Jonty

I'm going to preface this comment by saying that this isn't a dig at Ivanovic, hence why i've posted it in the Jose thread which seems to be the place for general tactical debate. As this graphic regards the 13/14 season, and from memory Ash still was the first choice LB for much of the season and Dave and Ivanovic rotated at RB until Dave replaced Ash at LB for the last few months, I don't think he can be held entirely responsible. This graphic shows that nearly every goal we conceded came through play on our right hand side. What does this mean? Haven't a clue as can't remember who played where or how those goals came about. But its interesting in terms of: Tactically, why is this happening? Surely this is something Jose would be aware of? Is Ivanovic, Cahill or whoever played right wing for much of that season to blame? No answers from me, just an interesting graphic to prompt some discussion given our woes so far this season.

It's crazy that we scored the 2nd most goals in the league last season, and won the league, considering that no-one in our team is allowed to attack hey? I'm also wondering where all those defensive workhorses got to this season, considering we've conceded the 2nd most goals.

For the latter half of last season we'd score a goal then try to shut up shop, so teams had no reason to be scared of conceding more goals. Teams aren't scared of coming at good teams (and we were a very good team last season), they are scared of coming at good teams that will attempt to embarrass them if they throw bodies forward. City are an example of this and Arsenal are too. Not that Arsenal are a better team than us (far from it), but the way Arsenal play other teams know they'll continue to come at them. Of course this sometimes results in Arsenal getting done.

I don't think he's any less technically gifted than Drogba. The only striker of Costa's size I can think of in recent years being far more technically gifted is Ibrahimovic.

He's worth the money for his long shots alone. Having someone in the team that can actually score from outside the box would force defenders to rush out to stop him from shooting, creating gaps for the likes of Hazard, Willian, Pedro and Costa. And if they don't close him down he'll just whack it in the top corner.

Costa frequently dribbles past defenders, in fact he went on a great run only yesterday that nearly resulted in a goal. To say he's not technically gifted or light years behind Falcao in that department is just absolute nonsense.

He's still quite shaky on the ball and can't get a good, quick pass out to up the tempo of our game, but for a no-nonsense brutish defender he's very good at what he does. Definitely needs a CB that is good on the ball next to him though.

I can't think of any occasion or event that would require him to be in the team.

Oscar was terrible for 2/3 of last season and we managed ok, I really, really don't think if we had Oscar we'd suddenly be playing excellently.

Palace aren't exactly Real Madrid are they.

Thought it was a pen on live viewing, but on the slow mo replay it looks like he got the ball, so no it wasn't a pen. edit: Just realised from barak's comment you're talking about Zouma's pen shout (I thought you meant Diego's), well yes by the letter of the law its a pen but so is just about everything else that happens at a corner.

If Ivanovic backed off his man any further he'd be standing high enough in the stands to get hit by one of Willians shots.

Thanks JoseMourinho you always know exactly what to say.

Don't think he really did anything good, nor anything bad. You wouldn't expect him to take many risks at his age and with his limited first team minutes, but still I wouldn't say he did better than Matic or Fabregas. He's just held to a far lower standard.

Lose to Man city...buy Pedro? Lose to Crystal Palace...buy Pogba?

Can you delete his post and the ones that quoted it? Really makes this forum look bad.

He's made quite a few tackles, i'm sure if you went back and looked through the stats he's been one of our top tacklers this season so far. He's given the ball away sloppily a few times no doubt, and has gotten turned a few times, but he's also made some very good passes and some very good tackles. I don't think hes been much worse than pretty much anyone else on the team.

Courtois Dave - Zouma - Cahill - Rahman Fabregas - Matic Pedro - Kenedy - Hazard Costa Hopefully will be a new signing between now and then but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Give Pogba his wage plus Ivanovic's, simples.

I wouldn't lump the other two in with Ivanovic. Fabregas has still had his moments in pretty much every game this season.

This is like the Torres saga all over again, except theres 11 of him.

Alright thats it, time to start playing Ivanovic in midfield and hope that PSG buy him for 50 mil.

Did Ivanovic inherit Torres's seat on the team bus or something? It's unbelievable how bad he's become in such a short space of time. He's nearly as bad as Conor Wickham who is absolutely robbing Palace, can't believe that he actually gets paid to play football. That being said he'll probably score now i've said that.

Remy himself is more than capable of leading the line..

If we're willing to pay almost 40 million for someone they are going to be getting significant game time. Let's keep in mind that we played Torres over Drogba, Sturridge, Eto'o, Anelka and Ba for 5 years because he was 50 million, regardless of how sh*t he was.