robsblubot

"Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 21, who is on loan at La Liga side Atletico Madrid, has a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid." (from BBC's gossip:) section) WTF?!

I dislike the celebration, it's way too selfish for me; feel the same when Catholics do their thing as well. The reason is that after someone makes a fantastic run, beating two players, and makes a perfect pass for you to score, you should NOT be thanking (whatever your) god (is), but your teammate first and foremost. He IS the reason you scored. After you thank your teammate for the assist, then do whatever you want. just a minor nitpick... I have to confess I had no idea how influential Matic was going to be. It's absolutely incredible how influential he is for us. The 21m seems like a freaking bargain.

Yes and that'd be Varane. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2574639/Jose-Mourinho-hails-young-Madrid-centre-Varane-best-defender-world.html

Here's another idea: mind your own fucking business and I say whatever the hell I want. No, that's absolutely not what EVERYONE is saying!

I call it the way I see it. Right, yes but someone else also manages to find something to complain about concerning Oscar. Don't you worry about the old brain-box as it is well-regarded by who matters (typically employers). Do you really think nationality does not play a part when some of the players involved play for country? It's only natural that it does. Not only Barcelona but Bayern too as Guardiola likes DL as a player. PSG has been reported interested as well. You are attributing something to Barcelona that isn't theirs. Total football was not invented by Barcelona as you well know. Many sides that I've seen dominate football for years have employed that type of football. It relies more on technical skills (spec passing) and pace. Frank De Boer was one of the better defenders I've ever seen play in that system. It's really irrelevant which system is better though. My point has always been that different players perform better or worse depending on whether the system helps them or not. As good as Jose is, Jose is ALSO not Chelsea. He too will go some day. There is also a possibility Dl has been sulking a bit and will return to his usual form once allowed to move. Who knows?! I just know, as much of the evidence shows, he is a very good footballer and a Chelsea player. One of my least favorite top players of all times, Ronaldinho, disagrees as he was voted best player in the world for... how many times? He is, mentally, the weakest footballer I know (I've met him and know his brother/agent). BTW, I do believe his poor mentality has indeed hindered his influence for country. Technically, on the other hand, he was sublime with perfect first touch dribbling, creativity, vision, and finishing - esp in the beginning of his career when he was pacier. I've seen many, many sides win titles with mentally weak players in key roles. There is a balance to be had - it's not all or nothing. Just to be clear, I don't consider DL mentally weak; he just has very specific weaknesses in concentration and positioning. He has never seen a red card even though he is VERY aggressive and physical in his play. He is good with interceptions, which implies good reading actually and he is very determined though not this season for whaever reason... wanted to move?

It's really not funny... just sad. You seem unwilling to read the drivel I write and the feeling is mutual. That's what the ignore list is for. see ya.

Repeat after me. Ignore the De Niro guy. Do you feel better already? He talks about odds as if he pulled them out of his ass - maybe because he did. Otherwise he'd be able to SELL (for a lot of money) his vast knowledge about player's potential to the likes of Barcelona! I mean, if he could convince (let alone prove) to Barcelona, Bayern, and PSG, that DL's "ship has already sailed" he'd save them a lot of money, therefore the information in itself would be worth a lot of money. If he thinks DL is mentally weak, he must acknowledge Ramires is mentally strong and yet, just check what he writes about Ramires on the Ramires thread. OK my bad... Ramires is not technically as gifted as Luiz (even though De Niro guy thinks DL is also poor technique wise lol). I'm beginning to see a pattern here... Now go on to Oscar's thread and read his comments... Oscar is one of the most rounded players I've ever seen and yet he thinks he sucks that he does not give 100% for chelsea! The little guy tackles anything that moves for us! I mean if you don't yet see the pattern here, I'm not going to spell it out for you. Just wait until Willian has a few poor games...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10676750/Barcelona-to-bid-25m-for-Chelseas-David-Luiz-now-that-Carles-Puyol-is-on-his-way.html interesting read. I totally buy the idea he wasn't the one who refused to join Barcelona (convenient for him to say it) and it was Chelsea who turned down the 21m bid. It would be disappointing, but not the first time I've seen it happen (the sulking that follows). That's the reason the club is always first - players (any) come and go.

Sure, David Luiz valuation is 25M which is how much we paid for him. The current valuation is something between that and what Chelsea and Barcelona agree next summer. Now if you want the most current valuation of David Luiz, that is 21m euros which was the ACTUAL offer we got from Barcelona last summer. Either way, really not rocket science. Cahill and John Terry are too slow to play in a high defense line. Agree on Jose's and it's not surprising concerning how his teams play. David Luiz is a Chelsea player and I merely remember the GOOD and VERY GOOD performances he HAS had for Chelsea in defense and midfield. The moment David Luiz is sold, I will watch him for Brazil and that's about it. Won't lose my sleep one bit - this is entertainment and as far from a job as it gets. BTW, I don't think Brazil are contenders, aside from playing at home, and it's certainly not because of David Luiz. This is the best defender pairing I've even seen for Brazil. Unfortunately, that's not what wins World Cups: Brazil are a bit short on Drogbas this time around. Instead we've got Fred and Jo...

And you think Dempsey is a lot better than Victor?! Whatever... My point about Cahill is not really a point or opinion, but a fact. Cahill's valuation is what it is... same applies to Luiz. Yeah we've seen a lot of teams putting Barca under pressure especially us. Of course it's going to be VERY difficult to put Barca under pressure with our CBs sitting inside our six-yard-box. Even when we beat them we did NOT put them under pressure and it was quite the other way around actually. People apparently have already forgotten Cahill's and Terry's performances under AVB's high pressure/possession game. And I am not saying he was right - it's up to the manager to work with the squad he's got. Just to emphasize that players' form depend on the system used and whether it benefits them or not. I hope I am wrong because if I am right, playing against Barca with him as a CB/CM combo player is going to be very difficult. My personal opinion is that we didn't win the CL because of a solid defense, because of Cahill, Luiz, or Mata. We won because we had a very special player in the team and that was Drogba.

What you define as a mistake is very different than what I define as one. At the end of the day, each player has his own strengths and weaknesses. Victor's was not a mistake the same way Dempsey's header wasn't one either. You call them mistakes and I disagree. The better teams I've seen play the game realize it's impossible to stop the truly great players - who you eventually have to face if to win anything of importance. BTW, mediocre players CAN have great moments, just not as often. So, they've realized that the only way to stop a Messi or a Ronaldo is to keep the football away from them. It is to anticipate and pressurize them so that they don't have time to think and no time on the ball. Our defense does exactly the opposite - very Jose. Yes he's a terrible defender according to the same pundits, because he can do no right. We should let him go for free... no wait... apparently we are waiting for the "right offer" in the 30 million... kinda steep for a bad defender. Right because every club in the world plays exactly the same way. That's why other clubs are lining up offers for Cahill Since we are guessing stuff now, how do you think he's going to do if and when he moves to Barcelona?! Would their style of play maybe, just maybe, suite his own style a bit better than Jose's? Same as DL did better for Chelsea under different conditions and management? Does anyone remember Terry and Cahill playing a very high defense line under AVB?! I do. My money is that he's going to be massive for Barcelona, which is the reason I wouldn't sell him to them. Offer him to PSG for example or even Bayern who seem to have shown interest as well (such a bad defender). Ppl here say JT and Cahill are the best CB pairing in Europe and I couldn't disagree more. There was a recent article talking about why RM's pairing is the best in the world and I have to agree. Our CBs can only play one way: very deep. RM's can play deep and high up the pitch that allows them to switch styles during a match with the same players without losing anything. To the insane poster below me, it is you who have to do the convincing, of why top clubs want to acquire such a bad player as you describe him.

Same as last game against Fulham where John Terry let Dempsey head the ball inside the box. Victor's play and movement was actually a lot better than Dempsey's who was mostly static. These types of "errors" take place all the time otherwise there wouldn't be goals. If DL had made the same mistake the announcers would've been all over him. That's why I think he should leave ASAP.

Or perhaps we could see how Andre would do with a good run of games as a striker - reckon he won't do much worse than the other strikers at the very least. The big question is whether Andre will be comfortable playing with his back to the goal, which is certainly needed at times. -- BTW, really donn't get all the praise Cahill got - he was OK along with Iva, and did not look that comfortable in possession once we got our defense line up the field in the second half. He was again better than Terry though (allowed Clint's free header); Terry who seems to be tiring a bit lately. From the back line Azpi was once against the better player. Also, Fulham was as bad as I expected them to be. Bent is one of the worst strikers I've ever seen play the game.

Luiz is recovering from a groin pull - should not play until 110%.... Could lose him for the rest of the season. Mikel was the right move but he needs to step up.

Getting him to bulk a bit is 1000 times easier than improving the technique of a poor player. Andre is a good player -just needs time to adapt.

Defensive line playing higher and we are applying more pressure- it even looks like we want to win this...

yes that's exactly what I meant as I have no intention of revisiting old discussions. Fair enough, on the disagreement. I don't think it's as binary as you are making it out to be. As you commit more players forward, by say playing DL in defense/middle (or say Matic!), you lose defensively, but it's not all or nothing. The balance has got to be different when playing a shitty side like Fulham vs a City. How about at half time? Say it's 0x0 at half time would that be the time to commit more players forward? IMO getting this balance right is one of the most difficult things for head coaches. Staying in the PL, Arsenal is a club that commit more players forward from the get go and they are doing fine, esp against these types at home. They do struggle away from home against tough opponents, perhaps because they don't know how /don't want to be more defensive when needed. Just a reminder, City is yet to play a game, so we are "temporarily" top of the table. The PL's going to be a tight affair as the table suggests. I reckon dropping points against Fulham won't do us any good.

Please spare me of your rhetoric and address the points I made. So you think we need solidity at the back to play Fulham at home. Ok, I completely disagree. For me losing 2 points to Fulham at home is just as bad as losing 3. If we are indeed title contenders that is.

Scolari and a bunch others are already waiting in line. Anyone who expects JT and Cahill to play every single game until the end of the season should be tested as well. You increase the odds of scoring by incurring into more risk (of conceding)... very simple concept if you think about it. You do that by committing more players forward, like unleashing an attacking-minded defender if you've got one. I'll make it very simple: David Luiz would play in midfield even though officially he will start in defense. It also helps that we play a defensive-minded fullback next to him. That's how Brazil overwhelms the smaller teams in the WC (by committing players forward) and we should learn how to do the same - cannot drop points (by not beating) these bottom feeders.

David Luiz in defense; Ramires/Matic and Lamaprd (if fit) or even Oscar (if fit) as a CM. Against a weak side - Fulham are the weakest - you gotta press high and go all-in from the get go. We have to have enough players committed and going forward to overwhelm them. Arsenal does that very well when playing at home, though they mistakenly try to do the same away too.

You know MIkel is really like 37 years old, right? That would explain why Lampard, 35, is far more mobile....

lol the fact African nations dominate in U21/U23 competitions and basically don't exist at senior levels also suggests it is something frequently done. This has nothing to do with racism, but environment. Speaking with a colleague of mine here, who's originally from India, it all boils down to whether birth records are well kept or not. Because if they are not, then it's really up to the ppl to say when they were born. And we know people never lie for money...

Agreed, but Oscar wasn't 100% fit.

Our finishing wasn't good enough in the first half. Also, we just can't keep the football well enough and that puts us under constant pressure specially away from home. No, we don't need to play like Barcelona with those boring short passes for 90+ minutes, but there are times when keeping the football is important; say after you score a goal and want to put pressure on the opponent as it can become an ordeal to try to score without the football. Although I don't quite buy what Jose said about our chances in the PL, I don't really think we have a shot at CL with our best (in form) players cup tied - not to mention some areas in where we are a bit thin. Galatasaray's tie is really irrelevant as they are not contenders.

there you go Torres show it to the old man!!! * Jose's master plan already working.... "my strikers can't score goals"