Pretty much the lineup I was thinking although it will be hard for Jose to drop Ivanovic and personally I can't see him doing it.

Maybe so, but can you see del bosque being happy to let Fabregas go and do a medical 3 days out from their first game. I can't.

There's been delay tactics somewhere along the lines, we havent seen the full picture yet.

 

He can do his medical with the national team, im pretty sure when Arsenal signed Ozil he had his medical done when with the German national team.

Pretty much the lineup I was thinking although it will be hard for Jose to drop Ivanovic and personally I can't see him doing it.

 

I think it will be rotated a lot, he may opt for Ivanovic in games against the likes of Stoke, West ham and Crystal Palace but Dave against the likes of Swansea and Southampton perhaps.

Yeah I think Ozil did, tbh if this deal actually is happening then Barca wanting Ratikic in first makes sense.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2091937-chelsea-transfer-news-cesc-fabregas-deal-imminent-hinges-on-ivan-rakitic-talks?utm_campaign=tsipad&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=twitter.com

It is the bleacher report mind

 

He said...she said...

Pretty much the lineup I was thinking although it will be hard for Jose to drop Ivanovic and personally I can't see him doing it.

 

Jose seemed to end the season really rating Azpilicueta, for him to be picked for the majority of the season ahead of Cole was very telling. 

 

Ivanovic is no doubt also a Jose favourite but I think he needs to play Azpilicueta at right back for the sake of better balance in the team, we need the fullbacks to providing better width on the overlap.

 

Poor attacking play from the fullbacks last season caused us to look too narrow and short of ideas against the more compact teams. I don't think it's any coincidence that we are alleged to be trying to sign such a highly rated natural left back after a season of playing a natural right footed player there despite how well they did.  

Jose seemed to end the season really rating Azpilicueta, for him to be picked for the majority of the season ahead of Cole was very telling.

Ivanovic is no doubt also a Jose favourite but I think he needs to play Azpilicueta at right back for the sake of better balance in the team, we need the fullbacks to providing better width on the overlap.

Poor attacking play from the fullbacks last season caused us to look too narrow and short of ideas against the more compact teams. I don't think it's any coincidence that we are alleged to be trying to sign such a highly rated natural left back after a season of playing a natural right footed player there despite how well they did.

I agree with all of that but I just can't see Jose dropping one of his favourite players.

Ivan adds so much when we have set plays in their box, I can actually see Azpi on the left with Ivan on the right while the new LB (whoever it may be) get's introduced gradually into the side.

I agree with all of that but I just can't see Jose dropping one of his favourite players.

Ivan adds so much when we have set plays in their box, I can actually see Azpi on the left with Ivan on the right while the new LB (whoever it may be) get's introduced gradually into the side.

 

We cant be spending £20M on a 29 year old leftback to put him in the team gradually otherwise we shouldnt buy him at all just keep Bertrand and PVA. If we are going to buy Filipe Luis for £20m he will and should go straight into the side.

Edited June 10, 201412 yr by jack_super_class

We cant be spending £20M on a 29 year old leftback to put him in the team gradually otherwise we shouldnt buy him at all just keep Bertrand and PVA. If we are going to buy Filipe Luis for £20m he will and should go straight into the side.

We spent more on Willain and went gradual with him....

We spent more on Willain and went gradual with him....

 

Yes but he is 25 and wasn't fully fit coming from the Russian league plus he had alot more competition to fight for his place. If we buy a younger leftback then yeah i agree thats fine but when your buying a 29 year old for £20M he should pretty much go straight into the side otherwise theres no point in buying him.

Edited June 10, 201412 yr by jack_super_class

Personally I can't Mourinho dropping Oscar, I think he likes the job he does in the middle.. I think the focus next season will be high ball retention but quick pressing high up the pitch when we do lose the ball.

Oscar is a player who is going to be good at the pressing and that's why I think he won't be dropped personally.

Based on the rumours of who we're signing I think we might line up as

Azpilicueta - Cahill - Terry - Luis

Fabregas - Matic

Willian - Oscar - Hazard

Costa

Whilst the part in bold is very talented mostly, does it have the fight and muscle to sustain a weekly premier league challenge? I am not sure. Still looks a very lightweight on the physical side.

Matic adds a bit of brawn, bite and muscle, Fabregas would add a little as well.

Ramires, although dirty and sometimes wild, has a bit of bite. Maybe he would be better paired with Matic in the pivot, with Fabregas in a more advanced role.

Edited June 10, 201412 yr by Zola

You have to earn your place in Joses team.

I don't think he is the kind of manager to just drop one of his favourite players without cause.

Whilst the part in bold is very talented mostly, does it have the fight and muscle to sustain a weekly premier league challenge? I am not sure. Still looks a very lightweight on the physical side.

Matic adds a bit of brawn, bite and muscle, Fabregas would add a little as well.

Ramires, although dirty and sometimes wild, has a bit of bite. Maybe he would be better paired with Matic in the pivot, with Fabregas in a more advanced role.

 

Willian and Oscar are not lightweight in my opinion, i still remember Willian knocking Phil Jones on his ass and Oscar looks lightweight put he has great stamina and very rarely does he get pushed off the ball. Hazard when on the ball is strong and hard to tackle.

Whilst the part in bold is very talented mostly, does it have the fight and muscle to sustain a weekly premier league challenge? I am not sure. Still looks a very lightweight on the physical side.

Matic adds a bit of brawn, bite and muscle, Fabregas would add a little as well.

Ramires, although dirty and sometimes wild, has a bit of bite. Maybe he would be better paired with Matic in the pivot, with Fabregas in a more advanced role.

 

I don't think Willian, Oscar and Hazard (and even Schurrle) are pushovers. 

 

Often people think Oscar is quite lightweight but he's a lot stronger on the ball than he looks and both him and Willian don't shy away from a tackle. 

 

In truth if we keep the ball the majority of the time I don't think we need to worry about the physicality of team... I also think refs are going pretty soft now days and players for the most part are highly protected by them, it's not often you see overly physical games now. 

Whilst the part in bold is very talented mostly, does it have the fight and muscle to sustain a weekly premier league challenge? I am not sure. Still looks a very lightweight on the physical side.

Matic adds a bit of brawn, bite and muscle, Fabregas would add a little as well.

Ramires, although dirty and sometimes wild, has a bit of bite. Maybe he would be better paired with Matic in the pivot, with Fabregas in a more advanced role.

 

 

I think you are right here Zola.

 

Pointed comments at the end of the season about Oscar not having form when we really needed him at the end of the year, are enough for me to say we're not quite sure about putting all our eggs in the Oscar basket.

 

I think Fabregas' forward pressing at Barca will fit into any form of pressing game we are looking to do. I also think he doesn't have the steel required to play with Matic. Far more likely in my view we partner Ramires with Matic and play Fabregas further forward rotating with Willian.

Thought his and Costas transfer would be finalized by now. This is getting tedious . . .

It's only been a week since the fabregas rumour started! Hardly tedious is it. The costa signing has pretty much already been announced we just need official confirmation from the club. Patience my friend patience!

Fabregas and ramires as part of a 4:3:3 for me.

Also I think we will see Ivan replacing terry as the season wears on.

I think you are right here Zola.

Pointed comments at the end of the season about Oscar not having form when we really needed him at the end of the year, are enough for me to say we're not quite sure about putting all our eggs in the Oscar basket.

I think Fabregas' forward pressing at Barca will fit into any form of pressing game we are looking to do. I also think he doesn't have the steel required to play with Matic. Far more likely in my view we partner Ramires with Matic and play Fabregas further forward rotating with Willian.

In Fabregas first 2/3 seasons he played centre midfield in a 442 next to the likes like Vieira, flamini, and Gilberto. He wasn't lacking steel then. He has now matured physically, and mentally, and has a wealth of experience. I find the argument that he couldn't play next to matic pretty absurd, he's physically bigger than ramires, and he has never been the sort of player to shirk a challenge, which is why he managed to cope with the premier league at such a young age.

In Fabregas first 2/3 seasons he played centre midfield in a 442 next to the likes like Vieira, flamini, and Gilberto. He wasn't lacking steel then. He has now matured physically, and mentally, and has a wealth of experience. I find the argument that he couldn't play next to matic pretty absurd, he's physically bigger than ramires, and he has never been the sort of player to shirk a challenge, which is why he managed to cope with the premier league at such a young age.

 

 

Bares repeating, if you have any kind of ability on the ball, your just not destined to be a pure center mid.. How many players just didn't have a role in the days of 4-4-2

Bares repeating, if you have any kind of ability on the ball, your just not destined to be a pure center mid.. How many players just didn't have a role in the days of 4-4-2

A hell of a lot by the sounds of it!

I think this is a non issue, Barcelona play a very high push system where all the players are required to help win the ball back quickly after losing it, they just dont lose it very often. This is exactly what we are trying to do, the only difference is we are not after stale possesion like Barce, we are trying to be more dynamic and direct with the ball, something Fabregas has struggled containing at Barcelona, and is part of the reason he is being moved on, hes too direct for them.

 

We are a pack hunting team, everyone from the striker to the CBs are expected to help win the ball back, we dont need a pure DM in the team (although mourinho will mix it up) when you have Oscar, Willian, Shurrle, Costa and Matic surrounding you, you dont HAVE to be a dynamite one man army destroyer, It is a team effort, Fabregas will obviously be very involved with this, as he was at the Gooners and at Barce, but the thing he will bring to the team is the metronomic ball retention Barcelona style. Something we have been sorely lacking and I for one cant wait.

Edited June 10, 201412 yr by Shotgun883

Good colorful explanation of our tactics. But the way we try to play changed during the season as you know. I think Jose changed it for results.

One of the most interesting things to see next season is do we change the system or try to implement that barca type get-the-ball-back-asap.

If we somehow land Cesc he would have good amount of experience of that type of game. I don't see it. I see him going to ManU. He has too deep roots with a club from London already...

Nothing new but the Daily Mail saying Jose wants Fabregas announced by Friday before Spain kick off. Apparently a fee and personal terms have been agreed.

Why would it matter to Jose when its announced? If the deal is done in terms of fee and wages agreed then surely it wouldnt matter to Jose when the club decide to tell the world.

No deal is really 'done' until it's announced as we all know.

It's perfectly reasonable that Jose would want these deals announced as soon as possible.