robsblubot

I happen to think that, right now, DM is a position Chelsea could improve on. Now, this improvement may come from Mikel and Romeo, or perhaps different players. Without having the fitness levels data, that Chelsea coaches certainly do have access to, it's difficult to know how they are progressing physically and tactically. The fact they've let Essien go and bet on Mikel speaks volumes. I think Mikel has gained some pace lately, but sometimes he seems a bit off as of lacking dynamism. His work rate could be improved on. You could make a case for most of Chelsea squad that they'd be top 10 in the world in their respective positions (personal preferences aside), but Mikel would be a difficult sell for a top 10 spot. Essien at his best was easily top 10. Ironically we've won the CL without him... It's always the team. It's all relative to the team and the system; the manager would be very welcome to find a system in which Mikel excels.

Well by the time I wrote my post that was the case. The team has been improving, but we like to talk about individual players instead; it's way more fun.

Why stop there?! United are in dire need of a top keeper like Cech... I'm SAF would welcome him with open arms. Seriously, I could certainly imagine accepting a bib for Petr, considering Courtois is already playing at a very high level, but NOT 10 mil! It's gotta be a an absurd amount of money for a GK. Pter has another 5 years at top level easy.

Torres making good runs!!! Bertrand isn't good enough to play on the wing... Lampard is back keep possession!

we are not keeping possession which is also part of defending... We remain very aggressive when in possession... that needs fixing. Great header by Luiz!

I sudo do! Barca have huge problems playing against counter-attacking teams. They are also very weak in the air and need to always get behind the opponent's defense line. Messi is key here, because of his dribbling. They've struggled against Inter and Chelsea a few times. This is not about quality whatsoever since they can usually beat United without problems. Other possession sides haven't had Barca's luck btw. People talk about Barca, which have prob the best players in the world. Do you really think Barca would be that much weaker if playing in a vastly different way? Or would Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, still provide an edge that any style and side can benefit from? Things are cyclical; soon enough a more pragmatic team will become very successful and others will attempt to do the same.

^^ I agree that if Chelsea want to keep possession the entire team need to be able to pass the ball. It's also a philosophy change since you can see how uncomfortable people are with Luiz style which is essentially what it takes to keep possession. However, I don't like teams that are one-dimensional because there will be situations when your virtues are not going to be effective. Even if Oscar is hard worker and he is, he's still physically weak and all our attacking players, aside from Torres, are poor in the air. Fallaini would add both height and physical strength to a very lightweight side. We can still keep possession, but sometimes you need a dif alternative in a match.

So, you've all made up your minds based on a handfull games, some in which he's come off the bench in the second half, but I'm the misguided one?! Our attack has been pathetic since Benitez joined and Moses has been part of that (according to the previous poster), so no, I expect far more from him as well as the rest of the team. I hope you are right and I'm the one missing the greatness you see in him, but I just don't see him providing enough quality to become a starter for Chelsea, at least not yet.

are they talking about extending his contract? Perhaps another year?

Moses had good games where his movement did cause problems for the opponents, but he also had games where he was completely ineffective. As the season unfolds, we will find out what his role is, because right now he *is* a fringe player; good option for second half when fullbacks are tired.

Wow! not really watching the same matches as it seems... I expect him to do a lot better in the future to claim a starting spot for chelsea. With his current one-trick pony performances, he will remain a fringe player for a very long time. Don't get me wrong, he is young enough and can develop, but develop he must.

Well, Ramires and Iva have been playing a lot, so I expected those 2 to be given a rest, but I guess it's a balance between resting/training vs confidence. In Benitez's mind, Torres' problems include a huge confidence problem, and by signing Benitez, Abramovich may agree with that (prob other coaches do as well). I don't think it's one or another personally, but a combination of a number of things, specially lack of power and pace.

Iva played every freaking game this season, didn't he? Ramires has been playing regularly as well... I hope they've been assessing fitness levels as this is not time for sacrifice just yet. Perhaps once Lampard and JT are back they can get some rest.

great officiating! The amount of play acting was completely incompatible with the football being played, but the ref did not handed cards on every bump and subsequent dive.

I don't disagree with either of you, but isn't it also fair to say that David's style merely demands a bit more protection, or cover, which should not be a problem. He also did not seem to have a problem when *told* not to leave his position in the Champions league. I mean everyone here who knows something about the game sees that our problems go way beyond the CB pair, but David still gets some IMO unfair criticism regardless. Concerning heart, I hear that a lot and my answer is always that you can find a lot of heart in the championship players... Heart is extremely overrated IMO. A player is either good enough or he isn't. Either he is confortable on the ball or he isn't. When things are most challenging, when facing the very best forwarders, that's when any shortcoming will get punished. BTW, ironically, one of the things I like most about Terry is that he is a cool (almost cold) player; he tackles players or shots as if nothing special and does not celebrate like Cahill does... In my mind, David and Terry are more natural footballers. Chelsea are a team who must always focus on the tough match, how to face the very best teams and players. We shouldn't need Torres, or Luiz, or whoever to have perfect games against the likes of West Ham for example.

lol liked the "messy defending stuff" bit...the secret skill set of a good defender. Disagree concerning Luiz and Terry; Terry's wasn't born with the awareness he displays on the pitch now. He's at his peak as a player, especially because defenders peak at around their 30s. I expect Luiz to get there eventually, though he will obviously become a different type of defender, even when more composed. One who should (as he does now) pair well with a composed defender like Terry is. Contrary to most here, I'm more concerned about Cahill of late. His defending has been very soft (even not physical enough).

"Best" is relative... Iva is better in the air, but far less confortable on the ball (underrated trait in England for whatever reason ). David has more pace too, which helps with high defense line. Even Terry is on the slow side. Though Terry *is* our best CB, also because of his leadership. People complain about distribution, but don't see that David is actually a very good passer, which helps the attack... BTW, Chelsea had been defending like shit before Benitez, regardless of the CB pair employed. It has taken a herculean effort to have clean sheets lately, which has hurt our attacking; the team is very unbalanced at the moment.

Realistically, this is still RDM's side; Benitez can only be judged after some time (and actual time to train the team). We've been defending poorly for a long time, and I don't blame Benitez from trying to address that. I also have my doubts we can play with so many virtuosos up front (not talking about quality but characteristics). Cahill had a poor game (poor distribution too)--surprised no one mentioned it. However, I do believe Iva, David, Terry, and Cole is our very best defense line, I don't think it'd have made much diff today: the midfield was very poor and got bossed in the second half. Please don't think Mickel and Ramires, think too the players who should've been there and weren't. I really did NOT understand letting both Meireles and Essien go (injuries or not) and NOT getting replacements for the CM position. What if Ramires picks up an injury? After all he's been playing twice a week forever...

Yes... a season is always fucked when there is any meaningful renewal in the squad.

Stand by what I said; it's not his place to make statements such as above. To me it sounds like he does not want to be recalled. Instead, he could've said something like this: "I'm very happy here, but I'd be happy to return to Chelsea as well; regardless I'd always do my best." Or how about saying nothing? Not very hard.

I honestly don't like what he's been saying about a possible recall. It's good to be driven, but he is on loan, and I bet Chelsea still pay for at least some of his wages. http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/chelsea-loan-striker-keen-to-avoid-stamford-bridge

That's cool! It's been over 15 years since I watched a Gre-nal, but I do try to watch a game when I visit.

Damiao is very young still, so I'd not be comfortable declaring him average or barely good enough. I think right now is a very good player and certainly more skillful than Andy Carroll. He is confortable on the ball and can even dribble a bit, esp inside the box. He is not pacy like Neymar, but nowadays Torres is so slow that I don't think we'd lose much in speed department with Damiao. I support Gremio (blue) down south in Brazil (it's the opposite there -- colder muddier in the south), and Inter are their arch rivals. I've watched (and suffered) from Damiao enough to know he is a handful. It's all about the price though. He's certainly not worth 30 mil right now IMO.

There is nothing wrong with that formation or lineup so long as the attacking players track back and contribute defensively. Football has changed from 82" when players could pick a wing and stay there waiting for the football. But with the right movement and dynamism, any formation could work. The only problem is whether the players can actually perform the tasks that need performing, which is more about (individual) characteristics than formation. I have my doubts about Hazard defending though. To me the real question is whether it is possible to play with a striker and still employ, at the same time, all three very attacking minded Hazard, Mata, and Oscar.

OK, lets say, for the sake of argument that Luiz-Cahill is the worst combo for Chelsea. I still think they are both good defenders with a lot to learn. They are certainly better than fucking Rio, whoever pairs up with Kompany, or any Arsenal defender. Lescott?! Makes way more key mistakes than Luiz and is not nearly as comfortable on the ball as Luiz is; he's a real serious guy though... defense is the responsibility of the entire team. They can drop deeper and play counter (like we did last season and Inter did before), they can push up press, and keep possession like Barca and Spain do, but the entire team need to defend. Defenders should never ever be allowed 1x1 against the attackers... The attackers have possession, have momentum, and they can get creative. Defenders have to guess and only need to fail once.