Chelsea Banter Archive November 11 2014

 

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11 Nov 2014 22:27:37
Alright guys don't shoot me down for this but here I go.

Over the last 5-10 years we've seen Philip Lahm become the best hybrid full back in the world being able to play right back and left back. We have developed one of our own: Cesar Azpilicueta. Since guardiola took over at bayern he's converted Philip Lahm into a great central holding midfielder.

What i'm trying to say is could Azpilicueta do that for us? He's been brilliant at rb and left back for us. If Nemanja Matic gets injured for us we'd have a problem IMO. At this moment never mind Costa, Fabregas, Hazard and Terry I think Matic is our most important player. We have Mikel as backup who I really don't rate especially in big matches. Then Ramires, for me a quality player great in a 4-3-3 but for me not a holding mid so why not try Azpilicueta there who has a great all round game. I'm not saying copy Guardiola but I would definitely like to see it tried. Matic will need a rest now and again because we have a lot of upcoming games in December. Obviously not permanent but if Matic got injured with a little bit of adaptation i'd be much less nervous if azpi was there instead of Ramires or Mikel. Lb wouldn't be a problem because we have another quality one in Filipe Luis to fill in for Dave.

Just my opinion. Let me know your thoughts.

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11 Nov 2014 23:12:57
Obviously it would be hard to tell quite how he'd do without trying it, but personally I don't think it would work particularly well. There is the argument that no-one would have thought Dave would do so well at left back as he has, but in the end, although you have to deal with playing with your stronger foot on the inside rather than out, the basic skill-set required for being a left back or right back is the same. In Matic's position on the other hand, as well as being solid defensively, you need to be competent on the ball. While not many would have predicted Lahm going into midfield, it was always clear that he had very good technical skills and I don't think Azpi is anywhere near as good in that sense. I think there would be worse decisions that could be made, and who knows, Jose could start doing this and I'd be proven (happily) wrong, but I feel in the end that if we moved Azpi into midfield, not only would we risk his defending perhaps being weakened for a while due to the need to adapt, but also I doubt he would be much better in an offensive sense than Mikel. I also feel that it would be massively unfair on players like Ake if Dave was to be selected ahead of him, as he has been proven competent whenever he has been called into play and is deserving of a chance if injuries and suspensions begin to pile up

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Agree with Dimitri, Lahm is one of the best players I have seen, and is quality in any position.

I don't believe Azpillicueta could play the midfeild position well, I think Ivanovic could play it better than azpi imo

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{Ed002's Note - Azpilcueta played as a right winger on occasion at Marseille.}

12 Nov 2014 12:04:07
And he also had a game for is as right wing and was bloody awful.

Why rock the boat he is class where he is

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Yep! He can play wing but I don't feel he can play the CM

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11 Nov 2014 12:53:07
Hello Ed hope all is well.

Do you know what positions the club are looking to strengthen in I know you've said the club is looking to replace Drogba and Callejon could be an option seeing has he can play RW also would make good sense.

Do you know if the club are still activity looking for a Defensive/Central midfielder?

Also has there been any more discussions with Real Madrid over the possible purchase of Varane?

And lastly I've seen a lot of people asking about Reus and few reports in the media are the club just not interested or is it a case of his already going elsewhere?

Thanks for taking time to answer has always enjoy the rest of your week.

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{Ed002's Note - Why do I have to keep answering the same questions over and over?}

My apologies I had read previous posts I was just wondering has to why we wasn't interested, still don't mean to offend.

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{Ed002's Note - Nothing has changed - the club want a replacement for Drogba and are still looking at a couple of DM players.}

11 Nov 2014 22:12:16
Will Drogba go to another club or join the coaching staff you reckon ed?

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{Ed002's Note - He won't be playing for Chelsea any more. They will offer him a role within the club.}

11 Nov 2014 11:12:18
Hi ED, Rues has been heavily linked 2 us these days. Do we really have interest in him? I Would want him considering the amount rumoured 2 be in his contract wit BVB. Again, is there any player that Chelsea are keen on bring in in Jan (loaees coming back or new signings? Thanks

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{Ed002's Note - Why do I have to keep answering the same questions over and over?}

11 Nov 2014 13:33:45
I would like to share my thoughts with a rest of people on this page. It concerns our formation that we play.
1.If you really pay attention Chelsea is not really playing 4231 it is more 4141 since Fabregas and Oscar play in front of Matic. Also winger midfielders are positioned more defensively so they act like winger midfielders than like winger strikers. The only true winger striker we have is Schurlle.
2.Even when Chelsea transfers to alleged 433 it is still 4141 due to winger issue I've previously wrote about.
3.Generaly,when some coach decides to play wide he uses the 451 formation (4231;4141 or 41221 are all different variations of 451).
The last Chelsea manager who played straight 433(with Kalou,Sturridge and Drogba up front) was Carlo Ancheloti.
Since then all Chelsea managers played 451 formation with occasionally transferring to 442.
Jose Mourinho when he was desperate tried to change things playing 3421&352.He tried this only few times.
At most of football theoretical books 451 together with 352(3421) is considered wide formation. But to play wide left outer midfielder has to be left footed and right winger midfielder has to be right footed. This is a condition to play wide.
You cannot play wide with right footed WM on the left side or with left footed WM on the right side simply because you are narrowing the game (wm will always cut in the middle).
4.The most balanced formation is 442 but still if you want to get any widnes LM has to be left footed an RM has to be right footed. Inverse wingers make sense only if you are totally dominating and your opponent is constantly defending.
Thanks for your time feel free to comment.

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I think it's good to have some inverted wingers, like Hazard or Schurrle. However when I see Salah playing on the right he always goes to the left. This makes him easy to defend against because indeed he narrows our game and runs into a lot of defenders who are packed in central areas.
Hazard or Schurrle on the left is great for me, and it'd be even better if there was a right footed player on the right. Someone who could easily get to the touchline and whip in a dangerous cutback. Willian does this from time to time but I always get the feeling that that is not really his game. I think he's a more of a central attacking midfielder, not a wide one (at least not one who would stay wide).
That's why I think a player like Cuadrado could be useful.
But those are just my opinions.

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11 Nov 2014 05:41:06
Just a shoutout to Ryan Bertrand who has been a very very good player in the league so far, imo the best left back so far in the league (performance wise guys)

It's Definetely between him and azpillicueta, and both have been great.

I was absolutely gutted that he didn't cut it for us, I was wishing he was our backup left back this year, but things didn't work out for him

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True, he's been very good. Also his crossing is a real threat to opposition teams. Shame he didn't work out for us, but if he keeps playing like this they'll probably try to make it a permanent move. And I'd be very happy for him if he'd find a team where he gets the playing time he wants.

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Previously he was super weak in the tackle, now he seems to have put that past him. I'm just glad he's got a good club

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He is still Chelsea player on loan.

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I know man, but odds are he'll make the move permanently

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It is a shame, he felt unwanted by the club so I wouldn't blame him wanting first team football every week & I don't see him coming before azpi

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Dave is the best defender in the league IMO his 1 on 1 defensive ability is phenomenal also his attacking play is now starting to become has effective on the left has it was on the right, Although I will say Bertrand has impressed and has had a great season so far I always had a soft spot for him however it doesn't look like there is a space for him in our squad has it stands especially if the club goes out and get Varane but look the on the bright side we should get a decent price for him could be anything from 8-12 mil almost double what we would of got last summer I should think.

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To think how cheap In today's market heck in any market we got Azpi. Another example of the brilliant job by the board in terms of signings. Long may this continue.
As for Bertrand really happy for him always thought he was decent and he's at a club where he can play and grow. Plus also glad he didn't go to the scousers not would they have rubbed it in.

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