robsblubot

yup... I used to come here for the discussion, but I just don't care... I just know I don't enjoy watching him play, because to me he doesn't do anything special on the pitch.

agreed. People call him target man here, which I agree would have been a good alternative if true, but he isn't that player. He's more of a poacher actually. He goes to the ground way too often for a guy of his build - really puzzling. Actually think Lukaku is physically stronger and better in the air than Ba. Ba is a decent player who can score goals, but he can't possibly be a starter for Chelsea (or Roma).

Besides, we kepp talking about Omeruo, but I haven't been able to to actually see a single good performance from the boy. Every time I watch him play he looks either completely out of his depth or picks up an injury and is subbed off early on.

The question ought to be who the youngsters have to screw to get a game at Chelsea?!

Ramires, Terry and Iva should not play. Too many games is just asking for trouble.

Interesting... yeah maybe he's gone too far on the caution side. In that position players are expected to pickup cards though - kinda unavoidable.

Agreed. Eto'o, Torres, and Ba out. (easier said than done) Top striker in with Lukaku as a backup/rotation. Between, Top Striker (Suarez), Lukaku and Andre we would be well served indeed.

Yup consistently lacks aggression. A profession foul would have done the trick too - but he rarely (if ever) fouls anyone. Have to agree with Phil too: Jose was not happy with whatever Mikel was or wasn't doing.

yup absolutely right. Those sides also keep the football very well, something we haven't been able to do.

Other controversial players we've talked about in the past, and shall not be named, do have certain say questionable antics, but once they get into the training ground, they give 100% in training - have not heard of them missing training for one reason or another. Now, the same can't be said about Balotelli. His lifestyle DOES affect his game. Agree with most here in that It would make no sense to go for him since we have Lukaku.

Hate when people lump a bunch of ideas, even things I specifically did not say/write and use to make a point. I won't go discuss points I did not make. Azpi played all his career as RB, so you think that after 5 games he's now as capable as a LF... wow! Listen to me.... John Terry is twice the player Gary is. David Luiz is twice the player Gary is. David Luiz and Terry are world class players and Gary isn't. It's actually quite simple; just pay attention to the transfer market. No opinion, just market valuation. Your point and of others was that the defense was more solid with Gary (fewer mistakes), even though David is the better overall player - any child can see that. Or are we now arguing who has better technique?! Well, our defense has been far from solid, so what the fuck is Gary *adding* to the squad? His Englishness?!

that's also part of the bundle... take it or sell him.

what a game! Lukaku pdid very well - impressed! Everton have been great and man Barkley! Love his style, his movement, dribbling, runs... he's quality!

I don't agree with that at all. I think our defensive problems have little to do with the CBs. That's my point actually. That Gary does not add solidity, so the best player should play instead. Regardless, with Gary or Luiz, our defensive system hasn't been good enough. Oscar absence has also played a part. Put any CB in there and we'd concede just the same. Again, I don't criticize Gary for his mistakes, but his lack of technique. It's not about playing better or worse. He plays exactly the same for Brazil, but his style works for Brazil and does not for Chelsea's esp under Jose's system. His style would certainly work for Barca who starts 5'10 Mascherano as a CB. Bayern's high possession system would be great for him too. I don't see Luiz playing much worse than say last season. That's how he plays take it or sell him.

Well Arsenal are the best team in the league and been playing a lot better than we have. We certainly don't deserve to be ahead of them at this point. They deserve their goal too. Everton played well in the first half, but Arsenal are clearly the better team in the second.

Wow great arguments... really don't know where to start... please try to spot ANY criticism on Cahill's play by English commentators or pundits... ever! It's like he's the best defenders in the world. Same reason it's unrealistic to expect Courtois to fight for his place; why would he if there is a lot of interest on him? I don't make the rules, but ignore the market all you want.

1. it's an unfair dispute - one is the darling of the press. 2. Because there is a LOT of interest on Luiz, so why should he "fight" for his place? Technique wise he's twice the player Gary is, so why should he bother losing money and value, while he could easily start for Barcelona? Not to mention the style would fit him perfectly. 3. Luiz starts and captains Brazil. He wants to play in the WC and for that he needs to play week in and out. Unrealistic to expect him to accept rotation/squad role. I just don't see how Luiz can "win" in England. England is so conservative in certain aspects, and don't think supporters and pundits are ready for a CB like Luiz.

Ryan Shawcross always give 100% too. A number of other mid-table defenders give 100% in every match, so should we sign them too? Really can't understand this point some make here. We need players who give 100% like every player should, but who also have talent to play at the highest level, and can cope against the best of the best. I merely don't see Gary in that category and obviously the transfer market doesn't see him as such player either since there is no interest on him. Luiz must leave to kickstart his career. I honestly think he should ask for a transfer come Jan. So, with Luiz out of the picture, I say our defense will be lacking with very similar player who can only kick the ball upfield.

The way we've been playing I wish we'd start Luiz in a CDM position as a 3rd defender (at least for a while) if for nothing else to improve ball possession. Not going to happen since Jose already stated he won't do that (made no sense to say that - oh well). Gotta shut the floodgate somehow... He should be asking for a transfer ASAP to where his style can be fully appreciated. That's certainly not Mourinho's direct simple system.

Our defense has been horrible for a very long time now; ignore it all u want but the number of goals conceded is very telling. So it's ok for u and others to pinpoint luiz's mistakes but others can't pinpoint Garry's mistakes And deficiencies because other players were equaly as bad?! Spare me please. I don't think he was horrible as to me Garry is always consistently average-decent but our ball possession has also been pretty bad of late and both defenders inability to pass the ball is hurting the team. That's why I dislike the pairing of similar players-always have. Let me just make my point clearer without bias: Luiz is the best defender when in possession that I've ever seen play the game. Say however, that for one reason or another Chelsea/Jose style doesn't work for Luiz, and we sold him and bought Phil Jones from United (won't happen I know). That's a pairing that would've worked because he's a ball playing CB; he could pair either GC or JT and we'd have complementary attributes in them. BTW, it might be because Azpi has been playing on the left of late, where he clearly struggles - that's on Mourinho I guess.

That's what I've been saying... can't understand why a guy of his build goes to the ground so often - diving?!? just stay on your feet and play some football for christ's sake! Or Allah, whatever!

They are not mutually exclusive: Cech made a big mistake while Cahill could/should have done better. Let's not make a point that our defense and defenders have been good after conceding 6 goals against bottom feeders...

Sometimes it's not about making mistakes, but how one copes with the threat the opposition poses. At least that's how I rate defenders. The way we've been (NOT!) defending don't think Luiz will help that much aside from upping our ball possession a bit.

Agree with almost everything just unsure about Mikel. I also though he was good, but then when under pressure he kinda of vanished. I wanted him to become more assertive as we lost control of the match, but he wasn't. Still not a bad performance.

This was NOT a strange game! It was very similar to the last one. Keeping the football, having ball possession doesn't make you "play beautiful" football - there is nothing beautiful about the way Spain play to me. What possession really gives you is yet another way to defend! Your opponent cannot hurt you without the football. We've not been able to keep the football for a number of reasons and Mourinho's line up and tactics are also to blame. TorontoChelsea, good points, but I disagree on dribbling: Brazil have won 5 WC and do very well in the WC for many years using dribbling as their main weapon. Actually in every time Brazil won the world cup, they had an "unstoppable" player in the starting XI. There is certainly more to it, and you still need to produce the finishing after a successful dribble. However, beating a man when things are tight can be massive. Back to reality though, Mourinho is being disingenuous as usual when speaking of the goals we did not score. A good reporter who did not mind having his head bitten off, would have asked, "how many goals do Chelsea need to score to win a match?" After such question Jose would surely storm out though.