Azpillicueta overall is better than both imo. Though attacking wise, people do heavily under rate Ivan. Like Rafael though. Shame he's a nut case.
you forgot that UTD had more injuries at the back last season .. let me see Obi playing as a CB like carrick did in many games, then we can talk
You gotta love a good stat attack. Particularly one which is completely irrelevant as it fails to separate the games Luiz played at CM from the ones he played at CB, likewise Vermaelen playing at LB for Arsenal. Ultimately you can argue the toss all day long, but there's not much to choose between the 1st choice back fours of Chelsea and Utd. But it's when you get into the second choice players, like Cahill, that Chelsea's lack of depth shines through. Utd could call on Evans, Smalling or Jones as replacement CBs, whereas Chelsea's strongest move if Terry or Luiz were out would be to shift Ivanovic away from RB rather than risk Cahill. Which is ultimately the point of my argument. Whilst the first teams are pretty even, with Chelsea probably edging it thanks to the AMs, outside the first team AM is the only area Chelsea can surpass Utd for depth, and that's far outweighed by your piss poor strike force.
not an excuse.. is not easy when you are forced to play your CM as a CB, and not easy when your back 4 change every single game hahaha did you just edited your text and removed the 5-5 WBA one? was it bcz we will be having better record defensively?
To be fair, Lukaku ain't half bad. Torres and Ba are decent. I agree though, it's a marked step back from yours. (Mainly thanks to RVP and Rooney). Cahill isn't that bad. At least on par with Smalling and Jones, and we have some good youth prospects such as Kalas, but again I agree, we do lack a player or two extra there. However, our midfield really is in a class of its own at the moment. Almost too many to chose from in that middle 5.
Lukaku showed a lot at West Brom, but that's a long way away from being ready to lead the line as a lone striker for Chelsea. If he doesn't get better at holding the ball and retaining possession then I think he'll struggle in your formation without more support. Torres and Ba are decent, but so are Welbeck and Hernandez, and it says a lot when Chelsea's two first choice strikers are being compared to Utd's backups. Cahill again isn't bad, but given how regularly he plays CB for you he should be a way ahead of Smalling and Jones, who play RB and CM as often as they play CB for us. And like you say, after Cahill you are looking at young players with little or no experience. The midfield is quality I agree. Although again lacking depth in the anchor role, with Essien looking a shadow of the player he was. Does make me wonder why your biggest signing of the summer was Schurrle, when you have so much quality in his position and are so thin on the ground up front and at the back. Still, I guess it makes about as much sense as us fixing our midfield issues by signing RVP last summer!
Aye, but pre season is pre season. Doing it in the PL is another matter. Also interesting to see he played more advanced today, wonder who will get the holding job at OT?
Who gives a s**t about pre-season? I know you got a hard time about losing to nobodies off some over zealous rival fans, but I wasnt one of them. All its good for is building fitness levels and getting a first look at your new signings really imo.
Well done to the Chavs. They beat tough opponents Hull at home. Amazing performance diminished somewhat by shameful cheating by Torres for the second goal. There was no contact at all. Torres cheated to win a free kick, from which the Chavs scored a second crucial goal. At 1-0 the game would still have been in the balance. Hull have been cheated of a possible away point. Undeserved 3 points. Is this a pointer to the rest of the Chavs season? Winning the title by fair means or foul ...the end justifies the means as far as the Chavs are concerned.
He does have a point about Torres, Hazard seems to have balance problems as well going off todays game. Lets hope they manage to cure this as the season progresses.
Wishful thinking... Maureen will have instructed Torres and others to gain these free kicks in dangerous positions. It is in his make up and we can expect more of the same. First match first victory already tainted by diving...
Perhaps we could give the Chavs the trophy now as I can see lots of freekicks and pens being given at SB for the chavs carrying out "simulation" ...Torres just threw himself on the ground with the defender nowhere near him.
