W10Carefree

On one hand, it's hard to describe our performance as free flowing, and our opponents looked very poor.

On the other hand, we just beat the champions of Italy 3-0 in a must win game!

Beyond Reece (who was the best player on the pitch), I think RLC and Kovacic deserve praise for winning the midfield battle.

 

A well deserved victory but let's not get carried away. Milan were forced to play a weakened side and the away game maybe a different matter.   We are slowly decreasing the back and sideways passes and it was nice to see players trying to make forward passes; far too many touches on the ball though, but hopefully that will diminish as they get use to Potters set up.  A couple of player observations; I didn't think PEA was in the game until he scored and then faded. Sterling still running into blind alleys and brick walls and at times for me, he became frustrating to watch- needs to release the ball quicker. Mount clearly still trying to find his form, running all over the place trying to press, a well taken offside goal but he needs a couple of decent games under his belt to get his season going.  Kova I thought struggled at times and not the Kova we saw last season.  Koulibaly, a nervous start and still looks uncomfortable at times. Trevor was solid. Silva and Reece MOTM for me.
Looking forward to the weekend to see another few baby steps forward under Potters guidance. 
 

A really frustrating draw. Did not expect us to get only 1 point from our first 2 group games. The Bridge was bouncing after our goal but the team were complacent and we never looked to double our lead.
Main interesting thing from my perspective was just how wide our system was. Effectively we had James - Thiago - Cucurella as our back 3 when we had the ball, and then Sterling and James hugging the touchline. Almost of the play was down those flanks, Havertz and Aubameyang had no service and were anonymous.

Finally, I've got respect for the RB Salzburg fans and their banner in memory of the Queen.

A really frustrating draw. Did not expect us to get only 1 point from our first 2 group games. The Bridge was bouncing after our goal but the team were complacent and we never looked to double our lead.
Main interesting thing from my perspective was just how wide our system was. Effectively we had James - Thiago - Cucurella as our back 3 when we had the ball, and then Sterling and James hugging the touchline. Almost of the play was down those flanks, Havertz and Aubameyang had no service and were anonymous.

Finally, I've got respect for the RB Salzburg fans and their banner in memory of the Queen.

A really frustrating draw. Did not expect us to get only 1 point from our first 2 group games. The Bridge was bouncing after our goal but the team were complacent and we never looked to double our lead.
Main interesting thing from my perspective was just how wide our system was. Effectively we had James - Thiago - Cucurella as our back 3 when we had the ball, and then Sterling and James hugging the touchline. Almost of the play was down those flanks, Havertz and Aubameyang had no service and were anonymous.

Finally, I've got respect for the RB Salzburg fans and their banner in memory of the Queen.

A really frustrating draw. Did not expect us to get only 1 point from our first 2 group games. The Bridge was bouncing after our goal but the team were complacent and we never looked to double our lead.
Main interesting thing from my perspective was just how wide our system was. Effectively we had James - Thiago - Cucurella as our back 3 when we had the ball, and then Sterling and James hugging the touchline. Almost of the play was down those flanks, Havertz and Aubameyang had no service and were anonymous.

Finally, I've got respect for the RB Salzburg fans and their banner in memory of the Queen.

A really frustrating draw. Did not expect us to get only 1 point from our first 2 group games. The Bridge was bouncing after our goal but the team were complacent and we never looked to double our lead.
Main interesting thing from my perspective was just how wide our system was. Effectively we had James - Thiago - Cucurella as our back 3 when we had the ball, and then Sterling and James hugging the touchline. Almost of the play was down those flanks, Havertz and Aubameyang had no service and were anonymous.

Finally, I've got respect for the RB Salzburg fans and their banner in memory of the Queen.

Back from the game buzzing from the excitement of the end, and the tension outside the Bridge after the match with the pikeys calling us rent boys and some of our lads going for them. The police did their job and it did not go any further than name calling.
I have taken the positives in, which I think were many to be honest. First and foremost, we’ve showed finally some steel and what a way to come back from being one behind. Well done to the team. Another positive is the defensive line, Thiago had Antonio in his pocket the whole game, what a class player. And Fofana looked very good, if today is a sample of what’s to come from him, man we’ve got another class CB. I thought that for once, Tuchel subs did well (except Jorginho, to be fair). Havertz looked hungry and Mason put some pressure on West Ham’s offensive phases. And Chilwell was on top form again. And I’m baffled as to why Broja did not start over Pulisic, I thought he I’d well when he came on and fought off well the spammers. The match was a good derby, we dominated them and the midfield controlled the game. I though that Loftus-cheek had a good game (he can improve in releasing the ball earlier, certainly). Gallagher tried but you could see that he and James haven’t got that chemistry yet. And good to see back Kova. Sterling tried and he brings to the team something that we were missing there.
Some negatives as well. Mostly you can see that the team has not gelled yet, but that just requires time. Pulisic did not offer much and most of us were baffled with Tuchel’s choice. Mendy is so unsafe now a days, when he came any ball crossed was his, now he’s so weak that you could not notice the difference if Kepa was on goal. And finally Jorginho. I guess Tuchel brought him on to get control of the midfield but he was a disaster. 
 
Finally, I think it was a fault on Mendy and the goal was rightly disallowed. I did not think much of it when they scored, but after seeing the repetition once var disallowed it, I don’t know how anyone can’t see the foot hitting Mendy. But, in any case, Antonio should have been sent off for double yellow earlier.

To be honest we were poor. But with that late winner I've come back home absolutely buzzing. Who can resist a win against another London team, especially when you've come back from behind!

To be honest we were poor. But with that late winner I've come back home absolutely buzzing. Who can resist a win against another London team, especially when you've come back from behind!

A few beers and some whiskey? I am not saying no to that 😃

To be honest we were poor. But with that late winner I've come back home absolutely buzzing. Who can resist a win against another London team, especially when you've come back from behind!

Phew relieved to win that one. We should not have done we had a huge helping of luck.
First half nothing happened. Not a surprise with us lacking a threat up top and WH set to contain. 
Second half we got some needle in it. Made for much better viewing. We still cannot defend corners. Every opponent pulls the same trick. Surround Mendy, he drops and clanger and goal. 
Though imo Antonio should not be on the pitch to prob home. His headlock slam on Silva was a blatant second yellow.
Ben did both brilliantly and got lucky on that goal. And some think Cucurella is better, lmao, he has no attacking game at all, Ben was superb.
Kai looked better plaything off a striker, who would have though? Broja beat them up and played a big part in our win. He really ruffled their feathers it was beautiful to see.
Again though big luck as Cornet has to score that header, and the disallowed goal is super soft. Makes up for Antonio not being sent off though.
I will take the luck, and a decent viewing second half 🙂

This. 
One point though: in my opinion it's not about the calibre of the club that we expect to be playing in the CL and not the Europa League (although I would support us competing in the Conference League, we don't have that trophy yet  ), it's the huge amount of money we've spent on players who can reasonably be expected to be top players. Chelsea have no god given right to anything, but once you assemble players worth (and earning) eye-watering amounts of money, you'd better put your football where your money is. 

Hard fought game. A difficult one to judge because we played a man down for most of the game but we definitely rode our luck towards the end.

Vardy had Chalobah's number all game - constantly went to his side and then peeled in behind. It's hard to trust Trevor to not switch off and Vardy played on that. Fortunately his finishing wasn't great and Mendy held up in those one on one situations.
Mendy's kicking was poor all game and led to the goal.
Thiago Silva - classy as always, and I also thought Jorginho put a good shift in too. Havertz seems to be getting some flack but his movement was great in the 1st half, and then was left isolated in the 2nd half.

Also - how great is it to see five academy graduates in the starting XI?

3 points with 10 men is always a great feeling!

Hard fought game. A difficult one to judge because we played a man down for most of the game but we definitely rode our luck towards the end.

Vardy had Chalobah's number all game - constantly went to his side and then peeled in behind. It's hard to trust Trevor to not switch off and Vardy played on that. Fortunately his finishing wasn't great and Mendy held up in those one on one situations.
Mendy's kicking was poor all game and led to the goal.
Thiago Silva - classy as always, and I also thought Jorginho put a good shift in too. Havertz seems to be getting some flack but his movement was great in the 1st half, and then was left isolated in the 2nd half.

Also - how great is it to see five academy graduates in the starting XI?

3 points with 10 men is always a great feeling!

That game so nearly gave me a heart attack. Football really isn't good for health. Couldn't bare to watch at times. After Barnes scored that, just pure tension but excellent results and may end up being our biggest win of the season in the circumstances. Good to see Sterling off the mark and hopefully the start of many more.
Gallagher let us down with that. He really did not need to do that and it is a real shame as he got a second chance and I wasn't expecting him to be in the starting 11. Even if he let him go past and he scored, that is better than playing a near whole match with a man down. Luckily the boys put in a spirited effort. We rode our luck but think we are due some. 
I was surprised Broja did not come on towards the end as he is fresh legs and would of been good for counter. A lot of people praising Chalobah but for me I thought RLC had a very good game. He needs to work on his end product but he worked tirelessly today and used his body well and gave us a real presence. 
Big big vital win as if we did not win that, then would have been poor start to season and us chasing teams already.

Hard fought game. A difficult one to judge because we played a man down for most of the game but we definitely rode our luck towards the end.

Vardy had Chalobah's number all game - constantly went to his side and then peeled in behind. It's hard to trust Trevor to not switch off and Vardy played on that. Fortunately his finishing wasn't great and Mendy held up in those one on one situations.
Mendy's kicking was poor all game and led to the goal.
Thiago Silva - classy as always, and I also thought Jorginho put a good shift in too. Havertz seems to be getting some flack but his movement was great in the 1st half, and then was left isolated in the 2nd half.

Also - how great is it to see five academy graduates in the starting XI?

3 points with 10 men is always a great feeling!