Chelsea (H) 8/4: Build-Up & Match Thread

[Loki]

He might be given the correct supporting cast and proper tactics.

He's not a striker in any way, he's a deep lying forward or attacking midfielder based on what I've seen so far.

Surely Lop should be able to see this. Same with persevering with Killman, who is mentally shot.

 

[WsWolf]

He might be given the correct supporting cast and proper tactics.

He's not a striker in any way, he's a deep lying forward or attacking midfielder based on what I've seen so far.

He 'could' function as one if we had wide players who actually made runs beyond him. As it is, he needs someone ahead of him to be effective.

 

[big mean bunny]

He might be given the correct supporting cast and proper tactics.

He's not a striker in any way, he's a deep lying forward or attacking midfielder based on what I've seen so far.

Personality, traits, contract issue aside to view this. But Cuniha has so far done less in the Prem than Gibbs-White despite costing more. Get it's not as straight forward as that but given we sold one to avoid losing him for nothing, spent far more for worse and then continue to play the expiring Traore it's pretty frustrating.

I am with you in that I quite like him and get it's still early but am similar in that he looks a chronic overpay for his actual ability and goal scoring ability.

 

[Johnny75]

Personality, traits, contract issue aside to view this. But Cuniha has so far done less in the Prem than Gibbs-White despite costing more. Get it's not as straight forward as that but given we sold one to avoid losing him for nothing, spent far more for worse and then continue to play the expiring Traore it's pretty frustrating.

I am with you in that I quite like him and get it's still early but am similar in that he looks a chronic overpay for his actual ability and goal scoring ability.

I think Cunha would have more goals/ assists with better tactics and personnel around him.

 

[Del Woppio]

His goalscoring record here, and in La Liga/Bundesliga is like 1 every 5 appearances, even in minutes it's not particularly favourable being a goal every 286. I know Atleti aren't exactly freeflowing and he didn't really settle there, but 1 in 5 for Leipzig and Hertha is shit. He's a tidy footballer, and he works really hard, but £45m for fucks sake. He's a second striker - he'll never be a lone frontman as long as he's got a hole in his arse - but for some reason Julen is really reluctant to start with two up top. I think him and Sarabia together could have some mileage as a partnership but the obvious concern is that they'd get bullied a bit and we'd never get the ball to stick. Unfortunately I think it'll go down as a wank piece of scouting, where (like Nunes) we've bought a good footballer without putting any thought into how we're going to use him

 

[Tredman]

I read that Cunha is someone Lop specifically wanted - you'd imagine he had a plan for him.

 

[big mean bunny]

I think Cunha would have more goals/ assists with better tactics and personnel around him.

I am not quite there yet. He looks to me like an Ayoze Perez type. Willing but ultimately lower half ability.

 

[Johnny75]

His goalscoring record here, and in La Liga/Bundesliga is like 1 every 5 appearances, even in minutes it's not particularly favourable being a goal every 286. I know Atleti aren't exactly freeflowing and he didn't really settle there, but 1 in 5 for Leipzig and Hertha is shit. He's a tidy footballer, and he works really hard, but £45m for fucks sake. He's a second striker - he'll never be a lone frontman as long as he's got a hole in his arse - but for some reason Julen is really reluctant to start with two up top. I think him and Sarabia together could have some mileage as a partnership but the obvious concern is that they'd get bullied a bit and we'd never get the ball to stick. Unfortunately I think it'll go down as a wank piece of scouting, where (like Nunes) we've bought a good footballer without putting any thought into how we're going to use him

His record across his career is pretty average at CF but it's not bad if you include his assists it's just over 1 in 3 for both combined.

As a second striker it's 1 goal in 3 and 2 in 3 goals and assists combined. That's very good at any level.

 

[Dire Wolf]

I read that Cunha is someone Lop specifically wanted - you'd imagine he had a plan for him.

If he had a plan why hasn't he implemented it? Unless his plan was drop him every couple of games and then play him in a position that doesn't suit him. Which doesn't seem a very good plan.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I read that Cunha is someone Lop specifically wanted - you'd imagine he had a plan for him.

I presume he has since lost the piece of paper he wrote the plan down on then.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I was sceptical about paying £45m for Cunha given his goal scoring record over his career. I remember being told I was being unnecessarily negative. I know he’s looked reasonable when playing with a centre forward but nothing I’ve seen yet suggests he’s worth any more than about half what we paid. I’m not giving up on him like I had with Guedes after a similar number of games but it’s more hope than expectation that he’ll justify his fee whilst at Wolves.

 

[Alan]

If he had a plan why hasn't he implemented it? Unless his plan was drop him every couple of games and then play him in a position that doesn't suit him. Which doesn't seem a very good plan.

I think he’s seen the rest of the squad and thought, “fuck, we’re definitely going down if I don’t protect this defense with everything extra we’ve got”.

 

[Jinky]

The fact Lop isn't playing two up top (Cunha just behind Raul) is even more stupid because he's sacrificing an attacking player to play three midfielders that do nothing, and has persisted with Moutinho in an advanced position which is absolutely alarming. It doesn't work, it won't ever work - stop doing it.

 

[Jinky]

His goalscoring record here, and in La Liga/Bundesliga is like 1 every 5 appearances, even in minutes it's not particularly favourable being a goal every 286. I know Atleti aren't exactly freeflowing and he didn't really settle there, but 1 in 5 for Leipzig and Hertha is shit. He's a tidy footballer, and he works really hard, but £45m for fucks sake. He's a second striker - he'll never be a lone frontman as long as he's got a hole in his arse - but for some reason Julen is really reluctant to start with two up top. I think him and Sarabia together could have some mileage as a partnership but the obvious concern is that they'd get bullied a bit and we'd never get the ball to stick. Unfortunately I think it'll go down as a wank piece of scouting, where (like Nunes) we've bought a good footballer without putting any thought into how we're going to use him

I normally agree with you a lot, but I just haven't been able to take you seriously for a while, since every post you do is headed with the words "Got Rimmed by Gary Barlow".

 

[Alan]

I normally agree with you a lot, but I just haven't been able to take you seriously for a while, since every post you do is headed with the words "Got Rimmed by Gary Barlow".

Del knew what he wanted and went for it. Fair play, I say.

 

[Del Woppio]

I normally agree with you a lot, but I just haven't been able to take you seriously for a while, since every post you do is headed with the words "Got Rimmed by Gary Barlow".

I prefer this to "Tory Boy", which was the previous one!

 

[PuntsWolf]

I am not quite there yet. He looks to me like an Ayoze Perez type. Willing but ultimately lower half ability.

I like the comparison. Ayoze Perez put himself around a bit though and was decent in the air for a not so big guy. Bit like Kevin Doyle.

Cunha looks a tidy player but it’s a lot to spend on someone with no real outstanding attribute. He’s not remotely quick, not strong and physical, not someone who is going to work it onto their strong foot and curl it top corner, doesn’t look a finisher, hasn’t demonstrated great ball carrying ability. Just looks busy, with good intelligence, but not the top level skill of physical attribute to go with that.

He’s in my strongest XI without doubt at the moment as a second striker but I’m not convinced playing him in this role is suddenly going to make him the next (insert non elite second striker here, genuinely can’t think of one).

 

[Alan]

I still think Cunha and Hwang could be genuinely dangerous together. Two of our only forward players who seem to know how to exploit space (yes, I know, the rest of Hwang's acumen is very much up for scrutiny, but at least he can sense dangerous positions and finish).

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Hwang can't stay fit for 20 seconds so it's a moot point.

 

[C.L.D]

There's no way Cunha is worth his price tag, but he's at least the forward version of Semedo: reliable when played properly (I'd still move on from NS though if we could).

The formation in the OP is the one I'd like to see. Those central forwards can drift wide if needed and the fullbacks are our better crosses anyway. Lop will tinker anyway so the wide players will be bought on regardless.

I'd consider Nunes starting these next two games, if only to make an ultimatum that with Neves out, he's the most talented in the middle, show it.