Chelsea (A) Post Match Thread

[hampshireblue]

Is it me or does having 2 left footers on the right leave us unbalanced. Both Bernardo and Mahrez naturally want to cut inside. Without Aguero or Jesus would it make more sense for Mahrez to be the "false 9" and leave Raheem wide on his natural right foot?

 

[ak93city]

I think the only telling thing in his post-match press conference was him conceding that he didn't expect Chelsea to play a low block, and instead played Raheem as a false 9 because he wanted to exploit the expected high defensive line of Chelsea and create 1v1s with Luiz.

In other words, Sarri surprised Pep.

 

[ak93city]

Frankly I was disgusted by our long-ball approach yesterday. I tore my hair watching crosses being played time and time again to short players like Raheem etc. when Chelsea practically won EVERY header.

 

[ancoats]

they say you know you have a good team if you take losing and come back stronger

the core of this team are 2nd to none and its 7 or 8 that play when its the big games and if they have a off day and 3 or 4 are missing because of injury then losing is ok, don't get me wrong hate losing any game but you have to take your medicine and hold your hands up and say ok was not at it today and the beat team won

hate digging out players and managers and its so easy to point fingers when you lose and knowing pep he will take it for the team and will never dig a player out that's why he is the best manager in the world, he is bigger than that and knows the pain of losing hurts so much and if you can take somebody else pain as well its a sign of a genius, he knows what it takes and if somebody beats you fair and square why moan and blame everybody even the tea lady gets it over the road

so we move on and go about what we have been doing for the last couple of season and come together as a unit and fight back and if you think about it we only lost 3 points still in all competitions and played most of the big teams away and only sit of the top spot my a points, i will take that with the injury to key players we have pick up this season and knowing when we click NOBODY is better

 

[Tricky_Trev]

I think the only telling thing in his post-match press conference was him conceding that he didn't expect Chelsea to play a low block, and instead played Raheem as a false 9 because he wanted to exploit the expected high defensive line of Chelsea and create 1v1s with Luiz.

In other words, Sarri surprised Pep.

He can say that, but he then needs to ask himself why we got worse after he made changes. The element of surprise was no longer there and he had 3 subs to make our shape better. After the changes, Chelsea found us even easier to defend against.

 

[blueparrot]

He can say that, but he then needs to ask himself why we got worse after he made changes. The element of surprise was no longer there and he had 3 subs to make our shape better. After the changes, Chelsea found us even easier to defend against.

Think it was more after the second goal a bit of belief and urgency dropped, not so much after the changes. Apart from Jesus for a wide man I don't think there was a lot on the bench to make a real change.

 

[come-on-barney]

If we score first we seem to go on and score a few. Once Chelsea scored we just did not seem to react at all. Same at Watford soon as they scored we panicked a little. Think we are missing a bit of leadership right now. Yesterday was the first time I thought we needed a Yaya driving through the midfield. Hope we go for Ndombele as think we need a player like that. Kevin back will provide us with that drive as well. Pep will be studying hard and he will work it out always does.

 

[Blue Bogey]

Fact - we were the best team in the first half and we played with a high intesity but without reward of a goal.
Fact - Chelsea were fantastic in 2nd half and probably the best we have seen from a team this season and our possession was a lot lower and it was Chelsea’s turn to play at a high tempo.

As a team our players are not used to being out of possession. As fans as well as the players we were desperate to get a goal back, but this resulted in players going one way while the pass went the other. The best way to counteract Chelsea 2nd half would have been to slow the play down when we had the ball and get possession, but we did the opposite out of desperation to get a goal back. Patience was the key to get back in the game.

 

[gingerprince]

KDB missing puts pressure on D.Silva to be at his absolute best, versus any top x6 team.

No KDB but Aguero still plays, opposition double up on Kun, in turn that frees up David.

If both KDB & Kun missing, top 6 sides can exert more capability to nullify D.Silva threat.

Thought Fernandinho was fantastic first x30 mins. Our play deserved goal in that period.

We didn't score when we were dominant in the game and in the end we lost the game.

Versus top 6 sides you need to score when you have a dominant period as opposition is

likely to have a dominant period within the game too.

 

[IcriedwhenTueartleft]

That's another goal we have lost right at the end of the 1st half...Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Chelsea. That needs to stop. Walker could do with a rest, been mediocre for weeks now and the full back on the other side needs to be sorted out as well. I don't understand why Danilio cannot play on the left, I know he is right footed but so is Delph and that hasn't stopped Pep picking him. Surely playing a natural full back in a full back role is the sensible thing to do?
We seem to be developing a trend in the last few games of trying to walk the ball into the net instead of just having a pop, basically hanging onto the ball too long and allowing the GK/defence to narrow down the angle completely.
Those of you expecting a Liverpool collapse may wish to rethink your back up strategy, their defence is tighter than a gnats arse and they have already been away to Arsenal, Spurs, and Chelsea. They also appear to be hitting some better form in the last couple of games whilst unfortunately for us, we seem to be dipping slightly and now, with David Silva likely to miss both games in the next week, unless we get KDB and/or Kun back, we have tricky games ahead without 3 of our best players.
I'd play a weakened team at home to Hoffenheim and give a good few a bloody good rest before Everton.