'Balls'

[Veeria]

As Jose calls it, I feel we're lacking team spirit at the moment and I only see it getting worse, especially if we lose players like JT, Lampard, Cech, Luiz, Mikel, Cole, Rameries.

It seems as if there will be no players that will give everything for the team and create the right sort of atmosphere in the dressing room and on the pitch. The defence excluded. We are starting to lack characters, something that has been one of our best traits over the years.

The obviously one already gone is Drogba but whenever you'd see people like Essen, Kalou, Ballack ect in behind the scenes or interviews they seemed like players with team spirit and had a real bond. Admitted our players now are very talented but are we lacking players that will dig in deep when it matters?

[Jonty]

Our back 4 looks far better when JT is a part of it because he demands the best from them in every game.

Our front 4 need someone (Costa) up front who will give them a kick up the ass when they need it and demand the best from them every game too.

[bluelion111]

Possible language barrier maybe?

[jack_super_class]

Get Scotty Parker back

[Uno]

I was thinking the same thing the other day. Look back to when we won the league under Jose, we had Drogba, Frank, JT, Maka, Cech as the spine of the team. All leaders. Ballack then joined to add to that.

Now we look at the current team we can look at Eto'o when he plays, Frank when he plays, JT, Brana, Cahill and Dave. I think Luiz is a good leader on the pitch and i think Hazard could be in years to come but right now i think we are bit soft. Hopefully players like Matic and who ever the new striker will be will come in and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

[Guest RFC_CFC]

Matic will be a strong leader in the middle and Cahill will take over from JT's comanding centre half role.

We still have branna and Cech while in years to come Dave will be there too.

We are missing a comanding striker like Drogba but that may come in Costa in the summer.

Another midfielder wouldn't do us any harm either.

Edited April 4, 2014 by RFC_CFC

[DawesRoad]

Courtois, Dave, Cahill, Matic and Costa can drive us on for the next five years but I hope Lukaku stays and develops like Drogba.

[Zola]

We've gone from spending too much money on top internationals (many of whom were captains), to focusing more on youth and potential.

In doing so we are probably missing out on a lot of future captains and natural leaders.

When the going gets rough, who is going to really dig in and pull us out of holes?

Edited April 4, 2014 by Zola

[Uno]

We've gone from spending too much money on top internationals (many of whom were captains), to focusing more on youth and potential.

In doing so we are probably missing out on a lot of future captains and natural leaders.

When the going gets rough, who is going to really dig in and pull us out of holes?

I agree with you (as usual) its great that we are bringing in these exciting young guys that will be with us (hopefully) for years to come but i think too much of that and we could end up like Arsenal, lacking the balls and fire that it takes to not let the game slip you by. You have to have fighters who are ready to go to war every single game, treating every 90 minutes like its the Champions League final. Thats how you win the league.

The Palace game was a very clear sign to me that we are lacking one or two of those type of players.

[Zola]

Absolutely!

[barak81]

Nathan!!!

[Foggy]

Tiredness must have had at least a little do with the these last few performances, playing thr same players over and over you can't expect them to perform at the top level in all games. Squad should have been rotated more in key areas. Hazard mentined the tiredness after PSG game if I'm not mistaken.

[axman2526]

"Balls"

 

The thing we need to do a better job of sticking in the back of the oppositions net! lol

[Veeria]

"Balls"

 

The thing we need to do a better job of sticking in the back of the oppositions net! lol

True but at 1-1 on Wednesday we didn't need to score, would of been a great result, we handed them the win and probably the tie, It may of been a number of things but we defeinetly didn't show any gut in the second half and of we do the same at home well have no chance

[axman2526]

Can be also argued had we taken advantage of PSGs wobble after we scored the pen we could have gone 1-2 or 1-3 up and killed the tie.

 

So while yes better defending would have brought a good result, so would a more clinical front line. Chances were there to be had.

[dkw]

Can be also argued had we taken advantage of PSGs wobble after we scored the pen we could have gone 1-2 or 1-3 up and killed the tie.

So while yes better defending would have brought a good result, so would a more clinical front line. Chances were there to be had.

And we almost did, hazards shot missed by the width of the post and that would have made a massive difference. But that's football