Filipe Luís

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Unbelievable. This place can be bloody unbelievable sometimes.

If you go through match threads or even this match (don't remember where I've posted about his previous matches) you'll see I was less than impressive with his performances, which is what I was assessing at those posts.

Now question why we signed him - not if we should have or not - but if he's going to be a first team player or not? To say he hasn't proved his value to Mourinho? Why do you think he was signed in the first place? To replace Cole in the bench? I honestly believe some of you might be wondering that and I repeat. Unbelievable.

He's adapting, he's new in the squad, his finding his feet. What's surprising there? How many months took Ramires to do the same? Eden Hazard after an spectacular first weeks in England? What could he possibly have done to assure people he's here to be a bench warmer? He may not be a starter in the first matches, but that's because it takes time to adapt to a new team, situation and league. He's struggling, anyone can see that, but his value as a player continues to be the same. Spanish league champion, UCL runner-up being one of Simeone's key players. It's too damn early to say BS such as he has to prove himself. So do the other 24 players in the squad. It's pre-season, the fact he went or not to the world-cup is irrelevant. FB is the position in the pitch that needs the most understanding from the more amount of players. He needs to have a good understand with the other defenders (let's not forget he already has with Courtois and that's an advantage to the others), with the AM's to support the attack, but even with the midfielders to help transition, to hold possession, etc. Give the guy time. Is it a concept too difficult for some to grasp? And sorry if I sound like a bitch... I can't help.

You were saying?

[Styles 9,790]

Called up by Dunga for Brazil:

[Barbara 15,149]

You were saying?

so one match where we had three other guys debuting and have had only 6 training sessions with the whole team has defined his role in the team?

I still think he's going to be our main LB when the season ends. He's just not being thrown there when he hasn't fully settled yet. I said in the live match thread a day or two before the match that my only doubt was if Mourinho would play Luís or not. It doesn't mean he hasn't brought here to be a regular. He has. Just because he didn't start the first game of the season didn't change that, so your point is moot. Come talk to me mid-season about that and if I'm wrong, I'll concede.

And it seems like you skipped the last part of the post you quoted... have you read it at all?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

so one match where we had three other guys debuting and have had only 6 training sessions with the whole team has defined his role in the team?

I still think he's going to be our main LB when the season ends. He's just not being thrown there when he hasn't fully settled yet. I said in the live match thread a day or two before the match that my only doubt was if Mourinho would play Luís or not. It doesn't mean he hasn't brought here to be a regular. He has. Just because he didn't start the first game of the season didn't change that, so your point is moot. Come talk to me mid-season about that and if I'm wrong, I'll concede.

And it seems like you skipped the last part of the post you quoted... have you read it at all?

All I've said was that he didn't do enough to get the start at Burnley, I fully expect him to come into the team and perhaps lock down that position. His age and fee make no difference either, we bought Zhirkov for 18m when we had Cole as the best LB in the world.

Mourinho likes competition for places, it keeps players sharp, Luis was perhaps brought to play LB for the season but he still has to win the position. Jose isn't the type of manager to give a player a job just because he's a new signing. He still has to show that he fits with the squad with his performances and as of right now his performance level has not surpassed that of Brana's or Azpi's. Do I expect that to change? Ideally yes, but its not a lock.

The last part of your post just echoed what I've already been saying.

[Barbara 15,149]

All I've said was that he didn't do enough to get the start at Burnley, I fully expect him to come into the team and perhaps lock down that position. His age and fee make no difference either, we bought Zhirkov for 18m when we had Cole as the best LB in the world.

Mourinho likes competition for places, it keeps players sharp, Luis was perhaps brought to play LB for the season but he still has to win the position. Jose isn't the type of manager to give a player a job just because he's a new signing. He still has to show that he fits with the squad with his performances and as of right now his performance level has not surpassed that of Brana's or Azpi's. Do I expect that to change? Ideally yes, but its not a lock.

The last part of your post just echoed what I've already been saying.

and did I ever quote you that? I said in the very post you quoted me that I didn't expect him to start the first FEW matches of the season because of all players we signed, he's the one struggling the adapt the most (the other three are not even struggling). He's been struggling a bit (not even much imo) and when he's finally ready to start matches, one between Azpili and Iva won't see many matches. I sometimes favor Azpili, but Iva is so important as a player, a leader and a reference in the pitch that not even all the never ending dedication and work that Azpili shows during all 90 minutes can top it.

If he wasn't struggling, if he was well adapted like his teammate Costa is, I bet you he was already starting as well. But he's struggling to adapt... it has nothing to do with proving anything. He is a better LB than Azpilicueta, there's no discussion at all about it, but he hasn't settled yet, so no wonder Azpili is playing there. The big question now isn't who is going to be our LB this season, the big question - and Iva made sure it happened - is who's going to be our LB. Once Luís enters the team - and it'll happen when he settles - he won't leave it anymore imo. He is in the bench not because he has to prove anything to Mourinho, but because clearly he's struggling and hasn't showed even in the slightest what he used to do at Atleti. Courtois did nothing exceptional (wasn't better than Cech, nor worse) in the PS to have 'stole' that position from Cech (he's barely featured in the PS to start with) and who was our #1 yesterday? So my argument in the previous post stands... the first match of the season says nothing about what Mourinho thinks is his first team. Remember de Bruyne last year? I know I do... he said he has a first team in his head and that he wasn't going with it yet because he had to take into consideration who was in shape already and who wasn't. I think the player he had in mind when he said it was Luís and someone else that got the nod in the last training sessions - as this interview was on Friday and the team probably trained at least one day between Saturday and Sunday...

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

and did I ever quote you that? I said in the very post you quoted me that I didn't expect him to start the first FEW matches of the season because of all players we signed, he's the one struggling the adapt the most (the other three are not even struggling). He's been struggling a bit (not even much imo) and when he's finally ready to start matches, one between Azpili and Iva won't see many matches. I sometimes favor Azpili, but Iva is so important as a player, a leader and a reference in the pitch that not even all the never ending dedication and work that Azpili shows during all 90 minutes can top it.

If he wasn't struggling, if he was well adapted like his teammate Costa is, I bet you he was already starting as well. But he's struggling to adapt... it has nothing to do with proving anything. He is a better LB than Azpilicueta, there's no discussion at all about it, but he hasn't settled yet, so no wonder Azpili is playing there. The big question now isn't who is going to be our LB this season, the big question - and Iva made sure it happened - is who's going to be our LB. Once Luís enters the team - and it'll happen when he settles - he won't leave it anymore imo. He is in the bench not because he has to prove anything to Mourinho, but because clearly he's struggling and hasn't showed even in the slightest what he used to do at Atleti. Courtois did nothing exceptional (wasn't better than Cech, nor worse) in the PS to have 'stole' that position from Cech (he's barely featured in the PS to start with) and who was our #1 yesterday? So my argument in the previous post stands... the first match of the season says nothing about what Mourinho thinks is his first team. Remember de Bruyne last year? I know I do... he said he has a first team in his head and that he wasn't going with it yet because he had to take into consideration who was in shape already and who wasn't. I think the player he had in mind when he said it was Luís and someone else that got the nod in the last training sessions - as this interview was on Friday and the team probably trained at least one day between Saturday and Sunday...

I think you're underestimating what Azpi did for the team last year. He was nothing short of incredible and it WILL take some doing to supplant him from his role in the squad. Its not just a matter of adjusting, he still has to beat Azpi for the shirt and you're right, on current form he hasn't been able to do it.

I think everyone understands that the situation that is Cech/Courtois goes a lot deeper than pre season, we need Courtois to sign an extension and he won't do that playing second fiddle... Pretty simple stuff there.

As for DeBruyne weren't Oscar and Mata busy playing with the national team? Was Luis busy this past summer? Had the whole summer to get fit. Anyways every situation is different, in this case I would say the competition for places is more fierce than many of you care to acknowledge. Jose doesn't hand over a jersey its always earned and right now Luis has some work to do...

We will see how well Luis acclimatizes himself to a faster, more physical league. I have a sneaking suspicion that it may be a few weeks before he even gets a sniff and its not because he's a bad player but because we had an incredible back four last year and to break into it is extremely tough, especially when you examine how cavalier we want to be offensively. We will need a group that have an incredible understanding of one another.

Luis will get in whether he stays there long term... Not as automatic as some may think.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Is there something wrong with him fitness wise? He was on the bench, so I doubt that. Today would have been the perfect day and perfect opposition to play him against. I was fully expecting him to start so that he could acclimatize with his teammates and so that we could have had at least some real attacking threat down the left.

[blu35_army 551]

not even play a minute this game. what's Mou plan for him?? is it Azpi really better at left?? confusing...

[LAM09 7,043]

Having seen the last two games, will he ever be a starter?

The signing made sense in the first place, but it seems like Mourinho is happy with the defence the way it is.

[DANILA 290]

Azpi had an avg game today imo, nothing special... Think luis is gonna get his debut saturday @ everton

[Stats 7,136]

The same way it was a no brainer to start Courtois over Cech due to the age difference it is a no brainer that Luis will get that LB position soon. I know Azpi came off an excellent season and so on but you don't spend around £15m on a LB to provide competition to another LB. If you buy a 28/29 year old LB for that amount of money they have to start so I hope it is a matter of time before we see him starting there. I know Drogba is a legend here and so on but would have liked to seen Luis been used as our final sub and eased into action and to get his PL debut. As much as we all appreciate Azpilicueta's performances at LB and he has not done anything wrong while playing there, we could still do with a natural LB like Luis there and I hope to see him there soon. He was quality for Atletico and last season was arguably the best fullback in Europe so hopefully we see those performances in a Chelsea shirt soon and as I was saying, with the fee we bought him for it at his age, it makes no sense for him to be on the bench.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Slowly but safety. Give this man time to adapt. No need to rush.