César Azpilicueta

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Surprised nobody mention how he ended up playing at LB yesterday!

He played LB for us sometime last season IIRC.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Ivanovic has been fantastic this season and Jose trusts him whilst azpi really hasn't looked all that good in his limited appearances.

Is argue bane is the form right back in the league and this notion that he's a centre back masquerading as a right back is about as accurate as calling Gary Neville a centre back in 1999.

Lol Azpi only plays few minutes and never at RB since Ivan is never replaced. So it's weird to even draw any conclusion from that.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Lol Azpi only plays few minutes and never at RB since Ivan is never replaced. So it's weird to even draw any conclusion from that.

What conclusion are you referring to? That Azpi hasn't looked good in his limited appearances?

[Jase 43,479]

He played LB for us sometime last season IIRC.

He did?

In which game(s)??

[Blue Armour 4,436]

We have a lot of crunch fixtures coming up, so I doubt Azpilicueta is going to get game time as an RB any time soon...Bertrand has also been filling in quite well at LB, so there's that position ruled out as well.

He probably has a chance of starting the Carling cup game against Arsenal depending on how much priority Jose gives that game, and I think it will be high priority for him.

Definitely not the best time for him to be in the squad, with him still fighting for a spot in his national side as well.

Its unfair on Cesar, but I agree with Jose keeping Ivanovic in defense for most matches. You need good defenders who start in almost every match just to maintain that consistency. Plus, Ivanovic offers the opportunity to go three at the back, when we are chasing the game.

[Jase 43,479]

We have a lot of crunch fixtures coming up, so I doubt Azpilicueta is going to get game time as an RB any time soon...Bertrand has also been filling in quite well at LB, so there's that position ruled out as well.

He probably has a chance of starting the Carling cup game against Arsenal depending on how much priority Jose gives that game, and I think it will be high priority for him.

Definitely not the best time for him to be in the squad, with him still fighting for a spot in his national side as well.

Its unfair on Cesar, but I agree with Jose keeping Ivanovic in defense for most matches. You need good defenders who start in almost every match just to maintain that consistency. Plus, Ivanovic offers the opportunity to go three at the back, when we are chasing the game.

Think Azpi will play against Arsenal. Ivanovic will play against City next Sunday and it's impossible that Mourinho will play him again just 2 days later at the Emirates.

[Sheva. 5,373]

What conclusion are you referring to? That Azpi hasn't looked good in his limited appearances?

Yeah.

[Tomo 21,751]

He probably has a chance of starting the Carling cup game against Arsenal depending on how much priority Jose gives that game, and I think it will be high priority for him.

Can't see that being too high a priority given the fixture schedule. Jose will play a 2nd string at The Emirates, even if that means losing his unbeaten record against Wenger.

[Blue Armour 4,436]

Can't see that being too high a priority given the fixture schedule. Jose will play a 2nd string at The Emirates, even if that means losing his unbeaten record against Wenger.

Wenger's likely to play a second string too, so that record should still be safe

[The only place to be 11,313]

Yeah.

But he hasn't looked good in his limited appearances - i'm judging just the appearances, not his overall ability or form.

[Blue Gino 377]

Azpi has been brilliant. Iva is a fucking joke at RB, he can't cross for fuck all sake and should be second choice at RB for Azpi. Dave being second choice at RB for Iva has to come up second to Lukaku being loaned out. Jeez

[The only place to be 11,313]

Azpi has been brilliant. Iva is a fucking joke at RB, he can't cross for fuck all sake and should be second choice at RB for Azpi. Dave being second choice at RB for Iva has to come up second to Lukaku being loaned out. Jeez

Playing right-back is more than just about crossing, and I seem to recall people on here being quite harsh about Azpi's balls into the box last season.

Once again a player is becoming world-class simply by not playing very much. Ivanovic has been one of our key players this season yet people want Dani Alves....sorry Azpi, to play because he crosses better (even though it was an area of concern just 5 months ago).

[Phil Driver 503]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder ,schoolboy error ,Azpi needs to do much better than he did in the Europa Final and when Luke Shaw destroyed him at Stamford Bridge ,when he gets a chance like everybody else at the club he needs to take it . All he has shown me so far is that he needs to get his head down and improve if he wants to play for Chelsea. Ivan has that spot nailed down at the moment ,he has done enough to get away with one bad performance after international week ,but the same as our other top players like Rammy who flew back ,he needs to learn how to perform better after playing for his country.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He did?

In which game(s)??

Don't remember which game, but I remember he came on as LB in a game last season. Maybe when Ash was injured.

[Jase 43,479]

Azpi has been brilliant. Iva is a fucking joke at RB, he can't cross for fuck all sake and should be second choice at RB for Azpi. Dave being second choice at RB for Iva has to come up second to Lukaku being loaned out. Jeez

As TOPTB has alluded to, I'm not sure if Azpilicueta's crossing is better than Ivanovic's, maybe marginally better but not much. Having said that, I do agree with the notion that Azpi is a much better RB than Ivanovic is. If anything, the latter is generally good defensively as FB like Cole on the other side BUT Azpi can match that, if not better it, and provide a much progressive attacking play than Ivanovic. As seen quite a lot of times last season, Azpi moves the ball quicker, links up better with the wide players in front (similar to Bertrand and Hazard for instance on the left flank) and certainly has more variation in his attacking play than Ivanovic. And not to mention, Azpi certainly gets to the byline more often and has a left foot to work with if can't do anything with the right!