Man short in midfield (NOT GARCIA).

[Bluedj]

Your spot on Ted, he's breaking up lots and chasing everything down in midfield, it would be great to have someone like that

[Ted Hughes]

Your spot on Ted, he's breaking up lots and chasing everything down in midfield, it would be great to have someone like that

Jon Obe Mikel, by contrast, has almost cost them two goals in the last ten minutes, not by being in the wrong place, but purely by being shit.

[Twobob]

The job David Luiz has done for Chelsea v Liverpool first half, is a kind of average version of what I'm talking about. He just chased down about 4 Liverpool mids one after the other, not stopping any of them, but causing all of them to release the ball quickly. We would have had a big hole there, with the Liverpool players able to turn, look up, & Suarez to run in behind or in front of our centre backs, leaving them a huge problem. No Liverpool player had the time to pick a pass, purely down to Luiz. But it was also Luiz who picked the pass to the Chelsea wide player for the 2nd goal. Chelsea are actually attacking better than usual, so have lost nothing. We are still winning at home without that kind of player but v Bayern home, we needed it & we may need it at Anfield & Arsenal.

Him and Ferdi in midfield - would be a great call.

[Ted Hughes]

He is goosed now though & Mourinho should give him some support.

[Bluedj]

<null>

I've never rated Mikel one bit, how he ever gets picked is beyond me...... Chelsea's Garcia

[Twobob]

He is goosed now though & Mourinho should give him some support.

He has been applauding him ... ;-)

I'll get my coat

[Blue Since 76]

The job David Luiz has done for Chelsea v Liverpool first half, is a kind of average version of what I'm talking about. He just chased down about 4 Liverpool mids one after the other, not stopping any of them, but causing all of them to release the ball quickly.

We would have had a big hole there, with the Liverpool players able to turn, look up, & Suarez to run in behind or in front of our centre backs, leaving them a huge problem. No Liverpool player had the time to pick a pass, purely down to Luiz. But it was also Luiz who picked the pass to the Chelsea wide player for the 2nd goal. Chelsea are actually attacking better than usual, so have lost nothing.

We are still winning at home without that kind of player but v Bayern home, we needed it & we may need it at Anfield & Arsenal.

It was something we needed against Palace, never mind away at Arsenal. Garcia did a purely defensive job yesterday which offered no help in us trying to break them down. When they started attacking he offered no help defensively either as he wasn't quick enough to get the ball back.

Fernandinho had done a great job of chasing people down over the last few games, but at times we'll need two doing that, rather than Fernandinho on his own with Yaya just standing there. Another proper midfielder is a must for games like Barca away, but I still think Rodwell or Milner could do it pretty well.

[blues2win]

I was gutted we didn't get Luiz. He's got bags of talent but was never a defender. Mourinho has had the sense to try him out in midfield and he may get his reward.

[nottsblue]

I was gutted we didn't get Luiz. He's got bags of talent but was never a defender. Mourinho has had the sense to try him out in midfield and he may get his reward.

Mourinho can take fuck all credit for this. Benitez last season used Luiz a lot in midfield and possibly even di Matteo(?)

[zuricity]

I was gutted we didn't get Luiz. He's got bags of talent but was never a defender. Mourinho has had the sense to try him out in midfield and he may get his reward.

Luiz is slower than Garcia. An average player too just like Garcia. They're are not bad players, but not players to build a midfield around.

[Tokyo Blue]

I was gutted we didn't get Luiz. He's got bags of talent but was never a defender. Mourinho has had the sense to try him out in midfield and he may get his reward.

Mourinho can take fuck all credit for this. Benitez last season used Luiz a lot in midfield and possibly even di Matteo(?)

This is true. I went to see Chelsea in the World Club Cup here in Tokyo and he played in midfield and had a very good game. My Chelsea fan mate and I both said before the match that that was where he should play long-term.

[blues2win]

Luis is not slow. He's got bags of pace. However, he was hopeless as a defender because he was far too inclined to go flying upfield without a care for his defensive duties.

[Ted Hughes]

Luis is not slow. He's got bags of pace. However, he was hopeless as a defender because he was far too inclined to go flying upfield without a care for his defensive duties.

This. Luiz would beat Garcia in a sprint whilst wearing lead boots, carrying an ox.

He was clearly blowing like fuck after an hour of midfield work though & sprinting was taking it's toll each time.

Baring in mind that when playing centre back, he likes to dive in attempting to nick the ball off strikers when only having a 20% chance of success, try dangerous passes out of his own penalty area, or go legging it upfield dribbling past oppo players leaving a huge hole in defence; I expect the Count will be on his trail to partner Vinny in our back 4 should he become available.

Seems exactly what we are looking for.

[blues2win]

Luiz is a strange mix. He's got bags of technical skill which you'd expect from a Brazilian player, he's really swift, good in the air can hit a sweet pass has a good shot on him etc . Yet for some strange reason he's been pegged as a defender which just doesn't suit him. He likes making surging forward runs. I think he's absolutely good enough to be a box to box midfielder. Maybe the lack of fitness you noticed Ted was because he hasn't played enough recently. Personally I think he'd do well for us in a central midfield three but even there his lack of discipline might make him a liability from time to time. If Mourinho can't get him to play in a more disciplined fashion I don't know who can. Maybe he'll end up in Spain. If Chelsea sell there won't be a shortage of buyers.