Filipe Luís

[The Chels 2,502]

Jose speaking before the Burnley game:

Probably the team to play the first two or three matches is more about the team that is ready than what I have in my mind as can be my first choice.

I can't see there being many changes to the starting 11 apart from Luis and maybe Willian coming in.

[Styles 9,790]

Tbf I would rather spend £50m on a back up than have Patrick 'Bosingwas little brother' Van Aanholt anywhere near the set up.

Haha, PVA is rather weak defensively to say the least.

I still think Luis will get his chance and make the position his own though. If he doesn't, however, questions need to be asked.

[Jase 43,479]

Well he's started 2 games in 4 days for Brazil and he'll very likely be rested at the weekend so I don't think match fitness should be an issue.

How is it not an issue when he has practically hardly played at all this season? Even 2 games in 4 days isn't really going to get his match fitness to 100% or close to it. (and you should know better since you play FM. )

I don't think their situations are similar. Azpi was brought in because he'd (presumably) impressed Mourinho with his work ethic while Ash wasn't at his best whereas Luis is the specialist who you have to assume will displace Dave once he settles and proves himself worthy of breaking up last season's settled line. By that train of thought, Azpi is your current first choice LB, so why would he be made to play thrice in 7 days when there is a bona fide, quality specialist on the bench, especially with City coming up just after? This is the perfect opportunity to bed him in.

Yeah but I believe last season, most of us wanted to Azpi to play at RB instead of Ivanovic but that didn't happen. That was what I was alluding to in the previous post. And playing Azpi thrice in 9 days isn't going to change much when it happened most of the time last season. We had a specialist LB then but he couldn't get back in. Yes, Cole was a fading force but could still do a good job from time to time and yet Mourinho hardly used him at all.

Not saying Luis definitely won't be starting against Schalke but just think that there is more of a chance of it happening against Bolton.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yeah but I believe last season, most of us wanted to Azpi to play at RB instead of Ivanovic but that didn't happen. That was what I was alluding to in the previous post. And playing Azpi thrice in 9 days isn't going to change much when it happened most of the time last season. We had a specialist LB then but he couldn't get back in. Yes, Cole was a fading force but could still do a good job from time to time and yet Mourinho hardly used him at all.

Still not comparable imo... also I'd be very surprised if Luís got the same treatment as Cole... VERY surprised. He isn't fit yet for EPL and that's been clear from PS and Mourinho must have an even better idea based on trainings. I don't think Cole could be used from time to time, while he was still useful offensively he was a liability defensively losing most of the runs on his flank. He exposed the team, especially against fast wingers and FBs.

Luís doesn't expose us and we're talking about a player that could have been the very best LB last season or at least a top 3. Chelsea didn't have then FB that would make even the top 5 in the continent, probably a bit worse, but now we have Ivanovic playing as the best FB in the world. I haven't been watching much football, but based on what I've watched last season from other FBs and having watched all our games, I can't think of anyone that could be better than him. A beast attacking and completely unrelenting defending. He's been immense.

Azpili on the other hand hasn't been as good as last season, offers literally nothing in our attack (although if memory serves he did took part in one of our goals, but maybe that was during pre-season)... but between a Cesar who hasn't been brilliant and a Luís who hasn't learned how to cope yet, I think Azpili is by far the safer bet, especially in a defense that seems sort of shaky at the moment.

[Jase 43,479]

Still not comparable imo... also I'd be very surprised if Luís got the same treatment as Cole... VERY surprised. He isn't fit yet for EPL and that's been clear from PS and Mourinho must have an even better idea based on trainings.

Of course Luis won't be getting the same treatment as Cole. It will be silly of Mourinho if that happens. Was just comparing the similarities, not sameness in the situation.

I don't think Cole could be used from time to time, while he was still useful offensively he was a liability defensively losing most of the runs on his flank. He exposed the team, especially against fast wingers and FBs.

Think we had this conversation before and we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Luís doesn't expose us and we're talking about a player that could have been the very best LB last season or at least a top 3. Chelsea didn't have then FB that would make even the top 5 in the continent, probably a bit worse, but now we have Ivanovic playing as the best FB in the world. I haven't been watching much football, but based on what I've watched last season from other FBs and having watched all our games, I can't think of anyone that could be better than him. A beast attacking and completely unrelenting defending. He's been immense.

Am aware of that but not questioning his qualities at all. Just whether he's up to scratch fitness wise and would Mourinho want to disturb the harmony of the back line. Heck, could even suggest if he's settling in nicely to Mourinho's ideas (though I don't necessarily it's much different from Simeone's).

Azpili on the other hand hasn't been as good as last season, offers literally nothing in our attack (although if memory serves he did took part in one of our goals, but maybe that was during pre-season)... but between a Cesar who hasn't been brilliant and a Luís who hasn't learned how to cope yet, I think Azpili is by far the safer bet, especially in a defense that seems sort of shaky at the moment.

While I agree that Azpi isn't entirely 100% comfortable at going forward from LB, him not going forward at all is surely because of Mourinho. With Ivanovic constantly bombing forward, he wants Azpi to stay back and maintain the solid back line. The license to charge forward is really with the former right now and if you remember last season, Azpi can be alright going forward when allowed to. Still remembered he had some assists and helped us to keep the attack going when he got forward in situations by timing his runs wisely.

[Madmax 9,219]

How is it not an issue when he has practically hardly played at all this season? Even 2 games in 4 days isn't really going to get his match fitness to 100% or close to it. (and you should know better since you play FM. )

It's not an issue because even without any competitive football except 10 mins at Everton, he was fit enough to start twice on successive occasions for one of the world's most high profile NTs against 2 others who gave them a run for their money. He was part of the side that kept clean sheets both times with a comparatively much weaker defensive line (who he's seldom played with before i.e. no harmony) when compared to Chelsea's. I guess I'm trying to say he slotted in very well. With those games and an adequate rest behind him, why should his match fitness not be good enough to take on a decent albeit unspectacular side?

[Jase 43,479]

It's not an issue because even without any competitive football except 10 mins at Everton, he was fit enough to start twice on successive occasions for one of the world's most high profile NTs against 2 others who gave them a run for their money. He was part of the side that kept clean sheets both times with a comparatively much weaker defensive line (who he's seldom played with before i.e. no harmony) when compared to Chelsea's. I guess I'm trying to say he slotted in very well. With those games and an adequate rest behind him, why should his match fitness not be good enough to take on a decent albeit unspectacular side?

Playing in two friendly games and competitive matches are two different things altogether. There is nothing to lose on one side while a lot on the other. And about Schalke being unspectacular, sure they aren't a great side but I'm sure most had thought the same about Basel last season and look what happened.

[Madmax 9,219]

Playing in two friendly games and competitive matches are two different things altogether. There is nothing to lose on one side while a lot on the other. And about Schalke being unspectacular, sure they aren't a great side but I'm sure most had thought the same about Basel last season and look what happened.

Nobody who watched the Colombia game would tell you it was actually played like a friendly.

We lost to Basel ... good thing we're actually playing Schalke, then. We did beat them 3-0 twice, after all. And with a much weaker squad. Thankfully Luis will be playing with Costa, Matic and Fab; not Torres, Mikel and Lampard.

Anyway I think it's best to agree to disagree on this one. I'll quote you when he starts this time next week

[Jase 43,479]

Nobody who watched the Colombia game would tell you it was actually played like a friendly.

We lost to Basel ... good thing we're actually playing Schalke, then. We did beat them 3-0 twice, after all. And with a much weaker squad. Thankfully Luis will be playing with Costa, Matic and Fab; not Torres, Mikel and Lampard.

Anyway I think it's best to agree to disagree on this one. I'll quote you when he starts this time next week

Should even put a bet then.

[Madmax 9,219]

Should even put a bet then.

If I win, I get to be mod for a day. If not, I don't.

[Tomo 21,751]

Playing in two friendly games and competitive matches are two different things altogether. There is nothing to lose on one side while a lot on the other. And about Schalke being unspectacular, sure they aren't a great side but I'm sure most had thought the same about Basel last season and look what happened.

The CL group stage is the best time to take calculated percentage risks, were need to rotate to keep players fresh, after all we only have 5 senior defenders and after that were down to teenagers, so we can't risk any of them burning out.

[Jase 43,479]

If I win, I get to be mod for a day. If not, I don't.

If that is the bet, you would have to ask Jim or Thor.

The CL group stage is the best time to take calculated percentage risks, were need to rotate to keep players fresh, after all we only have 5 senior defenders and after that were down to teenagers, so we can't risk any of them burning out.

If we were playing Maribor first, then I would definitely agree with the change but since it's Schalke, I don't think it's best time to take calculated risks until we secure qualification.