I can imagine the pain, grafted his ass off from age 8 dedicated to the cause of ultimately making it at your childhood club...only to be unwanted by Tuchel, now seeing this same manager willing to go all-out to sign a CB in Fofana that's the same age and objectively on the same level as him to the tune of 80m+!
I'd actually say Guehi is marginally better due to his comfortability of building-out from the back with both feet.
One of the best young CBs in the PL, displayed so strongly that he captained the side on a number of occasions in his debut season at age 21 already and England international (soon to be established).
Palace can demand as much or more in future, there's no gulf in quality or talent between them.
And therein lies the problem with these sort of managers that fail to appreciate what they already have within (and favour spending), the rules are abnormally different and unfair...there always has to be added variables / obstacles with giving academy graduates a fair opportunity.
Hurdles which big-money buys will never encounter.
Unbalanced treatment, which makes it almost impossible for them to flourish. Never a level playing field.
Manager will talk about the need for them to "fight" and "train hard" (cliched twaddle), when in reality they are working against an impossible task and fighting a losing battle (regardless of how they perform).
Nothing to do with fight, everything to do with favouritism.
The "building for the future" spiel / narrative (which is pure lip-service) is a contradiction, when you've still got a struggling player at the end of his shelf-life in Azpi that was actively seeking a way out of the club on the wage bill blocking players who are precisely for the present & future, is a strange warped way of building...
Not to forget affording zero PL minutes to academy players of the year (who happened to be in their final year of contract), after having them train with the first-team consistently and never looking out of place in cup matches against stern PL opposition.
Naturally you reward them with (meaningful) PL minutes for their hard work (would it have hurt to give minutes as a springboard?), make them feel welcome...that would constitute some sort of reassurance that they will be provided with a pathway.
It's the little things that go some way to convincing them. Such small gestures (which may seem insignificant) go a long way to making them feel like they belong. Sets the tone / standard.
The moment standout academy graduates become an afterthought and behind players that clearly have no future at the club, they become disillusioned and move onto pastures new.
Wouldn't be in this predicament now, in which we are scrambling to buy a Centre Back, Forward and Wingback had the "building for the future" correctly been applied from the point when some our brightest prospects Guehi, Tammy, Livramento were on the books.
Legitimately top-tier players, ready to make an impact in the short & long-term (this concept tends to get completely lost in mangers mind, thinking academy products are too "inexperienced" to make a considerable impact in helping them achieve their goals. When the exact opposite has proven to be the case).
Total failure to look at the bigger picture.
Could have saved us a lot of money with critical forward-thinking, succession plan and common sense.
Marc Guehi: Leaving Chelsea hurt a lot...
posted on 17/8/22
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Cmf would happily play lamptey James guehi christensen tomori and some youth team left back and watch us not compete for anything
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True, but we all have our weird biases. I genuinely would've been fine with us being relegated in 2016 just to see us conquer a different challenge.
CMF would've loved it too, cos I can guarantee the academy would've featured prominently in the resurrection
posted on 17/8/22
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Cmf would happily play lamptey James guehi christensen tomori and some youth team left back and watch us not compete for anything
--------------------------------------------------------------
True, but we all have our weird biases. I genuinely would've been fine with us being relegated in 2016 just to see us conquer a different challenge.
CMF would've loved it too, cos I can guarantee the academy would've featured prominently in the resurrection
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Been there seen that, not in a hurry to go through it again
posted on 17/8/22
comment by JFDI (U1657)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Devil (U6522)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 47 minutes ago
Cmf would happily play lamptey James guehi christensen tomori and some youth team left back and watch us not compete for anything
--------------------------------------------------------------
True, but we all have our weird biases. I genuinely would've been fine with us being relegated in 2016 just to see us conquer a different challenge.
CMF would've loved it too, cos I can guarantee the academy would've featured prominently in the resurrection
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Been there seen that, not in a hurry to go through it again
----------------------------------------------------
Not been there, not seen it, hence curious
Tbf it would've been simulated jeopardy unlike in the past, I'm certain Roman wouldn't have gone anywhere, just built again for scratch. But it would've been a cool recovery story like Juventus.
posted on 18/8/22
"Also, what's going on with Chalobah? Barely got a look in since the start of the year. If we were prioritising our future then he 100% should be starting over Azpi. As it stands, it looks like Chalobah is our 3rd choice CB (after Azpi and James). These years are key for his development and I wouldn't be surprised if he also starts pushing for a move if there's no uptick in his playing time."
The moment Fofana (or any other CB is in), Chalobah is out.
No space in matchday squad and no minutes available.
Ramifications of retaining an unfit for purpose Azpi.
It was a good run, Chalobah had a fortunate set of circumstances to breakthrough...
The plan all along was to offload Chalobah (loan or permanent), provided the signing of Kounde went through last summer...that fell through.
Moreover Thiago Silva struggling for fitness at the beginning of last season and the rest coming back late from euros, missing a chunk of pre-season worked in his favour.
Added to the fact Tuchel knew a little about him from his time in France (The minute difference between him & Guehi).
Established quality now finds himself having to suffer the ignomy of playing reserve football this season, which is really not on. Sad, but that is what he has to deal with.
Again isn't due to a lack of fight, it's a lack of trust (and favoritism) which isn't afforded to him.
All happening on Tuchel's watch.
These are the type of players one keeps around, particularly after finding out that he can cut it at the highest level against top-level opponents.
Even as a squad or utility player, academy will always have the mental edge.
Naturally Chalobah' progress should have led him to be the one to replace Azpi permanently, with the upward trajectory shown last season...but as it turns out the manager has other ideas.
Erroneously deciding a player who has no future at the club should be prioritised.
posted on 18/8/22
I think Chalobah got plenty of game time last year and is progressing well, I am not concerned with his future.
posted on 18/8/22
comment by JFDI (U1657)
I think Chalobah got plenty of game time last year and is progressing well, I am not concerned with his future.
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I don't disagree with regard the gametime and progression last season.
Strongly dispute he has any future at the club.
Immediate future comes under threat with another CB incoming, behind James & Azpi.
Chalobah effectively fourth choice in his position, World Cup year may have ambitions of being in the England squad...I'll be stunned if he doesn't move on.
posted on 18/8/22
Yes, well I reckon this is probably Silva's last year and he will be fine.
posted on 18/8/22
Maybe it will be Silva's final season at the club, but wouldn't put it past Tuchel to buy another CB as his successor.
posted on 20/8/22
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 1 day, 22 hours ago
Maybe it will be Silva's final season at the club, but wouldn't put it past Tuchel to buy another CB as his successor.
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Which is why we are after Forfana
posted on 20/8/22
comment by Chelseamf™®© (U1677)
posted 3 days, 16 hours ago
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11706/12671043/marc-guehi-exclusive-interview-crystal-palace-defender-on-chelsea-hurt-premier-league-adaptation-and-england
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So basically he left Chelsea because he wanted regular first team football. I fail to see how that is the club’s fault. Players wanting to play for top ambitious clubs have to accept their are no first team selection guarantees and top club have accept that not every young talented player is going to see a suitable development path by staying.
Frankly, Chelsea have probably had the best possible outcome with the buy back clause. If his development grows with Palace and he proves himself to be a top defender that any top club would want starting regularly, then Chelsea are in prime position.