The Big Drog

You have to give credit to Ramires who was an excellent foil beside him last night but it was breathtaking to watch Oscar play last night. Everything he did just oozed class and quality. He defended capably, he floated breezed forwards, he floated about the pitch, it was a show of ability rarely seen in English football, this was the type of stuff normally reserved for Barcelona or the great Brazilian teams of the past, no the opposition wasn't was strong as it could have been but this was a young lad coming off the bench after an exhausting game only 3 days ago and playing out of position and it was nothing short of a masterclass.
However I don't believe he should be played in the double pivot. Mikel and Ramires both serve important purposes and I quite like the partnership they have formed, in any case Brazil's starting number 10 has been in stunning form since breaking into the team, no point in changing something that works.

Just going to add my 2 cents. The lad is a sublime talent, his overall game is hugely impressive for someone so young. However he's come to England and it's pretty difficult with the physical nature of the game and trying to adapt to that and a different culture, it's not been helped by him being played out of position and Rafa rarely starting him either.
Put this lad in Spain or Italy and you have a superstar. He may become a superstar in England if given the time and the opportunity.

Just going to add my 2 cents. The lad is a sublime talent, his overall game is hugely impressive for someone so young. However he's come to England and it's pretty difficult with the physical nature of the game and trying to adapt to that and a different culture, it's not been helped by him being played out of position and Rafa rarely starting him either.
Put this lad in Spain or Italy and you have a superstar. He may become a superstar in England if given the time and the opportunity.

Just going to add my 2 cents. The lad is a sublime talent, his overall game is hugely impressive for someone so young. However he's come to England and it's pretty difficult with the physical nature of the game and trying to adapt to that and a different culture, it's not been helped by him being played out of position and Rafa rarely starting him either.
Put this lad in Spain or Italy and you have a superstar. He may become a superstar in England if given the time and the opportunity.

I'm not that disappointed about this. Didn't fancy his chances of ever becoming our first choice striker, particularly with Lukaku and potential new signings around, never developed the right mentality either, far too selfish, infuriating to watch as a fan and probably infuriating to play with as a teammate. All left foot too. He might have a decent career at Liverpool but I don't think he will ever be a player capable of being the star striker of a team with realistic ambitions of challenging for the Champions League and Premier League.

Quality performance today. He's really impressed so far at Chelsea, solid defensively, really determined and hungry, good quality going forward too. Surely the long term option at right back for club and country (though Montanya is also terrific)

Quality performance today. He's really impressed so far at Chelsea, solid defensively, really determined and hungry, good quality going forward too. Surely the long term option at right back for club and country (though Montanya is also terrific)

Why? If he's scoring 2 every game and Benitez is doing what he does best, bringing a solid structure to the team, then why wouldn't it justify keeping him?

Seriously? That's the justification? Last time I checked Jose Mourinho was unlikely to be made a saint, Ferguson probably wont win a Nobel peace prize, infact you will be hard pressed to find any manager with a whiter than white track record. I disagree that he has nothing for the club, he has knowledge, he is a proven, top class coach, a two time Uefa coach of the year, a 2 time La Liga winner with Valencia, a Uefa Cup winner with Valencia and an FA Cup and Champions League winner with Liverpool. He has the character of a winner, he has the magnetic personality of a true champion and tactically he is top notch. He is a great manager and a great football person, we are lucky that he stepped in on a short term basis.

Why? If he's scoring 2 every game and Benitez is doing what he does best, bringing a solid structure to the team, then why wouldn't it justify keeping him?

The Barcelona performance from last night in which they demolished Bilbao hasn't gotten enough praise on this thread, it was a display that very few teams in any era would be capable of replicating, a near faultless and often breathtaking production, football in its purest form.

When did TC become overrun by trolls?

The Road to El Dorado.

The Road to El Dorado.

Tbf there was a time when he merited the hype. Along with the likes of Drogba, Eto'o and Adebayor he represented the perfect modern day centre forward, he had it all. He had the electric pace, he had the physical strength, he had the technique and he had the killer touch. He was a genuinely great player for club and country. Injuries simply took their toll, he warned that he would be burned out if he played in the Premiet League for long and it happened quicker than he expected. Like Michael Owen, knee injuries robbed him of his all important pace and he hasn't been able to adjust his game and as a result he is never as confident as he was. He was a great player, we just got him too late.

Hero, the word "legend" just doesn't do him justice, everything he has done for the club, goes above and beyond what anyone expected when he first bought us.

Hero, the word "legend" just doesn't do him justice, everything he has done for the club, goes above and beyond what anyone expected when he first bought us.

In: Falcao (even if a deal is just agreed for the summer)
+1 DM
+1 young CB
Out: Hopefully Torres and Malouda

It's bad, it's really bad. It's like playing without a striker. For defenders in the Premier League or Champions League they must know it will be an easy night when they come up against Torres compared to what they usually face. All of the threat is behind him. With a first or even second rate striker this team would be a real force.

I'm not sure why we are so down on him. I thought he did very well yesterday, some slick passes, a real quickness of thought and a couple of charging runs, all wonderfully topped off by that sublime pass to Mata for the third goal, that pass was something very special indeed.

I'm not sure why we are so down on him. I thought he did very well yesterday, some slick passes, a real quickness of thought and a couple of charging runs, all wonderfully topped off by that sublime pass to Mata for the third goal, that pass was something very special indeed.

Thing is that when he did have a run of games he was excellent.
While it doesn't mean you are Xavi it does mean something and he is a player that Barcelona do actually rate.

I think he'll have a good season, might get 20 goals in all competitions. He will never be revitalised though, he'll never be the player he was early in his Liverpool career. The knee problems, the niggling injuries took their toll and robbed him of his really killer pace. He is still relatively fast but it was his killer pace that set him apart. As a result he's still adapting, trying to change his game because he can't physically play now as he did before.

I think he'll have a good season, might get 20 goals in all competitions. He will never be revitalised though, he'll never be the player he was early in his Liverpool career. The knee problems, the niggling injuries took their toll and robbed him of his really killer pace. He is still relatively fast but it was his killer pace that set him apart. As a result he's still adapting, trying to change his game because he can't physically play now as he did before.

Seriously man? Ye we did brilliantly against them over two legs and we had a lot of fortune in getting through against them. But Barcelona have set a new standard in football which all other teams must try to catch up to.