🇪🇸 César Azpilicueta

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

Bullshit? I wasn't talking about the game against Everton but in general. We all know that defensively, Hazard can still be a suspect. I don't deny that he has improved but he definitely needs to be more consistent in doing the defensive work. People are denial if they think otherwise.

But if you want to talk about the game today, he went AWOL at times especially during the first half. And even if he was there, he wasn't doing it diligently. Second half was better but I'm sure it's mainly because Mourinho had a word with it about his defensive duties.

Talking in general yes Hazard isn't 100 % full proof when it comes to defending. It just doesn't come naturally to him. It has improved and will continue to improve but it's never going to be perfect.

He's always going to make mistakes from time to time. At the end of the day he's still an attacker first, defender second.

About the game today. Sorry but i really have no idea what you're talking about. Hazard did his defensive work, apart from the first goal. He might not always have been succesfull in stopping the cross or intercepting the ball but he was tracking back he was there helping out.

This notion of not having to defend just because you're an attacking player is absolute nonsense. Nobody asks that attacking player to become a 'full-time' defender but doing their fair share of defensive work consistently

Why is it that Azpi isn't put under the same scrutiny as Hazard ? Why does Hazard have to help Azpi on defense but Azpi doesn't have to help Hazard in attack ?

Also i'd like to hear your opinion on what i said about Azpi in my first post. "He offers nothing going forward and at times defends to narrow" Do you agree with that or not ?

[Henrique 9,133]

It's only an avenue when he's like the only fella defending on that side. Hazard only participates whenever he feels like it.

If he needs more support coming from the wings, it means he is not good enough doing that role.

[Jase 43,479]

Why is it that Azpi isn't put under the same scrutiny as Hazard ? Why does Hazard have to help Azpi on defense but Azpi doesn't have to help Hazard in attack ?

Also i'd like to hear your opinion on what i said about Azpi in my first post. "He offers nothing going forward and at times defends to narrow" Do you agree with that or not ?

I don't disagree with that but him not going forward is almost clearly an instruction given by Mourinho. If he is given the license to go forward, I'm sure he would but judging by what has happened since last season, Azpi has clearly been told to stay back so that we always have enough numbers back and not totally disorganized when Ivanovic goes forward on the other side. Azpi is not playing on his natural side and seems like he's only allowed to go forward when the time is right. Otherwise, the license for a FB to go forward is with Ivanovic right now, not Azpi.

[Jase 43,479]

If he needs more support coming from the wings, it means he is not good enough doing that role.

You seriously can't expect a FB to defend alone like in 2 v 1 or even 3 v 1 situations and then complain that he doesn't do enough defensively in that position.

[Henrique 9,133]

You seriously can't expect a FB to defend alone like in 2 v 1 or even 3 v 1 situations and then complain that he doesn't do enough defensively in that position.

For me it was clear the problem with Azi was not lack of support, since he was losing 90% of 1v1 situations.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

I don't disagree with that but him not going forward is almost clearly an instruction given by Mourinho. If he is given the license to go forward, I'm sure he would but judging by what has happened since last season, Azpi has clearly been told to stay back so that we always have enough numbers back and not totally disorganized when Ivanovic goes forward on the other side. Azpi is not playing on his natural side and seems like he's only allowed to go forward when the time is right. Otherwise, the license for a FB to go forward is with Ivanovic right now, not Azpi.

True but don't you think that's extremely unfair towards Hazard ? We're basically telling him he's on his own in attack but berate him when he fails to track a run.

Why don't we just play Filipe Luis and have both Luis and Ivanovic work in tandem with eachother. If we attack on the left Luis goes forward, Ivanovic stays back. If we attack on the right. Ivanovic goes forward, Luis stays back.

It's time for Filipe Luis to come in.

So you agree that Azpi defends to narrow at times ? Wouldn't that mean that you agree that Azpi defending to narrow would put more pressure, defensively, on Hazard and make our left side more vulnerable to overlapping runs from right backs, making our left side an avenue... Something which you were eager to acredit solely to Hazard ?

[The only place to be 11,313]

If he needs more support coming from the wings, it means he is not good enough doing that role.

Utter bollocks. Team's defend as a team.

Fact is Hazard did well to track Coleman at times, and others he didn't. The other problem was that we had Fabregas back there defending at times, occasionally giving the ball away and trying some risky shit when you'd actually want Oscar in there doing what he has done the last two matches.

Azpi is an exceptional one-on-one defender but few players are perfect 100% of the time.

Despite that I wouldn't be surprised to see Luis start the next game against Swansea.

[Jase 43,479]

True but don't you think that's extremely unfair towards Hazard ? We're basically telling him he's on his own in attack but berate him when he fails to track a run.

Why don't we just play Filipe Luis and have both Luis and Ivanovic work in tandem with eachother. If we attack on the left Luis goes forward, Ivanovic stays back. If we attack on the right. Ivanovic goes forward, Luis stays back.

It's time for Filipe Luis to come in.

So you agree that Azpi defends to narrow at times ? Wouldn't that mean that you agree that Azpi defending to narrow would put more pressure, defensively, on Hazard and make our left side more vulnerable to overlapping runs from right backs, making our left side an avenue... Something which you were eager to acredit solely to Hazard ?

Defending narrow has always been a feature under Mourinho and I don't even think Azpilicueta has defended so narrow like you're trying to make it out to be, certainly not like Ivanovic who got so incredibly narrow for the Naismith goal for instance. To use this as some sort of excuse to say that it's alright for Hazard not to defend all the time is nonsense. It's a team sport and everyone should be doing their fair share of work, diligently and consistently.

As I pointed out previously, Ribery and Robben showed how you can still be a devastating attacking player while doing your fair share of defensive work under Jupp Heynckes in Bayern's treble winning season. Even Gary Neville also praised them for such qualities and how that should be an example for wide players to follow. If even the best players can do that, then why not Hazard? Like I've been saying all this while, unless he can start producing the end results consistently in the offensive third, he would not be getting a free role in the team just yet.

Moreover, why is it that this notion of "he's an attacking player, he shouldn't be defending" seems only to be used more often on Hazard than anyone else? There have been instances in the past when Schurrle, Willian or Salah failed to defend properly, the first reaction of most people was to blame them for not tracking back/defend properly. Nobody was really saying "he's an attacking player, defending doesn't come naturally to him" like they are now with Hazard.

[Jase 43,479]

For me it was clear the problem with Azi was not lack of support, since he was losing 90% of 1v1 situations.

Losing 1 v 1 situations 90% of the time? Not sure what you were watching. Then again, you always seem too eager to bash Azpi for whatever reason...

Utter bollocks. Team's defend as a team.

Fact is Hazard did well to track Coleman at times, and others he didn't. The other problem was that we had Fabregas back there defending at times, occasionally giving the ball away and trying some risky shit when you'd actually want Oscar in there doing what he has done the last two matches.

Azpi is an exceptional one-on-one defender but few players are perfect 100% of the time.

Despite that I wouldn't be surprised to see Luis start the next game against Swansea.

There were even times during the first half we saw Costa in the left back position...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

For me it was clear the problem with Azi was not lack of support, since he was losing 90% of 1v1 situations.

Are you talking about yesterday? He didn't lose a single 1vs1. In fact, in the first half, he came out several times and made crucial tackles and interceptions.

I don't think any of our back four are to be blamed for any of the 3 goals we conceded yesterday, except maybe Iva for the third goal as he was supposed to be marking Eto'o.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

Defending narrow has always been a feature under Mourinho and I don't even think Azpilicueta has defended so narrow like you're trying to make it out to be, certainly not like Ivanovic who got so incredibly narrow for the Naismith goal for instance. To use this as some sort of excuse to say that it's alright for Hazard not to defend all the time is nonsense. It's a team sport and everyone should be doing their fair share of work, diligently and consistently.

As I pointed out previously, Ribery and Robben showed how you can still be a devastating attacking player while doing your fair share of defensive work under Jupp Heynckes in Bayern's treble winning season. Even Gary Neville also praised them for such qualities and how that should be an example for wide players to follow. If even the best players can do that, then why not Hazard? Like I've been saying all this while, unless he can start producing the end results consistently in the offensive third, he would not be getting a free role in the team just yet.

Moreover, why is it that this notion of "he's an attacking player, he shouldn't be defending" seems only to be used more often on Hazard than anyone else? There have been instances in the past when Schurrle, Willian or Salah failed to defend properly, the first reaction of most people was to blame them for not tracking back/defend properly. Nobody was really saying "he's an attacking player, defending doesn't come naturally to him" like they are now with Hazard.

Well i guess we'll have to agree to disagree on that. imo Azpi at times will defend to narrow leaving a lot of space on the wing to exploit. I don't know whether that's a tactical guideline by Mourinho or just Azpi's natural reflex because he's a right footed player playing left back. When did i say Hazard shouldn't defend ? I merely stated that Azpi's tendency to defend too narrow makes it more difficult for Hazard.

Not exactly the best example seeing as how Ribery has Alaba bombing forward, supporting him in attack and lessening the burden on ribery. Hazard has no one he's on his own on that left side.

Again when have i ever said Hazard shouldn't defend ?

Well to put it bluntly, because none of them are as good going forward as Hazard.

Look all i'm saying is we should try and look to ease Hazard's defensive duties a little or at the very least offer him some support going forward (Filipe Luis) cause now it's a pretty shitty deal for Hazard.

He has to track the right back all the way into our own 18 yard box and doesn't get any support when going forward. He simply can't keep doing that.

He doesn't have that engine to keep going up and down the line. He's not that type of player.

[Henrique 9,133]

Are you talking about yesterday? He didn't lose a single 1vs1. In fact, in the first half, he came out several times and made crucial tackles and interceptions.

I don't think any of our back four are to be blamed for any of the 3 goals we conceded yesterday, except maybe Iva for the third goal as he was supposed to be marking Eto'o.

It seems we were watching different games, because Azi lost many 1vs1 situations, and Cahill lost Mirallas in the first goal, defending was poor in Etoo's goal, and the defense was wide open in the 2nd one. But I already saw that pattern, last season when we conceded 7 goals in 3 matches people were saying any of our back four were to blame for those goals...

For some reason people will criticize Hazard, but will avoid any criticism towards our defenders, even in game when the defense conceded 3 goals and was far from solid,

[Fernando 6,585]

It seems we were watching different games, because Azi lost many 1vs1 situations, and Cahill lost Mirallas in the first goal, defending was poor in Etoo's goal, and the defense was wide open in the 2nd one. But I already saw that pattern, last season when we conceded 7 goals in 3 matches people were saying any of our back four were to blame for those goals...

For some reason people will criticize Hazard, but will avoid any criticism towards our defenders, even in game when the defense conceded 3 goals and was far from solid,

I think your right.

I don't think hazard not tracking enough is the problem, it's our defense that has been very average at best.

Everton scored two goals from headers, headers!!

I thought Terry and company was dominant in air?

So this is where I believe Mourinho will focus on, defending better set pieces and high crosses.

I also said it in another thread that for me azpi and Felipe will move to each side and Ivan will move to the cb, because cahill and Terry ain't as good as people here hype it up to be.

The main reason they was good last season was because we was defensive. Now that we're trying to be more expansive you can see their frailties.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

It's true that Hazard isn't the best at tracking back, much worse than our other wingers, but he isn't that bad. Yesterday he just had a meh game overall. Azpi could have used help, but he wasn't flawless himself. Both should shoulder some of the blame.

[laeth 527]

Our back four always play too narrow. Even against Leicester both full backs were constantly way to close to the centre backs and when teams counter it leaves us super exposed.

Ivanovic's positioning for Everton's second goal was a joke. This is a consequence of playing a centre back at right back and a right back at left back...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Henrique, on 31 Aug 2014 - 10:44 PM, said:

It seems we were watching different games, because Azi lost many 1vs1 situations, and Cahill lost Mirallas in the first goal, defending was poor in Etoo's goal, and the defense was wide open in the 2nd one. But I already saw that pattern, last season when we conceded 7 goals in 3 matches people were saying any of our back four were to blame for those goals...

For some reason people will criticize Hazard, but will avoid any criticism towards our defenders, even in game when the defense conceded 3 goals and was far from solid,

Can't remember a single one, and I've watched the match 3 times already. And Cahill didn't lose Mirallas for the first goal because he was never marking him. Cesc was but he didn't track his run into the box. Cahill arguably should have picked him up, but those kind of runs from deep are very hard to defend against when you're standing in one place and your opponent has a good run up on you.

Btw, last season, much like the fans, Jose kept faith in the back 5 and shortly after that we went on an incredible run of conceding very very few goals. Hope the same happens this season as well.

EDIT: I'll write an article tomorrow analyzing the goals that we conceded. For the second goal, while Iva's decision making was far from perfect, he and all of the back four were exposed by a very bizarre positional decision by Matic. He takes the main liability for the goal.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

Can't remember a single one, and I've watched the match 3 times already. And Cahill didn't lose Mirallas for the first goal because he was never marking him. Cesc was but he didn't track his run into the box. Cahill arguably should have picked him up, but those kind of runs from deep are very hard to defend against when you're standing in one place and your opponent has a good run up on you.

Btw, last season, much like the fans, Jose kept faith in the back 5 and shortly after that we went on an incredible run of conceding very very few goals. Hope the same happens this season as well.

EDIT: I'll write an article tomorrow analyzing the goals that we conceded. For the second goal, while Iva's decision making was far from perfect, he and all of the back four were exposed by a very bizarre positional decision by Matic. He takes the main liability for the goal.

While our back four did get exposed by our midfield they still should be dealing with these situations a lot better then they have done.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

While our back four did get exposed by our midfield they still should be dealing with these situations a lot better then they have done.

Not saying otherwise, but I think the main blame on Saturday lays on the midfield, not the back 4.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Personally, I feel he's had his time at LB. He was fantastic there last season but the novelty is starting to wear off. The way he lost Coleman, (and it's not the first time its happened) is characteristic of a player being played out of position. Way too narrow. He also offers absolutely nothing in attack. Got dominated by Coleman and struggled to make simple forward passes. It's time for Filipe Luis to start, hopefully against Swansea.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I would love to see him attack more, overlap with Hazard, cross etc. Think this is one part of his game that doesnt make him allorund full back, he has to work on that. Besides Hazard would profit hugely if he had LB who can help him in attack. On other side, Hazard doesnt realy help Azpi in defence either.

Im sure this will have to be fixed eventualy, Hazard will have to defend, Azpi will have to help attack. Its how success is done, look at Bayern; Alaba and Ribery. Both attack and defend together.