Martin Demichelis

[PowderBlue]

He was the weak link - he put everyone else under strain, especially Yaya, who then was unable to link with Silva etc. we'd be better off with Barry, as he also had no pace but could link things together better.

Very poor decision by Pelle, but hopefully he'll learn from it and not stick blindly with his men like bobby did with Balo.

 

[tonea2003]

should be nowhere near the middle of the park, we were effectively 2 light in the middle last night

 

[ManCitizens.]

Much better than Garcia. Reads the game better, class with the ball and a solid distributer.

His even a good tackler in the midfield, though what he lacks is pace & agility but so does Garcia - I'd definitely prefer Demichelis in midfield.

I'd play Jimmy. Garcia even Rodwell in front of him every time.

Exactly, he should have been moved to cb or taken off at half time. The biggest problem for me was Negredo and Dzeko standing still all night not running in behind Cahill and Terry. It aloud two slow centre backs to play a high line without having to worry about us getting behind them.

 

[Blue Til Death]

should be nowhere near the middle of the park, we were effectively 2 light in the middle last night

Totally agree and that's where the game was lost, why didn't he bring Milner on at half time, it was obvious after 10 minutes that Demechelis was the weak link in the team. An abject performance last night, its not losing that pisses me off, its the lack of heart and desire we showed. They wanted it more and at this stage of the season that's just not good enough.

 

[markbmcfc]

I must have watched a different game.

He was the only man on the pitch trying to tackle and break up play. Our defence were flapping with half clearances, Yaya doesn't tackle, he was literally the only player chasing down, pressing and tackling, and despite his years was still doing that in the 90th minute. So he gave the ball away, he's in that role as an emergency for his defensive attributes. If he was a ball playing, tackling midfielder, he'd be Fernandinho. He isn't.

We know Pellegrini isn't an idiot. If he didn't think Milner could come on for fitness, sharpness or whatever, then he couldn't come on. A manager doesn't willingly not make a change when chasing the game just for jokes.

Accept it, we missed Fernandinho, Demichelis isn't a like for like replacement and in certain aspects struggled. We had no other match fit option. We move on.

 

[tommybooth]

I must have watched a different game.

He was the only man on the pitch trying to tackle and break up play. Our defence were flapping with half clearances, Yaya doesn't tackle, he was literally the only player chasing down, pressing and tackling, and despite his years was still doing that in the 90th minute. So he gave the ball away, he's in that role as an emergency for his defensive attributes. If he was a ball playing, tackling midfielder, he'd be Fernandinho. He isn't.

We know Pellegrini isn't an idiot. If he didn't think Milner could come on for fitness, sharpness or whatever, then he couldn't come on. A manager doesn't willingly not make a change when chasing the game just for jokes.

Accept it, we missed Fernandinho, Demichelis isn't a like for like replacement and in certain aspects struggled. We had no other match fit option. We move on.

I watched the same game as you.

Spot on.

 

[FantasyIreland]

While he isnt a patch on Fernandinho,i thought he had a decent first half,he broke play up well and made some great interceptions while keeping passes simple.
In the second it was obvious his legs were gone and he needed replacing.

Against lesser teams the combo of him and Yaya will work,however,as last night proved we cant play them against the more powerful opposition as their combined mobility and fitness will be our undoing.

The addition of Garcia,Rodwell or maybe Milner,at the expense of a striker,would have helped enormously.

Failing to sign the quality midfield replacement that was required will definitely cost us this season,and that isn't said in hindsight......

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.

The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

 

[Blue Punter]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.
The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

What about the tackle he missed on Hazard on the left, which led to the goal?

 

[RandomJ]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.
The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

What about the tackle he missed on Hazard on the left, which led to the goal?

And the others he missed. "Don't know fuck all about football" I suggest you pay more attention and you'd notice it was DM lunging and missing tackles which allowed Chelsea to overrun us all night.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.
The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

What about the tackle he missed on Hazard on the left, which led to the goal?

Seriously?

Hazard is delivering the ball from the right when Demichelis is on the other side of the pitch.

Nastasic is at fault for allowing Hazard to put the ball across.

 

[crystal_mais]

I thought he was one of our better players on the pitch last night. He had to deal with Ramires, Matic and track Hazard and William.

Hard job - this is where Yaya just does not have enough. MD was covering for both himself and Yaya as well as having to sweep up shit left by Nasty's nervousness.

Chelsea had a game plan and they executed it - we kept losing the ball thus putting MD and the 2 centre halves under pressure with Zabba and Kolarov being stranded up the flanks

Too many people find it easy to point fingers. Last night too many times Yaya and Merlin kept losing the ball and playing us into trouble

 

[markbmcfc]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.
The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

What about the tackle he missed on Hazard on the left, which led to the goal?

And the others he missed. "Don't know fuck all about football" I suggest you pay more attention and you'd notice it was DM lunging and missing tackles which allowed Chelsea to overrun us all night.

What about the lunging tackles that were successful? Everyone is prone to miss a tackle, Vinny missed quite a few last night and spent a lot of time chasing back.

The fact is, whether he missed them or not, he was the only one tackling in midfield over the 90 minute period.

He's just an easy scapegoat.

 

[feedthegloat]

Demichellis was so out of his depth in the middle of midfield against the class of their midfield it was embarrassing. He can't be blamed for being asked to do a job he isn't capable of, the blame there must lie with Pelle. But for anyone to say he was out 'best' player is beyond belief. He was constantly a yard behind play, chasing shadows, doing his usual dive in and win every one in three. When Hazard beat him, DM walked, Hazard continued his run, picked the ball up again and assisted in the goal. So so out of his depth.

 

[Blue Punter]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.
The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

What about the tackle he missed on Hazard on the left, which led to the goal?

Seriously?

Hazard is delivering the ball from the right when Demichelis is on the other side of the pitch.

Nastasic is at fault for allowing Hazard to put the ball across.

Watch the build up to the goal again.

Long hopeful punt up field to Hazard on the left touchline. He physically holds off Demechelis and plays the ball inside. Hazard keeps moving across the full width of the pitch. Demechelis stays where he is. Hazard crosses from the right. Ivanovic scores after initial effort is blocked.

 

[Cellarite]

His eagerness to fly in to ridiculous challenges had my arsehole playing five pence / fifty pence all night. He played numerous hospital balls and the players around him looked as nervous as me.

 

[jimbopm]

Let's face it he was on a hiding to nothing last night. The 4-4-2 works because Fernandinho has the fitness and stamina to perform the roles of two midfielders. Demichelis had his good and his bad moments, but it was painfully obvious that Hazard had the beating of him from early on. He doesn't deserve some of the stick he has been getting from some, but as has been opined, there were other players out there who were much more culpable for our defeat than him.

 

[Dipsis_LTU_MC]

If we play Demichelis in the midfield, we need 5 in the midfield. 4 is not enough, 4 is enough with Fernandinho but also not always, for example against Bayern at home.

 

[our tommy]

Best man in a City shirt last night and just goes to show how many people really know fuck all about football.

He never let anybody down and made every tackle asked of him.

The whole system failed because simply put, it only works when Fernandinho is at the heart of it.

Demichelis has excellent technique, kept the ball moving and attempted to put out fires all night.

It's become a convenient stick to beat him with.

Demichelis is no Fernandinho, a player who drives forward and has the capacity to run all day.

He covers for Yaya and does the work of two other players.

It's no coincidence the last time we lost at Sunderland it was because Fernandinho was also missing.

I agree with you. I was there and thought he played very well. I would love to see his stats for last night.

I have never known a performance so divide opinion. My lad, who watched it on TV is convinced he was awful, my secretary and her husband who were there think it was one of his best performances and was close to MOTM with Navas.

 

[bobom]

I agree. He didn't play badly, but he's no mobile enough to play as one of a two man midfield.