José won't change. If he does then great, but he is such a safe manager. I agree he needs to grow some balls and rotate more often otherwise these players are gonna collapse (literally!).

Agreed.

Can't see him roatating now.

It will be the usual 11 from now till the end of the season.

I think that is the key part of your sentence!

You could count the number of players in the world who are as talented as Hazard on one hand; you could give de Bruyne 20 straight starts and he still wouldn't come anywhere close (not to knock his recent form). Unless a player can show that they can offer an equal threat to Hazard (and I doubt that anyone currently playing in this league could), anyone who plays on the opposite flank simply has to provide balance in order to permit Hazard to attack unreservedly. De Bruyne is the primary creative outlet for Wolfsburg - as good as he is he simply couldn't play the same role for Chelsea and clearly wasn't satisfied with not being assured of a starting place.

I understand that you mean the right winger has to be a little more defensive than hazard to give him more attacking freedom. But what I was implying was that Mourinho never rotates and someone like cuadrado who came from a slow Italian league needs 3 straight starts to get used to the pace of the epl and the lack of space in the epl.

I still have faith in him and I believe Hazard and him would be battering defenses next season.

If he can master a few basic fundamentals like simple ball control and five yard passes I'm all for Cuadrado having a run. If he can't, let's stick with the ever reliable Willie Willian.

If he can master a few basic fundamentals like simple ball control and five yard passes

It's shocking that we have no confidence that a £27m signing might not be capable of that.

If he can master a few basic fundamentals like simple ball control and five yard passes I'm all for Cuadrado having a run. If he can't, let's stick with the ever reliable Willie Willian.

 

Can you point out these instances where he's failed to show simple ball control or the ability to make a five yard pass? 

 

From what I've seen, and that is too little for my liking, he's been thrown on at the end of matches where he's tried to take on a crowd of players and lost the ball. 

 

Yes, it is quite shocking how quickly he's being written off by some. 

 

 

Edit: I'll make it very easy for you:

 

Cuadrado vs Villa(A)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfS84WlLzT8

vs Everton(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOhCfk62uk

vs Burnley(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVgEZjAIY8o

vs Spurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEp2Z84QXX4

vs Southampton(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SHoTYYYEM0

Edited March 22, 201511 yr by footballoholic

He'll either score or set one up tonight with Willian out.

PloKoon, you may be right though, I don't think he's great at corners.

I guess if its fair to judge him on 155 minutes, then its fair to point out these stats as well:

 

Right, Footballolic, first off, let me prefix this by saying I very much enjoy reading your posts. Unlike myself who adds very little in the way of meaningful input into these discussions and finds great importance in trivialities (like why Brazilians are giving their kids Irish names, or how Gareth Bale shaving his head can improve his play), you actually put forward some well reasoned and interesting points.

However, I have found myself unable to resist accepting your challenge. So as you stand waiting, holding your sword mightily aloft, I step before the great crowd watching on and raise from the dust the weapon you have hurled at my feet to battle you bravely to the DEATH!!!

Anyway, onto the challenge:

Admittedly, it isn't until the Burnley video I could see these little golden nuggets show up.

Burnley

0:29 secs - wayward pass to Oscar who is a few yards away, forcing him to scurry across to control.

0:49 secs - untidy short pass to Matic causing him to turn right the way around and play a pass backwards.

1:40s - Very loose touch inside box losing shooting chance. Runs into defender as he tries to rescue the situation.

2:07s - Miscontrol as pass bounces off his left boot and possession is lost.

Tottenham

1:32 Pass from right wing into No-man's land

1:40 bad control, ball jumps up off his boot and is cleared by marking defender.

Southampton

1:03 - Gets ball trapped under feet and goes to ground

1:08 - Wonky headed pass/control puts Hazard under pressure

1:15 - tried to control the ball on the spin. Bounces of Southampton player and away.

(To be honest, pretty much everything he touched went wrong during the short amount of time he was on against Southampton)

I'm actually not one of those who have 'written him off'.

I am, though, quite disappointed like everyone else so far ; He looks like he's lacking conviction and confidence, but I've seen him enough to know he is a good player. Let's hope he explodes into life tomorrow and makes that right wing his own.

Edited March 22, 201511 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Can you point out these instances where he's failed to show simple ball control or the ability to make a five yard pass? 

 

From what I've seen, and that is too little for my liking, he's been thrown on at the end of matches where he's tried to take on a crowd of players and lost the ball. 

 

Yes, it is quite shocking how quickly he's being written off by some. 

 

 

Edit: I'll make it very easy for you:

 

Cuadrado vs Villa(A)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfS84WlLzT8

vs Everton(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJOhCfk62uk

vs Burnley(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVgEZjAIY8o

vs Spurs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEp2Z84QXX4

vs Southampton(H)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SHoTYYYEM0

The entire 14 minutes he was on the pitch against Southampton.

Look I am sure we will see an improvement next season with a full pre-season and the adjustment to the EPL. I'm happy that he is getting run-outs from the bench, but for now, based on what he has shown so far, there is no way he should be starting.

Right, Footballolic, first off, let me prefix this by saying I very much enjoy reading your posts. Unlike myself who adds very little in the way of meaningful input into these discussions and finds great importance in trivialities (like why Brazilians are giving their kids Irish names, or how Gareth Bale shaving his head can improve his play), you actually put forward some well reasoned and interesting points.

However, I have found myself unable to resist accepting your challenge. So as you stand waiting, holding your sword mightily aloft, I step before the great crowd watching on and raise from the dust the weapon you have hurled at my feet to battle you bravely to the DEATH!!!

 

Thank you. I like reading your posts too. (Why do Brazilians do that anyway? Bale would just look hideous though.)

 

I have to admit I was slightly worried someone would come up with a post like this one.

 

Anyway, onto the challenge:

Admittedly, it isn't until the Burnley video I could see these little golden nuggets show up.

Burnley

0:29 secs - wayward pass to Oscar who is a few yards away, forcing him to scurry across to control.

A bit harsh. Could argue he’s put it in an area where Oscar can control it away from the pressuring defender

 

0:49 secs - untidy short pass to Matic causing him to turn right the way around and play a pass backwards.

He’s had to do that because he’s left footed, something Juan may not be used to yet.

 

1:40s - Very loose touch inside box losing shooting chance. Runs into defender as he tries to rescue the situation.

Agreed. He’s tried to touch it clear enough to free himself for a shot and got it wrong.

 

2:07s - Miscontrol as pass bounces off his left boot and possession is lost.

Looks like a pass fizzed into Hazard that he’s gotten in the way of.

Tottenham

1:32 Pass from right wing into No-man's land

First real bad pass. Weight of the pass is less and gets intercepted.

1:40 bad control, ball jumps up off his boot and is cleared by marking defender.

Agreed. But I’ve seen Costa do that several times this season and he’s supposed to be good with his back to the defender.

Southampton

1:03 - Gets ball trapped under feet and goes to ground

1:08 - Wonky headed pass/control puts Hazard under pressure

1:15 - tried to control the ball on the spin. Bounces of Southampton player and away.

Not an ideal situation for him really, tries to take on a crowd of players as I said and loses the ball. This was not a great performance, admittedly.

 

(To be honest, pretty much everything he touched went wrong during the short amount of time he was on against Southampton)

I'm actually not one of those who have 'written him off'.

I am, though, quite disappointed like everyone else so far ; He looks like he's lacking conviction and confidence, but I've seen him enough to know he is a good player. Let's hope he explodes into life tomorrow and makes that right wing his own.

 

Thank you for the effort to do this. I’m not saying I have been entirely happy with him up till now. But some of the things said have been unfair I feel (a very good poster has referred to him as a clown in this thread). But I suppose we all want the same thing in the end which is for him to do well. I just hope the crowd doesn't get on his back if he takes a while to settle.

The entire 14 minutes he was on the pitch against Southampton.

 

I think the key words here are.. 14 minutes.

I think the key words here are.. 14 minutes.

But if that's how he performed for 15 minutes, imagine what a hindrance it would be if he plays like that for the full 90?

At this point and key stage to our season can we trust and risk starting him?

I need to be careful FC, I'm starting to sound like Cuadrado's mum. I guess we'll find out the answer soon.

I need to be careful FC, I'm starting to sound like Cuadrado's mum. I guess we'll find out the answer soon.

Nothing wrong with having faith in a player and I'd like to be proven that Cuadrado is a very competent attacker.

I never watched him in the world cup or in Italy so all I have to judge him on is his 2 months at Chelsea.

If Willian is in fact injured today I'd much rather see Cuadrado get a start than say Ramires on the right because I think right now Chelsea fans need some assurances about our newest signing.

But that was the argument when De Bruyne was not getting games and look how he's doing now.

In a poor league though

In a poor league though

 

You'll find many who argue that the Bundesliga is stronger than the Premier league. While I don't agree with that, it is definitely not a poor league.

I felt for him today when he was about to come on, he looked so happy that we'd scored... and was promptly withdrawn.

Can't believe some are writing Cuadrado off already. The lad's barely had a chance. Give him a full pre-season, let him acclimate to living England as well a little bit and then we'll see how he does next season. 

Can't believe some are writing Cuadrado off already. The lad's barely had a chance. Give him a full pre-season, let him acclimate to living England as well a little bit and then we'll see how he does next season.

Bang on! He is going to be the revelation of the season once he gets up to speed. Scary pace and tricky footwork, he will be a nightmare to defenders.

The wait for a start goes on but I loved the way he was jumping up and down celebrating when Remy's winner went in.

You'll find many who argue that the Bundesliga is stronger than the Premier league. While I don't agree with that, it is definitely not a poor league.

Andrei Vorinin and Claudio Pizarro are prolific there shows that the levels aren't the best, it's a one team league

Edited March 22, 201511 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

I think the key words here are.. 14 minutes.

Longer than Stevie G managed today.