The Mak

I'm assuming it'll be Southampton with the form they're in. They'll have real belief they can go all the way, so they will not field their second string team. But it'll be a big test for ours...

I think Mourinho knows that the chance of him getting injured obviously increases if he were to play more. He literally has to be wrapped in cotton wool. That's why there is no real point in trying to put him in the first team; he may get a decent run and form some chemistry with, say, Ramires but he just couldn't last the season. That said, what a rotation player to have. He knows his role and he accepts it. He's another experienced head and it seems he still has a small bit of the old Essien in him. Glad to have him back.

We need to put these to the sword as soon as possible. I'm sick of them showing up against us while also getting thumped 6-0 at home by Liverpool and 7-3 by Arsenal in the same season.

It's pretty simple really. De Bruyne was dropped for his lack of effort in the Swindon game. However Mata played in the same game and, even though his performance wasn't the best, the effort he put in was his best up until that point. In Mourinho's words, he 'made the effort to go in Mourinho's direction'. Now KDB will have to do the exact same thing, irrespective of performance. People also seem to be forgetting the fact that KDB started at Old Trafford, one of the biggest games of the year. So it's not as if Mourinho doesn't rate him. All KDB needs to do is put the effort in and i'm sure he will tonight. He'll be fine. However, on the off chance he doesn't want to put the effort in, if he doesn't want to fight for his position, then the people wanting him to be sold will get their wish...

LOL!

If you ignore the replies, the posts then to stop! Hence, the derailment stops!

They can look shakey and lack drive against any level of opposition without Kompany. We can definitely beat them... Anyone know what Mourinho's record is against Pellegrini?

Making 32 appearances doesn't sound like 'most of the time' to me. Yes, and I wonder why Mata was such a breath of fresh air when he came? Because we never had someone anywhere near as creative as him in all of those 8 years. Yes, because we had a completely different style. We mostly overpowered oppositions instead of carving our way through them. Lampard has taken the majority of our corners and set-pieces since he arrived at the club and we've always been good in those situations. The powerful Chelsea was good at them and we even have the highest scoring CBs in the league at the moment. It surely plays a part. I'm not saying he's not creative, I'm saying he's nowhere near as creative as some people here imagine. Lampard will go down in history for being one of the best midfielders ever because of his ability to consistently put the ball in the net to the level of a striker, not because of his creativity. Now I'm no longer going to debate the matter with a guy called 'Magic Lamps' as it will go on forever in a thread that is not Lampard's. Thanks.

Listen, all I'm saying is that Lampard wasn't as creative as some people here are remembering; go look at the static, lifeless 10-11 season. The team he was king of was built around the team's collective power and dominance. He was our most creative player in it, yes, but the way some people are harping on here it is as if he was Xavi+Alonso in one. Lampard could never dictate the tempo of a game. If I'm totally off the mark, then I have no idea why we bought every no. 10 under the sun and why Lampard isn't playing there. If you don't agree with me, that's fine. Now go back to Mata...

Then why isn't Torres being fed in a similar way??? Because he can't hold it up like Didier and because Lampard is not Alonso, like some here are claiming.

Let's be honest with ourselves here: Lampard's job was to lump it to Drogba. Now sometimes it would look like an amazing pass, but more often than not it wouldn't come off or it would just land near Drogba and he would do the rest. It's more of a testament to Drogba unbelievable ability at being the lone striker than Lampard's passing..

If you took the time to properly digest what I wrote, I'm saying he can adapt to become a good DLP; not that he currently is one. It's an investment and it avoids these ridiculously quoted fees for established DLPs as they are so rare these days. Look, you've quite clearly contradicted yourself and it's ok. Just stop being so pedantic, stubborn and downright aggressive about it. Take a chill pill. Shhhh time now.

Says I'm talking bullshit when speaking of Koke as a CM, who has actually played there against one of the best teams in the world, but contradicts himself within minutes by suggesting Oscar as CM and then saying his best position is CAM. I think if anyone should stop the bullshit it's you. Give over.

I think what @ is trying to say is that it's not all about where someone plays, it's about what attributes he has. Is he going to bomb down the wing, skill and cross? No. He'll pretty much 1-2 it all the way up the field by the looks of it. He plays on the flank, yes, but that doesn't mean you can pigeon-hole him as a 'flank player' ; as he seems to be comfortable anywhere in midfield. Him playing one game as CM isn't really an argument against him playing there if it was in Aletico's biggest game of the season, which they won. It should say something. Besides, Scholes didn't start as a DLP did he? He simply had the attributes to adapt. Seems like Koke can too except it looks like he can tackle as well!

Was wondering why we didn't have a thread for him. I think he's a great alternative to the likes of Gundogan who would cost a fortune and is a bit injury prone. Especially if his buyout is only 17m. All these DLPs we dream about in the pivot would all cost a bomb (Witsel etc.). I don't know why we're not targeting someone like him who we could develop into our own Alonso/Modric etc.

3rd or 4th time now Draxler has done that, yet still no card.

Great, by this logic we shouldn't be crossing the ball altogether because we don't have Drogba... If Brana decides to cross the ball he should at least be putting it in a dangerous area, with allowance for a few wayward ones. But he doesn't. Almost everyone of them just gives possession back to the opponent, killing any of our attacking momentum built up to that point. He should just give it to someone who can cross and provide them with support. I didn't say that. I was just highlighting how some people are viewing the issue since you find it so 'confusing'....I also said Dave is a better attacker in general, not just at crossing the ball.

Don't forget the fear of disagreeing with José; which then leads to fear of disagreeing with the accepted 'norm' around here. The whole 'Mata Vs. Oscar' argument is bull anyway. Everyone compares Mata and Oscar in different circumstances, a.k.a. different seasons, different teams, different managers, different systems etc.

Maybe it's something to do with Ivanovic attacking and crossing like a CB...

Where are the people who said 'Benitez made Luiz a better defender'? :lol2: The only thing Luiz got last season was form. He does it every year: Brainfarts at the start of the season, picks up form afterwards, beast by the end of the season.

Understandably, the defence lacked confidence (except Terry) after Luiz's brainfart. Also thought it was one of Ivanovic's worst games ever. He needs to be rotated more with Dave. Yes, we may have needed Brana more because of the long balls but his offensive contribution wasn't just non-existent, at times he couldn't even make simple passes. Sometimes you just have to admit that we're playing a CB as a RB. Long balls seemed only to be an issue because Luiz had everyone second guessing when the ball was coming into the box. We're usually quite comfortable with them. Pleased overall because for the past few years we've been unable to claw points from losing positions. When the opposition scored first, sometimes we could only pray for a draw. Those days are gone now though. Mourinho has instilled belief back into the side and it's fantastic.

Oi!

I know but it's a different story. Their first home game in the PL, with everyone pumped up. They'll be away to us now. My point is that we should be confident in these types of games if we want trophies and as long as we are, then we shouldn't have any problems.

It will be on whether he'll be number 1 or not. Simple as that. If José says it's best for the club to have a top-class keeper for another 15 years instead of 5, then that is what will happen. We may get away with 1 year with both of them while Courtois gradually takes the mantle from Cech, which is the best we can hope for. (ala Chech-Cudicini) However, the decision will have to be made soon and it will be made on the basis of what is best for the club long-term and not based financially reasons. Since when do we need money anyway? If the club say we'll be ok for FFP, then we'll be ok. I'm not worried.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. In my final year, busy times. Anyway... Completely different again. Playing for the national team is a much more natural transaction for him and he's been in it since he was playing at Anderlecht. You also have to remember he's playing with a lot of players he was playing with at youth level. He's basically playing with a bunch of his mates. (not that he isn't playing with mates here, but the bond is a lot stronger in the national team for obvious reasons) Didn't say that. I said no one can know for certainty if he can take the pressure. I want him to develop here with us. Makes mistakes with us etc. But it just isn't going to happen with all these mediocre strikers with big names still on the books. Exactly; and that's the problem. But, as you say, I'm sure things will be brighter next year. Torres will have ran down another year and, who knows, someone may even come in for him. It looks like Ba will be on the way out either way and if Eto'o continues the way he's going right now there is no way he'll get another year. Overall though, for me, the problem is Torres. We can't move him on and Mourinho obviously doesn't have faith in him. Because of that he brought in Eto'o; making things worse for Lukaku. Now we've all these under-performing strikers on the books. And simply because of the name they made for themselves when they were good footballers we are compelled to play them; which is fucking terrible. The sooner they begin to be shipped on the better for Lukaku and the better for the club.