robsblubot

Interesting read: The Science of Scouting: Dangers of misinterpretation http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11662/9507157/the-science-of-scouting-dangers-of-misinterpretation This is bit is something I've mentioned a few times myself:

Certainly a precaution. They thought he was fine immediately after the incident, but he felt dizzy afterwards. It's sensible to have a scan obviously. He might miss a couple of matches, again as precaution, and we will have to settle with Petr Cech...

How to pick between Hazard and Oscar?!! One produces the magic, while the other, industry. One was responsible for the flair, while the other, our volume of play. One is a unplayable dribbler, while the other is an unplayable rounded mid. Watching the game it just hit me: Arsenal wouldn't sign Fabregas because they've already got like 5 Fabregases (sic:)) in their midfield. Of course none is as good as the original, but they are the same player in characteristics. That's why they can't play wide, they can't beat players in dribbling, and they can't defend. They have no Hazard, and they have no Oscar. Yes, they also don't have Costa, but we did not have Costa last season and were still a lot better than they. Not even going into Flamini vs Matic - really no contest... Wenger is a top manager (at least paid as one) and still doesn't see the obvious. It is really puzzling to me.

Wilshere is a good player, and so is Welbeck. both can hurt you if left unmolested, but molesting players is Jose's specialty - that did not come out the way I wanted. Arsenal have way too many players who are works in progress (such as the ones listed above). So, it's less likely they, as well as the entire team, turn up in a tough match like this one. It is still possible though, albeit unlikely, that these young players all have a good showing which would certainly cause us problems, because they are good players. They have loads of pace, so we will have to play a low defense line, because our CBs are particularly on the slow side. Of course, this is not that simple: if Arsenal scores first, that will make us chase, which would force our defense line up a bit exposing our defense to their pacey players... [must not concede first!] They are weakest in center mid, which has been the case ever since Gilberto left. They've got nothing on Matic, or even Ramires. Everyone but Wenger sees that, which makes me think he's a quack.

heh true, which emphasizes the point that we haven't had one for a while - he was homegrown though. The actual point being that we have no real/tangible prospect of an English player in the making. Didier, Gary Cahill was bought from Bolton as a fringe player until he was good enough to start for us. It's just not that uncommon.

What young English player have we got who is the star of (or even starts for) a PL outfit? Of an actual good team nonetheless? The only one we had got sold to Everton.

Shelvey is still 22 and a developing player as such. I did not suggest to drop Oscar and go sign Shelvey (although others suggested dropping Oscar and signing Coutinho ), but to just keep an eye on his development. He can be a good squad player, even rotation atm, and could develop into something better as he tones down his aggression. He has very good technique, but his decisions don't yet follow it. We lack English players, so we ought to keep an eye on the ones who show some promise. The suggestion thread was locked and labeled "stupid."

Jonjo Shelvey is now England international.... So, I guess the idea that some of us had, about targetting him, wasn't so crazy after all.

If we sell Cech in Jan, we'd also be selling a player who is not part of the starting XI. Same happened with Mata, and Lampard. The fact that this or that coach prefer a player with this or that style can't really take anything away from what the players did before. Especially a player who started every match (whenever fit) in our CL win. Fans remember the winners, and reckon rightfully so.

OK need to add an entry there between b and c...or perhaps 'b' will do...

Create a poll?! a. going nowhere b. decent midtable player c. Top club bound (but not us) d. will play for us. ( b ) for me.

Coleman is prob the best attacking fullback in the league. The problem is Jose doesn't like attacking fullback - just take a look at who he employs as our fullbacks and who he signed as well.

If I remember correctly, Ryan has been employed a lot more times as a left winger than left-back for us. He can't defend to save his life; has poor overall technique, showcased by his average passing. His crossing wasn't that great, which is just another consequence of his poor technique. When a player is not good enough it almost always comes down to technique. Pace, power, can give the player an edge, but can't possibly be enough at this level. Once again, IMO he is a fine player for Southampton, but he will never be a starter for chelsea unless he massively improves his game.

While I agree with the overall idea, disagree about oscar. He's rounded enough that he play in any attacking position. It's just down to characteristics; Jose chose to go for counter against city, giving up possession entirely, which was disappointing to some. I can't see us playing the same way against arsenal because our midfield is stronger than theirs.

I see Ryan as an attacking fullback which would already rule him out with Jose. Quite frankly though he just isn't good enough to start for a top club. He's a good player with loads of pace, but just not at the level required. Being 24 kinda nails it too - should sell him so he can make a career elsewhere.

Either we say he's experienced and PL-tried, in which case we've seen plenty of him, or we give him a break because it's his first start. He's not a youngster. I agree it's premature to criticize him as a Chelsea player, but I've seen plenty of him before, and to me as well, yes he's average.

This falla ought to go through a strenghtening program before it's too late.

Gullit was saying (week ago) that if Torres starts scoring like crazy for Milan, which he thinks is possible, it won't bode well for Serie A. It would just show how slow the league is, that a player like Torres can thrive without having much pace left. Gervinho's been doing there what he was never able to do for Arsenal.

Actually they been drawing a lot and have not lost a game in the league. It's their attack that is stuttering. Watched an away game where psg played with 10 men for most of the second half and Luis was one of the better performers. Most of the opposition in the lesgue is too weak though. Still I hardly think Luis is their problem... Actually I'd move him immediately into the midfield because he'd help them more in there. Btw silva hasn't played this season yet and Luis has been doing well without him.

Doesn't that apply to all attacking players though? Especially in the PL? Players who can avoid going to the ground, by pace and/or power, have a massive advantage in football. I wrote a few pages back that Willian has no physical presence and stand by what I said. It's the same problem with Coutinho who is actually a lot smaller and weaker, albeit a bit pacier.

Well, Neville also praised England after that pretty poor WC showing. We had no shot on goal until they lost a man in second half... Another worrying thing: we can only defend when playing 11-men behind the ball.

He was mediocre - needs to improve as he only did something useful once city had 10 players

Defending is what kompany did there. What we did was piling people in front of the goal - defending with 11 behind the ball. I love the nickel. But that Mikel guy is so poor the opposition completely ignores him when he's in possession.

It baffles me that people compare Oscar with Willian - they are completely different players. Oscar is a rounded player who thrives in adversity and plays best when centralized. Willian is a one trick pony, specialist dribbler who plays from wing to center and then shoots. He does that very well but that's it. I honestly don't tjonk William is or will ever be good enough to start for either Brazil or Chelsea. I personally think Jose got the line up against city very wrong; we got lucky with the red, but did not really deserve anything out of this as city dominated from the get go.

We are parking the bus but not playing at all. Dislike willian in center of the pitch.