19 May 2015 12:48:06
The coffee may be extortionately strong this morning but I truly don't feel were very far off Barcelona at the present moment. At keeper I would take both of ours over either of theirs. The back lines are paramount for their teams in different ways. Our fullbacks don't contribute offensively or have the catch up speed that they do but I very much prefer ours from a purely defensive standpoint. Our centrebacks are certainly more solid but their centre halfs are mobile enoug to allow the team to play a high line effectively. Both clubs feature two different kinds of holding mids but I also believe they are the two best holding mids in the world. I would honestly take Fabregas over rakitic (although Fabregas needs more rest early in the season in order to prevent his collapse). At attacking mid iniesta is much better than Oscar but I could easily see us bringing in another cm pushing Fabregas into this role where I think they're both pretty comparable. Hazard and Neymar are fairly similar. We lack the opposing threat that they have in Suarez but the club have seemingly targeted that hope. And then messi is messi but costa isn't any slouch. I would definetly take Jose over Luis Enrique and our bench is also much better than theirs. That said their league is far more conducive to their late season success than ours. I truly think that if we're going to buy it needs to be world class players as over the last 3 years the team with the best first 11 has generally won the competition. Again, it may be the coffee but I don't think we're far off.
19 May 2015 18:01:46
You cannot compare Chelsea and Barcelona.
Chelsea is playing with one or two playmakers in midfield and Barcelona is playing with three playmakers regularly for the last 8-9 years.
Chelsea plays with one striker and Barcelona is playing with two.
Barcelona plays with one defensive midfielder and Chelsea is forcing the style with two.
The only striker that we have who might but only might fit in Barcelona's style could be Diego Costa.
With two world class signings we could match Barcelona next season.
19 May 2015 20:09:53
I'm sorry but I love chelsea but we are light years away from Barcelona. I'm very proud of our never say die attitude under mourinho and his ability to bring trophies to our club. But in football terms we are a long way from being close to barca,how often do you see chelsea actually have a good go at a top team. For example barca playing city at the etihad was a total master class performance where as we go there and play defensive football to get a point. In terms of out field players we have one truly outstanding world class player in hazard who would get in barcas team. We have a great team in terms of hard working counter attacking football which suits us and mourinho but my view is where not even close to the entertaining winning ways of Barcelona.
19 May 2015 23:00:18
Barcelona has the best midfield in the world. Those guys have been playing together for five or six years at least if you count Busquets. ATM we might win against Barcelona if we are very lucky or if they play without Iniesta, Xavi and Rakitic.
Personally I think that Barcelona will go down after Iniesta stops playing for them, since he is the most important player at Barcelona ( not even Messi).
At present with Suarez up front and with Busquets, Rakitic,Iniesta and Messi behind him and Neymar next to him they are deadly weapon.Almost unstoppable.
19 May 2015 23:04:14
On current form i'd agree but up until December I would've put money on us. As someone else said if we made a world class purchase at right wing and another centremid were right there. I would also argue that hazard, Matic, Terry, Azpilicueta are in the top 3 players in the world at their position and ivanovic, courtois, and costa are also in the top 5 at their position. Playing style for me is relative, barca play to their strengths and we play to ours.
20 May 2015 08:04:10
IMHO we play to our strengths as t.k says. Our strength atm is Terry in central defence, which due to his age, is not suited to anything other than the style we play. Jose let Lampard go but couldn't afford to let Terry go as well. I'm thinking that Jose really wants Varane this window and will integrate him alongside Terry next season along with Zouma and then the season after next they will be the centre pairing, Ivanovich will be gone and then we will see a change in our strategy in regards to a higher line with the mobility that JT doesn't/ can't produce. Don't get me wrong, I think JT has been awesome this year, but, unlike us fans that only(mostly)think of the "here and now" Jose has to integrate new players who suit the future style he wants to play whilst still supplying results on the field to sustain the income stream.
It's a work in progress and will always be that. The fact that Jose is taking this approach gives me confidence that he is looking to build and continue a dynasty with him at the helm, this pleases me no end.