Can Chelsea play with a false #9 like Barcelona?

[Rmpr 8,977]

I DREAM THE DAY I HEAR MY GRANDSON TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WANTS HIS TEAM TO PLAY LIKE CHELSEA ONCE DID!

FUCK BARCELONA!

I get very angry when people say we need to play like Barça. There are many ways to play great football without imitating the cunts. I dont want us playing with a flase #9, either because we already are and because I am more traditional. Brazil (70/82), Santos (60s), RM (60s), Ajax (70s), Flamengo (80s), Milan (90s), Palmeiras (96) and Chelsea (05-09) all made quite an impact and will be rembered without in any way conecting with Barcelona.

I want a quick, compact, lethal and creative team, not some passing bullshit without a proper finisher. I want a team that we can all relate to EPL and Chelsea.

Imagine a good manager putting together the likes of Hummels, JT, Cole, Vidal/De Rossi, Oscar, Hazard, Mata and Falcao/Cavani and transforming them into legend. It will stay on forever and we wouldnt have to listen to "Chelsea vs Barcelona" comparisons.

Yes, I want us to have the same historical reputation Pep Guardiola`s side have. I only want it to be our identidy, not someone else`s.

[Spike 12,049]

I DREAM THE DAY I HEAR MY GRANDSON TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WANTS HIS TEAM TO PLAY LIKE CHELSEA ONCE DID!

FUCK BARCELONA!

I get very angry when people say we need to play like Barça. There are many ways to play great football without imitating the cunts. I dont want us playing with a flase #9, either because we already are and because I am more traditional. Brazil (70/82), Santos (60s), RM (60s), Ajax (70s), Flamengo (80s), Milan (90s), Palmeiras (96) and Chelsea (05-09) all made quite an impact and will be rembered without in any way conecting with Barcelona.

I want a quick, compact, lethal and creative team, not some passing bullshit without a proper finisher. I want a team that we can all relate to EPL and Chelsea.

Imagine a good manager putting together the likes of Hummels, JT, Cole, Vidal/De Rossi, Oscar, Hazard, Mata and Falcao/Cavani and transforming them into legend. It will stay on forever and we wouldnt have to listen to "Chelsea vs Barcelona" comparisons.

Yes, I want us to have the same historical reputation Pep Guardiola`s side have. I only want it to be our identidy, not someone else`s.

Imitating Brasil '82 would be more than fantastic. They could do everything and anything. So much talant and flair...my god.

Here is a hypothetical team I would like to see, it might suck in real life but on paper...

[Rmpr 8,977]

I liked it, I just dont believe Rambo and Luiz are worthy of a dream team lineup. Subs though...

This is what I dream of:

[Spike 12,049]

I liked it, I just dont believe Rambo and Luiz are worthy of a dream team lineup. Subs though...

This is what I dream of:

While his technical skills leave a lot deisred, I believe when playing fast, direct and attacking football his mobility, pace and energy does major damage. On the counter just getting the ball to him a postion where he can sprint, should result in a goal everytime.

[EdenHazard 163]

The false-9 against Juve didn't exactly work wonders, But had we took our chances. We might not be criticizing it, more praising it. When Torres' came on vs Juventus, Although he didn't actually do much. He give our players someone to aim for in the box, Whereas when we had Hazard CF he tended more to go to the ball and support players meaning no-one in the box.

Given time and training, it could work wonders. Doubt it'll happen now though, Rafa will most likely go with Torres until January, Then i'm expecting another striker. So no reason really why we'll have to play a false 9 later on.

[OneMoSalah 8,803]

The false-9 against Juve didn't exactly work wonders, But had we took our chances. We might not be criticizing it, more praising it. When Torres' came on vs Juventus, Although he didn't actually do much. He give our players someone to aim for in the box, Whereas when we had Hazard CF he tended more to go to the ball and support players meaning no-one in the box.

Given time and training, it could work wonders. Doubt it'll happen now though, Rafa will most likely go with Torres until January, Then i'm expecting another striker. So no reason really why we'll have to play a false 9 later on.

I remember the ball continuously being pumped up to Hazard... he did a bit of both, came short and went long despite not having much chance of winning the headers. We need another striker though, none of this false 9 bullshit, it doesn't work unless you have Messi.

[EdenHazard 163]

I remember the ball continuously being pumped up to Hazard... he did a bit of both, came short and went long despite not having much chance of winning the headers. We need another striker though, none of this false 9 bullshit, it doesn't work unless you have Messi.

Exactly, Had if not been Messi playing the CF in Barca's false-nine it wouldn't be as effective and as hyped as much. It would still be effective as they're a good passing team and would create room for anyone upfront. But look at Spain in the Euro's, They played a false-9 and somegames it would back-fire. Media and fans both attacked Del Bosque's decision to play a false 9.

[robsblubot 3,550]

Imitating Brasil '82 would be more than fantastic. They could do everything and anything. So much talant and flair...my god.

Here is a hypothetical team I would like to see, it might suck in real life but on paper...

There is nothing wrong with that formation or lineup so long as the attacking players track back and contribute defensively. Football has changed from 82" when players could pick a wing and stay there waiting for the football. But with the right movement and dynamism, any formation could work. The only problem is whether the players can actually perform the tasks that need performing, which is more about (individual) characteristics than formation.

I have my doubts about Hazard defending though.

To me the real question is whether it is possible to play with a striker and still employ, at the same time, all three very attacking minded Hazard, Mata, and Oscar.

[Mr_President 404]

I DREAM THE DAY I HEAR MY GRANDSON TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WANTS HIS TEAM TO PLAY LIKE CHELSEA ONCE DID!

FUCK BARCELONA!

I get very angry when people say we need to play like Barça. There are many ways to play great football without imitating the cunts. I dont want us playing with a flase #9, either because we already are and because I am more traditional. Brazil (70/82), Santos (60s), RM (60s), Ajax (70s), Flamengo (80s), Milan (90s), Palmeiras (96) and Chelsea (05-09) all made quite an impact and will be rembered without in any way conecting with Barcelona.

I want a quick, compact, lethal and creative team, not some passing bullshit without a proper finisher. I want a team that we can all relate to EPL and Chelsea.

Imagine a good manager putting together the likes of Hummels, JT, Cole, Vidal/De Rossi, Oscar, Hazard, Mata and Falcao/Cavani and transforming them into legend. It will stay on forever and we wouldnt have to listen to "Chelsea vs Barcelona" comparisons.

Yes, I want us to have the same historical reputation Pep Guardiola`s side have. I only want it to be our identidy, not someone else`s.

Great post mate. Can't stand this nonsense with wanting to imitate Barcelona and the tiki-taka bullshit, I want us to make our own history and stay true to our own characteristics instead of copying another team.

[Jcar92 66]

Well, i don't think that we're imitating them just because we started playing with a false 9 or some player that is not the casual finisher, "fox in the box".

Tiki-taka is one thing, the false 9, another. The false 9 is just a new position, just like others that emerged through the evolution of the game. We can't discard this... We need to play with a style according to our team, not something that we want. And to be true... I really think that this work for us, so, why not?. If we can manage to have a player that can play in and outside the area, awesome, we make him and mazacar trade positions, with the trio going into the area while he goes outside.

About the tiki-taka, agree, that's Barcelona, not us. We also play with passes, but we're different. But that got nothing to do with the False 9. I think that we have to consider this.

[Jcar92 66]

Maybe this is what our team needs. Of course, it could work with the 9... But to me, we just have to see the team playing with Fernando Torres, he holds the Mazacar back. With a false 9 they would go into the area more times, i think that we would have more variations in the attack, letting us more dangerous. =)

[VIALLI 9]

Part of me wants Chelsea to go back to the days when Roman wasn`t running the club. What a f*ckin carry on.

[SeB 1,281]

Lots of fuss about false nines, that's a very wise use against a parked team. And most strikers can hold that role, at least the ones who don't just think about scoring.

False nine is just about carryng a defender out of the back to let another insert with a diagonal, 3rd man run

[Rmpr 8,977]

False nine is just about carryng a defender out of the back to let another insert with a diagonal, 3rd man run

No it is not, what you explain as a false nine is a simple movement most great strikers (#9) do. You basically discribed a striker with a lot of movement, the false nine is more than that, he has a different mentality and objective.

Ronaldo did it quite frequently, is he a false nine? Suarez? Aguero?

False nine is actually someone who most of the time composes the AM line (do not know if that is the right term). Messi and Neymar are more outside the penalty box draging defenders than inside the box waiting for a service.

[Jcar92 66]

No it is not, what you explain as a false nine is a simple movement most great strikers (#9) do. You basically discribed a striker with a lot of movement, the false nine is more than that, he has a different mentality and objective.

Ronaldo did it quite frequently, is he a false nine? Suarez? Aguero?

False nine is actually someone who most of the time composes the AM line (do not know if that is the right term). Messi and Neymar are more outside the penalty box draging defenders than inside the box waiting for a service.

Exactly.

[Corner 456]

Playing with a false #9 is an interesting idea. Obviously, I can see why RDM tried it. Torres hasn't been exactly been playing well. But it made no sense to try it against a team that plays with three centre-backs. So let's say the false #9 does drag one of the centre-backs out of position, there are still two others there. And that doesn't leave much space to exploit. It also didn't make much sense to try it in a match where you set up defensively, knowing you're not going to dominate possession.

But what other choice did RDM have? Hazard up front sounds more dangerous than Torres up front right now.

[Jcar92 66]

Playing with a false #9 is an interesting idea. Obviously, I can see why RDM tried it. Torres hasn't been exactly been playing well. But it made no sense to try it against a team that plays with three centre-backs. So let's say the false #9 does drag one of the centre-backs out of position, there are still two others there. And that doesn't leave much space to exploit. It also didn't make much sense to try it in a match where you set up defensively, knowing you're not going to dominate possession.

But what other choice did RDM have? Hazard up front sounds more dangerous than Torres up front right now.

The role of the false 9 is not just bring the centre-back outside, when he leaves the area, other player goes into it, and not just there, even in the midfield... This makes the team trade positions a lot, this confuses any defense... And makes more options to the player holding the ball, more options of pass, more variations of attack. With the Mazacar, we talk a lot about who should be at the sides, who to be in the center role... That would be the end of this. Each time, one player in each of those positions... If we manage to buy a Deep Lying playmaker, it could be even better, he could even come foward to orchestrate...

Well, just dreaming... And sorry for the bad english, still learning.

[Joe Cool 388]

Our players are nowhere near the level of Barcelona's in midfield in terms of technical skill and creativity. Also, their style would be much less effective in England because of how much more physical it is in the Premier League (clear example would be their match against us in the CL semis).