robsblubot

As much as I'd agree in principle, the irony is just too great to ignore... (chelsea). Besides, the whole thing is a business no more no less. There is funny money everywhere and most folks are involved some way or another. Also, my bet is that Germany won't win it this time. Neither will brazil, just before someone accuses me of bias :), just think there stronger teams... Form at this time, before or during the group stage matters very little.

More like a scrimmage for Spain though

I’ve already seen all of it and think some is definitely caused by the team not producing enough chances. manyn of those chances he created himself via his own dribbling and sprints like against arsenal. That kind of work rate takes a toll on a striker and can affect his finishing. on the lack of physicality and difficulty with the pl, that I already commented on before: all fixable even short term as it has been done many times before. Even finishing varies a lot depending on a number of factors and can be improved on. what you can’t change is technique and he’s a good player. he hasn’t showed us nothing shocking (like say bakayoko) to make us this desperate... at least I don’t see it that way.

not bad considering striker is, by far, the most dependent position in the squad. People keep blaming the squad on hazard thread, which I find very ironic tbh... Now IMO Morata would have a far stronger claim that the (overall quality of the) team hasn't helped him enough.

hamstring injuries can be very sneaky... as in it's very difficult to know when it's time to return/up the workout. Recurring hamstring injuries in particular can be stubborn. Considering the lack of options in CM, we need Ross to come back ASAP. Thinking next season, either he becomes a viable option for the CM position or we will need to go shopping and it's not going to be for just one CM.

He seems to be hitting the gym. plays well even when his finishing is way off. Great finish vs Leicester, finally. not a bad goal ratio considering his injury and time to fully recover & first season. looking forward to next season and expect a vast improvement from him. the squad needs more players scoring goals, like William has been doing lately.

Think he plays CM often, I mean he drops back joining the middle leaving only Eden and striker up front. think he might lack both physicality and work rate for a purely cm position. He would have to pass a lot more too - holds to the football far too long.

Kante clear motm but what a fantastic play by Willian to set up morata (nice finish too).

They are not a good team. They have at most 2 players who would have a shot at making our starting xi, and still depending on form. Most likely bench warmers tbh. if we do show up - it’s been a while - we will likely beat them. Fa cup will finally complete our conversion into arsenal so a must win tomorrow.

Always thought it was tremendously stupid to sell salah back then - like as stupid as selling kdb. but he’s reached new levels... great footwork, pace, work rate, and instinct. Best PL player for me. KDB comes close but salah right now has so much confidence that he just knows he will score... and does. city still has more overall quality, so fav for me in cl, but salah will be a handful.

As much data as everyone who says he will flourish in a bigger club. but point well taken. I do believe that he enjoys a free role and there is some responsibility in that. Isn’t he under the highest wages (entire contract) at the club? Well he is going to be if he signs. sorry I just don’t care about hazard one bit.. Much less for folks who are hazard fans first. Hyperbole to make a statement.

That is literally what I wish he did do, but he does not - at least not nearly consistently enough in tough (CL or not) games. It's esp interesting that you compare him with players who are VERY consistent in their performances, which is the main complaint Eden gets (here and esp elsewhere). There is no gulf when William is the one delivering in big games; when Alonso steps up and normally plays well in those games; when Kante consistently plays better than Eden. While I agree the squad could be better, Hazard/key player could also be better. The obvious difference in quality you state IS priced in in their cost to the club: Hazard costs a lot more than the other players therefore the bar is/should be a lot higher for him. BTW, the conclusion from your post - if one agrees with your points - is that Hazard has to leave ASAP right? Because we are not Barcelona nor will we become barcelona anytime soon.

Agree. This place has been taken over by fanboys who lack critical thinking of any kind. and apparently people can’t read anymore either. Not even a fucking direct reply with quotation.

Heh seen that done about a thousand times before: players given a specific instruction by the manager, but adapting to what is happening on the pitch. And that’s an assumption being tossed around here too: that he was forbidden to drop back and create! The point of a false 9 is exactly that: he’s Not a 9.

That’s not the issue, really. I basically said that anyone else could’ve replaced hazard and done the same: nothing. and a lot cheaper too... see hazard costs more to Chelsea than a reg squad player (wages and free role mentioned by a number of players) so naturally it is expected more from him than other players. assuming that he is a top 5 player, I don’t think he is, I expected him to drop back and create plays or try to. He did neither. it is crazy that he ends up creating next to nothing in an important game and people are ok with it. and I am the one bashing though... I’d call expecting the bare minimum. i don’t like Neymar actually, but he’s better than hazard. Don’t like William or Fernandinho... so much for being Brazilian... not even that much a fan of Brazil (I’m from the south kinda Barca relation with Spain) still waiting for the odd Belgium to offer a single piece of criticism for hazard though. Looks like this forum will go quiet once hazard leaves.

suggest the mods create a ‘praising the little magician thread’ where all hazard and belgium fans can praise him without distractions, nonstop 24/7.

So... what’s your point then? Switch clubs? Become Real Madrid fans where hazard Will finally fulfill his potential and win games by himself like the other top5 players do? support city because they have more money and better players? Once again hazard is our key player on super high wages... if he needs more incentive than that then he can fuck off. players come and go, but the club stays. Even the scouts and coaches who don’t seem to understand the transfer market will leave one day.

He could have done literally anything, which would be more than he did... There is the top5 player folks here talk about, and there hazard who we see vanish in games quite often actually. anyway I’m looking forward for a definition. Either he signs a contract and commits or fuck off.

Yes and no. my point is that it does not matter that much. I feel that Eden can do no wrong here, while it should be the other way around: he is the key player on higher wages and enjoys more of a free role, and folks pit him as a top5 player. It’s just odd that those statements are usually followed by false9, poor tactics, or lack of overall quality of the squad. I fully understand these things can affect his performance, but using as an excuse for his disinterested showing against city does not work in my head.

With all the caveats out of the way, including the false 9 thing, it was a pretty poor performance against city. He was good against Barca, but not this time. contrary to others here, I don’t really give two fucks about whether he’s thinking about real or doesn’t like contes tactics, his performance was not good enough esp considering his importance and role in the team.

One more striker to sit on the bench... why not ?!

Agree on United (because of their weaknesses in defense), but not on city... for me they have 3+ players of hazard level - give or take form.

Nitpick, but technically you prob want to say it’s an average squad even with hazard. That hazard alone is not enough to bring the average side to being good. i slightly disagree though. I’d say it’s a good squad, but not great, and to compete with united and esp city you need great.

Disagree. Fernandinho is an OK/good player and the system makes him look better. Gundogan is a better player with better technique and better pass, which are the most important things in Guardiola's system. All players close down and defend in that system. Arsenal momentary impetus was just because they were at home, but for me City had a very easy time the entire game and at no moment Arsenal were in it. Concerning us, they destroyed Arsenal in the first half and had a training session in the second - giving a few minutes to returning players like Jesus. So,don't think they will be tired against us. However, there is no excuse for tackling like Arsenal did today, so I expect that we will defend a lot better. We will still probably lose though... just because they are the vastly superior team: better coached, and in better form.

City are playing fantastic football and Sane looks like a top top player in the making, but arsenal cannot defend to save their lives. Weak tackles and overall lack of aggression makes them easy prey for city.