Is Chalobah the living embodiment of the arguments put forward to Sadiq Khan to not bin the garden bridge project; "...we've spent so much money on it that would be for nothing if the project was cancelled..."?
Incredibly frustrating. He had a short spell of games under Pearson when it seemed as though the Chalobah of old was back, but he's gone back to playing as if he is playing 5 a side with his mates. Our midfield is definitely a problem area and could get worse with further departures.
He’s rightly being given games to prove himself. If he can’t make it now I think his top end pro football career is over isn’t it?
This is what I don't get, he was chucking himself into tackles against Boro then bottling them against Oxford.
Hughes came on again tonight, but a lot later than I was expecting, I'll be surprised if he's starting against Cov at the weekend...
Being eased in. The loss of TDB is also a bitter blow. He looked tremendous in his appearances and the friendly against Spuds. Sooner Chalobah is eased to the bench the better for the team.
No idea what kind of footballer he is anymore. He just sits in front of the defence and is supposed to protect them. He does the first bit by reading the game quite well and getting into the right position but then thinks it's job done. I've never seen a footballer turn the ball over immediately after winning it so often, or get in the right position to make a key challenge but then just not make it. I genuinely hate the way he plays football. It's just so lazy all the time. There's no dynamism. He was always a little like that even in his first spell but the injury has just destroyed him mentally. He'll fly into the odd challenge when the opposition are standing still and he has a run at them but anything that's 50-50 and he's just too scared. Worst thing today was giving the ball away after holding onto it far too long then just jogging back as City launched a dangerous counter. He is finished. Has had one acceptable game this season vs Bournemouth and that's it.
It is very sad to see Chalobah now. However he always trys,never hides and clearly cares. He is not our main worry at present but a salutary lesson of how sport can be cruel. I'm convinced Southgate gave him his cap out of sympathy.
I thought he played ok yesterday and was more expansive with some of his passes. The little twerp at the WO gave him a 4.5 which I thought was harsh.
Southgate has always been a fan, I think he gave him a cap just to see how he'd get on in the first team, because he was only just getting back to fitness for us and wasn't really playing
He's a good Championship level defensive midfielder tbf, and if he can get his passing back to what it was when he first signed, all the better!
Some players whither when not a regular starter and my sense is that he is getting some confidence, match fitness and a general improvement in skill levels from his more regular playing time. Before this season, there were three or four midfielders ahead of him and before that he was getting over a career threatening injury. His passing still needs a lot of work, but I have been more impressed with him in recent times. Good luck to the lad and I hope he keeps on improving.
His passing was leagues better last night. His defensive duties have reached a reliably good standard but his trapping and passing of the ball is what has been consistently letting him down. Until the last 2 - 3 games I had given up on him seriously improving it, but he seems to be finding another level with it which really makes me happy. Just needs to develop consitency with this like he has with his defending.
Perfectly put. Some overly casual passing but he's definitely picked up the speed at which he's playing.
He's got no chance of winning over the Chalobah hate club now no matter what he does. And I should know, I'm the president of it.
He has the skillset to be as good as Capoue when he's on his game and what he showed with us in his two spells with us. Main problem is his knee injury and previous loan speels seemed to have set back his development by a number of years, as have niggling injuries at the beginning of the season which again disurpted the minutes he needs to get back and then improve his level. It's easy to forget he was integral to our sharp upturn in fortunes under Pearson before the Covid break and was regularly a 7 or 8 out of 10 during that spell. His regular minutes have helped get over the niggling injuries he was picking up earlier in the Season now his body has acclimatised to playing regularly again. Some player's bodies are fine with stop start playing, as well as extended playing. Chalobah is a player who's body needs extended playing to maintain match fitness and reliability to avoid injuries and as a result his bravery and defending has improved massively as he trusts himself again. I am probably one of his biggest proponentson the Forums but am not blind to his faults and ignore them when they present themselves. I want him to rediscover his younger, more fearless attacking flair he had under Zola (His volley v PNE shows he does still have that instinct, as does his fairly frequent long range efforts) but he lacks the reliability of hitting it right when in a game situation.
He is definitely improving . He is very good at winning the ball and protecting the back four . His passing can be a little inconsistent but that has been getting better as well . However , still not the player he was, either in his first spell or seemed to be in his short run under Silva. Not sure if he can find that form again .
I've seen a couple of Twitter rumours appear this morning Magpie 24/7 @Magpie24_7 57s Nathaniel Chalobah from Watford is being linked to a loan move to Newcastle.
He's not been great, but I really fail to see how this would benefit us in any way. If we got a decent fee I could see the logic, but a loan just seems pointless.
Would be happy to let him go if we get a replacement. There's some things you can't unsee and him trying to control a ball last night but it bouncing off his foot, onto his knee and going 15 yards away from him is one of them. He's probably running Gray close for worst touch in the squad.
Signing Dennis Bond, Les Taylor and Ray Train also left us short in midfield but didn't seem to cause an issue ?
