24 Nov 2015 21:47:52
Thought Baba and Begovic were excellent tonight albeit a poor outfit. Even though he scored Oscar is so poor and personally I think he needs to be moved on for a good fee sooner rather than later.
Cesc and Matic as a partnership still worries me even against the small teams especially on the counter. I'd definately want RLC added there as a three but Jose won't go that way. Oh and Costa needs to be dropped for the foreseeable future because he's playing as a winger. I'd prefer to see any of Remy, Traore or Pedro spearheading the attack instead of him.
24 Nov 2015 22:43:06
Totally agree about baba and begovic. Wonder whether oscars is confidence thing. When he scored he was different player. Feel sorry for Eden as he is trying hard but getting no luck. I still have major doubts about fabregas, as matic can't do the defensive work for both of them. Fabregas never chases back and generally loses players he is meant to be marking.
Agree about costa, he's not getting into box enough.
Lastly don't mean to sound nasty but jts injury maybe godsend with spurs coming up. Means he can't play so we can have a good amount of pace in back four.
Only other hope is no return for ivanovic.
25 Nov 2015 00:05:54
Has anyone else noticed how easily Cesc can lose possession? Are the odd telling passes in a game enough to make up for the pressure he can put on our defence by sloppy control and being easily robed of tyhe ball.
25 Nov 2015 00:35:16
He's such a limited player. All he can do is pass. He doesn't score, he can't defend and he's to slow to track back under pressure. I don't really see the need for him in the team or Oscar. I'd get pace, power and goals into the side. I'd love to see this team: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Terry, Baba; Loftus-Cheek, Matic, Willian; Traore, Remy, Costa.
25 Nov 2015 02:00:54
I meant Hazard over Costa.
25 Nov 2015 07:47:37
I have to disagree about Cesc. I thought he was one of our better performers tonight and has been good for the last few games. Baba started a little shakily and got caught out a few times but his crosses were delightful. Begovic quality for me, not been his biggest fan since joining but that save at 1-0 won us the match. Agree about Oscar, he offered absolutely nothing last night. Hazard was also poor, nothing seems to be happening for him this season. Hopefully he'll be back to his best against Spurs, the way they're playing at the moment we're going to need him!
25 Nov 2015 09:39:40
Eden,
That's why we let you have Cesc, lol.
25 Nov 2015 15:28:25
I think more than anything we were pleased with the win. The pitch was awful and the opposition equally as bad and if you analyse our performance we would have struggled against any average Premiership Club. Rahman poses more questions than he answers; he's quick and crosses a nice ball and started his career as a winger but his role is defending and he can get caught out of position far too easily and is not robust enough. I do not see him as our solution. Fabregas is an enigma; if we are dominating his passing can be sublime but when we not dominating he is a waste and should come off as he is putting far too much pressure on Matic who covers for him leaving us exposed on one side. As much as I liked him, Oscar has not progressed at all and like others I feel we should capitalise and take the money. As pointed out elsewhere, hopefully Terry will not be out for too long but it could be the opportunity needed to think about the back line without him as there is every indication that if he signs an extension it will be as a bit player next season. I have said before that I think there will be a significant upheaval at the season end and moving the Hazard position to one side, we will let Falcao go, whether they had a love in or not JM will move Costa on and Pedro will go back to Spain which means we will have to spend some decent money. The pre-season spend this time was an absolute disgrace and I cannot be alone in thinking as much.
25 Nov 2015 20:59:51
I know it was certainly not Joses fault with the lack of activity in the transfer market during the summer. No one has said what went wrong, whether it's just the players not wishing to join, then there's not much the club can do about it. However if it's down to Chelsea not paying over the odds the that poses two questions
1- this season is proving that without the addition of the world class players or future world class players that Jose wants, we have struggled. It's swings and roundabouts, we are in danger of losing a lot of money by not qualifying for next years champions league and finishing down the premiership. If we spend money then we will certainly get a lot more money in and the knock on effect that this brings.
2- if we have an unsuccessful season, then I assume because of ffp, our hands will be tied next summer in the transfer market, and Chelsea will go down the pecking order in terms of attracting top players.
Let's hope that Jose gets the team playing well, so the club know that we have a good chance of qualifying for the champions league, then we will spend big in January.
I hate to say it, and I know it's a standard joke, but mr wengers annual statement of what an achievement it has been for Arrsenal to always qualify for the champions league, without being unable or unwilling to spend big, seems quite impressive now.
{Ed002's Note - I will answer direct questions - at least some of them but it really is not worth the grief to do too much. It is not the first time it has happened.}