Fully support Jose... Except in this. No matter how unready baba is he would not be worse than brana.

He could be worse I suppose but AT LEAST let us find out. Worst case, we lose and he plays like crap, which Bran is already doing.

One wonders what Tomas Kalas makes of this fiasco.

The medics have been tasked with making Baba taller, he's on a course of growth hormones, I hope they know what they're doing.

Hes not tall even, doesnt mean hes not good enough. Silly

José isn't playing Baba because he isn't tall enough. I was making the point that you don't need to be tall, by citing Ashley .

Comprende amigo ?

José isn't playing Baba because he isn't tall enough. I was making the point that you don't need to be tall, by citing Ashley .

Comprende amigo ?

Im confused here. I agreed with you, height shouldnt matter

Im confused here. I agreed with you, height shouldnt matter

I know ! Tell José !....he's on growth hormones so he might shoot up soon , José has him measured everyday.

One wonders what Tomas Kalas makes of this fiasco.

Kalas is only 1.83 metres tall.

Jose's logic about needing more height to defend set pieces is flawed. If you play a decent fullback, you will avoid conceding some of the free kicks. The only way Ivanovic could stop anyone is by fouling. How many 'giants' does City have? I'm sure they are doing fine without 8 6'5 players on the field.

Strange comments from Mourinho. Isn't Marcelo 5'7? You don't need height as a fullback. He's just making excuses so Ivanovic can start every match. 

It is a bit worrying that he used an excuse so lame. I remember when Allardyce signed Roger Johnson during a January transfer window and said "he's tall and he's not cup-tied" as the reasons for it.

 

The paranoid side of me is thinking that Ivanovic is José's main supporter in the dressing room, a festering thought which suggests that there is a side of the dressing room which doesn't support him.

Seems like Jose is more willing to consider Ramires and Ola Aina over Baba Rahman at left back. This ‘not ready’ line is Jose code for 'he's not good enough’.

 

http://allsports.com.gh/football/not-ready-jose-mourinho-ignores-baba-rahman-as-ivanovic-s-injury-solution-id4266487.html

Seems like Jose is more willing to consider Ramires and Ola Aina over Baba Rahman at left back. This ‘not ready’ line is Jose code for 'he's not good enough’.

 

http://allsports.com.gh/football/not-ready-jose-mourinho-ignores-baba-rahman-as-ivanovic-s-injury-solution-id4266487.html

 

Thats just bull by Mourinho. I have little faith in Mourinho's talent assessment qualities... look Kevin de Bruyne.

Thats just bull by Mourinho. I have little faith in Mourinho's talent assessment qualities... look Kevin de Bruyne.

So true, unless there's some other reason behind why he won't play him. He's let some serious talent go though, mata, De bruyne, he had his reasons but since selling (in my.opinion our best midfielder since frank) mata we've had 1 prem title, and probably be lucky to get champions league this year

Edited October 16, 201510 yr by MemphisKrabz

Posted this in another section so sorry for the copy-paste:

 

Something about Baba Rahman just doesn't add up. One of the best left backs in the Bundesliga and most highly though off talents in Europe in that position is not good enough to even be considered a second-choice starter for Chelsea, while Ivanovic, the worst right back in the Premier League and an 18 year old Aina with no top division experience are fit for the first XI?

 

Aina may be very talented but if he is preferred over Baba Rahman who has 2 full seasons of Bundesliga football and 3 full seasons of first team club football... than I'm sorry this decision has obviously something to do with issues which have nothing to do with football. 

 

Options:

1. Some clause in the contract that causes Chelsea to pay more if Baba Rahman gets played often in the first season?

2. Mourinho being stubborn and in this way is trying to prove that he HAD TO play Ivanovic (by not giving Rahman a chance to prove himself)?

3. Some backroom issues?

 

If Rahman doesn't play this weekend than he's better off leaving in winter. Mourinho is wasting his development.

 

EDIT: Mourinho has even suggested he prefers to play Ramires at right back, but in saying so out goes the window the 'Rahman isn't tall enough' argument. He also thinks of playing Zouma in that position, despite Zouma having no more than a dozen games in his career in that position.

Edited October 16, 201510 yr by Jon Stakes

So another waste of a purchase then. What was it? 20 million? Someone really needs to get axed for spending that kind of money on a player the managers refuses to use

So another waste of a purchase then. What was it? 20 million? Someone really needs to get axed for spending that kind of money on a player the managers refuses to use

What if Mourinho was the one who said - YES, to buy him ?) I suppose that players which are bought since Spring 2013 are only because Mourinho wanted or accepted transfer :)

Where are people getting that Jose fancies Ramires or Aina over Baba Rahman, he clearly mentioned Azpi as the first of his list of options to replace Ivanovic which means Baba coming in at left back, am I missing something or is this Journo bullsh*t.

I didn't know Baba is a RB as the question was clearly who replaces Ivan.

 

Let's not forget that Baba played two games against our two weakest opponents this season and didn't impress. This can also be something that Jose considers. If he's good enough, works hard and has the right mentality to earn Mourinho's trust (as right now, it seems like he wasn't his choice or at least first choice), he'll eventually play.

I didn't know Baba is a RB as the question was clearly who replaces Ivan.

 

Let's not forget that Baba played two games against our two weakest opponents this season and didn't impress. This can also be something that Jose considers.

 

He did pretty good. Not superb, but was good. Some defensive lapses, but everything else was spot on.

Where are people getting that Jose fancies Ramires or Aina over Baba Rahman, he clearly mentioned Azpi as the first of his list of options to replace Ivanovic which means Baba coming in at left back, am I missing something or is this Journo bullsh*t.

He prefers Dave at RB but then someone has to play LB. I think hed prefer to keep Dave there and just have Zouma at RB for this one.

He prefers Dave at RB but then someone has to play LB. I think hed prefer to keep Dave there and just have Zouma at RB for this one.

Ok it was nothing Jose said just opinions of what he will do.

I personally believe from what he has said that he sees Azpi coming in and Baba going in at LB (as the 2 come hand in hand) as the best option and then Zouma as the next most viable option.

With Ramires and Aina there if we are desperate. 

This is just the way I have interpreted it, especially considering how he adds the word adaptations before Zouma and Ramires.

He did pretty good. Not superb, but was good. Some defensive lapses, but everything else was spot on.

 

I agree, he was decent but these aren't the performances that are going to get him a starting spot (understandable as he's young in a new team), especially when according to the manager he wasn't ready for the intensity in training and is probably not his buy. There's no reason to look KDB btw as the intention for him was clearly to be a starter until his form dropped, he wasn't strong enough mentally to fight for it and wanted to leave, nothing you can do here. We can hope that Baba shows a different attitude and earns the manager's trust.

 

There's also the very strong possibility that Mourinho now prefers Azpi at LB.

So true, unless there's some other reason behind why he won't play him. He's let some serious talent go though, mata, De bruyne, he had his reasons but since selling (in my.opinion our best midfielder since frank) mata we've had 1 prem title, and probably be lucky to get champions league this year

1 premier title in the 2 seasons without Mata lol you make it sound awful ! 1 more than Mata has achieved since.

Love Mata but he just didn't fit the system Jose wants to play so was sold for good money, nothing to do with jose's view in him as a player.

As for De Bruyne, was gutted when he went as I think he is the real deal but if a player won't fight for his place and except a challenge then they have to go IMO.

He did pretty good. Not superb, but was good. Some defensive lapses, but everything else was spot on.

He was poor defensively against Walsall, often out of position. Maybe that's what mourinho has seen and decided he needs to get that sorted before starting in the prem. Bearing in mind davevrarely ventures forward as he's expected to cover for hazard who's allowed less defensive responsibility than other midfielders/attackers.

Where are people getting that Jose fancies Ramires or Aina over Baba Rahman, he clearly mentioned Azpi as the first of his list of options to replace Ivanovic which means Baba coming in at left back, am I missing something or is this Journo bullsh*t.

 

I agree, I think he was talking about the right back position and quite a few journos think so too. They're talking about a chance of replacing Ivanovic with Aina.