David Luiz

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Luiz and Matic pairing perhaps lacks bit of creativity, but overall its a very fine pivot.

[The Skipper 20,593]

We can play a high line with Terry and Cahill (an article in the news about it today in fact). I'm fine with Luiz in midfield but I think you're completely overestimating his impact from defence. He doesn't make us anymore incisive than Terry or Cahill. In fact I'd take John Terry's passing ability over Luiz's anyday.

Luiz has not played well in defence for much of the season, whilst Cahill and Terry have been the form partnership in the league. Messing about with that for the sake of a couple of Hollywood passes that add NOTHING whatsoever is just silly, especially when you have two players in front of him who can do that.

There's a very good reason why David Luiz doesn't get selected in defence by Jose and it's got nothing to do with me and a few other people being harsh on him. You might say it's his form, but I'll say it's his concentration. That's why I'm actually excited about seeing him develop as a midfielder and terrified about seeing him play in defence for us.

Plus the JT situation was different. There's a LOT of other stuff associated with him that was very fresh in the memory.

I'm not just talking about his passing mate, I thought I made that clear. I'm also not talking about Jose not selecting him at the moment...

You're steering away from my initial point, I'm not suggesting that we should break up the Terry - Cahill partnership or anything, I'm not trying to defend Luiz's performances at CB this season either, nor am I talking about his strengths or weaknesses there, I know them already. I'm talking about next season when we hopefully sign a new CM and we face teams we're struggling to break down; IMO we can afford to rest or change the JT - Cahill partnership for such tactical reasons, such as breaking teams that park the bus down, especially in home games for example.

A major part of the reason why that partnership has looked a lot more solid this end of the season is because we finally have a solid pivot player in front of them with Matic (and Luiz when he plays there alongside him), and also the fact that we're just defending much better as a team in general... It's not simply down to their partnership (although it is obviously a factor). We can take one player out of the unit for a more offensive look.

That's just me though, I genuinely think that the more technical players you have in the team, the more likely you're going to break down an opponent that sits deep, which has been our biggest problem this season and you can't deny that. I was merely trying to hint to a solution in situations like this - again, having three technical players (a trident of Matic, new top CM and Luiz) at the back orchestrating things will definitely solve that IMO. I understand that there might be a slight price to pay for this (a very, very slight but manageable knock in defensive solidity) but the rewards outweigh the risks by far I think. It's all about squad versatility for me - in the bigger games perhaps keep that JT - Cahill partnership, but in the games at home where we're going to struggle against these teams that sit deep start Luiz at the back assuming we have another playmaking midfielder next to Matic. Simple.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I'm not just talking about his passing mate, I thought I made that clear. I'm also not talking about Jose not selecting him at the moment...

You're steering away from my initial point, I'm not suggesting that we should break up the Terry - Cahill partnership or anything, I'm not trying to defend Luiz's performances at CB this season either, nor am I talking about his strengths or weaknesses there, I know them already. I'm talking about next season when we hopefully sign a new CM and we face teams we're struggling to break down; IMO we can afford to rest or change the JT - Cahill partnership for such tactical reasons, such as breaking teams that park the bus down, especially in home games for example.

And I repeat, there's not a team I would trust Luiz to play against. Not Cardiff, not West Brom, not Newcastle.

A major part of the reason why that partnership has looked a lot more solid this end of the season is because we finally have a solid pivot player in front of them with Matic (and Luiz when he plays there alongside him), and also the fact that we're just defending much better as a team in general... It's not simply down to their partnership (although it is obviously a factor). We can take one player out of the unit for a more offensive look.

A major reason we've looked better in defence is because we dropped David Luiz.

In fact every stat backs that up.

That's just me though, I genuinely think that the more technical players you have in the team, the more likely you're going to break down an opponent that sits deep, which has been our biggest problem this season and you can't deny that. I was merely trying to hint to a solution in situations like this - again, having three technical players (a trident of Matic, new top CM and Luiz) at the back orchestrating things will definitely solve that IMO. I understand that there might be a slight price to pay for this (a very, very slight but manageable knock in defensive solidity) but the rewards outweigh the risks by far I think. It's all about squad versatility for me - in the bigger games perhaps keep that JT - Cahill partnership, but in the games at home where we're going to struggle against these teams that sit deep start Luiz at the back assuming we have another playmaking midfielder next to Matic. Simple.

Or we could just buy a striker who scores goals consistently.

[The Skipper 20,593]

And I repeat, there's not a team I would trust Luiz to play against. Not Cardiff, not West Brom, not Newcastle.

Exactly what I mean - just because Luiz has had bad games this season at CB people somehow completely forget the good games he has had for us at the back prior to this season - again, selective thinking IMO.

A major reason we've looked better in defence is because we dropped David Luiz.

In fact every stat backs that up.

So you're suggesting that the main reason we've improved defensively is largely due to him being dropped at CB, and not because the team as a unit defends much better now, or because we have a more solid pivot/protection in front of the CBs either? Right...

[LAM09 6,777]

Exactly what I mean - just because Luiz has had bad games this season at CB people somehow completely forget the good games he has had for us at the back prior to this season - again, selective thinking IMO.

People are forgetting he was one of our CB's in the Champions League final. Didn't do bad did he?!

[The only place to be 11,313]

So you're suggesting that the main reason we've improved defensively is largely due to him being dropped at CB, and not because the team as a unit defends much better now, or because we have a more solid pivot/protection in front of the CBs either? Right...

The whole team defends better, but there's a reason that despite this he was dropped twice and hasn't played a match there when Cahill and Terry have been fit for about four months. Matic was only signed in January as well and in the games the two played together Luiz was very much a liability (although you can put that down to lack of playing time if you want).

But yes, we've looked much better defensively when Luiz hasn't been in defence. If we were better in defence or even as solid with Luiz playing then Luiz would play. But he doesn't and I can't see Jose deciding to put him in there just because there's a misconception that he makes us in any way better as an attacking unit. He doesn't.

[The only place to be 11,313]

People are forgetting he was one of our CB's in the Champions League final. Didn't do bad did he?!

Bosingwa

Bertrand

Mikel

Kalou

Cole

34 chances

21 on target

Take your pick.

[LAM09 6,777]

Bosingwa

Bertrand

Mikel

Kalou

Cole

34 chances

21 on target

Take your pick.

We only conceded one goal and won the match.

[The only place to be 11,313]

We only conceded one goal and won the match.

I'll compromise - David Luiz can play in games where Mario Gomez is the striker.

We could probably give our goalkeepers the day off in those matches too.

[LAM09 6,777]

I'll compromise - David Luiz can play in games where Mario Gomez is the striker.

We could probably give our goalkeepers the day off in those matches too.

LOL!

He ain't the greatest of CF, but he normally knows where the back of the net is.

[The Skipper 20,593]

The whole team defends better, but there's a reason that despite this he was dropped twice and hasn't played a match there when Cahill and Terry have been fit for about four months.

Both JT and Cahill have been great this season, it would be stupid to fix what isn't broken, that's why Luiz hasn't been introduced at the back (well that plus the fact that he seems to attain these niggling injuries here and there that set him back throughout most of this season).

But yes, we've looked much better defensively when Luiz hasn't been in defence. If we were better in defence or even as solid with Luiz playing then Luiz would play.

I'm not denying that we haven't looked better without Luiz at the back, but it has far more to do with other factors such as the team in general being far more defensively solid, The CBs having protection, Cahill having his best season in a Chelsea shirt etc... I wouldn't contribute Luiz not playing at the back as a reason why we're solid at the back.

But he doesn't and I can't see Jose deciding to put him in there just because there's a misconception that he makes us in any way better as an attacking unit. He doesn't.

That is not a myth. He grabbed 7 goals and 5 assists for us last season, most of those coming from playing as a CB. That alone should tell you he brings a more offensive threat to the team.

It's not only that either, it's the type of CB he is. He is the type that goes for the interception rather than backing off - this again helps with ball retention and winning the ball back quickly, thus giving the team more of the ball to create more.

[lionsden 4,689]

Matic would flourish even better with a DLP next to him. Luiz has been decent in CM alongside matic, I will give him that but let's not get carried away. if a decent offer comes in for him I had take it and use the money to buy a proper DLP/striker. We aren''t missing Luiz in defence and he's not the solution to our midfield in the long term and on a consistent basis.

[Mr_President 404]

Matic would flourish even better with a DLP next to him. Luiz has been decent in CM alongside matic, I will give him that but let's not get carried away. if a decent offer comes in for him I had take it and use the money to buy a proper DLP/striker. We aren''t missing Luiz in defence and he's not the solution to our midfield in the long term and on a consistent basis.

Agree, it would be foolhardy not to buy a CM to partner Matic just because Luiz has looked good there for a few games. I actually really like him there and it seems Jose is warminig to the idea too, but we just have no way of knowing whether he can consistently play that well. If he can, great, but if not it is a major risk not going out and signing a DLP to play alongside Matic, as you suggest.

Bit of a dilema actually because he's not good enough to displace CC or JT at the moment and equally we can't turn down the oppotunity to sign a good CM if one comes along. Then we are left with Luiz who is, by all intents and purposes, a valuable player who would want to be playing every week, so would he be happy with knowing that he is 3rd choice CB and also a back-up midfield option?

[robsblubot 3,529]

Both JT and Cahill have been great this season, it would be stupid to fix what isn't broken, that's why Luiz hasn't been introduced at the back (well that plus the fact that he seems to attain these niggling injuries here and there that set him back throughout most of this season).

I'm not denying that we haven't looked better without Luiz at the back, but it has far more to do with other factors such as the team in general being far more defensively solid, The CBs having protection, Cahill having his best season in a Chelsea shirt etc... I wouldn't contribute Luiz not playing at the back as a reason why we're solid at the back.

That is not a myth. He grabbed 7 goals and 5 assists for us last season, most of those coming from playing as a CB. That alone should tell you he brings a more offensive threat to the team.

It's not only that either, it's the type of CB he is. He is the type that goes for the interception rather than backing off - this again helps with ball retention and winning the ball back quickly, thus giving the team more of the ball to create more.

yep this talk about defense is very relative.

All following matches had Cahill and Terry in the CB (that's what happens to exposed defenders):

Sat 9 November, 2013 - West Bromwich Albion [h] - drawn 2-2 - Goalscorers: Eto'o (45'), Hazard (90').

Sat 23 November, 2013 - West Ham United [a] - won 3-0 - Goalscorers: Lampard (21', 82'), Oscar (34').

Sun 1 December, 2013 - Southampton [h] - won 3-1 - Goalscorers: Cahill (55'), Terry (62'), Ba (90').

Wed 4 December, 2013 - Sunderland [a] - won 4-3 - Goalscorers: Lampard (17'), Hazard (36', 62'), OG (84').

Sat 7 December, 2013 - Stoke City [a] - lost 2-3 - Goalscorer: Schurrle (10', 52').

Sat 14 December, 2013 - Crystal Palace [h] - won 2-1 - Goalscorers: Torres (16'), Ramires (35').

And then suddenly we stopped conceding.

Hey, if ain't broke don't fix it... and the CB pairing is certainly working. however, I've seen this happen so many times before: once the team solidifies defensively, then you can actually swap players without losing too much. The team should always be greater than its players. I think this is specially true with Mourinho.

Concerning Luiz in midfield, reckon his performances and our results speak for themselves. He seems to flourish in Jose's disruptive system, in the same manner Oscar does. He seems to be getting better in the role, but we need to see more. We will find out for sure in the CL since Matic can't play.

However, I've read somewhere that Matic actually makes Luiz better in the midfield, because he sits in the DLP and lets Luiz make runs.

[Eidur the Spider 4,515]

Geezer!

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

He sure can kick a ball into the stands, I bet those fans are happy to see him take a shot from distance, there is a big chance one of them will walk home with a match ball in their hands.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

His aggressiveness is still for me an issue. His pressing can be very good at times, but he always seems to make at least one or two mistakes each game which is a lot. For example, the mistake he did early in the game against Arsenal that led to that brilliant Cech save. He lost his concentration and got his positioning completely wrong and left the back four stranded with 5 Arsenal players running at them. He did a similar mistake later on in the first half and had to take down Rosicky from behind and if the game wasn't already finished he would have been booked for it.

The only game in midfield he's gone without making a serious mistake was against City. But then again, he was playing against a midfield duo of a CB and a nonchalant Toure.

No risk, no gain.

People always see those 1-2 times where his aggressiveness might have caused something dangerous, however often bypass to accnowledge (or see) that every time he does an interception it prevents something from happening..and he does quite alot of them.

[Eligius 121]

Whenver Luiz shoots, I close my eyes.

Same goes for Mikel.