Barbara

nah, only the usual suspects. Some people won't ever like Oscar, no matter what, and some just look at the game as if it was FIFA or PES... either you perform out of this world and shines and flashes or you suck. It's a lot about the way some view the sport. So for one reason or the other, it's always the same suspects. My posts here were to correctly firstly, myself, as I had a bad impression of him at first, with him being at most average. And then Dion and I were discussing it. The usual suspects I don't even acknowledge anymore...

forgot to address the first part of your post, I'm okay with our 3 CBs available and as I said many times, the only piece this squad is missing is a better quality second striker. My point earlier this morning on Iva's thread and last page were more about how we set up our defense than our defense having a problem. If we set up Iva as the leader and Cahill complimenting him, we're good. Either way I want Cahill to look more comfortable on the ball. Luiz had ups and downs during his time with us, but under Rafa he was our best defender... but I think we're better off without him now. He finally convinced me that he won't overcome his mental approach of the game and will do irresponsible things more often than I think a top club can afford. I'm not sure I understood the bold part. You mean Ivanovic could do a job temporarily - let's say this season if we needed him - and then next season we should pursue one of those guys? I couldn't follow you, I guess. And the last line of your post is absolutely true. We've been insanely spoilt with JT, not only technically, but the leadership, the commitment, the dedication. Everything about that man is absolutely fantastic and everything he's given to us during all his time here, but especially the last years is invaluable and he can't be replaced at all. We can maybe find a player to fill his shoes as a CB (even then it's hard because he's incredibly technical in such a way his weaknesses don't compromise his end product), but we'll never replace the leader, the legend, the captain. That's going to take a long time, if ever. It's not only about his attitude, but also who he is.

but was the snake alive? (sorry to ruin your HS Skipper, I had did that with WHS going off topic, but this is the community part of the forum, I'm sure some slack can be cut). Wasn't he afraid of the snake literally eating his junk?

so we're back to my first point, Cahill isn't the man to lead our defense. I guess I said in one of my posts last page I trust Iva to lead us more than Cahill... I think Ivanovic is a good CB, I have bad memories of him and Luiz three seasons ago, and then Cahill and Luiz. I have all kind of bad memories with our defense in the EPL the year we won the Champions League. But then we have the Champions League matches...

and who's the reference, the rock as people called, in a partnership between Iva and Cahill? and that's without being clever as TOPTB calls it. It's no nonsense but with a lot of quality. You don't see him doing clever, flashy things. He's always no nonsense, but also pretty fantastic as well. Top quality on the ball.

I'm not writing him off, I'm saying if things go south, is Cahill the man to lead our defense? It's a possibility. as I said a few times a slight concern I have, but nothing I think will compromise exactly because I don't see JT missing a great deal of the season whether for injury or technically... Still only @DYC., @Madmax shared their opinions if needed for a long stretch, Cahill can lead our defense line. They're as doubtful as I am. edit: also I just pointed out that he's carrying on the same mistakes he's made at the end of the season. I think in both occasions they happened due to physical conditions. Then because he was already really tired, having played nearly all games for us that season. Now because it was still pre-season and too early for him to already be on top. But at his age, the thing is we'll never know when a physical problem will present itself and just because he's been reborn technically many times it doesn't mean the final time he won't recover won't happen. JT won't go the rest of his life playing at high level. At some point he'll start declining, it happens to all players. He may choose to stop before that happens, or to continue and try to reborn again, we don't know, but at some point it'll be too much for him.

Let's not forget that Eden - who has never been know for recovering physical fitness that fast - has had two and a half weeks of training before the Burnley match. So given what should be the standards and expectations about his form I do believe we saw him on some of his best. His dribbling was very objective and as always disconcerting. People maybe want to compare this performance to one he has had in his best moments for us. It's not fair, he's known as a slow starter, he takes a while to reach his best form, so everything considered, he was much better than I expected in the first match of the season and was influential without being the guy who shone more. Seriously, the match Cesc and Iva had, it's hard to shine more than they did because they were directly involved in all three goals... but Hazard was really, really good, especially given that was the first match of the season.

I don't want someone clever with it, just more comfortable on the ball. For a defender of his caliber he can definitely look better without looking 'clever'. Also I don't know if he won't miss having Terry as the reference and the rock as you guys called by his side. Do you think if JT has a bad season (as I said he's carrying on his form for the end of the last season, a few mistakes are starting to show) or has an injury and is actually dropped from the first team, a partnership between Iva and Cahill, Cahill can be the rock himself? That's my main concern. Is he the guy that compliments the rock well or can he be the rock?

exactly why having this guy is important... the moment JT doesn't have a good season - and let's remember he is simply carrying on his end of season, where he also looked out of sorts and made mistakes in important matches for us, then we have to trust Cahill to lead the defense? I trust Iva more as the focal point and that's coming from someone that actually prefers Iva as a FB... anyway, I've always felt that Cahill played so well because he felt confident with Terry by his side and learned from him. It's one thing to have Terry make a mistake, it's another thing to have someone else playing by his side. I'm slightly worried, but nothing that I think is compromising. I'm not talking in that way. I'm talking about confidence... a guy confident on his partner can be more confident on himself. We saw Cahill take his game to a new level. He wasn't the same playing in the WC, for example, although he wasn't as bad as I saw many making him out to be. And do you really think he looks comfortable on the ball with the slightest pressure? If he's all by himself, he looks okay, an opponent closing in and he seems to almost panic and has to get rid of the ball the quickest and easiest way he can think about.

I feel the opposite. I feel Terry made Cahill look good, JT was the key in our defense and it actually propped Cahill to improve his game. And he's flustered and insecure with the ball. He always gets rid of it as fast as he can as if he doesn't have the confidence to walk/run with it for 2 meters. If our coverage isn't as close and populated as it was last year, this may cause him a problem, sometimes there won't be someone near him for him to pass and he'll either roof or shoot it to the sidelines, giving possession away right away... if someone gets the throw in quickly, we're once again in danger. He needs to work his confidence to do at least the basic with possession, he seems a tad too scared and sometimes the way he gets rid of the ball or his lack of technicality is nearly embarrassing for someone that was just a contender for being the captain of his NT and who's part of the #1 CB partnership in a club like Chelsea. He needs to look more composed...

well I don't know if you guys enjoyed this. But I've never enjoyed reading answers (it being to my questions was just a coincidence) in the HS like I had in this one. You're awesome, Mr. Skipper. Also you guys in Europe or everywhere outside Brazil, don't know for sure, don't know the great pleasure that having multiple, creative, funny nicknames that everybody calls you that is I laughed at the video, it's funny Yeah, don't want the snake vine. I hear a man is shagging a snake, I wasn't brave enough to check. @Jype, could be more descriptive if he feels like he won't have nightmares (more than he's already having I mean). I would never link it to you. I was just curious if you were still sane or not. It's that bad...

edit: didn't see SJ post whatever, YT link for those who maybe are at work and can't access FB https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-KLmxjGj9E

Someone mentioned here or on the match thread (I won't look for it now) that all dangerous Burnley attack attempts came from his side implying - or directly saying, I can't remember - that it was because Iva was bombing forward to support the attack. Wrong and wrong. As I just said on Oscar's thread, I re-watched the first half and I paid close attention to what could have been our shortcomings when defending and you know what I realize in like 4 out 5 Burnley attacks from their left? Iva was all by himself to mark whoever was there. Schurrle wasn't there most time and neither was one between Matic and Fàbregas. So it seems like an automatic conclusion to 'blame' Ivanovic offensive inclination in the match for the easier route Burnely found on that side, but except when Oscar was on that side of the pitch (and he didn't spend a lot of time there), many times Matic, Schurrle, Hazard (according to his heat map he stayed more in the right than in the left for some reason) and Fàbregas were in the middle or in the left or even coming back from the attack and there was only Iva with Cahill behind him. Burnley had two strikers and at some point even SkySports broadcast highlighted them and they were both closer to the left wing - exactly Iva's side. But not even in one of those attacks Iva was out of position, but in most of them (although they weren't many) he was all by himself. It's early days and I'm sure Mourinho will fix our positioning, especially in the defense, but as I said in the fullbacks thread I think maybe we'll have a small problem to fix. With a team more intended on attacking fast and with a lot of people involved, keeping possession and exchanging fast, short passes, maybe it exposes a little bit the defense and I'm not entirely convinced JT/Cahill work that well with less coverage. JT is slow and Cahill, although much more composed these days, is still flustered and unsure on the ball. Off the ball he's much better than on the ball. So he may tackle, for example, and then get rid of the ball in any way because he doesn't feel that confident if the opposition players are somewhere near him. If with the tackle he gets the ball away or stays with the ball and leaves his opponent behind, he's excellent, but in any other situation he doesn't look confident. And although I didn't catch any particular compromising mistake by him the lack of someone else around him and Iva (as he plays in the right side of the defense most times) resulted in what we saw. A team with a little bit more quality attacking than Burnley could have explored that much better. It's nice to have the little triangles of Oscar, Fàbregas and Matic moving around the pitch and I don't think it compromises the defense, as long as at all times one of three stays a bit behind, especially towards the right as at least with Azpilicueta in the left, our LB will rarely be much high in the pitch... I wouldn't change a thing about the way Iva played and if Iva and Luís play together, I think they'll take turns supporting the attack and that's how it should be, but as Oscar is alternating with the pivot players, one among our three midfielders should hold position a little bit more. I'm not even talking about the big teams here, as I don't expect us to approach big teams the way we did Monday. But teams such as Newcastle, Villa, Southampton, and maybe even Everton (I say even because I expect Mourinho to keep the same approach against them) will require more attention from us in that aspect.

I re-watched the whole first half again in a more tactical and detailed way. And yes, people were absolutely unfair on Oscar - including me in my first assessment of his performance. 1) If you watch closely the whole team at times played the ball fast, getting rid of it quickly to the closest teammate. I think it's something Mourinho asked - they drilled those things a lot, Mourinho talked about drilling those things as well (quick passing under pressure or not). But only Oscar was criticized for that, but I saw Fàbregas, Hazard, Costa, Schurrle, Matic doing it at least a handful times each. 2) During the whole first half Oscar was the guy who set our attack in motion at least five times (I didn't count, but I remember at least five at the top of my mind) and by setting it in motion I don't mean starting it near the CBs, but changing the tempo and actually making the ball reach our attackers near or inside the 18-yard box. Our very first time reaching the final third was a long ball by him to Costa - an accurate one. At least three times his pass was the immediate one before the potential assist from a shot on goal, a blocked shot or a last minute tackle by the defense. I don't blame anyone for not noticing the good things he did, he wasn't spectacular in the eye and in a night where Cesc, Iva, Costa, Hazard and Schurrle were really eye popping, is hard to catch little basic Oscar doing his thing. When I watched live I was working and I can never watch matches properly while writing reports of the highlights at the same time and I thought he was meh. Not good, not bad with a few atypical misplaced passes. Then the second time I've watched streaks of the match - basically from many individual vids (Cesc, Costa, Hazard) I realized that Oscar was involved in a relevant way at least three times. Now I really rewatched the match (first half only though) and I paid attention to our movement, positioning and players and my eye often caught him and also something else someone pointed out in the Ivanovic thread, that I'll be there in a bit to discuss. All in all I think that was his best match since the Southampton one in January (if I remember correctly he did well against Arsenal as well and another match). It's still far from the matches he did early last season for us, but at the same time with now so many guys with better tools than him - whether it's dribbling, pace, vision, passing - I don't think we'll see much of those matches anymore. Jack of all trades, master of none (maybe except recovering possession in the final third) that he is, someone will always look better than him with their dribbles, runs, passes, through balls and therefore will be more influential, but he'll contribute in his discreet way... he isn't flashy, he looks awkward on the ball, he seems clumsy sometimes and he doesn't aspire much confidence because of his nearly uncomfortable-looking style of conducting the ball and passing, but he does contribute in his own way. He isn't on his best physical condition yet so I think he will improve his passing and finish some, but he'll mainly set the stage for others to shine. I think it's a fitting role given that he isn't a 9+ player in any aspect of his game...

Except you're using double standards here... Iva was as solid defensively as Azpili - and both were average supporting the attack. While Azpili is slightly better linking up and crossing, Iva is miles and miles ahead of him in goal threat from set-pieces. As I say all the time, it's okay to give stick for Iva for his nearly nonexistent offensive contributions (Monday was an exception, but then again he was much better under Carlo offensively than now), but it never ceases to amaze that Azpili's nearly zero contributions don't get the same amount of stick. The difference between them attacking from the wings is really a small one, whereas Ivanovic is always good in set-pieces. So while I absolutely love Azpili, with Luís here, I'd go with Luís and Iva when Luís is fully adapted or at least more comfortable. Everybody remembers how consistent Azpili was - mostly defending - yet nobody mentions how consistent Iva was... Also I'm one of those few people who prefers Iva as a FB rather than a CB although I do expect him to play an important role as a CB. Someone mentioned above and it may actually make sense: maybe the reason why our defense doesn't look as good as last year is because Terry + Cahill works wonders when they have plenty of coverage ahead of them and around them. Maybe now we're going for a more offensive style they won't look as solid. It's still too early to say, but that's definitely one of the possible reasons.

Cech puts a whole bag of ice in the water before taking it. In Beckham's you can see a lot of ice on the floor after he takes it.Willian - I guess - you can also see. there are many vids I've seen you can clearly see the ice on the floor...

I wonder who is going to post Eva and Mourinho's vids if they do it. Would they do it? Eva I'm sure will, but Mourinho, I have my doubts.

Luís had the decency... but Matic stayed in the pool (which is sort of humiliating for Cesc lol). At least Cesc had a hand and the guy was sitting

having a midget to throw a box filled with water in a giant. LOL Cesc that's why you hit him and why you had some sort of stair.

Iva looks a lot like Stepanek in that cartoon LOL

@CHOULO19, proposing to my idol in front of me? I knew marrying an arab wouldn't work! I'm all for monogamy and I can't understand this thing about you arabs collecting wives (and now hubbies so it seems) Well, people saying I asked everything are lying... I still have a lot of things to ask. Humpf. Thomas, I know we're friends - or at least I think so, I was kidding because girls - young girls especially always say this when they meet someone they click. Oh can we be friends. Now, I asked you if we could be best friends Back to Thomas, I'm a deep person so I keep asking a couple of deeper thing, but I'll do my best to refrain from it. 1) Do you have any nicknames? Share them if yes, pls? 2) You said you think about doing some traveling, have you been in Asia? Plans to? 3) Car of your dreams? Are you a car guy? What car do you have? 4) Does your mom still lives in London? 5) If you played football professionally, what position you think you'd play? 6) What you like the most about the total football style? Talk about its weaknesses and strengths 7) Are there any items you collect or collected as a kid? If yes, which? 8) Why you haven't posted pics in a long time? 9) Can you post new pics? 10) Did you know cool people think being cool is normal? That's why you couldn't answer my question properly 11) Celebrity female crush you currently have or had when younger 12) Belated happy birthday!!!! Make a wish (you don't need to share) and I hope you have a great year ahead of you 13) What was the best gift someone ever gave you? 14) Coffee, chocolate milk or tea? 15) Fave alcoholic drink? 16) Swim trunks or speedos? 17) Winter, fall, spring or summer? 18) Beach or mountains? 19) You idea of a perfect date? 20) If you were Mourinho, who'd be your first-team? Who'd be your impact sub? Who else would you sign if you had only one more player to bring? 21) Have you ever been hiking? Camping? Snow boarding? 22) Your fave hobby in Holland? 23) Name your best friend 24) What do you appreciate the most in a true friendship? 25) Do you plan to ever get married? 26) Are you an spiritual person? 27) Are you anxious? 28) If someone decided to make a movie about you, who you would like to play you? 29) How many (and which) languages do you speak? 30) Which year are you in college? 31) Do you always sleep so late or only now you're on your holidays? 32) Did you get a summer job? 33) Skating or biking around? 34) Do you have a best girl friend? Do you believe in very close friendships between boys and girls? 35) Have you ever crushed on a friend? Did you make a move on her? 36) Do you think your zodiac sign says anything about your personality? 37) What's the strongest aspect of your personality and which one do you like the most? 38) Do you plan to have kids some day? If so, which lesson you would like them to learn young? 39) Which important life lesson you learned really young that defined who you are? 40) What do you like to do on Fridays or Saturday nights? 41) Do you have a problem with horror movies? 42) Did you wake the snake vine? 43) Share one youtube video that always makes you laugh 44) How much do you use social media (FB, Twitter, Instagram) and which is your fave? 45) Do you use Whatsapp a lot? 46) Were you undecided about choosing a field of education? Is there any other field you'd like to work if you didn't choose IT? 47) Do you miss living with your family or you appreciate having your own space - even if a dorm (do you live in a dorm?) more? 48) Most memorable Ajax moment? Chelsea moment? Holland NT moment? 49) Are you more of a problem solver or a strategist? 50) Glass is half full or empty? 51) Are you tired already? 52) Can I come later for more? 53) Even if you didn't want to answer more, would tell me? 54) Do you sometimes lie to avoid upsetting people? 55) Why haven't you been to NL recently if you miss it so much? 56) I guess I'm out of questions for now. I'll come back for later depending on what you said on questions 52, 53 and 54.

you mean for Schurrle's goal? Of course it was intended imo. He was ready to cross, then he saw Cesc raising his hand and passed to him. there wasn't anywhere near enough to Cesc for him to have aimed someone else, unless you mean another pass? Also I don't think it needs to have an excellent vision to spot that... it's what Choulo said, once you raise your head and look around before crossing, you know where it's better to put the ball. I'm not discrediting him, but I don't think it was a case of excellent vision, it was a case of very good vision imo. On Costa's goal I think it was a case we could say it was a fluke as it didn't seem like he was aiming to the goal, just what would have been a really bad cross, but things worked out.

come on, open a thread already and put all those vids there. I don't have Instagram and I want to see all those famous people being stupid - even if for a good cause. I'm not even sure those buckets are filled with icy water, lol, but let's suppose they are. I'm kidding about you opening it, but I wouldn't mind if you linked me to a place where I can see a lot of those vids.

oh, one of my fave people here So many things I want to know about Thomas!!!!! I'll ask some things now, but I'll come with a long list later the week. 1) what do you do in England? 2) Does your family still live in Holland? 3) How old are you again? I forgot 4) How can you be so cool? What's the secret? 5) You have an amazing understanding of the sport. Do you think that's because you're Dutch and people there really have a good understanding of it (I know French understand the sport wonderfully, better than most) or you just that special? 6) Some short-term life goals you'd like to share? 7) Can we be friends (typical girl question when they find the most amazing girl or guy, it's not a literal question, just in case)? 8) Can I have your autograph? 9) Are there other teams but Ajax and Chelsea that you support? if memory doesn't fail me you do support Ajax, hope I didn't get it wrong 10) Tell us one of your dreams 11) What do you like about living in England? I was going to ask why you moved there, but Dion beat me 12) What do you miss the most about Holland? 13) Do you still visit Holland? How often a year? 14) What you aspire to be professionally? 15) Tell us a secret 16) Do you have tattoos? If so, share it! If not, would you like to have them? 17) Share a bit of your feelings and reasons behind you AMAZING signature? 18) Do you think Holland has a chance winning Euro next year? 19) Is there anything about Chelsea you'd like to discuss here but you haven't yet because people haven't talked about it? 20) What are your expectations for this season? What you'd like to see and what you expect to see in terms of football, not titles. 21) can I really come later with the long list of questions? 22) Can we be best friends already?

I almost agree with you. I even had the same feeling watching the match live - while writing a report and sometimes posting in the live thread. Watching it afterwards only focused on it, he wasn't that bad. It pops to the eye the times he was dispossessed (he was quite a few) and the times he got rid of the ball quickly. But somehow it went unnoticed the times he didn't. He had a bit of everything - which is the norm with Oscar, rarely he excels on something and mixes many things together, good and bad. Did you have a chance to re-watch it? If you didn't, maybe you could try... he wasn't a coward all the time and although he was incisive enough, he did try to be a few times. I've mentioned two players by him, one of them this one that @DYC. showcased with the vid. He was trying the through ball for Hazard, but as there were too many defenders around Hazard, as usual, and it wasn't an unexpected and surprising pass like Fabregas to Schurrle's goal, it got blocked. The other example I gave was when he was exchanging passes with both Hazard and Costa inside the 18-yard box, but there were others that I didn't remember at the top of our mind. I did say in my first post about Oscar after the match that what really bothers me is that I know he can do better than that and that I fully agree with you, I just think you've been too harsh on how much he didn't try or didn't do the objective, forward, risky pass. You need to watch carefully the match to see it because most people overlooked even his role in the first goal for us. I didn't, but I didn't want to bring it up because maybe people would label me for something I'm not, so I'm glad DYC did. Fact is without Oscar's header, we wouldn't have recovered possession and there would have been no goal. It was literally two seconds before Iva's pass. Actually I do think I've mentioned it like that before, lol, so I didn't resist. Did anyone give him credit for that? For the pass he tried to give to Eden? For fighting for recover possession and be intentional in his header as a pass to a teammate? No, because he isn't as flashy as people wanted him to be. That's why I keep saying he doesn't get credit for what he does because what he does is subtle. But there's no discussion he can be a lot better. He misplaced passes he normally doesn't, he seemed afraid to go forward with the ball in too many occasions and somehow that was the image that lasted when that wasn't how he behaved all the time. Actually it may have not been even how he behaved most time, but it's still what people will talk about... I thought you were too harsh on him in the live thread and I see you keep being even now, but I know at least in your case is because you know him - probably better than most of us - and you're frustrated with his current form and how he has been hiding from the game on too many occasions, so I'm not even criticizing you, I'm just trying to show you the good things he did because sometimes it's hard to see his contributions, lol btw I miss watching matches with you on Skype. Let's schedule a re-watch again (although I'm not sure you like rewatching matches, I remember last time we did it, I have watched the match live and you haven't and you wanted to watch it, so we did together, but if you don't mind rewatching them, let's do it again some time. It's been a nice experience )