Chelsea (H) | PL | Post Match Thread

[noseve]

Crushing - but that's just where we are at the present - incredible that we're even within touching distance really, but with Arsenal's centre backs having returned and close to full fitness, they are looking the part again, and it's reasonable to expect them to push on right through to the end of the season from here.

Personally, I'm grateful that we at least go into every game with a chance of winning it, after last season when that definitely wasn't the case, although it's bloody painful to ship another two points so late. Not quite as significant as the Arsenal equaliser, but hurts just as much.

Those on here who have been judging the performances this season - rather than just looking at the result - won't be too surprised by this type of unprofessional lapse.

It's just where we are, at this moment.

 

[Tolmie scores]

Gvardiol going off was always going to be a huge difference.

We were average at best first half too tbh

 

[waspish]

We were looking for Haaland at times when we should be shooting or passing wide

 

[citytill1die84]

We were average at best first half too tbh

Could and should have been 3 up tho.

 

[Pingu the Penguin]

He looked the same against Sunderland.

I think we are reaching the natural conclusion of the experiment of him at full back.

I could cut and paste from the previous 7 years, “we need a proper LB”

He’s solid enough but like Lewis defensively doesn’t sniff danger and his body shape when defending is all wrong. He’s being asked to play there and working hard so fair play to him. Needs to learn the position tho

 

[Gumzy97]

Did we have no one bench ? How do you assume those academy lads are wank and won’t contribute ?
Lots of managers would have dipped into bench and would have used some fresh legs which our manager refuses to do.

I don't think Pep trusts them to put it bluntly . I think outside of the first eleven he doesn't trust the quality. When he makes the subs it's the same subs he's done all season. We have a bench but I think half of them are there to make up the numbers.

 

[ancoats]

He's not spot on tho is he?

We are treading water matey ? the fitness because of a lack of quality to rest players means we look fucked

 

[Mr HJ]

Only ourselves to blame - we had so many opportunities to put the game to bed but (Phil in particular) seemed to pick the wrong final pass every time.

They just upped the physicality and we went into our shell - summed up by Reece James constantly leaving a lot on tackles & getting away with it because he pretended to be bessie mates - I don't advocate retaliation but we don't need our players accepting a player kicking two shits out of us because they are happy to help you from the field. Oliver was influenced by them and that in the end didn't help.

That being said I saw enough from Kushanov to want him in the side now as he has pace to burn - thought he looked great until we lost Ruben - Ake is a step down and it upset the balance of our back four.

Onto Wednesday where we have to be ruthless now.

 

[wolviedinho]

This city squad has limitations and it shows. We have done brilliantly to be in any title conversation. The team is better now than at the start of the season.

Possession is still a problem. We look better attacking on the counter and we have still the wide open about us.

Should have put the game to end with the chances. Didn’t, get punished. Two tough games and 2 points.

We ain’t in a title fight. Never really thought we were this season.

Rodri back is a plus but now we have no cover for cb. Need another round of top recruitment. Move on some fringe players who don’t step up when needed.

 

[Prophet of Doom]

No complaints - fair result as we were getting carved open with no legs in midfield for 45 mins with no options on the bench and thats always gonna end in tears.

Sunday league manager getting a result against Pep.

Far bigger holes in this squad than spunking £65m on a Bournemouth winger.

The back 4 we ended with summed up by that keystones cop Chelsea goal. Million miles off being good enough to challenge for titles.

 

[Jesus2020]

It's because it's a last min goal. I'm not saying anything. You can't comment after a last min goal.

 

[paulsimpson]

You could sense what the game would end up like from our first 15 mins of sloppy play. Miss cued passes, snails pace etc..Chelsea of course sat back but we were so complacent, youth team manager, stepping they will be clueless etc... we were terrible. What should have happened is we should have gone for the jugular first 15... really got at 'em with quick passing, you can mess up a few 1 - 2's in their 3rd by trying to play quick..that wouldn't have hurt us as they had all their men around their own 18 yrd box. What did we do...let them settle into that easy deep bank of 5 and 4..they coasted it because we were far too complacent. Got what we deserved... I lost my dad on NYE 83...City through and through Collyhurst lad... he was saying our complacency kills us...God rest his soul..you were right auld fella. Our crowd didn't help.... we hardly make it intimidating do we. Must be a breeze playing us with regards to that - even when we really needed it. V Sunderland, I thought we were great, right at iy=t, excellent game..tonight...woeful.

Sorry to hear about your dad, mate .
We are far too honest at times as well and certain people take advantage of that . We like to play football but like you say if we had gone for it first 15 we may have got the second which would have deflated them.
On the other hand this team has ended up being knackered by 70 mins and then it can end up more disappointing .

 

[.db.]

Bloody serves us right.

If we don’t make the most of good opportunities, keep taking the wrong options, being careless with possession, keep playing shit passes, fluffing assists and missing chances… we don’t deserve to win.

Opportunity after opportunity wasted. You don’t mind individual one-off mistakes, they naturally happen, but to continually keep making mistakes is going to get us nowhere.

Got what we deserved.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

It was but we did nothing to shore up midfield and we had a few too many dud performances. We still had 'momentum' and openings after Gvardiol went off but were really lacking.

The only real option would have been Rico Lewis. Moving NOR or Nunes would have been a risk with Chelsea’s pacy wide players.

Foden and Cherki were creatively dreadful today. Had one of them been at it, we’d have won 3 or 4 nil.

 

[ancoats]

There’s loads of drama ahead ..nothing is done on January

If City and Pep don't sort out the squad right now, then we are not in the title race
The Squad is a joke and we are in danger of having another crisis on our hands

 

[hilts]

All on Pep? Pep responsible for Foden being absolutely dreadful all game?

He keeps picking him and leaving him on so yeah

 

[Kippax Street 1880]

But why is the tank empty ? All the new signs have only been here a year

Lack of rotation has caught up during this busy period. We look 10% slower than the opposition during the second half. AFCON and the mounting injuries mean we have no cover, or options off the bench.

 

[.db.]

O’Reilly sold himself massively. Awful defending from him.

But he looked fucked so, what can you say??

An absolutely fucking disgraceful result

I’m not laying the blame on anyone at the back for the Chelsea equaliser, it’s wholly on the attackers for fucking up chance after chance after chance after chance after chance all cunting game.

 

[paulsimpson]

We were average at best first half too tbh

Chelsea were woeful in comparison

 

[Eaststander1]

Beat Brighton and we will maintain 2nd. It's about consolidation right now.

It's hard to see that happening right now .... and what kind of a line up we have out there is anyones guess.