robsblubot

It's hard to ignore that playing for a top team is very different than playing for Everton regardless of what Martinez may have you believe. I'm not a fan of Costa, but hardly feel Lukuku would be the answer at this moment. Down the road.... Perhaps, but then again, it was indeed Lukaku who did not want to wait. The same applies to KDB - more of a sure bet but a bet nevertheless. I watch him play and yes he's good, but if you read this thread you'd think he's a world beater and that he certainly is not - at least not yet. The main valid criticism about KDB situation is that as far as we know he did not want to leave. So, we could have waited for his development but we are trigger happy with young players and that is not how you do it.

Millions and millions for a 30 year old player who is highly dependent on his physique makes little sense. How many seasons playing at his best does still have? One two at most? Then what type of player will he become?!

Sure I am also concerned about Oscar's development or complete lack thereof. However, I would not write him off based on what he has already produced for both Brazil and Chelsea in the past. Yes, it has been short lived, but quality is quality and he's still young. Hey if Coutinho develops - that's great for Brazil! He's awful small though and that will always be a limiting factor for him. I still think Coutinho and Oscar are completely different players. The position they play is less important than their characteristics and their role in the team. Oscar and Coutinho can play together and complement each other, the same way Hazard and Oscar once did/do.

See that's where we disagree: Oscar wears #8 and plays as a #8 to me. I can certainly see both Coutinho and Oscar playing together without issues. Oscar form is a different discussion altogether and he does have to step up, but he's also been a bit unlucky with injuries.

Besides the goal was all Costa! That was not even an assist as Fab just kicked the ball forward towards two players - it was a nice ball, but hardly a throughball. Costa is not a top Striker, but neither is he a quack. He's a good striker who, along the rest of the team, was in terrible form. As their fitness levels rise, they will be playing at their norm.

Much better but still not at his best. Movement and passing up there to what he can do. Strength (tackling) and finishing - as pointed out above - still lacking. Many players improved and are improving slowly from the torrid start of the season. Once again, the evidence points to bad fitness levels as the most likely culprit.

It's really not that shocking if you have ever actually watched countinho play for Brazil. He never had a good - said good not great - game for Brazil. Played the entire copa america and was shit, so it's really up to him to up his game at international level. These comparisons here still make no sense to me... is Coutinho better than willian? Is Coutinho better than Hazard? latter at least makes some sense. Coutinho is their Hazard - the entire team plays and runs for him as Shirley has already said we do for Hazard. These comparison make no sense to me because you can't play with 3 coutinhos/hazards up front. Players like Oscar and Willian provide the balance especially when you play 4231 since otherwise your CMs would end up overwhelmed. No I'm not saying Oscar is the best we can do in that position, just that he does NOT compete with Coutinho for a spot (for Brazil).

By that you mean that their mikel is starting to get minutes? feel good to know they also have their average players lurking around and ready to come on.

Yes remy is at his best when he does not play - truly world class then...

well nobody hates Boro...

The day a club like Juventus approach us to sign Mikel is the day I eat my shoe....

That's just too low for an international... sounds like Juventus (or someone working for them) is testing the waters by spreading these rumors and finish for info. If we believe he's not good enough get a replacement AND keep Oscar for when the replacement is tired/unfit/injured. We will keep on struggling if employing these small squads who rely 100% on the form of certain key players. Not only that is risky because they may pick up injuries and lose form, but also it gives them too much power.

yup there are two ways to go about it: you either develop the talent or you buy the talent. We've been doing neither, but we "think" as a club that we developing the talent as we break records on number of players loaned out. At the very least we'd be able to find out who is ready and who needs to go. The "developing" part may require a different type of manager though.

Nothing. It's just not possible. We can stabilize the team... have a good go for top4 and miss it by little, but we have no business in CL and I don't really care about form. Our roster is not strong enough to challenge in Europe. As unprepared and mismanaged we might have been for this season, the only explanation for this form is down to a poor roster. If a player is not performing at an acceptable level and you got little no no option, then you got problems.

This guy is top5 of any go list esp considering his age. The big q is about his match fitness.

Listening to a sports talk show from southern Brazil and one of the commentators is a personal friend of Dunga's. Dunga confided that Oscar is indeed not fit and it's not even physical (entirely), but he hasn't regained match fitness since his injury. He seems to be a player who can only deliver when at 100% and that is a problem. He goes from hot to cold very easily and then takes his time regaining match fitness. I still think that when on form, he's a very interesting player and has room to grow, but these long bad patches need to be taken into consideration when assessing him as a player and whether we need more and/or better.

Sure but that's luxury! Pogba... even Witsel would provide vast improvement over over what we got - imo. When I discuss Ramires (or specially Mikel) I usually point out that there are several - completely affordable and much superior - players out there. Kondogbia (now at Inter), Sneiderling (before moving to United), Victor Wannyama (still at soton)... These are from the top of my head and I am not even including youngsters. The players I've just listed are players who will consistently maintain you a certain performance level. BTW, RLC is so young and unfinished that we don't even know what his best position is. However! he does possess better technique than Ramires and Mikel.

Unless you are Guardiola who uses a completely different system where attacking play is also defending.

If we are talking about Hernanez (terrible) and Higuain (decent), well Everton has a pretty interesting striker which might be available.... Seriously, I am no Lukaku fan, but I'd take him over the above two. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/mikel-is-part-of-chelseas-problem-says-club-legend/ Aside from stating the obvious about Mikel, he goes on a talks about Diego Costa.

I hear you but at this moment I'd settle for a midfielder who can pass the ball (forward!) and make forward runs which may cause opponent some trouble and open up spaces for our struggling AMs.

It correlates to everything including scoring... It doesn't determine but def correlates. The first touch can be the first dribble, to avoid the tackle and get you open to score. Romario was all about his first touch which was also often his final touch when he applied the finish. First touch at the very least gives you more time to think and act. Esp today when you have so little time on the ball especially up front. See? Forarders have even less time on the ball - tight spaces - which makes the first touch even more important. @DYC, just watched ronaldo first touch from that long ball in the beginning of the game (on bein sports) and don't get me wrong it was good, but he needed a second one to adjust for the shot. Had the first touch been enough and he might have taken the shot at the time of the second touch - which might've made the difference.

Agree to disagree on both counts ... I said consistently. All players from time to time mishandle the football, just some less than others. Hazard score few goals for a guy whose first touch is as good as you claim it is. His numbers just don't add up with it is said of him around here. I get to watch Ronaldo in Derby or finals and not impressed by his technique - first touch included. He's quite effective because of his atlethicism and his good (not great ) technique combined.

That is my impression as well. It will limit him as a player.However, this season was a team/club issue and not hazard only. I just hope the club knows what went wrong and are addressing it even if the real reasons never come out.

I think people brought Neymar in during the top5 vs top10 whatever discussions... then it stuck. Agree on Hazard - fantastic player and should be given special attention: development and form. Christian Vieri said it best: most chelsea players looked unfit at the start of the season, Hazard included. We need to find out why and correct the problem so it will never happen again. @Oscar, fair enough but I cannot possibly following this thread... I have full time job.

Hazard can be a fantastic player when fit, but Neymar is better in almost every aspect of the game, imo. Aside from scoring, neymar technique is superior esp first touch as he often controls the football from a long ball in pace without missing a beat. This is very rare and only seen the likes of Romario and fat Ronaldo do it consistently (aside from messi). Even slim Ronaldo doesn't do that very often. Hazard on the other hand takes a little longer to control and turn - many a times he comes to a complete stop. Some will say it's style but I'd disagree. Speed of execution is key especially in Moderns game.