really crisp , for this early, in the latter half of first half, did not see 1st 15 min but announcers said it took that long to find our feet. We were moving ball quick, on front foot,verticallity accepted, nice change, and Kov looked really good, makes nice forward cutting passes, now he can, better passer than I thought; Mount perhaps the best in 1st half, Barkley looked decent, had some chance saved by good goalkeeping, Bats looked lively but he and Tammy need to pick up on the finishing 2nd half new 11, with new arrivals, quite lackluster, Gilmour early, Palmer Giroud the liveliest 1st left me really excited for new approach, (but early St Pats and all that...),
such an athlete and can cover so much ground but seems to lack drive and ambition, and his vision and passing are average at best...and he thinks he is going to Paris
Lampard wants Ampadu to go on loan, explaining his absence in Japan. The 25-man roster: GOALKEEPERS: Arrizabalaga, Caballero, Cumming DEFENDERS: Alonso, Azpilicueta, Christensen, David Luiz, Emerson, Tomori, Zappacosta, Zouma MIDFIELDERS: Barkley, Bakayoko, Drinkwater, Jorginho, Kanté, Kovačić, Mount FORWARDS: Abraham, Batshuayi, Giroud, Kenedy, Palmer, Pedro (+Pulisic) No mention of Miazga anywhere, either. He's likely going to Reading.
Thinking Mount stays with us as well as Gilmour. I was hesitant with Mount only because I was concerned with minutes. Seems that probably won't be an issue and when you add in RLC's long term absence have Mounts goal scoring presence might be needed. Gilmour makes sense to stick around with us if he can get some actual minutes here and there. He's really intriguing too. I've only seen him for the Scottish U21 side and he was impressive. Think Bakayoko has to go now and have to think the club are looking for suitors for Drinkwater. Also, for anyone who's watched the two matches, what's the story with Kasey Palmer? Has he impressed? Is he playing out wide?
Palmer has had a great attitude and very lively, high workrate, but i don't really see his long term future at the club to be honest. i think he's played wide this preseason. also, additional points about Ampadu, lamps wanted him at derby last season and apparently rates him highly, the loan looks like it's come from lamps because he wants Ampadu to get "lots of games". so i think that's a good sign and there shouldn't be any shortage of suitors. Gilmour could probably use a loan as well i think.
Will be interesting to see where he lands. I got think the Championship to guarantee or come closer to guarantee PT. Leeds would be great or even Derby if their willing to work with us on it and get him PT.
I don't want Billy on a loan. I think training with the first team regularly and get 10 to 15 matches is attainable for him. Especially when you consider the number of matches again (50 to 60). Also working under Jodie and Frank has it's advantages too.
Lamp gave Gilmour high praise both for play and hard working attitude after last match, and that he needs to keep it up all year, which I translated as he will go on loan. With Kante, Jorginho, Kov, probably be more useful to go to a squad on loan where he can play a lot and run a midfield. He looked very good and was involved everywhere 2nd half but faded out a bit at end. Palmer was one of the standouts in 2nd half worked hard very involved, too early to write him off, played inside wing/cm-ish. Unlikely to be a dangerous superstar but could be a very steady useful player.
It's a crowded midfield with Kante, Jorg, Kova, Mount, possibly Pulisic, Barkley, and RLC. Plus <cough> Drinkwater, Bakayoko. @Blueallthru - do you rate Gilmour higher than Ampadu? Ampadu is outstanding and could actually deputize in defense and midfield. Billy looks like he's 10. Edit: Just saying Billy the Kid looks so young; not a commentary on how that translates to talent.
Oh hell no, not today anyways. I think Ampadu is future captain material, but here's my thinking. Ampadu was wasted last season by Sarri. He has to play this season. He cannot go the route of Chalobah. Getting minutes whether or not at Championship, PL or elsewhere is of utmost importance. Billy is 18, has played an age level up since he has been a teenager, and has no real professional experience. His route could well be that of CHO who got 15 to 20 matches. Billy plays a different role. We have a stacked midfield. We have basically 3 weeks to move anyone including Baka and Drinkwater it'll be tough to find him matches no doubt. With all that said though, he can play and his skillset is pretty remarkable for someone his age. Getting a year with Jodie who knows him well, training with the first team everyday, playing for the U23's, and getting some senior matches here, it's the best route today.
Great marketing . . . .that is why we bought him after all I joke. Pulisic has a lot on his shoulders especially early on this season. RLC and CHO out injured. So it is him Pedro and Willian as our attacking options So I really hope the lad can shine from the beginning. We know the limitations of Pedro and Willian - they have experience and they can do something on occasion. They can also be MIA at times. They can also be bloody annoying at times.
Pulisic makes his debut as Chelsea lose to the Japanese side 1-0. I saw none of it courtesy of Chelsea's awful pre-season approach to giving fans a chance to follow the team.
Just for some context, Kawasaki Frontale are reigning champions of the J League, 3rd in the league now and on a 16-game unbeaten run (this would kinda be their 17th). We played like pre-season with tons of changes. It was good to get a game in like this to raise our level.
Does anyone know where Pulisic played? It says he came on for Mount as a 10 in a 4-2-3-1 but Barkley came on for Pedro. Got to imagine they’d have switched spots.
Interesting that as the preseason is now winding down only Mount still seems to be in the first team plans. Neither Tammy or Tomori played. I suspect they’ll remain with us and get all domestic cup games but at the moment are behind others. Or maybe I’m reading too much from the box score of the latest game.
After the match lampard confirmed that both Zouma and Mount will remain with the first team. And that Kenedy is "making a case," though we will have too many foreign roster spots if we also keep Bats and Zouma.