MrExcalibur100

When we signed Oscar, I just get the feeling we signed potential. Unlike Neymar for example, he never made any waves in the domestic league in Brazil. He was a talented prospect, who had a very good Under 20 world cup, (he even scored a hattrick in the final vs Portugal I think), and that's when his reputation became enhanced. It's different from Hazard who was already a superstar in France. Two time player of the year, a league and cup double winner and the highest paid player, all at or before 21. He was already close to world-class back then. It will be different with a Pogba for example, who is himself already a superstar at 20/21 in Italy. If we are to sign young players for the first team in the future, it should be players of the highest calibre possible, if not, we're just producing stumbling blocks for our youth. It doesn't make sense to sign a 20/21/22 year old who is only marginally better than our youth. (I'm not suggesting that was the case with Oscar, but he was certainly no Hazard when we signed him).

There is something fundamentally wrong with Brazilian football in regards to talent coming through. They just aren't producing the same talents as before. Maybe it's a consequence of too much exportation of talent abroad that has caused the standard of football to deteriorate which adversely affects the quality of youth coming through. I think the Brazilian FA have to do something to deter European clubs from poaching any half decent young player. This is just my little hypothesis, but in my view, that's the major malaise facing Brazilian football, in terms of producing top talent. The current crop of Brazilian talent is the worst I've ever seen. Even their star man, Neymar is the most overhyped player in the world, nothing compared to past greats, and you can tell standards have dropped. Don't even get me started on our Brazilians. The crop from the Under 20 squad, apart from Malcolm (a winger who we are linked to) and maybe Gerson (a centre mid) , there just doesn't seem to be any special talent. And that's been the case with the last 2 or 3 Under 20 Brazilian teams in the last 5 years or so, some of which have even failed to qualify for the U20 World Championships or have been knocked out in early stages. It's clear that Argentina are now the South American team producing the most talented young players. The likes of Angel Correa and Vietto and many others are ready to take place of Messi, Aguero, Di Maria and co. Brazil don't have any forward players in the Under 20 with the talent of a Vietto, let alone a beast like Correa. I was watching the U17 South American Youth Championship (I know) yesterday; Brazil u17 vs Uruguay u17, and there seems to be some hope for Brazil, but not in the immediate future. But again, I feel something needs to be done. It's more than just a cyclical thing for Brazil to produce such mediocre talent for more than a decade now.

Alaba defensively is very suspect but he plays in for a team in a league where he rarely gets tested and the fact he plays for Bayern only enhances his reputaion. Personally, I don't believe he's the best left back in the world.

I'll love him here. He has some assets that none of our other attacking players have but I just don't see him leaving Madrid yet. He's a Perez signing and Perez won't want to accept the most expensive signing in football history was a failure, and knowing Perez, he will do anything to save face.

Crack!!

Some top teams play without a defensive midfielder though. Arsenal did it last season I think. Madrid do it too. In an emergency situation, you don't need a holder.

Coentrao too. Wow. Incredible.

Filipe Luis plays his first game in a full MONTH since Burnley, a game he was arguably our best in and he's getting buried by some. Pathetic. At least Mourinho is watching the tapes and he realizes Azpilicueta impotence in attack is one of the reasons why we have become so predictable. Intricate pass in final third, lose ball, get countered, save from Thibaut, intricate pass in final third leading nowhere, pass to right for Ivanovic inconsistent crosses, gets headed away. Rinse, repeat and so on. If Jose wasn't such a cautious manager, the real Filipe Luis would have been fully integrated into the team by now. Poor guy doesn't even tweet anymore after the games. Probably fed up of warming the bench regardless what he does.

Okay, I'm going to have go for a long one here. You do realize he hasn't played a game in over a MONTH right (vs Burnley, a game he was brilliant in mind, unfairly dropped) and that the lack of overlapping threat from the left flank has made us ridiculously predictable in attack for a long while? I'm not even sure what the point of your comment is, specifically you mocking the idea of Luis being the "best fullback in the world". He is at least in that conversation. Last season, he was widely considered to be the best left back in the world until he came to Chelsea that is and he hasn't been managed properly. The reason Azpilicueta was dropped is that he's been crap in the last two games and is hopelessly inadequate in assisting our attacks, unable to make even simple forward passes. Just rewatch the games vs PSG and Southampton, it was painfully obvious. Let's face it, the only air crosses we deliver into the box are from Ivanovic's inconsistent deliveries and that's about it. Filipe Luis on the other hand is a big threat from the left with his air crosses and even found Costa with a couple today. His attacking threat also dissuades teams from ganging up on Hazard when he drifts out-wide, which is one of the reasons we wanted to sign Luis in the first place! Teams have figured us out and I don't think Azpilicueta is worth that trouble. He has been far from impressive this season, compared to last. I think from now on, anytime Azpi makes poor positional errors, I'll go to his thread and highlight these errors. That way the myth that he's this blameless, indomitable defender will be questioned. Because when he does make mistakes, I rarely see comments like yours on his thread, and believe me, he's made quite a few this season, especially with his tendency to tuck in to centrally. Azpilicueta is still decent on the left, but nothing more, infact I'm sick and tired of him playing there as it doesn't work anymore and I feel he's been on a steady decline since April of last season i.e the errors vs PSG and Sunderland immediately spring to mind. He seems to be in a way living off his reputation pre-April of last season. It's just that no one goes to Azpilicueta's thread to rave and rant about the mistakes he makes, they are simply swept under the carpet, but the minute Luis plays his first game in over a month.... And I'm not even saying Azpilicueta is not a great player, but he's being done no favours by being played out position.

That picture together with his tag is hilarious, lol.

What was that about the quality of defending again? Atrocious goal to concede. Laughable amount of space for Suarez. For all the technical quality on display, that's something neither of these sides learn can do properly. Still, a great finish from the Cannibal.

They always roll him out when any issue of Chelsea fan related racism springs up, for like the thousandth time as if anything remotely close to what Canoville suffered still occurs. It's getting tiresome but very typical of the English media. Plus Sky and co are the biggest bunch of hypocrites.

There has been a lot of space that both sides have failed to exploit, especially Barcelona. Of course, neither side is used to being attacked so I guess it's understandable.

A lot of technical quality, which is not surprising, but the defending as a team is sub-par. That is if you count defending as "quality"

Imagine Eden losing the ball like that

He's looking weary which is understandable. It's his first full season in England and dealing with the intensity of every match and the reality of no winter break must be difficult for him.

Azpilicueta has made many big blunders with ridiculous positioning this season i.e being to central instead of holding his positon or getting destroyed by Navas, but you don't see anyone commenting on Azpilicueta's thread talking rubbish about being shaky. Anyway, great game from Luis. Looked very impressive as usual despite not playing for almost a month. We are a better team with him in the side.

This guy is just hopeless.

William you fucking cunt

Congratulations to Mr "I love contact". Hopefully he gets a chance to get his first cap.

You just get the feeling the next step in his career is to move to the centre. Messi's game went up another level when he played in the centre, closer to goal. I don't think Hazard has anything more to achieve playing out-wide. Watching Messi, and with Hazard's skill-set, it makes a lot of sense. It's something I hope Mourinho considers.

De Gea as well. And those names you mentioned.

While in theory, you're corect, the problem with it is Ramirez can't pass a ball to save his life. This severely limits him and us. In 90% of the games we play, in games we dominate possession, Ramires is more of a hindrance than a help. Add to the fact Ramires' defensive contribution is average at best (some will disagree, but that's how I see it) It's no surprise we went on our unbeaten spell without Ramires being a factor.

Hazard is apparently the massive favourite to win the PFA player of the year award. He will be the first CFC player to win it since Terry did in 2005 and our 2nd ever player to do.

Boss stats, reminiscent of our genius Brazilian : Alexis Sanchez's game by numbers vs. Monaco: 0 goals 0 assists 0 shots on target 0 chances created 74% pass accuracy