Azpilicueta Appreciation Thread

[Gil]

*bleep* me, not sure there's a better fullback in the World on the DEFENSIVE end. It's nearly impossible to get past the lad and he has the pace to recover if you somehow manage to pull it off. The story all season has been Ashley Cole losing his place rather than how *bleep* fantastic this lad has been playing since he got his chance.

His tenacity, aggression, intelligence & athleticism reminds me of Ashley Cole in his prime. Will finally get the praise he deserves once he scores a goal or two oddly enough.  

Basque Excellence


inb4ogandsendingoffnextweek

[teamanarchy]

I rated him far more highly before he went to OM...
As a youngster at Ossasuna (is that right?), he really impressed me...
Mourinho is very good at getting the best out of his full-backs, so not suprised to see him performing.
Wouldn't call him the best FB though... not even defensively.
Hell, in the Premier league he doesn't even win that... Seamus Coleman motherf***er!

[Robespierre]

I remember him to OM, he impressed me much in Inter-OM of Champions League 2011, infact I said to take him ...
Most improved player of Chelsea this year
but at this point , considering this Azpilicueta , does it make sense the interest about Shaw?

[Gil]

I remember him to OM, he impressed me much in Inter-OM of Champions League 2011, infact I said to take him ...
Most improved player of Chelsea this year
but at this point , considering this Azpilicueta , does it make sense the interest about Shaw?

Mourinho will just move Azpilicueta to his natural position at right back instead. Shaw while not quite at Azpi's level defensively...is rather exceptional going forward.

His dribbling ability, passing, vision, intelligence & pace are all quite special.

[futbol]

No more Arbeloa for Spain.

[Arquitecto]

I find myself agreeing mostly with the premise of this thread. I appreciate that Gil is not part of those who rate a fullback mostly due to his "modern" contribution in attack to which compensates for their complete lack of defensive intelligence. Fullbacks such as David Alaba, Jordi Alba, Marcel Schmelzer, Zuniga, Baines, Rafael etc etc.

Modern fullbacks are who can attack AND defend, increasing exposition in their expectations as never there will be a time where fullbacks are not expected to defend properly. Azpilicueta's performances in Osasuna were just unreal and the man has been performing on these levels since he was SEVENTEEN. His move to Marseille was a resounding success (especially in the Champions League [notably marking Ribery out twice in a row]) and would be more if not for his crippling injuries to which he has yet to fully recover from.

Gil is correct in spotting how complete he is in both flanks in attack, defence, intelligence, awareness, reading, passing and dynamism. Where does he fail? Azpi has yet to master his weakness in thwarting out cross diagonal aerial threats as sometimes he has trouble reading the trajectory of the ball in the air. He also suffers from concentration lapses and sometimes can be extraordinarily rash on the ball when serving his unpredictable temper.

Obviously I will be accused of bias here yet I've been saying this for years that this kid is an absolute gem and must be the starting right-back for España as no one else even comes close at the moment.

Best? Not yet but he can be the way he is going. A typical Basque fullback.

[urbaNRoots]

The best thing about him is his ability to play consistently awesome as RB or LB.

Azpilicueta is really an amazing FB, I wish we could have him to replace Sagna.

Also the guy who said Coleman is the best FB in the Premier League must be having a laugh

[Robespierre]

I remember him to OM, he impressed me much in Inter-OM of Champions League 2011, infact I said to take him ...
Most improved player of Chelsea this year
but at this point , considering this Azpilicueta , does it make sense the interest about Shaw?

Mourinho will just move Azpilicueta to his natural position at right back instead. Shaw while not quite at Azpi's level defensively...is rather exceptional going forward.

His dribbling ability, passing, vision, intelligence & pace are all quite special.

mmm yes I forgot this particular , so that's ok , although Ivanovic is still a solid fullback and imho he can plays well other 2-3 years

[Art Morte]

I remember him to OM, he impressed me much in Inter-OM of Champions League 2011, infact I said to take him ...
Most improved player of Chelsea this year
but at this point , considering this Azpilicueta , does it make sense the interest about Shaw?

Mourinho will just move Azpilicueta to his natural position at right back instead. Shaw while not quite at Azpi's level defensively...is rather exceptional going forward.

His dribbling ability, passing, vision, intelligence & pace are all quite special.

mmm yes I forgot this particular , so that's ok , although Ivanovic is still a solid fullback  and imho he can plays well other 2-3 years

Shaw might not be an automatic starter even if he joins Chelsea in the summer. Meaning that Ivanovic and Azpilicueta might play a fair number of games in their positions of this season.

Also, I agree with Gil. Azpilicueta has been really good this season and Chelsea's whole back-four deserves equal credit for their defensive solidity, not just the Terry-Cahill partnership.

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

The best thing about him is his ability to play consistently awesome as RB or LB.

Azpilicueta is really an amazing FB, I wish we could have him to replace Sagna.

Also the guy who said Coleman is the best FB in the Premier League must be having a laugh

Probably the same guy who said Baines is the best LB tbf.... dat goalscoring return > costing your team goals consistently

[Kick]

About time, he is a GOAT

[Robespierre]

Mourinho will just move Azpilicueta to his natural position at right back instead. Shaw while not quite at Azpi's level defensively...is rather exceptional going forward.

His dribbling ability, passing, vision, intelligence & pace are all quite special.

mmm yes I forgot this particular , so that's ok , although Ivanovic is still a solid fullback  and imho he can plays well other 2-3 years

Shaw might not be an automatic starter even if he joins Chelsea in the summer. Meaning that Ivanovic and Azpilicueta might play a fair number of games in their positions of this season.

Also, I agree with Gil. Azpilicueta has been really good this season and Chelsea's whole back-four deserves equal credit for their defensive solidity, not just the Terry-Cahill partnership.

agreed, the real strenght of Chelsea, no EPL clubs had a similar defensive solidity this year, just thinking to  the City...

and infact , they have Mourinho.

[teamanarchy]

No more Arbeloa for Spain.

Well, to be fair, Carvajal could challenge for RB as well... But he's also far more attacking...

[Valkyrja]

No more Arbeloa for Spain.

Well, to be fair, Carvajal could challenge for RB as well... But he's also far more attacking...

VDB: Montoya is the future of Spain

[terrance511]

ivanovic cahill as CB duo next season?

[fatman123]

ivanovic cahill as CB duo next season?

JT is still our best CB, im sure he'll be there next season. Even if we do sign Shaw i'd expect us to start next season with a the same back four as we have now to allow Shaw to be eased in

[Guest]

ivanovic cahill as CB duo next season?

ZOUMA is still our best CB, im sure he'll be there next season. Even if we do sign Shaw i'd expect us to start next season with a the same back four as we have now to allow Shaw to be eased in

  

[fatman123]

Zouma looks like a future goat, can see him beasting the PL in a few seasons time, but next season will still be Cahill and Terry

[Arquitecto]

Wins Chelsea FC Player of the Year. Best fullback in the Premiership by a mile.

Basque

[fatman123]

He won players player of the year, Hazard won the player of the year award. There wouldve been very few complaints had Azpzi won POTY though (hes more deserving of it then Hazard imo, although Cahill was my pick), hes been amazing this season

[Guest]

He was robbed player of the year IMO.

Does what is asked, and consistent.

Also he doesnt whine to the media, or conduct interviews in the shirt of a team that lit them up, like a certain someone else who won the award.

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