₦airaland Forum

Cant complain so far. . . . RVP should just top it off with hattrick for me. . .

FBS: what bleeping positives? he should have scored at least one of those two massive chances! rubbish player

Of course he shoulda scored. . . but when was the last time Torres got such chances? Just couple hours ago, one funnyman was posting stats telling us how few clear-cut chances Torres gets. If Sturridge's cameo doesnt tell you who is to blame for Torres' dearth of chances, then you're on a long ting.

Studge showed in 20 mins the kinda chances Shekpe keeper should be getting if he wasnt scared of making the run to put himself in position.

Im not worried if Studge leads the line here on in. Afterall same man scored 10 in 11 matches at Bolton and 13 goals in half a season on the right wing last year.

Torres vs Sturridge? No brainer! Let Studge get into his rhythm, those chances would be converted as he's shown us last season. Comparing Studge 20 mins in that position vs Torres last two years in that position is stupid. Studge is rusty.



Meanwhile, where are the prophets of failure who told us Lampard-less Chelsea is working?

4 points ahead to 6 points behind. #progress.

debosky: Anyone can change the game, or was Sturridge also a midfielder? If Torres is the problem as y'all claim, why wasn't Chelski able to score for over 30 mins after he departed?

At least the replacement striker got chances thanks to movement not hiding on the pitch like Torres.

Sturridge has shown for the last two seasons that he can score goals. Missing two chances can easily be put down to rustiness having warmed bench all season.

Easy decision - Sturridge leads the line from now till Jan and if he hasnt produced by then, we look for alternative.

Kai. Sturridge has missed two nice chances. But the positive is that he's getting clear chances while shekpelovers keep telling us shekpe does not get chances created or "he woulda been offside if he made a run " . All the chances Sturridge had today would never have materialised if we gave excuse of offside.

Torres is so poor in this game I'm cringing for him

^^^ Whats Bolton doing on that list? That was last season. What's his excuse this season?

Salmon
Sushi
Any rare or medium rare meat
Any boiled fish
Lamb (except in kebab or shawarma form)
Cucumber
Meatballs
Minced Meat

coogar: shut it - what about the penultimate season when chelsea lost to the same side.....villas-boas was the manager then too?



i was referring to 2010/11 season(that's 2 seasons ago)
lampard was 2 yrs younger - i made that comment even before the start of last season.....so it was obvious i was talking about his performance in 2010/11.....lampard is long gone now.....he cannot cope again

mikel has now come of age.....
with a hardworking player like ramirez beside him, mikel is the dog's bollocks! no vex.....you want lampard to still be running the show like scholes( it's not gonna happen)

Stop shifting dates ninja. 2 months after your statement you started attacking Lamps all because of Shekpe keeper.

2011 till now is not 2 years.

The same Lamps you are talking about covered the moat ground per minute for Chelsea last season.

Whilst you were busy writing him off he was busy making the difference in the UCL.

All your rants are solely tied in to shekpe keeper.

You used to be Mata no 1 fan last season and now for same reason you keep dissing Mata labelling him self seeking. All because of shekpe keeper.

If Mikel played behind shekpe keeper you would give him same treatment as well.

Niggas like speaking English

The guy said he would judge an underperforming Torres when he starts playing with Mata and Studge

After couple games he said "it went well as anticipated"

Now he is claiming he never said Mata and Studge would "Make Torres better ".

What then was he anticipating to go well?

So Studge and Mata were his first hope for Torres.

By 2012 attention had now shifted to Hazard and Oscar to redeem his beloved shekpe keeper. Now he is denying it, even though the same guy famously told us after Newcastle game that now we have players who finally understand Torres movement.

Everything else na English. Ninjas know we don't need to get into semantics. It is what it is.

Who the hell scores bicycle kick from 30 yards?

Kai! That Zlatan goal has to be the best I've ever seen. Jesus!!!!

coogar: except that patrick collins did not remember liverpool won their last 2 league fixtures @ the bridge, general lampard played then and contributed nothing! without him this season, they gained a point - food for thought!

Of course, they were playing against Andre Wisdom, Suso and Sterling and bunch of no-hopers. Thats why Lamps murked em in FA Cup shebi.


Meanwhile, this time last year Lamps was your favourite while Mikel was mediocre. . . but because Lamps couldn't get your shekpekeeper firing, Mikel is now superb and Lamps is mediocre. . . you even told us Chelsea woulda won the league in 11 if Lamps was fit. . .

Of course Im just making things up. . . .ma memory is like an elephant. . . forget last season, dude said Torres would be judged only when Mataand Studge play LAST SEASON. . . Sturridge had been suspended for the first three games due to a red card he picked up at Bolton:


https://i47.tinypic.com/258nds1.jpg

That 33 year old pulled strings in UCL and FA Cup. Meanwhile Sturridge and Mata were joined to the anti-Torres list with Lampard, and now Oscar, Bertrand and Hazard have joined them on the same anti-Torres list.

https://i50.tinypic.com/wtvdu.jpg

Of course he talk that one. That was early last season. He said he would judge Torres only when Mata and Sturridge are part of the team. I told him Anelka is a much better team-player than Studge. Anyway make him go check in history. I no get time.

nateevs: 7 points behind Utd for a bunch of school boys are doing fine mate. Hazard - 21, Oscar - 21. I have done this before but I will do it again. Get some perspective dude and if you cannot, I will give you. Oscar is 3 months younger than Kakuta and Hazard is only 6 months older than Kakuta. Kakuta, we refer to as a growing footballer. To be talking about Hazard and Oscar in the realm of being 7pts behind United speaks volumes of their contribution. Both midfielders are age mates of Danny Welbeck and both 2 years younger than Tom Cleverley. To be critical of their game is disgraceful at the very least.

I remember. . . first you opened your pie hole to proclaim that "as everyone can see what Ive been saying for years, Lampard is not influential".

Then the story changed to dont compare Lamps to our new players, only compare to his first two seasons.

Then the story changed to "I hope you know these guys are age-mate with Kakuta".


Bros, me no get time for story. You said we would be better off without Lamps, and started hailing Stoke performance immediately, showing us how the team had improved without Lamps. . . so dont sell me future story now. I only want to know how we were 4 points clear when Lamps was regular, and now we're falling behind in the race. I no get time for story except how we regain our momentum and chase trophies. . . . keep age stories for Arsene Wenger, I want to see the INFLUENCE that you were talking about. . . . and for you to come and give account of your yarns by showing us the results to back it.

Even 33 year old league 1 defender like Swansea's Garry Monk claimed that Torres movement caused him no problems at all, these ones are telling us about Bertrand and Hazard.

Crossing the ball is the third option there and only for the guy at the back post.

The preferrable option is always the cutback
Second option is low cross fizzed to the near post (which is Torres run).
If you see someone coming in on the far side, then you cross it so as to miss out the guys in the centre.

At such full speed counterattack, you rarely see any player that can pull out the cross except he slows down completely.

So because Valencia got lucky that the ball went through Luiz leg who was too busy trying to hide his hand to prevent handball means Bertrand is the eediot whilst Valencia is the gangster.

Look at RVPs run. He ran to the front post, to drag the defenders away before checking his run then doubling back for the cut back. Mumu Torres was standing like statue waiting for cutback presenting Bertrand with only one target (cutback) which is blocked.

One mumu said he shoulda crossed on Torres head. . . his fellow mumu says please don't cross because Torres is not good at aerial balls, only clear cut chances.

Someone told us last season wait till Mata and Sturridge are in the team before Torres start shining. When that failed, wait for Hazard and Oscar. Now Hazard is an eediot who does not know how to deliver for Torres, although his fellow mumu posted gif of Hazard two months ago claiming that "finally someone understands Torres movement" . I don't know which of these 118 118 Laurel and Hardy characters is more stupid. Arguing together whilst contradicting each other.

Bertrand, Hazard and Oscar have now joined the anti Torres self seekers of yesterday such as Mata, Lampard, DD, Anelka, Sturridge, Malouda, Xavi and Iniesta. The man of unending excuses ran out of excuses long time ago if these dunderheads missed the memo.

I did not post that article for debate sake. All Chelsea watchers know he is scared of being in scoring position.

Meanwhile these our young boys need GENERAL LAMPS killer instinct and INFLUENCE cos I don't know what megedefegede they thought they were doing when Liverpool was there for the taking. Like Patrick Collins wrote in the Evening Standard, that was Lampards best game for Chelsea against Liverpool. Im waiting for troglodyte to report back on the progress of the team since he declared himself right on Lampard. Seven point swing to Man United I see. Hmmmm

[size=14pt]On Fernando Torres and Chelsea's 'lack of width'[/size]

Fernando Torres is failing to make basic, fundamental runs, and it's costing Chelsea chances on goal.
Fernando Torres. Where do you start with him? He might be the most polarizing figures in professional sports today, and for good reason. We all know the story by this point...he was one of the absolute best players on the planet for Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, and Spain. Chelsea paid an obscene amount of money for him, and he's been basically worthless in his time at the club.

In the past, we've examined things that Torres was doing (or not doing) that have caused him to struggle. Against Liverpool I saw loads of those same types of things, and I'm going to highlight a pair of golden opportunities that never came to be because of simple fundamental mistakes by Torres.

First, we're going to look at a very classic one or two touch counter attack that should have been a real problem for Liverpool. In the 62nd minute, John Obi Mikel intercepts the ball and plays his first touch to the feet of Eden Hazard. Here's what the setup looked like when Hazard got the ball:

https://i47.tinypic.com/bjhp49.png

This is an easy, easy chance to create, and it's the kind of stuff that I expected junior varsity players to be well drilled in from the junior high and pee-wee levels. Hazard has the ball wide. Torres runs to the far post, Oscar to the near. Juan Mata (just off screen) trails the Torres run and positions himself at the edge of the 18-yard box. Torres is two yards onside (Carragher), so make a hard run and give Hazard a target, Fernando.

Unfortunately, Torres does not make the run so that Hazard's first touch can be a ball played to the far post, and it forces Eden Hazard to take a second touch. Here's what he was looking at just prior to his second touch:

https://i47.tinypic.com/ornna0.png

Not bad, but things are getting congested. Hazard can still cross the ball to the far post if Torres makes the run, although the margin for error is getting much smaller. Still, Torres does not move and Hazard is forced to take a third touch of the ball:

https://i45.tinypic.com/2a792md.png

Now the opportunity is lost, and Hazard tries to cross the ball to Juan Mata who is just off-screen trailing the play. The correct pass would probably have been to Oscar in this situation, who has made a good decision and provided a decent outlet despite Torres growing roots. Mata would have actually been a great target had Torres made his run, as acres of space would have opened up behind him as well.

The best choice here was always a cross to Torres though, had he simply decided to make a run to the far post to provide a target. The most irritating part of this for me was the reaction of Torres:

https://i48.tinypic.com/devif4.png

This is Hazard's fault? You didn't run at all you [fun]ing idiot, what the heck is he supposed to do? He was clearly looking for an opportunity to hit you at the far post, and you decided to, well, do absolutely nothing except coast into a defender. This is basic, fundamental stuff here, stuff that I expected my high school teams to recognize immediately. You've been playing the game your entire life. This should have been a dangerous chance, and instead it's an easy clearance.

Next up, we'll look at one of the most perfectly set up opportunities to create a chance on the counter that I've ever seen. It happened just one minute after the buildup I just highlighted. Juan Mata plays a perfect first touch ball into space that Ryan Bertrand can run onto. Here's what it looks like as Bert approaches the ball:

https://i48.tinypic.com/23ium2g.png

This is amazing spacing, and again, this is basic, fundamental movement. I've numbered each of the players, as they all have a very easy run to make that gives Bertrand loads of options

They are:

1. Run to the near post. Hard. You are onside by several yards. Bert will have a great chance to hit you with his first touch if you do.
2. Occupy the space vacated by the run of Torres. Should the play break down, Bertrand now has a wide open option at the edge of the box to hit.
3. Set up at the edge of the box on the far post. By doing this, you can make a run to the far post on a chipped cross, allow Mata to dummy a pass to him and create a better angle, or make a run for Mata should the ball end up at his feet.
4. Provide an outlet for Bertrand should the play break down.

Easy, right? At worst, this counter should result in a defender or the keeper needing to make a tough play. So why don't we fast forward to the moment Bert gets to the ball and see what it looks like:

https://i45.tinypic.com/15oc51v.png

Why is Torres where he is at this point? The most notable part of this screencap is just how much everyone else in the picture has moved in the time it took for Bert to get to the ball. Everyone has run hard and placed themselves absolutely perfectly to create as many options as possible. Everyone except for Fernando Torres, who was the most important player in this particular buildup.

Bert had a golden opportunity to cross to the near post, but nobody made that run. That screws up the spacing for everyone, meaning Bert now has to take another touch. Here's what he was looking at just ahead of that second touch:

https://i46.tinypic.com/2s5z14i.png

Again, look how little the "center forward" has moved. Space is getting tight for Bert, and he looks like he's really only got a single lane left to pass the ball into now that the defense has had time to close down Mata. It's going to have to be a hard cross across the face of the net. Luckily, someone has recognized this and is finally running hard to meet that forthcoming cross.

There's another issue here, though. Look where he's running! Seriously, Torres is now running at an angle away from the near post. To my dismay, Bert's cross now gets wasted, as Torres is just a hair late to get to it. Even after being ridiculously slow to get moving, simply running directly to the post would have resulted in a chance. But no...the dummy has to run at an angle. Torres slowed the counter down because he couldn't make a basic run, made the wrong run when he did go, and wasted a second glorious opportunity just 60 seconds after he wasted the first.

I hear all the time that Chelsea lack width. That is just wrong. Chelsea lack the tools to take advantage of the width that they do have right now. In both of these examples (and there were many, many more on Sunday), Chelsea were in fantastic position to create a chance to score with a cross from wide. In both of these examples, no chance ever came because we don't have a player running into the correct positions to take these chances.

Frankly, that is all I care about. If Torres is costing Chelsea chances to score because he is not doing fundamental things correctly, it behooves the club to put somebody on the pitch that will make the correct decisions. This is all easily correctable, just make the obvious runs and the chances will come.

. . .


Ninjas wanna tear ma name/ with a smear campaign/
claiming I'm wack. . but nekked truth. . he's the one that wear that shame/
and his flow can't clear that stain/ so he bear that pain/
while I share champagne . . . with those who fear ma reign!/
I roasted every peer that came/ near ma flame/
and Streetwise paved a way . . but I repaired that lane/
so revere ma fame/ lest I air that frame/
From what I brought to the table. . . you better cheer ma name/


I've ruled with majestical splendor/ and a sense of adventure/
Sleakid could never win votes from any elector/
Been on the throne four years by the end of December/
Obama of FFR. . . it's my second semester/
and I’ll hijack democracy . . . when I'm extending my tenure/
And go for 'third term' like OBJ. . . cos I set the 'agenda'/
My raps get better and better/ cos I’m an intelligent fella/
So if you like my 'reign'. . . when you thumbprint. . . you best press the 'umbrella'/


I might send him some cheddar/ even lend a grand/ if he amend his plan/
'Inspector gadget'. . . I give alms. . . when I 'extend a hand'/
cos financially. . . he aint got no leg to stand!/

I might even give him money to ascend to jand/
then send haram/ to blow his plane. . .as it descends to land/
Claim he doing school clearance . . . lets commend the man/
but I suspect he scammed/ his entrance JAMB /
cos with his grammar, there's no way he could have read and crammed/ for his end exam!/
How much cash did he place in the Uni rectors' hand/
We won’t believe he’s holding certificate. . . unless he sends a scan!/

Like Mike pointed out, none of his raps distinguished/
cos he lacks in English/
and he tryna clash with linguists/. . . so his chapters’ finished!/
My ill, literate rhymes would do homie some harm/
for spitting Plantashun boy lyrics. . . that he wrote on the farm!/


He’s lacking flavour/ while I write rhymes for the fans to savour/
He ain’t a grand debater/ cos nothing that he draft is major/
How could this massive failure/. . . even rank. . . in my class and cadre!/
This rancid hater/ better stop his bad behaviour/
before I send goons to harass his neighbours/
Storm his whole compound with a gang of invaders/ and Maverick Sabres/
'Wolves in sheep clothing'. . . we classed as 'ram raiders'/

I'm no procrastinator/ . . he dissed me. . . I’ma answer later/
Afterall. . . I'm just doing his @zz a favour/
Landlord shiii. . .Im too busy stacking paper/. . . and looking to land an acre!/


Chicks wanna relax in my chamber/ I 'lay ma bed'. . . and romance a stranger/
Cos I excel on 'spread sheets'. . . while he a masturbator!/

Sleak get drowned in a fjord/ for facing insurmountable odds/
His best bet. . . is to grip his 'rosary'. . . and 'count on his Gods'/



oNe

Torres is on 7 goals presently I believe

He would prolly be on 10 goals by year end

That's half the season meaning he could prolly score 20 goals in a full season.

Yet everyone agrees he is a -1 in the team.

This is the reason I set up #Torreswatch so troglodytes wont come at the end of the season and point to the magical figure of 20 goals as evidence of a good season.

So please allow me to jejely update the #Torreswatch

3 good games in 17.

ritchboy: At least i still dey top 6, unlike some ninjas outside the top 20 [size=2pt]i.e Ipukulu Marines, TBOOGIE, Kaizer Panzers, The Horsemen, Chamokazzy etc[/size]

I'm in good company. . . as long as Tboogie and Kokomaster are around me, nothing spoil!!!

ritchboy: At least i still dey top 6, unlike some ninjas outside the top 20 [size=2pt]i.e Ipukulu Marines, TBOOGIE, Kaizer Panzers, The Horsemen, Chamokazzy etc[/size]

I'm in good company. .

RDM made a tactical tweak which somewhat alleviated the LHS problem today. He moved Ramires to the left hand side and moved Oscar to the right hand side. Our flanks weren't penetrated so much, but then again it could be because Liverpool did not have wingers. We'll see.

Of course Lampard was still failing the team from the physio room. Abi una no see how he failed to track Carraghers header? Curse of Lampard strikes again!

nateevs: Dunce. To play Lamps effectively is to revert to a 4-3-3. (The only formation Lamps can fit into by the way) We currently play a 4-2-1-3. Lamps cannot play in the hole as he doesn't have the technique to play in tight spaces, neither can he play in the double pivot as he doesn't have the legs to track back when he bombs forward and loses the ball. So the only way to push Hazard up front and accommodate Lamps "effectively" is to revert to a 4-3-3.

I only made a suggestion to solve a 'shekpekeeper' issue whilst simultaneously solving a 'Hazard' issue - ie sort out the leak on the left-wing and this eediot is here ranting about what position Lampard cant play. I could suggest a hundred other other formations where Lamps would be in the team.

What formation did Lampard play in when we hammered Spurs 5-1 or Napoli 4-1? I forgot you know, yet this dude typing the above and its true is sick and twisted mind.

The eediot is here ranting about bomb forward and cant get back, yet even Debosky is saying Mikel is lost getting back. Its all in his head.


Anyway, I dont have time. Just help me answer this simple question.


Nateevs said the defence would improve when Lamps is out the team. Its a simple case of holding this dude accountable to what he said would happen. Show me the improvement.


Anyway, I dont blame this eediot. Uncle Lamps was responsible for his shekpe keeper's failures afterall cos he didn't understand his extraterrestrial movement. Who remembers his last display of idiocy?

nateevs: https://i.imgur.com/y2VTm.gif


Exactly why I pasted the gif. It's especially for those who specialise in telling us Torres' movement is sub par with no proof when we continually tell them that the players around him need to be on the same wavelength.

Lamps failed Torres.
Lamps failed AVB.
Lamps failed Scolari.
Now Lamps is failing Mikel as a pivot partner (although these failings are even worse with Lamps out the team, which Im asking him to explain).
Lamps been out of action for over a month, still blaming Lamps
Marchisio had a field day running behind Mikel, and Mikel was directly responsible for Juve equaliser, yet he still found a way to blame Lamps.
Chelsea have conceded 32 goals in the 17 matches Mikel has played this season, yet Lamps is the one affecting such statistics from the stands.


What wont this guy blame Lamps for. The crisis in Syria is one of Lamps failings also.

Last Belgium match I watched hazard was playing as a striker hence I put him up there. It takes him away from the left where he is losing goals. What's the difference between that and Moses who has never played there before. Before I think of Moses I would play Sturridge if it's just about getting a finisher. The reason I moved hazard there is to get him away from the left wing. Same time shoring up the left wing I'm getting central midfielder who runs beyond the 18 yard box as Oscar does mot make that run. There are loads of tap ins to be had if a midfielder with the right runs and anticipation makes those runs.

Now a nincompoop is saying I am just trying to fit Lamps in. Who would not want the most deadly and consistent player over the last ten years in. Even if sturridge was the one upfront I would be dropping mikel for Lamps so it's not about hazard. You always build around your winners and champions.

The same nincompoop is saying "what's wrong with the team " that I'm looking for change.

You mean what's wrong with a team conceding the most goals in Chelsea history whilst struggling to qualify for UCL.

What was wrong with the team when same nincompoop was pulling out all tactical excuses to get lamps out the team. Where were we on the table? Yes, in 1st place with only 2 goals conceded. Can you imagine the hypocrite?

We are talking about someone who shoulda been run off this thread years ago. Someone who's been telling us reason why lamps shouldn't be in the team since 2008. He gets disgraced every single year since then. A nincompoop who came here immediately after UCL final to criticize the team. The same year he told us lamps shouldn't be in the team, lamps came home with 27 goals, 20 assists and the premierleague trophy. The same eediot told us the same thing last year and Fat frank came home with Barcelona and luka modric heart in his hand, the UCL and the FA Cup. Who dies not want a champion, winner, general in his team. This guy is a forking disgrace. Meanwhile the shekpe keeper he keeps giving us tactical reasons why he should be in the team is the biggest disgrace since Chris Sutton. This guy should be stripped, flogged and given the tyre necklace treatment.

If I'm ra /emenalo my first priority would be replace mikel in the next transfer window.

Until then I will drop Torres, play Hazard upfront, push Oscar to the left and play Lamps in Oscar position.

This will solve many problems.

Oscar Mata and hazard will still link up on tippy tappy, Oscar would sure up the left hand side whilst still drifting inside to play one -two's, Hazard will be isolated one on one more with defenders and score more than Torres whilst also dropping deep to link. Lampard will score a hatful by running beyond defenders which Oscar is not doing at the moment as he plays all his football on the edge of the box. Lampard will also play LCM and share duties with Oscar whilst Ramires continue to share duties with Mata on the right hand side.


So it would be :

. Hazard

. Oscar. Mata

. Lamps. Ramires

. Mikel



In one fell swoop many of our problems would be lessened, . . . . but I would still replace mikel in jan

At least now everyone can see the true motive behind nateevs telling us megedefegede tactical reasons why Lampard and not the main DM was responsible for Chelsea leaking few goals. . . . pure hatred.

So next time nathief starts telling you he can't play tip of diamond, left of diamond, doesn't press quick enough for AVB or that it's not about pace which Mikel doesn't have, its more because "Lampard bomb forward" - just remember that Nateevs holds illogical hatred for Lampard and making up plausible tactical excuses to sell to neophytes.

_________________________

Lampard is a true professional. A player who improves everyside of his game.

He is 7/10 at every skill in football whether defending, passing, pressing, tackling, touch, shooting etc

But few particular skills stand out : He is 10/10 in running (marathon man) , anticipation, composure, first-time passing and finishing.

Like Gary Neville (Mr Consistent) he will always be 7/10 overall, but at the sharp end of goals and assists, he is the best in the business.

Some players like Mikel are 10/10 in protecting the ball, 9/10 in passing, 7/10 in making interceptions but 0-3/10 in everything else.

Oscar is 8/10 in everything but 1/10 in running into the box.

Hazard is 9/10 in almost everything but 1/10 in defending and awareness and this 1/10 has already cost us 5 goals this season for example.

This is the difference between a pprofessional who works on his game constantly and others.

____________________

As for the neophytes talking about England, didn't England fans vote Lampard their player of the year two years in a row.

What changed?

Steve Gerrard had two Roy of the Rivers moments against AC Milan and West Ham and the nation was whipped into a frenzy by media that Gerrard would win England World Cup if Lampard stops cockblocking his position.

Lampard was subject to the most vitriolic witchhunt by day dreamers who see Gerrard making quickbursts and scoring Roy of the Rovers goals and think highlights players would win WC for England.

Lampard has always been better than Gerrard at everything except pace, crossing and long range shots yet some peeps thought Gerrard was Pele.

Guess what, Gerrard took the reins in 2008 qualifiers, totally disproving uninformed pundits particularly away at Russia where he disgraced himself and England didn't even qualify.

No mad man would ever look at both players in hindsight and put Gerrard above Lamps now.

When did Mikel concede only 15 goals in Premierleague season? 2004-2005?

Mikel was one of which players?

Please dont confuse Mikel with Makelele. Kharki no be leather.

I dont fault Mikel when we play low-blocks, but the dude is out of water whenever we play attacking footie.

Now you are telling us about Hazard and Luiz. You didnt think of all these when laying blames on Lampard. I already factored Chelseas new system before deciding that Mikel was not the man for the job. Funny how our left-back position has been under pressure recently. You never see such on the right-hand side, infact Ivanovic is playing in slippers right now - reason being Ramires plays toward the right of the midfield. The left-wing, although Hazard is not helping, I always see Mikel arriving there 2 seconds late.

When Lampard was playing, Cole was not under such pressure - it was Ivanovic getting torn apart in Monte Carlo by Atletico. Then Lampard was LCM and Mikel was RCM. Now Mikel is LCM and Ramires is RCM, all the pressure done shift to the Left-hand side where Mikel is.

Chelsea have conceded at least 8 goals from that wing in the last 6 games. Few months ago, Ivanovic was under pressure but we dont hear about that now because Mikel is no longer the one protecting his wing.

Go check the way Jenkinson demo Mikel before Gervinho goal.

You are talking about "Shakhtar putting high energy pressure on Chelsea". Last time I checked, Teixeira and Willian do not defend better than Mata and Hazard, but Fernandinho and Hubschmann support the system with energy, pace and awareness, something Mikel is thouroughly lacking.

As for whether Lamps was the one hiefly responsible for "carrying" the likes of Kalou and Malouda, no matter how much you downplay Lamps and upplay Mikel, you're on a long thing.

2010/2011, Lampard had hernia for 4 months. When he came back Chelsea was fifth in the table and scared of not qualifying for UCL. From January to May and 13 goals later, Chelsea finished second, only losing the title to Manure in a game at Old Trafford.

Who is carrying who?

All the midfielders were there with him when all the coaches in the world voted him 2nd best player in the world.

Who is carrying who?


Imagine the nonsense this one is yarning.

nateevs: Nothing to do with Shaktar's movement on and off the ball, ability to move the ball better, their tactics and setup, Torres firing blanks, "OSZAMA" (That's cool by the way) playing together for the very first season, David Luiz sometimes trying to deputise for Torres, our lack of proper wide players. Absolutely nothing to do with all this.

I like to catch ninjas. Few weeks ago, you did not mention all these, it was all Lampard you put the blame on, so once again, please tell me how the defence has improved since Lamps checked out?

Mikel has been slow since 2006 and I have maintained that Chelsea cannot play in the opposition half with Mikel holding. . . .since. . . erm. . . lemme guess. . . 2006!!!

nateevs: That's not ingratitude. It's spelling it like it is Diva. Especially as the topic of contention is midfield influence. Please read my post again.
20 goals a season does not equate midfield influence. Xavi will hardly get a goal but you cannot doubt his "midfield influence".
Need I go into the long list of influential midfield players who had nothing near 20 goals a season?
His goals were instrumental but that's were it stops. This is my view. Abrasive? Harsh? Insane? I am trying to care. I thought everyone knew this already.

There is wisdom and there is foolishness. You fall into the latter category.

Lampard in his heyday with Robben and Duff around him is far superior to anything you are seeing now. We are talking about ninjas that burn the Allianz arena down, ninjas who canter to the title and ninjas who concede just 15 goals in a whole Premierleague season. You are here yarning opata.

So because you have 3 or 4 skillas at the same time, it goes to show that Lampard's influence was overrated?

Can Hazard by himself do what Lampard did with Malouda and Kalou on his wings.

Can Mata by himself do what Lampard did with Malouda and Kalou on his wings.

Can Oscar do what Lampard did without support?

You dont know nothing about influence!

The same Lampard since 2007 dragged non-entities like Kalou and Malouda along with him to UCL finals, even to winning the Prem in 2010 with record no of goals scored by any Premierleague team, contributing 27 goals and 20 assists along the way whilst working harder and covering more ground than anyone.

If Lampard had likes of Robben and Duff or Hazard and co on his wings since, the team woulda done even more, especially those season where we lost the league by the odd game.

Nigga give respect where its due and stop being a doofus.

The same Lampard came 2nd in WPOTY, something that I dont think any of MaZaCar would smell top 5 in their career. Nigga thats INFLUENCE!

Meanwhile you are here claiming that even with all our skillas, struggling to get out the Champions League group whilst getting whitewashed all over the pitch by Shakhtar is proof that "Lampard wasnt influential". I dont remember Chelsea having any issue in group stage during Lampards career, so how does floundering in UCL Group stage prove that Lamps had no influence?

Hahahaha. Maybe couple wins against Arsenal and Spuds gassed you up. Guess what, in Lampards heyday, beating Spuds and Arsenal without breaking sweat is REGULAR ROUTINE!!!

Boy, you better learn some manners! Lampards team when he had Duff and Robben besides him would crush the current Chelsea team with no remorse, and he would score hattrick ontop Mikel Obi's head who could never track his runs!

You talking about players influence yet when Lampard was our only attacking midfielder of note, he took us to UCL final, won Premier League and numerous FA Cups plus was always first or second in the league. Between all three of MaZaCar, they might just about achieve that feat together, yet when Mata was by himself before Hazard and Oscar, where was he in the UCL? Getting subbed off on 60-70 minutes most times. Yeah that's am talking about - INFLUENCE!!! A ninja that can influence a game whilst playing with Malouda and Kalou even all the way to the UCL itself!

Silly boy!

nateevs: In fact, No one remembers we have Lampard in our squad any more and what is happening now is exactly what I have been trying to prove for years - that Lampard is not as influential and instrumental to our midfield play as you make seem and therefore is perfectly dispensable. It's taken just one season to prove that.

How did I miss this?

Hence every season you look for a tactical reason why Lampard should not be in the team.

We have a defensive midfielder who is completely inept at playing the kinda system we are set up for yet you convinced some folk that it was Lamps fault.

I have been saying since summer we need a new DM as we do not currently have one who ticks all the criteria needed.

You claimed if we get the no8 who "bombs forward" out the team, our defence would improve.

Mr Nateevs, please show us the improvement.

nateevs: Jeez. We are playing for the very first time in our history with an attacking midfield core of an average age of 22. Mistakes will be made, gelling will take time. Defensive responsibilities sometimes will be ignored. Tactical errors will be made. However, progress will be made. That's all that matters.

Nice good excuses for Mikel.

none of these were proferred last month. According to you it was all Lampards fault. As soon as Lampard gets out the team the defence will improve according to you. What happened to your theories. Guess what, the defence got worse.

You went to great lengths to defend Mikel. I tell you what, his defensive game is just as shocking as it has been whenever we play a highline.

You are here talking about "were 2nd in the league " and I'm complaining . One seem to recall that we were top of the league comfortably when you were looking for reason to get rid of Lamps.

Lamps will be back from injury soon, so nobody is "moving on " from Lamps.

Simple fact Mikel is shocking that's why peeps see how simple difference between Fernandinho and Mikel can make Shakhtar to dominate Chelsea.