swiz123: Abraham needs improvement in virtually everything that makes him a footballer in the first place. What is then the difference between him and an unprofessional footballer?
In my honest assessment, that guy became a footballer due to time, place and opportunity, not because of talent. I am saying this because I used to watch him at Swansea
swiz123: Abraham is a very poor footballer... It is very glaring.
He does nothing exceptionally well.
Poor dribbling, poor shooting accuracy, poor heading ability, poor link up play; to worsen it all, can't play with his back to goal.
I personally gave up on him during our first league encounter with TOT where he continually wasted James' crosses. He was 100% bullied in the air by an 18 year old defender that Jose experimented with. My anger wasn't that he was bullied, but the manner he was being bullied.... An average striker with a little footballing experience should know that you must first dislodge your man before jumping to connect to the ball... Abraham throughout the game jumped at the ball while the little boy give him little nudge that eventually dislodged him in the air... I have never been more frustrated watching a match before
I agree that he needs improvement in an number of areas. But to say he is not a footballer is too much of a stretch IMO.
swiz123: Self productivity at the expense of collective achievement....
Anyone who thinks Tammy is a footballer only watches football from livescores
Na this kain comment dey tire me sha. So what is he then?
A non-footballer that was our joint top scorer last season, despite missing a lot of games. Most can agree that Tammy is not it, but that your comment is a gross overstatement, and quite disrespectful.
Griffon: It was a 3-4-2-1 formation. Jamie Cumming who spent last season on loan at Stevenage was between the posts. In defence were; Jake Clarke-Salter, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr.
In the two wing-back roles were the forgotten Davide Zappacosta and Alonso. Barkley and Danny Drinkwater were in the middle of the park while Christian Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi and Abraham led the attack.
I believe TT is tinkering over many options. The game today was fundamentally an opportunity for the returning loanees and fringe players to impress the manager. When the stars in the team return later this month, TT may opt to focus on the shape of his side. A system overhaul, or at least an effective alternative formation, could still be worked upon and honed.
OJURONGBE1: Not all these lads would make it straight into Chelsea first team. Whoever want to leave should be allowed to. Getting £15m from Guehi's sale is a catch with the clause inserted ( that allows Chelsea to match any rival bid in future sale) is not bad. Look at Lamptey holding his own at Brighton, if he wasn't bold to leave, we won't know how good of a player he is . Some pundits are already projecting him to be Patrice Evra kinda player in the future. Is it not better to sell these youngsters outrightly than loan them to frustration?
I agree with this, and I've accepted that not every player will make it through from the academy - in fact, most if them will find their way elsewhere.
It's just that Livramento is someone I really would've lived to see make it in Chelsea. Same with Guehi. Just personal preference for those two.
• We play Peterborough United today in our first preseason friendly at Cobham. It will be behind closed doors, and unfortunately won't be televised or streamed. Peterborough gained promotion to the Championship after finishing second in League one last season. They're managed by Darren Fegurson, son of Sir Alex. Hopefully the highlights will be made available.
• The Livramento situation isn't looking really good rn Him and two others - lewis bate (whom I also rate highly) and Myles Peart-harris - are training with the u-16s instead of the senior team in preseason, obviously because of contract palava. There are genuine fears amongst the backroom staff at the Bridge that they may well be on their way out, just like Guehi The Hakimi deal falling through looked like it would pave way for Tino to make his way to the senior team, but that seems not the case.
• Malang Sarr has reportedly been told he is a part of the first team plans for this season. Zouma, on the other hand, seems on his way out.
Ibime: Pace, strength, height, dribbling, press resistance, adventurous. For everything else, he is close enough. The pace alone is CRUCIAL. Pace is the only difference between many good defenders and bad defenders.
What more does he need to be better? These are the exact same things that make Essien better than Jorginho.
Between Jorginho and Hojbjerg, I personally feel Hojbjerg is the better player, simply because he's more 'all-round' and 'has more tools in the kit'.
Jorginho is the better controller - dictating the tempo of the game. But Hojbjerg has more in his artillery.
Still on still, the slander on Jorginho is a bit harsh at times. I feel he has proven himself to be a top player, especially in the second half of this season.
I understand that we already have a lot of CBs, and the fact that he may have been reluctant to sign a new contract. But this Guehi own pain me personally. That's cos he's one player I've been hoping would break into the first team. Na why i dey hype am well a for here.
But iffa hear say Valentino Livramento wan comot...
BlueAngel444: there's a buy back clause, and it benefits Chelsea in a way, that he gets first team experience in top flight and if he comes good, Chelsea buy him back without stress. Heard he is better than Tomori
Abeg joor. Wouldn't it have been better to send him out on loan? Besides, the clause I saw there is that they have the right to match the amount any future suitors agree with Palace, that is in the case that they wish to sell him. Dunno sha
Exclusive: Crystal Palace close to completing permanent signing of Chelsea defender Marc Guehi. 21yo having medical today ahead of penning 5yr deal. #CFC have sell-on clause + matching rights on future move. @TheAthleticUK #CPFC
So Haaland was asked by BILD if he was staying at BVB...he just smiled and said nothing
Also, BVB have reportedly agreed personal terms with one Donyell Malen, a forward (?) from PSV Eindhoven, albeit BVB and PSV are still a bit apart in their valuations of the player.