Bir_CFC

Sexy cover at least.

I think if he's able to consistently show those qualities then one opinion does become a fact. But fair enough, if not yet then it due time it will become a fact, I don't doubt it.

I classify dribbling as the ability to get past a defender not just by running through them or outrunning them but by doing some kind of action (step over, whatever) that results in your defender getting off balance giving you the slight edge you need to use your first step to blow by them. Simple as that, nothing tricky about it. I don't care if you can do a Rabona, rainbow flick while standing still that's not dribbling ability in my opinion, at least not in a practical footballing sense. You say you don't think Lukaku has the close control to keep the ball, I disagree there too, I think he has exceptional close control. He looses possession due to his bad first touch but almost never due to bad dribbles or bad close control. And, I think he's a better dribbler than every striker you listed there except prime Pato. Worst first touch of the lot though. I'd say he's the best dribbling striker in the PL after Suarez. His close control and dribbling is almost shockingly good for a guy his size.

Not a problem either, added bonus when your CB can launch the counter-attack himself.

The last minute of that video just confirms it to me that he's done the rounds in all the top leagues and is ready to create a dynasty a la Fergie here at Chelsea. Very excited!!

I actually think he's poor at heading, don't agree with WhoScored there.

lol ok, do you want to tell me why you think he's a bad dribbler? I can understand if we're discussing a player's overall quality but dribbling is probably the easiest thing to judge with a player so the argument over opinions almost never enters the discussion when talking about dribbling that's like saying Lukaku isn't fast, that's not a different opinion, that's just wrong i don't mean to put you down, but i just couldn't understand why one would say he is a bad dribbler, hence why i said you may not have seen much of him because he's impressed with his dribbling time and time again

Maybe I haven't seen enough of him but I think he's a risky play at CM. He plays CM like you would play CM in FIFA. Every action is so aggressive with the intention of creating goal-scoring opportunity instantly. That would be amazing in a counter-attacking style but destructive in a possession based style. On the wings, he wouldn't have to worry too much about reigning in his aggressive instincts as much just because that position requires quick, direct actions. What do you guys think? Can he calm down and play like Oscar when needed and just recycle possession and set the tempo? If not, do we really want to train him to decrease his aggressive attacking instincts to force him to play CM in EPL?

It's not an opinion though. It's a fact that he is a good dribbler. If you would have watched him enough you would know that as a FACT that he is a good dribbler. Just like how one would say Hazard is a good dribbler. I'm not saying he is a Hazard level dribbler but as strikers go, he is one of the better ones in all of Europe.

I don't get this he's not fast enough to be a winger. Yeah being fast is great but I don't see how you MUST be fast to play on the wing. He has great dribbling and can cross from any spot on the pitch so really he could just stand still the whole match and still put in better balls than Moses, Lennon, Walcott etc. His best position is RW, then LW, then AMC, then CM (in a 4-3-3). And it's not much in there, it's almost a tie for all of those, he's just a good footballer with brains

He's a squad player and his job is to contribute when called upon. So when our manager wants to rest the three amigos the bench albeit won't be as good but is still able to provide decisive moments. 10 goals, and one of our best players in Europa League is great. Overall, in the league he wasn't as good but before the AFCON even in the league he was doing good. So I'm hoping for some improvement and maybe a better manager can get more out of him, he does show some potential.

You haven't watched him enough if you think he has poor dribbling. Passing is meh, he's like a Demba Ba level passer. First touch has improved a bit this season but I don't think he'll ever have a great first touch. So I agree on passing and first touch, but wholeheartedly disagree on dribbling. He's a very very good dribbler, I'd say he's the best dribbling striker we've had over the past decade. And I also agree he won't be our Drogba, just cause he's big and plays for Chelsea doesn't mean he's Drogba, he plays nothing like a Drogba. He plays more like a Torres, than a Drogba. Overall though I disagree that he can't be a first choice for us, just for the simple fact that his potential is scary high. It's just whether he can fulfill it or not which will determine where his career will go, but if he does, he'll go down as one of the best in Chelsea history. The potential is just scary high for him, he has the work ethic and attitude so I just can't see how you can write him off this early in his career.

I don't see United, they have RVP. I can see him going to City which I don't mind, because if it hasn't come up in the board's mind to buy a striker it def will then and I'm sure we'll break the bank for Cavani in that case.

Should go on loan, he can play a bench role but not good enough to be first choice. He's still pretty raw and would benefit more from another loan spell where he gets to start every game. A loan with a possession based team. The playing style at West Brom is different than at Chelsea. At WBA, their opponents more often than not play attacking football which gives more space to Lukaku which will never happen at Chelsea as everyone will sit deep against us. And if they sit deep, you marginalize Lukaku's biggest strength, his pace and runs behind the defence. That's why he needs to get accustomed to a possession based team and improve his link up play further and his back to the goal hold-up play. Swansea would be my first and last choice, going back to West Brom offers him nothing. I'm not saying he isn't good enough for us now, but for his sake he's still developing and he should aim to get as much playing time as possible. If he stays with us, he'll be good, he'll score bunches as an impact sub but how much will he really improve?

I think he's rather average in terms of distribution.

I'll be there Yayyyy!

They do need to score 2 more than us if we draw, otherwise we would win the tiebreaker by goals scored.

Oscar beasting! Best player on the pitch in the first half imo.

It's not the Belgians, it's everyone and nothing wrong with having passion. I love KDB, I am a huge fan and I would be devastated if we let him go but I really don't see the point in talking shit about the board and saying we are stupid for selling him when it hasn't even happened. And, I really don't see many rumours about him leaving. The most concrete rumours have been that Chelsea DONT want to sell him but wouldn't mind loaning him, yet everyone is acting like the most unreliable rumours of him leaving are gospel. Anyways, I don't want to derail the thread even further, I made my point. I personally don't see us selling him, and the very little information that has surfaced solidify that even further. We might be ok with sending him on loan but I don't agree with that, he's good enough for us. I think he should be backup for all 3 attacking midfield positions or play in a 3-man midfield if we switch to 4-3-3. I also don't think he should be played in the pivot, just cause he has good vision and long passes doesn't mean put him in the pivot. He has other talents as well which will go useless in the pivot. He is and should stay as an attacking midfielder.

Mourinho and other transfer forums are different, their whole point is to discuss the player's transfer, whereas KDB is OUR PLAYER. Talk about how he's performing, how he's playing, what he's doing right and what he's doing wrong. And yeah, nothing wrong with discussing his future but when you're repeating the same stuff over and over again without any new piece of information surfacing is stupid. Every week there is a Bremen game and all of a sudden someone bumps this thread with a genuine post about how he's playing but all that results is in next 10 pages of the same people crying and moaning about the same damn thing.

This thread is full of 15 year old girls on their periods, seriously. I have never seen people cry and moan about something that hasn't even happened yet. Talk about how he's playing at Bremen instead every time he has a game you get five pages of the same people coming back to this thread and moaning. You know he scored two goals today, yet you go back 5 pages in this thread and you still wouldn't know about that. Fucking pathetic. If he gets sold, complain all you want, I'll join you but to spew the same shit every day while having no further reliable information in the matter is fuckin pathetic.

Hazard is a beast as a #10 but I still give the advantage to Mata because he's much more intelligent passer. The #10 has to create but should also be able to help set the tempo from the middle, Hazard can't do that. I'd say Oscar is the best at that but he isn't direct or decisive enough as Mata or even Hazard. Mata is like Hazard + Oscar mixed together, the perfect #10 imo. You look at a player's instinct to see what position he's best suited at, and it's clear to me Mata is the best #10 at Chelsea. His first instinct is always to pass and move, pass and move, killer through ball, killer ball over the top, dangerous crosses, or if presented clinical finish and just great runs all game long. Hazard's first and foremost instinct is to dribble, run with the ball at high speed, perform quick 1-2s. He's a good player and he can play the #10 but I rate Mata as the best #10 in the EPL, maybe even the world (Ozil is close but doesn't score enough for me, I think Gotze is close too and will prolly end up better).

Mata with both POY awards, well deserved. He's had an amazing 2 years at Chelsea. WOW

Who won Fan's POY?

100M : Lewandowski - 30M Moutinho - 20M De Rossi - 15M Sanchez - 25M 4-3-3 Cech Azpi - Ivan - Luiz - Cole Ramires - De Rossi - Moutinho Mata - Lewa - Hazard OR 4-2-3-1 Cech Azpi - Ivan - Luiz - Cole Moutinho - De Rossi Sanchez - Mata - Hazard Lewa Backup GK - Blackman? Maybe need to buy someone (gotta be english, we need homegrown players). Backup RB - Ivan Backup CB - Cahill, Terry Backup LB - Bertrand Backup DM - Mikel, Romeu Backup CM - Oscar, Ramires, Lamps Backup AM - KDB, Moses, Oscar Backup ST - Ba, Torres Great First XI and great depth. Bye bye - Hilario, Turnbull, Ferreira, Marin, Yossi, Essien