Can Chelsea play with a false #9 like Barcelona?

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

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 21,733]

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.

[Rambo 1,729]

[CHOULO19 24,332]

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.

Hunger and revenge alone don't win you games, tactics do. Regardless of the context of the game, there is no denying that parking the bus was very effective at limiting Barcelona's chances. Their tiki taka style is to practically pass the ball into the net, we had 7-8 players in the box at all times so they were unable to pass the ball into the danger area; it's really that simple. Since they were playing with a false nine and didn't have a proper striker, they couldn't make any use whatsoever of their pieces and they couldn't utilize the space we left on the wings.

If we play with a false nine, I expect the exact same thing to happen to us every time we play a team that parks the bus, especially with our horrible crossing.

Ever wondered why Manu always seem to get goals when they need them in stoppage time, so much so that they call it 'Fergie Time'? It's because in stoppage time, if utd are not winning, the other team puts everyone behind the ball, and as it happens utd are the best team at breaking down the bus. It's not just luck as most our fans claim, Manu have Wingers and Fullbacks who constantly and consistently put decent crosses in the box and they have two strikers who make runs and are clinical finishers. That, my friend, is the only way to break down the bus.

[BlueDutchy 63]

Do you want to play with a false #9 just because Barca did it and it worked? You already point out the essential difference between Barca and our squad when you say that you won't compare the qualities of the players but only point out the similarities. That is exactly the problem, there is no other team that could play like Barca because nobody has players who are that good. Just copying their formation isn't good enough, you'd have to copy their playing style and philosophy and we could never do that. Why do you think Barcelona transfer deals are almost always bad deal? Because non-Barca players have no idea what it's like to play like Barca. Even a La Masia product (Fabregas) struggled when he came back. Players in La Masia are being teached to play exactly like the first team have played under Guardiola.

We can't just use their formation and expect it to work. You have to play like them, you have to think like them and that would take years of adaption. Technically wise, our players aren't at the same level as Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and it would be extremely risky to play like them. A false #9 works for a dominating side and we don't have the qualities to dominate like Barcelona.

Besides, I don't think Barcelona would win the title in England. Their pressing would be less efficient against kick-and-rush. Nowadays, kick and rush is a bit gone, but against Barcelona everybody would use it. Barcelona/Messi have always struggled against physique, defensive (English) sides (Chelsea mostly).

[chelseathebest 150]

Do you want to play with a false #9 just because Barca did it and it worked? You already point out the essential difference between Barca and our squad when you say that you won't compare the qualities of the players but only point out the similarities. That is exactly the problem, there is no other team that could play like Barca because nobody has players who are that good. Just copying their formation isn't good enough, you'd have to copy their playing style and philosophy and we could never do that. Why do you think Barcelona transfer deals are almost always bad deal? Because non-Barca players have no idea what it's like to play like Barca. Even a La Masia product (Fabregas) struggled when he came back. Players in La Masia are being teached to play exactly like the first team have played under Guardiola.

We can't just use their formation and expect it to work. You have to play like them, you have to think like them and that would take years of adaption. Technically wise, our players aren't at the same level as Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and it would be extremely risky to play like them. A false #9 works for a dominating side and we don't have the qualities to dominate like Barcelona.

Besides, I don't think Barcelona would win the title in England. Their pressing would be less efficient against kick-and-rush. Nowadays, kick and rush is a bit gone, but against Barcelona everybody would use it. Barcelona/Messi have always struggled against physique, defensive (English) sides (Chelsea mostly).

So true, no one can play like Barcelona, and it would be devastating for us.

We don't have that type of players, it is boring football, and it's totally opposite of our recognized style...

I'd rather see us playing like Real, that's some beautiful and effective football.

We just need to give a chance to Sturridge, dump Torres and get a new quality striker.

The day I see us playing like Barcelona, I think I'll put a bullet in my head.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Hunger and revenge alone don't win you games, tactics do. Regardless of the context of the game, there is no denying that parking the bus was very effective at limiting Barcelona's chances. Their tiki taka style is to practically pass the ball into the net, we had 7-8 players in the box at all times so they were unable to pass the ball into the danger area; it's really that simple. Since they were playing with a false nine and didn't have a proper striker, they couldn't make any use whatsoever of their pieces and they couldn't utilize the space we left on the wings.

If we play with a false nine, I expect the exact same thing to happen to us every time we play a team that parks the bus, especially with our horrible crossing.

Ever wondered why Manu always seem to get goals when they need them in stoppage time, so much so that they call it 'Fergie Time'? It's because in stoppage time, if utd are not winning, the other team puts everyone behind the ball, and as it happens utd are the best team at breaking down the bus. It's not just luck as most our fans claim, Manu have Wingers and Fullbacks who constantly and consistently put decent crosses in the box and they have two strikers who make runs and are clinical finishers. That, my friend, is the only way to break down the bus.

THIS!

But, now we have some dedicated wingers and some decent over-lapping fullbacks, we need to use them

[TheCount 146]

So true, no one can play like Barcelona, and it would be devastating for us.

We don't have that type of players, it is boring football, and it's totally opposite of our recognized style...

I'd rather see us playing like Real, that's some beautiful and effective football.

We just need to give a chance to Sturridge, dump Torres and get a new quality striker.

The day I see us playing like Barcelona, I think I'll put a bullet in my head.

Bar the Torres comment, i agree, tho i think were already trying to be like them and its showing.

[Ollie 4,400]

I think this Chelsea team can play with the no striker role because of 3 reasons.

1) Torres, our striker, is hopeless.

2) We have the players that can adapt to that way.

3) We used it against PSG for about half an hour? Piazon scored, we dominated. That was our best half in pre season. Piazon was the false 9. We have a lot of candidates for each role.

Solution?

Just buy a new striker.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Short answer - no. Because Hazard can't finish off moves like Messi does.

If Hazard improves his goal ratio to Messi/Ronaldo level then yeah it could work. But he isn't there yet, we don't even know if he'll reach that level of goal getting either.

[Owizzy 19]

Not much to say, now other than We still need some senior boys (Terry/Lamps/Ash Cole) in the team to add leadership and direction to the team.

RDM should get decisive as to what to do with Torres, if he doesnt spark put him on the bench dont hesitate to sub him. IMO, the new chelsea seem to have players that display some lovely attacking flair and I think Sturridge should be utilised more often, RDM should give him some playing time if he does well so be it Torres can watch from the bench. I am happy we have Victor Moses in the team we need a little bit of physical strength in the attack and he has it aside from is other good points.

Again Mr David Luis!!!!! ---- STOP GETTING CARRIED AWAY let your game be clean neat and effective.

Ramires - where did all that determination of the latter stages of the champions league go? have you "partied" it away?

Mikel - You are begining to look like a joker. I am not saying you must score but be jnown for good passing ability thats good enough

Stop throwing balls away alarmingly. No more sub-par performances from you again.

RDM - If Torres dont impress @ 15mins into a game, assess his ball utilisation within that time frame, if below 70% sub him immediately and put in some other players who are hungry to impress

[Spike 12,049]

Barcelona B can play like Barcelona.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

4-6-0 seems like a Nice idea and sure, its worth a try. However I can't see it working in England. Plus if we had a lineup of

Mata Hazard Moses

Oscar Mikel Ramires

We'd be short in depth for the wing positions with Marin, Malouda (nuff said) and Sturridge (who should be a CF). I'd much rather we just fork out the money and get Falcao/Cavani.

[BOSS 372]

4-6-0 seems like a Nice idea and sure, its worth a try. However I can't see it working in England. Plus if we had a lineup of

Mata Hazard Moses

Oscar Mikel Ramires

We'd be short in depth for the wign positions with Marin, Malouda (nuff said) and Sturridge (who should be a CF). I'd much rather we just fork out the money and get Falcao/Cavani.

It is already working considering we are playing without a striker imagine adding an extra midfielder instead of Torres. We are playing with Torres who is hopeless and useless and we are on top of the league so imo its already working.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I dont get this hype over such style of football. The main point is that Barca is spanish club, chelsea is english. We should stick to stronger, still atractive style, but not some fancy one, with all the diving, endless passing,...Our football style should be more direct and fast. If we try to be fancy, we will turn into arsenal. They thought they can be spanish club in english league and failed everywhere.

We have Lukaku and Danny as our strikers. With false nine system, they are basicaly useless in terms of importance in the first team.

Besides having Romeu, Rambo and Oscar in midfield is bad aswell. Rambo cant pass well, Romeu is not fast enough and Oscar is more attacking player. They just dont match. I would love to have Romulo here from Spartak. Good runner, stamina, speed, passing, marking. Great talent in making. Romulo-Romeu would be great.

Add a world class striker to that and good, faster and younger Cb as backup (Papadopolus) and we have one great team. Forget the false nine, we will never play it.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

We already are playing a false number 9.