Problem is ,does Sarri stick with most of the players who are learning his new way, or give some new ones a go and start almost from square 1 again? With all due respect Newcastle are in pretty poor shape and this is a game to try some new players for mine. So who to play and drop ? Keep the Goalkeeper. Keep Dave, keep Luiz, rest Rudi (tick) and play Christensen. Rest Alonso, he's already got a tick against his name, and play Emerson. Keep Kante, keep Georghino, drop Barkley, he's better but not done enough to keep his place, and play RLC ( or watch him walk away for good.) Rest Pedro (tick) play Willian (last chance), play Hazard and play Morata. Thats 2 new defenders, 1 new midfielder and 1 new front man. Over to you.
I think he'll keep the keeper and defence the same which for me is smart. Its a new defence in front of a new keeper and they have to get used to playing together fast. I also think it's one from Luiz/Christensen, can't see them playing together and Luiz is probably seen as first choice. In midfield I'd be tempted to give RLC a game over Barkley but think he'll actually play Kovacic. I think he'll rest Hazard for an hour again. I'd like to see Hudson Odio but think he'll go Willian and Pedro again. So basically same team save Kovacic in for Barkley. I'd hope to see a couple of younger players myself with a strong bench though.
i think Sarri will stick with the same but will replace barkley with kovacic maybe (if hes fit enough). Sarri notoriously didn't rotate if i know my european footie (at napoli) and he's still trying to improve and drill his team into how he wants them to play. I'd like to try RLC and i don't think we should be taking newcastle lightly. They tonked us at the end of the season and rafa will be well up for it against us. Also it looks like if we want top 4 we need to make sure we keep winning as the competition seems even higher this year as well as having Everton in the mix. Lets not forget we have Europy to try new players ou As they say, if it ain't broke don't fix it
In the same context though, even if it isn't broke it could still be improved. That's when Managers earn their money Pep wins big and changes the team all the time.
I'm of the same opinion. Sarri must try all his players to know which ones are the best for the system he is imposing. Barkley has improved but still is not at the level required so RLC must be given a couple of games as Barkley has had. Same for the other senior players. Hudson Odoi and Ampadu have more time on their side and can play in other competitions and increasingly as subs, starting games hand picked for them. Might as well find out now, settle on 1st Eleven, and go on from there.
Newcastle is a massive game in reality, Sarri will want to keep that winning mentality even though it might be fragile as yet. Nothing improves a team more than winning and gives everybody confidence. Newcastle were unlucky against the spuds and should have got a draw at least. So it will not be easy away as last year we got tagged there, I think Sarri will start with pretty much the same team, having Hazard & Kovacic to call off the bench must be every managers dream.
True, but then we start to get into the situation where we stick with a winning team against lower rated opposition , which we have for the next few games, not having a clue if it's the best team, meanwhile RLC gets the hump and buggers off, the youngsters get the hump and ask for loans, and when the real hard games come, we have perhaps our best players sitting on the sidelines, untried and pissed off. No, take the 3 months Sarri said he needs, find the players best suited to his system and only then settle on a first eleven and start from there. Fear of losing is what has always destroyed our Managers and caused them to settle prematurely on not necessarily our best team. Lets not go round that merry- go- round again, we've been doing that for too long.
I wouldn’t call Newcastle lower rated opponents seeing that only bad luck cost them a point or three against Spurs. There will be winnable games coming up soon where the likes of RCL and others can be given the chance to shine. For me staying in the mix is just as important but as you say I’m sure Sarri is his own man and will make the necessary assessments.
Tricky call and I understand about Newcastle. But, either we spend 3 months sorting ourselves out, or we do what we always do and let the fear of losing distort our long term plans. All down to RA and Sarri and whatever they agreed. The cynic in me says RA bins the long term plan every time we lose while trying to rebuild properly. Some things never change.
I see where you are coming from with RLC, he should be integrated throughout the season but if you’re looking at three or four players I honestly think you’ll be unlucky.
You are of course, dead right. Not fighting the unwinnable fight for more kids for the sake of more kids, but when someone like RLC or Hudson Odoi or Ampadu comes along, it is dreadful that they can't be used because of the "need to win" every game. Spurs used Kane, PSG use Mbape, we use no one. More fools us.
Well of course we should use more or there’s no point in having an academy although we do have 31 players out on loan which is too many in my view. Clearly a number of them are nowhere near good enough for Chelsea and should be sold off but knowing us we’ll sell the wrong ones.
Pretty bad examples there CP. Kane was only used when he started producing the goods in the europy. Mbappe was used by Monaco. Psg only used him when they paid 150m for him
You are probably right as I didn't know of Kane or Mbape until they hit the headlines. Point is though, they did hit the headlines because someone decided to play them.Then there's us with De Bruyne, Salah etc . Perhaps what we really need is to someone who can spot talent ?
That’s unfair really, De Bruyne and Salah both had ample chances but failed to break into a then fantastic Chelsea side. Also both were very late developing.
Nah. Subs appearances .One or two games aren't real chances. Saying that they did mature elsewhere but these 2 players weren't used effectively. Kdb was probably too raw. Salah we just didn't use properly
Yes but the point still stands they waited for the opportunity to play themselves in. Rlc might have got that chance just as Barkley has but unfortunately for him he was off in England duty. He will get his opportunities. I'm more worried about ampadu and odoi. Do you sacrifice a crack at the title/top 4 to develop him because at the moment he probably isn't as good as hazard Willian or pedro. Hopefully when we are steam rolling teams sarri will give them some game time. Tbh I'm just happy sarri wants us playing on the front foot. We surely can't expect too many Chelsea changes at once
Absolutely, I just hope we don't make the same mistakes again. Love seeing positive attacking play, it's as if the team has suddenly discovered that the Goals are in front of them, not behind or to the side !!!!
