How he is still at Chelsea is beyond me! What a waste of a football career, just reminds me of those keepers that just hang around in the background just for a nice little earner but will be forgotten about in years to come.
Speculation that Patino will start for Arsenal vs Forest today. With James Garner possibly playing it could be a good chance to get a look at two possible future England midfielders squaring off against each other. I'm not that bullish on Garner anymore though. He doesn't to be turning into the player that we hoped.
There are so many young talented English midfielders at the moment. A lot more than forwards or defenders. Garner is apparently being watched by Everton who want to loan him.
Yeah, maybe I’m reading too much into this but I didn’t particularly see it as a positive indication that he went back to Forest for a second loan. After one loan there you would then hope for a loan to a bigger team either in England or abroad the following season. Obviously it doesn’t always work out like that though and some players just don’t push on like you hope. I think Tommy Doyle is also one that possibly might fall away, had a torrid time on loan in Germany it seems.
Argh, was looking forward to seeing Patino tonight but he had a bit of a quiet game unfortunately. Probably not all his fault when he’s got god awful defenders like Holding that can’t make a five yard pass but when he did have the ball, just thought he was too safe and tried nothing exciting which we know is in his locker. On another note, 2000 born right back Spence has had a great game and had Martinelli in his back pocket all game.
It was a pretty awful game and he looked a bit lost. He seemed to be a free roaming 8 but didn't get many touches. Good experience for him at least Garner had a decent game.
Due to Covid, Injuries and AFCON it’s been reported Patino might be starting on Thursday for Arsenal in their first leg of their Semi against Liverpool.
The problem with clubs generally keeping their youth matches away from prying eyes is that all people get to judge youth players on is the highlights that get released. Highlights that then get clipped together into long compilations that numpties like Rio Ferdinand watch on YouTube and then proclaim on TV: “this kid is the next big thing, go look at his YouTube videos” So ironically young players get hyped up beyond their level because the clubs protect them from prying eyes that could critically analyse their real level. I’ve seen Patino a few times and I wouldn’t call his performance against Forest out of character.
#thfc Per @SkySportsLyall, Blackburn & Spurs close to agreeing permanent deal for Dilan Markanday. Fee around £500k up front but could rise to over £1m with add-ons & includes significant sell-on clause. Deal could be announced next week. @standardsport— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) January 14, 2022 Disappointing as a Spurs fan but a good move for him, out of contract in the summer and wouldn't sign a new one. Has 12 goals and 6 assists in 14 PL2 games this season.
Fifa to introduce significant limitations to the loan system.Clubs will only be allowed six a seasonThose under 21 and club-trained will be exempt pic.twitter.com/3IKI5eBXT0— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) January 20, 2022
The Under 21 clause will limit it’s effect on English opportunity but It does mean even more players over that age being bench warmers rarely playing wrecking their career hoping for the big break because their club won’t sell them just in case.
I think if further quotas are brought in they either be an extension of the homegrown rules or based on having British citizenship. I can’t see an England eligible only rule coming in because that could be difficult to justify why some British citizens don’t count simply because they play for an international side other than England.
Chelsea starting their Club World Cup semi with no English players. Is this the most important match international Match an English club has played with no English (or even British) players starting. I can only think of it happening in the group stages of the CL before rather than the knockouts.
Still it’s a semi final of a fifa tournament. Depending on Mount’s fitness and if any others injuries occur it could well be repeated in the final.
Is anybody actually watching these games? I’ll be honest, didn’t even know the game was on until Fireburn posted and still won’t be watching as just not interested in it.
I have friends who are Chelsea Fans who will be watching. Chelsea themselves are treating it as a major occasion because Covid meant many family and friends missed out on the CL final and therefore are in Abu Dhabi for today’s March or will be in time for the final.
If Chelsea have ever played an international match in European competition with no English players, than it is not. These are glorified friendlies. To club football what the confederations cup is to international.