As we prepare for Barcelona with the boost of bakayoko being injured I thought i'd do a head to head of our team then vs now as it was one of our most famous victories, to draw 2-2 with 10 men against the best team in the world.
Taking into account just this game and not a whole season, with mentality and experience taken encompassed in my thinking. Hard to do cos of formation but i'll give it a go.
Cech > TC - ...not much in it, but Cech was THE big game keeper and probably still the best 1 or 2 keepers in the world at the time. And a leader.
Cole > Alonso - Alonso may be the best technical full back in the league with his freekicks and ability, and he's fantastic in the air but Ashley Cole was arguably the best full back in the world(atleast defensively) at the time.
Cahill > Cahill - Cahill Was dependable, solid, and even very good for a few years for us and a goal threat. Has fallen off a cliff this season.
Terry > Christensen - Christensen is the future, but not much debating this. Our most successful captain ever.
Ivanovic < Azpilicueta - maybe the toughest one for me, Ivanovic for years was the best RB in the league once G.Nev hung up his boots. Azpi though, is probably in the top 3 defenders in the league. IMO in the top 2.
Ramires > Moses - Kind of the odd comparison out due to formation. Ramires was the difference maker in both legs, assisting drogba and scoring in the nou camp. Can Moses do something similar? let's hope so.
Mikel < Kante - less said the better. Gulf in class, despite Mikel's best performances coming in that CL run.
Lampard > Dwater - A tougher comparison against Fabregas but Lampard is Lampard. Not much debate needed. Ball through to Ramires for both goals in both legs.
Meireles < Fabregas - Could have compared with Dwater I guess and the 2012 picked up both wins, but for objectivity. Fabregas at a canter.
Hazard > Mata - Very tough, Mata so underappreciated as a footballer due to Jose killing his career twice. What a player he was. But Hazard is the man.
Morata < Drogba - The easiest decision yet.
So bar a slight change in team or formation tonight(mabe willian starts) I believe those to be the closest teams to who will play.
Just a bit of fun leading up to the game.
So the chelsea team of 2012 ins 7-4. If I swapped Fab with Dwater it would have been 8-3.
Cmon Chels!
Chelsea 2012 vs now
posted on 20/2/18
Is Coutinho cup tied for tonight?
posted on 20/2/18
Yes he is.
Tonight could be the night Hazard has the game of his career against the best of opposition.
I'm just desperately hoping we line up in a 3-4-3 because Willian has to play the form he is in.
posted on 20/2/18
yeah would love a midfield of
Moses Willian Kante Fabregas Alonso
------------------------Hazard-----------------
------------------Giroud-----------------------------
Counter attack willian runs into the space left by the full backs, fabregas plays a worldy pass, lays it into giroud, flicks into hazard, slides it into the bottom corner.
posted on 20/2/18
Eulogise it for character or whatever, but truth is we were crap in 2012 and got extremely lucky. Our previous sides like the 08/09 one deserve that praise and recognition (restricted one of the best Barcelona sides in history to precisely ZERO shots on target before that Iniesta goal), but history only remembers the winners.
Your comparisons seem to be judging the players from 2012 in their prime, Cech for example was doing his best Claudio Bravo impression for most of that season.
posted on 20/2/18
Terry > Christensen - Christensen is the future, but not much debating this. Our most successful captain ever.
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Terry was sent off in the semi-final against Barcelona for kneeing Sanchez in the back. He may have been our best defender and our leader, but in that particular case he was a liability.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by Juan Eden Zola (U6000)
posted 5 hours, 21 minutes ago
The biggest difference in these sides isn't even the footballing ability but the mental strength and leadership.
Terry, Lamps and Didier would each have jumped in front of a bus if that's what it took for that team to win. This current side's leadership does not come close in comparison to that side.
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It really annoys me when people make out this side are like mentally weak pansies.
They have won/walked two titles under pressure that even Fergie has bottled it from in the past.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
yeah would love a midfield of
Moses Willian Kante Fabregas Alonso
------------------------Hazard-----------------
------------------Giroud-----------------------------
Counter attack willian runs into the space left by the full backs, fabregas plays a worldy pass, lays it into giroud, flicks into hazard, slides it into the bottom corner.
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I've always wondered why Willian has never been tried in the middle of a central 2 as the box-to-box player. He has the energy and endurance to make those runs, he has the ability on the ball to keep possession and be creative, and he is a goalscoring threat too. I think he would be a great partner to Kante.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 50 seconds ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
yeah would love a midfield of
Moses Willian Kante Fabregas Alonso
------------------------Hazard-----------------
------------------Giroud-----------------------------
Counter attack willian runs into the space left by the full backs, fabregas plays a worldy pass, lays it into giroud, flicks into hazard, slides it into the bottom corner.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I've always wondered why Willian has never been tried in the middle of a central 2 as the box-to-box player. He has the energy and endurance to make those runs, he has the ability on the ball to keep possession and be creative, and he is a goalscoring threat too. I think he would be a great partner to Kante.
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Because defensively he makes Cesc look like Makelele.
posted on 20/2/18
comment by ------- (U21614)
posted 17 minutes ago
comment by BlueJ2 (U4630)
posted 50 seconds ago
comment by Nickasaurus (U9257)
posted 2 hours, 9 minutes ago
yeah would love a midfield of
Moses Willian Kante Fabregas Alonso
------------------------Hazard-----------------
------------------Giroud-----------------------------
Counter attack willian runs into the space left by the full backs, fabregas plays a worldy pass, lays it into giroud, flicks into hazard, slides it into the bottom corner.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I've always wondered why Willian has never been tried in the middle of a central 2 as the box-to-box player. He has the energy and endurance to make those runs, he has the ability on the ball to keep possession and be creative, and he is a goalscoring threat too. I think he would be a great partner to Kante.
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Because defensively he makes Cesc look like Makelele.
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Maybe you're right. He is a bit lightweight.
posted on 22/2/18
i was not far off looking back! willian