Kalidou Koulibaly | Chelsea

V.O.

Last Man Standing finalist 2019/20
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I didn't have "make Ellis Simms look like prime Ronaldo" on my bingo card, but for those of you who did...

 

Pintu

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How on earth is still playing every single game after they spend another billion on players?
 

Lay

Correctly predicted Italy to win Euro 2020
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His form picked up but that wasn't good.
 

P-Ro

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I get Sakho vibes from him every time he touches the ball. So cumbersome.
 

WeePat

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He’s been alright in recent weeks, well protected in the middle of the back 3 but yeah that was very bad. Kepa letting that weak nothing shot in was worse though.
 

GueRed

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What happened to him? A few years ago kept being told he was the dogs bollocks at Napoli, "the best centre back in the world" etc

This season at Chelsea every time i tune into their games he looks like a combination of Eric Bailly and Titus Bramble on rollerskates.

Are his consistent dodgy displays just due to the usual teething problems of adjusting to a new, faster, better league?
Playing in a struggling team? or we just witnessing a player on the decline?
 

TheMagicFoolBus

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What happened to him? A few years ago kept being told he was the dogs bollocks at Napoli, "the best centre back in the world" etc

This season at Chelsea every time i tune into their games he looks like a combination of Eric Bailly and Titus Bramble on rollerskates.

Are his consistent dodgy displays just due to the usual teething problems of adjusting to a new, faster, better league?
Playing in a struggling team? or we just witnessing a player on the decline?
Probably some combination of the three factors you've cited - though up until the clownshow against Everton and even for the majority of that game, he's been good since the World Cup. Playing in the middle definitely suits him more than being on the left - Badiashile is better and more calm on the ball, and in the centre KK has more time and can make better use of how two-footed he is.
 

Rnd898

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Probably some combination of the three factors you've cited - though up until the clownshow against Everton and even for the majority of that game, he's been good since the World Cup. Playing in the middle definitely suits him more than being on the left - Badiashile is better and more calm on the ball, and in the centre KK has more time and can make better use of how two-footed he is.
Yeah aside from the horror moment against Everton he's not even been that bad lately but understandably he still gets judged harshly due to how terrible he was earlier in the season.

Like you said playing in the back-3 as the middle CB seems to suit him best. Fofana and Badiashile are both pacy players so they can cover for KK a little better compared to when he's playing as the left sided CB where he is more exposed.

He's definitely declined from the player he once was but from what we've seen in the last couple of months he could still turn out a decent player for us if he stays beyond the season. Still, I would absolutely get rid in the summer if at all possible, though a sale will probably be difficult to pull off given his high salary.
 

WeePat

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Short and brief stay. Adios sir.

 

Bebestation

Im a doctor btw, my IQ destroys yours
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Very underwhelming player compared to how much he was rated at Napoli.
 

Bebestation

Im a doctor btw, my IQ destroys yours
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"underwhelming" is pretty generous of you!
I remember him being a 120million listed player by Napoli.

I think he went less for that so he wasn’t as disappointing as that would have been.

Rudiger is still your best defender of the last couple seasons right?
 

Rajiztar

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I remember him being a 120million listed player by Napoli.

I think he went less for that so he wasn’t as disappointing as that would have been.

Rudiger is still your best defender of the last couple seasons right?
We missed rudiger as a leader than his footballing ability. The character we missed badly in dressing room.
 

Bebestation

Im a doctor btw, my IQ destroys yours
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Silva by a mile.
I knew it was him but I was wondering if Chelsea fans valued Rudiger A bit more after his CL goals and performances.

It’s crazy Silva is doing at such an age.
 

duffer

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I knew it was him but I was wondering if Chelsea fans valued Rudiger A bit more after his CL goals and performances.

It’s crazy Silva is doing at such an age.
Don't get me wrong, Rudiger was fantastic for us that season and I was sad to see him go.

As you say though, Silva is something special.
 

Ted Lasso

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Honestly surprised a nearly 40 year old Silva has kept these younger challengers at bay. Shame Silva spent so much of his career at PSG
 

Pintu

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I remember him being a 120million listed player by Napoli.

I think he went less for that so he wasn’t as disappointing as that would have been.

Rudiger is still your best defender of the last couple seasons right?
He was never a 120M player, that was just Napoli’s way of saying he is not for sale… As soon as he declined and became “for sale”, they sold him for a relatively normal fee.

But back in those years (2016-2020) he was definitely a much better player than the Maguire, for whom we paid 80M…

I genuinely thought Chelsea did a good signing bringing him on (that like Silva, he’d still have some good left in him for the high level). But he turned out to be a poor man’s Rudiger without the pace… Now bailed by their Saudi friends. Braking even on FFP calculation and getting rid of the wage.
 

GaryLifo

Liverpool's Secret Weapon.
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"Maybe it's just Chelsea's turn" to sell half their squad to one of their minor investors when they have ffp issues.

Still actually laughing at the athletic article that concluded what is written in the quotation marks above.
 

Dancfc

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"Maybe it's just Chelsea's turn" to sell half their squad to one of their minor investors when they have ffp issues.

Still actually laughing at the athletic article that concluded what is written in the quotation marks above.
It's not the Saudi's getting us out of any potential FFP trouble it's you lot and Arsenal.
 

Pintu

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It's not the Saudi's getting us out of any potential FFP trouble it's you lot and Arsenal.
How does it compare so far? Arsenal vs PIF :
Transfer income + wage spared? And Were you really concerned about Havertz?

No way you can consider buying Mount helping you. He is an important part of your squad and a home grown & club product…