[SOLD] Nathaniel Chalobah

Of course, you could actually draw the opposite conclusion. He took about two years to recover from his injury, way, way longer than it should’ve taken. Couple that with this tweet and you could easily draw the conclusion that he is in fact mentally weak, not the opposite at all.

 

Well I’m certainly interested in your qualifications in both sports injury and psychology, what with you having laid out the only evidence available so clearly.

 

I don’t really follow your line of argument here. You seem to be saying that criticism is not permitted. I’ll occasionally call out a player for being substandard (Cathcart for example), but most of my comments are at the reckless way that the owners have looked after our finances and the business model. Neither of those I would class as hyperbolic nonsense, unless you want to also class your extreme positivity as hyperbolic nonsense also. I think the forum is relatively civil (I’m not including shoutbox).

 

At the point he was back on the pitch playing football after his injury, I'm not sure a medical degree is a requirement to deduce he should’ve recovered, at least physically?

He took twice as long to hit a meaningful level of performance than he was actually out injured for. That’s pretty abnormal.

I suspect I’m no more qualified than you to make a judgement either way, but that’s my take on it.

 

He's saying criticism is fine, most of it is rubbish, and the player has the right to respond.

 

Lol what? I'm a fan, who gives his opinion on a fan forum.

You give your political opinions all the time, what is your politics qualification/experience?

Furthermore, what has that got to do with anything? My point is, if you're not at the top of your game then EXPECT criticism, every single professional in every single sport gets criticised, it's part and parcel of the job and more importantly, social media.

There's people out there who think Lebron James is rubbish, or Tom Brady, or Roger Federer, there's people who probably think The Beatles are rubbish or Adele is not talented, the world is full of opinions.

If he thinks "shutting haters up" is dropping DOWN a division and playing ZERO of 360 minutes available so far this season, he is wrong.

 

Just as much as some fans have a right to be disgruntled at Chalobah's message if they have interpreted it as an attack on their valid criticisms on the team - do those disgruntled fans not have a right to respond if thats how they have interpreted it, rather than being told to 'suck it up and stop being wimps'?

I think this all comes down to how people have interpreted the post in the first place. Personally I think its obvious Chalobah didn't like criticism of the team as his 'attack' comes immediately after thanking those 'die hard' fans who 'stuck with them throughout'. The two points seem connected IMO. But I accept other have seen it differently.

I think if his post was about any targeted personal abuse then it wouldn't have been hard to make that clear - but I accept 'heat of the moment' probably played a part as shown by him deleting the post.

I liked him as a player and he (mostly) always seemed like a decent bloke to boot. Massively thankful for his leadership at the end of the season and gutted he has left as he seemed to be stepping into a captaincy role naturally. I just wish he'd bloody apologised after his lockdown antics and never understood why he didn't - seemed totally out of character for him not to do so.

 

I think anyone (within reason) should express opinions, and in my view that includes sportspeople of what ever level, supporters, etc.
It is you that started to lay down the rules as to when someone is allowed to post opinions, not me. You expresssly said that Chalobah should not be posting his opinions, unless he is like a Messi. You said "Chalobah should get about his work and get about it quietly." I just asked you what makes you some sort of Messi that gives you the right to give opinions when Chalobah isn't.

If you are now backtracking, just say so. We are also allowed to change opinions.

 

I certainly wasn't thinking of you when I posted the above. You concern over the finances is completely valid, even if it does seem to creep into most of your posts even when discussing players, but I have no gripe with that.

 

In my opinion, Chalobah should focus less on what are a minority group of haters and more on his stagnating career. Simple, it's all perception, if he wants to focus on the trolls and choose to give his energy to that, that is his prerogative, I think he is wrong for doing so.

Simple ZZ.

 

Well, he spent a season playing for the team, and a minute tweeting when the season was finished, I don't think that is unreasonable.

But I'm glad that you have dropped the "qualification" criteria for posting opinions.

 

If Chalobah wants to return some insults then I've got no problem with that

What I do have a problem with is he had a great season with us in 12/13 when we missed out on promotion in the play off final and he decided he'd rather spend the next season on forests bench, get recalled and get sent to middlesborough. That's not the sort of player I want to build our team around

 

To be fair, that was hardly his fault. Chelsea extended his contract and put him on mega money (comparatively) and then demanded any club that wanted him had to pay it in full. We were never going to do that. Boro and Forest did.

Blame Chelsea or Gino for that one, not the player.

 

That’s a whole lot of ‘if’ to kick off with.

I’m really not surprised he let go a moment’s frustration if the sort of wild speculation about his mental state on this thread was anything to go by.

 

A whole lot of ‘if’ - what, one?

What part of the bit you have put in bold do you disagree with? People making their own individual opinions about his post that leaves a fair bit open for interpretation?

 

‘If’ they have interpreted it as an attack. But surely that’s your choice to do so? It’s not clear who it refers to, why assume it’s you?

I do find it odd that you have either assumed you fall into the category he describes or wish to defend people within it.

But anyway, surely time to move on. He has.

 

You may find it odd - but as I have said from the start of this debate, I have an opinion that he is describing people who were critical of the team at times last year. So yes, I do fall into that category and will defend people within it. Because its valid IMO, as shown by the players having a meeting last season to air their own criticisms of one another.

Others opinion is that he is describing people who have given him targeted, personal abuse - in that case, no I wouldn't be among them and I wouldn't be defending them.

But the latter isn't how I've interpreted what he said. I hate internet trolling as much as anyone - but that said, last season was almost entirely behind closed doors, and much of that time was with fans also under lockdown measures. Any fan who had any kind of opinion (both positive and negative) only really had online means to voice it. That doesn't mean people (in that timeframe) who said fair but negative comments about the team should be deemed as 'keyboard warriors' in my opinion.

But yes, agreed. Time to move on. He posted a decent tribute to 'everyone' associated with the club on his Instagram I see. Thats enough for a line to be drawn for me.

 

The only thing to judge him on in the future will be, did his absence materially impact our season; and did his presence materially impact Fulham’s. What was said, meant, wages paid, fees received, etc Are now immaterial.

What our fans think of him now, or thought about him in the past is unlikely to warrant much more thread time.

 

Unlike a certain T Deeney who I'm sure will dominate some people's posts for a good few seasons yet!

 

Discuss it in as much detail as you like I guess. I’m not really upset by it, no. I just need to be more selective about what I choose to read when I want a distraction from the really upsetting things in life. This thread is no longer it.

 

What the hell are you on about?

 

Hang on a second. I may have missed this already being discussed but he only signed a 2 year deal with Fulham, option of a third. For someone who is excited about the “project” there, he didn’t commit to it long term did he. If Fulham fail to go up this season (they won’t, they will win the league) then next summer he will have one year left on his contract and will definitely want out.

 

Oh dear.

I did just spend my lunch break catching up on this thread.



Still, going back to work doesn't seem such a bad option.

 

In a reply on the ‘Sory Kaba’ thread a few weeks ago, your reply to another forum member about me was (and I quote…)

Just stick him on ignore and your life will so be much more pleasant .

 

Its clearly hurt your feelings which I apologise for, but it seems like pretty good advice to me.

I probably should have followed my own advice a bit better.

 

Not at all. Just find it a bit rich that you spend a fair bit of time complaining about how toxic this forum is - but then at times engage in it yourself.

 

Why are we putting so much energy into an average footballer that didn't want to be here and has now dropped back down to his true level?

See ya.

 

Like Hughes he no longer would be a first team starter and not even first choice replacement with Tuzan and possibly Cleverly ahead of them, so seems good business to sell them asap, get some money and their wages off the books.

 

You mean Tarzan? Can swing from defence to attack in an instant.

 

I not only think Chalobah would have been a regular starter, but that he may well of been lined up to become the club captain too.

 

I think he would have struggled to get game time and knew it. He's certainly not as good as Etebo, Kucka, Sissoko and Tufan.

 

Only if we were in the Championship.