César Azpilicueta

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Azpi just has that unfortunate pedo/rapist smile on him.

It's a shame Bertand didn't get the chance Azpi did tonight. Ivanovic is close to useless in attack.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Someone actually likes the "rape smile"?!!

I love his rape smile!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I love his rape smile!

Hey, I'm not here to judge...

[Sidzeret 2,257]

not really... Rafa is my man in tennis, but poor thing isn't good looking, although sometimes he looks hot.

Azpili and Tomas Berdych though would make me ditch my boyfriend

Thought you had the hots for Marchisio

[The_Flash 1,144]

not really... Rafa is my man in tennis, but poor thing isn't good looking, although sometimes he looks hot.

Azpili and Tomas Berdych though would make me ditch my boyfriend

Babs I have to disagree

[ChelseasMessiah 304]

Poor Cesar's thread has become camper than wearing a scarf and pink framed aviators in a hot summer day.

I feel he's worthy of a first team spot now, I love Ash but Cesar did really well, although I would still rather see him at right back, especially in games where we're expected to dominate possession. Iva is boss but his passing in the final third doesn't match his talent in the other aspects of his game.

[The Mak 4,459]

An article pitting Brana and Dave's stats against each other. Pretty much confirms a lot of people suspicions.

However, it again calls into question why Mourinho is so favourable towards Brana when his aerial ability is the only dominance he really has over Dave. And why Brana is given such liability going forward when it is clear who the better attacker is. Link below.

Azpilicueta is the better crosser of the ball, with 29% of his crosses finding a Chelsea player; only 16% of Ivanovic’s do the same. Considering that they both cross the ball with similar frequency, Ivanovic every 24 minutes and Azpilicueta every 25 minutes, it is clearly Azpilicueta who is the dominant footballer in this department....

Going on this analysis alone, he is clearly the better right-back in attack, with his passing, crossing and general creativity far superior to Ivanovic. He is also not a lot worse at defending; you could even make the argument that he is better, but what Ivanovic does have that the Spaniard doesn’t is incredible aerial ability. This is important not only in defence, but as an attacking threat from set-plays and there is no doubt that it would be missed were Azpilicueta to take his place.

http://eplindex.com/43776/azpilicueta-v-ivanovic-start-chelsea-stats-compared.html

[Jase 43,479]

Starting to think we are actually just playing Azpi at left back for the sake of it. Because, for whatever reason or rather Mourinho's untouchables, Ivanovic can't be dropped, Cole's been playing poorly or just too much, Bertrand not trusted and hence why we're playing Azpi there, just so he gets game time.

[Jase 43,479]

http://www.marca.com/2013/11/12/en/football/international_football/1384279767.html

César Azpilicueta is Mourinho's latest invention. At first the Spaniard had a hard time entering into the Portuguese manager's plans, but little by little he has earned himself a place in the Chelsea XI.

The player is a wild card for The Blues. He has played out on the right wing, at right back, and in the last two games has taken over what was Ashley Cole's position at left back. "I decided for Azpilicueta to play against Schalke, and he was fantastic. On Saturday against West Brom he was very good again" Mou pointed out.

The ex Osasuna and Marseille player is delighted with his new flexible role: "I'm playing more and more minutes, and feeling better. As long as I'm playing and am useful to the team, I'm happy. If needs be, I could play at left back all season", he commented to MARCA.

The position isn't totally alien to him: "When I played with Olympique I played there in several games. The automatic moves are the same as out on the right. The biggest handicap is that you don't have a way out with your good foot, but it's something I´m training on and it helps me get better."

Azpilicueta has seen three managers at the helm in Stamford Bridge - Di Matteo, Benítez and now José Mourinho. "Each manager has his own little book and the players, especially the new ones, need some time to adapt. The results aren't as good as we would like them to be, but I am sure that we will very soon improve", the Spaniard assured.

Talking about his own personal game, the instructions he receives from the ex-Real manager are precise: "He asks me to be more solid at the back, to not make mistakes and when I can, to join in the attack".

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

An article pitting Brana and Dave's stats against each other. Pretty much confirms a lot of people suspicions.

However, it again calls into question why Mourinho is so favourable towards Brana when his aerial ability is the only dominance he really has over Dave. And why Brana is given such liability going forward when it is clear who the better attacker is. Link below.

http://eplindex.com/43776/azpilicueta-v-ivanovic-start-chelsea-stats-compared.html

I find this pretty amusing because statistically, Ivanovic had a better season that Azpilicueta last year and this year pretty easily. (Both Sqwuaka and whoscored have him as significantly better both seasons using only statistics so these stats are well, pretty obviously cherry-picked to come to a conclusion)

And no it's not just in the air. Compare last year's Azpilicueta to this year's Ivanovic.

Percentage of successful tackles- Ivanovic 89%, Azpilicueta-83%

Take on success rate- Ivanovic- 57% success, Azpilicueta-28% success

Headed duels- Ivanovic- 65%, Azpilicueta-44%

Clearances per game- Ivanovic-5.5, Azpilicueta-2.5

Total defensive actions per game-Ivanovic-8, Azpilicueta 5

Ivanovic is clearly a better defensive player. And what's Azpilicueta's big statistical advantage? 0.2 more successful crosses a game? 3% better passing percentage? His passing rate is in the same range and Ivanovic is dangerous on set pieces which Azpilicueta is not. I like Azpilicueta and he deserves to get playing time but Ivanovic like pretty much every player we have over the age of 25, is better than many people on here want to pretend. He's not a good crosser but he has been a good player for us this season as he was last season and the season before and the season before.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

The most positive thing about Azpi is the fact he said he is "happy to stay out on the left for the whole season". He just desires minutes on the pitch. What a refreshing attitude, in comparison to whining muppets like Gallas.

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

Does anyone think Azpi looks a bit bigger or bulkier in comparison to last year?

Anyway, he's been excellent at LB and long may he continue there until Cole gets the finger out. Like Mata he seems to be using his weaker foot much more often too, see he has tried to improved himself a lot by the looks of it physically and technically. Hopefully he'll get a turn at RB at some point too, he's been excellent in the 2 games at LB though.

[Reddish-Blue 2,489]

Does anyone think Azpi looks a bit bigger or bulkier in comparison to last year?

Anyway, he's been excellent at LB and long may he continue there until Cole gets the finger out. Like Mata he seems to be using his weaker foot much more often too, see he has tried to improved himself a lot by the looks of it physically and technically. Hopefully he'll get a turn at RB at some point too, he's been excellent in the 2 games at LB though.

I'd rather see a naturally left-sided player at the LB spot.

I know Bertrand will never be a 9/10 player...but he's a dependable, solid LB who likes to get forward and help out the LW/LAM.

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

I'd rather see a naturally left-sided player at the LB spot.

I know Bertrand will never be a 9/10 player...but he's a dependable, solid LB who likes to get forward and help out the LW/LAM.

Bertrand is another good shout and for an attacking sense I agree that he should be playing at LB as he can support Hazard/Schurrle but so can Azpi, just against Schalke and West Brom I noticed that he was always tucking in at times so we were defending very narrow, probably tactical instructions more than anything though. He can get forward at times to, just he comes onto his right foot as he prefers it but I agree that Bertrand should get a chance at LB too.

[Jase 43,479]

I find this pretty amusing because statistically, Ivanovic had a better season that Azpilicueta last year and this year pretty easily. (Both Sqwuaka and whoscored have him as significantly better both seasons using only statistics so these stats are well, pretty obviously cherry-picked to come to a conclusion)

And no it's not just in the air. Compare last year's Azpilicueta to this year's Ivanovic.

Percentage of successful tackles- Ivanovic 89%, Azpilicueta-83%

Take on success rate- Ivanovic- 57% success, Azpilicueta-28% success

Headed duels- Ivanovic- 65%, Azpilicueta-44%

Clearances per game- Ivanovic-5.5, Azpilicueta-2.5

Total defensive actions per game-Ivanovic-8, Azpilicueta 5

Ivanovic is clearly a better defensive player. And what's Azpilicueta's big statistical advantage? 0.2 more successful crosses a game? 3% better passing percentage? His passing rate is in the same range and Ivanovic is dangerous on set pieces which Azpilicueta is not. I like Azpilicueta and he deserves to get playing time but Ivanovic like pretty much every player we have over the age of 25, is better than many people on here want to pretend. He's not a good crosser but he has been a good player for us this season as he was last season and the season before and the season before.

Stats don't always tell the whole story and I'm sure you are aware of that. All those don't even begin to tell the number of times Ivanovic's defensive deficiencies were exposed in recent times compare to Azpi's.