Chelsea (A) | PL | Post-Match Thread

[ancoats]

Right. I think in its own way it's a scary proposition for the rest of the league that City at their poorest have a goal manchine freak who hasn't even settled yet and are still in a title race.

and a world cup winning striker sitting on the bench

 

[ancoats]

Mate on paper this was the team apart from Foden started instead of JG. Everyone was relatively happy with that.

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On the pitch this was the monstrosity,

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Don’t need anyone to tell me that isn’t right. Can see it a mile away.

it was like having an adjustable spanner ? it can do a job but comes loose, and it needs adjusting time and time again

 

[HarrytheBlue]

On ability, yes. In practice, no. He’s brittle and - because he’s so valuable to us - needs to be played more sparingly.

He’s overplayed at both club and country level for someone of his fitness/injury record. Looks bolloxed at times.

Bill Walker is correct.

 

[Blue_Lightsaber]

Only we could have one of the deadliest strikers in the world and appear like we have a plucky Chris Wood working hard up top!

The lad is running himself into the ground and we need to give him a few more early crosses or go over the top of teams and show his pace.

Well he did have 2 clear chances and 1 was an open goal.

He also had like 3 chances in the previous games so he's not exactly been himself either with the high amount of misses.

 

[shevtheblue]

it was like having an adjustable spanner ? it can do a job but comes loose, and it needs adjusting time and time again

It like having a spanner but using it as a hammer, you probably could hammer the nail in but why not just use a hammer and do it properly like a normal person?

 

[trevorriley]

we have had to many breaks this season, the passing away of the queen, the world cup... But that aside these are professional players and if other teams / players can get a grip on the situation why cant ours..

The last 4 prem games we havent been on song.

some players last night where sloppy, didnt run enough off the ball, the first half performance was poor. Not good enough as champions.

Thankfully pep took off the worse players ( cancelo in particular ) at the end of the half rather than on 82mins !! Chelsea are on poor form, had players out and then two went off, they where there for the taking.

the football was flowing, we got chance after chance, went in front and then last 15 minutes seemed to go a little sloppy again making it a nervous finish

 

[City Raider]

Stay away from the matchday thread Pep. Just 5 minutes on there would explain that starting formation.

 

[Chris in London]

Not great, the only thing I might say in his favour is that he may be so worried about his injury that he was a bit oblivious to everything else.
Might be a bit rude though

Actually he did. As he approached our supporters coming behind the goal he applauded. Not for long, just a few claps, but he acknowledged us.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

The problem with sticking with the same system is that the opposition work out how to stop you playing. Look at Spain in the World Cup.
I applaud Pep for trying something new and for changing what wasn't working. Maybe this formation would have worked if Walker and Cancelo had been back around a bit longer?
Rodri was superb at alternating between centre back and defensive mid. That bit definitely worked.

It was worth an experiment. Now we know Cancelo can’t play midfield. I trust Pep

 

[Big Yaya Wilko 12]

Stones was incredible!

Chuffed for Grealo too!

Terrible first half. Weird formation.

Miles better second half.

 

[WEMBLEY76]

Could be a vital win to set us off on a run of hopefully wins and playing back into form at a crucial stage of the season.Stones was fantastic,trust Pep to get this team going again,he has history...

 

[M12Blue]

am rattling already, god help the blood pressure machine ? I think I may just blow the thing apart hahahaha

Keep safe blue

 

[hilts]

I realise it was a tongue-in-cheek comment, but I think if he read Bluemoon he'd have left years ago. Why would you put up with the shit spouted on here?

I can think of a few million reasons tbh:-)

 

[Norbiton]

Funnily enough the weird first half formation could have worked, Cancelo was left in acres of space down the right and was fed the ball at every opportunity. Unfortunately he was completely off his game, dithered, couldn’t pick a pass, couldn’t beat a defender. Probably not an experiment worth repeating

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

I lost count the amount of times he made a run in behind and wasn't found. A simple little slide rule pass and he was away. But i love how happy he is when someone else scores and how happy he is at full time when we win.

Simple and slide rule in the same sentence? If it was that easy it’d actually be that easy………..

 

[The Light Was Yellow Sir]

Akanji was great when he came on. Another very assured display.
Absolutely brilliant signing.

He’s like every centre half for us and for England, in that he’s much much better when he’s playing next to an in-form John Stones with Slab-head being a brilliant case in point.

 

[Utter bobbins]

Ederson, 6 - what did he have to do?

Walker, 5 - clearly not fit yet, but wasn't completely awful
Stones, 9 - MOTM, classy throughout and made that great tackle in the first half
Ake, 7 - solid without being brilliant, starting to look comfortable now
Cancelo, 5 - played out of position and didn't look ready but wasn't horrendous

Rodri, 7 - was asked to play in two different positions first half, looked settled after half-time
De Bruyne, 4 - whatever's going on with you Kev, just shake it off please
Gundogan, 5 - quiet, wasn't helped by that strange formation Pep played from the start

Foden, 4 - what's up with him? Starting to become a problem now
Haaland, 6 - should have buried both his chances, looked alright otherwise
Bernardo, 6 - another one not helped by the strange formation but played alright

Subs
Lewis, 8 - came on and looked very composed, helped change the game
Akanji, 7 - came in and played quite well, helped us get back to normal
Grealish, 9 - did exactly what was asked of him, provided the one moment of genuine quality
Mahrez, 8 - got that goal and looked dangerous otherwise
Phillips, N/A - hope he plays more

Lol

 

[pavelsrnicek]

Thought that was a pretty mad game last night. First half we were awful, all of worst habits we have on our bad days, slow, indecisive and generally ponderous in possession and no where near aggressive enough without the ball. Lost count of the amount of 50:50s we lost.

At half time our mad genius manager took off our first choice right back and our right winger to be replaced with a centre back and a teenage full back. Suddenly we were transformed and took the match by the scruff without creating enough chances. Bernardo has his best moment of the season so Pep subs him and the two subs combined for the winger.

Don’t think we were anywhere near our best but we won a tough away match through muscle memory. Arsenal know we’re still in this title race.

 

[youngbob]

Lol

Yeah?

 

[Craig]

Well he did have 2 clear chances and 1 was an open goal.

He also had like 3 chances in the previous games so he's not exactly been himself either with the high amount of misses.

Open goal that he couldn’t reach properly?