Our best back four

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Because when we play that back four, we get wins and clean sheets and don't concede that often.

Is that stat from your original post from this season only? Frankly, with Alex outcast from the squad, we haven't had many options other than to play that back four and we've still looked frail at the back all season long anyway, even if the stats show otherwise.

[manpe 10,861]

Is that stat from your original post from this season only? Frankly, with Alex outcast from the squad, we haven't had many options other than to play that back four and we've still looked frail at the back all season long anyway.

I still believe our defensive frailties are a team issue, not only defensive line.. casting out Luiz and/or Bosingwa would help only so much, but our pressing and defending further up the pitch must improve. Also, the communication and cohesion between the whole team should be spot on, it's not yet. The team has been told to play more expansive and risky football, which results in considerably more risk passes and ball loss, hence leaving more pressure on the low lines to deal with it, something our team is not very used to but will get used to in time (btw, I believe that was the reason of the high-line too, which by practice showed didn't work). When we talk about the attack, we say it can't exist without a properly functioning midfield... I maintain that the same applies to defence. The best defence is possession and we can't hold it or use it to maximum efficiency, especially when closed down and under pressure and threatened by counter-attacks. When you look at our whole team's organization and placement when we concede, you can see it's a mess, all through from the backline to attack (or top of midfield).

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

I still believe our defensive frailties are a team issue, not only defensive line.. casting out Luiz and/or Bosingwa would help only so much, but our pressing and defending further up the pitch must improve. Also, the communication and cohesion between the whole team should be spot on, it's not yet. The team has been told to play more expansive football, which leaves more pressure on the low lines, something our team is not very used to but will get used to in time. When we talk about the attack, we say it can't exist without a properly functioning midfield... I maintain that the same applies to defence. The best defence is possession and we can't hold it or use it to maximum efficiency, especially when closed down and under pressure and threatened by counter-attacks.

Now that I agree with you on. Unfortunately, only Lampard and Ramires understand that pressing wins the ball back. Meireles cannot tackle at all, which is my major problem with him in the context of our team, and the wide players are often too slow to cover a counter attack.

Another major problem I have with our team, and i'm sure I mentioned this in another thread, is the Mata/Meireles/Cole defensive capabilities on the left hand side. Mata drifts far too central and therefore cannot press quickly enough in the wide areas, Meireles, as i've mentioned, always loses the 50/50 challenges, leaving Cole majorly exposed. Often enough, we can get away with it because Ashely is such an established, experienced defender of the ball. I believe however, if Ash were to become injured (touch wood), then a player such as Ryan would be severely exposed. You can see this problem highlighted when we're going forward. Ashley runs the line, Mata is standing central and is being heavily marked, so Cole's only option is to pass back (often to Lampard who is standing either square to him or behind him). I'd suggest this could be fixed by us signing a left winger who will run the lines and defend appropriately, leaving Mata central and 2 holding players in the centre (i.e Ramires/Lampard/Essien).

[Tomo 21,751]

Is that stat from your original post from this season only? Frankly, with Alex outcast from the squad, we haven't had many options other than to play that back four and we've still looked frail at the back all season long anyway, even if the stats show otherwise.

11 times we have started with that back four, 7 goals conceded, 6 clean sheets. Pretty impressive i say. Get that back four together on a consistent basis = cleansheets.

[Peace. 4,352]

Lord, even Chelsea fans think Luiz is a liability.... Media's propaganda is effective, isn't it ?

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Lord, even Chelsea fans think Luiz is a liability.... Media's propaganda is effective, isn't it ?

Not sure if you were referring to me there mate, but I never once said he was a liability. Just pointing out the fact that he's susceptible to mistakes just as much as Bosingwa is, yet most cant wait for Bos to leave, and say Luiz is one of our best defenders.

[Peace. 4,352]

Not sure if you were referring to me there mate, but I never once said he was a liability. Just pointing out the fact that he's susceptible to mistakes just as much as Bosingwa is, yet most cant wait for Bos to leave, and say Luiz is one of our best defenders.

No no, it was in general.

Luiz is our best defender at the moment. Over the past six months, he has made less mistakes than Terry, Bosingwa, Cole or Ivanovic. People keep focus on the odd one or two mistake Luiz does in a game because those mistakes are what we can label as "silly". For instance, he loses the ball when trying to dribble. Hence I would say they are more "noticable" than what other defenders could make. While Cole, Terry and co, make what we can call "normal" mistakes, i.e. they are beaten easely by their opponent, and similar stuff. So it doesn't look silly, but somehow normal, and thus we don't mind them.

And yes Luiz is prone to make one spectacular mistake in almost every game. But what he brings to our side amply makes up for the mistake(s) he makes. And seriously, you can't lump Luiz and Bosingwa in the same group. While the first man makes one or two spectacular mistakes in a game which seldom (this is for you LDN ) cost us a goal, the last man makes countless mistakes which are often sanctionned by a goal. And as I said above, Luiz brings a lot to the squad, while Bosingwa brings us strictly nothing.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Could argue, however, that a defender shouldn't be making the mistakes that Luiz is prone to making (i.e impatience to win the ball too far away from the box). This is what is making them stand out from the other players' mistakes and is the reason he is drawing criticism.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I don't think Luiz would make a good right-back. Maybe experiment it in the last 15minutes of a game, to see if it works, otherwise no. If he was a better right-back, he'd play there for Brazil & Benfica.

[Tomo 21,751]

Not sure if you were referring to me there mate, but I never once said he was a liability. Just pointing out the fact that he's susceptible to mistakes just as much as Bosingwa is, yet most cant wait for Bos to leave, and say Luiz is one of our best defenders.

There is a huge difference between Luiz and Bosingwa i can't believe there is a comparision.

Luiz makes mistakes at time so what? i could probally name atleast 6 mistakes Ivanovic and Alex have made in the last year or so are they bad?

Bosingwa is a different kettle of fish, i cba to go into detail but i will if i absolutely have too.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

There is a huge difference between Luiz and Bosingwa i can't believe there is a comparision.

Luiz makes mistakes at time so what? i could probally name atleast 6 mistakes Ivanovic and Alex have made in the last year or so are they bad?

Bosingwa is a different kettle of fish, i cba to go into detail but i will if i absolutely have too.

I didn't compare them as players, I compared their reputations on the forum as polar opposites despite the fact they both make mistakes.

If you actually read my point on the previous page, you can see I didn't put either of them in our strongest defensive unit. In the context of an actual game, I'd still want Luiz to play, simply for the drive forward he provides, something that our current midfield lacks. But defensively speaking, Luiz is too irrational for me, as is Bosingwa.

[Henrique 9,133]

I don't think Luiz would make a good right-back. Maybe experiment it in the last 15minutes of a game, to see if it works, otherwise no. If he was a better right-back, he'd play there for Brazil & Benfica.

what do you know about using luiz as a rb ?

who could imagine Ivanovic would be a good right back ? Guus Hiddink. We need a manager with balls and a manager that can teach the players how to improve their games...we dont have one.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

what do you know about using luiz as a rb ?

who could imagine Ivanovic would be a good right back ? Guus Hiddink. We need a manager with balls and a manager that can teach the players how to improve their games...we dont have one.

Didn't that Portuguese guy, who registered last Jan to cover this from their side, say he was awful there when he played for Benfica?

But true say on the Ivanovic call. Like I said, definitely should be experimented with.

[Peace. 4,352]

Didn't that Portuguese guy, who registered last Jan to cover this from their side, say he was awful there when he played for Benfica?

If my memory serves my right, I did never play at RB, only at LB. And yes this Benfica fan told that.

[Slam Dunk 1,442]

Didn't Luiz play RB for the last few minutes vs. Fulham? (last season at Craven Cottage). That's the only time I recall him ever attacking from the right hand side.