EPL Season

Chelsea seems like they are starting to gel. Their counter was back in full form against United last weekend. William has crazy speed and energy- once he gets his passing a bit more under control he's going to be a force in the midfield.
I think they are going to be very tough in the second half.
 
originally posted by Brian C:
Chelsea seems like they are starting to gel. Their counter was back in full form against United last weekend. William has crazy speed and energy- once he gets his passing a bit more under control he's going to be a force in the midfield.
I think they are going to be very tough in the second half.
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Willian and Oscar are interesting because they both have flawed technique, with wayward touches and passes whereas Mata is flawless. In any event, they both bring a sort of uncertainty around them (Müller-esque?) that adds value.
 
Willian created a lot of space in the middle when playing for Shakhtar, if you recall group stages of a year ago. Not sure he will have that particular role to play though.
The acquisition of Matic is actually a concern, because it tells me that Mou is realizing that one needs to tough it out with a 4-2-3-1 on occasion, and may now have the personnel for the formation, for a change.
 
after today, no doubt a sequel to "famous jewish athletes" will be written: "great english spot kick takers"
 
The Monkey's favourite defender

Lucio.jpg
 
When you look at FA Cup draw, the suggestion that European draws are random, even given the restrictions, is absurd.
 
originally posted by .sasha:
originally posted by fatboy:
originally posted by VLM:

I thought Arteta played well. Doesn't really hide.
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not these days.

another encouraging sign.

fb.
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Can we close this subject once and for all?

Hiding or not, just not ready for prime time. And it gets a lot scarier than Ross Barkley, you don't need me to tell you that, do you?
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It's a joke. Of course, looking at the bench today there were no options, but there will be days when options are available.
 
Man, I would have really liked to see him as a CM at Liverpool this weekend.

Shit.
 
originally posted by .sasha:
RamseyMan, I would have really liked to see him as a CM at Liverpool this weekend.

Shit.
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I'd almost be tempted to play the Ox next to Arteta. He can keep up with Saurez/Sturridge for pace. Arteta can do the positioning. Is Rosicky back yet?
 
originally posted by VLM:
I'd almost be tempted to play the Ox next to Arteta. He can keep up with Saurez/Sturridge for pace. Arteta can do the positioning. Is Rosicky back yet?
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Both Rosicky and Wilshere should be available. As to whether either of them starts, your guess is as good as mine ( or better ).

But the key is to suffocate them in midfield, is it not? They could not handle it at the Emirates. It's more important than extra "firepower" up front, so I wouldn't start Podo.

Chelsea has many of the big games at home from now on. Ugh.
 
originally posted by .sasha:
originally posted by VLM:
I'd almost be tempted to play the Ox next to Arteta. He can keep up with Saurez/Sturridge for pace. Arteta can do the positioning. Is Rosicky back yet?
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Both Rosicky and Wilshere should be available. As to whether either of them starts, your guess is as good as mine ( or better ).
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I would be surprised if both of them didn't start. Wenger likes to have Rosicky in there for big games.

But the key is to suffocate them in midfield, is it not? They could not handle it at the Emirates. It's more important than extra "firepower" up front, so I wouldn't start Podo.
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I'm not worried about midfield so much, they are lightweight. I'm more worried about the two Gerrard passes that will slice through to Saurez and Saurez finding space behind and between the back four. He's terrifying.

Chelsea has many of the big games at home from now on. Ugh.
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More importantly, they have Mou and Matic. He's the first person I've seen muscle Touré off the ball all year. It was something to behold. The look of surprise on Touré's face was priceless. What a great battle.
 
originally posted by VLM:

More importantly, they have Mou and Matic. He's the first person I've seen muscle Touré off the ball all year. It was something to behold. The look of surprise on Touré's face was priceless. What a great battle.
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Never thought I'd feel so comfortable losing Mata from the squad. Blues are looking wicked in the midfield right now.
That was a tremendous match.
 
originally posted by VLM:

I'm not worried about midfield so much, they are lightweight. I'm more worried about the two Gerrard passes that will slice through to Saurez and Saurez finding space behind and between the back four.
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sorry, how do these two sentences not contradict each other? explain

Gerrard played in the fall. He got nothing. Arsenal had a lot of people in the area of the ball, particularly where Gerrard would be coming out of. The fact they had no true width in that game ( no Walcott, no Podo ) made no difference - they Barca-ed or Bayern-ed, whatever you want to call it, Liverpool in the middle of the field. They should go with the same squad, with Wilshere in for Ramsey.

It's a lot easier to do this to Liverpool than to Southhampton these days.

More importantly, they have Mou and Matic. He's the first person I've seen muscle Touré off the ball all year. It was something to behold. The look of surprise on Touré's face was priceless. What a great battle.
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you mean the first person in EPL :-)

But I would claim that Toure was in a huge disadvantage, tactically, going into many of these challenges, what with the huge gap that materialized between Martin ("I should not be allowed to play against any Jose team since 2010 final") de Michelis and Navas/Silva. He was put in a position to do the job of 2-3 people. To take nothing away from Matic, of course.

I actually texted a friend with a "wtf?!?!?!?" as soon as I saw the starting lineups, wondering if Chelsea was going to grind their way through this one. It wasn't just about de Michelis on the pivot, which in itself is hilarious, but more about the two strikers - it's not the first time this year he's fielded two of them and couldn't get them involved, ending up essentially "a man down". What I thought was going to happen though was that City would play a high line with Chelsea fielding a perfect team to press them there at carefully chosen times; what I didn't realize was that they were going to leave an empty middle of the field, and more remarkably, that Chelsea would be able to run at them through that space, as well as they did.
 
originally posted by Brian C:
originally posted by VLM:

More importantly, they have Mou and Matic. He's the first person I've seen muscle Touré off the ball all year. It was something to behold. The look of surprise on Touré's face was priceless. What a great battle.
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Never thought I'd feel so comfortable losing Mata from the squad. Blues are looking wicked in the midfield right now.
That was a tremendous match.
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I could not think of a more important transfer in this window. But then again I had total contempt for the Lampard - Luiz - Ramirez - Mikel "central midfield". A very different story now.

Yep, it's funny how they lost their most skilled player, and quite possibly improved as a team.

They did what Liverpool and United should have done, but I guess they don't think along those lines in the north.
 
Liverpool would face relegation if they sold Suarez. Make no mistake, he creates so much space for himself and others it's surreal to watch. Defenders are genuinely frightened of him.
 
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