Yeah I remember him winning one sliding tackle in the first half. Whoscored.com got it wrong I think.
Btw, Interceptions are not type of tackle. It is just type of winning the ball.
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Yeah I remember him winning one sliding tackle in the first half. Whoscored.com got it wrong I think.
Btw, Interceptions are not type of tackle. It is just type of winning the ball.
I agree. Interception is way better than tackle because then there's no way of making a foul and conceding a FK. Best defenders tackle less, but make more interceptions. Example Paolo Maldini.
Just like Makelele, his best attribute was reading the game and intercepting the ball. I thought Lampard was very very good today and offered alot more then Meireles would ever give us.
Doing the rounds on the interweb as out new kit for next season, why oh why has it got red in it again Chels!!!!
View attachment 227258
View attachment 227258
That Kit has already been confirmed as a fake.
This is the supposed new kit for next season:
Chelsea Home Shirt for 2012-13 Season, The Real One: New Leaked Photos | Premier League blog, soccer news and football shirts from EPL Talk
The quality of that picture makes it look more fake than the other one lol.
I doubt it will happen but I've been itching to say it for ages and after that Bolton win I had to put something on paper.
The case for David Luiz as the holding player in a 4-2-3-1.
+ His tendency to make fairly large mistakes every few games.
You're probably thinking: “Why the **** is this a strength?” and you'd be right to. This little idea is based around the fact that Luiz is clearly a skilled player and, given the state of other areas of the squad, is not someone who can just be cast aside so he needs to find a role somewhere.
With that in mind, putting him in CM means that when he makes stupid mistakes or poor tackles, he is unlikely to be sent off, concede a penalty or gift the opponent a goal. His poor decision in the recent game against Napoli was one in a long string of high profile gaffes from Sideshow Bob and I feel that to get the best out of him, he needs to be playing in a position that can mitigate his weaknesses, as well as emphasise his strengths.
+ His tight marking
When he first came to Chelsea, one of the most noticeable, and praised, aspects of Luiz's game was the way that he stuck to his man like a shadow. Chelsea have been lacking this sort of suppression in their game for most of the season: Mikel is quite honestly not that good at it, Meireles is shocking at it and Romeu is still learning. If you look at the 3-3 vs United, Rooney was able to cause havoc playing as a false nine, dropping deep and sitting in-between the defence and midfield. With someone like Luiz playing as a midfielder, he would not have been allowed that sort of time or space.
Think about it, how many times have you see someone sneak in this season because Meireles has given up tracking them?
+ His speed.
A much underrated trait in a holding player, it means that unlike Mikel, Luiz will be able to close down players effectively, without having to surrender too much space infront of the back 4.
+ His tendency to get forward
At first, this might seem like more a weakness than a strength for a holding player but you have to consider 2 things:
1. We're trying to find a solution to Luiz's role in the squad, so his forward runs are better suited to this position than to CB and of equal use to that of a FB. (Although I think being a fullback would negate many of Luiz's other strengths)
2. This idea assumes that, like in the Bolton game, Ramires will be willing to pitch in defensively and the double pivot will be a fairly fluid one, justlike AVB wanted. If that happens, having Luiz receiving the ball with the space and time he would get from starting deep, combined with the flexibility of having a pair of CMs that occasionally swap roles,will really help to make us a fluid side.
+His brain.
Yes, he does have one. Luiz makes 3 interceptions a game, a number only beaten in theChelsea squad by Gary Cahill. If you move him into midfield, he will have a chance to use that ability more and break up play with smart movement as well as strong tackling.
+ His passing
This is a big one. Luiz completes almost as many longballs as Cech, plays as many incisive through balls as Juan Mata and in the game against Bolton we saw him do a passable impression of Andrea Pirlo: picking out players much further up the pitch and continuously causing problems from deep. We're lacking so much penetration at the moment, it only seems logical to bring one of our more creative players into a position where he can have more influence on the game.
+ Work rate
Luiz always looks enthused and energetic in a Chelsea shirt, and together with Ramires we could have a real workhorse of a platform, allowing us to play luxury players like Moura in the 3.
The case against David Luiz as the holding player in a 4-2-3-1.
- His composure on the ball.
We all got a stark reminder of the dangers of playing out from the back earlier this season when Mikel dawdled and lost possession right in front of the back four, practically handing Liverpool the chance on a plate. Teams have already discovered that pressing us persistently causes all sorts of problems and I suspect Luiz would come under a lot of pressure if he were to move into CM.
- Lack of options
This is an extension of the first point really, but whereas that highlights the difficulty we could face if Luiz is pressured during the recycling of possession,this is more of an immediate issue. Assuming that the keeper plays it short, where will the defender pass? You'd assume to the fullback or to either of the central midfielders. A pairing of Ramires and Luiz leaves us with a fairly jittery foundation to base our attacks on, and if Mata (or whoever is in the hole) has to come very deep to offer them a short option, his effectiveness will be greatly reduced.
- Squad needs
If he can be learn to keep his head, Luiz will be an incredible defender and that is something we desperately need, whereas we have Romeu, Mikel, Essien, potentially McEachran (although he would be a DLP if not playing in AM), Ramires and Meireles all vying for a spot in midfield.
(Other things)
. The obvious solution to the first 2 problems is to play Luiz and a Deep Lying Playmaker at the base of the midfield, offering us flexibility, a number of creative outlets and stability. The problem with that is Ramires. Personally, I think Ramires could be a great player on the right hand side of the 3 but that all depends on how Sturridge turns out.
. If Essien returns to his previous levels, the holding spot will surely be his.
The case for David Luiz as the holding player in a 4-2-3-1.
+ His tendency to make fairly large mistakes every few games.
You're probably thinking: “Why the **** is this a strength?” and you'd be right to. This little idea is based around the fact that Luiz is clearly a skilled player and, given the state of other areas of the squad, is not someone who can just be cast aside so he needs to find a role somewhere.
With that in mind, putting him in CM means that when he makes stupid mistakes or poor tackles, he is unlikely to be sent off, concede a penalty or gift the opponent a goal. His poor decision in the recent game against Napoli was one in a long string of high profile gaffes from Sideshow Bob and I feel that to get the best out of him, he needs to be playing in a position that can mitigate his weaknesses, as well as emphasise his strengths.
+ His tight marking
When he first came to Chelsea, one of the most noticeable, and praised, aspects of Luiz's game was the way that he stuck to his man like a shadow. Chelsea have been lacking this sort of suppression in their game for most of the season: Mikel is quite honestly not that good at it, Meireles is shocking at it and Romeu is still learning. If you look at the 3-3 vs United, Rooney was able to cause havoc playing as a false nine, dropping deep and sitting in-between the defence and midfield. With someone like Luiz playing as a midfielder, he would not have been allowed that sort of time or space.
Think about it, how many times have you see someone sneak in this season because Meireles has given up tracking them?
+ His speed.
A much underrated trait in a holding player, it means that unlike Mikel, Luiz will be able to close down players effectively, without having to surrender too much space infront of the back 4.
+ His tendency to get forward
At first, this might seem like more a weakness than a strength for a holding player but you have to consider 2 things:
1. We're trying to find a solution to Luiz's role in the squad, so his forward runs are better suited to this position than to CB and of equal use to that of a FB. (Although I think being a fullback would negate many of Luiz's other strengths)
2. This idea assumes that, like in the Bolton game, Ramires will be willing to pitch in defensively and the double pivot will be a fairly fluid one, justlike AVB wanted. If that happens, having Luiz receiving the ball with the space and time he would get from starting deep, combined with the flexibility of having a pair of CMs that occasionally swap roles,will really help to make us a fluid side.
+His brain.
Yes, he does have one. Luiz makes 3 interceptions a game, a number only beaten in theChelsea squad by Gary Cahill. If you move him into midfield, he will have a chance to use that ability more and break up play with smart movement as well as strong tackling.
+ His passing
This is a big one. Luiz completes almost as many longballs as Cech, plays as many incisive through balls as Juan Mata and in the game against Bolton we saw him do a passable impression of Andrea Pirlo: picking out players much further up the pitch and continuously causing problems from deep. We're lacking so much penetration at the moment, it only seems logical to bring one of our more creative players into a position where he can have more influence on the game.
+ Work rate
Luiz always looks enthused and energetic in a Chelsea shirt, and together with Ramires we could have a real workhorse of a platform, allowing us to play luxury players like Moura in the 3.
The case against David Luiz as the holding player in a 4-2-3-1.
- His composure on the ball.
We all got a stark reminder of the dangers of playing out from the back earlier this season when Mikel dawdled and lost possession right in front of the back four, practically handing Liverpool the chance on a plate. Teams have already discovered that pressing us persistently causes all sorts of problems and I suspect Luiz would come under a lot of pressure if he were to move into CM.
- Lack of options
This is an extension of the first point really, but whereas that highlights the difficulty we could face if Luiz is pressured during the recycling of possession,this is more of an immediate issue. Assuming that the keeper plays it short, where will the defender pass? You'd assume to the fullback or to either of the central midfielders. A pairing of Ramires and Luiz leaves us with a fairly jittery foundation to base our attacks on, and if Mata (or whoever is in the hole) has to come very deep to offer them a short option, his effectiveness will be greatly reduced.
- Squad needs
If he can be learn to keep his head, Luiz will be an incredible defender and that is something we desperately need, whereas we have Romeu, Mikel, Essien, potentially McEachran (although he would be a DLP if not playing in AM), Ramires and Meireles all vying for a spot in midfield.
(Other things)
. The obvious solution to the first 2 problems is to play Luiz and a Deep Lying Playmaker at the base of the midfield, offering us flexibility, a number of creative outlets and stability. The problem with that is Ramires. Personally, I think Ramires could be a great player on the right hand side of the 3 but that all depends on how Sturridge turns out.
. If Essien returns to his previous levels, the holding spot will surely be his.
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Moving Luiz from centreback is counter productive in my opinion, Ivanovic looks exposed beyond belief at the moment playing centre or right back and the alternative alongside Cahill is Terry.
This argument people put to each other that somehow AVB needs all the experienced players is absurd. Did Lampard influence the Napoli game when he came on? No. Did Drogba contribute significantly in either the Napoli or Bolton game? Bar maybe 2 phases of play I would say no.
I'm a big Essien fan but he's still getting his match sharpness and fitness back to it's highest level so if you throw him in away at Napoli with their pace and movement on the counter he could have been just as exposed.
There were tactical mistakes in Napoli but if we ignore the defensive lapses and look at the other end of the pitch, while we all agree Mata/Sturridge's dynamism has been amazing the recent performances have been lacking in entertaining football.
Anyone who watched the first half against Bolton will know that this whole 'experience wins the day' argument is completely unfounded, Lampard does nothing all game but gets a goal because he's Lampard...Should we let that hide the fact that his general play is abysmal, his work rate isn't what it was and he loses the ball more times than any other player? I don't think we can say that 14+ goal a season Lampard is worth playing in most of the games simply because he can score a goal every now and again.
Unless Chelsea suddenly ditch Essien and Ramires as the midfield base going forward I can not see Luiz being pushed up. I'm not sure full back would suit him either, I think everyone needs to be a little more patient and let him be coached into being a better minded centre half.
Disappointing thing for me this season has been Meireles, he just hasn't stepped up at all and goes missing in so many games. When he's given the role of playmaker and his pass completion/chances created/goals scored is what it is then he has been a failure.
My one major fault with AVB has been the way he's handled Torres, long term he is the striker at Chelsea so why continue to play Drogba who whilst experienced has not pulled up any trees whatsoever.
Still no need to panic, I just wish people would stop clammering for AVB to put 'experience' in the team because 'experience' is what got Ancelotti sacked. Short memories in football, very short memories.
This argument people put to each other that somehow AVB needs all the experienced players is absurd. Did Lampard influence the Napoli game when he came on? No. Did Drogba contribute significantly in either the Napoli or Bolton game? Bar maybe 2 phases of play I would say no.
I'm a big Essien fan but he's still getting his match sharpness and fitness back to it's highest level so if you throw him in away at Napoli with their pace and movement on the counter he could have been just as exposed.
There were tactical mistakes in Napoli but if we ignore the defensive lapses and look at the other end of the pitch, while we all agree Mata/Sturridge's dynamism has been amazing the recent performances have been lacking in entertaining football.
Anyone who watched the first half against Bolton will know that this whole 'experience wins the day' argument is completely unfounded, Lampard does nothing all game but gets a goal because he's Lampard...Should we let that hide the fact that his general play is abysmal, his work rate isn't what it was and he loses the ball more times than any other player? I don't think we can say that 14+ goal a season Lampard is worth playing in most of the games simply because he can score a goal every now and again.
Unless Chelsea suddenly ditch Essien and Ramires as the midfield base going forward I can not see Luiz being pushed up. I'm not sure full back would suit him either, I think everyone needs to be a little more patient and let him be coached into being a better minded centre half.
Disappointing thing for me this season has been Meireles, he just hasn't stepped up at all and goes missing in so many games. When he's given the role of playmaker and his pass completion/chances created/goals scored is what it is then he has been a failure.
My one major fault with AVB has been the way he's handled Torres, long term he is the striker at Chelsea so why continue to play Drogba who whilst experienced has not pulled up any trees whatsoever.
Still no need to panic, I just wish people would stop clammering for AVB to put 'experience' in the team because 'experience' is what got Ancelotti sacked. Short memories in football, very short memories.
I know this old, but of course he would have. The Youth Cup is a very important competition for us this year, and Piazon is one of the most important players in the team.
I quite like that one. I do hope that the Adidas and Chelsea badge aren't as far away from each other as it looks there, though.
Not sure anything can top this year's though.
Agree on Luiz. And Meireles, well, sometimes he's been very good and other times REALLY poor. I think it's because AVB is relying on him too much, tbh. I think Meireles is a good rotation option, but I don't think he's someone AVB can rely on as a key player.
I'll just assume you're joking.
No, I'm not.
Why an earth would you take him out of the squad, play him for 5 minutes, and then possibly go out of the YC just to give him a bit of first team football? It makes no sense at all.
Why on earth would you care about the youth cup? =/
The youth cup is a very big thing and especially with Chelsea in recent times. When we won it 2 years ago there was 12,000 to watch the home leg of the final at Stamford Bridge. If you speak to most players who have played in the youth cup they will tell you how significant it was to their development.
And tell me, how many of those youngsters are currently in contention for a first-team spot at Chelsea? How many of those are at Chelsea at all?
Honestly, I think it's a **** tournament, it's a good way to introduce the kids to the more 'competitive' game, but the thing they really covet is a first-team spot. I'd be happy to see our kids win it again, been a while since Everton win it, but I'd very much rather see Barkley getting a few more first-team games than play in some random cup.
It dosen't help we keep changing managers as they don't get to see these youngsters and have idea's of their own. Some of these young lads have been on the bench for the first team this season so actually give a manager some time and he will/should bring them through im sure of it. A lot of the lads are on loan too at the moment i.e McEachran, Bruma, Kakuta and Van Aanholt so on and so forth.