🇧🇷 David Luiz

[Blue Armour 4,439]

I don't disagree, but I don't think it's about the defense line alone. In other words, some of "their" poor form was due to other circumstances. David and Cahill did very well against Bayern for example and other very tough games last season, but they also have a far more solid midfield in front of them. Even Drogba was much more of a defender than Torres is. It all adds up.

Lets count how many players do not contribute to defending and compare that to last season: Torres, Mata, Hazard, and to a lesser degree Oscar. Mata was there, so, we've added 3 players who defend far less than their last season counterparts. Even if I say Oscar defends OK, he is no Lampard; the numbers don't lie. Now, these players cannot become something they are not. Perhaps we just have to work on keeping better possession.

BTW, back to Luiz... he has to stop making those brain-dead long and low passes to player who are under pressure. I do understand Chelsea are trying to keep possession, but sometimes you just have to get rid of the football. I have no problems with his long high passes, which happen when necessary anyway.

What other tough games? They were racing to be fit for the CL final..the only other tough game they had was against Napoli away and that was a nightmarish outing for both of them.

But yeah, I agree on what you said about Luiz.

[Tomo 21,751]

OK, lets say, for the sake of argument that Luiz-Cahill is the worst combo for Chelsea. I still think they are both good defenders with a lot to learn. They are certainly better than fucking Rio, whoever pairs up with Kompany, or any Arsenal defender. Lescott?! Makes way more key mistakes than Luiz and is not nearly as comfortable on the ball as Luiz is; he's a real serious guy though...

defense is the responsibility of the entire team. They can drop deeper and play counter (like we did last season and Inter did before), they can push up press, and keep possession like Barca and Spain do, but the entire team need to defend.

Defenders should never ever be allowed 1x1 against the attackers... The attackers have possession, have momentum, and they can get creative. Defenders have to guess and only need to fail once.

That's the point, with anyone other than each other they are fine, just their partnership brings the worst out of each other.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I wonder if there are still any teams out there willing to offer £20 million for David Luiz.

[DH1988 1,348]

Can't believe we didnt let him go to Barca :'(

[Corner 456]

Can't believe we didnt let him go to Barca :'(

I'm delighted we didn't to be honest. Even though I don't believe Barca ever made an approach for him.

I wouldn't want to give them a rotation option for Pique. I just know Luiz would absolutely flourish with their style of football.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I'm delighted we didn't to be honest. Even though I don't believe Barca ever made an approach for him.

I wouldn't want to give them a rotation option for Pique. I just know Luiz would absolutely flourish with their style of football.

He'd be okay in La Liga, but if I'm being honest I'd be happier playing against him than having him in our team.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Some of you guys seem really retarded. You lack the ability to analyze things. Seems quite easy to just blame Luiz every time. For some reason you only see his mistakes, and as soon as he makes one, the bashing begins.

Quite interesting though how Terry+Luiz has been really strong, we've also seen Iva+Luiz (clean sheet) but then we swictched to Iva+Cahill against West Ham didnt we?

Also, I remember Bertrand having a rather poor game at times so Luiz had to cover the left side aswell etc, yet Luiz is the only one getting bashed again.

Luiz isnt perfect, but he is a good CB. Alot better than some of you guys think he is. I still think that he is better than Cahill.

[Corner 456]

Some of you guys seem really retarded. You lack the ability to analyze things. Seems quite easy to just blame Luiz every time. For some reason you only see his mistakes, and as soon as he makes one, the bashing begins.

Quite interesting though how Terry+Luiz has been really strong, we've also seen Iva+Luiz (clean sheet) but then we swictched to Iva+Cahill against West Ham didnt we?

Also, I remember Bertrand having a rather poor game at times so Luiz had to cover the left side aswell etc, yet Luiz is the only one getting bashed again.

Luiz isnt perfect, but he is a good CB. Alot better than some of you guys think he is. I still think that he is better than Cahill.

I actually agree with Luiz being a good centre-back, and that some people only see some players' mistakes (Mikel seems to be the biggest culprit of this).

But if you start an argument with an insult or calling people 'retarded', do you really think people will listen to you?

[BLionheart 516]

Our best CB currently and will keep his place in the starting 11 whether you like it or not , i am glad he is our 1st choice CB.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Our best CB currently and will keep his place in the starting 11 whether you like it or not , i am glad he is our 1st choice CB.

Our best CB currently is Branislav Ivanovic.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Our best CB currently is Branislav Ivanovic.

"Best" is relative...

Iva is better in the air, but far less confortable on the ball (underrated trait in England for whatever reason ). David has more pace too, which helps with high defense line. Even Terry is on the slow side. Though Terry *is* our best CB, also because of his leadership.

People complain about distribution, but don't see that David is actually a very good passer, which helps the attack...

BTW, Chelsea had been defending like shit before Benitez, regardless of the CB pair employed. It has taken a herculean effort to have clean sheets lately, which has hurt our attacking; the team is very unbalanced at the moment.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

I actually agree with Luiz being a good centre-back, and that some people only see some players' mistakes (Mikel seems to be the biggest culprit of this).

But if you start an argument with an insult or calling people 'retarded', do you really think people will listen to you?

People listening to me isnt required. Im just stating facts and then my opinion.

[The only place to be 11,313]

"Best" is relative...

Iva is better in the air, but far less confortable on the ball (underrated trait in England for whatever reason ). David has more pace too, which helps with high defense line. Even Terry is on the slow side. Though Terry *is* our best CB, also because of his leadership.

People complain about distribution, but don't see that David is actually a very good passer, which helps the attack...

BTW, Chelsea had been defending like shit before Benitez, regardless of the CB pair employed. It has taken a herculean effort to have clean sheets lately, which has hurt our attacking; the team is very unbalanced at the moment.

Luiz is a better passer and faster.

Ivanovic is better at all that messy 'defending' stuff.

In my opinion, Luiz isn't a natural defender. He doesn't have those defender's instincts that someone like Terry does.

[robsblubot 3,595]

Luiz is a better passer and faster.

Ivanovic is better at all that messy 'defending' stuff.

In my opinion, Luiz isn't a natural defender. He doesn't have those defender's instincts that someone like Terry does.

lol liked the "messy defending stuff" bit...the secret skill set of a good defender.

Disagree concerning Luiz and Terry; Terry's wasn't born with the awareness he displays on the pitch now. He's at his peak as a player, especially because defenders peak at around their 30s. I expect Luiz to get there eventually, though he will obviously become a different type of defender, even when more composed. One who should (as he does now) pair well with a composed defender like Terry is.

Contrary to most here, I'm more concerned about Cahill of late. His defending has been very soft (even not physical enough).

[HRiver 1,512]

In order, for me, it's Terry > Ivanovic > Cahill > Luiz.

Luiz isn't our best defender, he's skillful as a footballer but he's not intelligent enough for a defender.

[The only place to be 11,313]

lol liked the "messy defending stuff" bit...the secret skill set of a good defender.

Disagree concerning Luiz and Terry; Terry's wasn't born with the awareness he displays on the pitch now. He's at his peak as a player, especially because defenders peak at around their 30s. I expect Luiz to get there eventually, though he will obviously become a different type of defender, even when more composed. One who should (as he does now) pair well with a composed defender like Terry is.

Contrary to most here, I'm more concerned about Cahill of late. His defending has been very soft (even not physical enough).

Honestly I don't think any of the defenders get enough protection from the midfield.

But my view of Luiz is that he simply doesn't enjoy defending like Terry or Ivanovic. I always get the impression that the highlight of Terry's matches are those near-post clearances - for Luiz it's when he gets a chance to run out of defence or gets a free-kick opportunity. He also lacks the concentration I think top-class defenders need.

At Barcelona, in La Liga he would be brilliant but in the Premier League I think he just gets caught out too often.

[Corner 456]

Honestly I don't think any of the defenders get enough protection from the midfield.

But my view of Luiz is that he simply doesn't enjoy defending like Terry or Ivanovic. I always get the impression that the highlight of Terry's matches are those near-post clearances - for Luiz it's when he gets a chance to run out of defence or gets a free-kick opportunity. He also lacks the concentration I think top-class defenders need.

At Barcelona, in La Liga he would be brilliant but in the Premier League I think he just gets caught out too often.

100 per cent agree with all of this. You're on fire mate.

The first thing comes to mind for me when I think of our defenders:

Terry: throwing his body in front of a shot, not caring where or how hard he gets hit. Sticking his head in front of a high boot. Willing to take getting hit for the team.

Ivanovic: Last ditch challenge. No nonsense defending.

Cahill: Playing the offside trap perfectly. Celebrating if the opposition fail to score. A lot of heart.

Luiz: Taking the ball around an opposing striker. Looking for a long complicated pass. Standing over the ball for a free-kick.

This says it all really. Luiz is more of a footballer than a defender. And that would be great if we kept possession of the ball for 70 per cent of the game like Barcelona. But we don't, and we're not Barcelona no matter how much Roman wants us to be. In my opinion, the more advancements we make with possession football (which is what Roman wants), then the better Luiz will be in our team.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I don't disagree with either of you, but isn't it also fair to say that David's style merely demands a bit more protection, or cover, which should not be a problem. He also did not seem to have a problem when *told* not to leave his position in the Champions league. I mean everyone here who knows something about the game sees that our problems go way beyond the CB pair, but David still gets some IMO unfair criticism regardless.

Concerning heart, I hear that a lot and my answer is always that you can find a lot of heart in the championship players... Heart is extremely overrated IMO. A player is either good enough or he isn't. Either he is confortable on the ball or he isn't. When things are most challenging, when facing the very best forwarders, that's when any shortcoming will get punished. BTW, ironically, one of the things I like most about Terry is that he is a cool (almost cold) player; he tackles players or shots as if nothing special and does not celebrate like Cahill does... In my mind, David and Terry are more natural footballers.

Chelsea are a team who must always focus on the tough match, how to face the very best teams and players. We shouldn't need Torres, or Luiz, or whoever to have perfect games against the likes of West Ham for example.

[BLionheart 516]

When i say Luiz is our best defender it's not based on my , your or Alan Hansen's opinion ....it's based on the fact that any manager of the 4 we had since Luiz has came in opted him as 1st choice CB in-front of Terry,Alex,Ivanovic,Cahill , but i do agree with them.

[Hutcho 8,443]

JT is our best DEFENDER hands down. Whether you want to argue that the benefit of david luiz for attacking and passing reasons is very much up to you, but for me in terms of just defence which as of right now is all i care about our central defenders doing JT is no 1 in there all day long.

Adding to that, you know JT will do everything in his power to marshall that defence and do his NO 1 job.