So Sterling has got 33 goals in 162 games.

Lampard was a CM and Sterling is an attacker.

Don't understand the comparisons tbh.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Liverpools defending - Shocking

Man City's defending - shocking

Arsenal without Koscielny against a half decent team - Shocking

comment by Always NPE - 1,000,002 (U20804)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by CurrentlyInChina84Again (U11181)
posted 4 hours, 6 minutes ago
You're right that I don't watch Walker as much as a Tottenham fan did or a City fan will. But we are just stating opinions here. I don't think he would be first choice for England when Gary Neville was in his prime. You don't play at the highest level for 10 years if you're not a top player. We've had many players who could fill in but never truly replaced him on the right. And one just has to look at Valencia at United to see what moder day full backs are. Valencia is one of the top RBs in the league. What you said about Walker I could say pretty much the same for him (though I do think Walker is better).

Onto Luiz and Always comments. I actually think that if he wasn't Brazilian with his trademark afro, he'd have it much harder than he has. I don't rate him as a defender. My opinion. No need to be upset about it. Hes average defender who is good with the ball at his feet. He's playing in a system that utilises him well. Even Lee Grant put in a world class performance last year against us has had a few blinders but that doesn't make him a world class keeper. Accept that people will disagree with you and move on.
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Hitchens razor: Any opinion made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence

Points dismissed.
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OK, I'll dismiss your points. Thanks for telling me that your opinions are useless.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Luiz is a solid defender in a system that suits him, in a back three it can be easy to coast and use others to look good

You spouted about his afro and being Brazilian working against him, something I think gave him a much easier time. You presented no evidence yourself. Only your own opinion and now you are talking about stats and empirical evidence while you presented none in your comments.

If you find others opinions about a player you like offensive, then just use the filter button.

comment by Thudd (U1029)
posted 1 minute ago
Liverpools defending - Shocking

Man City's defending - shocking

Arsenal without Koscielny against a half decent team - Shocking

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Because Arsenal and City are trying to copy a boring defensive system and their players do not know how to play it. So its leading to mistakes. Most players in this country grow up playing a flat back 4. Its what they feel comfortable with and are better with it. Take Luiz as an example. He is probably the best at playing the free extra centre back position. But when Chelsea used him in a flat back 4 he was awful. So they sold only to buy him back at a loss for their new system.

Klopp has always had problems organizing defences. Its because his teams press very high and so can be counter attacked.

We didn't buy him back at a loss, Luiz's sale to PSG is still one of the most expensive sales of a defender of all time, £45m. Bought him back at £30m

comment by Kunta Kinte Kante Conte (U1641)
posted 21 seconds ago
We didn't buy him back at a loss, Luiz's sale to PSG is still one of the most expensive sales of a defender of all time, £45m. Bought him back at £30m
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It is if you take into account his age. Ignore the recent price inflation.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Always NPE - 1,000,002 (U20804)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Jenius99 (U4918)
posted 13 minutes ago
comment by Kunta Kinte Kante Conte (U1641)
posted 21 seconds ago
We didn't buy him back at a loss, Luiz's sale to PSG is still one of the most expensive sales of a defender of all time, £45m. Bought him back at £30m
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It is if you take into account his age. Ignore the recent price inflation.
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Not really if you take into account PL prize winnings from his vital contributions for us.
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Er what? Do you think its usual to sell players and then buy them back? Its admitting you made a mistake selling him in the first place.

Its immaterial if he cost you more or less. I could nitpick and start bringing in loyalty bonuses paid on exit, signing on bonus when you bought him again, agent fees etc. Obviously you sold him because he was not wanted. And then Conte wanted to implement a new system, one he had with Italy and then brought him back.

Its an embarrassing mistake. But worthwhile admitting and rectifying because he was perfect for 3-4-3.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

So do you think Luiz would look as good in a flat back 4?

comment by DubbedTheNewWenger90 (U19529)
posted 7 hours, 18 minutes ago
So why don't we see another Campbell, Ferdinand, Thuram, Romario, Rivaldo, Henry, etc, on a regular like we used to?
In particular cbs. The level of defenders has gone downhill for one. Ffs Ramos who is a good player is probably considered the best one right now along with other decent ones. Same with strikers and players in other positions.
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This must be a WUM, otherwise why would Romario be included?

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

To squash the 'defending has got worse' myth:

With the exception of a few years (Chelsea 04/05 winning year) last year the top 4 conceded 140 goals in total. Less than any year from when the PL started to 03/04, (top 4 conceded less for about a 5 year period).

Revisionism perpetuates so many myths in football. Plus with footballers being analysed more thoroughly and by a higher quality of punditry means the best lose their 'shine' and make people underrate current superstars.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Also:

David Luiz was excellent for Chelsea in the year before they left & especially the CL run in (apparently was poor for PSG) and been excellent since he has come back.

Sterling is quality and has the 2nd most goals and assists for any U23 player currently in world football (Berardi first with 57, Sterling second with 49, Draxler third with 48); considering his game isn't about goals but is actually about dribble penetration. It is clear that people let pro-Liverpool media bias affect their opinions.

comment by Always NPE - 1,000,002 (U20804)
posted 30 seconds ago
He was good in a flat back 4, many times for us.

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I don't think you are getting my point. This discussion, that you hopped on, was about formations.

My point was that the reason why you are seeing mistakes at Arsenal and City defensively is because both those clubs are changing to a more defensive approach that you get by playing an extra defender. That takes time to practise and to buy players that are more suited to it. Arsenal are miles of it in my opinion and I have made that point to my fellow gooners. City are closer because they do at least play a holding player in front of the CBs. Although their CB doesn't come into the midfield either at the moment. Spurs are the closest to Chelsea in this new fashionable formation.

Chelsea have done well with the system because you went out and purchased the right skill players to make the system work. And one of those players was Luiz. I think you are sadly mistaken if you think Chelsea would have gone back for Luiz for a flat back 4. We destroyed you at the Emirates with Luiz in back 4 last season. He is patently not good enough in a back 4, which is why Luiz was sold in the first place.

These new defensive formations are leading to a poor display on the pitch. Poor formulaic stuff rather than what made the premier league such a famous brand.

comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
Also:

David Luiz was excellent for Chelsea in the year before they left & especially the CL run in (apparently was poor for PSG) and been excellent since he has come back.

Sterling is quality and has the 2nd most goals and assists for any U23 player currently in world football (Berardi first with 57, Sterling second with 49, Draxler third with 48); considering his game isn't about goals but is actually about dribble penetration. It is clear that people let pro-Liverpool media bias affect their opinions.
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Do you know where Ross Barkley comes in that list?

8th (37 total)

https://twitter.com/socanalysishq/status/901437437288882176

Alli can't be far behind I'm guessing.