Mohamed Salah

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

No but cos by then the match had already been lost. Look at oscar, he actually has a good 20 minutes.infact,I dont think I am misreading the game at all. We wrre better in the first half than in the second half. The fact tjat jose made a sub at HT goes on to show that I am readong the game right. While salah is not the only one to blame, their is mo denying that his sub was a pivotal point in the game. And instead of making the game, it led more towards breaking it. We lost our pressing from the top, we lost etoo's hold up pkay, we lost any semblance of a comeback.

Given that Oscar and Torres are no strangers to big games and understand the Cheslea system well, they still failed to pose any threat what so ever on City. I don't blame them, they hardly got a touch on the ball. Same as Salah he hardly got a touch on the ball. It is quiet simple and clear that we had no saying what so ever in the middfield area. No passes or control from Ramirez or Mikel. The forwards we isolated completely. City overwhelmed the midfield area and hence the control of the match. Schurrle's position is the same as Salah's. He would have still been isolated. Torres's is the same as Eto, still would have been isolated. The only way this would have changed or atleast helped us to creat more chances was the midfield. That was why Hazard was dropping back to get the ball to try to break this isolation.

[didierforever 7,349]

Given that Oscar and Torres are no strangers to big games and understand the Cheslea system well, they still failed to pose any threat what so ever on City. I don't blame them, they hardly got a touch on the ball. Same as Salah he hardly got a touch on the ball. It is quiet simple and clear that we had no saying what so ever in the middfield area. No passes or control from Ramirez or Mikel. The forwards we isolated completely. City overwhelmed the midfield area and hence the control of the match. Schurrle's position is the same as Salah's. He would have still been isolated. Torres's is the same as Eto, still would have been isolated. The only way this would have changed or atleast helped us to creat more chances was the midfield. That was why Hazard was dropping back to get the ball to try to break this isolation.

etoo was isolated too yet he managed to carve out a couple of decent passes to hazard and willian. U r over exagerating the "isolation". We had 44% of possession compared to 33% 2 weeks ago. We had the ball but it was the inability and infact a hapless performance of our frontline in not carving out a singke chance. Our midfield can be blamed for the goals conceded but not for the attack. There simply was no cohesion and link up play. And again, we had better options than salah to rectify that.

By the time oscar came, the match was done and dusted. Players were barely going thru the motions. As for torres, he was subbed along with nasri who had a much bigger and instantaneous impact on the natch.

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

etoo was isolated too yet he managed to carve out a couple of decent passes to hazard and willian. U r over exagerating the "isolation". We had 44% of possession compared to 33% 2 weeks ago. We had the ball but it was the inability and infact a hapless performance of our frontline in not carving out a singke chance. Our midfield can be blamed for the goals conceded but not for the attack. There simply was no cohesion and link up play. And again, we had better options than salah to rectify that.

The fact that in an entire match we had ONLY 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET and 0 ON TARGET does not exaggurate the isolation at all. And with all due respect but the middfield is directly related with an attach build up. Maybe not as much in a counter attack playe but DEFINETLY in an attack build up. Otherwise they will not be called middfielders they would be simply extra defenders. I am quiet sure that you know a lot of midfielders in the EPL and La liga and the rest of the big European leagues who resposible for attacking buil up not only defence.

[didierforever 7,349]

The fact that in an entire match we had ONLY 2 SHOTS OFF TARGET and 0 ON TARGET does not exaggurate the isolation at all. And with all due respect but the middfield is directly related with an attach build up. Maybe not as much in a counter attack playe but DEFINETLY in an attack build up. Otherwise they will not be called middfielders they would be simply extra defenders. I am quiet sure that you know a lot of midfielders in the EPL and La liga and the rest of the big European leagues who resposible for attacking buil up not only defence.

no it does not. Hazard was not tracking zabaleta back in the 2nd half, rambo was not tracking clichy back, willian was not hassling toure. We were more of a benitez 4-2-4 than a mourinho 4-2-3-1/4-5-1 compact unit and hence I am calling them as forwards. We were pathwtic withiut the ball which was expexted given the tactics being used and thw opposition but it was with the ball that was really horrendous. And the onus of that has to go on our forwards.

[Polo7 3,496]

Not shooting him down. I believe he should stay and try to show what he can do but from what I have seen, I am not sure the Preimer League is the right stage for him. He should play in La Liga, would suit him better and also, Willian right now is at his best 25 almost 26 and I don't see him as a world-class player.

You contradict yourself a lot. I believe Salah could be as good as Willian given 3-4 years of regular football. He has pace, passing is ok but that can be worked on and his finishing isnt too bad. Like I said 3-4 years he could also work on strengthening the body.

[haranr 485]

You contradict yourself a lot. I believe Salah could be as good as Willian given 3-4 years of regular football. He has pace, passing is ok but that can be worked on and his finishing isnt too bad. Like I said 3-4 years he could also work on strengthening the body.

First of all it's not just strengthening the body. It's to know how to use your qualities on such aggressive game. How did I contradict myself.

Listen, All I said was that the Preimer League may not be the best place for Salah. I hope you agree with the fact that he is more suitable to a league like the Spanish.

[Polo7 3,496]

First of all it's not just strengthening the body. It's to know how to use your qualities on such aggressive game. How did I contradict myself.

Listen, All I said was that the Preimer League may not be the best place for Salah. I hope you agree with the fact that he is more suitable to a league like the Spanish.

How can you make that assumption? Based on less than 90minutes of football. If Sterling can do well in this league, Im sure Salah can aswell.

[Nash Azzab 29]

an interview with mourinho about mohamed salah ( French ) - Le Matin 17/2/2014

translation " not 100% accurate " :

"You know, it's not the same to play at Stamford Bridge and at FC Basel . With Basel there is no stress because you play to enjoy the time and you have nothing to lose. While with the blue shirt on the shoulders , 40'000 want to win , all the time. "

" So I think Mohamed needs six months to adapt our game and the demands of the Premier League. So I 'm calm and i'm telling him he has time because we have confidence in him. I think the season of Mohamed Salah will be the next. "

http://www.lematin.ch/sports/football/mourinho-saison-salah-prochaine/story/20609947

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

an interview with mourinho about mohamed salah ( French ) - Le Matin 17/2/2014

translation " not 100% accurate " :

"You know, it's not the same to play at Stamford Bridge and at FC Basel . With Basel there is no stress because you play to enjoy the time and you have nothing to lose. While with the blue shirt on the shoulders , 40'000 want to win , all the time. "

" So I think Mohamed needs six months to adapt our game and the demands of the Premier League. So I 'm calm and i'm telling him he has time because we have confidence in him. I think the season of Mohamed Salah will be the next. "

http://www.lematin.ch/sports/football/mourinho-saison-salah-prochaine/story/20609947

I read that a couple of hours ago. Mourinho is a guy who know what he is doing. He also thinks that next season will be great for Chelsea. I think he will modify his offensive tactics a lot making us more aggressive

[1chelsea 864]

This too much overreaction. Talk about willian too many didn't like the signing but who's complaining now. Oh let sing the song the bought his flight ticket bla bla bla, bla bla bla. I hope this kid prove right that he got it

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

This too much overreaction. Talk about willian too many didn't like the signing but who's complaining now. Oh let sing the song the bought his flight ticket bla bla bla, bla bla bla. I hope this kid prove right that he got it

Willian cost 30 or 32M pounds and has 2 goals in 28 appearances. He's a useful player,has incredible energy and a great work-rate but isn't worth near what we paid for him. For that price for a midfielder, you should be getting one of the best players in the world, not a work-rate effort kind of guy. (We got Hazard for the same price and Hazard is better and younger). Salah's transfer fee is much more reasonable so he doesn't have the same expectations.

[The Skipper 20,609]

This too much overreaction. Talk about willian too many didn't like the signing but who's complaining now. Oh let sing the song the bought his flight ticket bla bla bla, bla bla bla. I hope this kid prove right that he got it

You can't compare this to the Willian signing.

People didn't like the Willian signing at the time because it looked unnecessary as we had Mata and KDB at the time whom many thought we're going to be vital parts of the team. It was pretty justified. No one even said Willian was a bad player, just that the transfer wasn't needed at the time because it wasn't clear what Mou's game plan was.

This however is different, Salah has come in to fill a void in the squad at a relatively low price and people are already saying we should sell him off when he hasn't even played 90 minutes here which is wrong.

You can't compare the two.

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho on Salah...

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2014/2/18/5421016/jose-mourinho-urges-patience-with-mohamed-salah

“You know, playing at Stamford Bridge is not the same as playing for FC Basel.

“With Basel you play to you enjoy your time and you have nothing to lose. While in the blue shirt, you have 40,000 people that you are required to please. Everyone wants you to be decisive, all the time.

“So I think Mohamed needs six months to adapt our game and the demands of the Premier League. I am calm and I’m telling him that he has time because we have confidence in him. I think next season is Mohamed Salah’s break-through season,”

[1chelsea 864]

You can't compare this to the Willian signing.

People didn't like the Willian signing at the time because it looked unnecessary as we had Mata and KDB at the time whom many thought we're going to be vital parts of the team. It was pretty justified. No one even said Willian was a bad player, just that the transfer wasn't needed at the time because it wasn't clear what Mou's game plan was.

This however is different, Salah has come in to fill a void in the squad at a relatively low price and people are already saying we should sell him off when he hasn't even played 90 minutes here which is wrong.

You can't compare the two.

am not comparing them but just pointing out what willi brought that energy. I still believe salah will offer his quoter

[Henrique 9,133]

Willian cost 30 or 32M pounds and has 2 goals in 28 appearances. He's a useful player,has incredible energy and a great work-rate but isn't worth near what we paid for him. For that price for a midfielder, you should be getting one of the best players in the world, not a work-rate effort kind of guy. (We got Hazard for the same price and Hazard is better and younger). Salah's transfer fee is much more reasonable so he doesn't have the same expectations.

You dont get players like Hazard all the time, do you? Its easy now to compare Hazard to any player in the world, but 2 years, probably only belgian fans and youtube addict guys would think Hazard will be as good as he is for us right now, and for me he was just okay in his first season. Right now he is WAY better than the previous season. When we got Hazard, he wasnt the player he is today. Right now his price is much more than that.

Plus, midfielder is much more complex than you think. Iniesta and Xavi are all midfielders, but they goal record arent great, specially when they are playing in a team that scores a lot of goals, but its just impossible to measure their impact for Barcelona in goals or even is assists. So your "goals per game" is only a poor way to look at football.

Well, and to end my post, I sadly predict Salah to be one of those typical Mourinho's signing: Maniche, Jarosik, Sidwell, Wright-Philips, Ben Haim, Pizarro. Deja-vu.