Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Chalobah: I Now See Myself as a Midfielder
Thursday, 25th Apr 2019 16:11

Trevoh Chalobah knew where to turn for advice when he joined Town on a season-long loan last summer and was told by then manager Paul Hurst that he intended using him in a midfield role at Portman Road.

The Stamford Bridge youngster had always regarded himself as a central defender so when Hurst broke the news to him he quickly consulted big brother Nathaniel, an England international no less, who could be considered something of an expert in the field.

The Blues’ loanee said: “I wasn’t a complete stranger to playing in midfield because I had played there a couple of times at Chelsea last year.

“But I had always regarded myself as a central defender, so I got to work on familiarising myself with the new role. I spoke to my brother and watched videos of him playing.

“I had to change my game accordingly and we worked on it a lot through the pre-season training.

“It has worked out so well that if you asked me now about my favourite position, where I’d like to play as my career progresses, I’d have to say midfield. Before I came to Ipswich I’d have definitely described myself as a centre-back.

“I have learned a lot and this league is tough physically. I’ve played a lot of games and probably tired a bit towards the end of the season but I think I have coped pretty well.


“I know I’m a much better player for the experience. When I was playing for the Chelsea U21 side it was nothing like as intense as it has been every week in the Championship.

“It has been what I would call proper men’s football, a whole lot different to the U21 game. People know how hard it can be in the Championship and that’s why so many clubs send players out on loan to it.

“I think I have developed well. I’ve always been physical in my game but there’s no question that playing in the Championship has improved that side of it.”

Chalobah, 19, has no idea what the future holds beyond Town’s last two games of the current campaign, at Sheffield United on Saturday and at home to Leeds eight days later, and won’t find out until he reports back to parent club Chelsea, where he joined their academy at the age of nine, for pre-season training.

Before that he has an England U21 training camp, after which boss Aidy Boothroyd will name his squad for the final stages of the European Championship being staged in Italy between June 16 and 30 and in which England have been drawn together with France, Romania and Croatia in one of three qualifying groups. The winners of each group, together with the best runner-up, will go through to the semi-finals.

“I’m just hoping I can do well enough at the training camp to earn a place in the squad,” added Chalobah.

“It’s a big honour to represent my country and there might be a couple of the Ipswich players there as well, with Andre Dozzell and Flynn Downes both in with a chance.”

Regardless of whether or not he wins a place in the England U21 squad, Chalobah’s future will remain up in the air until he returns for pre-season training with his parent club.

He said: “I’ll report back and see what’s what. I genuinely have no idea what they are planning for me so I will just go back to the club and see what they say.

“I haven’t even met the manager, Maurizio Sarri, yet because of coming here on loan last year before he was appointed.

“It will be up to him and his staff what happens next and I won’t know until I go in to the club what the plan is, although I suppose another loan move to a Championship club is a possibility.”

Meanwhile, Chalobah is every bit as bemused as many fans that Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba was preferred to Chelsea’s Eden Hazard in the PFA Team of the Year named earlier today.

“Everyone knows Hazard should be in there, including Hazard himself,” said the Town loanee.

“But I don’t think it will bother him too much because he has been nominated for the Player of the Year award. Things like that happen — it’s all a matter of opinion — and we have to move on.”

And how about Chelsea’s chances of clinching a top four Premier League slot and with it a place in next season’s Champions League? “Yes, I think they’ll do it,” added Chalobah. “Results have been going their way recently and I’m backing them to do it.”


Photo: TWTD



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



therein61 added 16:17 - Apr 25
Many thanks for your time with us young man all the best for the future.
13

KernewekBlue added 18:08 - Apr 25
I've seen him turn out for us on several occasions this term and I'm afraid, personally speaking, I don't rate him.

He seems to be a bit of a headless chicken with the ball at his feet. I can count on one hand the number of decent things I've seen him do on the pitch this season. I can't see him having a career at Chelsea going forward and to be honest, I wouldn't really want to see him in a Town shirt next season either.

As I've stated, this is MY opinion and I'm quite prepared to have a fair critique aimed at proving me wrong.

Does anyone wish to play Devil's Advocate, tell me I'm wrong and include a reason why?
-2

KernewekBlue added 18:09 - Apr 25
Having said all that in my previous posting, I'm sure he's a nice, decent lad and I wish him all the best for his future.
3

GluedtoBlue added 18:24 - Apr 25
Chalobah has definite ability and comments like the above are probably citing his sometimes wayward passing and overplaying, which can be frustrating.

A lot of that is inexperience and his style can lead to him looking to relaxed (I don't think that's the case mind). I have no doubt he'll play in premier league at some point.

Not in a million years will we keep him next year. Expect to see him in a play-off chasing team.
4

KernewekBlue added 18:51 - Apr 25
GluedtoBlue...

If he has lots of ability, I think he's hidden it rather well.

As far as I've witnessed, his passing is much, much more wayward than it is accomplished.

Far from looking relaxed, I'd say he has looked, more often than not, out of his depth in the midfield, like a deer caught in headlights. He is NOT a midfielder in my opinion. I think he might benefit from dropping back into a back four and not having responsibility for driving the midfield forward and dictating play, despite what he now feels is his preferred position.

Unless there is a dramatic improvement in his all-round game (certainly as a midfielder), I can't see him turning out in The Premier League any time soon. I can't even see a team chasing promotion next term breaking their necks to sign him up after his levels of performance this season.

As I've previously stated, these are merely my own observations and I could be wrong?

You tell me.
0

DebsyAngel added 18:52 - Apr 25
Will miss him not being here. Been my favourite player this season. And love his hair :D
4

KernewekBlue added 18:57 - Apr 25
To continue on a slightly different yet related note...

Our homegrown, young midfield guns such as Downes, Bishop and Dozzell are, in my opinion, far better players and deserved to be given opportunities to shine ahead of any loanees.

What's so wrong in giving our own youth a chance?

Would anyone pick Chalobah ahead of our own talented youngsters?
1

KernewekBlue added 18:58 - Apr 25
DebsyAngel...

If only his hair was worth an extra 20 league points!!!
3

DebsyAngel added 19:10 - Apr 25
Indeed, KernewekBlue!!
0

LegendofthePhoenix added 19:28 - Apr 25
Kernewek, in the first dozen or so matches, I would have agreed with you. However, I think Trevoh came on leaps and bounds as the season progressed. He is possibly the most energetic player we have had this season (would like to see the Opta stats on that) and the number of misplaced passes has reduced as the season has progressed, and he certainly has an eye for the killer pass. Has also had several decent strikes on goal himself. If he was one of ours, he would be be my player of the season.
5

LancsBlue added 20:18 - Apr 25
Chalobah is going to be a top, top player. He has come into a very difficult situation at Ipswich and in my opinion has been our best player. He has played regularly for England at various levels and indeed captained them. This summer at 19 he may well play in a major U21 tournament. However, the whole England coaching set-up, which has been harvesting youth titles over the last few years, are wrong. KernewekBlue says he's a "headless chicken". People on this site I'm sure will make their own minds up on whose opinion they most value.
2

KernewekBlue added 23:29 - Apr 25
As I said LancsBlue... it is just my opinion.

Just because I think we would have fared better with a different player in midfield, doesn't make it the irrefutable truth.

Everyone has an opinion... I happen to think mine is the correct one.

Just because he's played for the England youth sides, it doesn't make him the next Lionel Messi. I rarely believe all the hype that comes associated with certain players who are tipped to light up the world with their footballing prowess... a lot of them come and go without leaving any real mark in the sport. My feeling is that Chalobah is one such player. I suspect his England call-ups have had something to do with him being part of Chelsea's youth set up. Maybe you think that's a bit of a cynical viewpoint, you're welcome to make your own mind up, obviously. He certainly hasn't performed well enough in my mind to label him as a future England stalwart. I hope I'm very wrong... only time will tell for sure.

I will agree that he got ever so slightly better after the first few months of the season but, on what I've witnessed with my own eyes, I'd much rather have seen players promoted from our own youth ranks ( as we've been promised will now happen ).

Anyway, as I previously stated, I wish him all the best in whatever he does next as he seems like a very nice lad.
-1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 04:40 - Apr 26
Don't forget he's only 19. Plenty of time for further development. If he were "one of our own," I think we'd be crowing about it.
6

heathen66 added 08:57 - Apr 26
Been an absolute Star and in my opinion was the Player of the Season by a long stretch, in front of Pennington (another loan, which is perhaps why they did not win it)
Energetic, tackles, wins headers shoots and looks for that killer pass, and this is why he sometimes gives the ball away more that others such as Skuse, who plays a safe pass to his 'bezzie mate' 90% of the time.
Always looks to take responsibility and this is a 19yo, not a seasoned pro !!!
Would love to see him here next season, but I know that is not going to happen.
One of the very few bright spots of a dis-appointing season.
1

Marinersnose added 12:38 - Apr 26
Chalobah is a top top player who has come into a poor side and outshone many others. Yes he gives the ball away occasionally but he's young. He wins so many balls and is always demanding the ball. For such a young player he's been the stand out player for me. He will be a top Premiership player for sure. There's a reason that he's been appointed Captain of England youngsters. He has definitely developed in his time with us . When he doesn't start the midfield is so much weaker. He came off the bench in a recent home game and changed the dynamics of the team. Good luck Trev big future ahead imo.
2

OwainG1992 added 14:29 - Apr 26
Trevor has improved vastly as the season has gone on.
I think Dozzell has gone backwards from where I expected him to be.
Downes and Bish will be key next season.
4

BeattiesBackPocket added 15:48 - Apr 27
He's a good lad and given his all for us however for a big guy I don't remember him putting in many tackles or being very creative he has hit and miss games but will do as he's young but he's not made the impact Fraser or Lawrence have in the past. I wish him all the very best but I really don't know what position is best for him he has no chance of getting in the Chelsea side and will probably have to drop to the championship for regular football. Harsh I know and I hope I'm wrong but we have to thank the kid for his efforts.
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024