Barbara

Oh, Ron, I think he's already mature in many aspects, but his game can still mature more. That's what I meant. The boy behaves like a man all the time, his seriousness, his dedication, his discipline and the way he simply steps up, it's amazing. I just meant the technical aspect. He's still at least half-way in his development curve, so there's a lot for his game to mature. I'll edit my previous post to make it clear I meant his game, not him.

question is, does that 25-50% is something we miss? Not really. We've scored 10 goals in 4 matches in 2014 and we've conceded 1 goal. I wouldn't change a thing about the team because at the end of the day the result is there and I feel we're progressing. Why risk improving our attack by also risking missing our pressing? It isn't only the defensive contribution he misses, he simply doesn't fit the system. Either he adapts to it or he'll warm the bench for as long as he stays here. Oscar has less to do with that Mata being benched, rather than Mata's inability to fit. I said it last week, I'll repeat again, I guess people are confusing two different things. 1) we had an ineffective system in the past two years that didn't require from him to help the midfield or to press, he had a lot of freedom and with Rafa nearly total and it cost us dearly as we didn't have any balance at all. A better pivot LAST SEASON would have made up for some of the liability Mata offers, and we would have possibly done better, as we would have had his offensive contribution and a better protection to our defense. 2) We currently have an effective system where Mata doesn't fit for a number of reasons: isn't fast enough, isn't direct enough, doesn't press enough, doesn't defend well enough, offers plenty of space on his back. To top all that he's in bad form. So a better pivot NOW does NOTHING for Mata or very little because the system focus on something else (something he lacks). It's the high press and the more urgent game, the receiving the ball in the run and making things happen OFF the ball that is required by the system. A better pivot does nothing to help him fit in the system, but it strengthens our system nonetheless. At the end of the day there are only two ways for Mata right now: adapt to the system or lose space in the team (he could also leave, but it doesn't depend entirely on him). It makes no sense for Mourinho to risk changing the system just because we have a better pivot that would make up for Mata's limitations for a few reasons, the main of them because it's the critical part of the season, changing a system now is suicidal. We haven't even completely sharpened the one we do have in place, changing it now makes no sense. Also, I'm not sure Mata is world class enough to have a system built around him... He can contribute a lot, and even with a better pivot protecting the defense and reducing spaces, this is the Premier League. This is literally another league and I think a better pivot makes up partially for the exposition he offers in a system where he has a lot of freedom, but I'm not sure such system is more effective than the one we have in place especially because this is English footie. He will never have freedom here, and doesn't matter if he's a winger or a CAM. I'm not even sure with less freedom he'd do much better as a CAM, after all he did spend plenty of time in the middle (statistically more than in the wing, or about the same) and I've seen little coming from him anyway... The positioning worsens something that is already working against him. He simply doesn't fit and I don't think he's worth the risk of having a slower system that relies less on pressing just so we can capitalize his qualities.

West Brom for me (wanted to do the FA Cup, but it'll be on my birthday, so I guess better now). Someone take the FA game and we won't have Jason doing anything. Btw are you guys keeping records of how we do according to who does the preview? I know Jason sucks, but other than that, I thought everyone else was fair game

I think we'll see him playing there again in the UCL and maybe that's why Mourinho is using him now. We only have Lamps, Mikel and Ramires (supposing Essien does leave this window). Matic and Marco can't play and I think some matches will require Luiz to be there as we go deeper (and hopefully we will). That said I absolutely dislike him in the CM position. He's a CB end of story. Also when I said he doesn't know what to do and just roofs the ball because he thinks that's what he's expected to do, this is more a mental thing rather than a game circumstance. It made no difference if there was no pressure at him at all. He's probably simply supposed that giving the match was in the end and we were winning that was what was expected from him. Football players aren't the smartest and most resilient cookies around (although I do think Luiz is smarter than at least Brazilian players average). So sometimes they go through extremes because they're dealing with tactics, positioning, pressure, emotions and then they just don't reason as they should. I'm not calling them stupid, more like unprepared to some situations. And although I do believe Luiz isn't as much unprepared as others, I think he's really lost some of his joy and carefree-ness in the pitch. He seems worried, tense, unsure these days. I don't think we're really aware and familiar with the amount of pressure those players deal, especially being criticized openly, publicly and so often as Luiz is. I think he's still trying to figure out what people expect from him. And it's detracting the good part of his game and not exactly (or really) improving his weaknesses.

somehow I agree with both of you (with Dee partially and with TOPTB completely(, even though you seem to disagree with one another I was watching the match with friends (YAY) and we were talking about Oscar and comparing him to the player in Brazil (not the NT, but at Inter and even Sao Paulo). We also talked about him in the youth NT. I think he's still struggling a bit to find his balance as I told in my initial post. He will never be as creative as Mata and he doesn't have such a powerful, unpredictable, quality pass, but he can do better offensively and I'm sure with time he will. He's already better this season in that aspect than last season, I think from next season on we'll really see him on his full potential (not reaching his ceiling, but playing at his best possible level, without the struggles, and then he'll continue to grow as a player). I feel he offers tactically (and that's not only defensively) a lot. I was commentating with my friends at the pub that at mark 80+ we just didn't hold the ball and wasted time. With Oscar in the team we do that. He knows (like Lamps also knows and does) that 10-15 minutes to the end of the match when you have 2 goals difference, it's time to waste time with the ball and try not to attack as risky as earlier in the match. This has nothing with defensiveness and I'm not saying Mata wouldn't do the same, I'm talking about Oscar alone. He reads well the game, the moments of the match and he normally goes for what we need. He just need to be sharper and more incisive more consistently. I still think it's just that his game isn't as mature yet as his attitude (he's still only 22, recently turned btw) and a bit of struggle to the style of English football. I think the style demands a lot more than he - or any Brazilian - is used too. So while he tries to adapt to the tactics the manager has, to help his mates in the pitch, to show his style and quality, he simply can't play his best yet because he's still finding his place and his feet. This boy was out of his mind at the Brazil Youth NT and for a while at Inter (and even some moments at Sao Paulo). I expect him to really blossom from next season on. Oscar will never be a Hazard or a Mata offensively, but I'm positive he can (and will) be much more than he's showing. My point at the end of the day was that Mourinho finally found his team, and for those players to be benched now they'll have to have a few really bad matches in a row. Oscar didn't have really bad matches in a row. He's had a couple of quiet matches, but still working his socks and giving us some stability. I don't see why Mourinho would drop any of his starting 11 (maybe except Luiz who's playing out of position, especially with Matic around) if they have a couple of bad (or quiet) matches. People were screaming and barking at Mourinho in his thread last month to give starting eleven stability, saying one of our problems were the constant rotating. Now that he finally has his 11 players, people want them to be dropped because of a pair of unimpressive (still not bad imo) matches... It's hard to understand this reasoning.

I hate it as well, but I do wonder, isn't that him trying to be the kind of player that will be appreciated by English fans and pundits? Isn't this kind of seriousness and clearance that people in England like? I'm in no way being ironic, I think maybe he doesn't know how to find balance or what people expect from him, so he's just trying to keep it simple and doing a few things that I don't think are necessary at all. I'm not defending him at all, I'm trying to understand him - and even then can't say I do.

I went as far as stating I didn't think Jose would punish him for the bratty behavior. I do wonder how much of this is just a coincidence and how much it's José just showing him his place. As I said back then, in the never end saga of his behavior, I don't think Mourinho would have blasted him to the media. I still can't say (though I tend to think that way) he was more frustrated on Mourinho than on himself. But there had been chances for him to get even a few minutes ever since (not today though given the scoreline and ManUtd scoring) and I wonder why he wasn't given especially because in many matches before the incident he's been given some odd minutes. He couldn't get minutes against Derby for God's sake!!! Just so we're clear (I mean everyone else, not you), I'm not saying Mourinho is punishing him, I'm saying it looks an awful lot like it, but I can't say for sure, ofc. Also the same old with the stats... He's had 11 starts plus a few subs (that only in EPL, without considering the cups). That's more than enough matches for him to give us something and he did very, very, very little. Don't give me the right wing crap, first because it's no excuse for him to give us even the minimum, second, he's had many cameos (some matches even stayed more in the center than in the wing) in the middle position. The positioning detracts his performances, but it shouldn't be that much. Or are you people trying to say that Mata is so limited, but so limited, that unless he's a few yards to the left he can't provide an assist or score a goal? He'll never be able to give us as many goals and assists in the right wing, in this kind of system (especially when he isn't given plenty of freedom to do whatever he wants and no tactical responsibility), but he should be more than capable of giving us more than 2 goals and 1 assist. So I see a difference of not repeating last season's results because of the new system and positioning, but I can't justify only 3 goals created by his feet in 15+ matches on that. For me that's called bad form. It should have been a middle ground here, such as he's in a position where he doesn't produce as much, but still produces enough. He hasn't produced enough.

actually we shouldn't wait as much. I think the ideal is two years before his contract ends, but I would love a move next summer or maybe even next winter window. I want a new contract for him in 2015, doesn't matter if at January or July. There's no need (or reason) to wait for 2016. Give him a big salary and an exorbitant release clause. Everyone is happy. If they want to pay him 200k a week, I don't mind. Give him 250 if they must, he's worth every penny of it and we really need to set up an impossible release clause, something like 150m if not more (all values in pounds, I don't know the shortcut for the sign nor do I have it on my standard keyboard)

couple of brilliant interventions/saves by him today. There was one when it was still 1-0, that was capital for the victory imo. Don't remember who shot, but he's saved it brilliantly.

I think he's struggled today, I feel like he still struggles to find how to balance both of his responsibilities... Mourinho has chosen what gives us more stability. Ever since he came back to the team (especially when he was in form again, as he was clearly not in form in his first two matches back from the injury) we stopped conceding, our midfield started dominating opposition's again and we decreased considerably the time we allow opposition to spend in their attacking third as well as shots on goal. Some of those things aren't as flashy as an assist (although he did have two of them - plus a goal - against Southampton just a couple of weeks ago, and somehow I still have to read he's been bad - or whatever was the word - for the past few weeks) and aren't easy to be noticed. I have no problem saying he's had a bad match today because I think he did. Doing as much as he's done for us throughout the whole season (except the two matches after his injury) he's more than allowed to have a bad match today. His effect on the team is more tactical than practical, he's been a key player for us, giving us balance and stability. I can't complain about those. Still he's first in the team with assists this season (5, tied with Eden and Lamps) and third in goals (behind Eden, and now Samuel)... Go figure why he's been so underwhelming for people...

A Chelsea striker hat-trick. Now I've seen everything. New ritual: get to a pub to watch the Chels Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

BBC5 is exactly where I'll talk to. If you can listen to station, I'll be on air 45-30 minutes before the match.

Congrats! I'll also see if there will be a recording of it on BBC's website (we get BBC 5Live here via BFBS radio) Bbc5 is exactly where I'll be Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

if they like me I'd be willing to fulfill that Chelsea pundit spot until Mourinho is 75 and can take his position. Until there I could sit there and go with all the rules he's said yesterday: Chelsea always deserve the win, are always the best team in the pitch and are always harmed by the referees. I feel I forgot one, but I'd have time to practice The MOTD would never be the same after me. Only Chelsea love and no scouse accent. a girl can dream... and spout BS,

Daily Mail - not surprisingly - has a very more 'complete' version of his interview than the other channels I've read - a series of jabs on Mourinho. I don't know what to think because some of the lines among the statements were released by other channels too... but never trusts DM, that's the first rule in football Anyway, he's clearly lost his joy as he's said and I think there isn't much you can give if you don't have the passion when you do have a chance. It was an unfortunate situation, bad timing, but he's a quality player. Wishing him the best and hopefully he'll fulfill his potential.

well, this week is special. Not only I'll watch a Chelsea match in a pub for the first time, but I'll take part of BBC Radio live before the match. I was chosen in Chelsea Brasil for their pre-match show, and will give an interview about the match. So if you guys in England hear a Barbara in your radio, that'll be me live about 45-30 minutes before the match.

I do hope this is not an assumption that the problem is his hair and his upbeat, cheery PERSONALITY (bc it's not only attitude). If that's what you're implying, sorry, K, but I think it's ridic... An additional comment on this one. TOPTB said something along the lines. Most people agree the player that plays for Brazil NT is a different one, many claim they want that player to play for us. Still there's the hair, the tongue and even more playful jokes when he's away with the team, especially during isolation before important tournaments such as Copa America, Confed Cup and I'm sure we'll see the same before WC. that's who Luiz is, that's not a character like Cyrus (who was never like that before as far as I can say, don't follow the girl). So if the problem is his cheery attitude then why it doesn't affect his game when with the NT where he's even more playful off pitch than when he's with Chelsea? but my point wasn't that we should complain about Terry, but complain less about mistakes, regardless of who does them. I didn't say a word about Essien against Soton last month (except in a summary, in the match thread where the focus wasn't even Essien, but how Soton would have never scored if not for that mistake). But I understand that's me and people are different. But if they're so willing about talking about a player's mistake, they should be the same about everyone else. Didn't Terry also fail in one of the goals we conceded against Stoke? Or was Sunderland? He does mistakes as anyone else, but as said many times, his mistakes and Gary's are rarely the big messes Luiz's are. Their are more subtle, but still mistakes that lead to goals or to exposing Cech... that's exactly my claim. I don't want us to start discussing JT or Lamps, or Cech's (although he doesn't escape the criticism despite being a legend to this club) or even Cahill's mistakes. I just think it isn't fair putting every little and big mistake Luiz makes in the microscope when the same isn't done with other, let's call it, fan-favorites. It's a double standard, but as TOPTB said, maybe that's because JT rarely makes a mistake (it's not that rare, but it's indeed less often). Luiz had a streak of bad form, bad form makes you prone to make more mistakes. On his usual form his mistakes while noticeable because they normally involve a big mess, they aren't that frequent either. It's just that a lot of people has a microscope on him, expecting the mistakes, big and small and then that's all they talk about. Starting with the pundits.

truer words were never said. I even completely forgot about that incident because nobody mentioned it (then again I didn't check his thread, lol, only the live match. But you're completely right. Had it been Luiz, there would be at least 5 pages discussing his brainfart in this thread. edit: hahahahahaha mate, you're so right that checking JT's thread now there isn't one single comment on the incident. This is presh, lol. People make mistakes as you said, it's just Luiz's are always taken in the microscope and blown out of proportion with part of Chelsea fanbase

I know what you mean, but my point is, dude, the man got 313 matches, 150 clean sheets. Only writing this shit is already insane. Only a top goalkeeper can have that kind of stat. Also I noted that our defense have had many shaky periods in the league. So while they help a lot (currently Chelsea is the team that allows less shots on their goal, this is 100% credited on outfield players), only a beast in the goal can have nearly 50% of clean sheets in league matches. Every goalkeeper in the world relies on the men ahead of him, saying that is stating the obvious, but only the extraordinary makes up for their mistakes or stops opponents' brilliance. You can say the 4 men help any keeper, but the other stat proves my point that this is idk 70% on Cech, and 30% on defense because the guy saves 76% of all shots taken on him. If a shot was allowed is because the defense failed to prevent it (the same way I just said our defense right now is amazing as we allow the least shots from opponents in the league). When you combine the stats, they talk for themselves about Cech. Stating defenses help goalies is like saying from clouds come the rain, but in the way you wrote it seemed aimed to take away a bit of the credit from his achievements, which imo it doesn't because we've had the best defense for some spells, but also a frustratingly back four for others (after Mourinho left).

I completely disagree. You don't have clean sheets in basically 50% of all matches you played in a league only because of a good defense ahead of you. This same defense had some very bad moments under di Matteo playing the league. TERRIBLE. While they do help, we don't have even closely the best defense around, so why don't other keepers have such stats? Cech is a legend, he's made some of the most incredible saves I've seen in football and playing a keeper is always difficult, a small mistake (and sometimes big, which all goalies in the world have done, Petr included) and you concede. Sorry, but while I think there's some credit to be given to the defense, there are much better defenses around and their keepers don't have such stats... Nothing takes away how amazing this man is.

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3623841/title/chelsea-signs-with-coral another sponsorship and seeing how betting is big in Europe, especially England, it must yet another profitable one. We're just fine financially...

The same he does if he doesn't adapt (except without the liabilities): creativity, set-piece, splitting passes. He'll never be the guy that will bring energy, pace or excel defensively. If he adapts so he can't expose the midfield to the opponent, then it's all settled and I'd even to see us play 4-3-3 with Oscar in the midfield, Willian and Mata ahead of him and Hazard as a false 9. Or Hazard and Mata and a striker. but an adapted Mata works in a 4-2-3-1 too. It's a big challenge for him to adapt though because his style is completely different. Let's see what happens. I don't want him to leave.

I think you're looking in a very simplistic way. The weak pivot makes Mata lack of energy and power to deal with the league's physicality worse, or looking the other way, Mata exposes an already weak pivot more. Having a stronger pivot behind him makes up for Mata's limitations to a extension, but he'll continue to have problems fitting in a system that requires high work-rate, pressing and is way more direct than he'd prefer. In addition to that Mata seems to prefer to have the ball on his foot instead of receiving it in the run - which happens quite happen with our system. The reason why we weren't competitive in the past is because all the freedom Mata had gave too much space for opponents because our pivot couldn't make up for that amount of freedom. We've been competitive currently (with or without Mata) and that's because of the system we now have in place. Said system is more efficient without Mata because he doesn't fit that well. The question now is if Mata can adapt to the system because I don't see the system or Mourinho leaving any time soon. Weak pivot or not.

there isn't one thing I agree with except that nobody hates Luiz. The analogy is very unfortunate imo in the Luiz side of the things. He loses focus/concentration and makes mistakes. It's quite simple. We've been discussing it for 200 pages. Whether he's able to fix it with or without Mourinho's help is the big question. Implying he doesn't 'do his homework, skips class and puts zero effort' is just plain unfair and awful imo. But we can agree to disagree.

He won that poll in the end, and it's incredible he's second leading the clean sheets stats in history, playing nearly half the amount the leader has (Cech 313 matches, 150 CS; James, 572 matches, 169 CS). Now I just read he leads % stats in EPL history, saving 75,98% of all shots against him (on target, ofc). This is one of my fave Chelsea FC legends and will always be.