Why are Chelsea not pushing forward with Kovacic given their present position?
Frank Lampard to Chelsea: Really?
- Thread starter fastwalker
- Start date
I haven't read the whole thread - just this page - but in Germany they talk about Ballack (who right now makes his B-license in Wales?) getting his assistant coach.
With the way Chelsea's manager merry-go round has operated the past decade, their club still stays afloat in terms of the top teams. That's because they have some good players and a structure of players coming in and out of their first team. They have more proven quality in their first team squad than they are given...and usually it's about individual egos or individuals having to carry them, but usually they have been solid if not spectacular.
It'll be a test to see how balanced they are in terms of creation with the post-Hazard era starting. Pulisic is good, but not on the influence level of Hazard. But the team may function better, who knows.
Lampard isn't exactly qualified, but he's going into a much more stable situation than Ole did and in a structure that isn't as reliant on a first team manager.
It'll be a test to see how balanced they are in terms of creation with the post-Hazard era starting. Pulisic is good, but not on the influence level of Hazard. But the team may function better, who knows.
Lampard isn't exactly qualified, but he's going into a much more stable situation than Ole did and in a structure that isn't as reliant on a first team manager.
English manager at one of the top 6, deserves the fly-on-the-wall documentary treatment. "Fwankie at the Bridge."
I've always thought this as well. Most of the great managers of all time have been defensive players.
Because he's a bit "meh" and not worth anywhere near the asking price.
Also, that's a position where we have quite a few options.
Given the ban I would take Kovacic for another year long loan. I understand this can be done under the current terms. I understand he didn't have a big impact last season and doesn't seem to be anywhere near scoring but I think he may be able to settle into the team next season. He was one of our better players in the EL final made good impact that night. He has skills and a terrific engine. He does seem to glide around in circles a bit but I think with a bit more direction and perhaps a change in tactics he do a job for Frank next year. As I say with the ban we don't have a lot of choice. Other options in midfield? Barclay, Kante, Jorge, Pulisic? Who then? We have CL this season and will need a deeper squad. RLC and CHO are injured and Drinkwater is a problem.
I did read an article yesterday saying Chelsea had a problem filling the home grown quota for the CL squad. With the injuries and Fabregas gone they may have to rely on Drinkwater which goes against my point and is a concern. Maybe they have to bring in Tammy Abraham?
We don’t have a problem with the HG quota at all. I’m assuming it was written by Matt Law because that was the first time I’ve seen it brought up. He’s just upset he lost his sources at the club.
Might make 'Arry his number 2. Imagine that Frankie and Arry
Ole's gonna fly with these new signings. I've really no idea why Chelsea think it's a good idea to get Lampard. Ex-player sentimentality aside he did pretty much nothing at Derby. By all accounts they were terrible for 2 months after Christmas and then just about scraped into the play-offs. He also had a bigger budget than previous Derby managers. So as a United fan I say great go for it Chelsea but looking from their point of view I think it will end in tears.
Frank Lampard played for City!?!?! How did I not know that.
He even scored against Chelsea
Who are the HG players?
Blackman might be 3rd keeper and he is homegrown
Ampadu is homegrown
RLC is injured but homegrown
Cho is injured but homegrown
Abraham is homegrown
Mount is homegrown
Barkley is from the premier league
Perhaps Drinkwater?
Would zouma count (if he stays)
Or is there others I'm missing
It's not a problem for Chelsea at all.
For the Champs league we can name a maximum of 17 foreigners:
Alonso, Arrizabalaga, Azpilicueta, Bakayoko, Batshuayi, Caballero, David Luiz, Emerson, Giroud, Jorginho, Kanté, Pedro, Pulisic, Rüdiger, Zappacosta, Zouma, Willian.
We don't have to name 8 homegrown/kids but if we did we could name Barkley, Drinkwater, Abraham, Christensen, RLC, CHO, Ampadu and then a young goalie as third choice.
https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2019/06/26/5d138ad422601de40a8b4581.html
I really, really hope we aren't going to sign Kovacic. I would rather play Mason Mount instead who at least offers something going forward. I just don't think Kovacic has the bottle to become a winner and he is basically a Spurs player in disguise. His 2 best games came against a side of notorious losers (Arsenal) and to spend that sort of money on him would be a waste.
I really, really hope we aren't going to sign Kovacic. I would rather play Mason Mount instead who at least offers something going forward. I just don't think Kovacic has the bottle to become a winner and he is basically a Spurs player in disguise. His 2 best games came against a side of notorious losers (Arsenal) and to spend that sort of money on him would be a waste.
Can see the appeal for the Chelsea fans more so than the Chelsea board. He did very well last year and is obviously a very intelligent guy with a huge connection to the club but something tells me this move is just a little early for him and he could do with a year or two more of experience. Not convinced he's going to get the time that many Chelsea fans seem to think he will but time will tell.
Looks like we are signing Kovacic as we already hold his registration, I guess it's possible to do it without re-registering.
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soc...9/sources-chelsea-to-sign-kovacic-despite-ban
I actually think he's a very good, exceptionally technically and very versatile, can play in pretty much any midfield system.
In fact, he's so versatile that he has probably suffered as being used as jack of all trades in his career rather than just playing one place.
It doesn't really pan out. Obviously there are more ex-players who became managers who weren't attackers, because in a classic 4-4-2 there was 5 times as many non-attackers to choose from.
Off the top of my head, forwards who became managers.....and legends.
Ferguson
Clough
Cruyff
There are probably more, but by the law of averages given there are two or three forwards in a team, they stand up as managers.
Probably suffered more from the fact that he's very average.
So average that at 25, he's played for Inter, Real Madrid and Chelsea, he's already won 4 league titles, got 3 CL medals, an EL medal, 7 other cup medals, and been part of a squad playing 183 minutes who reached the last WC final...
How would you compare him to Kane, for example, who has won absolutely nothing in his entire career, and only ever played for Spurs?
Average?
21st April 2005 UEFA made a declaration that each club playing in UEFA competitions would have to name a minimum number of local trained players within their overall squad limit. It isn't a maximum of 17 foreigners.
I have concerns over having the likes of Bakayoko and Zouma in the 17 but we would be naming Drinkwater in a squad already depleted by injuries to CHO,RLC and Rudiger. Also are we going to have Batshuayi, Giroud and Tammy Abraham in the squad. I think there will need to be a bit more shuffling of the pack and we may have to go into the season without a fully fit 25 man squad for the CL.
Foreign
1. Kepa
2. Azpilicueta
3. Luiz
4. Rudiger (Injured)
5. Alonso
6. Emerson
7. Caballero
8. Giroud
9. Jorge
10. Kante
11. Pedro
12. Pulisic
13. Zappa
14. Willian
15. Kovacic
16. Bakayoko (Not really good enough)(Drop and bring in Batshuayi)
17. Zouma (Not really good enough)
Homegrown
1. Abraham
2. Christensen
3. Ampadu
4. Jamal Blackman
5. RLC (Injured)
6. CHO (Injured)
7. Barkley
8. Drinkwater (Not really good enough)
Oh man I'm so glad we've entered the absolutely pathetic and meaningless 'a player has played for big clubs and won trophies therefore he is immediately great' area of pointless debates, because Kovacic who was invisible for nearly all his appearances for you last season is definitely better than Harry Kane. That's a definite real thing and everybody would prefer to have Kovacic than actually good players who happen to play for teams who haven't won stuff.
Kovacic played for Inter when they were shit, took little to no part in any of Real's trophies wins because he was mostly not very good, and then did nothing for Chelsea aside from a good performance in a EL final, although he did his best to stop you getting there with the best invisibility act I've ever seen against Frankfurt. Oh and yeah he was part of the Croatia squad but didn't start because he's not that good. The likes of Vermaelen and Djimi Traore are definitely great players because they happened to be a part of great squads, and we judge individuals by their club trophies because that's sound judgement.
The worst argument on this forum is 'he hasnt won trophies so he isn't as good as these other clearly average players who have' so congratulations on that. How about I forgot Kovacic was playing whenever I watched you because he was that bang average. You've signed him because you have a transfer ban and he was an easy way to bring in another body, because he was completely unimpressive for 95% of his appearances with you and a big part of why your midfield put people to sleep.
The rules say we must have a minimum of 8 homegrown players. With a maximum squad of 25 this means we can only name 17 foreign players so the answer is no.
We can cobble together a squad but the injuries could prove to be a real downer. I hear CHO and Rudiger are making progress but they will in all probability, along with RLC, miss the first 3 CL matches. Frank may take the view that there's no point in naming badly injured players in the CL squad. We may already be out by the time they recover. He may bring in Mason Mount.
So i was correct. Phew, all is right with the world!
You can as long as those foreigners are home grown players too like Lukaku, Christensen and few others
I don't normally agree with @SquishyMcSquish but he's bang on about Kovacic. He's awfully average and should not be played in the most attacking role of a midfield 3. I've heard some here say he should be in Jorginho's position...bitch please. For all Jorginho's faults I think he really grew into the role from February and I'm sure Kovacic will be a massive drop down in quality in that role. I hope he gets used sparingly after RLC returns from injury.
They've not foreigners to me!You can as long as those foreigners are home grown players too like Lukaku, Christensen and few others
You may an expensive escort given how much they are paid.
The Champions league rules are slightly different to the PL rules.
The A list is for over 21 year olds. A maximum of 17 spaces are for non HG players
In that A list 8 places are reserved for HG players and 4 of those 8 places are reserved for club trained players.
Christensen, Blackman, RLC and Abraham are all HG and Club trained. That means we have space for 4 more HG players.
Ampadu& CHO are both under 21 and have been at Chelsea for over 2 years so won’t appear in the 25 man squad but will be named in the B List. So too will Mount and James if as rumoured stay at the club.
Signing a mediocre player like Kovacic whom Real Madrid is so eager to get rid of for 40 million pounds is the highlight for Chelsea's season. How the mighty have fallen.
simply because hes one of my fave ever players, yes. Can never be a problem learning from someone like him.
That said, he is an awful manager and thats what he wants to do if he cant be a coach with us. turned down ambassadorial role
How the mighty have fallen? Suspecting you support utd, but what would your answer be to signing awb, longstaff, daniel james etc? Players not good enough for utd.
Kovacic is not mediocre, had an up and down season but his real quality showed in the EL final
What on earth are you talking about? We are about to appoint one of out most popular players ever as manager, that's the highlight. Kova signing is barely a blip.
Sir Alex was a striker. GOAT
That's very harsh, untrue even.
He had an awful spell at Birmingham but was good at WHU and Watford.
He's really a reliable option for any top team. He would clearly upgrade Utd midfield. He seems to do the basics very well, but it seems that he's still a very undefined player. The only thing that annoys me in him is that he lacks some intensity in his game.
Agree, at RM I thought they pretty much always used him in different positions, like we have, he's an odd one, as not clear exactly which is his best position is. It's very useful to have someone of his technical ability though to fill holes all season, especially if you're playing 65 odd games like we did last year, going to get injuries and need to rotate.
Personally very happy we decided to keep him. Even if we're switching to 4 2 3 1, 4 5 1, or 4 4 2 or whatever this season he can fit in several positions and in pretty much any tactical system as well.
Previous legend players back to manage same club is a thing now...trending