CHOULO19

No, what i'm saying is that if Jose keeps on doing it, then there must be some rationale behind it. Obviously, you (and WNDS) don't agree with Jose, but I'm asking, if it's not because of the defensive solidity like I'm saying, why do you think Jose keeps playing Azpi? Because "Jose is suborn" and "Iva is an ass-licker" does not cut it. Well, because Jose is a manager who always looks for defensive solidity first. I agree, there are some games where I think it is worth the risk starting the less solid Luis over Azpi for his offensive contribution like against Sunderland. But let's be honest, we're all going by what he was doing at Atletico. His offensive contributions with us have not been much better than Azpi. On any account, no I don't think Luis should have started ahead of Azpi today because Newcastle, especially at home, are a VERY tough side who are very difficult to defend against, but once they scored and sat back Luis was going to be more useful and I thought he came one at the exactly right time. So I have zero complaints about the issue today.

Because Brana offers things down the right that neither Azpi nor Luis can. This guys sums it up better than me:

From statszone: 17 ball recoveries 95/103 passes completed (92% accuracy) 1 chance created 2/3 won aerial duels 2 interceptions 3/3 successful take-ons 3/3 successful clearances. Also 18/23 passes completed to final third and 50% completed long balls (4/8).

Alright, forget that incident, it was only one example. Let's look at in general, in all of the his PL appearances Luis has not looked as solid as Azpi defensively. He's made a few obvious mistakes and has been beaten a bit too easily. He's obviously struggling with the physicality of the league as he himself has said/hinted at on several occasions. If he is so clearly superior to Azpi, then explain to me how Jose keeps starting Cesar?

We had two other players running to chase down Sissoko (and clearly not catching him), he should have been looking to see if someone else was coming in support. It's not a major mistake (and like I said I'm not blaming him for the goal, there were bigger mistakes made for the goal than that), but it's those little details that sometimes make the difference like they did today. He asked why Azpi keeps getting picked over Luis and I said why I think that is. Now, I'm sorry if this gets in the way of the rage on Mourinho and trying to blame him for the loss, but it makes a lot more sense to me than "Jose is a stubborn idiot" or "Iva is an ass-licker"...to me at least.

The result would have been exactly the same with Nemanja today (unless he smashed a 40-yard screamer or something). The issue was not at all in midfield where we completely dominated and long before Newcastle parked the bus.

Watch the second goal. If he was properly position or at least aware of who was behind him he would and should stop the ball to Cisse. Not saying it's all his fault, but Azpi provides defensive solidness that Luis is yet to show.

Excellent (in spells) for 70 minutes, completely invisible for the important last 20. I have absolutely no idea why.

I was feeling merciful

Just scored his first Bundes Liga goal to put Gladbach 3-1 up against Hertha Berlin.

I thought he did very well today. The team was setup excellently as is evident by how well we started the match, then we came out from HT well on top and creating chances and finally the subs he made were all brilliant and helped us create chances and get back into the match despite Newcastle have all of the their players around their own box. No complaints whatsoever from me. He did his job perfectly and can't be held accountable for the players failing to score the chances created. Funny thing is, that was EXATLY the problem, you don't even need to watch the match to know. Our finishing and decision making in the final third was terrible and Newcastle got very lucky on several occasions.

If anyone is still feeling upset, just put on the Arsenal match! They're just so hilarious to read when he clearly was one of our better players today

What exactly did he do wrong on either goal, then? The funnies thing about people blaming Mikel is that it is predictable from even before the match starts! He had an very good performance, one of our better players today. Won almost everything in midfield in the first half, kept the ball moving well, and was vital to helping us keep the pressure on in the second half and even played a few excellent long balls into the box.

Another goal for Boro. But much more common than that, Omeruo got an assist for the first goal.

Name: sherry33 Reason: Trolling Punishment: Content moderated permanentlyAbility to create content removed permanently.Suspended permanentlyAlso move to Banned

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Not for the first time, Chelsea have been undone by a Cisse brace and not for the first time, Jose Mourinho has faced a very tough match at St. James, in fact, the Portuguese has never managed to get a league win there. And that "tradition" was unfortunately to continue today in a frustrating roller-coaster of match from the blue perspective. A match that ended Chelsea's unbeaten run despite a late attempt at comeback and a Drogba consolation goal. Chelsea started the match on top and played some brilliant football in the opening 30 minutes but poor finishing and bad decision making in the final third kept the scores level. Looking back, that was probably where the match was lost. Newcastle came back strong in the last 15 minutes of the half and had their only dominant period of the match taking advantage of some lapses of concentration and defensive errors from our side. Though, they too failed to capitalize on their superiority and only managed to work Thibaut once. But Jose's men came out strong and lively at the start of the second half. Hazard very much at the center of all the danger. But in very typical fashion, a minute after Mikel missed a great chance from a FK, Newcastle score in the 57th minute from a cross that Cahill tried to clear but missed. Almost needless to say that the Scorer was Cisse. Jose directly brought on the subs that we were all calling for against Sunderland. Andre Schurrle first came on and made a really positive impact with his runs, then Droba and Luis after Newcastle parked a double-decker in front of their goal. But once again, seconds after Eden had hit the post, Newcastle break and double their lead from an mistake in midfield. Again, Cisse the scorer and Sissoko with his customary assist against us. Just as the point were looking all but lost, Ryan Taylor was sent off for a second yellow and Didier Drogba pulled one back for Chelsea with 7 minutes to go. Another Cesc assist, of course. The Blues piled the pressure on the 10 Newcastle players inside the box, but debutant and Newcastle's third goal keeper, Jak Alnwik, kept making save after save. Finally, despite the six added minutes (which Newcastle wasted about 4 of taking a single goal kick), Chelsea ran out of time and a smiling Jose Mourinho left the stadium which has defied him once again. Despite the result, boys mostly put on an excellent performance and fought very bravely to get back two goals down. But in the end things just didn't fall for us today which you often at tough away grounds like Newcastle's. But hey, look on the bright side: at least now, all the bloody reporters will shut up about the unbeaten run! Newcastle (4-3-3): Elliot (Alnwick 46'); Janmaat, Taylor (sent off), Colocini, Dummet; Tiote, Collback, Sissoko; Cabella (Cisse 53'), Ayoze, Ameobi(Williamson 83'). Chelsea (4-3-3): Courtois; Iva, Cahill, JT, Azpi (Luis 67'); Cesc, Mikel, Oscar (Schurrle 61'); Willian (Drogba 67'), Costa, Hazard. Goals: Cisse (57' & 79'); Drogba (83'). Click here to view article.

:lol:

Very proud of the boys despite the result. The performance was very good and the reaction to the goals even better. Things just didn't go our way. We certainly deserved more from this game, but at least all the talk about the "invincibles" can stop!

Mixed half but pretty good performance-wise overall. We played brilliantly for about 25 minutes of it and should really have scored when we were on top. Lost a bit of focus in the last 15 mins and allowed Newcastle to win the second balls. Hazard was brilliant but Cahill and Iva are looking shaky in defense and Willian should REALLY take those chances.

That's it, bring Didier on for Costa!

That was painfully close! But I'm happy by how good we're playing.

"Mikel, in the middle of our pitch..." Nah, not the same, is it? ...Oh, I know: "Mikel, gives the opposition hell, Mikel" :blue scalf: Much better!

More often than not, Iva gets more forward than the opposition striker. And that's not even an exaggeration!