5 hours ago, Andy2461 said:

It’s not badders fault that he’s picked over Josh is it

Call him out for coming off after 80 minutes when his back from injury and out on his feet isn’t his fault. What did you want to happen ? Stay on ? Christ get some perspective man for gods sake

These posts between us are becoming more surreal and bizarre as they go along. I really cannot understand the vitriol from you. I don't rate Badiashile. I never have done. Apologies but that it my opinion. For me he offers nothing. 90% of his play is merely giving the ball to the player that is nearest to him or just returning a pass back sideways having just received it. Furthermore I find his awareness of danger and his defensive capabilities limited at best.

I would rather he wasn't picked. I would rather one of our academy players got the opportunity to play over him. I appreciate that it is not his fault that the manager has picked him but, unfortunately that doesn't change my thoughts about his quality.

Now i also appreciate that you have a different opinion than me and you might like watching him out there. You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, and even if my opinion differs from yours what i don't do, ever, is report to replying to users posts calling them dicks or idiots. I am also not sure how you have inferred from my snipe about him passing the ball sideways to the nearest player as calling him out for coming off on 80 mins. Far from it. Him coming off reduced the possibility of us choking at the end and conceded. imho

16 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

These posts between us are becoming more surreal and bizarre as they go along. I really cannot understand the vitriol from you. I don't rate Badiashile. I never have done. Apologies but that it my opinion. For me he offers nothing. 90% of his play is merely giving the ball to the player that is nearest to him or just returning a pass back sideways having just received it. Furthermore I find his awareness of danger and his defensive capabilities limited at best.

I would rather he wasn't picked. I would rather one of our academy players got the opportunity to play over him. I appreciate that it is not his fault that the manager has picked him but, unfortunately that doesn't change my thoughts about his quality.

Now i also appreciate that you have a different opinion than me and you might like watching him out there. You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, and even if my opinion differs from yours what i don't do, ever, is report to replying to users posts calling them dicks or idiots. I am also not sure how you have inferred from my snipe about him passing the ball sideways to the nearest player as calling him out for coming off on 80 mins. Far from it. Him coming off reduced the possibility of us choking at the end and conceded. imho

100% agree with this.

Minutes going to Josh are for the future, his potential is immense. He’s only going to improve by playing men’s first team football.

Minutes going to Badiashille are a waste as we know how limited he is and know he isn’t a long term option an

Badiashille can play a squad a role but Josh should get first refusal everytime ahead of him.

a win is a win is a win - ktbff 😁

18 hours ago, Valerie said:

You know there is one match we absolutely need to win this season @mojo ....

Are. you coming over with their lovely fans ?

11 hours ago, dkw said:

Thats not the kind of thing he was doing to lose the ball the vast majority of times though, most were just fairly simple passes he ddnt manage to make. They werent him attempting incredibly difficult defence splitting passes at all.

Sure and that’s exactly why I think we all expect more from him.
On the other hand, passing, unless we’re talking about ridiculously short and meaningless passes, is a skill that heavily depends on the players around you.

The point remains: he’s still a highly sought-after player, and plenty of top clubs have him on their radar. Real Madrid might be thinking that he's currently surrounded by young and inexperienced players, and that he'd perform much better in their setup--not a crazy notion in my book.

21 hours ago, just said:

Just saw that on the BBC match report. "leadership and grit" I knew it would make your head explode 😀

And @loz and @Term_X

I didn't think you could ever look past the stats SF.

At least we know @Gol15 's real name now.

3 hours ago, acaeus said:

On the other hand, passing, unless we’re talking about ridiculously short and meaningless passes, is a skill that heavily depends on the players around you.

Wow.

12 minutes ago, dkw said:

Wow.

Don’t assume everybody even kicked a ball around here 😉

Thanks for taking it out of context tho.

7 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Are. you coming over with their lovely fans ?

Not this time @The Rising Sun ! Those lovely people are all yours to enjoy 🙄

8 hours ago, acaeus said:

Don’t assume everybody even kicked a ball around here 😉

Thanks for taking it out of context tho.

Its a nonsense statement, passing is entirely down to the individual. Having options is a different thing all together, but he didnt misplace incredible defence splitting efforts, these were often just simple passes to open players, which is pretty much how his time at Chelsea has gone. Ive said in the past I like him for the effort he puts in, he obviously has a passion to win on the pitch and fights for the team, but he simply isnt good enough to play where Maresca puts him, or to try the things he does.

16 hours ago, acaeus said:

Sure and that’s exactly why I think we all expect more from him.
On the other hand, passing, unless we’re talking about ridiculously short and meaningless passes, is a skill that heavily depends on the players around you.

The point remains: he’s still a highly sought-after player, and plenty of top clubs have him on their radar. Real Madrid might be thinking that he's currently surrounded by young and inexperienced players, and that he'd perform much better in their setup--not a crazy notion in my book.

Let the fat boy leave, he can't play high intensity football. Spends half the kilometers he covers chasing his first touch.

5 hours ago, dkw said:

Its a nonsense statement, passing is entirely down to the individual. Having options is a different thing all together, but he didnt misplace incredible defence splitting efforts, these were often just simple passes to open players, which is pretty much how his time at Chelsea has gone. Ive said in the past I like him for the effort he puts in, he obviously has a passion to win on the pitch and fights for the team, but he simply isnt good enough to play where Maresca puts him, or to try the things he does.

Not specific to this actual thread but more as a general question.

Do you guys think that when they show the passes made and passes completed stats that they take the two yard goal kick sideways to the keeper into account?

19 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Not specific to this actual thread but more as a general question.

Do you guys think that when they show the passes made and passes completed stats that they take the two yard goal kick sideways to the keeper into account?

yes

16 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

yes

C'mon, just joking. 🤣

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by WhiteWall

36 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Not specific to this actual thread but more as a general question.

Do you guys think that when they show the passes made and passes completed stats that they take the two yard goal kick sideways to the keeper into account?

They must get a bonus for moments like this 😐

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by Scott Harris

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

They must get a bonus for moments like this 😐

That drives me mad. Don't care they are CFC - there is NO excuse to do that sort of thing on a football pitch. f**king ridiculous.

3 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Not specific to this actual thread but more as a general question.

Do you guys think that when they show the passes made and passes completed stats that they take the two yard goal kick sideways to the keeper into account?

They do, a pass is a pass no matter what type, how far etc. Its nonsense that gabe Jorginho a 98% pass rate, even though they total 18 yards.

Same as some assists which are nonsense, whoever gave Hazard the ball when he beat half the Arsenal team got an assist for it.

9 hours ago, dkw said:

Its a nonsense statement, passing is entirely down to the individual. Having options is a different thing all together, but he didnt misplace incredible defence splitting efforts, these were often just simple passes to open players, which is pretty much how his time at Chelsea has gone. Ive said in the past I like him for the effort he puts in, he obviously has a passion to win on the pitch and fights for the team, but he simply isnt good enough to play where Maresca puts him, or to try the things he does.

Ah I see, I did not know you were one of "them." 😁
Well, we will strongly disagree on this one then. Especially these days with most teams pressing high even short passing is affected. Suppose we will find out, but my prediction is that we will miss him big time.

I also see a contradiction here; on one hand there is no system, no teamwork, and (the so important) passing is entirely down to the individual, but on the other hand it's all Maresca's fault... so which one is it?

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by acaeus

54 minutes ago, acaeus said:

Ah I see, I did not know you were one of "them." 😁
Well, we will strongly disagree on this one then. Especially these days with most teams pressing high even short passing is affected. Suppose we will find out, but my prediction is that we will miss him big time.

I also see a contradiction here; on one hand there is no system, no teamwork, and (the so important) passing is entirely down to the individual, but on the other hand it's all Maresca's fault... so which one is it?

I didn't know that DKW was one of "them" . I must be blind, how did you figure it out ?

4 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

They must get a bonus for moments like this 😐

That passage of "play" was f**king ridiculous.

It's anti football nonsense .

13 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

I didn't know that DKW was one of "them" . I must be blind, how did you figure it out ?

very easy "passing is entirely down to the individual" which is absolute nonsense. Put prime Jorginho in a championship team and his passing success ratio would go down quite a bit. Watch United play today... do you remember Casemiro passing at Real Madrid? do you think he forgot how to pass the football?!

Passing is a skill no doubt: good passers being it, long or short, have precision in their passing. That still demands players to get into positions where they can receive that pass. It's also harder when you are facing teams which press high and give your passers less time on the ball and blocking passing lines. So, both are important: passing ability of players and teamwork/movement of the players.

and it's still very odd to read "passing is entirely down to the individual" and at the same time, it's all Maresca's fault. 🤷‍♂️

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by acaeus

3 hours ago, acaeus said:

3 hours ago, acaeus said:

very easy "passing is entirely down to the individual" which is absolute nonsense. Put prime Jorginho in a championship team and his passing success ratio would go down quite a bit. Watch United play today... do you remember Casemiro passing at Real Madrid? do you think he forgot how to pass the football?!

Passing is a skill no doubt: good passers being it, long or short, have precision in their passing. That still demands players to get into positions where they can receive that pass. It's also harder when you are facing teams which press high and give your passers less time on the ball and blocking passing lines. So, both are important: passing ability of players and teamwork/movement of the players.

and it's still very odd to read "passing is entirely down to the individual" and at the same time, it's all Maresca's fault. 🤷‍♂️

Thanks mate. I should have picked up on that bit about " passing is entirely down to the individual"... he's definitely one of "them" ...good spot .

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by The Rising Sun
Info

23 hours ago, acaeus said:

Don’t assume everybody even kicked a ball around here 😉

Thanks for taking it out of context tho.

12 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

Thanks mate. I should have picked up on that bit about " passing is entirely down to the individual"... he's definitely one of "them" ...good spot .

No, that was specifically in reference to the "never kicked a ball" group, which was a slight joke nothing else--reading way too much into it.

Regarding the case in question, I have an opinion based on the knowledge and experience I’ve acquired over time, and it won’t change. So, it's likely time to agree to disagree on this one and move on.
Seen countless times (at all levels) when the player on the ball spreads his arms in frustration because no one's making a run or showing for a pass.

Edited October 2, 2025Oct 2 by acaeus

8 hours ago, acaeus said:

Passing is a skill no doubt: good passers being it, long or short, have precision in their passing. That still demands players to get into positions where they can receive that pass. It's also harder when you are facing teams which press high and give your passers less time on the ball and blocking passing lines. So, both are important: passing ability of players and teamwork/movement of the players.

I agree on both counts, but I think this actually shows why Fernandez is so poor.

I think Fernandez is a good passer in the sense that he has precision in his passing, and I also think his creativity is limited by Maresca's tactics. I don't think these are mutually exclusive issues but actually an interaction that makes everything worse. In a system that is not designed to give players creative options, because its structure requires set patterns of play and rigid roles for players, Fernandez is limited, nor is his precision in passing ability used to full effect.

I also think there are certain issues Fernandez has that make the problem worse. Firstly and foremost, he is energetic without being athletic, and he is increasingly becoming clumsy on the ball as well. It means that he is unable to break the press at PL level, nor does he have the quickness to create moments within a set defence, nor is he a particularly good finisher or aerial threat or off-the-ball runner that justifies him being used as a box threat. Fernandez's role seems to be to get the ball out wide or back to defenders and then run forward to be a body in the box. The team is crying out for a ball carrier through the centre, which is simply a role he cannot provide, and he is not good enough at any of the other duties that warrants his inclusion.

This is in stark contrast to players in other top teams that play the same role as a deep AM/attacking CM. Fabian Ruiz, Pedri, Tijani Reinjders, Szobozlai/MacAllister, Camavinga/Valverde can all pass, press and most crucially, carry the ball and cover ground at pace.

Were Fernandez inclined to continue to hone his craft in the deeper central role he initially starred in, I think he would be a valuable player, but he has no interest and neither Poch nor Maresca were willing to take a stand.

As for transfer interest, we're stuck with him. Real Madrid aren't actually interested, that is just internet nonsense peddled by people like me and @Sconnie Blue in the vain hope that something happens. Fede Valverde is the exact midfielder that would improve Maresca's system, but his athleticism and finishing is just a level beyond Fernandez. Madrid will need a defensive midfielder soon, and they will turn their eyes to Caicedo, not Fernandez.

Edited October 3, 2025Oct 3 by SydneyChelsea