Chelsea - Inter (16 Mar 10)

[Raul Duke]

Eto'o was never considered world class at Barca because of his workrate. It was because he pumped out a shitload of goals.

Im sick of the "We should still start Eto'o every single game because of his work rate and defending skills." If you're looking to play someone who runs around all day, pressuring the opponent and isn't expected to score.... Why not just play an extra midfielder?

 

[CafeCordoba]

Because they don't give you the same weapon for counters as Eto'o. Eto'o is okay in a precise role and for a match like this. He's been before in pressured situations and delivered there. Who would be that midfielder you would put into our lineup instead of Eto'o?

And I'm not saying we should play 4-2-3-1. Milito-Eto'o up front, backed up by Sneijder. That's the way to go here. As Eto'o can work down low, we have defending everywhere in our half. But he can also release the pressure better than another midfielder we would be inserting to our lineup instead of Eto'o.

 

[Raul Duke]

Cafe I totally agree with you, I wasn't suggesting we play a MF instead of Eto'o. The point I was trying to make is that our strikers are expected to score and assist. If they're not performing this task well, there's no point playing them just for their other duties such as taking some of the pressure off the MF.

To be honest, Eto'o hasn't looked as active since he came back from ACN. Plus giving away as much possesion as he's being doing lately adds even more pressure on our other players.

 

[Xoonky]

Cafe I totally agree with you, I wasn't suggesting we play a MF instead of Eto'o. The point I was trying to make is that our strikers are expected to score and assist. If they're not performing this task well, there's no point playing them just for their other duties such as taking some of the pressure off the MF.

To be honest, Eto'o hasn't looked as active since he came back from ACN. Plus giving away as much possesion as he's being doing lately adds even more pressure on our other players.

I guarantee you that you will not find ANY member around here that will tell you Eto'o has been playing impressively, the only difference here is some people are criticizing him while some others are defending him by stating that he is not terrible, because at least he tries to do something.
He has been crap lately, but at least he's giving effort, every striker has a bad patch in his career, let's hope it ends soon. Besides, he still tops the Serie A's Castrol rankings, he's been very effective to say the least.

 

[Luka]

I will add to that, that there is also a difference as some people think it is only a bad period for him, and believe he will come around eventually, while others think it is nothing short term and that Eto'o simply does not fit for Inter, and italian league

 

[Siavoush]

One thing that I love about Eto'o is that he allways runs like he has fire under his ass, he will run actively for 90 minutes if he's one, an example for everyone. To bad we bought him to score goals.. -.- Forza ragazzi

 

[CafeCordoba]

Cafe I totally agree with you, I wasn't suggesting we play a MF instead of Eto'o. The point I was trying to make is that our strikers are expected to score and assist. If they're not performing this task well, there's no point playing them just for their other duties such as taking some of the pressure off the MF.

To be honest, Eto'o hasn't looked as active since he came back from ACN. Plus giving away as much possesion as he's being doing lately adds even more pressure on our other players.

Yes you are right. Strikers should score and assist and Eto'o is doing neither of those. Generally I'm criticizing Eto'o because he isn't doing what striker's suppose to do. But this is a special occasion. This is why I'm rooting for Eto'o to start this match. We don't absolutely definitely NEED to score in this match, when looked in advance. Probably we may have to do that during the match, but then we can sub proper players for that task.

For this match Eto'o brings experience at playing in pressure situations. He brings defensive work rate so that the midfield and specially Sneijder doesn't have to run for his life in midfield and use all his energy on running after ball and Chelsea mids. He brings weapon for counters as Chelsea probably attacks right from the start to get the lead and upset us.

IMO these positives from Eto'o surpasses the fact that he isn't scoring as we don't absolutely need his scoring right from the start.

These are of course just for this match, regularly Eto'o is not a starting material. Even Balotelli should go ahead of him in two-striker system.

 

[Hammoudi]

Chelsea will score so we will need to score. I don't mind seeing Eto'o play, but it will have to be in midfield! We need Milito's efficiency and Balotelli's counterattacking speed. I'd rather see Eto'o in midfield than Muntari or Motta!

 

[nutcracker]

This discussion about playing Eto in first eleven is pretty pointless.

There will be two strikers ATLEAST in our starting eleven. Milito is a must and then we have 2nd striker to choose. Who would it be? unexpirienced Pandev? or lazy Balotelli?

Surely, if Balotelli would do exactly what JM tells him to, then it would be great and I wouldn't even think about placing him in first 11 instead of Eto.

How about Pandev? He's been pretty brilliant so far, but we all saw him at the first game with Chelsea. Nothing really fantastic in that.


Sure, both Balotelli and Pandev score goals, but when Balotelli will start his immature playing style - we're out. If he does not score goals - he is useless.
Same goes to Pandev - if he doesn't score/assist - he is useless.

That's my point - you don't get anything from both Mario or Pandev when they have a bad day. But when Eto has a bad day, he atleast runs is ass off putting pressure on them.

And this all goes to counting risk. You can put either Balotelli or Pandev and hope for them having a great time, or put Eto in the game and atleast be sure with the fact that he will bring something into the game. And I think, nobody will deny that Eto always brings something to the game, no matter if it's scoring, passing, connecting, defending or putting pressure.

 

[Suneet]

4-2-3-1 is the only solution. Eto and Pandev on the wing with Sneijder in the middle, and all of them wll track back a lot. We need to use the work rate of all our players to win this one, Balo can come on later.

 

[jmaster]

This discussion about playing Eto in first eleven is pretty pointless.

There will be two strikers ATLEAST in our starting eleven. Milito is a must and then we have 2nd striker to choose. Who would it be? unexpirienced Pandev? or lazy Balotelli?

Surely, if Balotelli would do exactly what JM tells him to, then it would be great and I wouldn't even think about placing him in first 11 instead of Eto.

How about Pandev? He's been pretty brilliant so far, but we all saw him at the first game with Chelsea. Nothing really fantastic in that.


Sure, both Balotelli and Pandev score goals, but when Balotelli will start his immature playing style - we're out. If he does not score goals - he is useless.
Same goes to Pandev - if he doesn't score/assist - he is useless.

That's my point - you don't get anything from both Mario or Pandev when they have a bad day. But when Eto has a bad day, he atleast runs is ass off putting pressure on them.

And this all goes to counting risk. You can put either Balotelli or Pandev and hope for them having a great time, or put Eto in the game and atleast be sure with the fact that he will bring something into the game. And I think, nobody will deny that Eto always brings something to the game, no matter if it's scoring, passing, connecting, defending or putting pressure.

Great post mate, fully agree!

 

[CafeCordoba]

nutcracker explained it. In advance, we don't need to score a goal. We just have to defend and rely on counters. Eto'o brings something to both of those needs. Balotelli and Pandev don't. Chelsea comes hard in the start and Pandev/Balotelli are totally useless there as they are purely offensive players. Eto'o with his work rate can defend in our half but also gives enough in offence (counters) to get Chelsea defence on their toes.

Balotelli can be brought in at the second half a) if we need a goal b) if Milito is totally exhausted. IMO we don't need Pandev in this match until the end if we are going out and desperately need a goal. Then Mourinho will stack the front with 3-4 strikers.

edit. Suneet, what are your arguments to that 4-2-3-1? It hasn't worked before, how would it work in the most important match of the season suddenly? With that formation, our squad is way too fragmented, distances just grow too much. Sneijder is best when he doesn't have to defend too much, when he can use his energy on offensive things. Pandev is too slow to the wing and he can't defend. Eto'o-Sneijder is not enough to support the two-man midfield.

 

[jayjay]

catenaccio please

 

[CafeCordoba]

Carvalho is in doubt. Though this looks like an overhyped speculation from Italian media like they always do.

http://translate.google.com/transla...w.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=15280

If all these injuries take place, we have consider ourselves lucky and really, this is the time to beat a big team in CL. This is the time boys!

 

[nutcracker]

According to what I read, he got tight muscle strain. His next game is in doubt, but for us he should be ready.

"Thigh strains should be rested from sporting activity for about 3 weeks, and grade two Thigh strains for about 4 to 6 weeks. In the case of a complete rupture the Thigh muscle will have to be repaired surgically and the rehabilitation afterwards will take about 3 months."


Well, this says he should be out for the game with us, becouse you heal them atleast 3 weeks. While being this kind injured you feel pain and your leg is weaker. Which means no painkillers will help him. But I'm pretty sure their medical staff will make him play. But maybe his injury will get renewed while playing with us.

 

[Universe]

Can't believe since last week I've been staying awake at night thinking about this fucking match..

Inter could possibly be the reason I smoke :boogy:

 

[FCBarca]

Much may be made of it but César has been quoted as saying Inter will advance against Chelsea...Not sure it's the wisest thing to say going into a very tight encounter but it is what it is

 

[Stefan]

Much may be made of it but César has been quoted as saying Inter will advance against Chelsea...Not sure it's the wisest thing to say going into a very tight encounter but it is what it is

Lampard said basicly the same for chelsea after the first leg.

 

[pazzainteramala]

all chelsea have to do is forget about the 1st leg and play like its a final and get a wiin simple.. if they do that and play well we will be knocked out

 

[Stefan]

all chelsea have to do is forget about the 1st leg and play like its a final and get a wiin simple.. if they do that and play well we will be knocked out

Not quite. In a final scores of 2-1,3-2,ect are very good not so much in chelsea situation vs us. They need to score and keep a clean sheet. Inter score once and there is huge pressure on them. That's why the first goal will be vital and may be the decider of this tie.