Can Chelsea play with a false #9 like Barcelona?

[SeB 1,281]

@SeB Y U NO UNDERSTAND LE HUMOUR?

I did but let's be fair, that "false 9" joke with Torres isn't funny anymore, we heard it all summer long

And I just tried to contribute intelligently to this thread

[Waterfall 893]

Torres being a false 9 is not a joke. It's reality. I would honestly play Luiz up front before I play Torres

[BOSS 372]

Well people at Barcelona would also say that its madness to play the false #9 tactic before it was even tried. Hey if Fabregas who is a slow CM can be a false #9 for Spain then i am absolutely sure that Hazard would be a much better false #9 because he has got way more attacking abilities than Fabregas. And i really do believe that this tactic would work because it has so much pace in it and the movement of every midfielder is great + Hazard proved that he can score goals in Lille.

I'd argue we have already been playing with a false number 9 and I for one have been moaning that we need a proper striker who makes runs in the box if we are achieve anything this season.

Besides, the playing style associated with playing a false 9, i.e. tiki taka keep the ball until tomorrow bullshit, first contradicts with Chelsea's identity and more importantly does not work in the PL. I would like to see Barca score against the like of Stoke, Westham...etc.

Stoke and Westham etc would actually struggle, because they would not handle the pace. You always see Stoke and other physically strong teams in the EPL struggle with Arsenal you know why? Because Arsenal plays tiki taka football and they cant handle the movement,the pace, the dribbling and the passing etc. I for one think this would be a great tactic and we would be a force. And it would make Hazard an even better/more complete player.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Why not try Sturridge there and see what happens...

He has pace, movement and the ability to link up play and all this bullshit about being selfish is just that - bullshit.

Torres dropped, sort himself out, Studge in...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Stoke and Westham etc would actually struggle, because they would not handle the pace. You always see Stoke and other physically strong teams in the EPL struggle with Arsenal you know why? Because Arsenal plays tiki taka football and they cant handle the movement,the pace, the dribbling and the passing etc. I for one think this would be a great tactic and we would be a force. And it would make Hazard an even better/more complete player.

That would be a great argument if what you said was actually true. However, Arsenal always struggle against the likes of Stoke who park the bus, in fact since the promotion of Stoke to the PL, Arsenal have only won once at the Britania, lost 3 and drew 1. That is a terrible record for a top 4 team against relegation battlers.

The reason for that is, because as you said Arsenal only have pace and quick passes, that will get you no where with 7 defenders in the box. All Stoke and Westham do is lump the ball forward to the striker, so they rarely leave space for you to exploit with pace. You can have all the pace in the world in your team but when you hit a wall of defenders you will stop.

Bottom line is, the bus beats the tiki taka, we proved that in the CL last season against Barcelona.

[BOSS 372]

That would be a great argument if what you said was actually true. However, Arsenal always struggle against the likes of Stoke who park the bus, in fact since the promotion of Stoke to the PL, Arsenal have only won once at the Britania, lost 3 and drew 1. That is a terrible record for a top 4 team against relegation battlers.

The reason for that is, because as you said Arsenal only have pace and quick passes, that will get you no where with 7 defenders in the box. All Stoke and Westham do is lump the ball forward to the striker, so they rarely leave space for you to exploit with pace. You can have all the pace in the world in your team but when you hit a wall of defenders you will stop.

Bottom line is, the bus beats the tiki taka, we proved that in the CL last season against Barcelona.

Yeah i guess your right i really did not know Arsenal's record against Stoke was that poor. But i really still think this would work you already see that our opposition cant handle Hazard.

[Joker10 946]

Well people at Barcelona would also say that its madness to play the false #9 tactic before it was even tried. Hey if Fabregas who is a slow CM can be a false #9 for Spain then i am absolutely sure that Hazard would be a much better false #9 because he has got way more attacking abilities than Fabregas. And i really do believe that this tactic would work because it has so much pace in it and the movement of every midfielder is great + Hazard proved that he can score goals in Lille.

Stoke and Westham etc would actually struggle, because they would not handle the pace. You always see Stoke and other physically strong teams in the EPL struggle with Arsenal you know why? Because Arsenal plays tiki taka football and they cant handle the movement,the pace, the dribbling and the passing etc. I for one think this would be a great tactic and we would be a force. And it would make Hazard an even better/more complete player.

Last season for example most of his goals didn't come from open play. From what i have seen Hazard finishing is definitely not one of his strengths. Csec is a great finisher which is why he was tried as a false 9.

[meetdoscar 335]

Its obvious that the closest thing we have to a false 9 is PIAZON young as he might be he has been tried there by RDM in pre season against PSG(which he scored), also seattle and major league all stars. I think he is our silent 3rd striker after sturridge that RDM never mentions. He might be young but he has talent and a good understanding of the game(watch his one two pass with ramires before he scores PSG). Imho I think he is worth the try in capital one cup since sturridge might not be rushed. If you think he is too young Just look at sterlin aged 17 at liverpool

[meetdoscar 335]

Its obvious that the closest thing we have to a false 9 is PIAZON young as he might be he has been tried there by RDM in pre season against PSG(which he scored), also seattle and major league all stars. I think he is our silent 3rd striker after sturridge that RDM never mentions. He might be young but he has talent and a good understanding of the game(watch his one two pass with ramires before he scores PSG). Imho I think he is worth the try in capital one cup since sturridge might not be rushed. If you think he is too young Just look at sterlin aged 17 at liverpool

[BOSS 372]

Last season for example most of his goals didn't come from open play. From what i have seen Hazard finishing is definitely not one of his strengths. Csec is a great finisher which is why he was tried as a false 9.

Cesc turned out to be a good finisher when he was tried there. We dont know if Hazard can finish well or not until we try him there.

[Henrique 9,133]

We already play with a false #9, if you know what I mean.

edit: realized my joke came too late. lmao

[BOSS 372]

We already play with a false #9, if you know what I mean.

edit: realized my joke came too late. lmao

[jamal.wright 5]

We already play with a false #9, if you know what I mean.

edit: realized my joke came too late. lmao

mas ainda funny....

[Joker10 946]

Cesc turned out to be a good finisher when he was tried there. We dont know if Hazard can finish well or not until we try him there.

Not really i always rated Cesc finishing ability and eye for goals, only Lampard surpass him from midfield. btw Cesc was decent, but i wouldn't want him playing as false 9 on a permanent basis.

Anyway for me Hazard skill set is closer to Iniesta then Messi if i had to make a comparison.

[didierforever 7,349]

i dont see y not. anythin will be better than the "true no.9" that we have.

[blue_swaggin_96 96]

the false number 9 puts preasures of the midfield also, it creates total football in midfield and makes midfield do one two passes etc etc. knowing the goal will come from them.

surely we won't ever see this with chelsea, unless pep comes here but i would try it.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Why don't we just sign Balotelli ?

[Spike 12,049]

Cesc was terrible as a False 9. He played more like a regular Centre Foward than anything. I cannot think of a worse example than him especially when players like Totti and Messi have actually played in that position. Cesc did not operate like a False 9 at all during the Euros and I believe the only reason people say he played in that position is because he is a midfielder. Cesc at False Nine is like Heskey at CF.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

That would be a great argument if what you said was actually true. However, Arsenal always struggle against the likes of Stoke who park the bus, in fact since the promotion of Stoke to the PL, Arsenal have only won once at the Britania, lost 3 and drew 1. That is a terrible record for a top 4 team against relegation battlers.

The reason for that is, because as you said Arsenal only have pace and quick passes, that will get you no where with 7 defenders in the box. All Stoke and Westham do is lump the ball forward to the striker, so they rarely leave space for you to exploit with pace. You can have all the pace in the world in your team but when you hit a wall of defenders you will stop.

Bottom line is, the bus beats the tiki taka, we proved that in the CL last season against Barcelona.

You do realize that were quite lucky aswell? That pentalty Messi got could have sent us home.

And no, the bus doesnt beat tiki taka. Its not about that. Its about WHO parks the bus and who stands for the tiki taka. There are alot of things that factor. Do you think that Stoke would be able to park the bus against Barca? No bloody way.

OUR bus might beat the tiki taka, but that doesnt mean you can always apply that. You have to consider the fact that it was CL, some senior players last chance, a hunger for revenge etc. That kind of passion, determination and hunger will never be there against a team like say Stoke, or any other regular non-top PL team.

[Tomo 21,751]

The false nine is the most over-rated formation in the world. Barca make it work because they have a footballing freak playing that role.

Yes it has it's moment's, but its far too often easy to play against, look at the Spain and Italy group stage match at the Euro's as the prime example. For 60 minutes it looked like Spain were running into walls.