César Azpilicueta

[Jase 43,479]

Just now, Clockwork said:

He is one of the issues though, and his position should absolutely not be safe. As others have there is a reason that Azpi has been seldomly selected for Spain, despite the ample of managers they have had over the years. He just doesn't fit this type of football as a RB.

Sure but that's assuming we stick with this tiki-taka football and a manager who doesn't quite know how to sort out the defence!

[Clockwork 1,794]

9 minutes ago, Jason said:

Sure but that's assuming we stick with this tiki-taka football and a manager who doesn't quite know how to sort out the defence!

Well i am assuming with Sarri or no Sarri this is the direction the club wants to go. But no doubt it would be the most Chelsea thing to do, and we hire Simeone or a similar manager. 

[Blue Armour 4,289]

2 hours ago, Jason said:

With the exception of this season, Azpi has always been a solid and consistent performer for us. It's genuinely crazy how some have become so suddenly dismissive of him.  There are bigger issues to worry about than Azpi at the moment.

I will admit though, he is a great player and our best defender IMO.

But he is absolutely POOR at organizing the rest of our defense. I would argue that even Cahill would do a better job in that regard. We are lacking someone like JT to organize that back line.

It takes more than 'passion' and love of the club to be a good leader.

[Jase 43,479]

3 hours ago, Blue Armour said:

But he is absolutely POOR at organizing the rest of our defense. I would argue that even Cahill would do a better job in that regard. We are lacking someone like JT to organize that back line.

Azpi is POOR at organizing our defence? Okay, let's not exaggerate things because of what's going on this season. Go back to previous seasons and you will definitely see Azpi organizing defences etc. And do you really think Terry was THE reason we had solid defences in the past because he was shouting and screaming at others? No. Sure, he did organize our defence and all that but he also had capable and reliable defenders, with everyone in back four working as a unit. Is that really the case now? Expecting Azpi to look out for himself and babysit others for 90 minutes every game is a bit much, don't you think? You have Alonso who is just super slow and bad, Luiz who god knows what you're going to get in each game and Rudiger who can be a little suspect at times. Questions should be asked of the others as well, especially when some see the likes of Luiz as a leader!

[communicate 2,703]

7 hours ago, Clockwork said:

He is one of the issues though, and his position should absolutely not be safe. As others have there is a reason that Azpi has been seldomly selected for Spain, despite the ample of managers they have had over the years. He just doesn't fit this type of football as a RB.

I think he could still be an effective squad player, but he is absolutely one of the tough decisions the manager has to make. He is getting close to 30, and has played as much minutes as anyone in Europe over the past few years. That has undoubtedly accumulated.  

I am not sure Azpi is a problem for us. He is not good enough technically and as a passer for a fb which is why he is not starting rb for Spain. For us he is fine, he got destroyed by sterling though 

[Vesper 28,833]

49 minutes ago, communicate said:

I am not sure Azpi is a problem for us. He is not good enough technically and as a passer for a fb which is why he is not starting rb for Spain. For us he is fine, he got destroyed by sterling though 

He has to be upgraded. His race is soon run. Over 20,000 total minutes in last 5 seasons. Will be around 9500 just these last two. He turns 30 in summer. 

Thank god we have Reece James coming in but we need to sell Azpi and buy another RB as well. Maybe keep his as a backup CB. The club blew Azpi out. You cannot play a player in that position that many minutes a year and expect him to keep up WC level past 29, 30.

Azpi is the only remotely WC RB over 28yo. Let that sink in.

No, soon to be 36yo Dani Alves doesn't count. Criminal fraud that FIFA put him on first team all world for 2018. He is shot as a top player.

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

Selling Azpi is a ridiculous idea. No disrespect but you cannot say that he has run his race. The team is struggling, he has shown more than enough at times this season to show he still has plenty to offer (or so I think). Reece James is a big talent but again, not to rush him, he needs more experience firstly.

7 hours ago, communicate said:

I am not sure Azpi is a problem for us. He is not good enough technically and as a passer for a fb which is why he is not starting rb for Spain. For us he is fine, he got destroyed by sterling though 

Sterling would give most players a tough game. What about the 2-0 where he was immense and had Sane in his pocket? Or the countless other big games hes played in where he has been ridiculously good defensively? Offensively he can still improve but his final ball as weve seen over the last few seasons is actually good. Crossing for a false 9 that is 5 ft 8 is hardly ideal. 

[communicate 2,703]

5 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

Selling Azpi is a ridiculous idea. No disrespect but you cannot say that he has run his race. The team is struggling, he has shown more than enough at times this season to show he still has plenty to offer (or so I think). Reece James is a big talent but again, not to rush him, he needs more experience firstly.

Sterling would give most players a tough game. What about the 2-0 where he was immense and had Sane in his pocket? Or the countless other big games hes played in where he has been ridiculously good defensively? Offensively he can still improve but his final ball as weve seen over the last few seasons is actually good. Crossing for a false 9 that is 5 ft 8 is hardly ideal. 

Nah I have no problem with Azpi. He is perfectly fine, I am just saying why he is not Spain no 1 rb

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

1 minute ago, communicate said:

Nah I have no problem with Azpi. He is perfectly fine, I am just saying why he is not Spain no 1 rb

Hes not Spains no 1 RB because Dani Carjaval is better. Plain and simple. Maybe not defensively but his physical and technical attributes are very impressive. Always a threat when getting forward. Its nothing to do with Azpi being poor. Defensibdly not many players in world football are as consistently solid as he usually is. Being exposed is difficult for every player.

[Vesper 28,833]

11 minutes ago, communicate said:

Nah I have no problem with Azpi. He is perfectly fine, I am just saying why he is not Spain no 1 rb

Because Carvajal and Sergi Roberto are better players. Its not even close nowadays. Soon Hakimi (if he switches to Spain) and Odriozola will pass him up. He has no future on Spain and soon none here.

[Romans disciples 26]

still one if the best .

 

[Vesper 28,833]

Just now, Romans disciples said:

still one if the best .

 

Naw. He is spent IMHO, his defence is what carried him and that has been extremely poor. Too many minutes. Time to sell, as he isn't good enough now.

[Yeboii 1,844]

He needs a rest, just like Rudiger and Jorginho. 

[Jase 43,479]

4 hours ago, Vesper said:

Naw. He is spent IMHO, his defence is what carried him and that has been extremely poor. Too many minutes. Time to sell, as he isn't good enough now.

Deary me, one poor season and people suddenly want Azpi to be sold, despite having been excellent in all the previous seasons.  He is definitely the victim of his own success and the high standards he set for himself. Remember when Benitez tried to push Terry out in the 2012/13 season? Yeah, it turned out Terry still had a lot of himself to give and went on to win more trophies, including 2 Premier League titles. At worst, Azpi should be kept and be second choice because he still more than good enough to serve as a backup option.

[Clockwork 1,794]

Azpi is more of a Cahill/Ivanovic than a Terry; Terry is arguably the best CB of his generation. On the other hand Azpi just a decent player. 

 

I do agree Azpi doesn't need to be sold though, unless someone comes with a great offer which i don't really expect.

[MoroccanBlue 5,304]

3 hours ago, Yeboii said:

He needs a rest, just like Rudiger and Jorginho. 

He had 7 days rest? 

He isnt fit for this type of football. Either a rotation player or move him to CB

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

5 minutes ago, Clockwork said:

Azpi is more of a Cahill/Ivanovic than a Terry; Terry is arguably the best CB of his generation. On the other hand Azpi just a decent player. 

 

I do agree Azpi doesn't need to be sold though, unless someone comes with a great offer which i don't really expect.

For me, Ivanovic was one of the most solid defenders we have had in the last 15 years and the list is pretty impressive. In his best years he was a no thrills rock solid defended. Nobody liked playing against him because he was fast, strong and for what he lacked in technical attributes he made up for through his defensive ability. He was also a big game player and sure he faded but that happens. Cahill for a lack of natural talent also has done pretty well. His successes as a player was through hard work. 

[Clockwork 1,794]

9 minutes ago, OneMoSalah said:

For me, Ivanovic was one of the most solid defenders we have had in the last 15 years and the list is pretty impressive. In his best years he was a no thrills rock solid defended. Nobody liked playing against him because he was fast, strong and for what he lacked in technical attributes he made up for through his defensive ability. He was also a big game player and sure he faded but that happens. Cahill for a lack of natural talent also has done pretty well. His successes as a player was through hard work. 

Not knocking Ivanovic, Cahill, or Azpi just saying they are quite a level down from Terry. I personally rate Azpi somewhere between Ivanovic and Cahill, while i rate Ivanovic higher i rate Azpi closer to Cahill.

Also Azpi is not a RB, he has hardly played the position since arriving at Chelsea. Mou played him as LB for defensive purpose to give cover for Hazard, and Conte played him as a CB. Even some of the most negative managers saw his lack of offensive ability. 

Terry resurgence was honestly was due to bringing back Mou tbh, not sure he would have enjoyed that comeback with most managers.