‘goal’ scored by Kai Havertz on Sunday but was then ruled offside, showed there are a few things to be learned.

Against Arsenal, the outfield had an average age of 22.5 years of age but they still stood toe to toe with last year’s runners-up. This is good news down at the Bridge.

‌Developing maturity while not losing the spark of creativity and excitement that youth brings is a subtle job, but Enzo Maresca seems to be all over it.

I agree to an extent - There is a lot of potential, but there comes a point when we have to ask so hard questions about a) where we want to go and b) the level of the players we need to get us to that place.

To consistently challenge at the top, as we did for years, I think you need a core of 5 or 6 genuinely world class players. Players who are at the very top echelons of the game in the respective positions. We had that with Cech, Cashly, JT, Lamps, Essien, Drogs, Riccy. We then later on had a 2nd batch of very able, top class players like Costa, Kante, SIlva, Fab, Eden, Branna, Azpi....

We have seen with City, they have competed by having the best in class (or very close to) players and manager, which has helped them have a sustained run at the top. Aguero, Kompany, Ederson, KDB, Haaland, Rodri, Walker  - supported by a very able supporting cast over the years....

My point is, there will come a time when we have to ask questions as to if our young lads will ever be those 'best in class players' that I think we need to be at the top, and not simply compete with spurs. Some will definetly not (Sanchez, Disasi, Baddy, Jackson), some will probably not (Gusto, Veiga, Cucu, Enzo, Madueke, Sancho, Felix), some have a sluggers chance (Lavia, Fofana, Nkunku, Colwill, Neto), but I think only 2 have genuine potential to at the top class level we need to have a sustained run at the top (Palmer and Caicedo). I am not sure that is enough.

I am hopeful of the 2 south american lads that are coming in....and also Santos. I also thought that Carney had the potential, but clearly he isnt getting a look in!  But in reality, the chances of all of those evolving to the very top is slim....

 

My point is, probably badly articulated, that I am not convinced this group of players have enough quality, or the baseline to get to that level needed, to have us challenging at the top for the next 10 years.

 

37 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Seems hard for us....we have played too slowly for years now.

I am quite surprised you think that way. The way we are playing is already very fast and very chaotic. 

Maresca actually want us to play slower but the player are simply more comfortable playing very fast. 

21 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

To consistently challenge at the top, as we did for years, I think you need a core of 5 or 6 genuinely world class players. 

Agree, this is the key if you want to compete at the top. I won't put a number on how many wc player you need but you need more than just Palmer as your difference maker. 

 

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

I am quite surprised you think that way. The way we are playing is already very fast and very chaotic. 

Maresca actually want us to play slower but the player are simply more comfortable playing very fast. 

the endless passing between centre backs, slowly work it forward, get scared, and then pass it back to the defenders again remains….

On 13/11/2024 at 16:50, Simplymo said:

 

I agree with ax, as long as they remain fit I think they will win this season. Next season is a different story though depending on who stays and goes.

Slot has had to do very little imho but he has done it cleverly. The team is settled and he is doing the tweaks slowly which helps a lot. He's actually settled the team even more, calmed them down. 

This in rumours section of the beeb. No idea if true.

Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold continues to reject offers to renew his contract at Anfield as Real Madrid press on with negotiations to sign the 26-year-old when his current deal expires next summer. (Relevo - in Spanish)

He's not the only one that hasn't renewed yet, and as my post above these (experienced and mature) players going will affect slots second season imho.

6 hours ago, nonotnowjim said:

Seems hard for us....we have played too slowly for years now.

To be fair we as a fanbase have also been saying this for at least 15 years. 

 

 

3 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

 

 

Hopefully they are paying close attention to those moments where we leave 3 players open on the back post 

On 15/11/2024 at 15:21, Bob stark said:

I am quite surprised you think that way. The way we are playing is already very fast and very chaotic. 

Maresca actually want us to play slower but the player are simply more comfortable playing very fast. 

It's where they play fast and slow that is the issue. We play too slow at the back and too fast at the front.

It boggles my mind when most 'possession' teams play slow at the back, especially when chasing a game against a low block. Defense is where the ball can be moved quickest with the least risk of turnover, so passing between the defense and midfield should be the quickest.

5 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

It's where they play fast and slow that is the issue. We play too slow at the back and too fast at the front.

It boggles my mind when most 'possession' teams play slow at the back, especially when chasing a game against a low block. Defense is where the ball can be moved quickest with the least risk of turnover, so passing between the defense and midfield should be the quickest.

I don't think risk of turnover is the key, more like what happen after turnover. If you lose the ball on your backline, it is over. 

9 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

Hopefully they are paying close attention to those moments where we leave 3 players open on the back post 

I think maresca will be far more concerned how odegaard can deliver freely from the edge of our box when we have 4v3 advantage. 

Basically our hope in terms of keepers are:

A) Robert Sanchez and the team finds a way to minimize errors. This is not solely on the keeper mind you.

B) Jorgensen trains how to distribute ball day in day out the way Maresca wants. Does extra shifts and concentrates on that.

C) We find a new keeper in the summer and go against all the current reporting.

 

25 minutes ago, evissy said:

Basically our hope in terms of keepers are:

A) Robert Sanchez and the team finds a way to minimize errors. This is not solely on the keeper mind you.

B) Jorgensen trains how to distribute ball day in day out the way Maresca wants. Does extra shifts and concentrates on that.

C) We find a new keeper in the summer and go against all the current reporting.

 

I think this is basically our goalkeeper strategy:

 

Maresca has reiterated his desire to have Palmer and Felix play together.

He also spoke about wanting a CB to be the one to invert in to midfield, Ala John Stones, rather than the current system of a full back doing it or going to the 10.

 

Maybe he wants something like this:

 

Sanchez

 

James

Fofana

Cucurella

 

Caicedo

Colwill

 

Madueke 

Palmer

Felix

Neto

 

Jackson

 

Best way it works for Palmer and Felix, imo, is this way. Felix and Neto continue their partnership on the left, Felix preferred side, and Palmer keeps working with Noni, which lifts Nonis game.

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by axman2526

Either we blow sides away with that team or they blow us. 

Pause. 

Edited November 21, 20241 yr by Sconnie Blue

10 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Either we blow teams away with that team or they blow us. 

Pause. 

The best idea to rid the sport of homophobia that I've heard so far.

On a similar note (possibly), I have noticed that Maresca has an almost perfectly symmetrical face. I think he deserves an extra point for this.

14 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Maresca has reiterated his desire to have Palmer and Felix play together.

He also spoke about wanting a CB to be the one to invert in to midfield, Ala John Stones, rather than the current system of a full back doing it or going to the 10.

 

Maybe he wants something like this:

 

Sanchez

 

James

Fofana

Cucurella

 

Caicedo

Colwill

 

Madueke 

Palmer

Felix

Neto

 

Jackson

 

Best way it works for Palmer and Felix, imo, is this way. Felix and Neto continue their partnership on the left, Felix preferred side, and Palmer keeps working with Noni, which lifts Nonis game.

And sadly, despite having 5 attacking players in the side, still no role for Nkunku ... 

 

18 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Maresca has reiterated his desire to have Palmer and Felix play together.

He also spoke about wanting a CB to be the one to invert in to midfield, Ala John Stones, rather than the current system of a full back doing it or going to the 10.

 

Maybe he wants something like this:

 

Sanchez

 

James

Fofana

Cucurella

 

Caicedo

Colwill

 

Madueke 

Palmer

Felix

Neto

 

Jackson

 

Best way it works for Palmer and Felix, imo, is this way. Felix and Neto continue their partnership on the left, Felix preferred side, and Palmer keeps working with Noni, which lifts Nonis game.

I don't think colwill would be the one to step up tbh, it comes across to me that he's our "last line of defence". Yeah he's stepped up into midfield before but I also think out of all the cbs he is the one I want there. You know...he would be the one to clear the ball off the line. I don't know tbh, could be just me and how much I don't trust any of the rest to be there and save a goal.

3 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

And sadly, despite having 5 attacking players in the side, still no role for Nkunku ... 

Well, like every team we are only allowed 11 on the pitch mate, lol.

Also it needs to be balanced. We saw what loading up attackers would do in the first Carsleys Greece match at international level.

It would be felix or nkunku in that setup above I imagine.

45 minutes ago, Simplymo said:

 

I don't think colwill would be the one to step up tbh, it comes across to me that he's our "last line of defence". Yeah he's stepped up into midfield before but I also think out of all the cbs he is the one I want there. You know...he would be the one to clear the ball off the line. I don't know tbh, could be just me and how much I don't trust any of the rest to be there and save a goal.

Well, like every team we are only allowed 11 on the pitch mate, lol.

Also it needs to be balanced. We saw what loading up attackers would do in the first Carsleys Greece match at international level.

It would be felix or nkunku in that setup above I imagine.

Colwill has proven he has the passing ability, its whether he has the intelligence to know when to step up into midfield.

Has to be an experienced head that steps into midfield as well. Stones of 2017 would've been eaten alive. 

Can't fault where we are in the league on paper but for me there's so many question marks over his choices on matchday. 

 

I still think we are riding the momentum from the end of last season. We haven't really seen any improvement in areas that we needed the most improvement in.

16 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Can't fault where we are in the league on paper but for me there's so many question marks over his choices on matchday. 

 

As much as I disagree with his team set up, it's not his fault things like Madueke missing an open goal and blocking a Palmer shot happens. On another day this is a comfortable 4-0.

21 minutes ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Can't fault where we are in the league on paper but for me there's so many question marks over his choices on matchday. 

 

Like for instance starting Madueke every single match is that what you meant 😂

24 minutes ago, Remodez said:

As much as I disagree with his team set up, it's not his fault things like Madueke missing an open goal and blocking a Palmer shot happens. On another day this is a comfortable 4-0.

Yeah execution let us down more than anything.

Neto and Gusto ruled out last minute apparently. Sancho not that fit.