Atletico are the closest example of a team the plays like a Mourinho Chelsea team, just a better version at the moment, main difference is having the guys who can punish mistakes and score goals.
Snakebauer007 said:Luiz has been playing midfield all season, of course when ever convenient......
Snakebauer007 said:The more I see Courtois, the more I wonder who the hell will be in goal for us next season
So what is the point about the 6 defenders it was a shitty headline on Soccernet(typical lazy Mourinho criticism)? This is the third(maybe 4th) manager who deployed Luiz as a midfielder and he has seen more success there this season than he has in defense(and in some big games), and it was the only choice to make with the suspensions/injuries. Azpilicueta on the wing was the direct cause of the first goal scored for Chelsea so if anything the reason for putting him there(pressing) worked. We aren't losing the tie because of the decision to start those 6 guys together, it was sloppy defending and lazy tracking back. And then honestly, Mourinho changing the strategy too soon when Atletico leveled.DLew On Roids said:
Give it a rest. Luiz had never played midfield as a professional until 9 months ago. He'll be playing central defense in Brazil this summer. He's a defender playing as a defensive midfielder. Jose also played Torres as a second right back for a while on Sunday--that doesn't make him a right back. I can understand the Luiz move, considering his positioning weaknesses, but let's not pretend he's really a midfielder just so we can meet our @ChelseaPRbot requirements.
You seem to think I look for any chance to slam Jose and Chelsea. Look back for something from me complaining about Jose's tactics on Sunday. You won't find any--because I don't go after Chelsea every chance I get. Jose set out his tactics, and it was Liverpool's responsibility to counter them. They failed.
If you can't have a sense of humor about Jose or John Terry or Roman or anything else about your club, you're missing out. Mocking one's own club's mistakes are some of the best parts of this.
Courtois' Dad already said Chelsea told him he is at The Bridge next season so we shall see. Thibault himself said he doesn't want to comeback and be a #2 nor go out on loan again. Tough decision with Cech still be a top Keeper and with him being a Blue for 10 years, but you can't risk losing someone this good this young, in my opinion.soxfan121 said:
Cech's deal runs through 2016, (as I'm sure you know and others do not, and while we all know contracts are disposable, I'm not seeing an obvious place to send him for his golden years, especially with Valdes on the free market (albeit off an injury) at the same time.
Who knows if he'll be happy playing in London after the sun and success of Madrid? Bringing him back after he ousted the parent club and played in a CL final would show him he's wanted. Sending him back out on loan might not be so easy or might sour the relationship.
Snakebauer007 said:Courtois' Dad already said Chelsea told him he is at The Bridge next season so we shall see. Thibault himself said he doesn't want to comeback and be a #2 nor go out on loan again. Tough decision with Cech still be a top Keeper and with him being a Blue for 10 years, but you can't risk losing someone this good this young, in my opinion.
It just never seems to me like goalies are sold for huge money(Buffon maybe being the exception many years ago). Courtois is not only young, but after this season he will have all the big game experience you could ask for, and straight up right now, might very well already be better than Cech.soxfan121 said:
I tend to agree but Cech might have five more prime years in him and Courtois having growing pains is not on Jose's preferred agenda. Plus, there might never be a better time to profit on a sale, both given Courtois performance this year and potential to increase his profile over the summer. Selling him would good for FFP reasons.
http://i.imgur.com/UPpc9EY.gifSoxFanInCali said:European trophies won as Chelsea manager:
Fat Spanish Waiter: 1
Special One: 0
It should be an interesting summer regarding the Keeper position, the holding mid position next to Matic, and of course at Striker and whether or not that includes a big signing and/or Lukakusoxfan121 said:The grass is always greener.
Cech is proven as world class and isn't old for a goalie. Fluke injuries aside, he's as reliable as there is in the world.
I have a hard time saying Courtois is better; he might be better; he also might be worse, especially if the pressure of replacing a club legend is a problem, or he has a hard time settling in London or if Jose just doesn't want to go with potential over a known quantity.
Then again, better a year too early than a year too late.
I always forget Cech is still only 31. Hell, he may have 10 years left in him if he's like van der Sar.soxfan121 said:The grass is always greener.
Cech is proven as world class and isn't old for a goalie. Fluke injuries aside, he's as reliable as there is in the world.
Who do you plug in at centermid instead of Ramires and Luiz?PedroSpecialK said:Ramires, Luiz, and Azpilicueta - along with the back 4 and Schwarzer - is 8/11 almost entirely defensive players on the pitch. At home. In the second leg of a 0-0.
I've made no secret of my love for Mourinho as a WWE heel in the football world, but he outsmarted himself today.
"And then honestly, Mourinho changing the strategy too soon when Atletico leveled"blueline said:Haha, no criticism of Jose after he obviously played the wrong line up tonight and got totally outclassed at home.
We were luck to use the Schwartz with Cech out, in the past it would have been Hilario or Turnbull and we would have stood no chanceDLew On Roids said:I always forget Cech is still only 31. Hell, he may have 10 years left in him if he's like van der Sar.
Speaking of 41-YOs, the RTE commentator said today that Schwartzer has had his shin guards longer than Courtois has been alive.
Snakebauer007 said:Who do you plug in at centermid instead of Ramires and Luiz?
Snakebauer007 said:We were luck to use the Schwartz with Cech out, in the past it would have been Hilario or Turnbull and we would have stood no chance
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:
You guys had interest in Ruddy not too long ago; with Norwich almost surely being relegated this year I think it's at least possible they explore that possibility once again.
But Cech IMO is still going to be the main guy; at 31 and still playing at a world-class level, with a defensive mastermind as his manager, I suspect Jose prefers the sure thing in Cech then in breaking in another young player.
https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801263597113344[URL="https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801263597113344sachmoney said:Not that this is particularly ground breaking about Chelsea, but I found these comments interesting as far as a player actually saying it:
https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801263597113344"]
mabrowndog is a dingus[/url]
https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801385697488896https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801385697488896"]mabrowndog is a dingus[/url]
blueline said:Haha, no criticism of Jose after he obviously played the wrong line up tonight and got totally outclassed at home.
"The difference was one moment in the second half, where the Atlético goalkeeper makes an impossible save from John Terry's header, an amazing save, and instead of 2-1 to Chelsea a few minutes later [we concede] a penalty," said Mourinho. "After that, there was only one team on the pitch. My team played with pride, honour and professionalism, but we had immediately the feeling the game was lost.
"From that moment the game was controlled by Atlético in a very mature way. They had complete control. They had the feeling the game was in their hands, and after that they were very solid, very mature, a real team. I knew that before, and I congratulate them now."
Asked specifically about the irony of Courtois being a Chelsea player, with the youngster's future next season still unresolved and Atlético keen to retain him for a further 12 months, the manager added: "No, he's the Atlético goalkeeper, and he did his job."
soxfan121 said:
I remember the comeback so early from back surgery, I was amazed then and continue to be.soxfan121 said:
Billy R Ford said:
I believe it was Terry who said he didn't mind spending his retirement "counting his medals in a wheelchair." I may not like him, but he's a tough s.o.b.
Nick Kaufman said:Well, I bet soccer players are aware of PEDs as well.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:
I know this is snark, but it actually does make me ask: is there testing in the EPL for this stuff?
NOTE WELL: I am not saying I think Terry or any particular player is on something. I'm asking because I honestly don't know if the league has policies in place.
Fuentes continually denied having performed illegal operations and also said that he did not work exclusively with cyclists but had other athletes as clients such as footballers and tennis players.[4]However in December 2010, he is quoted saying "If I would talk, the Spanish football team would be stripped of the 2010 World Cup".[5]
In January 2013, the Operacion Puerto trial went underway, and Fuentes offered to reveal the names of all the athletes he helped doping. The judge, Julia Santamaria, told him that he was not under obligations to name any other athletes others than the cyclists implicated. Fuentes stated that he supplied athletes in other sports with drugs and said: “I could identify all the samples [of blood]. If you give me a list I could tell you who corresponds to each code on the [blood] packs.”[7]
Morgan's Magic Snowplow said:
There is a testing program but its incredibly weak.
Nick Kaufman said:I was being serious though. If a recovery looks superhuman, well... IMO, chances are that some less than natural substances were in play.
fletcherpost said:
I'm adding Mr Terry to my list of living things that will survive the apocalypse. So far i have Cockroaches; Ozzie Osbourne; Lemmy; Keith Richards; Joan Rivers, ma mate Gibby and now John Terry.
sachmoney said:Not that this is particularly ground breaking about Chelsea, but I found these comments interesting as far as a player actually saying it:
https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801263597113344
https://twitter.com/laurensjulien/status/461801385697488896
Snakebauer007 said:Why would Hazard consider Liverpool? I mean I wouldn't mind Chelsea putting in a bid for Messi, but it seems pointless.
They qualified for the CL next season, but he could go to any team in Europe that offered a much more consistent opportunity to play CL football(its been 4 or 5 seasons?) and win trophies.SoxFanInCali said:
I don't think Liverpool would pay for him, and even if they did, I don't think Chelsea would sell him to Liverpool.
That said, if an offer came, why wouldn't he consider Liverpool? They will be in the Champions League, and he might feel the style of play would better fit his skills.