🇧🇷 Filipe Luís

[Styles 9,790]

It won't. He's been the best LB in the world for a couple years now and has played with a similar defence and playing style in Atletico. The only thing keeping him out is Ivanovic's supreme form and Azpilicueta's defensive resilience.

Very true. Azpi is a brilliant defender, but Luis needs to be given a chance soon because he has the ability to contribute more going forward. I really don't think there would be that much of a drop-off in terms of defensive quality.

[iseah100 5,612]

Why does Luis need to be eased in? He's one of the best LB's in the world, he can play immediately and make an impact.

[Barbara 15,149]

The main reason I'm absolutely SURE he'll start against Schalke unless he has a physical issue is because this is a guy who's reached an UCL final last season. He has Europe experience (not saying Azpili doesn't) and football in Europe is NEVER as physical as in England. So it's perfect, he has the experience and the quality and he won't be demanded physically (where he seems to still be struggling to catch up) as he would in the league. I mean, how those two things don't make him the perfect scenario for him to start? Where are the risks that I fail to see? I see advantages actually.

And what defense harmony are we talking about here in the first place? If anything, our defense hasn't been as harmonic as it used to be, we failed in all goals we've conceded this season - except Etoo's in my opinion )although José disagrees about that goal) and we could have conceded two more against Leicester hasn't Thibaut been brilliant. We've changed systems, the defense is still adapting, as well as the midfield, and our players aren't there yet fitness wise. If anything this 'harmony' needs to go away and the consistency from last season to come back (as much as it's possible with the new system in charge - that will undoubtedly affect us defensively to a certain extend).

The more I read Jason's posts about this harmony thing, the less it makes sense for me. And my two points from the previous paragraph stand... So I'll settle for agreeing to disagree.

[LAB 1,030]

He is definitely starting vs Schalke. And Brana should be the other one based on current form imo.

[Stats 7,142]

As much as I appreciate Azpilicueta's performances at LB, when Luis cements his place at LB I really think we are going to see how much of an improvement he adds in that position. Especially going forward. His defensive game is very solid as well.

[Chelsea? 892]

its not so much as him needing to be eased in... It's just that Azpi hasn't done anything wrong defensively to deserve to be benched. He'll get his chance, hopefully Eden plays LW that day too

[BlueLyon 9,359]

How is he not 'physical' enough? What bs is that? If anyone saw him, you could say he is one of most physical LBs out there atm. He is also tall as fuck (something like 1,88m)...and his style back at Atletico was quite physical as he was playing in certain Simeone system.

Maybe he lacks bit of fitness after realy long and difficult season or he just didnt catch up to the life in PL as was expected yet.

But he can start against swansea or Schalke...why couldnt he? He is top LB and 29y.o. with plenty of experience. If he gets playtime he will do his job just fine.

[Mechromancer 262]

Maybe he lacks bit of fitness .

Pretty much this.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Why does Luis need to be eased in? He's one of the best LB's in the world, he can play immediately and make an impact.

Different country. Different style of play. Naturally it needs adaptation. Costa is special case.

Too risky, if we rush him to play and he make a couple of big mistakes already. Might affect his confidence in the future.

[Whiskey 173]

Different country. Different style of play. Naturally it needs adaptation. Costa is special case.

Too risky, if we rush him to play and he make a couple of big mistakes already. Might affect his confidence in the future.

Ive never read more crap in my life.

your talking about him as if he was a puppy. He's amongst the better LB's in the world.

We also didnt buy him from some shit league or shit team. He played in friggin A.Madrid.

[Special Juan 28,141]

The situation with him is simple. He's up against one of the most versatile players in the PL and arguably our best player last season in Azpilcueta. You cannot just expect Jose to just drop Azpi because he has bought Luis, not a chance. Remember the squad is hugely strong and that's because of situations like this, like the Cech and Tibo sitauation.......Luis will get his chance and has to earn it, it's football you have to fight for it and both Luis and Azpi are professional enough to do that.

The balance is a great one. We can rest Brana and drop Dave in at RB and Luis to LB.

Versatility is the key word here.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Ive never read more crap in my life.

your talking about him as if he was a puppy. He's a world class LB.

Well, ignore my post if it means crap to you.

I don't find anything wrong with the needs of adaptation time to a whole new environment (team mates, cultural, style of play, etc), even for the greatest player.

[Whiskey 173]

Well, ignore my post if it means crap to you.

I don't find anything wrong with the needs of adaptation time to a whole new environment (team mates, cultural, style of play, etc), even for the greatest player.

And you think that playing him against Schalke in the group stage is a huge step that might damage his confidence and whatnot?

I dont get why you and others talk about him as if he was a little puppet. He's an established world class top LB and he played for A.Madrid.

I personally feel it's better to give a guy a chance to "prove himself" and act on that, rather than be overprotective and scared.

Now IS the time to let him pay when all our players are fit. Imagine having to just throw him in there if say Terry gets injured and we are instead FORCED to play him. That would send the wrong signal to the player AND "hurt his confidence if he fails".

[jeronimo 130]

He definitely is ready to play. I think people are selling him a bit short here, he just came off a marvellous season at Atletico and has been one of the worlds best full backs the last few seasons.

I don't think the reason he hasn't started yet is due to adaption and fitness and so what but purely because of how solid Azpilicueta and Ivanovic has been. He can come straight into the side in any game when Jose thinks its time to rest Azpi/Ivanovic.

[stroey 2,525]

The situation with him is simple. He's up against one of the most versatile players in the PL and arguably our best player last season in Azpilcueta. You cannot just expect Jose to just drop Azpi because he has bought Luis, not a chance. Remember the squad is hugely strong and that's because of situations like this, like the Cech and Tibo sitauation.......Luis will get his chance and has to earn it, it's football you have to fight for it and both Luis and Azpi are professional enough to do that.

The balance is a great one. We can rest Brana and drop Dave in at RB and Luis to LB.

Versatility is the key word here.

Yeah and also when he wants to rest Cahill/Terry, he can move Brana to the centre and Azpi to rb, Luis lb.

We have 2xlb, 2xrb,3xcb in 5 reliable senior defenders, it's a fantastic situation.

[Reddish-Blue 2,506]

Hope he gets a chance sooner rather than later

It'll be great to see a natural LWB help out Hazard in attack

[Stats 7,142]

The situation with him is simple. He's up against one of the most versatile players in the PL and arguably our best player last season in Azpilcueta. You cannot just expect Jose to just drop Azpi because he has bought Luis, not a chance. Remember the squad is hugely strong and that's because of situations like this, like the Cech and Tibo sitauation.......Luis will get his chance and has to earn it, it's football you have to fight for it and both Luis and Azpi are professional enough to do that.

The balance is a great one. We can rest Brana and drop Dave in at RB and Luis to LB.

Versatility is the key word here.

Jose dropped Cech for Courtois tbh and it is not like had exactly had to "earn it". It is just that age is on his side. Azpilicueta has improved significantly during his time here but out of the two, Luis is just a more natural LB and we invested a lot of money for him so sooner rather than later I would hope he cements that LB position and he was excellent at Atletico. It is not like he is a risk if we play him but in either this Swansea game or Schalke one I would hope to see Luis play at least one of them.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Jose dropped Cech for Courtois tbh and it is not like had exactly had to "earn it". It is just that age is on his side. Azpilicueta has improved significantly during his time here but out of the two, Luis is just a more natural LB and we invested a lot of money for him so sooner rather than later I would hope he cements that LB position and he was excellent at Atletico. It is not like he is a risk if we play him but in either this Swansea game or Schalke one I would hope to see Luis play at least one of them.

On loan at Atletico he earned it, he was totally dominant and I am also very sure that those performances convinced Jose that bringing him in as #1 was completely the right thing to do. Of course he has age on his side but his talent is just through the roof.

[cchuka 99]

He's likely to start next week versus Schalke and the upper week versus Bolton IMO

[Stats 7,142]

On loan at Atletico he earned it, he was totally dominant and I am also very sure that those performances convinced Jose that bringing him in as #1 was completely the right thing to do. Of course he has age on his side but his talent is just through the roof.

True but that is exactly how I feel about Luis. He was the best LB in Europe last season and is an excellent addition. He gives us a much better dimension going forward and like Courtois we pretty much know what we are getting with him in the team.