Closed Chelsea vs Stoke City

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

If we will not win it, RDM will say that we are tired....

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/2925678/title/di-matteo-always-difficult

Chelsea face our third game in the space of eight days tomorrow when we welcome Stoke City to Stamford Bridge,

[bluephoenix 1,131]

is marko marin fit already ?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Prematch interview:

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Imbalanced? Man are u high?

No, real football is actually different than playing FIFA12. You can't just put on the players you like and say "go, play", there has to be some balance in the side and player roles. An attacking midfield of Hazard, Oscar, and Mata is too offensively minded, doesn't provide enough width, and all three want to quarterback the attack. It doesn't mean that they aren't all incredibly talented, just that right now, playing them altogether would be imbalanced.There is a reason RDM has been playing Ramires or Bertrand in games even if they are out of position and that's because they provide defensive cover and track back, don't need to touch the ball very often, and provide real width (i.e. happy enough to actually stay in their lanes.). Contrary to popular opinion, it's not that he's an idiot or a coward, it's that he understands that shape and balance are important and the players that would naturally give us that (Moses, Marin) were hurt or just recently brought onto the team. (and yes, he's conservative ).

(We could still beat most teams playing like that, but we could beat most teams in a lot of different ways. There's a logic I don't understand- when a manager makes a decision and the team wins, people will say "his decision has been justified". Well, not really. If Chelsea sat Hazard and played Terry instead at attacking midfield, could Chelsea still win? Yeah, sure, they'd still be favoured to beat poor sides. If they won, would it have been a good decision? No, it was a terrible decision no matter what. Similarly, if a manager takes a risk and the team doesn't win, it doesn't mean it was a bad risk. We don't have time machines where we can go back and play out every single possible variation.)

[laeth 527]

City didn't seem to have a problem last season playing Silva - Aguero - Nasri. They aren't naturally wide players who track back.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

City didn't seem to have a problem last season playing Silva - Aguero - Nasri. They aren't naturally wide players who track back.

They didn't play that at all. Aguero was used as a striker.. Here are two different samples from games they played last year. http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/04/09/arsenal-1-0-manchester-city-city-lose-the-midfield-battle-and-probably-the-title/ and http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/01/manchester-city-1-0-manchester-united-kompany-tactics/

In the first, they are sort of playing a 4-2-3-1 with Milner, Nasri, and Balotelli. In the second, they play the 4-2-2-1-1 that they often played last year with Tevez behind Aguero and Nasri and Silva giving width. In that formation, Toure and Barry provide the defensive balance. This year, what they seem to be doing is actually moving Ya Ya Toure a little forward and using Javy Garcia, Rodwell, and Barry to rotate in and cover their defensive midfield

[Sheva. 5,373]

There is a reason RDM has been playing Ramires or Bertrand in games even if they are out of position and that's because they provide defensive cover and track back, don't need to touch the ball very often, and provide real width (i.e. happy enough to actually stay in their lanes.)

The last thing they provide is "real width" lol.

On the subject of width, Spain played Iniesta-Xavi-Silva at the Euros - no width, won the competition. Man city frequently use Nasri-Tevez-Silva behind Aguero - no width, but doesn't mean they are still not a very good side.

[Milan 17,956]

is marko marin fit already ?

Probably not, he is not in the selection. Most probably next week.

[laeth 527]

4-2-2-1-1 ... How is that different to 4-2-3-1 defensive cover wise exactly (aside from the middle of the three maybe playing slightly higher up the pitch as a second striker)? Sounds like the same with -- as you say -- Toure and Barry providing defensive duties. Much like how Lampard and Mikel are meant to do that for us in our 4-2-3-1.

My point is, we shouldn't need a defensive minded player playing in an attacking position. It's nuts.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

]

4-2-2-1-1 ... How is that different to 4-2-3-1 defensive cover wise exactly (aside from the middle of the three maybe playing slightly higher up the pitch as a second striker)? Sounds like same with as you say, Toure and Barry providing defensive duties. Much like how Lampard and Mikel are meant to do that for us in our 4-2-3-1.

My point is, we shouldn't need a defensive minded player playing in an attacking position. It's nuts.

Lampard and Mikel are not meant to do that. Lampard's position is not a defensive one. It's the deep-lying midfielder which is actually geared more significantly more towards attack than defence. It's not absolutely necessary to have a defensive aware player in the attacking midfield, but many teams do have that and RDM certainly likes it (the reason he used Kalou last year and Bertrand and Ramires this year). Even if you decide not to use a defensively able player there, you at least need shape. All three are #10s right now and that's where they want to play and how they want to play. It is possible to change that in training, but it might not happen right away. .

[DYC. 7,542]

The last thing they provide is "real width" lol.

On the subject of width, Spain played Iniesta-Xavi-Silva at the Euros - no width, won the competition. Man city frequently use Nasri-Tevez-Silva behind Aguero - no width, but doesn't mean they are still not a very good side.

No use in comparisons with Spain on the issue of width, they're simply on another level compared to any other NT. But they have been struggling a lot more because of Del Bosque's tactics.

City are very good but they aren't great, not consistently that is. Almost didn't manage to win the league despite Utd's major injury issues and Arsenal and us having a poor year. And they crashed out of the CL early last year and were very poor against Real despite scoring twice. That said, they make it work pretty well as they have a lot more firepower because they always play with two strikers and they have their fullbacks regularly pushing very high up the pitch, providing width.

Width is crucial. It stretches defences and creates space to work in. You need a lot of quality and great organisation to play through the middle on a consistent basis.

[Sheva. 5,373]

No use in comparisons with Spain on the issue of width, they're simply on another level compared to any other NT. But they have been struggling a lot more because of Del Bosque's tactics.

City are very good but they aren't great, not consistently that is. Almost didn't manage to win the league despite Utd's major injury issues and Arsenal and us having a poor year. And they crashed out of the CL early last year and were very poor against Real despite scoring twice. That said, they make it work pretty well as they have a lot more firepower because they always play with two strikers and they have their fullbacks regularly pushing very high up the pitch, providing width.

Width is crucial. It stretches defences and creates space to work in. You need a lot of quality and great organisation to play through the middle on a consistent basis.

Yeah i think width is important too, but not the "width" Bertrand and Ramires provide. I gave the examples of City and Spain to show there are teams that can make it work.

And we can play with Hazard-Oscar-Mata.

[Beirut_Blues 306]

I'd like to see Oscar, Hazard, and Mata play vs the physical Stoke.

[JDY 1,290]

I'm glad that Wilkinson bloke is banned for them. Can be a right dirty git at times, similar to Bardsley when we play Sunderland.

[Jase 43,479]

Not sure I would want to see Oscar starting this game given that he has just recovered from his injury. Stoke's robust and physical approach might make it even worse!

[Pizy 18,907]

Lets see Azpi already!

[bluephoenix 1,131]

Probably not, he is not in the selection. Most probably next week.

ahhhh

[DYC. 7,542]

Yeah i think width is important too, but not the "width" Bertrand and Ramires provide. I gave the examples of City and Spain to show there are teams that can make it work.

And we can play with Hazard-Oscar-Mata.

Agree with the first part. Bertrand is hardly involved in any offensive play when he plays in midfield.

I'm not so sure on that trio working tbh, not consistently that is. Though it's definitely worth a try.

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

i just want to see my boy danny studge (if fit)!

in all honesty i want us to sure up the back. we go from conceding 2 vs reading, 0 vs newcastle, 4 vs atletico, 0 vs QPR then 2 vs Juve.

clean up the back line!

[Rmpr 8,977]

Cech

Azi - Cahil - Terry - Cole

Mikel

Ramires -Mata

Moses - Sturridge - Hazard

It wont happen though...