Thoughts on where we are after 8 PL games.

This topic contains 23 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by MightyM MightyM 3 years, 3 months ago.

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  • #1891787

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    With the focus on international football rather than Club football the International breaks can be somewhat monotonouss with that in mind as a bit of fun I’ve ranked the new signings with marks out of 10 so far but what’s your thoughts?

    New Player marks out of 10.
    Mendy 9
    Chilwell 9
    Silva 11😊
    Harvertz 7
    Ziyech 9
    Werner 8

    Personally I think all signings have been very good signings to date and it’s a long time since we’ve been able to say that.

    Mendy has made the whole back four more confident, Chilwell is a significant step up at left back, the Sky commentator on the Sheffield United game tagged Silva as the Emperor of Centre Backs which is a good description imo, Harvertz has massive potential he needs to become a bit more aware when we’re defending though, Ziyech again as the commentator on the Sheffield United game said “he’s got a wand of a left foot” and after so long out he will only get better the more games he plays, Werner is a natural goal scorer who will score even more goals when he plays through the middle.

    If we can get Pulasic over his injuries and get the Pulasic of last season back we’ll have as good a starting eleven as anyone in the top flight imo.

    And in the same vein assuming no injuries I’ve selected our best starting eleven again what’s your opinions?

    Best starting eleven assuming no one injuries.

    Mendy

    Chilwell
    Silva
    Zouma
    James

    Harvertz
    Kante
    Mount

    Pulasic
    Werner
    Ziyech

    #1891790

    alanp
    Participant
    • :

    I agree 9, we have bought very well. I don’t think Werner has great control of the ball, but he can score and Havertz looks to be still settling in, much more to come I think. My concerns lie in other players, has Rudiger got over his prolonged spell of poor form? Is Hudson-Odoi ever going to find the form he was in prior to his injury? Should, and can, we replace Kepa.

    There are also a lot of players to be moved on – Drinkwater, Moses, Baba, Kenedy etc etc.

    As far as on the field goes I am fairly happy, I can’t see us winning the league, but I think we should not be too far away and at least top four. We have a very strong young (Silva apart!) squad that look as if they will play wonderful football when everyone is settled. Great credit to Abramovitch, Lampard, Cech and the coaching staff.

    #1891835
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    My ratings are as following:
    Mendy 9
    Chilwell 8
    Silva 8
    Harvertz 7
    Ziyech 7
    Werner 7

    Same as you, I am really happy with our summer signings so far. I think they are taking us to a next level. I give Mendy the highest as he is the one who stabilizes our defense. We took 3 goals against WBA, we took 3 against Southampton. Silva is good too except the horror show against WBA. Werner for me is the most disappointing, he scores recently but I think he still needs to adapt to the rigor of Premier League, especially when facing defensive oppositions where there are lines of players defending the penalty area. Havertz probably has given the lowest contribution amongst all but I still believe in his talent. He has shown glimpses, he needs to make it more consistent. I still need to see more of Ziyech, he’s started 3 games for us, not more I think.

    I share alanp’s opinion. CHO does not seem to get chances. Tammy at one point looked the same with Werner playing no 9, but it has changed recently. Kovacic, where is he. Cannot dislodge Jorginho. Tomori, a skillful player barely got any minute.

    Kepa, no question, sell, or give him to any club that wants him. Next season with Mendy and Cech as backup, good enough for me

    #1891880
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    Nine, that starting 11 of yours is probably the strongest on paper but it’s not the most balanced. Currently Kovacic gets in midfield ahead of Havertz and Tammy leads the line with Werner on the left. Pulisic is worryingly picking up too many injuries and for me is?lacking in fitness, form and consistency.

    Kepa, James, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell, Kante, Kovacic, Mount, Ziyech, Werner and Abraham…more balanced. Abraham is a striker who will thrive off the service from Mount, Kovacic, Ziyech and our fullbacks.

    #1891881
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Stuilse: Kepa ahead of Mendy? Are you sure?

    #1891988

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Stuilse, Kepa in goal was a slip of the pen right?😊

    #1892117
    Stuilse
    Stuilse
    Participant
    • :

    Oh shit, not sure how Mendy turned into Kepa. That’s embarrassing. Sorry fellas. Yeah of course Mendy….🙈🙈

    #1892446
    chelsea1967
    chelsea1967
    Participant
    • :

    You’d have to be a hard marker not to be reasonably happy. They have not only played 8 league matches but three Champions League matches and Carabao Cup involvement too as well as a bunch of International matches, all in about 10 weeks. Things are slowly falling into place with injuries to some key players having been a dampener. We are going to progress to the next stages of the Champions League unless the wheels fall right off which I doubt and we are only 3 points from the top of the pile in the Premiership and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!! I think Lampard’s job is safe right now. My only concern is that it is going to be a long season and Lampard may need to mix things up a bit moving forward and use the squad in its entirety. There are some players that have only played a few times that need to be utilised to give others a rest. They are all supposed to be at a level that their inclusion should not cause malfunction. 🙂

    #1892571
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    This season is unlike any other previously. The schedule is condensed due to pandemic and the pandemic itself I think will still be around for a good part of next year. So with our current injury problems like Pulisic, any teams at one point this season will have to deal with it and I found Frank Lampard and Chelsea have dealt with it very well. Look at Liverpool at the moment with their injuries, they have no CB at the moment. It would surely help to have a big squad (like us and the 2 Manchester teams for example).

    The only low points I have up to now is the draw against Southampton after being twice in the lead and the lost in Carabao Cup against Spurs. Otherwise, other matches we’ve played: very good results !! The squad starts to click with Ziyech starts to show his skills, Werner starts to score. Mendy, Silva, Chilwell has taken our defense to a good level, last seen at Chelsea when Terry & Ashley Cole were still playing for us.

    #1892597
    Blueowner
    Blueowner
    Participant
    • :

    It’s a real pity the draw against Southampton a game we should have won, those 2 points make a difference in such a tight league. Also thought we were a bit unlucky against Liverpool.

    #1892617
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Can’t really complain against Liverpool. A little bit unlucky probably but we played with 10 men, and they were not bad either. So it’s not undeserved for them to win. But against Southampton, it was a despicable performance of our defense and GK. Probably Chelsea defense at the worst state I’ve ever seen. All times. And Kepa, seriously he should not play again for us. A blip is ok, every GK has it. But he doesn’t show anything positive for quite long, probably since the restart of last season or even before that until now.

    But other that those 2 matches, I really cannot complain. We are still 3 points from the top despite bad results against WBA and Southampton, but especially that our squad seems to have clicked and to have found its balance. We haven’t leaked goals anymore while still creating chances. Good performances and results in the league and UCL.

    #1893065
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    Chilwell is injured with England. I hope it’s not serious. But it seems that Emerson plays regularly for Italy, so he could replace Chilwell should Chilwell be out long-term. Or should we switch to 3 back (now that Rudiger starts to integrate and we also have Azpi who can play back 3) and play Alonso or even CHO on left wing back to improve our attack?

    #1893150

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    These international breaks are always a bit of a worry the last one cost us Mendy and probably the loss of two points v Southampton this one so far Chilwell has been injured and there’s still a game to go.

    Chilwell has to be thoroughly examined by the Chelsea medical team and we have to wait and see what comes out of that hopefully some intense treatment at Cobham might overcome the injury.

    If not both Alonso and Emerson are more vulnerable defensively than Chilwell so he would be a miss. Azpilucueta can play left back and do a decent job defensively.

    Whatever happens I suspect Frank would try and keep any necessary changes to a minimum.

    Tweet below from Matt Laws who is close to all things Chelsea gives a little bit of hope.

    “Little update on Ben Chilwell. His issue last night was a back spasm. Player hoping it’s not a big issue and that it was brought on by the travelling but needs to see how it settles. Can’t see him being involved Weds night for England.”

    #1893290
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    At least Mendy seems to be ‘safe’ from injury. 2 clean sheets with Senegal. We still have a lot of players who will play today or tomorrow for their national team though. Thiago, Werner, Kante, Mount, Reece James … Hopefully they all will come back to Chelsea free of injuries.

    #1893373

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Good news that Chilwell is back training with England hopefully he doesn’t play though it’s a dead rubber game and hopefully Southgate won’t risk him given that.

    #1893378
    aindro
    aindro
    Participant
    • :

    I think Chilwell is out for England, but there are still Mount and Abraham. My feeling is that Southgate will start or at least will play Abraham as it’s a dead rubber game. So no need to play Harry Kane or Calvert-Lewin. Mount I hope that Southgate will rest him.

    And Werner, I think he will start tonight for Germany. Hopefully he will be back intact to Chelsea. Same as Kante tonight for France. We also have Thiago playing for Brazil today but I reckon that he may be on the bench Saturday anyway as it’s a long travel and we play early Saturday

    #1893477

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Ha, ha, I’m not sure why I put Mendy in my post above it should have of course been Chilwell.😊

    #1893503
    Blaze
    Blaze
    Participant
    • :

    I read Ziyech is now injured, all our key players seem to be getting injured. Anyone that can confirm if he is injured or not?

    #1893565

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    “Ben Chilwell has returned to England training following a back spasm, as all 22 players in the squad tested negative for coronavirus.

    Chilwell picked up the injury in Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Belgium, which ended England’s hopes of reaching the Nations League finals.

    The Chelsea left-back is fit enough to return to training alongside his team-mates, but it remains unclear whether he will feature against Iceland on Wednesday.” Sky Sports.

    Hopefully Southgate doesn’t play him tonight.

    #1893567

    nine nine nine
    Moderator
    • :

    Not seen that anywhere Blaze. I did read Ziyech was very good for Morocco though .More internationals tonight I don’t think we’ll know where we really are with injuries until all the players return to Cobham tomorrow. 🤞🤞🤞

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