ok the success of a team is never down to one player but we know we would suffer if lambert lallana, davis were to be out for a long period. But how vital is richard chaplow to the team. We have lost 4 games this season Leicester - Chaplow didnt play Cardiff - Chaplow came on after 73mins when we were 2-0 down, final score 2-1 bristol city - chaplow injured after 7 mins and so without him when we lost doncaster - chaplow didnt play -injured we lose the home winning record to Blackpool, no Chaplow He is the ideal player to be up for it in the pompey derby next week. Does anyone know the extent of the injury and when he could come back. Is it just co-incidence that in all the games we have lost Chaplow has not been on the pitch?
we dont know nothing as the club doesnt tell us anything but chaplow is a good player, although i dont personally think our bad run is down to him being injured
there are other factors involved for me. but in all the incidences that we have dropped points over the last month, the margins have been small. chaplow may have made the difference! give anything for him to be back on sunday!!
He's not the only answer. As I keep on saying, we've missed a combination of Chaplow, Connolly, Lambert and now Davis recently (yesterday for example clearly showed just how important Lambert and Davis are). They all add something, and with the lack of depth in the squad, they are always going to be missed. What Chaplow adds is of course energy, bundles and bundles of energy, and with it I am sure we were have put in better performances against Donny and Bristol City. But yeah, he's not the only one who we've missed and he's not the only reason for those dropped points. Completely agree about hoping that he's fit for next weekend. We could really do with his energy at Fratton Park. Although as yesterday showed, it's more important that Davis is fit for it.
Definitely think our dip in form has coincided with Chaplow's absense. Without him our midfield has look disjointed and lacks the fluidity it did with him playing but I'm sure NA will be on the case. The good thing is we might be stumbling a little bit atm but no has steamrolled past us, we're still top. If we can manage to stay there come January we've got a great chance.
The fact that there are clear links between Chaplows absense and our drop in form/results is a measure of how good he has been this season even if his absense isnt the only factor in our recent form/results. His energy is superb, his tackling and tracking back, but importantly his energy to bomb forward, take players on and score some goals. He is our only central midfielder that can do that. Cork, Morgan and Hammond are all more defensive minded, none offer any real attacking threat. Cork and Hammond essentially do the same job and Morgan sits back and sprays the passes with his vision. So with all three of them in the team it leaves us very unbalanced. It is no coincidence in my opinion that his absense has also coincided with the team scoring less goals.
I'm a Chappers fan and think that he definately adds a lot of energy to the side, but the truth is we weren't doing too badly before he became a regular in the starting line up. He started for the first time at Derby away in the 15th October when we were top of the table with 22 points from 10 games. IMO we can play a different way without him, but when Rickie isn't playing it creates a big problem because he is integral to way we play.
I thought spidy played well yesterday ( first half anyway), although found myself shouting for him to shoot a couple of times, not cool when your watching it on TV. Chappers does add that energy and directness that is lacking.
Chaplow has been the engine room this season. End to end stuff and his intelligent runs through the oppositions back four has been a contributary factor to our success this season. His presence on the right, or playing through the middle as pulled us through games; we seem to lack the drive and energy in the midfield when he's not playing. So much an improved player from last season. Many have upped their game this season, but I am truely impressed with Chaplow.
Me too. I think one of the best moments this season was when we were already 3-0 against Boro and Chaplow picked the ball up on the edge of our area. He then ran to the opposite byline evading about 5 tackles and crossed the ball for Fonte, who couldn't quite get to it. Would have been goal of the century, even better than the 27 pass one against Brighton. That move sums up Chaplow perfectly, energy, skill, imagination, and sheer bloody-mindedness!
Look, put it this way. Chaplow practically does the work of two players. He runs ALL GAME box to box. He is absolutely everywhere box to box. He is like 2 players almost he covers that much ground defensively and in the opponents half. VERY underrated. On another planet from the likes of Hammond and Schneiderlin. With Chaplow playing and Cork trying to play the Chaplow role (just not as fit or strong and not as good on attack but decent for the role he's trying to play) the team looks much better
