🇪🇸 César Azpilicueta

[The Skipper 20,609]

It's time for people to respect Azpi more. People want to replace him with Van Dijk? Why? Azpi is actually the better pure defender. All VVD has over him is physicality - Azpi never gets dominated physically anyway because he's such a good defender. People just don't want to imagine him starting in that RCB role because it's unconventional. So what? He's still outstanding there. I think he deserves to have a chance there next season for the CL. If there's any guy you shouldn't doubt, it's Azpi.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

I don't think anyone wants Azpi to be replaced, people actually want Cahill to be replaced by Van Dijk. Azpi is our best defender, if he is fit, he plays as simple as that.

[coolhead23 1,147]

Seriously dont get why ppl keep coming up with the idea of replacing him. Can we get a better player than him in terms of skill set ... Surely, Azpi has few flaws. But can we get a better player in terms of dedication, passion and maybe leadership material, now that is what is hard to come by. We tend to forget that replacing a player is just not about replacing his skillsets but it is also about replacing what he brings on field and off field. For me the last 5 years Azpi has been a true ambassador of the club, passionate about his work (basically he just does what is given to him and makes his own) and he can be a great future captain for us. 

[The Skipper 20,609]

2 hours ago, Mufassir08 said:

I don't think anyone wants Azpi to be replaced, people actually want Cahill to be replaced by Van Dijk. Azpi is our best defender, if he is fit, he plays as simple as that.

I've seen a few CFC fans suggest he shouldn't be starting. I'd rather see Christensen take up Cahill's spot, honestly. Christensen - Luiz - Azpi is a very nice back 3. Van Dijk doesn't improve on it imo. We should be looking at a top left footed CB if we wanted to improve at CB - someone like Laporte or Romagnoli would be a much better buy than Van Dijk.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

2 hours ago, The Skipper said:

I've seen a few CFC fans suggest he shouldn't be starting. I'd rather see Christensen take up Cahill's spot, honestly. Christensen - Luiz - Azpi is a very nice back 3. Van Dijk doesn't improve on it imo. We should be looking at a top left footed CB if we wanted to improve at CB - someone like Laporte or Romagnoli would be a much better buy than Van Dijk.

I wouldn't mind Christensen taking the place of Cahill next season either, However, this may be a bit of a wild card entry but I would absolutely love for us to sign Pepe on a short term deal. Pepe is an absolute rock of a defender and I believe we can squeeze out atleast another year if not two out of him. His experience and winning mentality would also help us massively in the champions league and the best part? Pepe could act as a bridge between the present and the future i.e Christensen. I don't know if it's my biasness that I feel  Pepe on a free as a short term deal could prove to be genius but I really think we would benefit from this deal a lot. He could have the same impact Dani Alves is having on Juve.

[The Skipper 20,609]

2 hours ago, Mufassir08 said:

I wouldn't mind Christensen taking the place of Cahill next season either, However, this may be a bit of a wild card entry but I would absolutely love for us to sign Pepe on a short term deal. Pepe is an absolute rock of a defender and I believe we can squeeze out atleast another year if not two out of him. His experience and winning mentality would also help us massively in the champions league and the best part? Pepe could act as a bridge between the present and the future i.e Christensen. I don't know if it's my biasness that I feel  Pepe on a free as a short term deal could prove to be genius but I really think we would benefit from this deal a lot. He could have the same impact Dani Alves is having on Juve.

Not a bad idea. Can he play in a back three though?

[Mufassir08 2,400]

3 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

Not a bad idea. Can he play in a back three though?

With his quality and experience, I'm sure he'll do great. Don't forget Pepe is quite a proactive and aggressive defender so he should do fine on the left or the right.

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, Mufassir08 said:

With his quality and experience, I'm sure he'll do great. Don't forget Pepe is quite a proactive and aggressive defender so he should do fine on the left or the right.

Having a proactive and aggressive defender is good but I don't think we or Conte would want a loose cannon, at least on the pitch, in the team.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

8 minutes ago, Jason said:

Having a proactive and aggressive defender is good but I don't think we or Conte would want a loose cannon, at least on the pitch, in the team.

I know Pepe can be rash at times but he is not naive, I mean we are talking about a guy who has performed brilliantly in UCL finals and was the lynch-pin of the defense for the Portugal team that won the Euros. When fit, he's still one of the top CBs around imo.

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Mufassir08 said:

I know Pepe can be rash at times but he is not naive, I mean we are talking about a guy who has performed brilliantly in UCL finals and was the lynch-pin of the defense for the Portugal team that won the Euros. When fit, he's still one of the top CBs around imo.

That's the thing. I don't think Conte would want that kind of unpredictable players in the team. He would want players who are reliable and dependable and considering that Luiz, admittedly rarely these days, can still do something silly (e.g. his challenge on Rondon last Friday), Conte wouldn't want 2 players like that in the squad.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

4 minutes ago, Jason said:

That's the thing. I don't think Conte would want that kind of unpredictable players in the team. He would want players who are reliable and dependable and considering that Luiz, admittedly rarely these days, can still do something silly (e.g. his challenge on Rondon last Friday), Conte wouldn't want 2 players like that in the squad.

Pepe is way too street smart and experienced to leave our defense exposed to any kind of trouble due to his aggressiveness. Also, look at the potential upside, we would be getting a player who has been around the block and is of massive quality for virtually nothing! You said Conte would not want unpredictability and I agree but Conte would love to have a player who has got the winning mentality of someone like Pepe especially going into tough champions league fixtures. Furthermore, I really think Pepe's rashness is overrated. Under Jose, he had this period where he would commit nasty fouls and all that but ever since Jose left, he's been quite alright in that regard. 

[Jase 43,479]

8 minutes ago, Mufassir08 said:

Pepe is way too street smart and experienced to leave our defense exposed to any kind of trouble due to his aggressiveness. Also, look at the potential upside, we would be getting a player who has been around the block and is of massive quality for virtually nothing! You said Conte would not want unpredictability and I agree but Conte would love to have a player who has got the winning mentality of someone like Pepe especially going into tough champions league fixtures. Furthermore, I really think Pepe's rashness is overrated. Under Jose, he had this period where he would commit nasty fouls and all that but ever since Jose left, he's been quite alright in that regard. 

Even with the experience factor, there are still those risks to consider. And will he adapt to the back 3? Can he adapt to a new league, new surroundings fast enough for someone who's already 34 and won't play much to do that?

[Mufassir08 2,400]

2 minutes ago, Jason said:

Even with the experience factor, there are still those risks to consider. And will he adapt to the back 3? Can he adapt to a new league, new surroundings fast enough for someone who's already 34 and won't play much to do that?

Pepe has played at the highest level, I've got no doubts about his adaptability to the league and as far as the factor about him fitting in a back three is concerned, I think he would suit a back three really well due to his style of defending. I really think Pepe could prove to be an astute short term signing.

[BlueStorm1003 539]

He'll be captain in no time for sure. A proper defender and a lovely guy!

[Special Juan 28,146]

I also think he will get the captaincy, I also think he will get it next season because I think we will buy a new CB for alongside Luiz and Cahill used as a squad option. This IMO should happen- Cahill has had a very good season but do we allow that to stop us improving? Not at all for me, he's still out of the three the shakiest and we need an upgrade and it's more than possible to replace with better quality.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Player.

Of.

The.

Season.

 

If you disagree, you're wrong, sorry

[BlueStorm1003 539]

6 hours ago, BlueLion. said:

Player.

Of.

The.

Season.

 

If you disagree, you're wrong, sorry

Kante?

[the wes 7,212]

[communicate 2,703]

18 hours ago, the wes said:

People will hate me when I say this but as a CB,he is a fantastic passer but not as fb not so much

[manpe 10,861]

19 hours ago, the wes said:

Very impressive. Azpi has acted as an auxiliary midfielder in his role and he does it so well. People tend to see Luiz as our builder from the back because 1/10 of his long passes finds the target, but to me it's clear as day that Azpi is the real orchestrator at the back and those stats back it up. Captain material.