Forum | I wonder if a year at Chelsea… by Chris_ITFC

Forum index | Previous Thread | Next thread

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… 13:05 - May 20 with 4411 views

Chris_ITFC

… has helped Delap to mature and adapt his game………………

Poll:

Where will we finish this season?

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 12:55 - May 27 with 198 views

RetroBlue

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 09:02 - May 22 by Churchman

I thought he looked limited for us too. There are lots of good things in his game but the one thing that impressed me was his focus and directness. He seems to have lost those. Even when he runs at the opposition he has a habit of stopping, passing back, sideways or just getting swamped.

Delap doesn’t seem to have developed his game one iota at Chelsea, which surprises me. There’s a lot wrong with that club and shortfalls in his game. He needs to move and stay somewhere that can develop his obvious ability properly. I understand why he went to Chelsea. Top club, good opportunity, but it’s proven to be the wrong club and a poor decision.

Would I like to see him back here? I’m in two minds. I’m never convinced about a player going back and I’m not sure his style suits us in that he doesn’t bring others into the game which in KMs teams is part of it.

On the other hand, assuming he’s a decent bloke and gets on with others (character), he’s still young, has potential and at the right price or loan fee, why not?

I feel sorry for him.tbh. he definitely chose the wrong club to make thst next step up eith, in my humble opinion.

I think when Delap came on the scene with ys what caught the eye with him ( and every PL club felt the same it appears), is how powerful hus running was and what power in his shot. But generally this facet of his game was largely when he was running at defenders with the ball at his feet. Get him in tighter situations or having to create space against sharper defenders, he seems to be wanting. Whether this is an aspect of his game that can develop remains to be seen. But I think hed do far better in an established PL club but one that is not one of the big 5 (for now). Hes 23 yes old now i think, and 26/7 is usually a players peak age? So he has sone developing to do over the next couple of seasons.

Personally i wouldnt want him as our main striker because we need an experienced, quality striker who can score regularly at this level, not a plsyer that is struggling to find his feet at this level. Again this is my view. Others will no doubt differ. .

	ITFC - The Pride of Anglia
Poll:	Who do you want to win?

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 17:07 - May 27 with 75 views

farkenhell

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 11:13 - May 27 by RetroBlue

...yes he was on fire for those first 3 months maybe 4 months of that PL season. Then defenders sussed his game, and he was largely ineffective. He got frustrated
( as someone else on this thread has stated). In the 12 months since hes left us and played in a better sude making a fair few appearances, hes looked completely lost, and has shown minimal improvement or adaptation to his approach. So yer, as you say, "Jesus "!!!

I'd jump at the chance to have him back if only for one season and I think he's certainly good enough for us. Had he had a decent season with Chelsea, there would be no chance of his returning. The fact that he's had a poor season just might give us a chance.

I think you've conflated the poor season he's just had with his season with us. He was on fire throughout the first half as you say and although his and the team's standards dropped during the second half, he still contributed and scored goals (more than during the first half, as someone else pointed out). It was noticeable that opponents tended to put two or more defenders much closer to him during the second half.

There is a risk that his confidence has taken a battering, but I would hope this could be built up again. He wouldn't be the first to recover from a poor season in the wrong team.

Then again, if he does return, I'd hope he wouldn't turn out to be another Stuart Slater!

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 17:36 - May 27 with 54 views

gosblue

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 12:13 - May 27 by Chris_ITFC
Yes, he’s too easy to work out and wind up. I suspect we won’t get anyone better though.

I'm going to just say it and be dawned. Delap plays lkke a thug and doesn't belong at our club. He did the first part of his role (ie. goalscoring) really well. The rest not so well. Instead of holding the ball up and winning free kicks or bringing in other players, he gave away free kick after free kick, putting us right back unded pressure. Defending set pieces - he didn't get within three feet of Maguire and allowed him to just head the ball into the net. And that's just one example.I'll make a prediction - if he's our main striker, we'll get relegated. Don't get me wrong, he's a great athlete and could be a great striker and If he's 2nd fiddle we may have a chance. I wonder if Calvert-Lewin is staying at Leeds. Now that was a signing.

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 17:49 - May 27 with 44 views

TRUE_BLUE123

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 17:36 - May 27 by gosblue

Delap was 22nd in the Premier League for fouls won in 24/25. Only 1 striker (Evanilson) won more fouls than him.

Poll:

Will Paul Lambert be Ipswich Town manager on the final day of this season ?

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 20:32 - May 27 with 7 views

jas0999

I wonder if a year at Chelsea… on 13:11 - May 20 by FrimleyBlue
The way he's played this year, it makes you wonder if his task is simply, go out and be a pain

Agreed. Goal scoring hasn’t been his thing. Picking up bookings is.

We need a clinical finisher. Delap isn’t that.

Forum index | Previous Thread | Next thread