Fullbacks

[BlueLyon 9,359]

So we have three fullbacks and only two spots (duh), who will Mou pick as regulars this season?

It was quite obvious that Filipe and Azpi were going to be first choices, but suddenly Iva is in good form and Mou migh fancy Iva because they worked before.

Among three main signings, Cesc and Costa realy impressed, while Luis somehow wasnt too impressive, but that is just based on preseason and he will probably get much better. After all, he came as one of finest LBs in world, but it seems he has yet to convince Mou.

Atm Azpi and Iva looked good and possibly Mou doesnt want to rotate defence too much after he already changed GK.

Could it turn in the end that Mou is going to bench Azpi (after praising him last season so much hard to believe though) in favour of Iva and Luis?

In general I think at least in the start that our defence isnt as firm as it was last year (partly due to fact that we now play bit more attacking and with Cesc instead of Ramires, but it looks like they are not yet completely connected with each other.

Also we seriously need fullback (Luis) to work better with Hazard, make overlaping runs etc. It would give our game another dimension.

What do you think?

[Kieran. 6,317]

Might be Ivanovic and Luis.. But I do think Ivanovic will play CB a lot this year

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Might be Ivanovic and Luis.. But I do think Ivanovic will play CB a lot this year

Yeah for some reason, I just dont find Cahill-Terry enough composed soon as we play bit more open. As individuals they are great CBs, nearly best in PL, but something is missing there if they dont get more support from other teammates.

[5354 204]

I'm surprised Luis did not stat LB. Considering that he did not played in WC. Maybe he is still match unfit?

[Jase 43,479]

I'm surprised Luis did not stat LB. Considering that he did not played in WC. Maybe he is still match unfit?

Maybe it's because we were playing against one of the newly promoted teams at their ground where it can be tricky and Mourinho wanted to have that stability in defence by going with the same 4 as last season, especially when he has already made a change in goal. Didn't want to disrupt the dynamic and understanding too much to begin with.

[The Chels 2,502]

We had very little attacking threat from our left wing today. I expect Luis to be a a starter soon enough.

[Tomo 21,733]

Full backs are fine, we have 3 top quality players and a talented youngster, imo CB could do with a prime player like Benatia.

[zolayes 14,489]

I think and hope Ake will get a good deal of playing time

[CHOULO19 24,332]

This season, JT must get more rest than he did last season which would mean Iva playing a lot of games at CB where I believe he is at his best.

I think the plan by Jose is to eventually have Azpi and Luis as starters, or else it would make no sense to stop Ake from going out on loan just to have him as 3rd choice LB.

[Dy-lan 142]

Despite Luis not playing in the opener, I'm still confident he'll play the majority of our matches. I think perhaps Jose just wanted to go into the Burnley match with a "no nonsense, we know what we'll get" line up (inclusion of Ivan over Luis). It wound up paying off as Ivan was immense on Monday night. I love Ivan but despite his great match Monday we all know he doesn't regularly provide brilliant balls into the box. I think he'll be used at RB against particularly physical sides, and of course play a fair bit of CB.

[Ripamaru 8]

I love the way Ivan played but having a true left footed FB is nice and I would like to see Luis used instead of Azpi. He is more natural there and will be more of a threat offensively IMO.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Suddenly almost everyone would bench Azpi in favour of Iva who had great game though, but was average for big part last season in attack.

On other hand, Azpi was one of most consistent players, yet nobody remembers that smh...

I think Azpi, Luis should be fullbacks while Iva CB. Probably next to Terry.

[Myself 793]

Back 4 for big games

Luis - Terry - Cahill - Azpilicueta (defensively better than Ivanovic, not bad at attacking)

For games where we can rest some players

Luis - Cahill - Ivanovic - Azpilicueta

Azpilicueta HAS to be a starter imo. feel so bad leaving out either one of them though

[Barbara 15,149]

Suddenly almost everyone would bench Azpi in favour of Iva who had great game though, but was average for big part last season in attack.

On other hand, Azpi was one of most consistent players, yet nobody remembers that smh...

I think Azpi, Luis should be fullbacks while Iva CB. Probably next to Terry.

Except you're using double standards here...

Iva was as solid defensively as Azpili - and both were average supporting the attack. While Azpili is slightly better linking up and crossing, Iva is miles and miles ahead of him in goal threat from set-pieces.

As I say all the time, it's okay to give stick for Iva for his nearly nonexistent offensive contributions (Monday was an exception, but then again he was much better under Carlo offensively than now), but it never ceases to amaze that Azpili's nearly zero contributions don't get the same amount of stick. The difference between them attacking from the wings is really a small one, whereas Ivanovic is always good in set-pieces. So while I absolutely love Azpili, with Luís here, I'd go with Luís and Iva when Luís is fully adapted or at least more comfortable. Everybody remembers how consistent Azpili was - mostly defending - yet nobody mentions how consistent Iva was...

Also I'm one of those few people who prefers Iva as a FB rather than a CB although I do expect him to play an important role as a CB. Someone mentioned above and it may actually make sense: maybe the reason why our defense doesn't look as good as last year is because Terry + Cahill works wonders when they have plenty of coverage ahead of them and around them. Maybe now we're going for a more offensive style they won't look as solid. It's still too early to say, but that's definitely one of the possible reasons.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Except you're using double standards here...

Iva was as solid defensively as Azpili - and both were average supporting the attack. While Azpili is slightly better linking up and crossing, Iva is miles and miles ahead of him in goal threat from set-pieces.

As I say all the time, it's okay to give stick for Iva for his nearly nonexistent offensive contributions (Monday was an exception, but then again he was much better under Carlo offensively than now), but it never ceases to amaze that Azpili's nearly zero contributions don't get the same amount of stick. The difference between them attacking from the wings is really a small one, whereas Ivanovic is always good in set-pieces. So while I absolutely love Azpili, with Luís here, I'd go with Luís and Iva when Luís is fully adapted or at least more comfortable. Everybody remembers how consistent Azpili was - mostly defending - yet nobody mentions how consistent Iva was...

I don't know, tbh. I believe Azpilicueta is much, much better as an attacking threat when playing his real position, RB, than Ivanovic. Based on what I saw when he played there under Benitez, his overlaps were fantastic. The difference between them attacking from the wings is much more than a small one. It's a little unfair to criticize Azpilicueta's "offensive contributions" when he was playing most of last season on the wrong flank. He is also as solid defensively, if not more solid than Ivanovic, who sometimes gets embarrassed when he comes up against top wingers and let's a lot of crosses come through from his flank. Brana is stronger and obviously a better aerial threat, but that's about it.

Either way, once Filipe Luis has fully settled in, I expect to see Azpilicueta take Ivanovic's place at RB.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Suddenly almost everyone would bench Azpi in favour of Iva who had great game though, but was average for big part last season in attack.

On other hand, Azpi was one of most consistent players, yet nobody remembers that smh...

I think Azpi, Luis should be fullbacks while Iva CB. Probably next to Terry.

Yes, everyone has forgotten that Azpi was one of our most consistent players....oh, smh.

How about people are recognising that there's competition for spots in our squad and they're selecting them based on form?

It was quite obvious that Filipe and Azpi were going to be first choices,

That was never 'obvious' because most people recognise that Ivanovic is a good player whom Mourinho likes a lot. He adds a different dimension to our play. The players who might be first choice for one game won't be for others.

[LAB 1,030]

I don't think Iva was as solid as Azpi defensively last season.

Goals conceded 13/14:

Even if their difference in performance is not a direct analogy of the picture above, still it's an obvious one.