In Dave we trust...

He did a few good blocks but I thought he was really poor, positionally at least. He left Cresswell in too much space a few times, I love Dave but tonight he made me realise how good James is.

James is better for sure, but not a bad back up at all.  

Am I the only one who’s not a fan of Azpi this season? The effort is there but his positioning is abit off and he’s no use at defending set pieces.

Everytime we concede a corner Azpi looks like a dwarf marking a giant.

47 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

Am I the only one who’s not a fan of Azpi this season? The effort is there but his positioning is abit off and he’s no use at defending set pieces.

Everytime we concede a corner Azpi looks like a dwarf marking a giant.

He looks about a 1/4 of the player he did two years ago. Great bloke, highly underrated player throughout his career, one of our most consistent performers, but his time is definitely coming to an end now. 

He has done a great job filling in for James and has been involved in most of our best wins this season. Surprisingly both him and Emerson did a solid job to cover for James and Chilwell.

Dave was already significantly weaker last season when it came down to clearing crosses and marking his man on the far post, this season his own crosses are far less dangerous but he's still someone that we can rely on.

He has lost a bit of pace and it really shows, I was surprised to see Declan Rice outpace him in the West Ham game. 

I felt we were weaker with him in the side, which is a shame, but it looks like he's going to have to be backup from now on.

Going forward there's no comparison between him and James, and I feel like, whilst he's better defensively, there's not much in it at the moment. James is young and rash, but should improve that side. Dave's positioning hasn't been great for a few years.

I think Azpi reads the defensive game better yet has lost a yard of pace, James is good going forward yet when beaten by his man or is caught out of position tries lunging tackles that normally get him booked and the opposition score from the resulting freekick (pre-Mendy).

Villa not surprisingly targeted him down the left, he didn't do too badly, if not for Christensen's cock up he may have got away with not being exposed for their goal.

If what is being reported is true, then he is one of the players that will come out of this situation with his repuation intact.

Too many ego's in the game, not enough Azpilicueta's.

9 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

If what is being reported is true, then he is one of the players that will come out of this situation with his repuation intact.

Too many ego's in the game, not enough Azpilicueta's.

If anything he has gone up in my estimations, and I wasnt sure that was possible. One of the best professionals we have had at the club, and pound for pound one of the best signings. 

Not so done after all, just needed a new role, he looks really good in that right side in a back 3. Should probably switch to James if we go back to a back 4 though.

Edited January 31, 20215 yr by DidierDrogbalala

 

Jose wasn't exaggerating when he said a team of 10 Azpi will win the game every time. 

Looks better suited to the RCB position in the back three than he does as a right back now. 

Lost half a yard of pace now, which is to be expected but still a quality defender. Really good at creeping forward into that underlap area behind the wingback and right sided forward and creating some space either for a deep cross or recycling possession. 

19 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Looks better suited to the RCB position in the back three than he does as a right back now. 

Lost half a yard of pace now, which is to be expected but still a quality defender. Really good at creeping forward into that underlap area behind the wingback and right sided forward and creating some space either for a deep cross or recycling possession. 

Mostly he did well last night, though he did cause some problems going out to their winger (saint maximin I think) and not getting near him, left our right side exposed. Hes also suddenly decided to become John Terry at set pieces which is useful... 

Just now, dkw said:

Mostly he did well last night, though he did cause some problems going out to their winger (saint maximin I think) and not getting near him, left our right side exposed. Hes also suddenly decided to become John Terry at set pieces which is useful... 

Can only assume he was instructed to get tight to Saint-Maximin or double up on him to help out Hudson-Odoi and stop him being isolated against a tricky player. 

2 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Can only assume he was instructed to get tight to Saint-Maximin or double up on him to help out Hudson-Odoi and stop him being isolated against a tricky player. 

I expect so, but I think that showed a problem with having CHO and Dave on that right side against a very good player. CHO was up field and Saint Maximin got behind him quite a few times, leaving him with Dave to beat who, god bless him, just doesnt have the legs anymore and really struggled. Thats not a dig at CHO as its just not his natural position, I think I would prefer James there in future games if the opposition have dangerous wingers etc.

He was quality tonight, was a shout for man of the match I thought.

He's done really well since coming back into the team. Really suits that back 3 and I think we've benefited from his leadership and experience with him back on the pitch. 

Have to praise Dave for his last perfomances....normally one of the first who gets a lot of stick. Solid like a rock and a reason why we get many clean sheets. Great Capitan

Yeah he’s been very good under Tuchel. Great to see! It does make you think due to age, he’s much better in a back 5 than 4.

"I have the maximum respect, for me it's unbelievable what he does. What a pleasure to have, what a gift to have a captain like this... If you have a guy so humble, so full of quality, so ready to give everything to the team, so humble and straightforward with a smile every day in training it's a gift for every manager." - Tuchel

Dave is now 10th of all time in history of Chelsea appearances with having played 411 matches..

5 hours ago, Gol15 said:

"I have the maximum respect, for me it's unbelievable what he does. What a pleasure to have, what a gift to have a captain like this... If you have a guy so humble, so full of quality, so ready to give everything to the team, so humble and straightforward with a smile every day in training it's a gift for every manager." - Tuchel

Dave is now 10th of all time in history of Chelsea appearances with having played 411 matches..

Unless we produce a world clas youth goalkeeper who gets in our team at 18 I dont see Choppers record being broken. Thought JT had a good chance but he fell short.

15 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Unless we produce a world clas youth goalkeeper who gets in our team at 18 I dont see Choppers record being broken. Thought JT had a good chance but he fell short.

I don’t think anyone is catching Chopper. If someone looks like getting close he might decide to roll back the years and end their career