The Skipper

Not sure buddy, pop into your local Adidas store and have a look.

But if you think Luiz isn't capable why do you think Cahill is? Luiz has done more than Cahill has for this club. Luiz is one of the few players in the team who drive the team on, he has to be one of the prime contenders for captaincy, definitely over Cahill. The only thing that's holding Luiz back is probably his English, which isn't even that bad right now, but he can improve that. Cahill shouldn't even be considered IMO simply because he's not even one of our starting players.

Yes it does lol... It fully explains it.

Fully agree on your view about Luiz and his role in midfield, and you know my views on Mikel already; like you said we shouldn't derail & turn this into another Mikel debate! What I will say though is that he's going through a rough patch at the moment and it's easy to kick a dog when he's down. He's still a good player in my opinion, but right now he just isn't motivated - maybe that's due to Rafa, we don't know. But we'll leave it there. Thing is, everyone acknowledged that Hazard changed the game for us but Mikel played a role in that too. Everyone can admit that Hazard had a big say in the turn around. Mikel got praised because he gave our forwards a nice platform and recycled possession well.

It's pretty self-explanatory... The teams done alright in the last few weeks and Rafa's said that he isn't staying beyond this season. It's that simple...

Fair enough, I understand the argument that Luiz is needed in midfield simply because we don't have anyone who can distribute the ball like him in there, perfectly plausible argument. After all, our CB area is pretty much still covered up decently even if Luiz doesn't play there. What I don't understand though is the people that want him there permanently - it's too late into his career to permanently change his position to a CDM. Luiz will definitely do the job in midfield against weaker teams who tend to sit deep and not press but against teams like City or United or even Tottenham I think he'll struggle - but we do need his distribution from the pivot, certainly against teams that sit deep. I feel like Mikel can do what Luiz is doing but he isn't being pushed enough - if I was Rafa I'd certainly look at Mikel and tell him "Look, you have the technical abilities to distribute the ball excellently, you need to take gambles like Luiz does and distribute the ball forward as quick as possible". Mikel has that in his locker for definite but he's not being pushed IMO. Mikel needs to bring more to the team offensively, especially when we play against weaker sides. Luiz is more of an offensive threat in midfield than Mikel so that's why he works better against teams that sit deeper and don't really press us. Mikel's been getting a lot of stick recently but I still think he's a better DM than Luiz. He's just going through a rough patch atm. In the big games against teams who we expect to press us heavily I'd actually start Ramires and a motivated Mikel in the pivot and move Luiz back to CB simply because he'll have more space to pick out passes and (if done correctly) can still have license to roam forward. I'd also actually look at playing a Luiz - Mikel midfield (they have looked good together before) but you can't leave out Ramires in the big games. It's an interesting conundrum, and I really can't wait until we get in a proper deep lying playmaker in the pivot who can do what Luiz does even better so Luiz can go back to his natural position - as I've said before, our team would be a lot more unpredictable and we'd have an extra offensive outlet too.

So everyone is a fool? Haha, you crack me up Henrique. Never change.

If there was one CB I would take from Germany right now it'd probably be Howedes.

We beat United and Spurs and top 4 is ours because we open up a 6 point gap between us and Spurs with 2 games remaining and due to our far more superior GD we would be alright. If we win the next two PL games we can fully concentrate on preparing for the EL final if we make it there.

There's not anything official suggesting we're not. People are overreacting because of rumours; they automatically want to slate the board for "contemplating" the sale of KDB even though no one really knows if they even are.

Let me know how this is, I've never watched the series but only heard good things about it. Might be my next book purchase.

He should've been young player of the year. Real shame.

We'll get them at SB.

Charly Musonda on for Feruz, who's not been good tonight. Boga as a false nine or...?

Remember when people wanted Feruz to replace Torres? He's nowhere near ready, these last couple of games have showed that IMO.

No. Tribalfootball is the worst source anyone could quote. The deal isn't off at all, no one credible's come out to say it is, I wouldn't be worried yet until something more concrete comes out about it.

I chuckled haha.

Bring on Swift IMO.

No. Not good enough for a top team or a team aspiring to be such.

First touch is heavily influenced by confidence. If you've played football at any level before you'll know that.

Spike said, "Okay, chances are that if Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford he will bring along some Real Madrid players. I'm guessing two. Which two would you have here?", so obviously you'd have to think of realistic options more than your personal preferences. That's how the question seems poised to me.

Nah, don't agree with Oscar having to "work" so much on his first touch. He had a bad game in that respect but his first touch is more than fine. In Brazil they play a lot of street soccer (well used to anyway) and I'm assuming Oscar was brought up under that, so his first touch in tight situations is naturally good. Like Styles said, 75% of the time his first touch is excellent. People weren't complaining about it before yesterday's game.

Modric and Di Maria. I'd love Varane but he's the most unrealistic option out of him and Di Maria and I think in the short term we could do with Di Maria more than Varane. Don't know why people are suggesting Varane when he's as unrealistic as Ronaldo and Casillas.

I disagree with Luiz being sloppy on the ball, he has one of the best ball control/technique in the squad. He just tries things as he's an adventurous player and sometimes it doesn't work; in which case he ends up giving away the ball It doesn't mean he's sloppy though. Tactical awareness though I agree with - but that's simply down to him not being used to playing in the DM role - it would take him a couple of seasons to get fully accustomed at that which I don't think we have time for.