Rami isn't exactly lightning quick either

The only real fast CB we have is Zapata and he comes in with a whole host of issues of his own

Alex and Mexes might not be quick, but neither are Terry and Cahill for example at Chelsea and they're one of the best CB duos around right now

It's not about how fast you are, this isn't Fifa, it's about how tactically aware you are and your positional sense. And Mexes and Alex both have these key ingredients, unlike Zapata or Rami

That and they're very, VERY similar types of defender. You need one collosal leader, strong in the air, good positional sense, and one quick, 'last minute block'-capable partner. Rami is neither of these. Both Mexes & Alex are the former. Zapata is the latter, and he and Alex work well together.

Coppa match was poor from Zaps, but then, as I say if you keep getting rotated out and in then expectations can't be sky high.

You don't watch Chelsea that often. Terry is the Alex/Mexes of the partnership and Cahill the Zapata.

I watch Chelsea regularly, and no way is Cahill the Zapata, he's not fast imo, both him and Terry are strong and have good positioning

As for Zapata he's just a decent defender who is speedy, every other important aspect that is crucial for a defender is lacking.

Even if they are both slow, I'd rather have 2 really good defenders capable of taking care of themselves without needing to have their hands held (both Zapata and Rami are this way), who are tactically smart and have good positioning that makes the speed factor not as important as when you have Zapata who's caught out but is fast enough to usually run back (we saw this failing just last week when he wasn't quick enough to get back and gave away the penalty because of the late tackle)

I'd rather have our 2 best defenders playing with each other, than playing just one of them and a much weaker one just to fit into some mould of what a CB pairing should consist of.

As for your theory that you keep insisting on that Zapata-Alex is our best pairing, I don't know where you came up with that since they only performed well together in that first game and have been shaky when they've played together again since then. Arguably our strongest showings in defence came with Mexes and Zapata or Rami next to him

Like I said, at the time of me saying it we had never lost with Alex in defence. First time we did was v Sassuolo.

And if you want to get really pedantic, and sure, let's, with Alex at the back we've conceded:

8 goals while he was on the pitch. 11 appearances. One defeat.

With Mexes on the pitch we've conceded:

5. 7 appearances. One defeat.

Basically they're almost exactly the same player, but Alex won't get sent off nor get involved with stupid spats with opposing players.

In essence, remove the crap from Mexes' game and make him even better in the air and you have Alex.

As for your Alex & Mexes theory (at least you've removed the atrocious Rami from the equation at last) I still say they're far too similar and it won't work. But I stand by the assertion that our best defensive display was v Lazio, and they are one of the best teams we've played this season. And that was Alex & Zapata.

I haven't removed Rami from the equation at all. I still maintain that he's the same level as Zapata, just remove the ridiculous passing give-aways and you have the same player. Both incapable of playing without someone who can lead the line, both capable of making bad mistakes, both have played very well when paired with Mexes.

One game doesn't say anything. Lazio were horrible on that day, we scored 3 times on them relatively easily. They've improved since then but basing your entire theory on that one game for me makes no sense. I've seen our defence perform better than that .i.e being more composed and efficient in how they handle the opposing team's attacks rather than scrambling around like we did at times vs Lazio

Alex and Zapata weren't that great last week, yet you blame it on rotation, but in reality you can blame that very same factor for any of our player under-performing as none of them (aside from maybe Menez) have had any good consistent run of games

As for my theory, you can't discredit it since you're never actually seen it in action.

And regarding Mexes, last I checked he's never been sent off this season. And has rarely had to walk that walk since he's been with us

Yes you have, you asserted he was our best defender along with Mexes. That was the partnership you advocated.



Alex was ok, not brilliant but ok. But Zapata was terrible and he HAS been rotated to hell. He's arguably been the biggest victim.



And you can't credit it as neither have you!



Sometimes your pro-Mexes bias is comical.

D.Lopez; Abate, Mexes, Rami, Bonera; Montolivo, De Jong, Bonaventura; Cerci, Menez, El Shaarawy.

Bench: Abbiati, Agazzi, Zaccardo, Alex, Armero, Albertazzi, Poli, Van Ginkel, Muntari, Niang, Mastour, Pazzini.

I like the line up, except for Bonera and Rami.

This post has been edited by d'Arc.LP: Jan 18 2015, 02:15 PM

That's possible the best line-up we can play except for frigging Bonera.

If we don't win even this then I officially give up on the 3rd spot.

I can't find any SopCast links for the match. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

rojadirecta dot es

What?! When?

I've always said that Mexes and Alex are our best CBs by far, name one instance where I have said Rami is better than Alex and I'll wire you a £100!

That being said, I prefer Rami over Zapata because of Zapata's on the ball issues. I still think both are just barely okay defenders though


Every player on this team has suffered because of rotation. You can't dismiss that factor when it's someone you don't particularly like but use it as an excuse when it's someone you want to back.

Rami has suffered through the same start stop treatment as Zapata, just like Poli, Bonaventura, SES, etc


I never credited it per se. I have simply said that I personally think it would be our strongest partnership, while youhave automatically dismissed the possibility of it even working well


And your anti-Mexes bias is equally so

I remember you saying he'll be diabolical the first time he started this season, and after he came in after months being ignored and dismissed he put in a very solid performance, and yet you, even now, still barely acknowledge how good he's been this season when he's played

Good start, but we usually start this way then it goes downhill from there

I'm enjoying El Shaarawy's work rate.

Menez should have sent a better shot there.