Peace.

If you have players good enough, and players suited to this style, of course. Barça didn't destroy ManU in 2009 and 2011 ?

After a night of reflexion, I came to the conclusion we are mistaking on the high defensive line. And we have failed to recognize where the real problem lies. Indeed, we put the fault on our defense - of course it is at fault - but the real problem lies down in our midfield. To try to explain my theory, I'll start to make a little analyse of Barcelona FC, since they are the best club in the world, and they use this tactic perfectly. I'll choose a non-conformal formation from the catalan side, on purpose to highlight the fact the midfielder play a crucial part in the good running of the high defensive line. Pep Guardiola decided to play with a 3-4-3 formation against Villareal (if my memory serves me right). The midfield was composed of Keita (as holding midfielder), Thiago Alcantara (as right midfielder), Iniesta (as left midfielder) and Fabregas (as n°10). The defense, was composed of Mascherano, Busquets and Dani Alves. This is a bit "shocking", two midfielders and a left back were composing the defense... Though, they didn't concede no goal, and weren't put in trouble at all. So, why ? Because these three players are world class defender ? No. Because Barça has an average of 75% of ball possession, and the midfielders barely give the ball away. Well then, let's ask ourselves why these midfielders don't give the ball away under any circumstance. This is because their passing games are among the best, they have a great skill, they know how to dribble two/three opponents and finaly, because they know to keep the ball under the pressure. Their players who fit this description are Xavi, Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago and Busquets. Now, let's come back to Chelsea, and let's take a look to our squad. The only midfielder we have - at the moment (yes, Romeu could be mentionned, though too young yet) - who is similar to Barcelona's midfielders, is Mata. And the problem with him, is that he isn't played as a midfielder, but as a winger who cuts inside. The other players from the midfield just haven't the attributes to keep away the ball from the opponents. Plus, our way of playing isn't right for the high defensive line, in the case where we do not have defenders suited for this style. Indeed, we don't play possession game, but a game on a high tempo, which means we will lose many more times the ball than if we were playing possession game. Thus, our defenders are more often facing situations where the other side will take profit of the space granted. Hence, in my honest opinion, as long as we won't have skilful midfielders, this high defensive line won't work. Yes to play Luiz in the defence is a step forward to reach security while playing this tactic, but as long we won't have at least a midfielder able to keep the ball (Modric anyone ?), it will always be more or less catastrophic, to me eyes.

I do not know whether those comments are directed to me or not... But I don't how on earth saying he makes mistakes makes me wanting him to be sacked, and makes me impatient.... Smh.

What about Sturridge ? I heard he banged a lot a goals since last January.

To be frank... I don't think he would have gotten rid of those players even if he was appointed earlier. I mean, André Villas-Boas seems to be pleased with the squad he has, and especially with Malouda. We don't see any will to make them fringe players. Because, you know, when a manager doesn't want a player, it's easy to work it out. And yes Mata and Meireles are an improvement on what we had, but it ain't enough.

Any day of the week, my friend. And it isn't a new opinion I have. I say so since... ferbruary, March ? And ask yourself a question, if you doubt of my point. Would you rather play a man who has scored 13 goals in 19 games, since the end of January, or a striker who can't score anymore / a striker who doesn't have any more the eager to play / a striker who is average.

I would have given you a +1 of rep, but I can't anymore give rep today. I am fully agree with you. The only ability Danni shares with wingers, is the pace/speed. But his passing game, and his crosses aren't good enough to be a winger. And on top of things, he has the selfishness of a striker, and because of this he can't become a winger, he has the striker's blood. And what piss me off, it is that he is a brilliant striker and goalscorrer, but no one (both our board and our managers) looks at him like a striker. Look at his stats, last year he has scored 8 goals out of 12 games and this year 5 goals out of 7 games. He is a prolific striker, and he is the best striker we have at our disposal since Ancelotti's second season has started, yet he's still overlooked when it comes to chose our main attacker. For his own sake, and our own sake (-> Chelsea's sake), he has to be played as a striker. Because he is the striker who scores on a regular basis whom we need.

Good post Tomo. And oh, we should start every game with only 10 men on the pitch, from now on.

When you have understood that, you have understood everything. He is not a winger, and I can't see him become good there. And I think we are agree on the matter. And I hope the managment team will soon realize this fact, and replace him in the center of the attack as soon as possible, because I fear the same phenomenon that happened to Ivanovic happens to him, i.e. that he won't look comfortable anymore in this spot.

I can see where TermX is coming from, even if I find his view a bit harsh. André has his share of errors, to be frank. We can't be in denial of things. We can blame him to have failed to fix all our problems during the mercato. Indeed, we didn't buy the most needed playmaker, the right winger and the right back. We also can blame him to have decided to keep the likes of Malouda and Kalou, who are totally useless (except fo our opponents). To keep sticking with Bosingwa, when he is clearly not good enough to be a part of our club, is also one of his mistakes. And, to make us play with a high defensive line while we do not have enough pacy players (especially defenders) to play in such a way, is his error. But, on the other hand, thanks to him we play faster ; we are attacking-minded ; we've stopped the side-passing ; we start to be nice to watch ; he managed to impose a team-working ; etc...

Malouda, Kalou, Bosingwa and Anelka are four players that we should have tried hard to offload. At the end of august, it happened that the board didn't even tried to sell them. Now, when we talk about players whom we have to get rid, their names come in first position. That puts in relief our average mercato, and shows our board didn't really target the problems and hence didn't have fixed them.

Recall him, and tell Malouda to go to the barbershop.

Happy you've reconsidered your view on him I used to say he was the right back version of Walcott, but it seems that even Walcott can make something productive...

Watching Barça battering Mallorca, that's refreshing Messi with a hat trick, with only 30 minutes played.

^ Oh okay, I didn't expect this function there ^^"" Thanks.

I'm done. The joke has lasted long enough. Comes January, we have to tell him to fuck off. Let's play Ivanovic at Right Back and promote Clifford to the first team. This guy's a good-at-nothing. He can't defend for his life, he can't dribble, and I wonder if someone has ever explained him the purpose of a cross. The only thing he is good at, it's to run in straight line.

Could you add the "mark as read" option, when you are on the "view new posts" page ? Like there was some times ago, before the forum has been updated.... ??

Really ?????? For fuck sake, this kid was supposed to be the next Cech. If even in this league he can't get game, that means either or scout have fucked, or our board are shit when it comes to loan player.

Glory hunter... A word misused. Indeed, what being a glory hunter means ? It litterally means to seek, to research for glory. A glory hunter will support a team who is currently playing well and in a winning form, and will change of team as soon as this team starts to lose. Now, do you honestly think that a glory hunter will bother to post here after two bad games from Chelsea ? No. Do you think a glory hunter will be pissed off after a defeat ? No. He will suscribe himself in a Man City or Barcelona forum. I do not see glory hunters on this forum, and I don't think there is any regular member who could fit this describtion. What you are calling "glory hunters" are actually fans who bother about Chelsea, and are angry after a bitter and humiliating defeat. And to end off, what piss me off, isn't those fans who have knee-jerk reaction, but those who use "glory hunter" so easely.

But I gotta admit, what I love when we lose is that the forum is quite busy

I think he will have to turn away from his high line defense, for the moment. I like this tactic, and I like the fact he want us to play this way. But at the moment, we haven't the personnel to allow us to play in such a fashion. Indeed, Bosingwa hasn't any defending ability, and Terry is too slow for that. And to play this way without the right personnel doesn't pardon in a pacy league as the EPL. With a new right back, and the partnership Ivanovic-Luiz (???- Ivanovic - Luiz - Cole) I think we'll be able to play the high defensive line without taking too many risks.

XD In the same topic, we could turn Danni into a defender, since he failed to score and make an easy assist.

^ Yep, I see where your coming from. But, in my honest opinion, the edit bar is too noticable and too ugly. I wouldn't mind an edit bar if it was more discreet.

Yep. Our two center backs should be Luiz-Terry for two reasons : Because we can't keep going with Bosingwa at this spot. He isn't even good enough to make the bench imo. Therefore, Ivanovic has to be our right back. Because Luiz-Terry partnership is way more better than Iva-Terry (I think a pair Ivanovic-Luiz might be better, but since the serbian has to be RB...).

Hum... We can also try to right back, or left back lol.