Robben
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Pretty much agree with that. Proably after the match it was better that Robben didn?t play the secound 45minutes, because he wouldn?t have been able to shine. And If you play so deep in your own half two strikers are enough.
Gem
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I know we can't keep protecting Robben, but I reckon the pitch also had an influence on why he was taken off. Was cutting up nicely under everyone's feet. Plus the fact we have a cup final in a couple of days time. I'm not sure what back 4 Wenger will play, but, if on form, Robben could get quite a bit of joy against them.
Liam
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Yes, just as I was in danger of actually enjoying a Chelsea match on a purely footballing level. We strangled the life out of it in the second half though.
The collective sigh of relief from the Porto players when Robben failed to surface for the second half was audible.
I'd be disgusted if we sold him.
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Agreed.
Only the most churlish amongst us would deny Ronaldo has been the best winger in the Premiership this season (at least in terms of his football) however after him there is not another winger I would choose before Robben (Joe Cole aside, we already have him!)
OK I can't deny he is ridiculously injury prone but he is a player who has it in his locker to win a game in a blink of an eye - with our frightening slide toward Liam's 'Death of Football' formation I would say, more so now than ever, let us keep players like Robben in our squad rather than let them go elsewhere.
just
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Cristiano Ronaldo has just won the game for Man U against Foolham. And in all likelyhood the title. A game they should never have won. A game Fulham were best in throughout. It was a superb goal out of nothing. A surging run, a wonderful finish. And he has been producing the goods like that all season. That's what top players do, produce the goods week in week out, consistently, when it really matters, when the chips are down.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to be a first choice pick at Chelsea.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to silence all the doubters.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to be a truly world class player.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to be a first choice pick at Chelsea.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to silence all the doubters.
That's what Arjen Robben has to do to be a truly world class player.
just
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It's not simply about him scoring the winning goal today Mod. It's about how he played in a match where the team as whole under performed, and the way he's been playing all season. He was, (as he has been for much of this season), their best out-field player.
Surely you're not going to argue that Robben is even close to being the same player for us that Ronaldo currently is for United ? There is no comparison in terms of their consistency and overall effectiveness. Like it or not Ronaldo has been doing the "biz" all season for Man U and is a key player for them. And today, when the team were performing well below par, him and Van Der Sar stepped up and made the difference. Has there ever been a game when we've been able to say the same of Robben in similar circumstances. Especially, in such an important game.
Frankly I'm sick of arguing about the bloke. If some people believe Robben is the messiah, fine. I'm chuffed for them. Because I really want to believe that as well. I want to love Robben the way I did Pat Nevin, the way my dad did Charlie Cooke. But for that to happen he has to:
1. Get fit and stay farking fit.
2. Grow some bo**ocks and get stuck in.
3. Get some bloody consistency in his levels of performance.
4. Produce the goods in the big games, (tomorrow being a good place to start).
5. Convert his much talked about, undoubted "potential" into something more tanigible.
6. Start being the player for us that Ronaldo is for United.
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Just you are right, this season Robben hasn't been as Ronaldo for utd, and that I believe is due to injury.
We all know he has glass legs, but on comparison a fit, on form, with consistent games Robben, is as effective for Chelsea as Ronaldo for Utd. The 04/05 season proved that.
I honestly think the guy is our key to winning trophies this year, without Robben on the wing, we lack poke. Joe's out, and SWP is no Robben or Joe (yet).
Look at the Porto game, Robben off, the game changed.
Yes, he needs to be consistent (injury-wise), and keep form, but I still think we have a top quality player in him for sure.
We all know he has glass legs, but on comparison a fit, on form, with consistent games Robben, is as effective for Chelsea as Ronaldo for Utd. The 04/05 season proved that.
I honestly think the guy is our key to winning trophies this year, without Robben on the wing, we lack poke. Joe's out, and SWP is no Robben or Joe (yet).
Look at the Porto game, Robben off, the game changed.
Yes, he needs to be consistent (injury-wise), and keep form, but I still think we have a top quality player in him for sure.
just
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The 04/05 season didn't prove that. You can't keep harping back to that season Mod. 2004 is a long time ago. And you can't keep playing the injury card. Because if you remember, he was injured alot in that first season. What actually made his reputation in that season was the run of five goals in succesive games. Imagine if he hadn't had that initial impact. From what he has produced since he'd be judged as SWP MK II, and by Christ, rightly so.
As for key to winning trophies this year ! What, more key than Cech ? Than Lamps ? Than Maka ? Than JT ? What has he done, since that first season, to make that statement true ? Have you ever considered that, injuries aside, he has been sussed out ? Clever managers know how to stifle him tactically? Defenders, top quality defenders, know how to handle him ?
Porto ? Jose took him off because he knows, (from experience), he is a frigging defensive liability. And it was exactly the right move because he needed to shackle Quaresma. And Quaresma was far more dangerous than Robben.
Tell you what, lets watch the game tomorrow. If Whinger plays the kids and Robben rips their back four to shreds I'll hold my hands up and become a believer. But if Robben fails to deliever, (yet again in a big game), you hold yours up and admit he's not the messiah, he's just a very naughty boy.
It's time for us to stop arguing about him and making excuses Mod.
Stand up Robben and prove you're the real deal. Cardiff, tomorrow. Be there.
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I still think it was a bad decision to take Robben off (for the sake of argument lets assume the talk of him bieng injured is nonsense - if he was injured then of course any talk of it being tactical is nonsense).
I totally understand, and agree with, your point about him being a liability defensively (lets not forget how many times Joe was a removed from the game for exactly the same reason) however despite this I still think keeping him on the pitch would have helped us from a defensive perspective.
Yes I realise that sounds like double dutch (no need for anyone to point out how lame that is!) however Robben was providing us with a pressure valve. Nobody else was particularly worrying the Porto defence to the extent that they played deeper. Sheva was having a fine game but if isolated his threat was massively reduced. None of the central midfielders were particularly threatening and Drogs was having a serious off day.
Once Robben was removed from the game you sensed Porto felt they could defend further forward and they seemed to grow in confidence because we were failing to retain possession when we did win it.
However I do agree that Robben still has a lot to prove but I do think he is a vital member of our squad. Without wingers who can scare defences we will never be consistently good and never be consistently successful. Joe and Robben are the two we have (Sweep would struggle to scare Warren Barton) that can achieve this. So I guess what I am saying is that it is not particularly Robben we need to keep but a desire to play at least one orthodox winger. If Robben was to be allowed to leave then we would need a replacement.
just
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The reference to Cole as a "defensive liability" is a red herring Loz. We both know he worked on that part of his game, and it's a criticism that can no longer be levelled at him. And hey, if little 'oul Joe did it, so can Robben. If he really wants to be a regular, and a "team player" Robben will add that to his game no sweat.
But I'm tired of waiting Loz. A cameo performance at home against an already beaten 'boro, or a last minute winner against Wigan doesn't impress me half as much as Ronaldo's consistency and determination for United when it really matters.
Yes, when he went off Porto could defend further forward. Why ? Because Robben has .............pace. It would have been the same with SWP.
But I'm tired of waiting Loz. A cameo performance at home against an already beaten 'boro, or a last minute winner against Wigan doesn't impress me half as much as Ronaldo's consistency and determination for United when it really matters.
Yes, when he went off Porto could defend further forward. Why ? Because Robben has .............pace. It would have been the same with SWP.
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Not a red herring at all - Joe was a defensive liability for a period of time and yes he has worked hard and eradicated it from his game (and all credit to him).
My point was simply that Robben may well be 'suffering' for exactly the same reason Joe was and I do remember Jose getting pelters for it from quite a few quarters when it was Joe who was 'victimised'
Yes Robben has to learn the same way Joe did but don't forget Joe didn't learn this until he was about 23/24 - Robben is currently only 23 so maybe it is a tad unfair to criticise Robben in light of Joe's development when Joe didn't actually achieve it until the stage of his career that Robben is currently developing toward.
What I would also say is that Joe's weakness a couple of years back was losing possession in dangerous areas like near the half way line, his decision making was poor. I do think Robben is better at this now then Joe was when he was the same age. And they are both better than SWP at it which is why I disagree that it would have been the same with SWP.
My point was simply that Robben may well be 'suffering' for exactly the same reason Joe was and I do remember Jose getting pelters for it from quite a few quarters when it was Joe who was 'victimised'
Yes Robben has to learn the same way Joe did but don't forget Joe didn't learn this until he was about 23/24 - Robben is currently only 23 so maybe it is a tad unfair to criticise Robben in light of Joe's development when Joe didn't actually achieve it until the stage of his career that Robben is currently developing toward.
What I would also say is that Joe's weakness a couple of years back was losing possession in dangerous areas like near the half way line, his decision making was poor. I do think Robben is better at this now then Joe was when he was the same age. And they are both better than SWP at it which is why I disagree that it would have been the same with SWP.
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And you are sure about that ???
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