TrippingStep

Not a very huge loss. Seeing so many teams with poor or average midfielders (holding midfielder the exception), many teams not capable of changing the side of play quickly when a side is crowded. Body checks, studs in ankle of the opposition, it's not pretty.

Pato and Cavani are two different kind of player. Cavani for me fits all we need in a forward. The way he played with Lavezzi in Napoli, Forlan and Suarez in Uruguay national team. No reason to no play good with Mata or Oscar behind and Moses Hazard as winger or inside forward depending on the play.

The best transfer this year for the best right back in ligue1 the last years. And Ivanovic can play in his best position. The defense can play higher with a bit more agression with him on right back as he's rarely beaten by his opponents.

For me Ramires and Dembele are not very similar. They may cover a lot of ground but that's all. Ramires is excellent in counter-attacking, has more pace and can press quickly. Dembele is stronger on the one on one challenge with his stronger body and the way he can hold the ball. But I'm not a big fan of Dembele and our midfield in national team. All superb ball-holder with Witsel, Dembele, great ball tackler but no pace going forward. All resulting in passing the ball horizontally in front of the box, no space for speedier and trickier player to drive and causing more havoc in the opposing defence. But it must be said that our coach is not very experienced lol. Our gameplan seems like the out-dated german way of playing when there was many one on one all over the pitch. We were a bit lucky against Serbia when they out-numbered us and combined quickly on the side as there is chaos when one player is beaten. A mix of old-school german and british with a heavy focus on powerplay. The "wingers" starting the matches having often very average game with our bad fullback, slow buidl-up play of central midfield and are often isolated if they stay wide, only option being a cross with all the players already around the box with not many movements.

When we have Azpilicueta on the right back, we are better defensively. Even when the opponents seems to be a bit ahead, Azpi can come back and making it hard for him, slowing down the play while Ivanovic had not the pace to do it. Meaning that the central defenders have less help to do and when they have to do it, have more time. That's the biggest regret I have on the selection that Rafa made against Corinthians. Moving back Ivanovic on the right while he's not as good as Azpilicueta to close down, slowing down an opponent.

I agree, it was a solid performance and we were well organised defensively. We just lacked a bit of pace going forward but it's understandable as the offensive players seemed tired and the heavy grass of the pitch didn't help as our offensive players relies heavily on the first steps and touch with the exception of Moses who is more a tank.

I missed the first 25 minutes of the second half. But it seemed like the team was tired. And the heavy grass of the pitch didn't make things better. I understand why Benitez rested Hazard, he had a poor entrance and seemed like he could barely run.

just in front of the box, not much space to arm his shot, he curled it to the left post of the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper was a bit too much flat footed I thought.

Good shot from Mata. A better goalkeeper could have got it I think.

Mata should have used his right foot there.

So obvious that Mikel would have lost the ball, the way he was standing still and it's not like has a short burst of pace.

Mikel Luiz Mata not that good until now. Oscar on the left if the fullback is not overlapping him, I don't see the interest. We have no one running on counter-attacks.

the word at doesn't ring a bell?

I've seen nearly all their matches the last three years. If you can say that Mavuba Balmont Cabaye were passing the ball between them, it's you that don't know what you're talking about. Cabaye was even criticised on their forum while he was the only midfielder that tried to play a pass and move game. Mavuba was often hiding, Balmont running too much with the ball. And the wing backs playing like wingers, I never liked it. If you want to see a good use of wingbacks and the interplay with the midfield, look at Ac Milan under Ancelotti when they won the champion's league. Seeing wingbacks rushing forward without much build-up is not that elaborate. The matches against Inter, it was awful. Three four players in front glued to their defenders with no movements, Hazard alone behind them with no one to link-up. Inter was very happy to let the wing backs have a bit of space as they were not very gifted technically and are happy to let them cross to the box where their defenders were much taller than the Lille players.

What marvelous style. Being trashed at Valencia, Liverpool when they couldn't even make 3 passes. Their 50-100 passes between their central defenders and the goalkeeper. Balmont Debuchy running into blind alley on the right side. Scoring very few goals in the first half. Mavuba who plays often more like a third central defender and is very bad to pass the ball forward. Very few play in the central midfield, no link-up play between their three midfielders. Well, They've beaten the poor and average sides but due to individual performances of their attacking players. When they scored thei first goal and the opponents had to give more space there was good play but before that it often was a stalemate. Mancini has won trophies but I don't rate him as a great coach.

Xabi Alonso? Benitez connection.

I expect next year to be his big break-through and huge improvement. It's his first year in a real club. When you look at Mata, he came from Spain, played in a good club with Valencia and had the habit to play in a organised team. I didn't like the way Lille played and didn't rate that much Garcia (you only have to look at his european record against team well organised and that can play with the ball to see that he's not a really good coach). I think he would have improved much more with Puel in his all-around game.

I disagree with you and must agree with Rmpr. I think he will never be an elite forward. To be an elite forward, he must be better in the link-up play, more variation on his runs to not only score on ball-through when he beats an high line defense or a header on a cross to the second post.

It's the biggest improvement with Benitez in the last matches., the runs of the attacking players to create space. On the David Luiz Free kick, Mata and Torres opens the line for Hazard by making runs to the left, I was surprised to see Moses coming towards Hazard, I thought that if he had stayed more on the outside, he could have got a one on one with a simple diagonal run to cut inside behind his defender. Otherwise, even if it was against a weak Aston Villa, I did like the interplay between Oscar Piazzon and Hazard.

Yes and I were glad we signed him. He's so much better than Debuchy and Van Der Wiel.

I agree. For me he's one of the best all-around forward.

Capoue would be more suited.

He should be our priority for the forward position. One of the most well-rounded forward in the world. In the world cup where Uruguay finished 4th, it was his work that enabled Forlan and Suarez to play at their best. He can be good with both style of play, counter-attacking or dominant football where his movements and heading can be very useful in the box, without forgetting that he's not bad in the link-up play.

Wonder who was the player that was supposed to play on that line.

We need him. Cavani, two good intelligent defensive midfielders and the team would be much much better.