Match Thread | Chelsea vs Man City (05/01/23)

[Bill Walker]

Guardiola is making a bit of a mess of things lately.

He hung Grealish and Mahrez out to dry with no proper full back support (Lewis playing infield and Ake not able to attack) and now he's doing the same with Foden and Cancelo. When I saw the line-up I really thought he'd figured out that what we were doing isn't working and he was going with:

Ederson

Walker Stones Ake Cancelo

KDB Rodri Gundogan

Bernardo Haaland Foden

Foden likes to go outside and Cancelo cut inside, so perfect balance. On the other side, Bernardo likes to cut inside and Walker outside. Again perfect balance.

Instead of that we have had:

Ederson

Walker Sones Ake

Bernardo Rodri

Cancelo Gundogan Foden

KDB Haaland

It is screwing everyone up. Foden and Cancelo have been very poor, as has KDB but I suspect that (as with Grealish and Mahrez) it is more to do with the formation than the players themselves.

It seems we are just trying to find a way to fit KDB and Haaland in up front together and it just isn't working. If we can't make it work, then just drop one of them and let the team play to its strengths.

Overthinking again.

 

[Stelea]

Oh dear, Pep was right all along about Walker and Cancelo

 

[CityBluez]

Why is that an oh dear. Walker and cancelo don’t look fit/ ready at all

Walker done well and cancelo played out of position?!!?

 

[I'm Blue]

‘PRIDE IN BATTLE’
Let’s have some

 

[jollylescott]

This is weird unless Walker is injured

 

[01cravend]

Akanji and Lewis on for Cancelo and Walker. That's no wide support now then with Lewis playing in cm and Ake at Lb

 

[OntarioBlue]

Two defenders - wtf ?

 

[roach3]

Akanji will get rinsed
AY to slow for this game
Lewis good shout

 

[Chak19]

Subs at halftime which he never does means he knows he got it wrong, but why just not play the players in their usual place first ?

 

[SWPISHOME]

Thank god Cancelo has gone off.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Not in the humour to look at another half arsed tackle.