Barbara

^^ definitely and be aware that people make mistakes, and sometimes they're unfair to us, which means trust is a risk, but I'm a firm believer that we should always trust our friends until they prove otherwise...

the more you post here, the more things in common we have. But I'm way worse than you and @Hutcho because in addition to talking, I sometimes sit on the bed and start an alien monologue because I'm sort of still sleeping but not completely, so it's an ounce short of schizophrenia because for a few seconds I think my dream is real Once my brother told me to shut and go back to sleep and I went, so I'm sort of conscious, but still unconscious. Lately I've been closing my room's door as well (like I already did this a few times in the past year) Please no. So do I Sometimes I don't feel like braking... other times I feel like accelerating and just trashing their car so they can learn their lesson. I already had been involved in a car chase - something like we see in the movies (sans the flying over trucks, leaving tons of car accidents behind me, and all the over top stuff), a car really chasing another, as going on the other way of traffic, over the walkway ( think I went a few blocks and some short stairs were involved), the grass in the middle of large streets and stuff like that. I was the chaser. Everyone who knows me, tells me I drive like a man. I take that as a compliment although I'm space challenged sometimes (but never direction challenged)

@CHOULO19, I actually agree with you about everything, including that they need as players to develop certain aspects of their games. We don't find Zinedine Zidane's too often, and the overwhelming majority of players need guidance because they seem alienated by their own talent and ideas of what they should do and where. that's why the managers - especially the ones like Mourinho that take their time to develop deficient areas in players - are so important! most of players can't think out of the box they see as their game. I could blame them, but I actually don't. They need guidance, in general they aren't the smartest cookies out there and I'm aware of our players' flaws which is why I think people underestimate Oscar too much... He's only 21 and he see the game differently from most. I can't say much about Hazard - after all I know him only for his season in CFC - but he seems quite lazy and to sit over his talent, thinking that he just doesn't need to do anything defensively, as if it wasn't part of his job's scope. If that's indeed the case I don't even think he does it out of pride or laziness, it's just in general their vision of the game are quite limited to what they already know what to do. Anyway, you added amazing points!

they, what happened sweetie? I promised to help a couple of days ago... is everything okay?

Welcome dear, hope you have a great time here

so I died and forgot to drop... I'm dust now. So what's up in the pub? Can we sleep here?

I love you guys back, and it's great to be liked, it's just it makes me shy and uncomfortable and I won't even be much around these days... it seems unfair... and I'm already shy as it gets with such a nice post, Tom.

wow guys, this is such a nice thing. I appreciate that you guys like me or my posts and are so kind to say so and nominate me. That means a lot and I hope you won't feel offended, or think I'm ungrateful for my request here, but if it's possible I'd prefer not to take part in the poll for so many reasons. Just to give you a few, I won't be very active in July (especially not compared to how much I was during my vacation and plenty of free time in June), for my inability to take compliments in general. Maybe one day in the future - especially during the season and when I feel like I didn't shove myself down on your throats (I'm sort of embarrassed of my post counting and I feel like I'm throwing myself in your faces). So while I'm honored and honestly happy to be remembered, I'd prefer not to take part of it. Please don't think I'm snob, it's far from that, it's just I don't really feel comfortable in those situations, I get shy and I feel like I'm already too much in your faces with my babbling (and now I'm rambling). But I want to say this forum is special, not only because of @ and @Jim as well as the other admins and mods' work to keep it a respectful, clean, smart, well developed (and designed) forum, but also because of some amazing posters we have here. Those people are the ones that make this place so special to me. And I'd like to mention some of you that contributed for my stay (I've joined 4 Chelsea forums last month and this is the only one I stuck with). I associate this place's quality with you guys. I'll probably forget a few, but forgive my poor memory especially because I've never said a word to some of you and neither did you to me, but still I love to read your posts! @; @Rmpr; @Stingray; @Dion; @DJames; @mediator; @CHOULO19; @Hutcho; @The Skipper; @Bir_CFC; @francozola; @; @Ankit; @Jim; @Strike; @SinineUltra; @; @Fernando; @; @gary gordon; @Ollie; @; @; @; @yuvala; @BluesChick; @James; @kellzfresh; @; @Special Juan. Cheers!!!!

I miss you so much, even on Twitter, but I'm so happy to see you posting here again. when I read the first couple of words I felt the heartbreak coming. I'm totally okay with you keeping only those kind of romantic nights Now seriously talking, good luck in your test, love, I hope you excel it

Moving to the team’s attacking midfield, we’ll find a trident that was very successful in the 2012/13 season – despite being poorly used by the two managers that called the shots in Stamford Bridge last season. The fact is Chelsea has one of the most promising midfields in the world with its three leading men – Mata, Hazard and Oscar, but still it felt like Mazacar didn’t live up their full potential last season. That could be explained by Oscar and Hazard’s first season in the team, but it goes beyond that. With their arrival there was also a drastic change compared to the style chosen by the European champions’ the previous season, which directly impacted the third man – Mata – who already was in his second season with the Blues. The Spaniard found himself also having to adapt as the new signings by his side completely changed the style of play. Chelsea moved from the team that parked the bus against Barcelona and Bayern the previous Champions League to a natural, attack oriented. The offensive trio showed progress in their first season together and although at moments Chelsea faced many issues in the midfield, it was also where the season’s most brilliant moments came from. That doesn’t mean much as defensively the team couldn’t find the consistency it was used to show in the past and the attack was subpar and disappointing for the most part. But now there’s a new chance to make it work as it should with the arrival of new manager José Mourinho. One thing though is noticeable and remarkable about Chelsea’s three maestros: the movement. Although they have preferred zones in the attack and where they play more often – probably according to managers orders – the trident is very versatile and as shown below we can see Oscar, Mata and Hazard playing right, left and central with Oscar as the most versatile of all. This movement sort of makes up for the slowness the midfield often shows especially in the transition from defense to attack. Of course it doesn’t directly make up for the lack of speed, but it turns opponent defenders’ job all that much harder because the trio had showed class, touch, intelligence, creative and power allied with the unpredictable rotations they do throughout the match. Let’s see one by one how they occupied the pitch and where they carried more the ball. Oscar (Right Winger) Oscar’s graphic is a wonder itself. It seems like the Brazilian is everywhere. He finished Confederations Cup as the player with more tackles and interceptions in the tournament, even though he played as a CAM. We can see a lot of more yellow in the midfield and defense on his graphic than compared to Hazard’s and Mata’s. And that’s because he’s a hard worker, and also remarkably smart. We have to really pay close attention to the youngster’s movement and actions to evaluate how important he is. If the yellow parts are where he tackled, intercepted, or passed promptly the ball, we see how effective he is on making the game more fluent offensively and how much pressure he puts on the rivals by chasing them constantly. While he plays as a #10 in Brazil NT, in Chelsea Mata is almost absolute in the position which leads Oscar to move to the flanks more often. Still there’s a significant red zone in his graphic centered in the attack zone. Given his mates preferences he’s more often present in the right side whether just by the pitch’s limit or by the right side of the box. Unlike Mata and Hazard, Oscar has also been very present inside the box, despite never playing as a forwarder. That’s also something he brings from his time in Internacional and Brazil NT (main team and U21). Oscar has great, clever and powerful finishing and as proved by the chart, he also moves a lot, making him a great option to work closer to the striker. The mobility, unpredictability, consistency, intelligence and defensive skills offered by Oscar makes his chart the most impressive of all showing that despite having less goals and assists compared to Mata and Hazard, he works more. Still many fans don’t see it and again it passes through the bench. It’s clear that Oscar was better played with Roberto di Matteo than he was with Rafael Benitez. It seems like it took a while for Benitez to be convinced of our #11 value and that led him to start less matches than his two mates in the midfield, spending from 12% to 16% less time playing. But there’s a new commander in charge now and one that appreciates hard workers more than any other manager, and who values smart movement and expressive defensive contribution. Hazard (Left Winger) Despite having his presence and possession areas less spread out than Oscar’s, Hazard’s graphic is also impressive, showing that the Belgian indeed has a preferred zone on the pitch. And that’s also where he had proved to be more efficient and lethal. But what really catches the eye when we look at his chart is how much Hazard keeps the ball on his feet. The largest red zones in the attacking midfield belong to him and the fact that there’s such a big coverage in the left side shows how dominant Eden can be. He owns Chelsea’s left side, but not only that: he brings the game to his feet. The comparison between the three AM in the team shows that Eden keeps the ball much more than Mata and still more than Oscar despite the Brazilian’s presence everywhere which makes him a natural leader to the team. He isn’t afraid of being in charge or taking the responsibility to make things happen. He’s confident and bold, creative and unpredictable, but above all he is brave. Just like Oscar, last season was his first with the Blues and he brushed it off completely, adapting quickly and showing what he is here for – once again showing such a fierce personality and thirsty to win matches and titles. Determination could easily be Eden Hazard’s middle name. It’s pretty clear that no matter who is going to play by his side, Hazard will mostly play on the left side; have one of the teams highest possession and probably become the key player to improve the team’s attack with his goals and assists. Mata on his first season in the club had 20 assists and 12 goals, compared to Hazard’s 25 and 13 respectively. It doesn’t look like it’ll take much longer before Chelsea’s midfield has a new boss in the team’s #17. And it looks promising. Mata (Center Attacking Midfielder) Mata is the classical #10 not only because of the number in the back of his jersey, but mainly in the way he handles the ball in Chelsea’s midfield. He played basically in a central position, but it’s interesting to notice he went quite often to the right winger as well and not much to the left. That has to do with Hazard’s dominance on the left side, but also with Oscar’s constant movement in the pitch. He moves a lot in the center/right flank area and most of his plays came from that place according to the chart. With impressive stats in the season (20 goals and 33 assists) he’s been directly or indirectly responsible for more than one third of Chelsea’s goals last season (the team stroke 147 times). The second best ratio goes to Hazard with 45 goals scored or assisted by him). Mata has been the team’s maestro more than anyone else and it’s no surprise he was voted by the club for the second year in a row as Player of the Year. But if that’s the case why hasn’t the midfield been more impressive and effective last season? The stats are really positive and the attitude and commitment from Mata, Oscar and Hazard show that they’re a force to be reckoned with by opponents’ defense. Then why does it feel like there’s something missing? Why does it feel like they were far from what they could be? A lot of factors actually, some of which already mentioned: adaptation to English and European (in Oscar’s case)football; drastic change from last season’s kind of players; lack of speed and depth from defensive midfield; but maybe none of those things are more important than frustrating – or even poor – management. While the team has struggled throughout the season, leaving Champions League in the groups’ stage and never being a contender to the Premiership, tactically the team is still undefined. There isn’t a pattern, a strength or a style despite both coaches working basically the same 4-2-3-1 formation. The team doesn’t have a trademark, something that makes it stand out from competition and its smaller success compared to previous seasons came basically from the offensive trident’s individual talent and accomplishments. Summarizing it, Oscar, Mata, Hazard and Lampard showed their value as individual players, but they still don’t know what to expect from one another. The chemistry and familiarity required for a success and consistent midfield are from being reached. Those four players have been decisive to assure the team finished third in EPL and winning Europa League, but they also struggled on different occasions individually and mainly collective at many times in the season and matches. Oscar and Hazard showed impressive quick ability to adapt, but it seems like they did all the hard work with their inherent talent instead of being oriented, guided, improved and backed up by their managers. At some points it felt like those amazing players were on their own. Regardless of the good and bad brought by di Matteo and Benitez, it’s clear that Chelsea has tactical issues. Those problems include lack of key players like a DLP and an effective striker, but maybe the most compromising fault at the team’s past season had been the lack of strong definitions of what is expected from the players, especially the midfielders. At many matches it seemed like the team was lost in the pitch and we’ve watched the players trying in every possible way to score and win matches, giving their best, but without direction and organization at times. There have been great quality matches, where things flew naturally, but in other times the team didn’t respond and weaker sides like QPR, Southampton and Swansea troubled Chelsea much more than expected. The team lacks organization, style and punctual definitions of what the manager expects from his players. At moments it didn’t seem clear they were completely sure about their roles, positions, rotation and tactical changes during the matches and the result was a hot mess at points. Without guidance and support coming from the bench the squad seemed stagnant and performed way below its potential more times than it should be allowed. And if that affects the best players in the team, it definitely contributes to poor performances by less consistent and talented players like Torres. The numbers are there and they prove the passion, the commitment, the hard work, brilliance and intelligence of some of those players. But if anything the stats also scream the midfielders are in desperate need of someone who will work with the same dedication to make sure they perform their best in the pitch, reaching the levels of amazement and wonder this team can produce. It seems like the right guy to the job has been appointed and with a few adjustments and maybe a couple of signings to reinforce zones that are less blessed technically, maybe Chelsea will be the next club to dictate and show the way to go. They already got the harder to find, it’s now only a matter of making it happen. *All graphics have been created by journalist Mario Cézar Pereira, that only provided the information to the five players analyzed in the article and consequently making the analysis impossible for players like Mikel and Moses. Defining Oscar as RW, Mata as CAM and Hazard as LW was merely based in the zone where the graphic showed they predominantly played throughout the season as showed in the charts. Images source: Mauro Cezar Pereira/ESPN BRASIL Analysis: Bárbara C. S. C. Batista

lindo, T, bonito e gostosao!

I favor cold showers over hot/warm ones except obviously in cold weather.

Also if memory doesn't fail me, Netherlands played Brazil in the quarters... not in the SF

Well, seeing my pathetic lack of body coordination or how clumsy I am that's sort of something it would happen to me... Still pathetic to see a guy like that

I said so the other day in one of the other threads. If we keep players we have we must play 4-3-3 as I don't think 4-2-3-1 is really effective if we don't have a world class "1" and at least another world class playing in the "2" but adding speed and depth. It's only two adjustments, but they sort of kill, overload the amazing "3" we have.

Actually the article should be read only when the two parts are up, I guess because I address a lot of those things in the second part. Here let me paste a part for you

they actually BRING those things to the pitch

The brilliance of Oscar is his simplicity. He makes things in such a simple way. You rarely see him doing those flashing plays. He makes superb plays by playing it in a natural, simple way. That makes him so special in my eyes because that's hard to do.

on his Instagram

I have so many things going on at this moment. But later tonight or tomorrow I'll read it carefully and get to you. Until then I hope things get better. *hug* sweetie

Spain had 551 passes tonight (the lowest under VDB since he was appointed manager in 2008)

I guess it has to do with matches played. Didn't Torres play less than Fred? That would make more sense than assists if you ask me. If one scores more goals in less games, it's a fair untie criteria.

I think the opposite actually. Brazil NT has been criticized - rightfully - for the media and fans a lot since the last WC. Bad managing mainly - but the coach and corruption in the federation - so I think this strengthens us because we needed the confidence push to improve. I don't think most people think we're ready. We had many problems, but the thing is we've showed progress as the competition went. It's the right way to go, but it's no way near to have reached the level required. The thing is in the big matches - playing home - what happened tonight may happen again... so we're contenders even though quality wise we're miles away from Spain and Germany edit: I don't get why Torres get the gold boot if he scored as many goals as Fred... his goals against Tahiti should count as half a goal

We're Brazil, never underestimate us. Football #1 rule

you guys should come here