Barbara

at least this time it wasn't me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in Brazil the rule changed this year and now there are 11 spots in the bench. Brilliant if you ask me. Having limited players on bench is sort of ridiculous and pointless. All other collective sports have the same amount of players in the bench as in the pitch/court

I just worry about van Ginkel not getting even into the bench for the second or third time? Second I guess... Kid has to play to improve... it's not a complaint on José, but if he's not going to play at all or even be selected why didn't we loan him to Vitesse for another year, poor thing.

dude, I made a question - to Choulo nonetheless. I was sleeping, I didn't see it, I wasn't implying anything! give it a rest. I'm not defending anyone and please, whenever I ask about referees in United matches, don't bother to answer me. Thanks.

their second goal had any bad officiating decision?

well he's the guy with more assists and chances created in Europe for 5 years in a row... it's not going to change now that he's at Arsenal... RM must be the most stupid club EVER

I don't know guys... Mourinho trusts a lot in Lampard and except for the few minutes Marco played against Hull or Villa (my memory sucks that much), he used Mikel in all other occasions. I want to see Marco more especially because the kid needs the minutes to keep growing. I'm hoping he plays more - just like you do - I'm just not sure how much of it is wishful thinking and how much is a real possibility. I don't see Lamps playing 1 out of 3 matches at all - except if he's injured. I think he'll play as many matches as his body allows him to. Which if confirmed is one of the things I may disagree with Mourinho. I mean Lamps is still very much important for us in my opinion, but he's 35, he's no boy and shouldn't be used to exhaustion, but it seems like Mourinho is insisting with him at all possible matches

What I like Mourinho is his raw honesty. That answer is going to remain as one of the most honest I've seen a manager say in a press conference and although it's obvious - if one player plays more than another is because he's best end of it - most managers could try to be milder in the answer. I just hate how The Guardian makes it sound like the said keeping players happy isn't his problem in a maybe ambiguous way. When you read his actual words he meant something completely different. He's just saying he can't assure if they'll be happy, but he can assure he'll use meritocracy to pick who plays. I love the ruthlessness (as the journo puts it) of his meritocracy. It is as it should.

As much as I love Mazacar - and I do - it isn't practical. If they were we wouldn't have had the season we had last year. Yes, Oscar and Hazard were still adapting to English Football, but how come we were never real contenders to the EPL title, lost all cups, got out in CL in the group stage and struggled against the likes of Basel and Benfica in Europa League? There's something that isn't working for us in this combination. We didn't sign guys for our defense or DM (as I hardly see van Ginkel having an important role his season). If the results are somewhat better it may be because of 1) Mourinho gave stability for us defensively 2) we ended up with a more balanced team. If we don't it's proven we didn't address where we have problems that really cost us titles. I don't know if we'll end up doing better, but if we do I hardly see Mazacar being our most used AM. On paper that makes little sense because in theory Oscar balances out Mata and Mata makes up for the creativity that Oscar lacks. Which is why sometimes the most perfect tactics in theory don't end up being as productive as we thought...

even ESPN Brasil had a trip down memory lane with this match and called all our three goals masterpieces. ESPN / SportsCenter ‏@ESPNagora 16m Foi só pintura! Em 2006, Drogba, Ballack e Lampard fizeram golaços no 3 a 2 do Chelsea sobre o Everton. Relembre! http://ow.ly/oQGVM and some rock as the soundtrack to the goals makes the experience of rewatching them all that much better (I wish more highlights had that sort of soundtrack ). that Drogba goal is among the most spectacular goals I've ever seen. goosebumps everywhere

I only meant comparing the assists + goals stats comparison. Comparing a 21yo, first season in Europe in the league that differs the most from Brazilian to a 25yo guy fully adapted to the style and who had played in Europe since he plays football, is the part I disagree with. That not only I accept, but I also agree. I just meant using the amount of goals and assists they had last season to backup that argument. That isn't fair imo. Also isn't only defensively that Mata is clearly inferior. Tactically as well. I think Oscar will develop into a better CAM than Mata is, but I think he won't be a better #10. That's where the argument starts and ends in Mourinho's head. He doesn't necessarily wants the best #10 in his formation, but the best CAM. Another manager would rather have the best #10 than the best CAM. I don't think Oscar will ever be as creative as Mata. I believe that creativity in football is more an inherent gift than something the manager can teach and improve with his guidance. One thing though I'm absolutely sure: he'll score much more goals than the 12 Mata did and maybe more than Mata can ever score (as I think Mata will also grow in that department - and with both growing I can't say who will end up being the best scorer, I just know Oscar will do better than 12 and maybe better than Mata's best). This isn't even about defensive x offensive football - that I agree with you btw, defensive footie doesn't equal to success. As much as offensive doesn't either. Normally are the most balanced teams that end at the top of the tables. Everyone used to go on and on about how creative and lethal Barça was between 2008-11, but that team had one of the best defenses I've seen in football. they were very solid. Real Madrid problem before Mou wasn't only about the tactics that would work in the team offensively, but also their defense being a liability. When I say Oscar is going to be a better CAM than Mata I take into consideration everything that is to be considered for the position: work rate, creativity, pace, acceleration, dribbling, tackling, goals scored, assists offered, physicality, vision, intelligence, tactical obedience, decision making, ability to slow down the game as well as speed it up. Oscar is already better than Mata in some of those, will be better than him in a couple more this season already and may be better in another couple as years pass. There are a few of them though he'll never be better than Mata. And that's why I don't like to compare players in general. They have different traits and those traits lead them to have different roles. It's pointless in my opinion because what counts is what works better for the team. Unless we have 10 players that make up for one, like RM makes up for Cris defensively and tactically (partially - as some tactics he can work with). I'll give you one more thing: the two matches we drew this season weren't matches for Mata imo (we could probably lose to Bayern, for example). The one we won and he didn't play, I don't think we miss him at all - the first half against Hull was the best football Chelsea played in years in my opinion. The one we won and he played he didn't make much a difference - but I think saying that isn't fair to him because he was clearly unfit. So saying he'd be a liability against Bayern, wouldn't make difference against Manchester and wasn't missed against Hull sort of answers some questions. Also, obviously I'm talking about hypotheses here. He could have won us the ManUtd match... or he couldn't have been a liability against Bayern. It's our matches in CL last season against teams that played closer to Bayern (attacked minded, with a good midfield, moving up in blocks), but still not quite like Bayern that make me think that not only he wouldn't make a difference in the attack - because honestly we didn't have an attack problem against Bayern - and most likely would have been a liability defensively.

azar in the word in Portuguese for lack of luck or bad luck. You didn't enlight us in the courtois part though So I've been saying iden razar when it's édin. at least thanks to The Skipper I know how to say de Bruyne

I think the question we have to keep in mind this season and others to come is how much are we going to rely on a striker regardless of who that striker is. we've discussed it briefly in the Torres thread (I guess) the other day and then Mourinho comes today and says 'He is a player adapted to the style of play we want in our team which is a bit contradictory to the general style and philosophy in the Premier League. We are not anymore a physical, direct team. We want to use the qualities of our attacking players in a different way' whoever watched him playing for Anzhi knows he wasn't the traditional striker at all. Actually he wasn't even the highest player in the formation, there was another striker ahead of him. The message is between Mourinho's lines for those who want to read them.

as far as I can say it's 'iden' how you pronounce his name. How is Courtois? I'd say 'curtoah' but I have no clue

It makes no sense imo to compare Oscar's first season in Europe - in English football nonetheless - to Mata's second and consolidating season with us after having spent his whole life playing in Spain. no sense at all.

between the two of you, kellz is the one who understood what I meant (his post is perfect)... I never meant for him to overdo it. Just to do it when we frigging need him to do it because he failed to solve games for us when he's the one that has more quality to solve them. I wonder if Mourinho is the one who started calling him that or if he followed others calling him that.

I suppose we disagree on the subject then, mate. Because it's exactly tactical matches like that that you rely on your most talented players to get it done for you. He will do it more often. I may be wrong, but I guess I read way earlier in this thread from people that follow him since he was at Lille that he used to be more carefree and bold while playing there... I'm sure though that they told us repeatedly that we haven't seen yet the Eden Hazard that played in Lille... that's he's just getting started. And I do hope he starts taking some risks... safe football isn't for players like him. And if he lost the ball, the same way there were 2-3 players pressing him in their field, not ours - they would have been pressed right back. Also I'm a Brazilian... the way we see - and play - football is much riskier - hence why we are who we are in terms of NT, but also in terms of providing so many good players ever since the 50's with few and short period of talent drought. It's more about the thinking and how we approach the sport than only talent.

never said he doesn't... just that he doesn't do it enough. In matches like the one against Manchester United he's the guy who could make a difference even if there were 2-3 players marking him. He's our most talented player by a mile, but he needs to do it often. Every match a few times otherwise the high ceiling he has will continue to be that... a ceiling. That's why Mourinho says there's a difference between potential and talent. Again, I'm not desperate to see it, just anxious... I can wait, I'm quiet patient, I just wish I knew why he doesn't try it more often.

Watching the goal against Sparta brings me back to a comment I made during Brazil's match against Portugal. This goal right here reminds me a lot of the goal Neymar scored for us Tuesday... I'm someone who avoids comparisons in general. I hate comparing players because no one is supposed to be like someone else. But I can make a few exceptions here and there and I like to compare styles. But when I was watching Neymar dribbling the heck out of Portugal's midfield and defense it reminded me of Eden. He has the talent, the technique and the ability to dribble, to make space out of nowhere, go get rid of two, three opponents marking him. I wonder why he doesn't do it more... he needs to do it more. This vid shows he's smooth - or was we say in portuguese slippery. He can pass through opponents and I wish he had more confidence to do it more often. I can only blame lack of confidence and I wonder if Mourinho has been talking to him about it. I feel like maybe he's insecure of dribbling and losing the ball and lead to judgment, criticism and even reprehension from the managers and maybe even the fans. I hope he plays his game more freely and start stop caring if he's going to succeed or not. Or maybe the reason is something completely different. It can't be Mourinho's presence... if there was a team that had plenty of dribblers was RM. Mourinho supports talent. I don't want him to overdo it like Neymar and I definitely don't want him to have the same antics Neymar uses (feigning aggression by opponents, diving, falling at every tiny touch on him), but I'd love for him to be as carefree as Neymar is when it comes to dribble. They're both just talented and although Eden dives a bit himself, he's twice a fair player than Neymar is and for him to reach the wonders I know he can reach he needs to start playing more carefree and caring less if the dribble will go as he plans or not... My expectations on Eden are huge and I admit I'm sort of anxious to see him deliver everything I know he will. But the sooner the better if you ask me

That's what I expect from Mourinho on Saturday Cech Azpili - Terry - Luiz - Cole Ramires - Lamps André - Mata - Hazard Torres I wouldn't have something too different from it if I were him to be honest. I think he's going to use the guys that trained the two weeks they stayed with the club while others traveled to help with the NTs with a few exceptions. If this wasn't Everton at GP I even think he's play Marco to replace either Ramires or Lamps, but he knows it will be a tough match and unfortunately I don't think Marco will have his first match from the start. That said I expect him to come in the second. Willian spent a couple of weeks without playing before he joined us, and I guess he might be a bit behind the other guys physically otherwise I think he'd start as well. Who knows how fit he is, if he's fit I'm not going to be surprised to see him starting. One thing though is crucial. Mata has to start. If for whatever reason he doesn't start then I guess he should start worrying about his place in the team because he's trained two weeks while all other guys (except Willian himself) for the position traveled. Oscar has had a minor injury, André and Kevin were with the NTs. There is no good reason why he wouldn't start except if Mourinho really thinks the other guys we have fit better the team than him. Let's see what happens, but I reckon he'll play.

International football break is over! yay! :woo: :woo:

You know what I don't get? people saying Courtois is going to be a legend for us for 10 years or more when they're willing to sell the current legend at age 31. If Thibaut stays 10 years starting next year he'll be 32 at the end of it... It's bad timing. we tried to assure a goalkeeper to replace Petr, but the kid matured way too fast and he's ready now to be a keeper at any club in Europe when maybe people expected him to need to take another couple of years, like de Gea, who will be 23 in a couple of months. at age 20 Thibaut was already the same level as de Gea. I think he's better now than David. I'm positive we'll keep him next season as well as Cech. I don't see us selling Cech right away. as I said before, they'll fight for the starting position, when Mourinho see Courtois better than Cech, he'll start... all three of them know it because of how Mourinho did it with Cech and Cudicini and recently Lopéz and Casillas.

Vid transcript from http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/arena-sportv/noticia/2013/09/willian-quer-matar-um-leao-por-dia-para-disputar-copa-de-2014.html In case you want to watch the vid, it's the small pic in the left side just under the title - the slow girl here didn't notice the vid at first, hahahaha. ps: I'm dying reading the comments. People making fun of Arsenal is always priceless. Btw a lot of Brazilians asking who is Willian.

Except that's not what he said at all . Don't you know the media - the English better than no other - have a thing for dramatics? Here is a literal translation of what he said (all quotes, not only about Tottenham) http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/futebol-ingles/noticia/2013/09/willian-espera-chance-na-vitrine-do-chelsea-para-voltar-selecao.html and here basically the same in another article they had 4 days before: http://sportv.globo.com/site/programas/arena-sportv/noticia/2013/09/willian-quer-matar-um-leao-por-dia-para-disputar-copa-de-2014.html (there's a vid interview with him in this one - in which he confirms the club paid for him 37M euros) As this is the source they mention in the article, those are the only quotes by Willian - but not even the words by the article's author imply anything about Chelsea being better than Tottenham in any aspect. If you compare some of those quotes to the ones I've translated the other day to SporTv you'll see they're basically the same because globoesporte.com and SporTv are part of communication conglomerate Globo. I'll transcript the vid later - as at first I didn't realize it was a vid

actually many of those quotes reported by different journos in England were all part of one interview for a Brazilian website. So actually he gave one interview for Chelsea TV and then another for Globo Esporte and that's it. From those two interviews many articles were written by many sites, taking different quotes at a time. I don't see any exaggeration at all.