Most importantly Azpilicueta is a solid dependable full back, but I think I can count on one hand the number of chances he has set up. His crossing is incredibly poor, as is his shooting. Frustrating as hell. Not saying we should get rid, but we need someone to compete for his place and offer a more effective attacking option - on the basis that Ivanovic is a centre back. Would also allow him to be rested occasionally.
Had bale tucked away in that back pocket of his all evening. Our best signing this season IMO. Would be Hazard but for £32m you'd expect the kind of performances he's digging out, Azpillicueta has been that right back we've been looking for all these years!
Azpi definitely saw off Bale last night, plus Bale was getting very frustrated and rather than using his skill to get out of it he resorted to trying to use his acting abilities
Beluga Can't agree with you. He's put in quality performance after quality performance. As Drogs pointed out, Bale did nothing in that first half, where he had to stay down their left flank. I'm struggling to think of better RBs we've had in the modern fast paced game. You've also got to remember that with the current set-up (i.e no "big-man" Drogba type character) we don't play a hoof/cross into the box. The ball is far more often played in fast triangles and cutting short ground passes for the 3-amigos + Torres/Ba to work with.
The mistakes both came from Cahill. Azpi was solid. The fact that they switched Bale to the right tells a story in itself. They targeted Cole as the weaker link of the two and got far more joy down that side. Cahill cost us a certain win last night, Luiz should have been played at the back.
Hey I never said he wasn't good defensively! He did a great job against Bale last night and has been solid all season. All I'm saying is that he needs to add more going forwards - his crossing is no better that Boswinga's. All great left back are good forwards AND backwards. He's still young I suppose so still plenty of time to learn. Perhaps what he needs is some competition for his place and maybe practice putting in crosses.
Haven't you been pushing for Luiz to be played in midfield all season? Just last night you said Terry should of played instead of Cahill. As a few others have suggested you're starting to appear like nothing but a wum.
Bale did **** all last night and Dave did a fantastic job. Really dealt well with him. You know that when Bale changes flanks, you've done a good job
Bale always changes flanks and given that you were getting back in numbers and we were playing a slower build up we didn't need a player on the left which is why he spent most of the match on the right and as a striker. What worked for you guys is that you got numbers around him quickly and forced him away from goal nearly everytime he cut inside. Would've helped us if he didn't keep predictably cutting inside and went outside on the right for a change but he generally seems to shun wing play these days.
Thats an AVB (average bastard) classic, 'The slow build up' ffs sake don't waste your like looking for a 'plan B' There isn't one.
Thats an AVB (average bastard) classic, 'The slow build up' ffs sake don't waste your like looking for a 'plan B' There isn't one.
Which "others"? I wanted Terry instead of Cahill because he's a better defender. Luiz is in midfield is fine, against certain sides, but given we played 2 similar combative defenders in Ivanovic and Cahill I felt we would have matched up better against a defender that can read the game like Luiz or Terry. Luiz has played in pretty much every game for the last 6 weeks (possibly more), he's clearly fatigued, playing him in midfield gave him a lot more running to do and it showed towards the end.
Which "others"? I wanted Terry instead of Cahill because he's a better defender. Luiz is in midfield is fine, against certain sides, but given we played 2 similar combative defenders in Ivanovic and Cahill I felt we would have matched up better against a defender that can read the game like Luiz or Terry. Luiz has played in pretty much every game for the last 6 weeks (possibly more), he's clearly fatigued, playing him in midfield gave him a lot more running to do and it showed towards the end.
He got his knickers in a twist. I am happy Fergie left because he's a great manager in this league and it gives my team a better chance of success. If anything he should have taken it is a compliment. Lost in translation. It would be a WUM if I'd posted it on the United board (which I wouldn't), but is any Chelsea fan genuinely upset Fergie is leaving?
No, it'll be very strange without him but he was still a bellend 90% of the time (actually 100% when losing).
I won't miss him one jot. He was a great manager for starters, undoubtedly the best in the league but he was also a horrible human being that bullied and intimidated officials and fellow managers. I haven't spoken to anyone aside from Man U fans that will miss him
