The thing that frustrates me and I'm pretty sure frustrates most of you is that we can see the ability out there but it just doesn't click or remain consistent from week to week. For me I think the only explanation is this is what you get when your transfer policy is built around signing mostly players with potential in their early 20s.
Part of the problem is the FIFA/FM lens of looking at things that we've all become accustomed to. When we get linked to a player that is like 25 or 26, I immediately think they guy is pretty old. Well no he's fucking not, that isn't old in the real footballing world. But playing video game football it's all about wonderkids and potential, we talk about it like this all the time jokingly but it has colored a lot of our thinking, including my own.
It's simple, it's really difficult to throw out the likes of Lamela, Kane, Mason, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Dier, Townsend Davies etc. and expect them to thrive immediately because they have bright futures ahead of them. Kane, Mason, Dier, and Bentaleb don't even have two seasons worth of appearances combined. Lamela barely played last season and really only had one full season at Roma. Eriksen basically has more experience than all of them combined. Even though I'd argue Lennon is a less talented than all of them, you can see he has a comfort, poise, and influence that the others lack just because he's been around the block.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball: when Terry made his Chelsea debut Ryan Mason was 8, Bentaleb was three! Branislav Ivanovic who came to England in 2008 has more Prem appearances than Eriksen, Vertonghen, Fazio, Chiriches, Mason, Bentaleb, Kane, and Lamela combined. 6 of Chelsea's 11 starters have played in a Champion's League final.
Ultimately, we talk about transitional seasons due to having a new manager but for me it is a transitional period because of the young players. Our transfer policy has been based around buying young talent, we've promoted four academy prospects in the last two seasons and it seems like more is on the way, and our supposed veteran leaders seem like the trouble makers. Fundamentally we are a team based around inexperienced talent. We need to stop thinking about them as fifa ratings and potential and remember a lot of them are young talents learning their craft. The trick or treat nature of this side will continue until our young talent reaches emotional and footballing maturity, that's the harsh reality.
As with all things we have to wait for time to work it's magic. It sucks but that is how it is. Chelsea are the perfect example of the value of experience and how development works in fits and starts (Matic for example). If we continue to rely on our young talent I'm certain we can end up with in the future.
Up the Spurs.
ochlol:
:kaboullol:
:eriksenlol::ade:
