Chelsea - FA Cup SF | Post-Match Thread

[Horlocksleftpeg]

During our winning run there was no rotation. It was a case of ‘if you play well, you keep your place’....that’s now gone out the window and we’ve thrown the Leeds and Chelsea games.

We simply cannot start matches without DeBruyne and Foden, the drop off is staggering.

I called it before kick off that we’d go out due to a lack of creativity and that’s exactly what happened. A front three of sterling, Jesus and Torres is simply awful. No creativity, no bottle, no finishing ability and no desire to beat a man.

The one plus point that I’ll take from yesterday is that it makes contract negotiations with sterling much much more straight forward. The only reason I’d offer him a new deal is to protect the club from him winding down his deal. Raheem Sterling in no way, shape or form deserves any kind of pay rise and if anything should be paying some of his wages back by way of an apology for his form this season. I’ve backed him in the past but the Leeds and Chelsea games were the final straw for me. Even his cameo v Dortmund was appalling. I don’t know whether he’s starting to believe his own hype but he needs a rocket up his arse because he’s not just playing for his city future he’s playing for his place at the euros at the moment, he’s been that bad.

 

[Matt the Giant]

I dunno if I agree with that, we were off the pace making mistakes all game(some of the passing was cringe worthy). So they were better than a disjointed/off the pace City who didn't look like scoring(easy to defend against today) but did they really create much going forward though? I think if Steffen didn't get caught in no-man's land, that game probably ends up going to extra time.

You are of course right, we did not perform very well, at all, - but I think that's due to a combination of us having a bad day and to Chelsea making it hard for us.

 

[Matt the Giant]

All they did was fill the holes and hit us on the counter.

That was a City no-show until 65 minutes. By then we were too late. All down to Pep this. He does this from time to time.

Well Marvin, I'm thinking filling in the holes and hitting us on the counter requires a good team and a very disciplined tactic. Obviously we had a very bad day, and did not play our strongest side.

 

[r.soleofsalford]

Thank fuck for that.

His tonguing of the Rags makes me feel physically sick anyway.

Every fucking Derby we hear the " They are an amazing Club,with amazing fans,with lots,and lots of history"

Then picks the worst possible City side to make them look peak Brazil.

Honestly it has made me wonder about him a few times.

He thinks our history only started when he arrived on the scene.

absolutely this mate.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Well Marvin, I'm thinking filling in the holes and hitting us on the counter requires a good team and a very disciplined tactic. Obviously we had a very bad day, and did not play our strongest side.

And as a result, failed to make history. Even if we win the remaining three trophies it won't match the rags' treble. FA Cup beats the League cup in terms of stature. And it is all down to Pep. I thought I'd wake up and be grateful what we have to look forward to, but all of a sudden none of it, none of it is a certainty. I think this could hit us hard, and it was so fucking unecessary.
I wonder if fernandinho calls him out in selection as club captain?

 

[Nellies left peg]

With Sterling, it's undeniable that his form has deteriorated dramatically in just a few months (think in contrast how well he played against Lampard's Chelsea in January) but I have come to believe that some of the criticism of him is rooted in racism. Why? It's in large part because he is persistently accused of being lazy, which is a classic racist trope directed at blacks. As I have said repeatedly on forums in addition to this one, Sterling is capable of instant control, sublime dribbling skills and terrific shooting, and at the same time of appalling inability to control the ball, hopeless attempts to dribble past players, and incredible misses when presented with simple chances in front of goal. The word for that is inconsistency: laziness has nothing to do with it, and as any honest observer would admit Sterling tries if anything too hard to make up for his failings during the course of a match.

Don't be a dick and play the racist card. Every player who gets criticised who is not white and English is off limits then are they. Mahrez has had some awful stick on here but being North African has never been mentioned for example

 

[M12Blue]

Agreed, but where was the hunger and desire of the players? Big matches coming up and possibly places to be had in those games, yesterday showed Pep has little options away from his first choice side.

Agree, it was very disappointing

 

[cyberblue]

And as a result, failed to make history. Even if we win the remaining three trophies it won't match the rags' treble. FA Cup beats the League cup in terms of stature. And it is all down to Pep. I thought I'd wake up and be grateful what we have to look forward to, but all of a sudden none of it, none of it is a certainty. I think this could hit us hard, and it was so fucking unecessary.
I wonder if fernandinho calls him out in selection as club captain?

I think many senior players will be mystified about the team seleaction
Whether any call him.out thoughv is another matter

 

[peter.evans]

During our winning run there was no rotation. It was a case of ‘if you play well, you keep your place’....that’s now gone out the window and we’ve thrown the Leeds and Chelsea games.

We simply cannot start matches without DeBruyne and Foden, the drop off is staggering.

I called it before kick off that we’d go out due to a lack of creativity and that’s exactly what happened. A front three of sterling, Jesus and Torres is simply awful. No creativity, no bottle, no finishing ability and no desire to beat a man.

The one plus point that I’ll take from yesterday is that it makes contract negotiations with sterling much much more straight forward. The only reason I’d offer him a new deal is to protect the club from him winding down his deal. Raheem Sterling in no way, shape or form deserves any kind of pay rise and if anything should be paying some of his wages back by way of an apology for his form this season. I’ve backed him in the past but the Leeds and Chelsea games were the final straw for me. Even his cameo v Dortmund was appalling. I don’t know whether he’s starting to believe his own hype but he needs a rocket up his arse because he’s not just playing for his city future he’s playing for his place at the euros at the moment, he’s been that bad.

Or Gundogan the player of the season !

 

[Nellies left peg]

During our winning run there was no rotation. It was a case of ‘if you play well, you keep your place’....that’s now gone out the window and we’ve thrown the Leeds and Chelsea games.

We simply cannot start matches without DeBruyne and Foden, the drop off is staggering.

I called it before kick off that we’d go out due to a lack of creativity and that’s exactly what happened. A front three of sterling, Jesus and Torres is simply awful. No creativity, no bottle, no finishing ability and no desire to beat a man.

The one plus point that I’ll take from yesterday is that it makes contract negotiations with sterling much much more straight forward. The only reason I’d offer him a new deal is to protect the club from him winding down his deal. Raheem Sterling in no way, shape or form deserves any kind of pay rise and if anything should be paying some of his wages back by way of an apology for his form this season. I’ve backed him in the past but the Leeds and Chelsea games were the final straw for me. Even his cameo v Dortmund was appalling. I don’t know whether he’s starting to believe his own hype but he needs a rocket up his arse because he’s not just playing for his city future he’s playing for his place at the euros at the moment, he’s been that bad.

Southgate will take Raheem to the Euros. He's a manager that has no imagination and sticks with a rigid idea with no innovation. Kane will start even if he was on crutches and Pickford the hoofing juggler will be in goal