robsblubot

You are the one doing the blaming - I was merely agreeing with you that Hazard was at "decent level" which is enough for you, but not for me. Perhaps the team would have played better if their best played had had a better showing? With the money comes the expectations - you cannot say he's great and then tell me to blame other players who make 1/4th of the money hazard makes and/or play in much less key positions.

Another poor match - easily tackled because he always shows too much of the football. He just lacks technique. We will never recoup the money and he is not good enough to improve our side either coming off the bench or starting, so why keep him?

They all do.

I'm not a fan of Cesc to be honest. Think he is too lightweight for the position he's most comfortable with cm and lacks pace and directness for more advanced positions. Yes, you can accommodate him and make the team play for him but I just think he's not that decisive esp in big games. Regardless we do need another cm so Cesc can be used more adequately depending on situation.

Either he is a top player, which pits him against the messis and suarez and cia or he isn't, in which case what he did today was enough. Any other way would be unfair to hazard and the other players. He wasn't bad, but we expect more from him and he just doesn't seem to deliver at the Etihad.

SA players who can do these sharp turns in tight spaces are a nightmare for him. Doesn't even take an aguero - remember guerrero from Corinthian in the wcc ? It's not like Gary is a bad player, just not good enough if we want to compete against teams who have players like Aguero up front.

It all goes both ways. If he keeps on playing well, but keeps on being sacrificed by the manager for whatever reason, he may indeed become disillusioned and want to move. He will then find another top team - that's where he belongs - and develop there. We will get good money for him because he is a top player. That's a lot of ifs and buts though. What we see this season is that as usual he's performing at a very high level in the beginning of the season. He's been so long playing poorly that some people have forgotten that he actually has very good technique in tight spaces, and most importantly, can actually score from long shots. Now, I am VERY worried about Fabregas who was just as poor end last season and was our worst player yesterday.

invisible - no impact whatsoever. Only reason he remained on the pitch was prob because of the loan deal. It was a tough game for them against a much improved Liverpool (IMO), so we need to see him play against teams they can actually face as equals.

Players like Montero will always beat their markers one-on-one enough times to create problems. The only way to cope is using cover and Chelsea did not provide cover for Ivanovic. In the beginning of the game it was even worse as he was being taken by 2 players. I don't even think our defense was that bad today considering their midfield was better for the majority of the match. Games are won and lost in midfield.

Anyone read gullit'a piece on JT ? It's on BBC Couldn't agree more.

True but my point is do we choose to comply to them because we believe they are going be enforced - evidence says otherwise - or because it just happens to be the way we roll anyway so Jose moans about all other clubs who ignore the rules.

It can't be itReckon we are using FFP rules as an excuse, but they are not the cause of our lack of movement in the window.

With this current crop of players Oscar needs to play for (at least) one reason: he's the one midfielder we've got who actually shoots! His free kicks are good too. As much as I like William in possession, he just doesn't create anything.

regardless of what I think of him - he's a good player but not a great player - I don't think Jose rates him very highly. Last season 36+ Drogba started most games when Costa was unavailable and this season he's subbed at halftime after a poor/decent showing. Reckon Falcao will be starting most if not all matches while Costa recovers.

You can only be physical if you find the player in possession, because if the ball is already gone little else can be done. Imo, Their style of play is perfect to avoid contact. It's sort of anti BPL and toure. Explains for example the dismal performances by city.

What happens with him for England then?! Isn't it just less protection and a slightly higher defense line?Disagree. Cahill scores because of his impeccable positioning, not his technique or lack thereof. You don't need overall technique to score goals - some very successful strikers can attest to that. Cahill's the opposite of what I would describe as a ball-playing defender. He cannot run with the ball or hit long balls, which imply his tight control is lacking as is his range of passing. Seen him lose possession or show too much of the football when running with it. Now, contrary to most here, I don't think Zouma has much better technique. They are on par technique wise IMO. Zouma is far more mobile and quick, which allows him to defend up and be a bit more proactive. The same reasons that made Luiz a good midfielder make Zouma a poor one.

You are mistaken. I am not advocating one way or another, even though I tend to dislike teams who utilize too many specialists - they are by definition more predictable and easily contained.My critique is mostly concerning ignoring the evidence. I see the best teams playing a very different style and similar to one another. Do your own research and change your mind or not. My opinion remains that the way we currently play is not competitive against the elite teams bc they always have more players involved at a given time - they multiply and dominate esp the middle.

Certain other players get awards and are made fun of... This is a philosophy discussion where some folks here think you can have specialists like Cahill Mikel who are completely inapt at other aspects of the game va folks who want more rounded players in every position. Some are the same who use stats as facts but choose to ignore the most obvious one: how do the top elite teams play? What type of players do they have? The very best one employs a (very good) DM as a cb and successfully so.

Alex is originally from gremio side - southern Brazil my hometown Porto Alegre. He's good going forward and poor defending. Gremio has produced 2 great left backs in last 4-5 years. The better one is Wendell who is at Leverkusen now. Same characteristics as telles but overall better player with great tight control and dribbling. Unless telles improved a lot in last couple of years he is not Chelsea caliber

Well it's not like his career has just started. This is what I have seen from him before spec in tough games. Honestly Jose threw away all profit from Luiz and lukaku overpriced sales on this one.

Oscar in terms of performance can indeed do better than he has, esp towards the end of the season. Concerning characteristics, Oscar is what he is and whether he plays as a creative CM or a defensive CAM is really up to the manager and his strategy. Now, people are nitpicking on details that esp nowadays aren't that relevant as players move about and exchange positions far too often - he's prob both CM and CAM during a game. I just take the hint from the number on his back - I honestly believe that's the role the club has for him and I am fully confident he can do it. He just needs to resume his development for club and country.

It's pretty believable that stones told Everton he wants out-perhaps even handed in a transfer request. Good signing now and good prospect for the future.

If pedro coming means I don't have to watch Cuadrado trying to control a football... come to papa little pedro! best signing ever!

ugliest fucking tshirt ever seen in my life... is it a corinthians or santos jersey? but he's from Fluminense...

I didn't say my view was closer to the truth just that your 'facts' were crap. The second is chicken and the egg. You think it's just how Jose works, but I think he rotates in the o my positions he can actually rotate... Oscar and Willian bc they are players of similar level w diff characteristics. Mikel has played a lot more under diff managers. First thing Jose did as he came back was to sign matic ... Coincidence?