FINALLY EPL IS BACK!
These 2 weeks has been so boring.

I actually still think that Oscar need more time before he steps into the first XI. We're flooded in the attacking trio, so the only place he can grab a place is at the double pivot which Oscar still need some experience at that position.
I will go for this XI tonight.

Cech
Iva Terry Luiz Cole
Lampard Mikel
Ramires Hazard Bertrand
Torres

I hesitated between Ramires and Sturridge. But I think Ramires will be a better choice here because we need someone to track back and help the midfield a little bit. QPR midfield can be deadly if they're on form. They are a pretty decent team, look down on them and we'll be punished quite easily.

Depends on Terry and Cole fitness, else, Cahill and Bertrand in for their place and Moses to start on the left flank.
I do think Mata need some rest, he looks a bit worn out and RDM said he's not sure whether QPR game is too early for him. We've Juventus coming in the midweek too. So I think resting him would be a wiser choice.

This post has been edited by ericling: Sep 15 2012, 05:16 PM

Exactly the same lineup that I posted just now.
Interesting to see Hazard playing in the hole!

Oscar has been impressing so far!
Moses coming in later?

Disgusted to see how the team decided to shut down after leading 2-0. Could've been a big day for Oscar but only took 1 point.
A draw is actually a fair result based on both teams performance, but we could've won it really.

Torres can't do anything, he's useless against those centrebacks. He's hiding behind the defender when the long ball comes? shame.

This post has been edited by ericling: Sep 20 2012, 04:43 AM

On a positive note, Juventus is a quality side. Great start for Oscar as well, very impressive. He proved me wrong that I said he needs more time to step into the first XI.

I think we gave Juventus too much of space in the second half, bringing in Bertrand instead of Moses is a bit wrong in my opinion. Sturridge is injured, so we could see why Torres played for the 90minutes. Honestly I won't be surprised if RDM drops Torres against Stoke this week. Torres is just sooo poor.
Personally I think our new 11 can play in the pivot, maybe in place of Lampard?

I am seeing most of the people are blaming Mikel. But if you look at a bigger picture, he was actually not bad last night. Can't really blame everything on him for the second goal, but surely he has some responsible on it.
Lampard is just shocking, he should stop running away from his position, it left Mikel the only player at the back in the midfield and all the pressure goes to Mikel. I think Lampard should be the player to be dropped instead of Mikel.

I know it might sounds harsh, but after watching the highlights again, I think Lampard is just pissed poor.

Makelele is magnificent player. He's the reason why our 433 works so well under him, as Mourinho said:



More about Makelele role here http://www.uefa.com/trainingground/coaches...lay=true#latest

I don't think Ramires is strong enough to play in this role, Ramires said because he is weak in physical, so he don't use man marking to tackle or defend, instead, he uses his agility to intercepts passes. In my opinion, Ramires best position would be in the midfield of 433, but as a CM,not DM.

This post has been edited by ericling: Sep 21 2012, 08:13 AM

If you ask me, Modric is the best fit, but you know what happened.
I watched Sahin last time and he was pretty impressive at that age. How did he fare so far in Liverpool? Still haven't got a look on him.

I agree we shouldn't keep splashing money on those players. We actually have lot of future. Josh is a fantastic asset, but maybe he still need more experience. I watched him in Swansea last season, but due to his lack of experience, he just ran up and down like a headless chicken. I try not to mention 'he-is-not-ready-for-first-XI' thing, but, just couldn't resist Hopefully he can prove I am wrong just like Oscar did.

The DM players are already an endangered species in football nowadays, especially in EPL. The best I can think now is Yaya Toure.
I don't fancy Moutinho at all, I think he's just a bit overrated, unless he come at a budget price.
I agree we should try Luiz in DM position/ the double pivot. I think he suits but just need to improve a little bit on his positional sense.

Team: Cech ©; Ivan, D Luiz, Cahill, Cole; Ram, Mik; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres. - subs: Turn, Azpili, JT, Bert, Rom, Lamps, Moses.

Great team. Think Ramires and Oscar will be interswitching their place with Mata filling into their position. Hazard can switch places with Mata too.
Lot of interchanging play will occur today.
3 points is a must today, no excuse.

Pretty performance by us. Just the goals are lacking. We need to start stretching the play and create more chances from the flanks.

I love that Oscar lad, fantastic player. Everyone saw his playstation-esque skill? I can't even do it with my controller!

3 points. job done. Not the best performance but I myself couldn't find any fault in our players today. Every players gave out their best tonight, I am very pleased with the performance.

Stoke did their defensive work very very well there, well on par on what we did against Barca. And managed to get a goal against team like that, is also an achievement.

Oscar performance against Wolves. He came on just 30 minutes but holy, such a promising player he is. Romeu looks very composed here as well. Marin is back and looking good too

He's 20 years old young lad, I won't mind if he join us.
He looks really good, our scout should keep an eye on him.

On our 4-0 victory, I think we kinda underperformed before Luiz scored the free kick. We could've been punished if lady luck was not on our side.
Mata and Ramires goal were both pure class. If we don't rely Torres on goals, he's actually quite useful. It's good to see him being stronger in physical and getting better and better. Just not sure is he able to play every 90 minutes. Worried about his fitness.
Mata 2 weeks rest really does wonders huh? He was on fire! I like his new role where he supplies support in deep and giving our team a more dynamic shape. Oscar injection was fantastic as well, his vision and ball controlling skills were amazing. And he can do more defensive work than what we expected. I'm glad to see him to fitting himself into a more physical game.
I am impressed with Ramires in his double pivot work too, a little bit more positional sense and he will be the perfect candidate in the double pivot alongside Lampard or Mikel/Romeu.

This post has been edited by ericling: Oct 4 2012, 10:14 AM

Great great performance by us. Impressed by how RDM integrate all the talents we have got in the squad. The holy trinity between Mata.Oscar.Hazard is just pure tasty huh? I am quite pissed with the referee for not giving any penalty to us. One of those challenge outside the box could easily be a free kick. Why not a foul in penalty box?!

If we don't rely Torres on goals, he's pretty useful. In my opinion, he did pretty well last night. Missed some chances but scored an important goal. A goal is a goal, sometimes we expected too much from him. It's great to see Lampard is much more disciplined in his positional play when bombing forward. Remember the game against atletico madrid? He was bombing forward whenever he wants, left too much space in the midfield.

On players football technique wise, our players are just PURE CLASS. No, I am not exaggerating but pure class is the exact word to describe them. Look at how the players play in that tight Norwich defense, it's hard to resist from comparing this play to Barcelona and so you must be thinking Chelsealona? No no,we are Chelsea and we play a better and a more interesting play than Barcelona.

I am VERY satisfied with the 4-1 win. Great performance, and most importantly, 3 points in the pocket, what else can we ask for?

This post has been edited by ericling: Oct 7 2012, 12:05 PM

Agree. I don't really like splashing lot of money on a striker.
A deep lying playmaker would be fantastic, but it's really hard to find these players nowadays. Modric is really a big miss.
But anyway, Oscar has the ability though.

From those match stats, Obi+Lampard+Ramires combination is jinxed
Apart from Reading match(which is also a poor performance), we didn't manage to get 3 points.

We won the champions league with Obi+lampard+Ramires combination, but I think things changed this season. Our mentality changed and we are a more attacking side now.

Superstition or tactical?

This post has been edited by ericling: Oct 24 2012, 04:23 PM

I recommend you guys to watch this analysis by Gary Neville.

Got to admit, fantastic analysis.
This is actually what is going to happen to our team. We applied almost the same tactics as City.

Two main points there:
-attackers packed in centre(Hazard and Mata cutting in)
-allowing fullbacks to roam forward(Look at Cole and Ivanovic this season)

If we let our opponent to know our attacking patterns, as Stoke did to City, we are gonna have hard time breaking down with the same attacking tactics.
and if we let our opponent to exploit our weakness(fullbacks pushing too much forward), big teams with quality players going to punish us.

Two important points for Chelsea is:
-We must make sure, our width from the fullbacks threatens.
-Moses and Marin are vital to help us stretching the opponent defense.
-Linking between fullbacks and the attackers are extremely important.

I hope RDM knows about this.



This post has been edited by ericling: Oct 24 2012, 11:35 PM

Such a shame that a great game was ruined. Awful officiating.

-I would say Ivanovic was rightfully sent off.
-Torres first yellow, fair. Second yellow, Mark knew he messed it up. He took out the yellow card, very fast, then realized it was Torres, his expression was in a mess,and then he stubbornly showed Torres the red card.
-Mark knew he messed up everything, and showing Valencia for diving, just to cover up his bias towards United? Ridiculous, making more mistake to cover up his old mistakes.
-Offside goal, we all have eyes.

We were fantastic, even down to 10 men. I hope this defeat would not dampen the momentum, but take it as a lesson. We have more tougher fixtures coming in, stay strong, and slaughter every opponents. We are Chelsea, and we're not showing any mercy.

Am I the only one who was impressed by Sturridge?
I know he was wasteful, but has Torres ever got into so many scoring position as Sturridge did?
Sturridge has the pace that Torres had in his young age.
Sturridge contract is ending next summer, it would be ugly to see him shines in Liverpool or Spurs.

Give sturridge time, and see the miracle.

I hope Moses to start today. (Although I just brought Mata in for my fantasy team )
Michu is SUPERB in the air, I hope our set piece defending will improves after so many mistakes this season.