Rival Watch Thread Watch

please log in to view this image

 

They were talking about how good John Terry has been and currently is. They claimed he would still walk into any other PL clubs first team.

I can't think of a good argument against this tbh. I think it shows how bad this league is at defending

 

Terry is having an Indian summer under Mourinho, but he's being made to look better by the fantastic covering of Matic mind.....

 

We understand

 

Hasn't that always been the case? He's a very good defender in the right setup. He looked poor alongside Alex and Luiz despite clearly being better than both.

Lovren looked good last year with DMs in front of him too.

The fact that Kompany is the standout best CB speaks volumes about our league. Not that VK is poor, he isn't, but there should be others that create a argument on who is best.

 

Awful player so far. Both he and rojo will settle and both will be solid defenders in time. They are used to a different kind of football. Less power, more technique.

 

Terry is being carried largely by Matic. Hes single handedly carrying a few tbh in defensive terms.

Ive said the standard of defending is very poor compared yo a few years ago. Teams have let those standards slip by concentrating on attack.

The key thing is to have a solid defensive midfielder. Which chelsea do have, city have and United have (carrick and blind).

Saints have one too.

 

Forget Terry, what's really telling is how much Cahill is being washed along on this tide of plaudits for Chelsea's defence which is result of not just Matic in front but Ivanovic and Azpec who are head and shoulders above both CBs imo.

Having said that, take away a good defensive midfielder from in front of any CB and he will suffer so isn't the presence of Matic no different to any good team with good CBs. In that sense Terry still proves his worth regardless.

Kompany on the other hand I think is overrated. His biggest weakness is his positional play and it's not a minor problem, it's constant. As such there's always a mistake waiting to happen or an opportunity for a striker to get a run on him.

 

Totally agree, our fullbacks are awesome.
Thats not to say I dont rate Cahill and Terry, but for me CB is definitely the area where we need to look at in the summer.
Zouma looks like he will be decent, but we need another CB for me.

Felipe Luis has been very good when he has played too.

 

Absolutely. Look at our team, we have **** defensive midfielder in Gerrard and average one in lucas and making our cbs seem shocking! Although in fairness most of our cbs are shocking anyway

 

The poverty of our defenders was masked by Suarez last season. Although that idea will cause Rodgers to go into a rage. Gerrard looked good too. But now his own weaknesses are being exposed and the defenders are totally exposed. We need a top quality defensive midfielder like Makele as well as some decent CBs. Until that happens our attack will not be able to keep up with the goals conceded. And that 4th place will remain a pipe dream.

 

We don't need fourth, we're going to win the Europa League instead

 

I was saying to a mate earlier, whats the bet that the first season that winning the Europa League = CL qualification, an English side will win it.

We haven't had anywhere near enough Europa League/UEFA Cup winners in recent times, despite (imo atleast) our non top 4 clubs being the strongest in Europe. Its mainly because English teams could never be arsed with it......I been saying they should reward the EL winner with a CL place for years, far more incentive to win it.

 

Same.

Even better that it's not at the expense of the top four as well. Same for CL winners now too although if non top four English teams won both, fourth in the league would then miss out

 

I can't see that situation ever arising, where two teams outside the top 4 win the CL and EL respectively.

So we shouldn't ever get a repeat of the whole Spurs missing out fiasco, though I still go back to read that thread sometimes for a laugh.

 

Will be tough as the teams from La Liga outside the top4 are always strong (the likes of Sevilla and Valencia are ranked higher in Europe than Spurs and Everton etc)

And there is the biggest obstacle for Europa teams, the 8 rejects dropping out of the CL. Makes it very tough.

 

I can't see it happening either which is why I think its better. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't like to see Man Utd get fourth this season with Arsenal and Liverpool finishing outside the top four but winning the CL and EL respectively though

 

Assuming you're not one of said rejects

 

Indeed

6 winners and 9 runners up have dropped out of the CL in the last 15 years.

 

History beckons for Pool, Inter and Sevilla with the chance to go top alone, with 4 wins!