CP's turnover rate does not bother me whatsoever as long as he is balancing it with successful dribbles. His greatest strength, and one that differentiates him from nearly all other players, is his ability to move the ball up the field by successful dribbles. When he does that, the defense becomes unbalanced whether he succeeds with his dribble or not and places a lot of added pressure on the defense, especially if he can deliver a decent cross/pass. The way he has been used in games thus far has made it seem that those dribbles have not really been encouraged much.
He does play for himself. In 10 EPL/CL games and over 800 minutes, he had yet to record an assist. Whereas Pulisic records 2 assists in 3 EPL games with 287 min played. Mount: 1 goal per 266 min Pulisic: 1 assist per 143 min Not earth shattering numbers for either one of them, but Pulisic does have the edge her in terms of productivity so far early in the season. Whoscored doesn't rate cup games so I don't count those. If Lamp wants a goal scorer, he can start with Mount; though I doubt his goal scoring form can keep up. Before this past Sunday, he last scored on 9/14 - which was 5 games ago. If Lamp prefer a creator, a set up man; he'll be wise to choose Pulisic.
I think everyone noticed that. He's not the same Dortmund player we all loved. Did Frank tell him to stop the dribbles and and stay back to defend? If so, he's not utilizing Pulisic to his best potentials. Or is he simply lacking confidence at this time? I don't Pulisic is the type that back off from taking on defenders. I think he loves it, he thrives on it.
Full context of the passing numbers shows Mount outperforming CP in some ways as well. You could cherry pick any bunch of stats to some degree... the point is, what does each player offer on the whole? As many have said, Mount is included for a reason beyond just Frank's fondness for him generally. CPs really specific creative passing numbers (some of them) are much better than Mount, certainly, but does that degree of compartmentalization of the data even matter? I'm not so sure. Mount, even by a lot of passing metrics like buildup play and key passes, is doing fine justifying his inclusion while still being able to improve in more than a few areas. Again, I don't know how true this actually is... look at the full context of the numbers, instead of a few stats which, admittedly, are higher for CP. Prem managers like Frank aren't tinkering with multiple fantasy leagues, or experimenting to experiment, they aren't playing FIFA making sure everyone has even stamina or whatever... they are trying to win games. Mount is an "auto-starter" right now because he is a guy that is performing for him. Maybe that will change, but it's for the most part all that matters currently, along with how the dude is doing in training. A few CP passing stats isn't going to alter that as long as Mount keeps performing in a bunch of key statistical categories. Apart from that... I don't even know how valuable the concept of an "auto-starter" is to a new manager with a new club trying to figure things out dealing with injuries while under a transfer ban. Doesn't seem a very impactful or meaningful thing, to me. There are many reasons for this -- CP's turnovers, being new to both club & manager, differences in training we're not seeing. It's perfectly reasonable to leave out a young 21 year old for personal reasons to do with instilling the overall tactical philosophy within them, we've listed other examples to players to which this has happened really recently.
People really need to stop with this lame and lazy excuse. You don't know, I don't know, the only people that know aren't talking. Heck, he might be tearing it up in training and still don't play. That's a possibility is it not? Here's what we DO know. 1 - From past coaches. They all praise his work ethics, train hard, play hard. He's an excellent worker/player. These are from multiple coaches, not just 1. 2 - What we see on the field. His plays, his passes, his visions, his runs, his assists, etc. Along with his turnovers. His stats are out there, anyone who cares can look them up and analyze.
Training isn't about working hard. It means a lot of things you aren't evidently considering. He has never come through as an expensive young player to a new club and a new manager, has he? Guess how many of those issues apply to the rest of the attackers being considered for minutes?
In the part you quoted he said literally said "we're not seeing." You don't think there can be differences in the players that we're not seeing that could be affecting Lampard's desision? And Lampard did some talking - he suggested Pulisic wasn't impressing enough in training to beat out his competition for playing time. Has nothing to do with how hard he's working. I don't think anyone here, knowing what we know of CP and how his past managers have spoken of him think he's not working hard.
Thank you, at least for pointing out that stats in this sport don't mean a whole lot. This is not like (the formerly-watchable sport of) baseball, when managers like Davey Johnson would select relief pitchers and platoon players based on complex compiled statistics culled from probability scenarios derived from at-bats and right/lefty pitches thrown to whomever. Football managers look at things like, "Is this guy not coughing up the ball when he tries to dribble past defenders?" and "He's not staring at the ball and scratching his crotch when the other guy is about to receive a cross, is he?" Frank Lampard reportedly has a near-genius level IQ, but I don't think even he is a WhoScored statistics kind of manager.
He talked and suggested and used all the coach-speak that they all use when they are discussing bringing a new player in, he talked of chances and opportunities and training hard. The discussion here lately is so Mount-specific, for fairly good reason, and the fact that none of the same concerns (which a manage doesn't have to list verbatim to make them relevant) apply to Mount in the same way. Honestly I don't even know how directly they're competing! Mount and CP might be playing together, somewhat often even, if say Willian picks up an injury.
The comparisons to Mount, while fun(?), are fairly useless. Mount is not keeping CP out of the starting 11 as he is producing, regardless of passing and assist stats, and has a starting spot to lose. Willian is keeping CP out of the lineup IMO. His defensive work rate with both tackles and cutting out passing lanes is pretty darn good, much better than CP’s to date. On top of that he provides goals (regardless of stats from years past) and dangerous attacking passes. I think that Frank compares the two and sees CP as a luxury player that sacrifices defense for a small uptick in offensive gain. Is CP good enough to offset the defensive shortcomings with assists, goals, and chances created? Hopefully, but when/if that happens he might no longer be competing with Willian, he will be competing with Mount and Odoi. Tough spot, Sunday was a good start, he will need multiple in a row to wedge in. Willian burning out/injury may work too but that is a shitty way to break into the 11.
Last game against Southhampton CP was 100% dribbles, zero dispossed and 67% passing. Very small sample size. But, still would rather see no dispossessions and the nice assist versus two dispo and no assist.
Having more assists does not indicate the level of risk of a pass. You can play a 5 yard pass across goal for a tap in and thats an assist but a straightforward pass. If you were to look at highlight videos of each player, Mount's is made up of free kicks, goals and long passes. He switches the play with 40/50 yard passes. Pulisic's highlights are made up of close control, dribbling, speed and goals of course. And again, put everything into context, coming of the bench with fresh legs when your team is already 3-1 up, it's going to be easier to find an assist or goal. Chelsea have won their last 4 games. That's all the excuse you need to stick with the same team.
Well yeah, he will change things in the league Cup and probably the FA Cup too. I'd imagine he'd rotate the whole squad and Pulisic will play. But the 2 main competitions Frank probably knows now what his best team is at the moment and he'll stick with it.
Fully agree with that..The argument is not whether CP deserve to play ahead of Mount or Williams...The real argument is whether these guys should continue to start ahead of CP on short rest and even when Mount wasn't 100% fit on short rest. The argument should be whether CP deserve to only see the pitch once every 4th match...That's what's not acceptable, in my opinion
There are major problems running rampant through that club, and no one wants to take any blame except Rashford. I think this is a prime example of a club maximizing revenue over character and quality. While I am not at all a fan of Chelsea's track record of buying big names, loaning everyone out, etc, they seem to have stumbled blindly upon a generation of young talent coming up through their academy. I think Man U (and probably most clubs) could benefit from improving their youth scouting department and prioritize their academy as a means of developing talent who will take pride in wearing the Man U badge as opposed to guys who just want the money and will waver in their efforts when things don't go well. It seems most of the guys on the roster always have one foot out the door in times of strife.
Well let's work together and write up a big list of all the things we find unacceptable in life... The real argument is: what has CP done to make himself undroppable? The same rules don't apply to Mount because he isn't in the same situation. This stuff isn't fair. CP has to do more than Mount. That's reality. But once CP takes more chances, like he did last match, he's going to be making a case for himself. We are a mere 2 matches into Chelsea's somewhat favorable run of fixtures... he's going to see some good minutes over the next 6 weeks, I'm sure. He'll have to perform to give himself the same chance of starting as a guy like Mount.
Chelsea are rebuilding & under transfer ban, bringing through youth as a result of both those things... meanwhile United have spent ~400M net in something like 5 years. Not even close to the same situation.
This pretty much sums it all up. He's been far from terrible, but he hasn't lit it up either. He's been a serviceable squad player.
Sorry - my bad - I created a tangent which I shouldn't have (I edited my comment and removed the follow up).
Agree, but I think the general argument is that none of the wings have 'lit it up' lately, with the exception of everyone performing in Southhampton, so you think more than a few garbage time minutes would be given to some fringe players here and there to actually show what they have. Personally, the only player I would expect to be rotated more right now is Cho. He hasn't been very sharp since coming back from injury, despite how stats can mislead. His legs looked dead by the beginning of the 2nd half vs Southampton. Lampard pushed for his signing and he showed his skill last season, but he's only 18 and just coming back from his first serious injury. I'm actually surprised he got the start so early. It is interesting hearing pundits keep comparing Pulisic and Mount, but don't mention Cho as if he's undroppable. He's only 18 and will have growing pains like all the youth will. If he's given gametime to work through it vs others is the real question.