Ok Torres deserves all the stick he is getting lately but Luiz was at fault for both goals yesterday.

He lost Long when 'touch tight' for the first and when we were perfectly set to deal with the

winning goal he came inside when marking the wide man and then when realizing his mistake

dropped his arms behind his back and thus never closed down the cross correctly,

I have mentioned this before, whilst talking to Pat Nevin and I noticed in the last edition of

the Chelsea magazine he had him in his all time Chelsea side in the holding midfield role.

I maintain he has the ability to become a Chelsea and world great, but the man who ironically arrived

during the same January transfer window as Torres still 'switches off' at times causing problems as

well as goals.

Going forward with the ball at his feet and his range of passing and ability to hit the killer ball and

onion bag from distance or in the box are not typical of a Centre Half.

I am not saying a typical holding midfield role is his best position, but when Ramires is not avallable

he can play in the '2' behind the #3# and would be a tremendous asset there if we are chasing a goal

or indeed with JT and Cahill defending behind him will have less pressure in picking up players.

Defensively at set pieces we would have an 'extra header of the ball' as he tends to defend better

when he does have time to think about it, this may explain his raw attitude to things in general when

defending.

I'm less sure it's down to personnel, i'm more inclined to look at the coaching side of things.

We are leaking goals whatever combination is put out (which is also a coaching decision by the way) so somewhere along the 'line of responsibility' the way the team is coached defensively has to have some bearing on our apparent 'haphazard' defending.

For example, surely Luiz would not be allowed to continue to race forward, and then stroll back if the coaching staff didn't 'train him' that way all week??

Totally agree, and if they don't train for it, and don't like him doing it, then why do they allow him to still do it ?

e2a: Maybe the BIG man wants it this way???

Could you not of just posted this in the defence thread ?

Could you not of just posted this in the defence thread ?

There are some seriously anal folk on this forum these days.

Was Matic included in Luiz transfer?

Was Matic included in Luiz transfer?

Yes

He just signed a new contract with Benfica and is taking good critics as I heard. I'm thinking was it worth it after all...

He just signed a new contract with Benfica and is taking good critics as I heard. I'm thinking was it worth it after all...

No, but he's not a top class midfielder.

Barcelona would prob give us at least what we payed for Luiz. With that money we should look at Okore or Goddin.

He just signed a new contract with Benfica and is taking good critics as I heard. I'm thinking was it worth it after all...

Take a good hard look at your reflection in the CL trophy and say that again.

Barcelona would prob give us at least what we payed for Luiz. With that money we should look at Okore or Goddin.

Good enought barca but not for us? ok.

Good enought barca but not for us? ok.

its not that simple. do you really think mascherano would work for us as a CB? hahah we would get absolutely destroyed.

barca play possession football, they need 'centrebacks' with good first touch and passing, somewhat pacey so they can keep the high line.

Luiz will be difficult to shift out of the team. He's the Brazilian lynchpin around which other Brazilians revolve, both internationally and at Chelsea. Hugely popular and influential, if he is upset or sold it may not go down well with the other Brazilians. In the long run future it's probably worth trying to curb his inconsistency than getting rid of him, and I think the right manager could do that.

No, but he's not a top class midfielder.

I agree, but he still has time to prove himself. He just replaced Javi Garcia in first team squad so we will see how he is developing, so far good it seems.

Take a good hard look at your reflection in the CL trophy and say that again.

Good enought barca but not for us? ok.

Who would you prefer Luiz at cb or Alex Song?

Point proven I think.

I agree, but he still has time to prove himself. He just replaced Javi Garcia in first team squad so we will see how he is developing, so far good it seems.

Understandably your keen to see the Serbs do well, but I really don't think he would have been anything more than a squad player at ours. Garcia has not exactly worked out well & if he was higher in the pecking order than Matic you have to wonder how good he is.

In my mind there is no doubt Luiz is a better footballer than Matic, he just need to learn to concentrate if he wants to stay in the side. He reminds me a bit of a much more skillful version of a young Rio Ferdinand (accept not being such an obvious c**t)

Play him in front of the back four.

Understandably your keen to see the Serbs do well, but I really don't think he would have been anything more than a squad player at ours. Garcia has not exactly worked out well & if he was higher in the pecking order than Matic you have to wonder how good he is.

I could agree on this, but I just thought that he deserved more time in our team. At least, he seems better than Romeu right now.

I have not put this in the defence thread because I feel the positioning of Luiz - in the main will solve everything.

For me, him in Central Defence is like playing Mikel Centre Forward.

Our Brazilian maestro would be played where I suggest by Sir Alex Ferguson among many I guarantee it.

He just signed a 5 year deal, he ain't going no where

Replying primarily to the topic title, isn't a big part of the problem that David Luiz repeatedly strays away from a back four position? As noted elsewhere, given the frequency of his forays, you have to suspect that Luiz is actually under instructions to go forward at every given opportunity.

I can't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that repeated failure to follow instructions would not be tolerated.

Replying primarily to the topic title, isn't a big part of the problem that David Luiz repeatedly strays away from a back four position? As noted elsewhere, given the frequency of his forays, you have to suspect that Luiz is actually under instructions to go forward at every given opportunity.

I can't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that repeated failure to follow instructions would not be tolerated.

Well, if he plays the way he does under instructions, I'm starting to worry about the sanity of our coaching staff.

Replying primarily to the topic title, isn't a big part of the problem that David Luiz repeatedly strays away from a back four position? As noted elsewhere, given the frequency of his forays, you have to suspect that Luiz is actually under instructions to go forward at every given opportunity.

I can't know for sure, but I strongly suspect that repeated failure to follow instructions would not be tolerated.

Exactly... Then Mikel fills in for him no problem. No one complains when Terry bombs forward. It's how RdM wants to play.

Edited November 19, 201213 yr by Stim

With Terry being absent there is no one there to give him sh*t....see what happens when he plays alongside Terry in difficult games...different player

Luiz will be difficult to shift out of the team. He's the Brazilian lynchpin around which other Brazilians revolve, both internationally and at Chelsea. Hugely popular and influential, if he is upset or sold it may not go down well with the other Brazilians. In the long run future it's probably worth trying to curb his inconsistency than getting rid of him, and I think the right manager could do that.

I think Luiz is a big character and a pretty much self-elected senior member of the squad. For me though he is not an anchorman and no JT and seems to make silly mistakes (anyone can make a mistake so no one should confuse the 2 pls) every 3 days or so and sadly from a centre half point of view baffles me beyond words. :-( sad face

Luiz will be difficult to shift out of the team. He's the Brazilian lynchpin around which other Brazilians revolve, both internationally and at Chelsea. Hugely popular and influential, if he is upset or sold it may not go down well with the other Brazilians. In the long run future it's probably worth trying to curb his inconsistency than getting rid of him, and I think the right manager could do that.

I agree.

I understand the frustration with Luiz but I'm not prepared to give up on him. Granted his mistakes have become too frequent. However, he is still young and his temporary lapses of concentration etc. can be worked out. Calls to get rid of him are over the top. Knee jerk reactions to his recent performances don't help. A little patience is required to rectify the situation. When at his best he is world class.

I have seen a sufficient number of good performances from him to realise he can be a success. I believe that when he dispels his "schoolboy antics" he will become a consistent world class defender and the right manager can help him to do that.

Edited November 19, 201213 yr by Randy36

I agree.

I understand the frustration with Luiz but I'm not prepared to give up on him. Granted his mistakes have become too frequent. However, he is still young and his temporary lapses of concentration etc. can be worked out. Calls to get rid of him are over the top. Knee jerk reactions to his recent performances don't help. A little patience is required to rectify the situation. When at his best he is world class.

I have seen a sufficient number of good performances from him to realise he can be a success. I believe that when he dispels his "schoolboy antics" he will become a consistent world class defender and the right manager can help him to do that.

Mistake's are understandable, once, to keep making the same mistake's over & over is basically bad defensive understanding, if it is condoned by the coaching staff, then they are turning an able defender into a unreliable team player.