I think If ramires is disciplined then oscar can pull the strings from deep but also dig in when needed.

We need to learn how to keep the ball though, something ramires struggles with and oscar struggled with against utd and munich.
We need to go back to basics...then give the ball to mata

he broke up so much play against villa and hull single handedly.
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Yeah he was looking promising after those first two games, but seems to have gone back to his old self. I would have loved for us to sign one of Modric or De Rossi. Both are tactically brilliant players, that bring certain different qualities that would improve us immensely. Ideally I would have liked both playing together in CM.

KDB what do you mean, I believe he played well against utd and everton and didnt play against basle?

I didn't think he played as good as he did in his first two games, against United and Everton. In those first two games I probably saw him give the ball away at most 3-4 times over the two games, against United and Everton I lost count, and I think he was at fault for the Everton Goal.

Ronaldo tracks back a lot, Fergie made him learn to do it.

Barca midfield 3 all track back and close down and press...

The amazing thing in this so-called crisis period we are in is that if we win tonight we will above at least one and possiblye both Manchester clubs by Sunday evening.

Barca are the ultimate high line pressing machine.

Where have you been Izuta?
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Got a new job so been quietly following Ja606. Got a reprieve this weekend so decided to come in and actually discuss some issues about Chelsea. how have you been TBK?

Biggish which is why a win is so important tonight.

Will really take the pressure off and put a different complexion on the whole thing

we need a win just to get some confidence back

ain't scored in the League since the Villa game

As a #10 primarily you have to create, defending comes secondary. No one better than Mata at this.
Not a debate.
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I agree but there also has to be a balance and in the short run, its always better to deploy soldiers to their position of greatest strength when building a team.

However, when one looks at the bigger picture, this strategy will Eventually get the entire team playing better and much more flexibly which is what I believe Mourinho is aiming for.

Instead of one which is significantly jolted when one of the players has to change his position.

Oscar offers little creativity
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I do not agree with this in the slightest

Will really take the pressure off and put a different complexion on the whole thing
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Very true. A win will also get the press vultures off our back. The season is still too young for crisis talk.

comment by Stuck With The Name Biggish (U7916) posted 18 minutes ago
Barca midfield 3 all track back and close down and press...

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Barca have the ball for 70% of most games, if not more, so its so easier to track and put pressure on for the other few minutes of a game.

I dont know if you have played alot of football before OP(not a criticism, genuine question!) but it is so tough being the most creative and vocal attacking point in a game, it is tiring and mata is that for us, he gets the most touches, moves about the most in the opps final third/half and launches a lot of our attacks. It makes it so tough to be able to run up and down and track back also. You have to be a special player(ribery for example) to be able to do both and even then munich keep the ball better than us.
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I agree with most of what you said here. However, Mourinho wants Mata to be that special player and getting him out of his comfort zone is the first step to achieving that. Ozil and Sneijder have been able to adapt their games similarly in the past and both became even better than before they met Mourinho.

Also, we should not forget that Oscar is also a very special talent and he has been delivering really well with the little run he's been given in the team despite being much younger and much less experienced. Oscar is not Josh mceachran, he's actually Brazil's number ten so is not just some upstart as many have made it appear.

we cannot keep the ball so mata etc get shattered.

we would see our perfromances and results pick up if we played my formation thats a fact

Tempers are waining a bit now

Good article.
Fair assessment.
But Mata needs a cuddle from the fans

Izuta true true but then again sneijder and ozil played for better teams in their time and I never see them every week so do not know their workrate/tracking back abilities. Mata has carried us for 2 years attacking wise, maybe instead of thinking about poking holes in his game we need to look at other players.

Hazard, Our strikers, if schrulle doesnt improve by january etc.

So far only players IMo to hold their head high and be counted are definately cahill, Terry, cole and ramires.

I think mata is the best attacking mid in the premiership and should be allowed licence to roam, we only play one striker so its not asif we are cutting out 3 people, just a striker and mata. If he started to play(not 20 minute cameos) I believe we would see a huge improvement in our chances and creativity.
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In a big team like Chelsea, no one should be free of defensive duty whether it be Mata, Hazard or Oscar. We are not totally dependent on any single one like Spurs were with Bale.

And yes, we would see an improvement in creativity, goals and chances created in the short run. Nevertheless, the team stands to gain a whole lot more in the long run if mata works on his defensive responsibilities too.

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Izuta true true but then again sneijder and ozil played for better teams in their time and I never see them every week so do not know their workrate/tracking back abilities. Mata has carried us for 2 years attacking wise, maybe instead of thinking about poking holes in his game we need to look at other players.

Hazard, Our strikers, if schrulle doesnt improve by january etc.

So far only players IMo to hold their head high and be counted are definately cahill, Terry, cole and ramires.

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I agree with this whole heartedly and I think the double pivot(Hahaha) is the main root of our issues as well as our horrific strikers. Lampard should not be there any more. he just can't cover the ground as efficiently as before anymore

Barca have the ball for 70% of most games, if not more, so its so easier to track and put pressure on for the other few minutes of a game.
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Is not a major part of the reason they have the ball for 70% is because hard hard they fight to get it back?

How about we concentrate on the other 9 players who cannot keep the bleeding ball. Once you fix that then maybe we wont need every single player on the pitch to trackback

So true

We just don't hold a fear factor to other teams.
Don't see that changing anytime soon