🇪🇸 César Azpilicueta

[didierforever 7,349]

It's a case of semantics. In retrospect I'll accept that "lazy streak" was the wrong choice of words. I definitely stand by my point that he doesn't have the temperament of a full-back. It is a cardinal sin for a full-back not to close down a wide player, as far as I'm concerned. He is a centre-half though, of course. I just personally believe that in this team we need more balance at full-back, and I believe Azpi should be starting. IMO, Ivanovic is our best centre-half, so as to why he is playing where he is, only José knows.

But people need to jump of their high horses. Not aiming this bit at you, didierforever! Just a comment TOPTB made earlier: "Mourinho has forgotten more about football than you'll ever know" - maybe so, doesn't mean everything he does is right, does it? Does it mean we can't question his methods and actions? If Rafa had made some of the decisions José is making, we'd be kicking off like crazy! For me, one of the wrong decisions Mourinho is making is playing Iva at RB.

totally accepted. and that is one of the reasons i just said that mou would be 100% sure because, i cant see how azpi is a better RB than iva under the tactics mou is applying. azpi's pace is better, link up play is better, he workrate is normally very good and he should be an ideal choice as a RB under the tactics mou is using. but for some reason mou thinks otherwise and i cant say that it has not worked. so lets see how it goes.

also 100% agree with iva being our best cb. he showed it last season.

u must be the 5th or 6th guy INSIDE a week to use the same exact phrase "get off your high horse" against toptb.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

totally accepted. and that is one of the reasons i just said that mou would be 100% sure because, i cant see how azpi is a better RB than iva under the tactics mou is applying. azpi's pace is better, link up play is better, he workrate is normally very good and he should be an ideal choice as a RB under the tactics mou is using. but for some reason mou thinks otherwise and i cant say that it has not worked. so lets see how it goes.

also 100% agree with iva being our best cb. he showed it last season.

u must be the 5th or 6th guy INSIDE a week to use the same exact phrase "get off your high horse" against toptb.

For me, our only real width at the minute is coming from the full-backs. Whilst we get an awful lot of support from Iva (much more than Cole offers, anyway), for me, he lacks the same attacking conviction of someone like Azpi, or even Paulo, back in the day. If he was to be a little more confident and throw a few more crosses in, the law of averages dictates it would give more crosses for our forwards to attack. Azpi throws plenty of crosses in - most are useless, but some are excellent. If Iva works on his crossing and just gets his head down and swings the ball in, then great. We just need a bit more actual supply from the two full-backs if they are going to be Jose main source of width this season.

Just to clarify: that comment wasn't aimed solely at him. There are some people that believe everything Mourinho does is beyond reproach. If it was, would point would there be in a discussion forum?

[didierforever 7,349]

For me, our only real width at the minute is coming from the full-backs. Whilst we get an awful lot of support from Iva (much more than Cole offers, anyway), for me, he lacks the same attacking conviction of someone like Azpi, or even Paulo, back in the day. If he was to be a little more confident and throw a few more crosses in, the law of averages dictates it would give more crosses for our forwards to attack. Azpi throws plenty of crosses in - most are useless, but some are excellent. If Iva works on his crossing and just gets his head down and swings the ball in, then great. We just need a bit more actual supply from the two full-backs if they are going to be Jose main source of width this season.

Just to clarify: that comment wasn't aimed solely at him. There are some people that believe everything Mourinho does is beyond reproach. If it was, would point would there be in a discussion forum?

i think jose has purposely told iva not to cross the ball into the box. in jose's post-match press conference with chelsea tv, he says it loud and clear.

he even said something like he wants iva to be more patient on the ball, let our AMs make the runs and then play them in. otherwise he said he would prefer low crosses (like the one iva gave to etoo, when etoo got ahead of stockdale but could not get a definitive touch).

still early days though. lets see how things pan out.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Good game tonight, looked pacy and up for it. We have two top right backs who are very distinctive from one another. Great cards to play.

[zolayes 14,489]

I thought he had a good game tonight ,,as did Ryan ,,will have done their chances no harm at all

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Start Dave and Mata vs Spurs!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Azpilicueta demonstrates he's more of a modern full-back than Ivanovic is. Yea Ivanovic is a safety net in that position, but with him we're just lacking that extra firepower we need coming from our offensive play. I really hope José acknowledges this, because lack of attacking play from full-backs is hurting us.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Missed this guy. Laughed so hard when he did the stupid foul throw, and as usual, his rape face at the end of the game

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Azpilicueta demonstrates he's more of a modern full-back than Ivanovic is. Yea Ivanovic is a safety net in that position, but with him we're just lacking that extra firepower we need coming from our offensive play. I really hope José acknowledges this, because lack of attacking play from full-backs is hurting us.

I think Ivanovic and Azpilicueta is a perfect combo to have. Both offer different things and can play in different games depending on matchups but that means more than Aziplicueta playing just against League One sides. My biggest reservation about Mourinho coming back was that he'd manage his preferencial way (defensive solidity, counter-attack) rather than to the squad Chelsea have assembled (skilled, exciting, not all that good defensively) and so far, IMO, that seems to be the case. Hopefully, it's a matter of him getting familiar with the squad and playing it safe until then.

[Tomo 21,751]

I think Ivanovic and Azpilicueta is a perfect combo to have. Both offer different things and can play in different games depending on matchups but that means more than Aziplicueta playing just against League One sides. My biggest reservation about Mourinho coming back was that he'd manage his preferencial way (defensive solidity, counter-attack) rather than to the squad Chelsea have assembled (skilled, exciting, not all that good defensively) and so far, IMO, that seems to be the case. Hopefully, it's a matter of him getting familiar with the squad and playing it safe until then.

The highlighted bit is spot on. I do think however it's a bit early to judge our football this time round under Mou tho, i remember when Benitez came in their was concerns he would resort to his ultra cautious Liverpool style and stifle our flair players and as it turned out we were the opposite to that. Rafa's Liverpool were compact and tough to beat or even score past at times (when LFC were tactically spot under the Spaniard they were tough to create chances against let alone score past, as we found out on more than one occasion). Yet his Chelsea were the complete opposite,

Although having said that if he had Schurrle available to him i don't think we would have seen the Mazacar all to often under Benitez either.

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

He gives us width that Iva doesn't. Horses for courses and Jose should play him more.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Missed this guy so much......Hoping against hope he starts against spurs.

[yuvala 2,167]

was he good ?

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

was he good ?

Not bad.

[NishC300 1,865]

Fail to understand how one of our best defender from last season is not starting........

[Tomo 21,751]

Fail to understand how one of our best defender from last season is not starting........

The key word, last season, you only need to look at Malouda of 09/10 then Malouda of 10/11 to see just how much can change in a summer.

Ivanovic is playing well and doesn't deserve to be dropped, it's that simple.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Yeah, Ivan has been one of the better performers so far this season, hence why Azpi can't get a game. He'll get more chances in due time.

[NishC300 1,865]

The key word, last season, you only need to look at Malouda of 09/10 then Malouda of 10/11 to see just how much can change in a summer.

Ivanovic is playing well and doesn't deserve to be dropped, it's that simple.

and what has Azpi done that is worse than Ivanovic? I was unable to watch the game vs Swindon so I can't comment on that.

[Tomo 21,751]

and what has Azpi done that is worse than Ivanovic? I was unable to watch the game vs Swindon so I can't comment on that.

He hasn't been bad, just Ivanovic has been better.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He hasn't been bad, just Ivanovic has been better.

Better? Azpi hasn't even been given a chance, so you can't really say that Iva has been better.

It's true that to football fans a player is as good as his last performance. Iva had great performances in the last two matches, but was very shaky at the start of the season and generally against any team that looks to cross he causes us quite a lot of problems, then you have that horrendous performance against Villa.

But it's still early days and Azpi will get a chance and hopefully he takes it and goes back to being our first choice RB because he is our future RB and Iva..well he's a CB.