10 Dec 2014 22:27:54
Luis wasn't great defensively tonight but that's due to hardly playing. He was awesome all round for Atletico last year, and I still think that Azpilicueta RB and Filipe LB is the way we should go to get them crosses in the box.
We still have enough physical power with dropping Ivanovic with Cahill, Terry, Matic, Costa not forgetting Filipe is 6ft.
Chelsea Banter Archive December 10 2014
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10 Dec 2014 22:24:33
I understand Mikel played well tonight and he deserves praise but there was only one reason he looked good and that was because of my man NEMANJA!
With matic there it enables him to be more adventurous. Agreed.
They all look great next to Matic!
That's because Matic is great.
10 Dec 2014 22:14:49
Just read on the Arsenal page that Chelsea made a lot of effort during the summer to sign Pogba. Now there's only sadness.
10 Dec 2014 22:10:54
Who do you lads want to draw. I think these are the teams
Basel, Psg, Juve, shakter, someone else
I want shakter
{Ed018's Note - Basel or Leverkusen. Short travel}
10 Dec 2014 22:22:46
Just Leverkusen for me. Basel's very dodgy we found that out last season
No Juve or PSG is all I'm asking. Hopefully if it comes to it we're able to contain Basel this time haha
Basel I want the least. They seem to be a bogey team. Leverkusen was the other, them all the way
11 Dec 2014 01:15:31
Agreed. I'd like Leverkusen. I would be more than happy just avoiding Juve (even though they aren't what they were) and PSG.
Basel or Shaktar. Leverkusen would be alright.
Monaco topped their group despite only scoring 4 goals!
We were the highest scorers in the Group Stage =]
10 Dec 2014 17:41:55
Ed 002 Would you know if Milan have the option of cancelling Torres agreement?
I really hope the rumours are mischief making
Thanks
{Ed002's Note - There are always options.}
10 Dec 2014 21:53:02
Shout out to my man Mikel! Quality performance! MOTM for sure
Have to say, his reaction to his goal was one of the highlights for me.
I really liked that three in midfeild. So much control, granted it was sporting.
10 Dec 2014 22:47:43
After the Newcastle match I posted saying we should try those three in the midfield,so glad Mourinho did. It just gives Fabregas so much more freedom to unlock the opposition with his array of passes and spacial awareness. Luis looked the weak link tonight but Salah didn't help him defensively which left him isolated against a fast winger which didn't help.
Agree with Woody, I think Salah left Luis too exposed.
10 Dec 2014 21:37:38
He may only have gotten a good 10 minutes, but I thought Ruben was pretty impressive. Showed some good strength and touch. Already hoping he's in the squad for Capital One Cup game next week.
Good win, now on to Hull on the weekend.
{Ed018's Note - agreed. He should be in the team for that match}
Now with his debut out of the way, he should be more comfortable/less nervous next time he gets some minutes.
I love his style of play, both tall and strong but great technique on the ball as well. Surely in a couple of years he could be sharing minutes with Matic and Fabregas.
Really buzzing right now!
I agree. I hope he starts in the Capital One Cup. TBH I never thought it was going to be a kids day today. JM wants to win trophies. So today was more about getting our fringes players match fitness, and allowing them to start forming partnerships and link ups with our first team.
Schurrle sure did look a lot better than he has for a while now. Salah as well. Mikel also was real quality, even playing a bit attacking at times.
And yeah, what superlative can we use for Matic? That man is incredible, a delight to watch
Thought Schurrle did well, he provides something different as the first thing he thinks of is trying to score. The downside is that sometimes he'll choose to take an opportunity for himself rather than pass.
Which brings me onto something you mentioned below Jackson about Costa. He didn't have his best game, but for he it was because he was always drifting into wide positions. Which meant there was no-one in the box. Possibly because he wasn't really getting much service?
Salah looked a bit better but still doesn't look like the finished product.
10 Dec 2014 20:52:04
Loftus cheeks opportunity gone lol. C'mon luis :/
C'mon boys
Thats what frustrating with Mourinho all this big build up for nothing! 10 mins is pointless for a game that means nothing really
RLC was fantastic for his 8 minutes. Would have liked to see what he could do in 45 minutes, minimum.
You now watch him whinge that our schedule is hard and way too many games? Rotate the squad then you fantastic manager.
Torn between very upset and angry right now * lol
Luis was probably the weakest Chelsea player tonight.
First half he was great
Thought Costa didn't look fantastic either. He grew into the game IMO but didn't play particularly well
10 Dec 2014 20:33:19
Some of us might be disappointed that RLC didn't start. However, look at the positives. We're well on our way to a win and Schurrle has looked terrific IMO. He's not forcing things but still he's direct when the opportunity arises.
Oh and I like Salah on the left a lot more than I like him on the right.
Keep it up, boys!!
Salah is so so quick. Just seems there's something missing with him
Ha Mikel scores, I love it :)
Unbelievable from Mourinho
Salah has to play more and he will look better. RLC seems like talented player. Schurrle was good. Mikel played well.We do have powerful squad.
10 Dec 2014 20:02:02
Gutted No Christensen or Baker in squad. When will there be a better time to play them?? Azpilicueta deserves a rest. Loftus Cheek would have excelled starting next to Matic. Why not give Cesc an extended rest and play Baker he deserves it with how well he's played for us.
Baker is injured. Whilst Azpi deserves a rest I hope he shows JM that he deserves to play in his natuural position at RB.
Shame isn't it, so much for 'academy day', which will be Loftus cheek getting a sub in the 88 th minute lol.
Hoping RLC gets the sub in at half time over Matic or Mikel, big shame about Christensen, Boga, solanke or baker being on the bench?
Although how good is it having proper fullbacks?!? Luis and Azpi in there proper positions can do no wrong! This needs to be our default.
Good goal from Schurrle, want to see it more regularly though.
Hmm apparently Luis didn't cover himself in glory on the Sporting goal. Shame, now Mourinho will probably persist with Ivanovic on the right and Azpi on the left in the league. Luis' attacking play is so useful, it's a shame we don't utilise it more in the league.
Now we can understand why Azpillicueta is our left back.
That's fair lol. But ones game buddy. If you watched last season youd realise Luis was best left back in the world
A.Madrid was playing 352 last season. Luis was more left midfielder than left back. That's why he looks much better offensively. Luis possess very good technique.
10 Dec 2014 15:32:14
One of the things I'd like to see tonight is Luis at LB and Azpi at RB. Hopefully starts for RLC, Zouma and Schurrle. I'd have wanted Remy to start upfront too but JM said that Costa starts. perhaps a midfield duo of RLC and Ramires?
Maybe he want Diego to regain his conditioning and form in the chance, a no pressure match.
10 Dec 2014 18:48:59
Not far off with your prediction fuser, although RLC is on the bench. Hopefully he gets brought on either at half time or with 30 minutes left.
Wish RLC got the start
10 Dec 2014 20:14:45
Wonder if Ramires is injured. Not much game time lately. The issue is he doesn't serve much purpose in games where the other teams close it down. Expect to see more with better competition in Europe later in the season.
TK, Ramires has been injured/ill recently I think. But I do agree. He doesn't really have a place unless we play 4-3-3 or unless we need defensive cover on the RW.
Think we'll see RLC come on for Matic at some point in the 2nd half?