Filipe Luís

[Korea 734]

When Cole played, he didn't act as 3rd CB like Azpi - who let's not forget, was very limited because of playing on the wrong side.

On the other side Ivanovic got forward every time.

So i believe Luis will be the more attacking fullback, and Azpi will play moderately like Cole did.

Hopefully, Mourinho allows the fullbacks to attack much more than last season and hopefully Ivan starts at cb or backup to both cb/rb.

[Korea 734]

Erm if that were the case then why would we spend up to £20m on him when we could have just kept Azpi there?

Well, who is our 3rd cb? IMO, no way does zouma or omero get that position and ivan or whomever, would be the perfect utility player that chelsea needs for depth.

This is kind of the same reason why I never wanted luke shaw.

[The Chels 2,502]

Well, who is our 3rd cb? IMO, no way does zouma or omero get that position and ivan or whomever, would be the perfect utility player that chelsea needs for depth. This is kind of the same reason why I never wanted luke shaw.

Ivanovic hopefully, with Azpi starting at RB.

[Jype 6,398]

That's not the point.

The point is if Jose gives specific directions to luis to play a certain way, than hazard is going to be in the same position/situation as last year. If anything, Dave is a solid all around full back, not a purely defensive one.

I agree, at the moment there's really no way to know for sure how Jose is going to set up the team. However, a fair assumption can be made that if Mourinho has identified the left-back position to be a problem enough for him to spend a massive amount of money on a player who was arguably the best in the world at his position last season, he would then at least be played in a role best suited to him and that is definitely a more attacking role than we saw Azpilicueta play last season. Azpilicueta, being a right footed player playing on the left, was forced to play a more restricted role while Ivanovic who is most certainly not known for his attacking contributions other than set-pieces was always allowed to bomb forward. I would hazard a guess that now with Luis who's much better offensively than Ivanovic the roles would be reversed.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Hopefully, Mourinho allows the fullbacks to attack much more than last season and hopefully Ivan starts at cb or backup to both cb/rb.

One thing is for sure, Mou cares too much about defense to allow both fullbacks to bomb forward like Alves and Alba.

1 player will be very attacking like Ivanovic last season, and the other will go forward when needed.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Since when is Filipe Luis not good at going forward? Sure, he isn't as cavalier as let's say Marcelo (not a lot are tbh) but he's still very good at going forward, overlapping his winger and putting in a good cross.

He's the complete fullback. Good at attacking, good at defending.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I remember the brazilians saying Luis is the worse attacking fullback in the ranks...

Alves, maicon, maxwell, marcelo, danilo, etc.

People can talk about how Eden needs someone to overlap, etc, but if Jose plays luis the same way he plays dave last season, its going to be the same for hazard.

Again I completely disagree with you.

Luis wasn't bought to give Hazard on option on the flank(though I think he will help a bit), he was bought to alleviate the defensive responsibility Hazard has on the left flank. Having a solid, veteran defender in behind Hazard will allow him to focus most on what he does best.

Luis can overlap but his main function is providing sufficient cover for Eden.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I have a feeling attacking wise its gonna be similar to last season.

Back 4 and Matic stay home, Fabregas and top 4 attack(in most games anyway) We haven't yet moved from being a counter attacking team in my opinion

[Korea 734]

Again I completely disagree with you.

Luis wasn't bought to give Hazard on option on the flank(though I think he will help a bit), he was bought to alleviate the defensive responsibility Hazard has on the left flank. Having a solid, veteran defender in behind Hazard will allow him to focus most on what he does best.

Luis can overlap but his main function is providing sufficient cover for Eden.

My comments was based on what people wrote concerning hazard +lb.

Hazard already had dave and cole, which are as solid as lbs in the epl a team can have

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

My comments was based on what people wrote concerning hazard +lb.

Hazard already had dave and cole, which are as solid as lbs in the epl a team can have

Cole was past his best and Azpi was playing out of position. Luis is the kind of vet that will allow Hazard to flourish. He's smart... Also, I never rated Azpi until Jose worked with him, if his impact on Azpi can be similar to that of Luis we're golden.

[Stats 7,136]

My comments was based on what people wrote concerning hazard +lb.

Hazard already had dave and cole, which are as solid as lbs in the epl a team can have

But offensively we were limited because Cole lost his legs and Azpi is not a natural LB and with him being right footed we were not as fluid attacking down the flanks.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Again I completely disagree with you.

Luis wasn't bought to give Hazard on option on the flank(though I think he will help a bit), he was bought to alleviate the defensive responsibility Hazard has on the left flank. Having a solid, veteran defender in behind Hazard will allow him to focus most on what he does best.

Luis can overlap but his main function is providing sufficient cover for Eden.

Not necessarily. Sure, against the bigger teams who are more threatening on the attack, Filipe Luis won't venture forward as much, but against teams that sit deep against us, he'll definitely be providing Hazard with options going forward. That's the beauty of a "dual threat" fullback if you will.

He wasn't just bought for his main function to just be providing sufficient cover for Hazard. If we want to get the best out of Hazard we need to open up spaces for him and have willing runners that will overlap/make intelligent runs for him, and not just leave him isolated to face 2/3 players on his own. Luis will definitely help in that regards too.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Not necessarily. Sure, against the bigger teams who are more threatening on the attack, Filipe Luis won't venture forward as much, but against teams that sit deep against us, he'll definitely be providing Hazard with options going forward. That's the beauty of a "dual threat" fullback if you will.

He wasn't just bought for his main function to just be providing sufficient cover for Hazard. If we want to get the best out of Hazard we need to open up spaces for him and have willing runners that will overlap/make intelligent runs for him, and not just leave him isolated to face 2/3 players on his own. Luis will definitely help in that regards too.

Where have I said he was just bought to cover Hazard? I said his main function is this.

And I would bet good money this is true. Jose doesn't flip philosophies so quickly, Luis is Ashley Cole and Azpi's replacement.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

The best thing about this move is that we'll see Azpi play his natural position. Iva needs some serious competition for the right back role.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Where have I said he was just bought to cover Hazard? I said his main function is this.

And I would bet good money this is true. Jose doesn't flip philosophies so quickly, Luis is Ashley Cole and Azpi's replacement.

That's what I'm saying though - I would say his main function is to provide defensive cover and to assist Hazard in going forward. Not just defensive cover.