Hi Folks We have experienced a few turbulent times this season and last with league form manager uncertainty and player departures. We have lost some world class players and I can say happily we may have obtained the services of another one in Luis Suarez. Pacey intelligent, great feet and balance, good vision when you consider he is training with the team a few weeks, he got off the plane and got a ride to anfield and came on and scored in 10 minutes, if this is not a trait of an intelligent player then?.. Torres though gifted and of whom I worshipped I have to admit he has not got that quickness of mind, Fernando's feet were always a little faster than his brain but as we know his finishing made up for this shortfall in quickness of mind, CashinHando very often, even at his heights, makes poor decisions and this I reckon CA at Chelsea will work on, his game, Nando has shake and no bake. Luis contributes from the halfway line to the touchline, a real worker like Dirk, they complement each other well thus far, add to this mix Carroll for some crosses to aim at as we are lacking that target man I am confident we can challenge for at least the CL next year as I think Chelsea are beyond us for 4th unless they and spurs get into a dogfight and let us in, not likely but I guess this is one advantage of being so called "deluded", I can dream all I like I knew we'd beat United, there is always a hangover after a run like they've had, like Barca at Arsenal, they came off the back of a 15 win streak I can see Suarez and Kuyt running defences ragged but I will concede that we need a replacement for Gerrard at this stage, He aint finished but we need a replacement while he is still playing as well as Carra. Our defence is decent when the midfield pulls it's weight though we could spend a few bob and 3 players for those positions. Tactically Kenny done Fergie and the usual exceptional effort from an individual didn't cover over the United cracks this time, exposed, "No vidic or Ferdie" they say, surely United are not a two man team cos their fans kept saying that about us I didn't think I would forget CashinHando but there you go eh. Looking forward to next season already, here's to Chelsea and Spurs and Citeh making a footballs of it and letin us in. Who would be a decent replacement for Steven Gerrard? Fernando Torres, now you've scuttled off the Chelsea for money and glory we'll see who is the team in transition, I would rather see Bale get CL footie than you next season you mercenary
Bringbackfootie. There is one thing I like about Luis Suarez above all is his atitude.He's like a kitten chasing a ball of wool.He can't stay quiet.He's all over the place.Kenny said when he arrived he was like that in his first day of training.He hadn't trained with the team and played 30 odd minutes against Stoke and played like a man possessed.Not standing around with his hands on his hips when a sulky face like a certain Spanish Judas. I read this report that during International week,he flys back in from South America and arrives at training....early.A lot of players are given the benefit of the doubt depending on how far they've travelled to arrive late.Luis Suarez turns up early.Even if he has to change flights 10 times.He arrives at training afterwards early. I'm convinced He's ''Dirk Kuyt'' but more skillful.He knows he has to cop himself on and stop doing the things that got him into trouble,but who is perfect.Anyone that is perfect may cast the first stone.He's a young lad so he'll learn.
He was getting kicked to **** all around the pitch yesterday. It reminded me of the Reading away Carling Cup game in Torres' first season when he kept getting kicked to the ground, but getting back up to run at them and terrorise them.
Good intelligent post and replies except for the Judas thing. I fully understand everybodies feelings on Nando, hopefully it'll be a poor move for him, but if you really think footballers nowadays have loyalty (except for local lads) think again. If I got a massive signing on fee and a big payrise I'd leave my job, sorry that's the cold hard reality of football and the wider world nowadays, which is sad, not gonna see many one team players in the future. But loved Dirk getting a hat-trick, thourghly deserved it for all his workrate in every game he plays.
Hmm, still hasn't scored after Chelsea's 3-1 v. Blackpool tonight. I'd prefer to see him scoring but Chelsea losing anyway ;-). Maybe v. Stoke? West Brom..? Eek, I'll be wanting them to beat Man U so SOMEone better get some points off them!
Is it just me or does Fernando really not fit into Chelsea's formation at all? He is a lone striker, he plays as part of a 3 at Chelsea and I think this might be a reason for his poor returns of late. Either that or he has peak and is now in the decay of his career!
Great James, Cheered me up, this night shift is killing me, needed some coffee and something like the above to brighten my afternoon. Fair Kop re the Judas thing, Luis is a real find and I am surprised he signed for us without CL footy. I am also surprised someone like Barca or Madrid have not taken him, I could see this guy linking up really well with Messi, though I admit Barca are not short of quality players to partner Messi anyways. Andy Carroll should have a significant impact on tough away games at Wolves Blackpool and the likes of spurs, I reckon Andy could give auld Vidic a nightmare if the service is right too Andy's game has still to develope, still very young and my jaesus is he a big lad, he will get and create goals, we gotta work on getting those second balls he is going to create and I can see Dirk and Luis enjoying a decent suply from Andy, both can run off him and receive headers as most CBs will find it very difficult the muscle him out. Crouch did a good job for us in that respect even though not physically endowed, Andy has the height and frame, he occupies a fair piece of pitch and is very hard for a defender to get around. he can shoot from outside the box, not really a thing in crouchy's bag though I aint knockin Crouch, I was unhappy with his exit when it happened and still to this day wonder why Rafa left him on the bench in the 2007 CL final against Milan till it was all but too late. All in all I am looking forward to our next match and the rest of the run-in as the title race hots up, it would be just downright insanity if somehow Chelsea managed to claw it back and win the premership though I think Arsenal are the only challengers.
I also have to point out, Masc, He was loyal, he gave us an extra year before he had ot go, a whole year he waited and played, I think we can call that loyalty by todays footballing standards, his reasons for going were not all footballing reasons. Did Stevie not nearly have his head turned by Chelsea? A local lad
I think his reasons were all non-football ones, i.e. Mrs Masch. Possibly loyalty to Rafa in there, too. I defended him after the City game because he was clearly well annoyed at the way he'd been treated by Purslow and Hodgson for some loyal service and promises made and it must've been bad for him to strike as a last resort. Not a Judas, though Mrs Masch is probably having a better time in Barcelona then he is.
Masc was awesome in the role he plays best, he could never pass a ball very well so I was amiss on why Barca wanted him, he was the only player to give the ball away a few times against Arsenal at the Nou, passing is not his game, prevention of passing is his game and he should never, like Lucas be allowed to pass the half way line.
dont you remember his first (im not sure if it's his only) goal for us, screamer. Lucas has bagged a fair few rockets. I also have to say lucas' passing isn't that bad i feel he has started to settle and develop but i still think he takes quite long on the ball to pick a pass
Don't be making excuses for Torres,especially after todays comments. Okay we did get the best years out of him,but lets be fair,He's a shadow of the player he was in 2007/2008 and 2008/2009.Supposeably we held onto him for two more years,He would have been 28 and he was still erratic,which he currently is,Okay when he was with us until January,He went from the sublime to the substandard.And his best performance for us was against....Chelsea. Do I regret him going.No.Not based on the impact made by Luis Suarez and that is from the off.Suarez is a totally different animal.The lad exudes exuberance added with unbelievable skill.Some of the stuff he did last week apart from his two assists were breath-taking.It was said by some that it was like Kenny Dalglish in his pomp.Okay thats overstepping the mark after 5 weeks,but ''Cheek and Genius'' do spring to mind when it comes to Luis Suarez.
Mach and Lucas were top five in the league last season for successful passes and tackles. Lucas is top five again for tackles, though Hodgson's style has affected his passing stats. Not passing the halfway line? You are Roy Hodgson.
Damn you sussed me I had meant with posession of the ball, as in not try be the provider only to get caught out and countered and concede as last years debacle worked out in the absence of Xabi, to that exact thing with Lucas and Masc trying to provide the killer passes (Simple passes to players that attack yes, link up play yes, not providers)
I think we've actually solved the Alonso problem......Raul Mereiles....anyone.His passing is superb.Okay he doesn't put his foot in.But the bonus is,Lucas' tackling seems to have come on leaps and bounds,and I still think we need a midfield enforcer......for some games.I reckon we don't need Charlie Adam if Mereiles keeps this up. The main focus must be on wingers in the summer....we need two of them.Anything else is a bonus and we could probably buy them out of the money we make on departures,but the money we get from the owners must be spent on width.....demon speed and trickery. If we let 4 players go,we can sign 5,as we have one space open from the Ryan Babel sale.
