The on topic thread

[Art Vandelay_]

So Christmas is upon us. Who does everyone think makes up the Premier League best XI so far this season.

My effort.

-------Courtois
Azpi Luiz Van Dijk Bertrand
--------Kante
Lallana De Bruyne Hazard
-----Costa Sanchez

Mane pretty stiff. Cout would have been in there but for injury. Rose and Moses also unlucky.

Rose and Moses would be a little stiff, yes. Not the most stiff. The best keeper of the season is the most stiff.

Lloris over Courtois and I'd be inclined to agree with your side.

 

[Zidane98]

#cfcdestiny ?

#creamrisingatstamfordbridge

 

[jod23]

Rose and Moses would be a little stiff, yes. Not the most stiff. The best keeper of the season is the most stiff.

Lloris over Courtois and I'd be inclined to agree with your side.

Lloris and De Gea were next cabs off the rank.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Lloris and De Gea were next cabs off the rank.

Well I could have guessed that. Just think this season (and probably 2016) he's been the best in the country.

 

[jod23]

Well I could have guessed that. Just think this season (and probably 2016) he's been the best in the country.

I know you do because you're a Spurs fan and he plays for your team.

The way Chelsea are going this season, I think it's an easy choice for Courtois.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I know you do because you're a Spurs fan and he plays for your team.

The way Chelsea are going this season, I think it's an easy choice for Courtois.

Who've conceded 1 fewer goal than we have despite the best CB in the league being injured. He's the best in the league and it's not overly one eyed to say it now. He's earned the right for that to be a legitimate suggestion.

You talk about my club playing a part. Same would apply if I removed Lallana for Moses or for Arse fans if I removed Sanchez for Ibra. You'd argue quite strongly for Lallana to be included would you not?

 

[Zidane98]

Yeah Courtois has been a step above Lloris this season. Chelsea will want to resign him on a new deal quicksmart otherwise it will be very difficult to stop him joining Real Madrid.

 

[chef]

Yeah Courtois has been a step above Lloris this season. Chelsea will want to resign him on a new deal quicksmart otherwise it will be very difficult to stop him joining Real Madrid.

Not sure hes a step above, but him, Lloris and De Gea are all in another class and any of the 3 could be equally picked for this team. None are better than the others imo.

Hes got 2 and half years on his contract and a £75m price tag on his head. RM can show us the money or **** off. Sounds like hes negotiating a new deal with a bit of a payrise that'll make him the highest payed keeper in the world.

 

[Zidane98]

Not sure hes a step above, but him, Lloris and De Gea are all in another class and any of the 3 could be equally picked for this team. None are better than the others imo.

Hes got 2 and half years on his contract and a £75m price tag on his head. RM can show us the money or FO. Sounds like hes negotiating a new deal with a bit of a payrise that'll make him the highest payed keeper in the world.

When contracts run down below 2 years you are not in a good negotiating position if a player wants out. No way you get £75m for him unless you sign him on a new deal or a Chinese club buys him.

 

[chef]

The way Chelsea are going this season, I think it's an easy choice for Courtois.

Not just this season, but all of 2016 in which weve been the best team.

 

[chef]

When contracts run down below 2 years you are not in a good negotiating position if a player wants out. No way you get £75m for him unless you sign him on a new deal or a Chinese club buys him.

I guess we've got plenty of time for him to sign a new contract then.

Didnt you say that Costa and Hazard would leave too?

 

[Established1870]

No bias but Pickford should honestly be a shout for GK of the season so far. Without him (and Defoe, but mainly Pickford) we would've already been relegated to League 1 for being so shit.

 

[Magma]

if courtois was going to leave he'd already be at madrid. prior to this season was everyone's chance to get out.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Not just this season, but all of 2016 in which weve been the best team.

Part of my point. As of last Thursday you'd conceded 3 more goals than we did in 2016, that's including the 5-1 drubbing on Tyneside too.
If people want to pick Courtois fine, ultimately it holds no more weight than my view on it, imo he's been the best PL keeper this calendar year and that's heightened by being amongst Buffon and Neuer as the only keepers Ballon D'Or nominated. He's had a brilliant year and not just in the PL or for the club. In Europe and for France also.

To dismiss it merely based on table position is very simplistic analysis. More goes into it than that. Change in formation and defensive personnel are just as important.

 

[Stan_Darsh72]

 

[jod23]

Who've conceded 1 fewer goal than we have despite the best CB in the league being injured. He's the best in the league and it's not overly one eyed to say it now. He's earned the right for that to be a legitimate suggestion.

You talk about my club playing a part. Same would apply if I removed Lallana for Moses or for Arse fans if I removed Sanchez for Ibra. You'd argue quite strongly for Lallana to be included would you not?

But bringing up stats like goals conceded doesnt prove anything. I think Pickford is amongst it with De Gea and Lloris too but he plays in a shit team and hence has conceded far more goals.

I think you have to sway towards the best teams. Courtois, De Gea, Lloris and Pickford are my four keepers. It's pretty tight. But Chelsea are 1st, Spurs 5th, United 6th and forget about Sunderland. So I went with Courtois.

Cant really argue Moses for Lallana as they play wildly different positions. You can argue all you like for Zlatan, but Arsenal are having the better season. Plus Zlatan scores goals but doesnt do much else. Ive watched him in games being bang average, then he'll score the winner which is fine but he hasnt dominated the game. Sanchez for me has done far more this season.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

But bringing up stats like goals conceded doesnt prove anything. I think Pickford is amongst it with De Gea and Lloris too but he plays in a shit team and hence has conceded far more goals.

I think you have to sway towards the best teams. Courtois, De Gea, Lloris and Pickford are my four keepers. It's pretty tight. But Chelsea are 1st, Spurs 5th, United 6th and forget about Sunderland. So I went with Courtois.

Cant really argue Moses for Lallana as they play wildly different positions. You can argue all you like for Zlatan, but Arsenal are having the better season. Plus Zlatan scores goals but doesnt do much else. Ive watched him in games being bang average, then he'll score the winner which is fine but he hasnt dominated the game. Sanchez for me has done far more this season.

imo basing things purely on table position is too simplistic.

What if Pickford (and Defoe) singlehandedly keep Sunderland up, why should his standing as a keeper be downgraded like this "It's pretty tight. But Chelsea are 1st, Spurs 5th, United 6th and forget about Sunderland. So I went with Courtois."?

IMO you aren't judging them on ability but instead because you're sitting on the fence and can't decide are using table position as the deciding factor.
As for Lallana v Moses, different positions you say.... Azpi is right back but has played at CB since the formation change. So maybe Clyne and Walker are more deserving as they've actually been playing right back. Based off your Lallana v Moses logic. Can't have it both ways Jod.

 

[jod23]

imo basing things purely on table position is too simplistic.

What if Pickford (and Defoe) singlehandedly keep Sunderland up, why should his standing as a keeper be downgraded like this "It's pretty tight. But Chelsea are 1st, Spurs 5th, United 6th and forget about Sunderland. So I went with Courtois."?

IMO you aren't judging them on ability but instead because you're sitting on the fence and can't decide are using table position as the deciding factor.
As for Lallana v Moses, different positions you say.... Azpi is right back but has played at CB since the formation change. So maybe Clyne and Walker are more deserving as they've actually been playing right back. Based off your Lallana v Moses logic. Can't have it both ways Jod.

That's why I base if off table position because it's too close to call.

It's like in the NBA is LeBron and say Anthony Davis have massive years yet the Cavs win 65 games and the Pels win just 35 games, then you gotta give the MVP to LeBron.

Sure different sports but the idea is sound. Courtois, De Gea, Lloris and Pickford all pretty close. So I just went for the bloke who's team is going the best. Pretty reasonable.

Azpi has played on the right of a three man central defence yeah. He's a RB by trade though. Moses who has played more wing back and Clyne and Walker were the next few in line for RB.

But Azpi is a natural RB playing on the right of a three man defense for Chelsea, with Luiz and Van Dijk picked themselves, it was easy to switch Azpi to RB.

So when you have a natural RB playing in a three man central defense on the right, that's not a large stretch. Trying to replace a central attacking midfielder in Lallana with a right wing back in Moses is. So yeah I guess I can have it both ways.

 

[Magma]

shouldnt you just put the whole chelsea team in by that logic?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

That's why I base if off table position because it's too close to call.

It's like in the NBA is LeBron and say Anthony Davis have massive years yet the Cavs win 65 games and the Pels win just 35 games, then you gotta give the MVP to LeBron.

Sure different sports but the idea is sound. Courtois, De Gea, Lloris and Pickford all pretty close. So I just went for the bloke who's team is going the best. Pretty reasonable.

Azpi has played on the right of a three man central defence yeah. He's a RB by trade though. Moses who has played more wing back and Clyne and Walker were the next few in line for RB.

But Azpi is a natural RB playing on the right of a three man defense for Chelsea, with Luiz and Van Dijk picked themselves, it was easy to switch Azpi to RB.

So when you have a natural RB playing in a three man central defense on the right, that's not a large stretch. Trying to replace a central attacking midfielder in Lallana with a right wing back in Moses is. So yeah I guess I can have it both ways.

That's up to you. I do think there are flaws in your logic. Azpi one such case. He's also well adept to left back but unlikely to be picked there, just find it hard to justify picking someone in a TOTS in a position they haven't played for the majority of that season, especially the part of the season where the team has excelled. Seems odd.

 

[jod23]

That's up to you. I do think there are flaws in your logic. Azpi one such case. He's also well adept to left back but unlikely to be picked there, just find it hard to justify picking someone in a TOTS in a position they haven't played for the majority of that season, especially the part of the season where the team has excelled. Seems odd.

Well when he is a RB by trade it's pretty easy.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Well when he is a RB by trade it's pretty easy.

Not really, it's logically not how it should work.

Hypothetically if you switch Kennedy to full back next season and he does well should he then get picked for AA as the full forward as that's his trade?
No.

RB may be his position but he hasn't played there much this season, in fact, in his 20 matches (all comps) this season he's played 8 at LB, 11 at CB and only 1 at RB (which was in the league cup btw), so he hasn't even played 1 league game at RB.

 

[jod23]

Not really, it's logically not how it should work.

Hypothetically if you switch Kennedy to full back next season and he does well should he then get picked for AA as the full forward as that's his trade?
No.

RB may be his position but he hasn't played there much this season, in fact, in his 20 matches (all comps) this season he's played 8 at LB, 11 at CB and only 1 at RB (which was in the league cup btw), so he hasn't even played 1 league game at RB.

I was so confused for a moment, I thought you were talking about that Kenedy bloke at Chelsea. I was like full forward? What position is that?? Then it clicked.

Then drop Azpi and stick in Moses.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Goal of the season

 

[jd2010]

Jod is picking his players off table position and playing the role in his desired formation. Makes sense.

But then picks Azpi at RB when he has played LB and RCB for the past 18-24 months lol. May as well put Pedro in there at LB over Bertrand RW and LB aren't too dissimilar and Chelsea have more points that southampton.

Also how's Bertrand in if Southampton have less points than Arsenal and Spurs and most would say there's little between Rose, Nacho and Bertrand?

Holes. Holes. Holes everywhere