Most worrying is the fact that he seemed to have come back, played well against Reading, and got himself on the verge of the first team with cameo sub appearances. Now it seems he's slipped back. I think it's most likely that there has been some form of relapse/ fitness issue.
Chalobah to Villa on loan maybe? https://thisisfutbol.com/2019/01/blogs/aston-villa-eye-up-watford-midfielder-chalobah/
Interestingly, amid the Villa interest, I've been told by someone that we're looking to offload Chalobah on loan to Udinese. Also, Chalobah is apparently really not happy that the club have offered him up for a loan in any case.
Makes sense but not sure how reliable that site is. He probably wants to battle for his place here and prove he can get fit enough.
I wouldn’t be against him leaving on loan if it means he’s going to get almost constant football over the next few months. It’s hard to regain form and fitness after a serious injury with odd appearances here and there. I think we’ve all seen that’s he’s not quite ready to just step in and play week after week at the standard we need right now. With Cleverley and Quina, we’re quite well covered in the middle, so if a loan move is going to help ensure that he comes back next season having regained confidence and fitness, it would work well. Equally though, we’re an injury to Capoue or Doucoure away from him potentially getting a little run of games and the chance to make his progress here.
Don't know why he'd be angry. It's not like a loan because he's Zeegelaar or Okaka, it's because he is good enough to be first XI but clearly not fit.
If he were to have a 3 month loan with a recall clause then I would expect he would be match fit towards the end of the season and get a handful of PL run outs before the end of the season, then should be fresh for next season.
3 month loans don't exist anymore (I don't think) except for youth players from PL clubs. It would have to be until the end of the season.
I think we'd be a little bare in midfield without him (Doucoure, Capoue, Hughes, Cleverley, Quina) but he needs a run of games to get back where he was as he always seems to improve in the 2nd half of a game when he's getting his fitness back. Would be a good deal for both parties and he can take Doucoure's place in the Summer.
Perfect fit for our annual January strategy. We'll ask to take Whelan or Jedinak on loan till the end of the season in the last few hours of the window
They normally only become active during transfer windows. Hence Harvey Barnes returning to Leicester from WBA earlier in the month midway through a season-long loan. And talk of Tammy Abraham having a recall clause which had to be activated by the middle of the month. PL rules say loans are between transfers windows and will only end earlier with the permission of the PL board. However, Rule 14.5A (Para 3) does in fact say "Any player who has gon 2 villa m8 can return to his parent club at any time". So who really knows?
As much as he needs match time to get back to full fitness and confidence, the Championship is unforgiving. I also balance that against us letting him go and weakening our own squad and I don’t think it’s worth it. Give him cup games and sub appearances until season’s end and then have him ready to go full pelt next season as Doucoure’s successor.
In what sense do you mean the 'Championship is unforgiving'? The number of games? Tougher tackles? More frantic play? I'd have thought so long as Villa are in tune with his rehabilitation, and he is sensible too, it should be more beneficial than harmful. I get the impression he needs to prove to himself he can get into scraps and come out the other side unscathed.
our squad is weaker by having him available for selection. He stuck out like a sore thumb v newcastle. Couldn't even complete basic short passes! Giving him cup games will see us go out. We're in the 5th round with loads of top teams out. Why sacrifice the cup just to see if he will ever get over his injury? (he wont, btw). Utter madness. Loan him out and remove the emotional temptation to play him. He's nowhere near good enough for us. Even opposition fans are commenting on how bad he is.
I understand that and don't disagree. I'm just of the opinion that while we are chasing 7th and still in the cup, that we should be adding to the squad, not reducing it. And we shouldn't be losing a CM while the length of time Doucoure is out remains unclear.
Update from our boy Leventhal: #WatfordFC transfer update Concentrating on outgoings - don’t expect Nathaniel Chalobah to be going anywhere on loan. Aston Villa reportedly interested but my understanding is that he will not be going anywhere. Edit: ooo a part 2: #WatfordFC transfer update contd... ...on the Chalobah situation - potential loan to Villa is one to watch until the deadline though, as it may be that a player getting game time rather than being on periphery proves best option for all parties. Let’s see what happens.
Next in the series - we could win, lose or draw tonight. Sky sources will have a clearer picture just before 10pm.
There's nothing worse than these journalists who think people are impressed by the crumbs of information that are thrown to them out of pity, after a lifetime of brown-nosing the powers that be. Have some dignity you tiresome bell end. I hope he reads this website.
I reckon Declan Rice declaring for England is a bit if a blow for Nate's international chances in the near future.
