TrippingStep

What hurts is that we had Swansea under control and if not for the unusual mistakes of Ivanovic, they wouldn't have scored. Ramires was clumsy on some occasion but I much prefer Luiz and Ramires in midfield than Luiz and Lampard in Midfield. They were closing down Swansea quite well, I don't think we would have been better with Lampard in his role. I think we should stop with Lampard deeper and if the manager want to use him, Play him behind the striker, and move Mata to the right. Demba must start, Torres only coming when we are in the lead and the opponents leave much more space behind them.

I think the january transfer window when both Carroll and Torres has been bought for astronomic fee were the most ludicrous decisions made :confused:

He never played for the first team at Lille.

I don't think we're out of this cup. We could even be level with them in the first half of second leg. Two minor tweaks with Ba upfront, Oscar more central position and a bit deeper, Mata on the right.

I don't see the need for Manchester United to have Lampard, except an even greater political power in the english league and media.

I agree, it's just that the first 20-25 minutes, he didn't touch many balls, after that it was better.

The most obvious thing is that Ba should have come earlier. I would have put Mata on the right (don't know why i said left earlier). for inside crosses or shooting. Asked to Hazard and Oscar to play quite close to try quick link-up. Oscar coming a bit deeper to lay-off of Hazard with his back to goal.

What I didn't understand is what Torres was saying to Mata when they were discussing just before the match. Torres was sulking so much, looking resigned and a deer in the lights, unbelievable.

Torres out, Ba in. Swansea are quite lucky. The occasion that Mata had, this season he would have bury it in other games. And out of nowhere, a slight miscontrol of Ivanovic and they score on their only opportunity.

The great defence, Drogba, Makele Ballack or Essien in midfield behind him didn't matter I guess. If Chelsea have more difficulties now, it's because we have not the same quality in midfield as before. Look at the defensive and central midfield Chelsea had with Mourinho. Makele, Essien, Tiago, Ballack. Lampard is very good in and around the box but I'm not so sure he's as great a leader as you say. I would even say that Gerrard under Benitez was more a leader and the better player for his all-aroung game but that's just my opinion. Gerrard has played on the wings, behind the striker, as a deeper playmaker and could still be quite good. Lampard when playing deeper unless we sit very deep is not very good, he doesn't make the other players playing better.

That's why we need a defensive midfielder and a central midfielder. And Cavani next summer. Oscar Hazar Mata are suited to a possession game where they would move, combine and mess-up the opposition, we need a striker good in the link-up, deviation and can hold-up the ball. Besides that Oscar is good to come from behind and exploiting spaces that the creative players would create in the opposition team. Add Cabaye that is quite good to hold-up the ball, in first time passing and in long balls and that would be a very good midfield. ----------Azpilicueta----------------Ivanovic------------Luiz or Cahill------------Cole-------------------- -------------------------------------------Capoue-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------Oscar-----------------------------Cabaye------------------------------------------- ------------------Mata------------------------------------------------------Hazard------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------Cavani--------------------------------------------------------------- t

What I don't understand is why we try to play him in the two in front of the defense. He's never been very good at that position. In 2006, When England try him and Gerrard as a two central midfield, it was awful. Play him behind behind the striker in easy game and as coming player when we must score a goal. The only way he can play in the two is when we play deep and play a counter-attacking game. When we must play and use him in a build-up, it's not great. He tends to not stay there and play a more direct style. Against QPR, he never stayed with Luiz, he only passed to him to than move forward without having a chance to receive it back, waiting to be in end phase of the build-up to score or assist while the position is to set-up the other players.

But to make a metaphor with Rugby, we have shitty fly-halfs, first center in our squad. The players that organise the play, the defensive and central midfielders in the two in front of the defense. If the english clubs are struggling more in Europa, it's because the quality of the defensive midfielders have declined in the top english clubs.

I was ok that he rested some players. But Ramires Mata and Hazard Cole at the same time was a bit too much. we missed some dynamism in midfield.

I wonder if Redknaap comment that any coach would have success with Lampard Mata Hazard had any influence on Benitez. Mata coming very late on the game. Like Benitez wanted to prove a point.

I know but he's injured. I've watched him when he was at Lille. He's good tactically and a much better defender than the midfielders we have. I think he was the leader in the ground challenges won last year. What I didn't like yesterday was how easy Taarabt avoided the challenges of Luiz and co that throw themselves to the ball. If you can't catch the ball before, place yourself to challenge when he turn. I don't understand why Luiz hasn't improved on this aspect of the game. When he was a central defender he would be beaten because he would arrive late, in central midfield he's beaten with simple turn because he's obsessed winning the ball immediately.

I disagree. We need to look at the italian and spanish markets for central midfielders. And if we can, try to have Capoue of Toulouse in January of next summer.

I kind of agree but I've seen many occasions where Lampard could have been more patient, making a pass to Luiz and then moving to the QPR line of midfield with no chance of receiving the ball back but maybe being in a position to do damage close to the box. And then We had Luiz or Cahill doing long balls to the wings. Like Kojo said, we have a big problem in our squad for the pivot wich is the key of the 4-2-3-1. Especially with the Romeu injury. That's why we need to buy midfielders who will happily sit back, recycle the ball and move the ball quickly.

He was not really helped by Luiz and Lampard. I think he would really shine if we changed to a 4-3-3 with two new midfielders and could be used as a connection between Hazard and Mata.

We really need two defensive midfielders who are comfortable with the ball who can boss the game. Already against Everton, Luiz Lampard was not great in the build-up, Lampard moving too far away from Luiz and doing too little in the buildup of the play. Yesterday we were poor because there was zero connection between Luiz Lampard and Oscar, they did nearly nothing to move the first line of midfielders and play between them. And what was incredible was how easy Taarabt had to run things, like Pienaar in the Everton Game. They were the two best players of their team and we had no idea how to put them off the game.

We need two defensive midfielders. The big problem we had in this first half was that Luiz Lampard Oscar didn't worked together. Lampard and Oscar too high, this trio should move and pass and make things more complicated for their midfield. Marin was not good and could have been sent off. Bertrand I'm not convinced and I think he will never be our left back, he's not very good with the ball. Without Mata and Hazard, there was nearly zero 1-2-3 first touch combination attempted.

The fact that we played heavily on the right is not very surprising. Luiz, Mata Torres are often naturally drifting to the right, if you add Azpilicueta and Ramires; it's 5 players on the right. On the left we had often no one between cole and Hazard. I

We should rest him this week. He had heavy legs when he came in against Norwich wich you could see when he had that yellow for fouling a counter-attack and he had difficulties to catch the Norwich player and make a sprint. Today was the same.

Too bad that Moses goes to afcon. Hazard was poor today, like he had a poor entrance against Norwich. He had no legs. I think he should not start this week's matches, to rest him. Him and Mata should have more rest in the second phase of the competition if we don't want them to be burn out. Oscar should start in the middle.

I think Rafa hates more Mourinho than Chelsea.