Chelsea’s new centreback was PHENOMENAL at Fulham last night.
What a player! What a star!
He’s fun to watch, he’s exciting, the EPL needs footballers like this guy.
Spinal players are vital : keepers, centrebacks, holding midfielders and strikers. Traditionally, you build round a strong spine.
Hitting Fernado Torres with a monster pass down the middle, winning tackles, strolling forward to spray passes here and there, the big Brazilian ended up near the left corner-flag, crossing the ball into the goalmouth with an overhead kick.
DAVID LUIZ switched from centreback to right back as Chelsea turned the screw.
But in the 93rd minute he was mugged by Fulham’s under-rated Clint Dempsey.
The American got into the box and put his left foot where Luiz’s foot was about to be. And when Luiz stretched towards the ball and trod on his foot, Dempsey fell over.
Luiz didn’t complain, gesticulate or protest in any way. I loved the way he didn’t complain.
Luiz he knew he’d been mugged by a cute opponent. That happens in Brazil, in Portugal, happens everywhere. Luiz knew it looked bad and he knew he hadn’t played the ball, so he didn’t try to cheat or whinge or make excuses. I loved that because it was very adult, very professional and very sporting.
Luckily for Luiz, Dempsey took the penalty himself and Petr Cech saved it and the game finished 0-0.
Fernando Torres was incredibly static in a methodical 4-3-3 system which depends on rhythm and repetition.
The Chelsea team has not adapted to Torres at all. And he looks paralysed.
It’s a weird and scary situation to see. What do Chelsea do between matches? Do they train together and practice passing? Doesn’t look like it.
When will Torres get a pass? Right now, his best chance of a pass is from Cech !
Drogba hated Shevchenko being there and never passed to him. He was galavanised by the Ukrainian and determined not to share the glory. And Sheva had lost a yard. If a striker has lost a yard, he can’t come from Serie A to the EPL.
Theme of the week : Brazilians – Marcelo and David Luiz are pure class.
Real Madrid left back Marcelo was magnificent against Espanyol, as Madrid battled to win 1-0 with 10 men from minute two, when keeper Iker Casillas was sent off.
Marcelo scored the goal in 25 and played out of his skin and made Roberto Carlos look like a bull in a china shop.
What’s Portuguese for “Bravo, senor!”
Myles’s 1994 Motto for the Champions League: My Brazilians are better than your Brazilians.
Memo for this week : Watch the Brazilians…and Messi.