Chelsea (a) post match thread

[Easy]

Did we ever thinlk that there was a chance of Aguero being sold any time soon when the season kicked off? Well I didn't! BUT no matter how much I love him as a player, his selfish streak is doing no favours and yes, you're correct, this has been going on all season and when we think about it, it's been going on for a lot longer than that.

There is a reason Guardiola dropped Aguero if favour of Jesus (Fuck, i love that name) Looool :-) and at that point I think he proved his point as Jesus transformed the way we played. This is definitely gonna get interesting mate! :-)

haha Exactly. Had Jesus been fit. Aguero would continue to sit on the bench. Don't get me wrong, Aguero, Yaya, and Zaba are all City legends, and gave me countless moments of joy and awe but looking at the bigger picture they will all go. I know its romantic to think about Aguero staying and breaking the goals record here and all. But how romantic would it be if these legends stayed and next year we fight just for top 4 and crash out early again in the CL, not so romantic I would say and this is what many, many posters fail to realize.

We are going to be a different animal next season. Fullbacks that are not 30+, capable keeper, Jesus starting and bringing in another player that can play the front 3 positions equally well, a quality CB or 2, and one or maybe two midfielders. Pep was never going to fix everything in one window but this summer is do or die. Pep already knows exactly who is staying and who is going. Thats about 7 new players coming in, very realistic given the number of players out of contract and the enormous amount of wages we'll be saving. Going to be a very interesting summer mate. Can't wait!!!

 

[Dribble]

haha Exactly. Had Jesus been fit. Aguero would continue to sit on the bench. Don't get me wrong, Aguero, Yaya, and Zaba are all City legends, and gave me countless moments of joy and awe but looking at the bigger picture they will all go. I know its romantic to think about Aguero staying and breaking the goals record here and all. But how romantic would it be if these legends stayed and next year we fight just for top 4 and crash out early again in the CL, not so romantic I would say and this is what many, many posters fail to realize.

We are going to be a different animal next season. Fullbacks that are not 30+, capable keeper, Jesus starting and bringing in another player that can play the front 3 positions equally well, a quality CB or 2, and one or maybe two midfielders. Pep was never going to fix everything in one window but this summer is do or die. Pep already knows exactly who is staying and who is going. Thats about 7 new players coming in, very realistic given the number of players out of contract and the enormous amount of wages we'll be saving. Going to be a very interesting summer mate. Can't wait!!!

Guardiola has proved he's not the sentimental type and it took him to bring Yaya and his toes crease agent back down to planet earth! We just need to keep the faith and enjoy the ride. I see a manager who is totally frustrated with the way things are going and is struggling to contain his disappointment.

Not to worry, he only has to hang on for a few more weeks, go and have a rest for a couple of weeks and then start putting his plan into action over the summer. The players you mention have been great servants, but its now high time we moved on and I believe Pep will be the man to move on with. Hold tight and get ready for the ride mate! :-)

 

[Easy]

Guardiola has proved he's not the sentimental type and it took him to bring Yaya and his toes crease agent back down to planet earth! We just need to keep the faith and enjoy the ride. I see a manager who is totally frustrated with the way things are going and is struggling to contain his disappointment.

Not to worry, he only has to hang on for a few more weeks, go and have a rest for a couple of weeks and then start putting his plan into action over the summer. The players you mention have been great servants, but its now high time we moved on and I believe Pep will be the man to move on with. Hold tight and get ready for the ride mate! :-)

Definitely. How can you not be frustrated when you outplay ever top team in the league only to draw/lose due to missing chances or blind/inept/corrupt referees. When an expensive West Brom playing negative football, is only 4 points behind with a game in hand, and have the most draws in the league (12), you've got to lose your mind.

I am questioning if I can hang on! haha An 8 game win streak would do for now ;) Next season I'm expecting us to be so good that referee decisions will hardly matter ;)

 

[Dribble]

Definitely. How can you not be frustrated when you outplay ever top team in the league only to draw/lose due to missing chances or blind/inept/corrupt referees. When an expensive West Brom playing negative football, is only 4 points behind with a game in hand, and have the most draws in the league (12), you've got to lose your mind.

I am questioning if I can hang on! haha An 8 game win streak would do for now :-) Next season I'm expecting us to be so good that referee decisions will hardly matter ;)

Looool :-)

In all honesty mate, I believe you make your own luck and if the truth be told, we just haven't been good enough this season. HOWEVER there are extenuating circumstances due to how we ended last season and the problems Guardiola inherited when he took charge. I was as shocked as anyone with the start we made to this season and I'm relieved we did, otherwise we might just be doing a Chelsea of last season!

In terms of West Brom, I think it's more a case of 'Welcome to the Premier League' for Guardiola! He must be thinking 'WTF have i let myself in for?' BUT I honestly think the fact he's facing several of the world's most lauded managers in the same league at the same time will drive him on to want to prove himself. If he can't prove himself here, then it brings his legacy into question.

He's got the fight of his life on in the PL, but I sense from him a determination to prove himself and succeed. Earlier in the season he mentioned that the job here could take beyond his 3 year contract and he stated his future was in the hands of the owner. I think if we're progressing and he wants to stay and try to construct an all conquering side in the toughest league in the world, we'll all eventually get behind him.

It's unbelievable the difference it makes when you can see that a manager struggling to live up to expectations placed on him actually has a plan to deal with what he's faced with. It makes a refreshing change. :-)

 

[Easy]

Looool :-)

In all honesty mate, I believe you make your own luck and if the truth be told, we just haven't been good enough this season. HOWEVER there are extenuating circumstances due to how we ended last season and the problems Guardiola inherited when he took charge. I was as shocked as anyone with the start we made to this season and I'm relieved we did, otherwise we might just be doing a Chelsea of last season!

In terms of West Brom, I think it's more a case of 'Welcome to the Premier League' for Guardiola! He must be thinking 'WTF have i let myself in for?' BUT I honestly think the fact he's facing several of the world's most lauded managers in the same league at the same time will drive him on to want to prove himself. If he can't prove himself here, then it brings his legacy into question.

He's got the fight of his life on in the PL, but I sense from him a determination to prove himself and succeed. Earlier in the season he mentioned that the job here could take beyond his 3 year contract and he stated his future was in the hands of the owner. I think if we're progressing and he wants to stay and try to construct an all conquering side in the toughest league in the world, we'll all eventually get behind him.

It's unbelievable the difference it makes when you can see that a manager struggling to live up to expectations placed on him actually has a plan to deal with what he's faced with. It makes a refreshing change. :-)

Pep's legacy certainly depends on where he takes City. Competing in a league with the best managers. He has to up his game and has already encountered difficulties but is always improving. When we finally do click, it will be something else. Can't until we start recording big wins again. Feel like its been forever since we beat a team 4 or 5 nil in the PL where as these wins were common a few seasons ago.

All the signs are there, and we are getting closer and closer to the final product. Pep made a good point about not being able to handle being 1-0 up. I felt many times that we need to score again because we'll back off and let the other team back in. This will improve next season surely.

But first lets secure top 4 and bring the FA cup back to City :)

 

[HarrytheBlue]

I just object to the claim that we played a great game. We didn't. Aspects were good. Retaining the ball under pressure, getting to the danger zone where we can play a killer-ball good, but in terms of chance creation from open play not great. That was the over-riding message I got from this game, it summed City's attacking play up

Defensively I thought we did a good job. A one off error by Fernandinho and a fluke deflection. ANd that from a team who are excellent on the counter attack. Where was Costa? hazard may have got two goals, but he could easily have been their villain rather than hero. City were very good up to a point. We're not far off which is why I am optimistic about what we are doing. I can see that Guardiola's system will work if we can improve the strike-rate on goal. I find it a bit disappointing we haven't tried Kelechi, or KDB, Sane, Sterling as an out and out striker. Is Guardiola wary of upsetting City fans by being seen to move against Aguero after Hart? For me, a lot of the stultified forward play stems from Aguero's lack of speed. He never ever runs off the shoulder of the last defender. I don't remember a single goal of his this season coming from that when that used to be his bread and butter.

Running long distances off the last defender was never Sergio's main strength - scored a few but not many doing that. His strength has always been short explosive bursts in and around the box. Before Pep, our attack was all focused on him. We don't play that way now - he's much more involved in the build up play. But he's still scoring - 8 in 8 and 27 for the season. Coming up to 29 in a few months, these are the prime years for a striker. I watched Welbeck against us. I've always thought he has incredible pace, but watching Otamendi more than match him in a leg race, it's clear that the knee injury has robbed him of some pace. Sergio hasn't had such a career affecting injury. Over distance, Sergio's pace has always been good rather than Vardy-like, but in the box he's the sharpest pencil in the box - the quickest in that area. I think some might be starting to take that 'in the box' pace for granted.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

To be honest mate, only an angry fool would say otherwise. Ifs and buts ultimately don't count and what happens does, however removing the 3 scrappy goals and looking at the performance of both sides overall we were more impressive.

Our defence has been decimated over the last 3 years to the point where the players looked broken. Albeit our defence is our weakest point, I sense that every player is on board with where we're heading because they can see what the more considered and not so angry fan can see, which is steady progress and a plan.

This is the Premier League and not even Jesus (The one with the beard, long hair and sandals) could have sorted out the mess our defence was in at the end of last season and continued to play the expansive, attacking football we've seen at times this season.

I've spoken to another Chelsea fan today who smiled and nodded to me today and predicted we'd be the team to beat next season! I told him that I honestly disagreed with him, but I replied that the season after that next will begin to tell the world all they need to know about Guardiola the manager. He needs time. He's one of us, and deserves our support accordingly and he's definitely got mine for now....

Lets just say that when Pep goes shopping for defenders in a few months, he'll be looking for worldies. I just hope Vinnie can stay fit this season, next season and several seasons after that. Maffeo is the future at right back and we probably need someone to share the position with him for a year (maybe two) until he's ready to step up as the main right back. Big shoes to fill.

 

[Dribble]

Pep's legacy certainly depends on where he takes City. Competing in a league with the best managers. He has to up his game and has already encountered difficulties but is always improving. When we finally do click, it will be something else. Can't until we start recording big wins again. Feel like its been forever since we beat a team 4 or 5 nil in the PL where as these wins were common a few seasons ago.

All the signs are there, and we are getting closer and closer to the final product. Pep made a good point about not being able to handle being 1-0 up. I felt many times that we need to score again because we'll back off and let the other team back in. This will improve next season surely.

But first lets secure top 4 and bring the FA cup back to City :)

I think this is what will drive Pep on. He will forever be judged against the higher level of manager he's encountered in the PL and if he fails to impress here, I think it only fair that people reassess their judgements on where he stands as one of the world's best managers ever.....

Just imagine how it would have been if the original plan for him to follow Mancini had gone ahead? I feel strangely satisfied seeing the way his frustrated emotions also reflect that of most fans, at least he looks like he wants to be on the pitch with the players and not sat there with bloodshot eyes looking like he needs to sleep for a month. I honestly believe he feels our pain and wants this as much as we do, we can't ask for much more than that.

 

[Dribble]

Lets just say that when Pep goes shopping for defenders in a few months, he'll be looking for worldies. I just hope Vinnie can stay fit this season, next season and several seasons after that. Maffeo is the future at right back and we probably need someone to share the position with him for a year (maybe two) until he's ready to step up as the main right back. Big shoes to fill.

After initially failing to impress me, Maffeo has continued to improve no end as has Garcia too. I'd love for the final pieces of our jigsaw puzzle to come from our academy, but I think the club will wisely only do this on merit.

Danny Rose has been mentioned again as a left back solution and strangely I think Navas may have more of a future as a right back with us than as a winger. Whatever happens, we need change in the squad and to start looking toward the future. It's gonna be emotional seeing some great players having to move on, but it was bound to happen one day and the coming summer just seems like the right time for the likes of Yaya, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Clichy, Sagna, Navas Nolito and dare I say it, Aguero to leave if we've got the next generation in place to replace them.

However, I hope we all give the incoming replacements a season to properly bed in and acclimatise to life at City under Guardiola and the Premier League. I also agree with Vinny being given a chance to prove his fitness. Just his very presence gives confidence to those around him, and in turn brings something more to the team than anyone else can.

 

[HarrytheBlue]

This happens at least 3-4 times EVERY game but most people overlook it and say but Aguero has improved, he worked hard. Also makes many wrong decisions in the build up, i.e. passes to the player on his right side with a defender covering him, when the player on the left is almost through on goal. OK the effort is there but the necessary skills unfortunately aren't. World Class striker but not for us anymore. He will be sold in the summer, I'm sure of it.

How come the other Prem strikers with twenty-odd goals - Kane, big nose and Lukaku are being praised to the hilt, but our man with twenty-seven goals is having his game picked apart ? Big nose has missed more chances than any striker this season, but he's being talked up as a Player of the year contender. I like Kane, but he'll have to perform like he is now for another four years before we can see how his record compares to Sergio's. It's one thing to score goals for one or two seasons - quite another to do it for nearly six years. He's been scoring twenty-odd goals a season despite missing chunks of the season through injury. We're fucking lucky to have this guy. In the Prem and the CL his goalscoring record is monumental - and this is today not some golden yesterday. This season he's heading for thirty-odd goals. An unbelievable return. Players that score twenty-odd goals a season for six years or so are special - very special. Your comment about him passing to marked players on his right rather than unmarked players on his left rings no bells with me. Are you suggesting Sergio doesn't know how to play football ?