Can you see Jose sticking Dave back on RB for next week after not playing there for ages, and Baba on the left?

Quite a shake up, not sure he would gamble like that.

Hopefully he does though!!

 

Some would argue a shakeup is needed, it's a chance for Mou to show us he's not getting set in his ways... so why not?

Can't really get excited about this signing since we'll only be seeing him in the Capital One cup.

Excellent signing. Now we should complete a move for John Stones soon. 

If he's as good as he looks on his YouTube video, a LB like him is just what we need, pace, left footed, good defending and a great crosser.

-------------courtois---------

Dave--stones--zouma--baba

It's conceivable that that could be our starting back 5 by the end of the season and it could be for the long term with 3 of them being 21 or under.

I'll let him surprise me, I haven't seen him at all.

If he settles in well I hope we play Rahman - JT - Cahill (Zouma) - Azpi in the future. 

I'll let him surprise me, I haven't seen him at all.

If he settles in well I hope we play Rahman - JT - Cahill (Zouma) - Azpi in the future.

Check out the vid I posted, he could be something!

Check out the vid I posted, he could be something!

 

Based on that he will be a good signing, looks solid defending wise and good on the attack.

It's nice to see that he's a good crosser, what worries me though, is that we never seem to have anyone in the box to finish it.

Hopefully he will provide some with for Hazard at least.

 

Thanks for posting the video!

Luis was decent at crossing, but he never got a game really, and when he did there was no-one to hit in the box. Mourinho seems obsessed with Dave at LB and Ivan at RB, I just can't see that changing.

Luis was decent at crossing, but he never got a game really, and when he did there was no-one to hit in the box. Mourinho seems obsessed with Dave at LB and Ivan at RB, I just can't see that changing.

Agreed but last season it was hard to drop either of them, Ivan and Dave were very good but Ivanovic had started terribly and if it carries on Jose will have no choice but to drop him.

Quite a bit of negativity on another Blues forum.

I think I can understand why ... I think a few are beginning to lose faith with Jose, reading between the lines?

Here's some quotes ...

"Welcome Baba. I'm really excited to see him play"

Reply = "Don't hold your breath"

"Azpi on the bench, Baba at LB and Ivan stays at RB. You heard it here first"

"Baba to make ~13 appearances off the bench this season playing left wing"

"That's my fear too. Simply can't get excited over signings like this anymore, call it Salah Syndrome or Cuadradolitis, but we've simply seen too many players come in and then barely contribute before being shipped out at the earliest opportunity. Let's hope Baba makes an impact (or is given opportunity to make an impact) but I'm not holding my breath"

Only a blind person would not see that Chelsea needs fresh blood at the back. Baba Rahman as to get good playing time if Mourinho is a serious coach. Ivanovic needs to make way.

Agreed but last season it was hard to drop either of them, Ivan and Dave were very good but Ivanovic had started terribly and if it carries on Jose will have no choice but to drop him.

I hope he does. I'm not sure I always buy into his line about it always being performance based. I think José has his favourites that will get picked even if they haven't had the best week in training.

What's your thoughts?

Azpilicueta is the best 1:1 defender in the league, probably the best full back in the league along with Zabaleta, and when he plays on the right he actually looks good going forward. It's not really his fault that he cant go forward at left back, so hopefully Rahman's signing means we can bench Ivanovic for a while and play Dave in the correct position. If Rahman likes to get forward then that will also create space for Hazard as well, and Dave being able to play on the right will make space for our right wingers too. We look stifled and crowded out a lot of the time because our full backs don't always get forward, so this could help that. Still need another signing or two though.

Great post mate. My only concern is that if we play Baba and Dave with both bombing on then JT is going to get shredded by any half decent opposition attack on the counter. He will be made to look like old man time in that situation as his lack of mobility will be highlighted throughout the game.

The club took a photo of Baba standing next to a bench.

If that's not symbolism I don't know what is.

The club took a photo of Baba standing next to a bench.

If that's not symbolism I don't know what is.

Very good player by all accounts from people whom have watched him regularly.

There must be some noodle related joke in this. Surely?

In last season’s Bundesliga, the Ghanaian made more tackles (108) than any other player, winning an incredible 83% of those challenges, and also succeeding in 67% of aerial battles.

 

He dribbled past an opponent 44 times last season, created 24 goal scoring chances in his 31 appearances and produced more crosses than any player in the German top-flight in 2014/15.

In last season’s Bundesliga, the Ghanaian made more tackles (108) than any other player, winning an incredible 83% of those challenges, and also succeeding in 67% of aerial battles.

 

He dribbled past an opponent 44 times last season, created 24 goal scoring chances in his 31 appearances and produced more crosses than any player in the German top-flight in 2014/15.

I suppose he will do then, mind you Ivanovic got twatted by more wingers, and created more goal scoring opportunities for opponents on his right flank than any other player in the league THIS season, so it might be a tough call who to drop..

In last season’s Bundesliga, the Ghanaian made more tackles (108) than any other player, winning an incredible 83% of those challenges, and also succeeding in 67% of aerial battles.

 

He dribbled past an opponent 44 times last season, created 24 goal scoring chances in his 31 appearances and produced more crosses than any player in the German top-flight in 2014/15.

 

Unbelievable combination of statistics, i've never watched him play before but this has certainly raised my expectations.

Let's hope he will show the same in PL! 

Does someone know why he's not even on the bench today?

Supposedly he trained alone this week for fitness reasons, so I guess he's not ready yet.

Alternatively, Ivan's a Jose untouchable. Therefore, we continue with the unsatisfactory status quo?

Alternatively, Ivan's a Jose untouchable. Therefore, we continue with the unsatisfactory status quo?

 

 

I hope not, but i think it is something that we all fear.  

 

Jose didn't look too happy with Ivan yesterday, then Dave scores, and started a brilliant counter attack from RB.  I think Jose has to be looking at giving Ivan a rest.  He has played in nearly every game I can remember for the past couple of seasons.