The College Dropout

I think he needs to play more ball if he’s to challenge for titles.

The only doubt I have with Howe is can he gets us playing enough football to take us to the very top? But we are a long way from that discussion.

I've had this argument with my friend. Glasner winning Europa and FA Cup - had to concede that one, Emery, Slot, Pep. I won't put Arteta above him. With the financial backing Arteta has had and trust through a bad season.. Emery developing Saka, Martinelli & Saliba, Gabriel not being his own signing (maybe Gabriel).

Increasingly the top 4 have incredible depth more so than super star level players. Chelsea started today without their first-choice midfield and won 3-0 away from home. Ange tax aye but still. Starting Lavia, Santos etc. squad is a joke.

Burn has been supreme at CB in Botmans absence. I personally think the team is better with Burn at CB defensively. Burn has intangibles I think Howe recognises which is why he always plays somewhere. Like I said - my main point is I don’t think Burn is about to miss any games of consequence. Id be pleasantly surprised to see Thiaw at LB and Burn on the bench in a big game but it’s not worth speculating for me

I reckon someone like Forest might stump up £60m for Greenwood and then someone from the top 6 might jump on.

I don’t mean rotated the way Bruno might be rotated. I mean - sat down as others are deemed better. Dan Burn is in the Bruno bracket for Howe based on evidence. My main point is I don’t expect Dan Burn to sit on the bench while Tino and Hall are out in the league or CL. He’s playing some form of left back for the foreseeable.

Aye but on the occasions Botman and Livra/Hall have been fit. It’s been Botman on the bench or a back 5. The back 5 is majorly about getting Botman & Burn in the same side plus a proper fullback. The only time we’ve played a back 5 without Botman was Bournemouth I think. There’s zero evidence Howe will drop Burn. Howe didn’t even drop Burn when he was getting toasted week in week out.

Maybe. But to my knowledge he’s never dropped Burn. In 3.5 seasons.

Eddie loves Burn deeply. Burn has never sat on the bench in any meaningful game for Eddie. So far either Burn starts at Cb in an 3 or a 4 or he starts at LB. I don’t believe Howe would sit Burn on the bench and then start Schar, Botman and Thiaw.

I think we agree.

Minteh can actually dribble mind. He’s a top 10 dribbler in European football so far this season. As well as good underlying numbers relating to creativity and finishing.

That proves the point though. Traore was at La Maia at 8. I don’t think Eddie believes he’s going to improve Elanga’s technical ability several levels at 23.

I don’t believe this is true at all tbh - the technique part. Wenger said a long time ago players technique is set pretty early in development. It’s the wider learning of the game, consistency, awareness, decision making, confidence and physicality that can be developed a lot with coaching and experience. Elanga’s touch should improve with confidence mind.

Yeh maybe. For a club with top 6 ambitions and for £55m I expected better

Murphy’s at his ceiling and he’s still not at the overall level we want. Even when he’s been Howe’d - Elanga’s lack of touch and ability will mean his ceiling is closer to Murphy than Isak or even a Gordon.

I have no doubt he will improve. But his lack of basic ability gives him a lower ceiling. He’s a way to go to get to Murphy.

Yep. That was my biggest issue with Almiron. He very obviously struggled with the basics of football, trapping a ball, moving into a dribble etc. not only did he make it look like a struggle he wasn’t good at it. From what I’ve seen so far from Elanga, he’s worse. (Elanga can clearly strike a ball mind). Wlanga’s struggle with the basics is why he can’t get his game off. His baseline footballing ability is low. I thought he would be Gordon-like in terms of touch - he’s much worse.

Agreed we got 6 points from Spurs right? 6 from Man U. 3 from Arsenal. 1 against a Liverpool. Points for once against Man City will be lovely.

We are down 5 points from the same games last season I believe? We do need to start winning we drew or lost to make it up.

Many of them didn't play much first-team football; it is Chelsea after all. Can add Reece James to that list. There are notable exceptions to: Gallagher, Chalobah brothers, Aina, Hutchinson, Guehi, Maatsen, Gilmour. But from the last 10 years more than half have had serious injury issues.

Is it me or are Nearly al the Chelsea youth products fairly injury prone? Abraham Mount Colwil Tino RLC CHO Solanke Ake Lamptey A lot of ACLs between em. Ok maybe not a lot ur a fair few.

The crime in London is over-emphasised because of who the Mayor is. Lived in London all my life. It's no more dangerous now than it was 20 years ago. It's a lot safer for me now personally, than it was 20/25 years ago. The moped driveby phone robberies seem to have increased but is something 15+ years in the making. I see lots of people casually walking around or at functions with Rolexes.

Yeah that much is obvious and where we disagree

Top teams now have 4-5 top, top choices at CM. If we are competing in the CL we'll need the same: Arsenal - Rice, Spanish lad, Odegaard, Eze, Merino