David Luiz

[YouNameIt 1,511]

Sometimes I wonder if some people here are retarded. Do you think its just a coinsidence that Luiz is less good when he plays with Cahill?

[Zone 290]

Today felt like the days when he was starting to play full games. I was so confident when City's attacks were on his side. Defended excellent.

Top notch performance but he needs consistency to be an automatic starter. Also I've noticed that most of his free kicks lately have been on target.

[5354 204]

Ivanovic was the better defender.... repelling all the crosses poked into the penalty box

[Strike 7,265]

Luiz was excellent but even in yesterday's game he had "brain-dead" moments. the shirt pull on kompany(?) was a risky move. regardless of that, he read most city attacks perfectly and i think luiz-cahill must never be used again. luiz-ivan, cahill-ivan, terry-ivan, terry-luiz, terry-cahill - all good

the one problem with the defence is that it relies a lot on the whole team dropping back. no genuine ball winners in the team

[robsblubot 3,545]

Luiz was excellent but even in yesterday's game he had "brain-dead" moments. the shirt pull on kompany(?) was a risky move. regardless of that, he read most city attacks perfectly and i think luiz-cahill must never be used again. luiz-ivan, cahill-ivan, terry-ivan, terry-luiz, terry-cahill - all good

the one problem with the defence is that it relies a lot on the whole team dropping back. no genuine ball winners in the team

It's a fair assessment if you look at the characteristics of the CBs, but a bit simplistic considering how much different (from the juve game) the *entire* team behaved, especially defensively.

I agree that Iva is the only CB, other than terry, who can be dominant in the air (great choice btw because of Dzeko starting). However, against pacier sides, who sit back and ocunter, David and Cahill may do just as well, so long as the rest of the team do their part! I will point to Juve's second and decisive goal: 3 Juve midfielders completely unmarked move forward, with one of them scoring. That goal had nothing to do with the defense line.

[Strike 7,265]

It's a fair assessment if you look at the characteristics of the CBs, but a bit simplistic considering how much different (from the juve game) the *entire* team behaved, especially defensively.

I agree that Iva is the only CB, other than terry, who can be dominant in the air (great choice btw because of Dzeko starting). However, against pacier sides, who sit back and ocunter, David and Cahill may do just as well, so long as the rest of the team do their part! I will point to Juve's second and decisive goal: 3 Juve midfielders completely unmarked move forward, with one of them scoring. That goal had nothing to do with the defense line.

luiz- cahill have not looked good in a lot of games not just the juve game

[The Mak 4,459]

To be fair to Cahill, I would be shitting bricks if Luiz was my defensive partner. I think they just bring out the worst in each other is all. They've no confidence in their partnership and it shows.

[robsblubot 3,545]

luiz- cahill have not looked good in a lot of games not just the juve game

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.

[The Skipper 20,593]

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.

I don't know... Luiz gets criticised if he just boots it upfield but he also gets criticised for trying to keep possession.

What we need in midfield is an orchestrator which we don't currently have, so the onus falls on our CB's to make the forward passes - and the responsibility of that is put on Luiz. If we had someone in midfield to start out attacks for us we'd see a lot less long passes from Luiz.

[robsblubot 3,545]

I don't know... Luiz gets criticised if he just boots it upfield but he also gets criticised for trying to keep possession.

What we need in midfield is an orchestrator which we don't currently have, so the onus falls on our CB's to make the forward passes - and the responsibility of that is put on Luiz. If we had someone in midfield to start out attacks for us we'd see a lot less long passes from Luiz.

Good point... I suggested that Oscar may be able to do just that if dropped deeper. Lampard had been dropping deeper lately as well, but dunno whether he is going to be in the squad next season. Regardless, we need more in the midfield department, if nothing else for cover.

Ironically, between Terry, Luiz, Cahill, and Iva, I think we have plenty in the back, despite the criticism. We are really short in the middle and striker position (obviously).

[Strike 7,265]

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.

against Bayern when 10 men were defending. Luiz-Cahill have been the worst combo this season. Luiz rushes out of the defence line to try and tackle the attacker while cahill backs off till the bbox to make a challenge. leaves the defence disoriented

[Tomo 21,733]

I still find it rather ironic that we won the CL with out worst right back of the past 20 years and our worst centre back combination for the past 20 years.

I knew from the start Petr Cech will need the game of his life for us to win that night, and thankfully he had exactly that.

[Strike 7,265]

I still find it rather ironic that we won the CL with out worst right back of the past 20 years and our worst centre back combination for the past 20 years.

I knew from the start Petr Cech will need the game of his life for us to win that night, and thankfully he had exactly that.

not to forget kalou and malouda on the wings lol. unbelievable

[The Mak 4,459]

not to forget kalou and malouda on the wings lol. unbelievable

Ah, good 'oul Kalouda...never again!!!

[robsblubot 3,545]

not to forget kalou and malouda on the wings lol. unbelievable

a curve ball for you: who do you think defends better, Malouda or Hazard?

thank god football is not as simple as american football...

[robsblubot 3,545]

against Bayern when 10 men were defending. Luiz-Cahill have been the worst combo this season. Luiz rushes out of the defence line to try and tackle the attacker while cahill backs off till the bbox to make a challenge. leaves the defence disoriented

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.

[Blue Armour 4,323]

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 21,733]

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.