BlueLyon

I wait the day he grows a beard ala De Rossi. We need badass players not kid-look-alikes

Nah he was key player for us in first two months with his goals. I remember he was the one who scored leading goal or equalizer in those matches. Now he is probably going through some difficulties that always happen with new players and once he plays full season and completely settles in, I think he will be more decisive for us in upcoming years. His play has also changed bit, he tries everything on his own, while in first games he played more with team and they looked for him more too. He didnt score recently and tried too hard, but once things get down, he will be key again with Hazard and co. Maybe not like Drogs was, but honestly how many strikers are like him? He was like the perfect striker, scored when needed in many finals and key games etc. Costa has incredible desire to score and if he picks the right path, we should be good.

I dont realy mind derby game, Mou can pick strongest lineup, as long we will do job against stoke away. I will be furious if we drop points if key players will be tired because of this game vs derby in carling cup that no one realy gives shit anymore. League and FA cup should be priority.

Couldnt because I was on phone...I see now thx:)

Its time for Zouma, Remy, Ake, if he is not injured anymore. Dont care about others, just give rest to those who need it.

DP

He is weak link in big games., not in small ones. If he makes assist, but allows our midfield to get overrun because he cant handle the pressure of opponent like he does in small games, he is weak link. There is a reason why he will most probably be given different role in big games. He is just incapable to handle his CM duty against big sides who put lot of pressure on him. It not all in statistics. Modric comes with almost none assists, but he does his job in midfield against whoever and that is where Madrid benefits. Cesc is decent at tracking, passing, etc but isnt near enough influental through 90mins in big games like he is in small ones. United overrun our midfield completely with fecking Fellaini. City was playing with man down, but we still couldnt establish control over them. Partly Mou tactics, but in those defensive tactics, Cesc isnt that instrumental either because he isnt running engine or excelent tackler (yes he has covered more ground than any other player in PL, but that is as misleading as stats can go) Also I mentioned PSG, Barca etc because even though these are not biggest big sides in today football, he could, probably will struggle in those. All that said, I like him anyway, and Mou knows he has role here but in big games he will probably be given #10 role with two more defensive players behind him, which means adjusting team when facing bigger teams. Does Madrid or Bayern adjust their teams in big games to accomodate their CM Modric or Schweinsteiger because they couldnt perform in same way as they do in small games? No. I believe we will only truly dominate world football if we will be able to play same tactics and same team in any game, no matter the opponent. But when big game comes, I will hope you are right and Cesc kills it in midfield Oh, and Im not french lol..Im from slovenia and nickname is more of coincidence (lyon is similar to lion, which was taken back then when I joined) rather than any personal love for france/lyon whatsoever. Though I like Lyon most among french clubs.

Not to that extent, but I agree with you mostly. He is the player that allows us almost nothing in attacking sense, but pays that with hard work. I will support him as long he is here, like any other player (bar Torres) but alternatives come in mind when you realise he is 26, inconsistent, doesnt improve and cost us 30m. I will always think of him as a wingback player, even though he is always winger/#10 for us. He plays exactly like wingback would. Or even attacking fullback. But even for that, his decision making and execution of passes is poor. Cant remember how many counter attacks he killed for us this season alone due to losing ball while dribbling or making wrong pass. At best I think he will have season or two of his life at age around 30 ala Malouda (but he was always quite efficient), but we simply need better winger on right side to benefit our attack. Problem could occur in defensive sense though.

It realy realy grows on me that we need another right winger. Actualy we dont need another winger, we just need right winger because we dont even have one. Willian is fantastic at tracking back, hard worker and people like that, and thats why he is still ''liked''. But he is winger and not full back ffs. Its not today game, its ever since he came here. He has few oddly superb games, I admit that, but overall, he is inconsistent and didnt improve individualy in attacking sense one bit. Bad decisions, bad passes, bad finishing, I just dont know what exactly he offers in attack (appart from his speed and hard work). He doesnt create space, width or any particular damage to opponent on consistent basis. His work rate will keep him in this team for awhile, but eventualy he will have to be dropped if we want our attack to be more dynamic, efficient and versatile. Its also disturbing abit that when he doesnt play, our defence becomes much more open. If we replace him with less hard working winger, it will put pressure on Cesc and Iva even more and that will need some serious adjustments. That means that next winger we potentialy buy will have to have all that Willian hard work + much better attacking wise, which I dont see where we could get one. Reus as good tracker he is, isnt as good as Willian. And certainly english league is physicaly difficult on its own too. But better attack will also stop better teams to go open and aggresively against us.

Hm maybe I wasnt clear enough, but you then said you didnt even read the whole post, so dont know why even bother responding then... I said Cesc in big game isnt same Cesc as in small games. In small game, he is fucking Pirlo, dictating tempo, starts every attack, makes assists etc. In big game, he is not Pirlo. He dissapears and is unable to dictate tempo. He oftenly cant handle opponent high pressing and gets dissposesed or makes wrong pass. That said, he was key player for our team so far, making assists and everything. Against ManU or city, he quite dissapeared (not being bad player, but far from what he can do in small games), still made those assists though. But speaking purely from dictating the game and our play, he was no where near as good as he was against certain smaller sides. And I say that because you have Modric, Kroos, Schewini etc who play similar role for their teams and they perform similar, no matter the opponent. That allows their teams to rely on them and they will perform as they do usually. We have to alternate tactics in big games because Cesc doesnt turn up (he did made those assists, but so did Mata for example and wasnt enough). And when you have such player aka flat track bully, he can be quite liability in big games. It will work in league, because there are many small teams who still give 3 points and we can just play on draw in big games, but CL is another story. But you love Cesc and wont admit that, which I understand. Like I said, when we face Madrid, Bayern, Barca, Psg, Atletico etc...we will see who is right. I seriously hope it will be you, because I want us to succeed, but I have my doubts.

What is this bullshit everyone wants Cahill off all suddenly? Yes he isnt world class CB, he never was and currently in not best form, but he always put good performance when needed. Also Zouma in better form after two games and better CB? I like the kid, think he will be top defender eventualy, but right now how can people say he is in superb form after two games? When he will play 5 consecutive games and against top opponents for whole 90mins, I will make judgement how good he is already and in what form he is...but not after 2 games ffs. He showed glimpses, but that is with every young player when given chance. Im all for giving Zouma chance now that Cahill isnt in best shape, but to say that Zouma is in better form is ridiculous. Everyone is jumping on Zouma bandwagon after Cahill mistakes, but when Zouma gets run of games, he could make plenty of mistakes and that wont be good for development. Put him slowly in games and eventualy he will break through. Varane needed one season too to get ahead of Pepe who was shit back then, but then got better. Cahill can still make improvement, there is reason why Mou plays him for two seasons... Anyway, Im glad Mou makes these decisions and not some people here who repeat themselves like broken record due to their personal disliking of Cahill, just waiting him to make mistake, so that they can write how right they were...

-----------Casillas---------- -Ramos-Varane-Marcelo- Bale-Modric-Kroos-Reus -----------James------------ -----Benzema-Ronaldo--- The only way I see it...or sth similar with 3 defenders...and Isco, Jese will be on bench still...if Reus comes, someone else will leave. Otherway, if Reus accepted to sit on bench, he is plain stupid. I still hope we get him, because for 25m, he would be steal and Willian is terrible winger...

Worst is that Lamps is trying harder for city than he did for us last season. Fucker.

Mikel needs to play this one, he is our best player by some distance.

Carvajal is their youth product too.

Looks like we got new Nike...he even likes Thiago haha

Good game from Zouma but he should do better at goal. He was just standing there watching Silva shoot. At least he should throw himself down and he would deflect ball...i miss his proactive play from etiene, now he is more of a reactive CB, had good game but that goal could be saved if he thrown body in that direction... And pissed at Mou for not bringing Rlc sooner. What a dick. Rlc did fine in his time, hope he gets more time in future but who am i kiddin...

Predict 2:0 Costa, Cesc

Where is Ake? Injured?

Luis on right? Christansen played few hrs ago, doubt he will again. Also no youth players? Damn.

I demand Zouma and Ake to start the game. I hope RLC gets chance at some point too. Diego will start because he had most rest from our players and I think its vital for him to get minutes to get back in form. Cesc will probably play too as he wont play on weekend and Matic will probably play because he didnt vs castle. But that could backfire again, however Mou will still play them...I just want Ake to start the game unlese he is injured.

I hope Roma goes through. Not so much because I dislike City, but more because I like Roma. Want to see more from Totti, Ash and others in CL.

It makes sense now why Mou bought Salah lol

Yeah I meant him... Whatever you say you have your opinion and I mine. We will see who got it right in end of season.

Well Hazard had chance to make it 2:0, but he didnt. Ourselves to blame realy.