Joker10

We need Luis, too many times Hazard is going against 2 players.

He does but when he drops back he becomes a third midfielder for Atletico, they play 4-4-2/4-3-3 hybrid. Somewhat similar to how Oscar plays, only differnce is Oscar plays behind the striker. Koke and Oscar are both AM/CM hybrid, and both share similar skill set which is why i make the comparison. Obviously huge fan of both players.

I guess its a combination of him never playing for a major club in Belguim and playing for a small side in Italy. You would think he would be a regular now, he is playing for a major side in Italy. Looking forward to the Roma and City clash in midweek.

I was a huge fan of him at Benfica, i thought he had everything to reach the level of one of the best midfielder in the world. Since his move to Russia he has completely digresed. Shame he has a rare combination of great technical ability and great work rate.

Radja Nainggolan is an absloute beast in Roma midfield, amazingly underrated by majority of football fans. Can't believe scrubs like Fellaini, Defour, Dembele and Witsel were picked ahead of him. by far Belguim best midfielder. Wishful signing at the moment, but waht a signing he would be to add to this squad.

No way are Cappello, Lippi, Trapatoni, and Bielsa are top managers at the moment. They have had a lengthy and great career, but the game has past them their tactics and management will not suffice for me. Louw is rated way too high, considering everyone biggest doubt about Germany was their manager. Where is someone like Rudi Garcia? What he did at Lille and so far at Roma is extradionary, i am not sure how many managers i would pick over him. By the end of the season, he will be talked about in the same bracket as Klopp and Simeone.

Beside maybe Koke i can't think of another one. Another great performance by Oscar, after Cesc, Hazard, and Costa he has been our best player this season. Maybe Ramires injury could be a blessing in disguise, could undoubtedly prove to Mou that he belongs as a regular in midfield alongside Matic and Cesc.

https://archive.org/details/AnalyseThatPat-OscarVBoltonhLeagueCup14-15Hd

Its been a while since we last saw Willian, Oscar, and Hazard play together, hope to see that lineup this weekend.

I don't believe that, that road is very slippery. Graziano Pelle was a Serie B flop, so far he has been one of the biggest reason for Southhampton current standing after the fire sale they had in the summer. Gervinho is playing under the great Rudi Garcia, his former manager at Lille. Certainly he knows how to best utilize Gervinho. I hope Torres does well, i certainly wish him the best even though his play was frustrating as any player i can remember. Not only from that perspective, but if he plays well his value increases maybe he won't be a complete deadweight to this club.

Meh i won't waste my time with this debate if you don't think there is anything wrong with playing cowardly and scared. Also i don't know about you i was eagerly waiting to see how this team deals with their biggest challenge so far in the season. All i saw was one manager not allowing his team to play football and get completely dominated by the opposition. It was a waste of 2 hours of my day tbh, I usually watch every Chelsea game at least twice and that game was not even worth just the highlight.

There seems to be a disconnect between those who are criticizing Mou tactics against City and those defending him. Most of us are not criticizing the result, a draw is indeed not a bad result and it is a good result imo. Secondly i will speak for my self i am not criticizing Mou for not being ultra attacking ie as you put it "the manager from Merseyside or North London." The problem with Mou tactics it was cautious and scared against City. We gave City vast amount of space and defended with 10 and 11 men all games. It was disappointing for the team leading the table play such an ultra conservative game and park the bus. If you tell me we are going to play a conservative game, but we are going to be aggressive, tenacious, and not give the opposition an inch then i am fine with that. Because defending imo is fun when the whole team acts as a single unit and play like a bunch of aggressive hounds, and able to throw the other team off rhythm. That is admirable football, that is why Simeone's Atletico and Klopp Dortmund are admired by the majority of football fans. Not to say neither hasn't parked the bus, because they have at times. ex CL final after Luis got carted away Alti withdrew their pressure on Madrid, and consequently they payed the price. There is a place and time for everything i certainly can appreciate park the bus tactics ex: When we faced Barca in our CL run, we faced great odds and we did whatever it took to advance. I also appreciated Greece in their Euro victory. There is not much to appreciate of park the bus tactics, if you are EPL table leader.

It definitely looked like that against City to me. We had 0 shots on goal in the first half, it definitely looked like we were going for a 0-0 draw. We had 10-11 men behind the ball and showed no urgency to win back the ball.

The way we played against City was clear cut parking the bus. You don't agree? Watch Alti vs Barca games from last season, great example of great defending and countering. It was impressive how they disrubted Barca passing. Barca couldn't string any meaningful passes in the final third, due to Alti aggressive pressing and good organization. Here is the Full Match if intrested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLjZkUvSjaw

ugh First of nowhere did i say he has not won Barca games single handedly, he is a great goal scorer and creator. Secondly nowhere did i say that Barca downfall was only attributed to their pressing game. Read my post again When Messi was out injured last season Barca pressed so much better it was no coincidence. We also saw in the World Cup how nonchalantly he was strolling on the pitch when the opposition had the ball. The current Messi would have never gotten away with it under Pep, he has lost discipline in that aspect of the game. Xavi decline has nothing to do with Pep, not sure if you are concluding that or using Pep departure as a timeline. Xavi decline it was inevitable just like any great player when they age. It was always been my opinion that Barca decline is mainly attributed with Xavi own decline. Beside their pressing, Barca is nowhere near as dominant on the ball as they used to be. Possession % will not show that, but it is clear they are not enjoying meaningful possession as they used to. Their defense has always been shit, it just happens that their pressing and ability to keep the ball masked that for too long.

Hasen't been the case in years, Barca fans will tell you how lazy Messi has become on the pitch. One of the greatest asset Barca had in their prime was their pressing game, Messi lack of pressing has really tarnished that aspect of their game. Messi is better slightly over Ronaldo, i give him the advantage because of his overall game.

I know about labels, i know calling Mou just a reactive manager is inaccurate. But on the scale of reactive and proactive, he fells awfully close to reactive.

Well if you don't think Mou is reactive manager then clearly he has deceived most of the world of football. I could bring up many examples over his career to show that, but i would love to see you bring up handful of examples where that is not the case. And as for your comment go support Bayern? Smh it is always not black and white, and personally not a fan of what Pep is doing at Bayern either. He has the same problem as Mou, not being able to adept to his team. Ideally how Bayern played in their CL victory under Jupp is perfect football for me. When off the ball press press press and challenge for the ball, and on the ball attack with purpose and speed. Great example of being proactive and playing on the counter.

Schurrle and Ramires are perfect super subs in this team imo. They are very much change of peace players and better suited coming off the bench. Their relentless running off the ball really catches other teams off guard, when we have so many players that like to play on the ball.

My opinion of Mou always been he is the best reactive manager in the world. Unfortunately that is the man who's strength always is playing reactive, he is at his best when reacting to the other side initiative and strength. He will never be a manager that will impose his team own strength on respectable sides. Not taking anything away from him, because no one is better at installing "Us vs the world mentality" then Mou. Which led to his 2 CL victory, because no gave Porto a chance, and no one did when Inter faced Barca. Unfortunately with this team, this side is as good and complete as any side in the world. This side is much more suited to playing on the initiative and being aggressive, it is a complete waste to play like that with players like Hazard, Cesc, Oscar, etc. Ultimately i don't think this team can achieve its potential with Mou, but we will win our share of titles no doubt this team is too good not to win anything. I was hoping Mou would be aggressive this season on the counter. But games like this was so disappointing, didn't even look for the win until they went down 10 men, then after the goal we went back to passive and defending mode.

You know what they say the easiest analysis to make is after the fact, and that is exactly what you did. Complete BS to make the argument the red card was part of the plan.

I count at least 5, no question they have looked like the domminant side. We look like we are there for a 0-0 draw.

your kidding right? I don't think we even have a shot off in this game.

Well Roma has a better manager, that job won't be opening unless Rudi Garcia takes another job.

I am going to let you believe what you want to believe. I did say we were more influential with Ramires on the pitch and after the break, but not game changer. Game changer was our pressing of their CBs and them having harder time bringing the ball up the pitch. We will see more of Ramires-Matic-Cesc midfield in the future, we shell see if it was a off game or not.