Chelsea needed just a draw from that match, so in a way Jesper's goal was just the cherry on the cake. He did cross that ball for Desailly to head in, so he got the assist for the all important equaliser.

 

Next season we needed a draw at Old Trafford to secure second place and avoid Champions League qualifying matches and this was the goal that did it:

 

 

Sorry about the poor video and audio quality. It was the only video of that goal that I could find.

 

It's odd to see so many blue shirts in the box

If that was anyone from the current side, it would have been... Let me play in a nice little ball down the side and show how wonderfully 'creative' I am...

Dawdled on the ball too often when in a crossing position. Then manages to miss the forwards when he finally decides to cross.

 

Then hits a shot nearer the corner flag than the goal.

 

Other than that, he had a good game.

The only reason i think he got picked over Azpi was he's the acting captain. He wasn't awful as usual, should have done better with that clearance resulted in the goal, and for f* sake still couldn't put in the simplest cross.

He's just a shadow of himself. from the past season and now it seems he can't even cross to save his life.

After his shot that hit the corner flag, didn't he have a go at the fans for giving him abuse? If so, that really is stupid, I love Brana, but the fact that Azpi is on the bench is a crime.

After his shot that hit the corner flag, didn't he have a go at the fans for giving him abuse? If so, that really is stupid, I love Brana, but the fact that Azpi is on the bench is a crime.

 

Brana has been good since he got back after his injury. I'm not saying the fans should boo Baba, but it's not Brana's fault that Dave's on the bench.

After his shot that hit the corner flag, didn't he have a go at the fans for giving him abuse?

 

No, that didn't happen.

No, that didn't happen.

Maybe he was having a pop at another player, it looked like he was giving it to the fans after they all started booing him.

He's just a shadow of himself. from the past season and now it seems he can't even cross to save his life.

You've only just tumbled that have you.he's never been a good crosser. His club like right foot is too inconsistent.His effort in the 72nd minute sums him up in this regard for me.

^agree. He's done well - really well, for a lumbering centre half, growing into the role, which is why it's never a surprise to me when he fails to deliver on the ball, and also why I'm never overly frustrated at it.

Somebody mentioned he did well to get in behind... Well, most teams are quite content to let Iva have the ball. Sometimes, he'll manage to pull something out of the bag, but the vast majority of the time, he's quite useless.

What is most infuriating is watching his terrible defending. At least the last couple of games he has been relatively solid in that regard. Still doesn't change my desire to see Azpi as the first choice right back.

Edited December 8, 201510 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Should be in the team only if he is one of the central defenders, never a r/b, played adaquate last season, not so this.

Dave right & Baba left so much more natural pairing, why Jose can not see it, much like ignoring Bertrand ability.

Love the guy, but unfortunately its over. No disrespect to him but you cant maintain that level of form forever. 

Should be in the team only if he is one of the central defenders, never a r/b, played adaquate last season, not so this.

Dave right & Baba left so much more natural pairing, why Jose can not see it, much like ignoring Bertrand ability.

Ivanovic is still a much better defender than Baba

Should be in the team only if he is one of the central defenders, never a r/b, played adaquate last season, not so this.

Dave right & Baba left so much more natural pairing, why Jose can not see it, much like ignoring Bertrand ability.

 

Well, mainly its because Baba is terrible.

Ivan did little wrong from a defensive point of view on Saturday, which is in and of it's self and improvement on early season form where he was shocking 

Ivanovic is still a much better defender than Baba

Yes he is as a central defender, he would not get in any other Premier team at R/B.

Ivan did little wrong from a defensive point of view on Saturday, which is in and of it's self and improvement on early season form where he was shocking 

Not a little wrong, just the biggest mistake of the whole game by not clearing the ball before a substitute player stuck it into our net.

So I am seeing nil improvement, be lucky to get in a Sunday league pub side on Hackney marshes.

You know Alan Hutton generally starts for Villa, right?

 

To be fair the current league leaders have been using Danny Simpson at right back for the past few games, as if the season wasn't already wanting for sense...

Pretty impressive for a man who is "never a right back" to make PFA team of the year twice as a RB and UEFA team of the season once as a RB...

I agree he is a natural CB, but he has acquitted himself quite well in the role overall and especially so if we discount this season.

Honestly, I think Ivan was always better at RB then CB. His lack of positioning is a much bigger problem at CB and he used to make up for his shortcomings going forward with his tenacity and ability to find the net

Not good enough to play consistently for a top 4 team any more.

I'm conscious of treating our players with respect when it comes to their careers at the club, but I'm also conscious of being overly sentimental.

A legend and as I said in the match thread the way he fought against martial made me proud. His legs have gone and he played 90 all action minutes against Watford two days before then had to do it again against someone much faster and younger.

Such a great servant. Shouldn't be at the club beyond this season imo but he deserves so much better than the abuse he has been receiving on here for a long time now.

He gives his all and you can't fault him but every fan, commentator and pundit can see him getting torn apart most games while the managenent insists on playing him.

He did improve second half but it's horrible watching him trying to cope with pacy, tricky wingers.

Edited December 29, 201510 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Wingers and holding midfielders gave him little help against Martial and was too often isolated and left to defend 1 Vs 1 against a player who could obviously out pace him.

Really don't fault his performance too much yesterday.

Thought he looked less lumpy yesterday, but at times he needed support from others, lack of cohesion is not entirely down to him though.