Cech Please - The Other Teams' Thread

You've ignored Matic, Zouma, Fabergas, Costa, and Begovic. We can complain all we want. We haven't been bad in the market. For every miss there's a hit. What we are is a team in transition. A team that doesn't have strong personalities in the locker room. We've lost all the leaders we've had for the last 12 years outside of JT and this is basically a funeral mass for him this season. Being a good player does not make one a leader and we have none right now. We complain about youth, yet most are struggling at their current stops. Christensen plays for a Gladbach side that are as bad as us in the league. The Vitesse boys are doing well but they wouldn't help us to dig out of the hole we are in. Stones needed to be finalized and the club, especially Mourinho wanted him, but nothing got done. We are banged up and that isn't helping either.

Have we been poor? Of course we have, but FFS, it's October. I've never seen a club win the league in October or a club be buried in October. Enjoy the ride. There's a lot of real world problems to stress out about, this isn't one of them right now. Get on track in the league and all will be okay.

 

By all accounts before the season, many of us did not see this season as transitional. Many thought that with 2-3 new key pieces, we could dominate both domestically and in Europe.

It's easy to say now that this is a transition, but I don't see it that way. A lot of our key cogs are not in transition. Most of them aren't. Most of them we viewed as being vital pieces of our project as we move into the future.

Courtois, Hazard, Caesar, Oscar, Zouma, Willian, Matic, Costa. These are all young non-transitional players. Even Fabregas at 28, is young. Our defense, yes, is clearly in transition. I do admit that many of us were worried at our ageing defense, ie, "What if Terry gets injured, etc." at the end of last season.

And a note about loannees. Loans, as we know, can be hit or miss. You can't simply say that if a player does poorly at Vitesse that he'll be poor for us. Maybe the manager is an a-hole. Maybe he's playing out of position. Maybe he's homesick. Maybe the whole team spirit blows. I think if Christensen was managed every day by Mourinho and playing against the likes of Hazard, etc., he'd be a quality option for us. Better than spending 40 f'ing million on an outside player.

Also - we came pretty close to winning the league in October last season. All those early wins and building of goal differential. By the end of October, we played 9, won 7, lost 2, drew none. GD of +15 Steamrolling.

 

Cuadrado was excellent for Fiorentina, Colombia, and now Juve. He was a beast vs Sevilla in a dominant win for Juve while playing as a RWB. He also played very well against City.

Look at Mata as well or De Bruyne. All of these guys were get sold off by Mourihno only to play extremely well else where.

It's not only about buying well, but actually using players appropriately while giving them time to acclimate themselves. It's a little odd to see players flourish elsewhere before arriving and after leaving the club. It sort of even happens with players still inside Mourihno's system. Look at Willian. He was incredibly impressive at Shakhtar playing as a creative offensive mid. His development has slowed while under Mourihno. Who is to say the same wouldn't have happened to Douglas Costa?

 

This supports my loanne argument. Salah has done well elsewhere, too. Italy and Switzerland.

Jose has been criticised of "dumbing down" a lot of players in the past. Many say he ruined the free spirits of Duff and Cole, etc. But they also won trophies. Jose doesn't like this type of free flowing player. That's why Mata, DeBruyne, Schurrle are all gone.

And to say Mata has played extremely well is, well, extreme. De Bruyne, too. City have been poorer with him in the side. He was directly responsible for allowing a goal the other day. His clearance was something my three year old could better. Yes, he scores goals and creates, but Jose wants something more.

Anyway, if a Southampton thread were up yet, I'd predict we lose 2-1. We've turned into the US national team where we give up goals and "valiantly" fight back. Sick of it.

 

Remember when we weren't great when Avram Grant took over and then we almost won the league that season?

Too early, yes, worrying, but too early.

 

We all bitched and bitched and bitched, then bitched some more, and more, and more, then we decided that bitching some, and more, and some more about our lack of summer activity. I don't think many thought we were going to be a world beating team when decided trotting out with this midfield.

 

No it doesn't. It insinuates that many thought we would struggle this season, not that we'd be sitting in the bottom half of the table. There's a big difference. Until we address the hole in midfield we will have problems. It also doesn't mean we can't right the ship. It's a long sesson and no looks particularly good at this time.

 

When Grant took over though, we had 3 wins, 2 draws and a loss. 11 points. A draw in the CL. Would kill for that right now.

 

I think you guys are mixing 2 stories here.

Chelsea has lots of issues and it makes sense to be worried with regards to the league; however that will not be an impediment to progress in the CL. You will make it to the CL knockouts comfortably.

 

Wish I shared your enthusiasm. The longer we trot Cesc out there, we're basically starting each match with 10 men.

 

dammit rossi. you have to move with stealth, covert like, under the radar. now thanks to you they are on to me!

 

CP with the cheerleaders out on the field pregame. nice touch.

 

Who says that about Duff and Cole? Injuries ruined Duff after he played some electrifying stuff alongside Robben, and Cole played his best football under Jose once he married his skill with a bit of discipline.

Willian, I think, is probably the best example of a guy who has arguably had his offensive instincts reined in too sharply. I don't really think that was the case with Cole or Duff, though.

 

Zaha was very good today. Bit unusual amongst English wingers of late in that he looks comfortable cutting in or going outside the fullback, and seems to have decent control with either foot.

Palace are really excellent to watch at the moment with him and Bolasie on either flank. Puncheon looks the weak link playing centrally, though. He's got a bit of skill on the ball but not really the awareness or vision to really link things properly. If they had somebody with a bit more guile in that role they'd look even more dangerous.

 

Once again Newcastle capitulate to another team that isn't us

 

Why couldnt Newcastles defense cave in like that for us?

 

Seriously? Fuck off, Newcastle

 

Wow. Must be nice to have all those offensive options.

 

Terrible second half display.

Conceding 3 minutes, 8 minutes into the second half

 

Dear Newcastle,
******** you.
Sincerely, Bruckner

 

Unbefuckinglievable

That's four for Aguero

Newcastle playing like a bunch of Branislavs

 

Make that five

 

Embarrassingreally