The Skipper

Thanks for this mate, I'll be using certain aspects for the MDP if you don't mind.

It's ridiculous mate.

Yeah, it's ridiculous how because Rambo hasn't really played well recently that suddenly people are suddenly advocating Luiz over Ramires in midfield.Matic, Lampard, Ramires and Mikel are better midfielders than Luiz in my book.

Effective management is knowing that Terry will retire soon and that Ivanovic is 30 later this month. We're definitely going to have to spend big on a new CB soon regardless.Like I said before, I know Luiz isn't having the best of seasons but to say he automatically isn't in Mourinho's plans (when there's been many factors affecting why he isn't starting) is ridiculous IMO. You're writing him off far too soon I think.

Hardly pushing 30 is it?

Seriously? So easy for you to completely forget that he was really good defensively at the end of last season because he isn't having a good time this season. Do you think he's not progressed at all as a player (taking away this season so far)? Because that is a ridiculous notion to make IMO. I wasn't saying that - I thought you suggested that Luiz doesn't play well in the massive games which isn't true. I wasn't talking about his mentality in the smaller games. Apart from this season, his mentality in smaller games have been great, he was often one of the players that tried to step up when things weren't going our way, and it seems like you're completely forgetting that because he hasn't been the best this season. So this hasn't been Cahill's most consistent form in a Chelsea shirt?

As Jype said above, there are other players we can sell to raise funds. I know Luiz isn't having a fantastic season but to say he's dead wood isn't true. Luiz's problems has nothing to do with not fitting in Mourinho's system.

Cavani is 26.

No he isn't the same guy... You're acting like Luiz has not changed whatsoever which is simply untrue. He's not the same sort of defender anymore - that enthusiasm when he first came has pretty much been beaten out of him. He was maturing as a player up until the very end of last season and if he continued that sort of form he'd be our number 1 CB but obviously due to international duties, injuries, a lack of pre season, and Gary Cahill taking his chance he hasn't been able to play as often and has stalled. It's really that simple. Cardiff at home isn't a big game... I thought you were on about Liverpool calibre opponents. And the tale is pretty simple. Gary Cahill is in the form of his life and has had solid game after solid game for a while now, it would be extremely harsh and hypocritical of Mourinho to drop him when Luiz isn't at top form either.

Just because we sold to buy players this January window doesn't mean we have to do the same in the summer. Pretty sure we've got money set aside for the summer. We'll get rid of some unneeded squad players like Ba, Moses, Marin, Kakuta etc. which will generate funds for Luke Shaw (plus the leftover money from January) and then we'll have a set amount of money we can spend this summer on a world class striker.

People need to stop putting Luiz in midfield... It's not going to be happening anymore IMO.

The main reason youngsters have not made it here in recent years IMO is managerial instability.

Seems you have forgotten Luiz's ability completely just because he's been off form and Cahill has been in the form of his life. That's the only reason Luiz isn't playing because Cahill getting dropped would make no sense right now as he doesn't deserve it. Can we trust Luiz against a team against Liverpool? Tell me, when was the last time Luiz made a mistake in a big game? And how many mistakes has he made in big games in general... You won't find many at all.

Statistically, he's by far our best striker in the PL. Eto'o vs. Torres vs. Ba this season:

Pretty sure we'll sign Luke Shaw and a WC striker. Would be nice to bring in someone like Kroos as well.

Rightfully so though IMO, they've been really good in the past few games. Hopefully we'll bring them back down to earth though.

From what I remember, the winner was pretty lucky but we played pretty well against City - their goal came from a moment of Aguero brilliance, not from them outplaying us for the majority of the game. We matched City in every aspect in that game, so truly I don't know why you're so scared. City have a great team but you're overrating them a bit.

Yeah, City are more clinical than us no one denies that, but to say we should West Ham it against them is disrespectful to the players we have in our team. We aren't some relegation battling team like West Ham, we have some classy players that when on form can do damage to anyone. They said we would get spanked against Bayern as well but we ended up scoring twice against them and only lost out on penalties, and this is when we were still finding our feet at the start of the season. We might lose, we might draw, we might win but you should really not talk as if City are the best team the world have ever seen. They haven't faced an animal like us yet. We really aren't that inferior to City as the table tells - we're only 3 pts behind them. If Mourinho gets his tactics right and the team performs well in general, there's no reason to think why we can't take points from City or even end up winning. You and others should have more faith in the team and manager.

You cannot use one game where we were unlucky to score in to justify whatever you're saying... Even the best teams in history have been held in this manner.

off topic but; Nathaniel has a long way to go but if he makes it here I don't see why not. He always shows leadership qualities on the pitch.

When I called him JT's heir I was comparing their playing styles, as in when JT retires I can see him filling the void. Both are no nonsense defenders - I didn't mean to say he'd be a future captain here.

There's no way that even if we beat them on Monday that we're certain to win the title. There's too many games left and beating City would only draw us level to then, they still have a vastly superior goal difference. The same way if we lose or draw it doesn't mean we're completely out of the title race either.

Yeah, I remember at the time Sergio was practically whoring himself to us. It really infuriates me how Carlo picked Torres over Aguero.

Schurrle, who hasn't even been good in his natural position recently should be played in a position he isn't even comfortable in against Man City? Wow.

He's good enough to play regularly as a starter for a team like Everton or Southampton as well IMO.