DYC.

Come on Chelsea! Can't allow this to happen.

That's what you get playing at the tempo of a team from the 70's. We're supposed to be a PL team, sigh.

The coach needs to tell the wide men to stretch them a lot more. Also the Ramires-Lamps combo simply doesn't work, we need Mikel in there for sure. For Ramires if it was up to me, would also allow Lamps a bit. David Luiz has been great.

I'm shocked. He was awful in his time here in Holland.

True, we need a holding midfielder. I'd take off Ramires for Mikel.

It's because he's our new John Terry!!We're far too narrow and the passing is just too sloppy. Awful display on the ball so far.

It's sad every player wants to be a #10 nowadays. Eden has been playing to his strengths in recent weeks and it's paying off. He's a all-round wide man rather than a genuine #10. Maybe in a few years.

Tackling includes standing tackles, which makes it very important for a player in any defensive role imo.

I understood what you said. When you click on the defensive tab, you can see their stats for tackles, interceptions etc and they are similar, which is of course impossible if Kevin truly did have a far higher defensive work-rate.

That's funny. I've also watched him play at Bremen and I don't see what you see. The stats suggest something completely different as well. His work-rate is 10 times that of Lamps? http://www.whoscored.com/Players/48/ http://www.whoscored.com/Players/73084/

I said attacking midfielder not #10. Lamps is a attacking midfielder but he's a CM. The position a player plays on paper is irrelevant, it's all about how he plays on the pitch. Like Lamps he starts from central midfield to join attacks constantly. Most of the time he just strolls back if the ball is lost and does little defending. His presence in the defensive third is also rare. And that's why I wonder how he all of a sudden knows how to defend when he's only played on the wing and in a similar role as he's playing now in his entire career. But If you're telling me you believe he can learn how to defend (at the required level of the role) then that's a completely different story of course.

I didn't follow Verratti at Pescara but I don't think any coach in the world would move an attacking midfielder (looking at your post, I assume he used to be a attacking midfielder?) who is performing to a deeper role. Which wasn't the case with Pirlo for example. And that's my point, fixing something that isn't broken. But let's just wait and see. I'm just glad he's performing well and hope he keeps it up.

Of course it's possible. But I personally don't see it happening tbh and I don't see the use of it. He clearly enjoys playing in the way he does now and has been doing in his career. Players usually get moved from more attacking roles to deeper roles because they can't handle the pressure in advanced positions and/or lack effiency (or with older players it's when they decline physically) but that's clearly not the case with Kevin.

That's the same as me saying Mata can play in the double pivot, his current role is just the role he's been asked to play. Kevin has always been a offensive player. But of course you are allowed to believe he can play in that position.

He's a offensive midfielder, not suited to the double pivot at all. He hardly does any defensive work at Bremen. He makes Lamps look like Vidal and people were complaining about Lampard neglecting his defensive duties and pushing up too much. Ideally we'd play a three man midfield and have him and Oscar compete for the offensive CM role next year.

I look at Obi and I often just scratch my head. He's 6 ft 2, muscular and he's shown (mostly on the ball) he possesses impressive strength. Yet he rarely makes use of it in his defending, so strange. He'd be a better player if he would add physicality to his game and it would also help our team a lot as we seriously lack power. You'd think one of the 27 coaches he's played under in the past 6 and a half years would instruct him to do so. Add aggression to your game and use your strength Obi.

You're absolutely right. The way English football is set up is just awful for youth development. To add to what you've already said, there's the rule where clubs are only allowed to scout in their own designated areas. There are like 756 clubs in London and they all have to share the talent in the area. But the club also doesn't buy players at a young age for relatively low prices (so incredbily hyped up/talented players don't count) and help them develop into future first team players. Look at Lucas for example. Unknown at first, ridiculed by opposition fans and media at first but look at him now. Best DM in the league if you ask me. But with the immense pressure on managers, young players can't develop here as the managers pick (and buy) experienced players because everyone has to perform right now. Even fans have picked up that mentality as they already grow tired of a player after a few bad performances.

I just have do this. Shame on you LDN, Raul's technique is brilliant. His touch, control, passing technique and shooting technique, simply fantastic in every aspect. As for your post, very idealistic. I've given up on us producing first team players through our academy a long time ago. The academy is all about making money, rare exceptions excluded. It's impossible to consistently promote youngsters with the way the club is run (short-term vision).

Board out. Bring in sensible football men who know the game and will run the club like it's supposed to be run, like a football club and not a business.

So this is the Benitez effect.. Same effect as a rectal examination.

He's exhausted. He's played far too much.

We played 4-3-3 yesterday, actually it was more like a 4-5-1 as the wide players were acting as midfielders instead of real wide forwards. Off the ball we switched to 4-4-1-1(ish) shape. The problem is the wide players were very predictable, always cutting inside. And they didn't stay out wide often enough imo. Bertrand also offered nothing in offense when he was on. But the central midfielders were definitely positioned in that shape. The decision-making in the final third was simply poor for most of the game.

Let's get another clean sheet.

Absolutely awful in offense once again. Just painful to watch.

Now I know the false CB is a dig at David but who's the false midfielder?