Dalot and Fernandez should be more then capable for a couple of months this one is bizarre
Put some faith in the youth in my opinion
Put some faith in the youth in my opinion
Cucurella at Chelsea
- Thread starter SilentWitness
- Start date
I honestly love Cucurella the Brighton version. He was just like Alves with unlimited Stamina , very technical and well control the ball and start the attack. If this loan deal happened one year ago , I would give a gold medal to whoever managed to pull this off.
I think ETH able to leverage his strength and we see a better version of him than in Chelsea . Compared with other options of deadwood or rotting ones , I actually prefer Cucurella
I think ETH able to leverage his strength and we see a better version of him than in Chelsea . Compared with other options of deadwood or rotting ones , I actually prefer Cucurella
Does make me think there is something more wrong with Shaw and it's longer than we think or else this looks a silly move, very concerning
What makes you think we will see the Brighton version and not the Chelsea version? Our recent history suggests we are making players worse not better.
I guess that's my best wishes here : ) But we are more stable environment than last year's Chelsea , and have a more established tactical framework . I still see a player in him and feel the issue is more on adaption instead of himself just a flop. ETH actually likes this type of Full back who could drive attack and able to deliver accurate passes in transition.
It's funny how quickly things change. Cucurella looked fantastic at Brighton, some moves just don't work out but there is 100% a player in there.
Very true. He wasn’t just good on the eye at Brighton either, his stats were outrageously good.
I recon he’d flourish under TH.
He looks a player transformed the last few weeks with this new inverted role. Happy for him really. Hope he keeps it up.
I still struggle to take any LB seriously who can get dribbled past by Antony.
Feels like a role Reece James could play very well in an ideal world...
Although I'd ideally like him to play CB (think sky is the limit for him in that position) I would be very intereged to see Colwill playing LB in the context of James inverting and it being an effective back 3.
He's been excellent recently. Even when his aggression gets him caught out of position or turned, the upside of him winning so many duels outweighs that. I much prefer his style and tenacity to what Chilwell brings, which is kind of timid and one dimensional.
Chilwell is bang average, shouldn't have given him a new contract, terrible decision.
We need to buy a LB in the summer.
Agreed. If he's doing what Badiashile currently is he could be excellent - especially since he'd have favourable passing angles down the line and likely plenty of space on the ball.
Don't really care if he's lining up as a fullback as long as he's effectively being used as a wide CB in a back 3 - for me that's pretty obviously his ideal position.
I like Cucurella in this role but it's such a shame that we prematurely sold Lewis Hall because he would have been tailormade for this role and he's an actual midfielder turned LB so he would be beautifully suited here. That said, Cucurella has looked quite good the last few games. It's sad that it's taken Poch 33 games to stumble on a tactic that works but long may it continue.
I’m once again here to give Cucurella his flowers. What a performance tonight.
Been very good in both games. Far from looking lost when he plays for the club.
He looked pretty good the last 7-8 games or so at the end of the season when Poch moved him into an inverted role that suited him brilliantly and it seems like he’s carried that good form into the euros.
I meant the Cucurella bit mostly but yeah, I didn’t think Poch would be gone
I guess you must get used to it as a Chelsea fan.
Re: Cucurella, I thought the Spain manager must have lost his mind starting him over Grimaldo given the season they've each had, but he's been rock solid in both games against strong sides to be fair.
Cucurella has the skill set that new manager Enzo Maresco will want to take advantage of. I doubt very much that Maresca would let him go out on loan
Once Cucurella was able to do what he does well he has been fantastic, really since January. It highlights the importance of having players fit what you are asking them to do.
Different player than his overall tenure at Chelsea. He's someone who'd work at City too probably. Just a good passer and mover really.
He's had a very good 2024.
I think he’s a player who knows his limitations and has the intelligence to play accordingly. He’s composed, passes and moves well and is generally solid defensively.
What’s interesting is that I believe had Gaya and Balde been fit, he may not have even made the squad. Big call for the coach to pick him over Grimaldo too, who had an excellent season and from most accounts was expected to be first choice for the tournament following the aforementioned injuries
What’s interesting is that I believe had Gaya and Balde been fit, he may not have even made the squad. Big call for the coach to pick him over Grimaldo too, who had an excellent season and from most accounts was expected to be first choice for the tournament following the aforementioned injuries
Still shocked he is indeed Spanish...
He was flawless last night.
I guess you must get used to it as a Chelsea fan.
Re: Cucurella, I thought the Spain manager must have lost his mind starting him over Grimaldo given the season they've each had, but he's been rock solid in both games against strong sides to be fair.
I was surprised he was even called up to be honest, but his good form to end the season and I'm guessing a couple of injuries to a couple of LBs got him a chance and he has seemingly grabbed it with both hands.
I wonder if he has a good tournament, if Chelsea should cash in on him.
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Not sure that would be wise tbh even if we get a chance to break even (FFP wise) with him.
Couldn't imagine saying that even 6 months ago but he currently looks like he's on a steep upward curve while Chilwell is looking the total opposite.
I hear you, I'd like to keep him and give him the chance to keep improving, but on the other hand, if a team offers us the opportunity to recoup the fee we paid for him, it would be incredibly tempting not to cash in. It would mean we would need to sign a LB though, because Chilwell is finished unfortunately.
People were saying similar about Cucurella's Chelsea career six months ago.
I was a massive fan of him at Brighton and was disappointed when they loan here didn’t work out. It was sad seeing him become a figure of fun in a mangled Chelsea team. It’s great he is finding his feet now and showing how good a player he is.
Yes true but with Chilwell it just looks like injuries have decimated his body. With Cucurella it was just a case of people not rating him or thinking he was unable to replicate that one season in Brighton.
And not only that even at his best I struggle to see how he would fit in a Maresca system (the one we think he will play anyway). Every other player in our squad I have a rough idea but with Chilly I'm totally stumped.
He can't be the defacto LCB in a back three (to enable James/Gusto to invert) as he's just simply too big a press trigger and i can't see him being good enough to invert himself (I know he did under TT for a while but that was more underlapping as opposed to dropping into CM). Only way I could see him working is if Maresca decides to have him bombing down the flanks and we work out the midfield overload another way.
Gary Neville at the start of the Euros:
"The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way. And I have to say, Cucurella being at left-back probably is another example of why we think that."
"The Spanish defence has got a lot of experience now but there’s something just missing from Spain that makes you feel like they’re going to go all the way. And I have to say, Cucurella being at left-back probably is another example of why we think that."
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There’s me thinking he would be a weak link for them…