Chelsea (A) Post Match Thread

[Indaparkside]

I think we should move on now from Chelsea. just look forward to a wonderful Xmas new year and a premiership trophy which I’m confident we will lift come may

 

[lasereyes]

So - the second half.....

What’s your opinion on what changed:
1. Tactical shifts?
2. Belief (theirs and/or ours)?
3. Fatigue/injury

And separately ...
There has been a trend of us having weaker second half performances (IMO) - I’ve previously put that down to us taking our foot off the gas when comfortable but any other views????

I honestly think the lack of our major players finally caught up with us. You can exist for only so long - and the remaining players are going to drop in performance playing every 3 days without a break. Which other team could lose their best player, best striker, and first choice full back for an extended length of time and even be within touching distance of top 4?

 

[BluessinceHydeRoad]

I don't think Sarri changed the way he plays because it was City. Chelsea started by trying to press high but got nowhere near us and had no choice but to defend deep, but again we saw that if you don't get the game won when you're so much on top you can pay a very heavy price. The Chelsea goal was very much against the run of play but it was a very good goal and it changed the game. We never achieved any dominance in the second half and, indeed, Chelsea were the better side. We needed Sergio desperately and, for the first time, we really needed KdB. But Pep has never said anything other than that a game at Stamford Bridge is anything other than very difficult and he has never pretended we would go unbeaten all season. It's time to play our football and bounce back.

 

[Bayblue]

I honestly think the lack of our major players finally caught up with us. You can exist for only so long - and the remaining players are going to drop in performance playing every 3 days without a break. Which other team could lose their best player, best striker, and first choice full back for an extended length of time and even be within touching distance of top 4?

I agree with this in general - but why the drop off? First half we were massively in control - without our best players. At half time they didn’t change players, we didn’t change; and so it’s not clear to me that it was the lack of the major players was the cause of the change

 

[paulchapo]

Go on Pep tell them!

Pep: “You don’t have to tell me how competitive this league is. It’s you and your analysts that keep saying we are invincible, that we are perfect, how good we are and that in February we are going to win the league.”

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Very mysterious match. Even after thinking about it all w/e, in all good faith, it's not easy for me to see how Pep could say anything other to the players this morning in training than “Keep playing that way. Just for God's sake put your chances in when they come”. That said, in those first 43 minutes, when we were playing them off the park to the extent that they looked like the away team, on their own turf, they blocked like demons. That Sané shot goes in in that period — I couldn't see who it was blocked by, from our end, but it was a major turning point — I am completely convinced that it's an entirely different match. On their absolute first attack on our goal, they score. Shit happens. In fairness, they came out buzzing in the second half, and could have scored another with that free kick. Then we got back onto an even keel, and pretty much matched them. The Luiz goal came out of the blue, from a very good corner. Shit happens. Have I already said that? The result says unambiguously that they were the better team, on the day. But in the match I saw, there wasn't much in it.
I will say one thing, though. Sarri had our number as far as our wing play is concerned. HIs full backs pushed right up Sané's and Mahrez's backsides. They were throttled. In that situation, a goal has to come through the middle, in the holes that are opened up by your wingers stretching their midfield open. Which is exactly what happened in this fixture last season, you will remember. Yeah, we've done fine without Kev. But we are a better team with him, more unpredictable. Roll on his return. We do need him at this point.

That's me done with predictions, by the way. I said Bournemouth to win, and us to pick up a point or better… Famous last fucking…

 

[taleofbluehalves]

Very mysterious match. Even after thinking about it all w/e, in all good faith, it's not easy for me to see how Pep could say anything other to the players this morning in training than “Keep playing that way. Just for God's sake put your chances in when they come”. That said, in those first 43 minutes, when we were playing them off the park to the extent that they looked like the away team, on their own turf, they blocked like demons. That Sané shot goes in in that period — I couldn't see who it was blocked by, from our end, but it was a major turning point — I am completely convinced that it's an entirely different match. On their absolute first attack on our goal, they score. Shit happens. In fairness, they came out buzzing in the second half, and could have scored another with that free kick. Then we got back onto an even keel, and pretty much matched them. The Luiz goal came out of the blue, from a very good corner. Shit happens. Have I already said that? The result says unambiguously that they were the better team, on the day. But in the match I saw, there wasn't much in it.
I will say one thing, though. Sarri had our number as far as our wing play is concerned. HIs full backs pushed right up Sané's and Mahrez's backsides. They were throttled. In that situation, a goal has to come through the middle, in the holes that are opened up by your wingers stretching their midfield open. Which is exactly what happened in this fixture last season, you will remember. Yeah, we've done fine without Kev. But we are a better team with him, more unpredictable. Roll on his return. We do need him at this point.

That's me done with predictions, by the way. I said Bournemouth to win, and us to pick up a point or better… Famous last fucking…

Very unlucky in the first half they had one chance and scored using a very City style tactic. Second half never got
going really. There are so many games in the next few weeks that Liverpool could easily drop points. Let’s hope it’s next week!

 

[MillionMilesAway]

Very mysterious match. Even after thinking about it all w/e, in all good faith, it's not easy for me to see how Pep could say anything other to the players this morning in training than “Keep playing that way. Just for God's sake put your chances in when they come”. That said, in those first 43 minutes, when we were playing them off the park to the extent that they looked like the away team, on their own turf, they blocked like demons. That Sané shot goes in in that period — I couldn't see who it was blocked by, from our end, but it was a major turning point — I am completely convinced that it's an entirely different match. On their absolute first attack on our goal, they score. Shit happens. In fairness, they came out buzzing in the second half, and could have scored another with that free kick. Then we got back onto an even keel, and pretty much matched them. The Luiz goal came out of the blue, from a very good corner. Shit happens. Have I already said that? The result says unambiguously that they were the better team, on the day. But in the match I saw, there wasn't much in it.
I will say one thing, though. Sarri had our number as far as our wing play is concerned. HIs full backs pushed right up Sané's and Mahrez's backsides. They were throttled. In that situation, a goal has to come through the middle, in the holes that are opened up by your wingers stretching their midfield open. Which is exactly what happened in this fixture last season, you will remember. Yeah, we've done fine without Kev. But we are a better team with him, more unpredictable. Roll on his return. We do need him at this point.

That's me done with predictions, by the way. I said Bournemouth to win, and us to pick up a point or better… Famous last fucking…

Azpilicueta was superb, and as you say, largely nullified Sane, and blocked shots when he did get space. Kepa the keeper barely had anything to do.

The first goal was several errors - Walker got left standing by Willian, and then Sane by Kante, with no-one patrolling the penalty spot area.

David Silva looks in need of a rest, which presumably he gets now with an injury worry.

 

[levets]

As weekends go Heineken didn't make this one, Scandinavian twats.

Isn’t it Dutch

 

[Blue Feather]

One of those days, missed a couple of good chances first-half and then sucker punched. Bit of pressure 2nd half with a flurry of corners but didn't really look like scoring from one - then they did.... Couldn't understand why Raz didn't have a go on the right second-half. David not at his best at Watford or on Sat, so maybe carrying an injury that forced him to go off? Still, one defeat against a top side and a long, long way to go in what is going to be a tough season