"Moses efforts in the final 3rd seem to be getting worse"

His play in the final 3rd has always been crap, i could never understand why people rated him as a winger and wanted him in the squad pre wing backs. Apart from Torres i have never felt such a lack of excitement when a player has the ball in promising situations.

Having said that however he is a decent wing back all in all, surprisingly good defense and can get up and down all day.

For all the plus points from Moses this season, you have to think there will another RWB signed for Champions League.

We have no other options on right flank. However Chelsea do have options on the left flank. I don't know why Kenedy wasn't tried on that flank. Willian could have played in the RWB and Pedro further forward. This way the team.looks more balanced.

Unfortunately, JT's best days are behind him. Yes he did reasonably well against Wolves, but can't seem him making it for the league league games.

Costa's recent form is a worry, but even when not playing well, he has proved that he can score out of nowhere. Hopefully he will pick up form again soon. Otherwise we're in for a long end of the season.

"I don't know why Kenedy wasn't tried on that flank."

A key component of a wing back is to keep things ticking over minute by minute, i would associate Kenedy with many things but patience isn't one of them. I think the left wing back suiting him was just a lazy middle ground acceptance due to the LB vs left wing debate that went on last year.

Another point I'd make is how well Chalobah played.

In fact, everytime he's played for us this season he's impressed me. I personally think he should be ahead of Matic in the pecking order.

Have to agree iv been impressed with him whenever he plays, not sure id like him as first choice, but if we sign a new centre midfielder in the summer and let matic leave I wouldnt be too bothered or feel weekend knowing we still have chalobah

He has been steady from what I have seen so far from Chalobah. However, I don't he has done enough to displace Matic, that said I think Conte will retain him in the squad beyond this season, even though Chelsea are in the market for a top CM in the summer. We've are already been linked with Kessie, Silva etc..

But is Kessie any better than Chalobah?

Preferably I'd like us to bring in a <b>TOP</b> central midfielder, failing that just stick with Chalobah.

I'd hope Verratti and Naiggolan are top of Conte's list.

Would love us to get Verratti in the summer, but there is no point dreaming if targets like are not realistic. We tried to sign Nainggolan in the summer, so nothing has changed to suggest that we could still get him. If we get a CM this summer, it would be to replace Matic, who I think will be sold in the summer.

Thought chalobah was poor at the weekend but has generally been pretty good when played.

Pedro is good at lwb because he works so hard but agree he's wasted there.

Jt can play for another few years with this reduced role which can only be good for the club.

As for costa I've never been a fan of his skills as an out and out footballer but love the guy and what he brings. It's just more evident when he's not scoring that he lacks certain traits, his hold up play and dribbling are poor and he's going through a rough patch.

comment by Returning managers (U1762)
posted 2 hours, 30 minutes ago
"Moses efforts in the final 3rd seem to be getting worse"

His play in the final 3rd has always been crap, i could never understand why people rated him as a winger and wanted him in the squad pre wing backs. Apart from Torres i have never felt such a lack of excitement when a player has the ball in promising situations.

Having said that however he is a decent wing back all in all, surprisingly good defense and can get up and down all day.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
defenders just kept getting in the way of his crosses....very annoying

One or two were not impressed with Zooms this week

for my money we was excellent....yeah he aint Hazard on the ball at times...but few are

1. Moses has never had great end product, but has always impressed me with his directness and energy. He will always be offering a run to open up teams, and will always make sure he will get back. So for me he is good enough currently for the team.

2. Pedro I don't think is a wingback either, as defensively he is suspect. However going forward he offers a lot more than what Kennedy, Moses or Alonso offer. Ake for me would be good competition for Alonso, both on a similar level, and both have different abilities.

Kennedy is often seen as a suitable wingback, however I would have to disagree. Kennedy might have the energy and pace, but is way to over elaborate for the position. He tries to hard on the ball, when as a wingback your job really is to keep things simple. Kennedy will often try some absurd skill in the middle of the pitch and get dispossessed. So in my opinion he lacks the right temperament.

3. JT played okay, but I really doubt he will get many more games for us. He has struggled in the most of the games he has played this year, and looks like he is coming to the end of his time at Chelsea. I suspect he won't be offered a contact at the end of the season.

4. Costa is a inconsistent player to be honest. Its frustrating as I do think when on form he is more or less the perfect number 9. However for much of the time he is clumsy, slow and distracted. The only part of his player which is pretty consistent is his finishing. So he is worth investing in as he can win games. But he is also likely to disappoint and frustrate.

1) I agree with you on Moses. I think he should try to actually pick out a player with his crosses instead of just wacking in the ball and hoping for some sort of luck

2)I agree..nothing to add


3)I think JT is passed it. Still an excellent defender but he's lost a lot of pace.

4) I don't know what happened to Costa but it was a hard watch for me. He really has lost form

I know they're hard to find and not that Alons and particularly Moses are hard to find, but think the game highlighted how much more beneficial having a good footballer at wingback is (as opposed to people saying 'who else could you get that will run up and down the wing all day?'As if it's just about being an athlete with good stamina). They'd further be able to provide chances and goals for the team, the fact Moses didn't even set up any meaningful chances with some of the positions he found himself in yday was criminal. Mind Hazard was the same too, tbh not many played well throughout.

Chalobah was alright I thought. Ok if quiet first half and better second half, still more than once fired good through balls/passes straight to forward players, spread play to wingbacks in space, made important challenges in box and made advanced runs from deep. Hope he keeps his place vs United.

As I do of Ake who hasn't been talked about yet, was excellent. I disagree with OP, better at LCB than LWB I feel, maybe only LWB should we need to be more defensive.

"Chalobah was alright I thought. Ok if quiet first half and better second half, still more than once fired good through balls/passes straight to forward players, spread play to wingbacks in space, made important challenges in box and made advanced runs from deep. Hope he keeps his place vs United."

thought he was largely anoymous & the game passed him by
re keeping his place v Utd.....no he won't

Costa's form has not been good for the last three weeks, but I fail to see the logic that benching a player improves their form.

If it becomes a longer term problem then maybe, but three weeks is nothing and players need to play themselves back into form.

1. Moses efforts in the final 3rd seem to be getting worse, I can't remember him putting in a decent effort in at the weekend. The amount of good positions he gets into, if he can develop a final ball he could really be a weapon from full back

Some players are late to mature, but at the age of 26 Moses has now reached the age where he has to learn and understand what to do in the final third. He has everything else to his game tbh, if I was his manager, I would work with him on this aspect of his game for one more year and see if it clicks, if not, then i would look for an upgrade................

Costa will be back. The dip will not last

Agree with the op on mostly all of this!

Costas form concerns me but also the last 2 games performances haven't been as convincing BUT we are still winning... let's hope for a good performance against a resurgent Swansea side this weekend!