Chelsea (a) post match thread

[Newman Noggs]

Encouraging performance last night which left me feeling a bit more optimistic about finishing in the top 4. Plenty of room for improvement, of course, but we really aren't far away from being a very good team indeed.

 

[eversince 76]

Again frustrated after a match where we played some good football, had by far more possession, but ran out of ideas and steam. Last 20min you could easily tell an already fit Chelsea side played their last game at home 26hours earlier. I thought defensively we were not that bad, not gave away many chances yet opponents seem to score from every possibility they get. And obviously ending up with more yellow cards than the opponent, what's new.
These stats against the top teams don't tell the real story. We've all seen it. But in the end it's the result that counts. You don't get bonus points for possession.

Full backs is an important part where we can and need to improve. But it's not been the main reason tonight we lost the game. As a team we simply are not ready to win games we dominate against the better teams in this league. I'd say we are still a work in progress but that will show next season..
As it is now we can ensure we finish top 4. If we do and win the FAcup it could still end on a high with the prospect of a good transfer window and no obligations for players during the summer so Pep can start straight from the off.

 

[CrownPointBlue]

And season's like this are what happen when you play nicely with UEFA and other clubs and don't say fuck off to everyone and sign whoever the fuck we need even if a selling club doesn't want to sell or a rival puts in a huge bid. Money wins titles. They got Hazard, Costa, Luiz and Fabregas and we signed too many squad players and average players now out on loan.

We need to buy the absolute best full backs in the world whatever the cost, plus a dominant midfielder as good as someone like Yaya or Gerrard or Lampard in their prime, if such a player exists. But cost should be no object, otherwise we'll fall short again next season and the whole point of waiting for Pep so long will have been a waste of time.

Agreed.

The Board should've backed Bobby immediately after 93-20 and fired us on. He wanted Hazzard or Sanchez,Van piss pot,de Rossi & Javi Martinez.

Despite a couple of trophies we've stood still,the new tv money has allowed everyone else to catch up,narrow the gap or overtake us.

We should've left the rags so far behind that theydv sold up and fcuked off to their homeland of Singafuckingpore.

It makes my blood boil.

Viva Pep.

 

[kevin horlocks wand]

Encouraging performance last night which left me feeling a bit more optimistic about finishing in the top 4. Plenty of room for improvement, of course, but we really aren't far away from being a very good team indeed.

I agree about 6 new players, 250 million , a new fitness regime, a new defensive coach and some mental toughness sessions and it's ours next season. Oh and bribe a few of these bent refs..

 

[FantasyIreland]

Encouraging performance last night which left me feeling a bit more optimistic about finishing in the top 4. Plenty of room for improvement, of course, but we really aren't far away from being a very good team indeed.

Gabriels return and keeping Kompany on the pitch will be critical,we'd be 10 points better off had those two been available IMO.

 

[City_Sean]

Encouraging performance last night which left me feeling a bit more optimistic about finishing in the top 4. Plenty of room for improvement, of course, but we really aren't far away from being a very good team indeed.

Maybe it's just me, but I thought we were pretty dross and it reminded me of our 1-1 draw v Chelsea under Pellegrini in 2014/15 when we never really went for it.

Second half was sterile possession which led to nothing. There's no flexibility or plan B go us, and I fear we're becoming like Arsenal.

 

[FantasyIreland]

Agreed.

The Board should've backed Bobby immediately after 93-20 and fired us on. He wanted Hazzard or Sanchez,Van piss pot,de Rossi & Javi Martinez.

Despite a couple of trophies we've stood still,the new tv money has allowed everyone else to catch up,narrow the gap or overtake us.

We should've left the rags so far behind that theydv sold up and fcuked off to their homeland of Singafuckingpore.

It makes my blood boil.

Viva Pep.

I wanted a Porsche Carerra and a 5 bed detached,unfortunately,neither were realistic.

It makes my blood boil.

 

[Bluemanc100]

Agreed.

The Board should've backed Bobby immediately after 93-20 and fired us on. He wanted Hazzard or Sanchez,Van piss pot,de Rossi & Javi Martinez.

Despite a couple of trophies we've stood still,the new tv money has allowed everyone else to catch up,narrow the gap or overtake us.

We should've left the rags so far behind that theydv sold up and fcuked off to their homeland of Singafuckingpore.

It makes my blood boil.

Viva Pep.

To be fair, the club did try to sign Hazard but we rejected the agent's demands for a sweetener (circa £10 mill if my memory serves to his Dad)

He therefore signed for Chelsea...

Mancini was forced out by the team I believe... not because of under-investment or any under-achievement

 

[the_invisible_man]

You honestly thought that DS had a good game ?? Well fuck me with a shovel.The MOTM for City by a country mile was our Captain and what a joy it was to see him back.I take it you have that patch on your one eye ?? Silva was abysmal. My word you are not really here !!!

Yep, Silva played well last night. He was one of the few actually picking out a pass and trying to make things happen. All while getting pulled back and fouled by Chelsea.

Agree Kompany played well and great to see him back. To say Silva was abysmal though is absolutely laughable.

 

[Saddleworth2]

I am not disappointed. If you look at this season dispassionately, Pep is getting a reasonable return out of a squad which is top 6 at best. When you look at the 18 available yesterday, we have only 6 players available that I think would make up a title winning squad. Of these, only one is a defender. To those 6 add Gundo and Jesus and then you are down to promoting youngsters. That shows the scale of the rebuild necessary. I saw a joint Chelsea/City team in the Daily Fail yesterday that only had 3 or 4 City players in it. Think they got that about right. I would argue that the fact we are coming close to beating the best teams in the PL is testament to pep's coaching abilities and I would defy any other coach to get more out of this squad this year without resorting to Pulis like tactics. And before anyone claims that Pellegrini did better last year 1) the standard of football this year has been light years ahead 2) the squad are a year older.

I think that the rebuild will take the next two seasons and we will be lucky to win much next season. Will it be worth it? That depends almost entirely on our success in integrating the more talented youngsters and very smart transfer activity. Pep better sign up for a further three years I think if he is going to complete this job.

Title winning first team material: Stones, Silva, De Bruyne*, Sane, Aguero, Stirling + Gundo, GJ

Will be replaced before we win another title: Caballero, Clichy, Kompany*, Fernandinho, Navas, Delph, Nolito, Kolorov, Yaya, Bravo, Fernando, Zabaleta + Sagna, Hart, Nasri, Mangala

* The Kev we know is in there. Not the one who has been pretending to be Kev for the last few months
* based solely on as yet unproven fitness