The Skipper

Not sure about those lines, ugh...

I would start Salah in this one.

I understand what you're saying in that it's a different mentality and system and stuff but my point in that post was that he has shown flashes of his ability to consistently unlock defences for Brazil, it's a fundamental thing. You can either do it or you can't - I think our system at CFC only allows for one creative player in the team to do their thing (Hazard) and subsequently, players like Mata, KDB, Oscar and Willian have suffered. About Luiz - he had plenty of good PL + FA Cup games at CB last season, and was by far our best CB last season as well IMO. His main problem was his positioning but he was well on his way to solve that. Even Benitez calls him a world class CB if managed properly, and Benitez was training him day in day out. Towards the end of last season he was definitely approaching that world class bracket as a CB and I thought this would be his breakout year to establish himself as a top CB, especially after his showings at the CC, but he's obviously regressed, which is a shame. Him not playing regularly in his natural position also affected him a lot this season - he's not as comfortable as he was at the back last season. You're right in saying that it is a worry though but at the same time there are a lot of other variables that affected their performances this year. Personally I hope both Oscar and Luiz get a chance to redeem themselves next year (especially the latter in his natural position) because when they are in top form they are both fine players.

You're not getting my point. You asked the difference between AVB's results and Jose's results, and I just pointed out that we were on a great run a few games before the CP loss.

We were after Torres in the summer before as well, when Ray was there. There were rumours.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

Luiz, Mikel, KDB and Oscar aren't bad players IMO though. Luiz and KDB especially replicated their NT form for their clubs respectively last season, so I'm not sure what you're trying to point out.

No one is saying that though. What people are trying to convey is that a good strike force would just paper over the long term cracks - a good strike force would've definitely put us in a better position for trophies this year but the problems in the squad run deeper than that.

I know that's your main problem with Oscar. The jury is still out on that one in my opinion - but he has shown flashes for us and particularly has for Brazil - one of the main reasons Neymar has bagged so much for his NT is due to Oscar's assists and creativity. I want him to translate that to is for CFC, but I feel the system we've implemented sort of restricts him, and also someone like Willian. KDB and Mata were also restricted.

That is very true. At Mou's Madrid Di Maria was often labelled a headless chicken, now look at him. It has more to do with the coach's instructions IMO. Ancelotti's teams have always been great going forward because he implements a good system for his front line, that hasn't been the case with us unfortunately, we look lost in attack a lot of the time.

If we manage to get those three in, offload Torres, Ba, Mikel and some of the guys out on loan i.e Kakuta, Romeu etc. it'll be a very successful year for us next year.

You're both right, a striker would've definitely glossed over some of our problems this season but at the same time we need a change of approach/mentality in some games.

Yeah, that was to pay homage over his performance against Man City, by far away his best in a CFC shirt. But yeah, dude is the biggest fraud in football right about now. Gets paid £175k a week, cost us £50m... Honestly, stealing a living. Third season in a row where he's filled the fans up with false hope after some decent performances to begin with.

I was just about to say this. A lot of our players have regressed/stagnated this season and they are regressing at the wrong time. It's quite worrying how Oscar, Luiz, Ramires and even Ba, Mikel and Fraud Torres have completely stagnated or declined as players this season, especially the former three. If those three were in good form at this time of the season we'd easily still be amongst the favourites for the title and also would've played a lot better yesterday. It's a shame, especially in regards to the former three, because I felt they'd all grow even more this season but for some reason that just hasn't happened.

It's difficult to create when you have no striker in front of you in the first half and a fraud up front in the second, and when we have no pattern to our play if we're not counter attacking.

He needs to be more adventurous in the final third, usually opts for the easy pass like he doesn't believe in his ability.

Disagree. I've played as a GK at a pretty high level and I'm telling you, the goal is 100% on Cech. If Cech comes out and challenges the ball (which doesn't look that hard when you look at the replay) the goal has been prevented.

I know Ray usually chats a lot of waffle but at the time he was Carlo's assistant manager so...

Ray Wilkins said that the Torres signing was Ancelotti's idea, not Roman's.

To be fair to Styles, he didn't want Mourinho in to begin with, I vividly remember that. Personally I feel like today was more on the players, lacked passion or any effort in the final third in the second half - Mou tried to kill the tie off by bringing on a fraud "striker" but because we decided to stop our high press game in the second half (whether this was Mou's instructions or not I don't know, looked more like a lack of desire from the players) our whole game plan went out the window, and because there was a general lack of effort around the whole team we conceded two very bizarre and sloppy goals. The only thing I like about the result is that we now have to go at them at The Bridge, which we should've done in the second half but there's nothing to lose now.

I agree with your latter statement, but still that doesn't exclude my point... Hazard was poor in the second half because we lost grasp of the midfield because we weren't pressing high anymore and our intensity dropped a lot. We dropped our wingers back, they both defended deeply... And because there was no intensity in our counter attack from any of the front four in the second half (like we wanted to just go home with the 1-1/2-1 instead of trying to kill the tie off, wrong approach from the team), Eden was anonymous.

A 14 match unbeaten run before the Palace game maybe?

It's pretty well known that Ancelotti pushed for the Torres transfer.

That's what happens when you have to force your best attacking player to come deep and defend... Completely negated in the second half.

I always say that if Luiz has to be our most defensive midfielder he won't perform. Matic makes him look good. He did alright in the first half but I wasn't as impressed with him as some were on here tbh. Right now he's looking like a shell of his former self, which is a real shame. Real shame how he's regressed as a player this year, but I guess that's what happens when the manager's philosophy doesn't suit your style of play.