🇧🇷 David Luiz

[The only place to be 11,313]

The step-down from Terry and Cahill to this guy is absolutely giant. Does any member actually think he's a secure presence in defence? Those who constantly defend him (and apparently feel like they can't change their view of him for whatever reason) will offer up distractions like his ability to pass from the back (which is much overhyped) or his innate physical and technical skills.

They'll throw up things like nationality, like he's too Brazilian or we expect him to be more English. Bull....shit...I'd take Thiago Silva over him and if he could defend like Moore or even Ferdinand (technically sound, defensively strong) then he'd be no problem. But he doesn't. He's 26 and still the same player he was when we first bought him.

As a midfielder I actually don't mind him, but as a defender he's always got a mistake in him that will arise from a lack of concentration or commitment.

Here's the truth about David Luiz. He has the tools to be the best defender in the world. In fact with his physical and technical strengths, he could be one of the all-time greats. He has pace. He has strength. He has fantastic ability on the ball. He's tall. He has EVERYTHING.

Everything except for the most important thing - the mental aspect. Unfortunately that mental aspect is what sets every top class sportsperson apart from the crowd. It's what made Jordan so great. It's what made Ali so great. It's what makes Terry so great. It's what made Schumacher so great.

And it's what makes Luiz a liability.

[duo11bluecl 207]

The step-down from Terry and Cahill to this guy is absolutely giant. Does any member actually think he's a secure presence in defence? Those who constantly defend him (and apparently feel like they can't change their view of him for whatever reason) will offer up distractions like his ability to pass from the back (which is much overhyped) or his innate physical and technical skills.

They'll throw up things like nationality, like he's too Brazilian or we expect him to be more English. Bull....shit...I'd take Thiago Silva over him and if he could defend like Moore or even Ferdinand (technically sound, defensively strong) then he'd be no problem. But he doesn't. He's 26 and still the same player he was when we first bought him.

As a midfielder I actually don't mind him, but as a defender he's always got a mistake in him that will arise from a lack of concentration or commitment.

Here's the truth about David Luiz. He has the tools to be the best defender in the world. In fact with his physical and technical strengths, he could be one of the all-time greats. He has pace. He has strength. He has fantastic ability on the ball. He's tall. He has EVERYTHING.

Everything except for the most important thing - the mental aspect. Unfortunately that mental aspect is what sets every top class sportsperson apart from the crowd. It's what made Jordan so great. It's what made Ali so great. It's what makes Terry so great. It's what made Schumacher so great.

And it's what makes Luiz a liability.

Lukaku got the body to become the next Drogba, Walcott got the most important thing for a winger-pace more than anyone else so if he practice and nurture his skill well on theory he could be even better than Ronaldo(cause pace is something you cannot get by practicing, you are born with it) all the other skills you can and others...etc

Just because you got a set of attributes doesn't mean you are one of the best or will ever become one of the best, I am sure in history there was players who were fasters than Usain Bolt, but no one know them because that is probably the only thing they got. That mental aspect is also probably something you can't nurture imo, you are either born with it or you don't. Terry, Kompany, Ronaldo, Puyol, VDS, Vidic...etc are born with natural leadership and mental strength. Unfortunately Luiz is not born with that set of skill so he won't ever have it, no matter how hard you try.

[Special Juan 28,141]

The step-down from Terry and Cahill to this guy is absolutely giant. Does any member actually think he's a secure presence in defence? Those who constantly defend him (and apparently feel like they can't change their view of him for whatever reason) will offer up distractions like his ability to pass from the back (which is much overhyped) or his innate physical and technical skills.

They'll throw up things like nationality, like he's too Brazilian or we expect him to be more English. Bull....shit...I'd take Thiago Silva over him and if he could defend like Moore or even Ferdinand (technically sound, defensively strong) then he'd be no problem. But he doesn't. He's 26 and still the same player he was when we first bought him.

As a midfielder I actually don't mind him, but as a defender he's always got a mistake in him that will arise from a lack of concentration or commitment.

Here's the truth about David Luiz. He has the tools to be the best defender in the world. In fact with his physical and technical strengths, he could be one of the all-time greats. He has pace. He has strength. He has fantastic ability on the ball. He's tall. He has EVERYTHING.

Everything except for the most important thing - the mental aspect. Unfortunately that mental aspect is what sets every top class sportsperson apart from the crowd. It's what made Jordan so great. It's what made Ali so great. It's what makes Terry so great. It's what made Schumacher so great.

And it's what makes Luiz a liability.

I agree.

I massively respect your posts on this forum, they are balanced and well put across. Full respect to you. And before anyone says it, myself and him have disagreed before, he just offers a very good balance between posts and discussion.

[Joe Cool 388]

People have short memories. They love to make excuses and allowances for the various gaffes that Luiz makes, saying he's out of form, etc.... but when you consider what we paid for this guy, and the fact that at 26 he's still as volatile as he was when we signed him (one good half season does not make up for that), you need to just need to realize that he's just not good enough for this club.

Furthermore, when Terry, Carvalho, Gallas, etc were all 26, you didn't ever see these horrendous mistakes and losses of concentration that we've regularly come to expect from Luiz, did you? By this point, they were already some of the best defenders in Europe, something that we definitely cannot say about David Luiz. Quite honestly, it's time to just cut our losses and move on.

[edetarod 2,155]

very disappointing season from him so far

[The Skipper 20,609]

The step-down from Terry and Cahill to this guy is absolutely giant. Does any member actually think he's a secure presence in defence? Those who constantly defend him (and apparently feel like they can't change their view of him for whatever reason) will offer up distractions like his ability to pass from the back (which is much overhyped) or his innate physical and technical skills.

They'll throw up things like nationality, like he's too Brazilian or we expect him to be more English. Bull....shit...I'd take Thiago Silva over him and if he could defend like Moore or even Ferdinand (technically sound, defensively strong) then he'd be no problem. But he doesn't. He's 26 and still the same player he was when we first bought him.

As a midfielder I actually don't mind him, but as a defender he's always got a mistake in him that will arise from a lack of concentration or commitment.

Here's the truth about David Luiz. He has the tools to be the best defender in the world. In fact with his physical and technical strengths, he could be one of the all-time greats. He has pace. He has strength. He has fantastic ability on the ball. He's tall. He has EVERYTHING.

Everything except for the most important thing - the mental aspect. Unfortunately that mental aspect is what sets every top class sportsperson apart from the crowd. It's what made Jordan so great. It's what made Ali so great. It's what makes Terry so great. It's what made Schumacher so great.

And it's what makes Luiz a liability.

This is a fair post mate.

I agree with almost everything, but I hoped that after having a good season last year that he would bridge the gap mentally especially under Mourinho, but unfortunately he's regressed. For various reasons, some which you have stated.

I'm personally just hoping this season is a write off for him and that if we do keep him next season; he'll get back to progressing as a player instead of regressing.

[Special Juan 28,141]

If he doesn't up his game he won't be given next season by Jose, he will be gone this summer.

[Jase 43,479]

"Defence or midfield? I'll play as a striker for the team!" David Luiz on Chelsea, Brazil and where he plays

[lionsden 4,689]

Weak game again ... Focus and concentration is a must for a CB. Kompany learned this the hard way and now gets the flak on belgian tv for being too simply/reliable. Go figure.

Fuck that. Luiz should translate his ability into his role on the pitch. A player that does not do that or isnt able, is a problem. If he is a CB, concentration really IS a crucial competence.

Also: even if people boast his technicality, I cringe when he receives a ball and it bounces 3 meters from his feet- which he then spurts to recuperate. What is technical about that?

He fails in my account after a loooooooooooong evaluation.

I have always believed that Luiz technical ability is overblown and overrated. JT for one is more technically gifted than Luiz imo going by the correct definition and not the meaningless flamboyant stuff. The problem is sometimes people mistake flamboyancy for technical ability which would make some people rank players like CRonaldo ahead of an Iniesta on the technical ability curve.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I have always believed that Luiz technical ability is overblown and overrated. JT for one is more technically gifted than Luiz imo going by the correct definition and not the meaningless flamboyant stuff. The problem is sometimes people mistake flamboyancy for technical ability which would make some people rank players like CRonaldo ahead of an Iniesta on the technical ability curve.

That is a terrible analogy.

Go ahead, in what way is JT more technically gifted? Not knocking JT here whose technical ability is underrated but go ahead, tell me?

[lionsden 4,689]

That is a terrible analogy.

Go ahead, in what way is JT more technically gifted? Not knocking JT here whose technical ability is underrated but go ahead, tell me?

First touch and passing (especially the latter). The latter for me is not even debatable as there are very few defenders with passing range and accuracy of JT. his left foot passing is a thing of beauty.

How many times does Luiz attempt the hollywood 50 yard pass without success in games and how often does he get dispossed due to bad first touch and awkwardness in possession which he usually tries to make up for by getting his body in the way to win a foul.

Shooting is the only technical aspect that Luiz rank higher than JT for me, every other aspect, no chance.

[The Skipper 20,609]

First touch and passing (especially the latter). The latter for me is not even debatable as there's very few defender with passing range and accuracy of JT

Fair enough, Terry's first touch is excellent but I believe Luiz's passing is probably on par with Terry, it's just that he tries the long ball a lot more than JT does; JT picks and chooses his moments whilst Luiz is usually under the instruction to try long balls from deep.

However, first touch and passing aren't the only two things that define technical ability, and I'm pretty sure you know that.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

First touch and passing (especially the latter). The latter for me is not even debatable as there are very few defenders with passing range and accuracy of JT. his left foot passing is a thing of beauty.

How many times does Luiz attempt the hollywood 50 yard pass without success in games and how often does he get dispossed due to bad first touch and awkwardness in possession which he usually tries to make up for by getting his body in the way to win a foul.

Shooting is the only technical aspect that Luiz rank higher than JT for me, every other aspect, no chance.

Huh?

I believe Luiz is perfect in every aspect except perhaps for his decisionmaking sometimes.

And to compare him to JT just creates a non-discussion. Who has better touch or passing... JT is JT and Luiz is Luiz. They're both CBs sure, but totally different characters and playstyle.

[Special Juan 28,141]

On a side note to this discussion, I don't think I have seen a centre back in a long time who can pass a ball long like JT with either foot.

See his ball to Ashley Cole v Sunderland a few seasons ago. Absolute top class.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Fair enough, Terry's first touch is excellent but I believe Luiz's passing is probably on par with Terry, it's just that he tries the long ball a lot more than JT does; JT picks and chooses his moments whilst Luiz is usually under the instruction to try long balls from deep.

However, first touch and passing aren't the only two things that define technical ability, and I'm pretty sure you know that.

I don't disagree on everything with TPtB, but tend to emphasize and nit pick the disagreements in discussions. However, concerning De Niro guy, I don’t seem to even watch the same sport as he does.

Comparing the technical ability of Terry and Luiz is really ridiculous. You put Terry in midfield and he’d be completely lost – a liability like many here like to say. His technical ability is good albeit very CB like. David Luiz is twice the player Terry is when taking first touch, passing (long, short, little flicks), shooting, and dribbling alone. The same way John Terry is twice the player David Luiz is when you take into consideration reading of the game, aerial, blocking, decisions, leadership (the mental aspects). I don’t deny that; my point has always been that different systems take advantage of different types of players, including Cbs.

In the current Mourinho system Luiz is wasted in defense. His attributes are wasted there and he lacks the ones that are needed, again in the current system. In other systems, the mechanics of the team would allow him to move into midfield in a seamless way (because it provides the necessary cover). This IS currently done by Brazil or do you think they let David Luiz exposed at all times?!

Only one person thinks Luiz is a bad player, without any merit, and that person dismisses any talks about valuation, THE most tangible evidence we’ve got. It’s up to HIM to disprove David Luiz valuation in the market though, because it is what it is. He is the reason I think technical merit is NOT the only thing being taken into account when assessing DL as a player.

BTW, TPtB, Thiago Silva is a short CB absolutely TERRIBLE in the air. Yes, his reading and decisions are indeed better than Luiz’ but not much else.

[Jase 43,479]

DAVID LUIZ EXCLUSIVE: Premier League pressure? Don't make me laugh... winning the World Cup in Brazil, now that is enough to make you scared!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

LMAO

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

[didierforever 7,349]

We need his presence in the mid in the european nights. Simple as that.

Rambo-mikel-luiz should be our mid3 for away ganes. I expect him and rambo to start against gala in the home game.

[Kish9 50]

Got his car clamped, such a beautiful car and numberpate http://t.co/DLct2y6kIt