Barbara

Me - for one - completely understands someone having this sort of instinct seeing Iva's perfect ass exposed like that... Azpili fulfilling many people's wishes around the world edit: Iva is not impressed though didn't even took part of the dressing room pic

I disagree. I think he was spot on. He's been delaying subs all season long imo, but I don't have a problem with the time Cesc got into the game, even if the change was immediate when he was brought. It's better to take it step by step to make sure we don't have yet another player with physical issues. Oscar is sustaining a light muscular injury, Hazard isn't far from the same imo - or at least is very tired, Willian is made of steel, his energy rivals Ramires and Cuadrado will definitely feel the difference in the league physically. So I don't have a problem with sparing Cesc some minutes instead of a whole 45 minutes.

What a match! That's the kind of win we needed, desperately needed. how many times have we said lately that this team have been lacking that drive, will to win matches and just make it happen in the last 10 minutes? Matic was unlucky his shot deflected a second time and then it was an offside (a correct call imo), but if you don't consider that, it counts as a goal scored in the last minutes. But then it did happen and the lads could have been disheartened that they were so close, but got unlucky. But we didn't stop fighting. Willian has been immense and I think he's been improving a lot. Ahead of all our AMs at the moment imo - including Hazard - form wise. I think Cuadrado had a good debut - as it was a difficult match - and he didn't compromise, despite not exactly shining and losing the ball a few times. I don't get why DD was introduced in this match at all. Not only Remy didn't deserved to be subbed off, but based on recent form (and it was proved again), DD has done nothing to deserve to play. Matic was immense as well, amazing match by him and at some point he was our LW (Hazard is exhausted, I know Mourinho will hardly choose to rest him, but he NEEDS a rest, if we don't give it to him, his body will make sure it happens and we'll risk him getting injured during the critical part of the season, AGAIN). Matic went to the side of the box to cross, dribble, penetrate in the box and whatnot many times in the last 15 minutes. That's the will, the determination, the 'win at all costs' attitude I mentioned and that I lvoed. It was great to have Cesc in the side again and it's clear how we changed after he was subbed on. He changed the way we attack imo. We looked like never scoring before he came and while he didn't have a through ball or any genius stuff done, the fluidity he brings to our team is undeniable imo. And hail Petr Cech. WOW, just WOW, Big Petr. At this moment, he's in a better form than Courtois imo. There isn't even a comparison. I praise Mourinho for having the balls to make the sub and I expect to see Cech again. I know we should handle GKs in different ways to outfield players, but when one of your GK is clearly showing some confidence problems with crosses and you have your other WC GK having a performance like this (and the previous ones when Courtois was injured), there's only one thing that is fair to do. I'll go to Marta's thread in a bit, give him all the credit he deserves. Immense, Willy, just immense.

hail the legend, the immortal, the only and one, Petr Cech :worship: :worship:

fuck yeah, that's the kind of win we need to add to our names to win the shit. We'll do it. Cech phenomenal, Willian sensational. PERFECT!!!!!!!!!

I was about to say something along the lines!!!!!!! Marta has been sensational!!!!

Costa playing with Christensen, LOL, like nearly killing him with that shake, lol

I did call it a few minutes ago, Willian has turned his game on and has been our best AM in the last three matches. AMAZING!!!!!!!

now it counted, porra

fuck it

fuck yeah

he needs a rest, really needs a rest. Poor boy isn't made of steel.

I didn't get why Remy was subbed off in this match and even less why DD was subbed in...

come on, boys, find a goal!!!!

Willian has really turned the key on the latest matches, hasn't he? Our best AM in the last three games imo

Zouma has been very happy in all matches he took part, hasn't he? Btw - Brazilian TV - who has a journalist in the stadium said Oscar is sustaining a small muscular injury - one he played with last match and that has been slightly worsened last match. Isn't he in the bench? Have missed the first 30 minutes and also the lineups. wow, Cech, wow!!!!!! Bow to the legend named Petr Cech.

you know what have been bothering me a lot since I started watching the match (second half of the first half)? How we don't have people inside the box when our wingers or FBs cross the ball... we need to have more players in the box!!!!!!!!!

if it were Oscar or Willian missing the last passes that Hazard has been missing in this match, we wouldn't listen the end of it. As it is Hazard, I know it won't be mentioned. But many of our attacks were killed by him today... But one of the things I believe is influencing some of our players is tiredness (Hazard being one of them). We've had a couple of very heavy weeks. The comment is just to highlight the double standard.

chances created is a farce because wherever the pass preceding a shot was done and regardless of where the shot was taken it counts as a chance created. This is a stat for stupid people, that don't watch football. Assists and goals are one of the few precise stats. Dribbles, aerial duels, chances created/key passes don't tell the whole story at all. But if that's what you want to bring the conversation so do it. It's hard for me to ignore a player that scores and assists... but when suits YOU (bunch of moaners, who love to criticize the team and moan), you ignore it. A lot of you who are now slamming Oscar and ignoring his direct stats even said that Hazard needed to add that to his game. So yeah, the ones who don't make sense are you. But go on and continue to believe in CC. Might as well expect the Easter Bunny in a couple of months too - after all, if we're going to talk about living in a world of fantasy, let's talk about those things as well. Now you ignore the reality - that is goals and assists - some of them that actually won us matches (meaning he was directly involved in all goals in some matches) and come here talk about dribbles, chances created and chocolate eggs brought by a mammal.

I couldn't say. I have never watched Firmino. not even when he was being talked by everyone. It's just weird to see videogame data in a serious discussion about real life players. I see a lot of people laughing at some rates at FIFA's cards when they come out. Also, whoscord and others sites that give rates to the players lack in so many aspects. I think they're good for exact stats, such as how many assists, tackles, clearances, goals, etc a player had. Everything that is created by a combination of things, loses a lot of real life aspects, and the rating is the worst of that all. The data is too exact to work in such a non-exact sport such as football. Apply it to basketball and volleyball and it works wonders, because those sports have much less variables. For example, what difference it really makes for basketball if a player has pace or not? If he can dribble or not? Stats that talk about shot %, fouls, 3-pointers, FT %, etc... make a lot of sense and can tell a lot about a player and a team, but in football the variables are more in quantity and quality, therefore some of those stats just make them look like clowns. The other day they had Cahill - after he made a mistake for a goal, but not directly - as one of the highest ratings for a match. I mean, come on, so if the guy doesn't make a penalty or fails in some very specific situations, it doesn't count as a mistake. Then his pass accuracy is high, he has a lot of clearances (it was a game we were fairly attacked by opposition), tackles, and whats not and his rating is sky rocketing when he was one of the worst players in the pitch, back away from balls, losing it sometimes, giving some very dangerous backpasses to the keeper etc... I don't even like chances created stats, but those ratings are the most misleading stats in the specialized sites - can't about videogames because I don't play them. But I'm not doubting any second about what you're saying on Firmino, as I said I don't know the guy at all.

much before than computers - and therefore stats on videogames existed - people could say if a player has pace or not and compare one's pace to another's - by actually watching matches. If you need that to help you to measure it, well, then carry on. Also if you don't feel some of those numbers are delusional and random, well, I guess you haven't been spending enough time playing them though.

When one of the arguments about real life players has scores and rates on FIFA and Football Manager I know I should abort thread. Not only keyboard warriors but also joysticks heroes around here.

Actually the shut up episode wasn't even in this thread... as I said maybe it's a wrong perception. We've disagreed many times before, it has nothing to do with that. If you feel nothing changed, you know yourself better than I do. I would be saying the same if those posts were in Mikel's, Willian's or Cahill's threads

Hilarious, especially Willian who thinks dropping a bit whatever he's using to cover his mouth will suddenly reveal who he is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E9Ldi8s-5o