Played DM for Wales this month. He was badly exposed because his midfield partner was Ramsey in the first game, who was absymal, and Morrell in the second, and he (Morrell) was sent off after 20 minutes. He did Ok but he was up against it in both games through no fault of his own.
Maybe if he had been given consistent game time at DM at senior level instead of switching back and forth he could have developed his skills in that role but I always felt he was more like a David Luiz type defender.
Huh? He was at Reading for a short stint in the Championship, but both loans to Watford and Bournemouth were in the EPL. He won Watford's young POTY, was recalled from Bournemouth when we were short of CBs under Conte, and then was bought promptly by Bournemouth the next season for a club record fee.
Not similar at all. Ake always had excellent positioning and reading of the game from young age, all he needed was games to develop. Amapdu's greatest quality is his passing, he doesn't have the positioning and reading of the game down yet, this is why he needed to be carefully managed with his loans and sending him off to Leiipzig aged 18 was an amatuer decision from the club.
Although I don't think Ampadu is the answer for Chelsea at the same age Ake was on loan to Bournemnouth and made only 12 appearances in the season and we were convinced to sell him at the end of that season. There are parallels there tbf. No saying Ampadu can't go on to have a similar career as similar profiles too.
No benefit whatsoever to selling him or sending him out on another loan.
Have you watched him play during his time in Italy? From the games i have seen, and i admit it has been in a pretty poor side, he hasn't really stood out at anything, tbh.
Pretty much sums it up for me. I kept an eye on him here in Italy. His best attribute has always been his passing. His problem has been decision making particularly under pressure. This hasn't improved either in club football or playing for Wales.
Not really but from the small bits I've seen he's been ok nothing special. The fans seemed to think he was one of their best players at both Italian clubs though so I'll take their word for it.
Lot is dependent on preseason. If Santos and Ampadu show some promise at midfield, I reckon they'd be kept around.
It's a fair point and I suppose I am somewhat indifferent whether he stays or goes. You're right he could be a reasonable back up and may improve in a good training regime, but if he was sold and replaced by the next bright thing, that would be fine to.
How much are Chelsea asking? Udinese are solid mid-table, by far the best team he'd be involved with after the myriad loans to bottom-feeder clubs. He deserves the chance.
What we basically had was a whole load of players developing at the same time.