robsblubot

completely agree. Cavani is IMO the most complete striker out there. He's got everything: technique (can even play out wide), physique (pace and power), and the right mentality (loads of determination and work rate). While Costa would be a bet, Cavani is the sure thing.

Believe it or not, Alves is the weak link there as he just does not deliver for Brazil. Rumor has it Scolari isn't too happy about Aves' performances either.

So, we've come full circle to agree that David Luiz is a hell of a gutsy player and that's why he can pick up a pass. I'm certainly not going to enter this childish discussion about who knows more... There is really no point in discussing any further as we don't agree in the most fundamental things. Technique is Technique! You always go back to the mental aspects as if they were the only ones. There are and have been thousands of gutless footballers who were/are great players. I’ve watched Brazil beat England in 2002 world cup with Ronaldinho and Kleberson in midfield, while England had Scholes and Beckham there. Battle of determination or talent? Once again, you only see one aspect of the game, while there are 3: Mental, physical, and technique Really, this is a very basic discussion… we can argue about which one is the most important one, but it’s silly not to acknowledge there are more than one. Good discussion here: http://andagain.websitetoolbox.com/post/TacticalTechnicalPhysicalMental-5832408 "Technique refers to a player's "ability to manipulate the ball". For field players, technique includes dribbling, receiving, passing, shooting, heading, and more." I'd add the most important of all: first touch - very difficult to execute anything without having control of the football. If it takes too long for you to control the football (multiple touches) it gives your opponents time to close you down.

I'm very confused, so you apparently define quality/talent solely by guts/balls/leadership. That's very odd... Kinda implies the Brazilian sides who have won the world cup 5 times were more gutsy than their opponents... than England in 2002. That England lost to Argentina in the WC back then, because Argentina players had more guts, or perhaps because Maradona was more driven, rather than the obvious answer which is that talent was the reason. Teams have to strike a balance between guts, leadership, and talent. Some managers tend to lean one way or another. Jose goes for the mental qualities, where Guardiola for technique (passing). Regardless, saying you need a bunch of leaders to beat Crystal Palace in their domain is kinda crazy because it implies Bayern and Barcelona would lose there. My guess is that City are going to go there keep the football for 90 minutes and beat them - no heroics needed.

What else is to discuss about Luiz? He'll be gone in the summer to either Bayern, PSG, or Barca... hopefully not to another PL club... you and Jose don't fancy him, I and others do. Won't be wearing my boots when he does leave for around 30m though - nice amount of cash for such a terrible defender. BTW, I think you were right when you suggested (on a diff thread) that he's been saving himself for the world cup and I also agree it's a pretty shitty thing to do. Still, merely comparing the intensity level of his game between this season and last would indeed point to that. I specifically wrote that I do understand the point Jose made - it was quite clear. Lee Cattermole has lots of balls and he's still an awful player. Now, the important discussion here is the one I'm trying to have: what kind of team is Jose trying to build and whether the type of player he fancies would indeed give us the edge we need. Once again, I look to City and Liverpool (and Arsenal) and the type of players they got are not the type of players Jose says he needs and doesn't have. I question whether he's right. Because, like I said, the other top teams in England, including the ones sitting above us in the standings, also lack the qualities he and you keep getting at. Liverpool and attacking side with players of even questionable character. While City is a possession side.

I completely understand what Jose has been saying about mentality and all. I do NOT understand who the fuck he is talking about though. Because I look around us, and specially ahead of us, and don't find the qualities he's speaking of. All I see is extremely technical players in City... like Silva, Nasri. Fernandinho's first season... Demichelis (8m bargain buy)? Yaya who's actually known to lack concentration. The cool Dzeko. Or Liverpool with diminutive players (Coutinho, Allen) who value pace and keeping the football, not to mention employing two strikers and no holding mid. Talking about no holding mid and there is Arsenal. While I completely understand a head coach must seek balance (mental, technique, and physical), I'm getting worried... I mean Lee Cattermole and Andy Carrol would be available at the right price. You know, perhaps our players are not good enough?! Or we don't have enough good players on the squad? Yes, I know we don't have strikers, but our defense line is comprised of 4 players who play twice a week. Any surprise 33yo Terry scored an own goal - beautifully struck btw. Or that Azpi has finally shown signs of fatigue? Not to me. Or maybe it's all just Mourinho playing mind games not only with the supporters but his own players as well.

For me, success does not necessarily demand silverware, depending on circumstance. The season isn't over yet, so say if we don't make CL next season, or even a 4th place, will be very very far from a "success." On the other hand, reaching a CL final-win or not- would definitely be considered a success by anyone with half a brain. However, I must confess that I am jealous of the way Liverpool have been performing. And it's not just their striking force (Sturrige, irony not lost on me), but the way they try and keep the football, movement, even player rotation... They've lost their only proper holding mid (thought that would be the end of) and are still topping the league!

I disagree Oscar's form has been very consistent. Consistently poor in the last two months or so, but he is never a player to shine in one match just to vanish in the next. The reason for Oscar's consistent poor form might be known within chelsea... I say this because he hasn't been used much lately as if they won't even try to get him to improve by giving him a sequence.

Biggest quack in football

Yup and he will have to tone down his tackles a bit for the cl and then the wc because pl refs are far more conservative concerning cards and penalty calls as it should be (my fav thing about the pl). Well aside from the horrible Chris Foy that is.

Even if we do buy costa and if he delivers for us, even then we'd better options than we currently got. Is it Lukaku? I don't know but I can't imagine going another season with Torres and Ba even if they are sitting on the bench. Like Jose keeps on saying, it's a long season and top teams play a lot. Any top striker won't play every game. Eto coul perhaps provide cover but age is a big question mark.

Also we did not look any better with another am in the second half. Too many players had a bad game and unlucky on luiz injury. No Ramires to begin with as an alternative. Thought we had the match under control in the first half-aside from Cahill mistake they had nothing on us.

Had a bad game - it happens. Thought he was the worst CM we had today (even lamps) was better despite the misplaced passes. It was obvious to me that psg midweek did influence team selection and subs.

Yup I did say his red was going to hurt us. This was typical game for Ramires. They also don't understand we can't win anything with only 11 players. Gotta have a squad with good players and different characteristics. We play the same players over and over again twice a week... There is no way they can keep up.

This is the worst I've seen from Matic.

Well it was an awful tackle on luiz - could have broken his ankle Hope it's just precaution and he will be ok for psg game

Pressing has been pretty good wit luiz and lamps in line. Working so far

Ronaldinho was very flashy player who has always vanished in tough matches. He hasn't got a single memorable performance for Brazil against a top side. Yes, he was fantastic against the venezuelas... You could say Messi hasn't really done anything for Argentina either, but Messi's career is far from over - all he needs is a decent team around him. Ronaldinho on the other hand hasn't really delivered when he had fantastic players around him '02 (Ronaldo and Rivaldo) nor when he was the key player of the team '06 (he managed to be one of the worst players then). I've followed Raonaldinho's career very closely as I knew his brother (now agent) and played (for fun ) with Ronaldinho himself when he was a youngster. He then started his career at Gremio, my hometown team before moving to PSG. One of the reason's his peak was so short IMO is because he lost all his pace very early. His final seasons at BArca were really sad. He was one of the least professional top footballers to ever play the game. My feeling here is that Hazard can become a far better player than Ronaldinho ever was. Messi is already a far better player [than ronaldinho]. Messi seems to be more complete than Hazard, so I'm not so sure Hazard can actually reach Messi's level.

it's extremely bad timing for his bad form... playing like this he won't make the Brazilian side, esp with City's Fernandinho's recent performances.

yep this talk about defense is very relative. All following matches had Cahill and Terry in the CB (that's what happens to exposed defenders): Sat 9 November, 2013 - West Bromwich Albion [h] - drawn 2-2 - Goalscorers: Eto'o (45'), Hazard (90'). Sat 23 November, 2013 - West Ham United [a] - won 3-0 - Goalscorers: Lampard (21', 82'), Oscar (34'). Sun 1 December, 2013 - Southampton [h] - won 3-1 - Goalscorers: Cahill (55'), Terry (62'), Ba (90'). Wed 4 December, 2013 - Sunderland [a] - won 4-3 - Goalscorers: Lampard (17'), Hazard (36', 62'), OG (84'). Sat 7 December, 2013 - Stoke City [a] - lost 2-3 - Goalscorer: Schurrle (10', 52'). Sat 14 December, 2013 - Crystal Palace [h] - won 2-1 - Goalscorers: Torres (16'), Ramires (35'). And then suddenly we stopped conceding. Hey, if ain't broke don't fix it... and the CB pairing is certainly working. however, I've seen this happen so many times before: once the team solidifies defensively, then you can actually swap players without losing too much. The team should always be greater than its players. I think this is specially true with Mourinho. Concerning Luiz in midfield, reckon his performances and our results speak for themselves. He seems to flourish in Jose's disruptive system, in the same manner Oscar does. He seems to be getting better in the role, but we need to see more. We will find out for sure in the CL since Matic can't play. However, I've read somewhere that Matic actually makes Luiz better in the midfield, because he sits in the DLP and lets Luiz make runs.

Their gk, can't possibly spell his name, had a horrible game. You rarely see a score line like this without some gk having something to do with it.

Rest terry now? That's the way to celebrate a goal! Thank your teammates first then do your thing. Like the kid already! Just slow down and keep players healthy... Got important games coming.

Eto injury looked bad like hamstring pull. Our best striker... Without him I'd play Andre upfront to be honest.

Wenger's arrogance has no boundaries. Coming to Sb and starting fucking Arteta as a single holding mid... Lol No wonder we scored two in counters!

Very favorable draw. Perhaps only United would've been better at the moment, but then you go into rivalries and what not. Yes, PSG are a good team, but they are all good teams at this level. They are still not at the same level of Bayern, Madrid, and Barca, whcih makes it a good draw. I'd also rather play them than Atletico. Does not really matter though as you eventually have to play the top dogs.