Chelsea vs Villa Game Thread
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abramovich
Bored billionaire
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I'm mad at Carvalho, what the f..k was he thinking? Only two matches back after the long injury spell, with Terry out he was supposed to run the defence, so we concede four and he is now out for the next three matches because of the reckless challenge.How unbelievably stupid.
People should stop blaming Grant for every little thing. We lost to Villa in September under Jose,they're good team with some individual quality and a top manager, we're on the other hand are missing half of the starting lineup due to injuries and had to play barely fit Cech because Carlo is still out and Hilario at his best is worse than Cech at his worst.
We're probably not going to win title this year and i'm willing to wait and see how Grant deals with the pressure as the season goes on. I just wish people would stop bitching and moaning like every time we drop points it's the end of the world. It was always going to be a difficult season because of the African Cup of Nations robbing us of our key performers, but nobody could predict us going through so many injuries to the first team squad in a matter of a few months.
The fact that for the first time we have more than two clubs challenging for the title and the premiership is as competitive as ever with the likes of Everton and Man City pushing the top four all the way makes things even harder for Grant and Co.
Let's just give the man a little time and support the team through some tough times. We'll get better.
People should stop blaming Grant for every little thing. We lost to Villa in September under Jose,they're good team with some individual quality and a top manager, we're on the other hand are missing half of the starting lineup due to injuries and had to play barely fit Cech because Carlo is still out and Hilario at his best is worse than Cech at his worst.
We're probably not going to win title this year and i'm willing to wait and see how Grant deals with the pressure as the season goes on. I just wish people would stop bitching and moaning like every time we drop points it's the end of the world. It was always going to be a difficult season because of the African Cup of Nations robbing us of our key performers, but nobody could predict us going through so many injuries to the first team squad in a matter of a few months.
The fact that for the first time we have more than two clubs challenging for the title and the premiership is as competitive as ever with the likes of Everton and Man City pushing the top four all the way makes things even harder for Grant and Co.
Let's just give the man a little time and support the team through some tough times. We'll get better.
Chippy
Thanks Jose, Thanks Robbie, Roman never deserved y
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I think Abromovich is spot on , after all UTD and Arsenal have looked very good so far and the also rans are running faster this season.
I just read Justs ratings and found them a good read, I saw most of what he said on my dodgy internet stream but missed the push on Ballack (it was hard to see and looked like he went down very easy) but more interesting for me is I never really noticed the decent work by Pizzaro,
I have not yet seen anything much from him and its pleasing if he did actually play in the first half at least like Just said, maybe there is hope for him yet but I have always thought if we are to buy a striker (Anelka) maybe Pizzaro would be off.
Good ratings though Just
cheers
I just read Justs ratings and found them a good read, I saw most of what he said on my dodgy internet stream but missed the push on Ballack (it was hard to see and looked like he went down very easy) but more interesting for me is I never really noticed the decent work by Pizzaro,
I have not yet seen anything much from him and its pleasing if he did actually play in the first half at least like Just said, maybe there is hope for him yet but I have always thought if we are to buy a striker (Anelka) maybe Pizzaro would be off.
Good ratings though Just
cheers
Just
Player ratings and comments spot on.
Let's hope this is the end of the injury cycle, Anelka and a few others are on their way soon and that manure and the arse drop some points over the next 3 weeks. All in all a bit of re-run of our similar problems some 12 months ago. Except of course Jose's now gone.
Now we've got "entertainment" like some old hollywood dance number. Jesus.
Player ratings and comments spot on.
Let's hope this is the end of the injury cycle, Anelka and a few others are on their way soon and that manure and the arse drop some points over the next 3 weeks. All in all a bit of re-run of our similar problems some 12 months ago. Except of course Jose's now gone.
Now we've got "entertainment" like some old hollywood dance number. Jesus.
sweet waffle
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Just seen the highlights on Match of the Day and I can confirm that the ball hit Cole's chest not his arm.
sweet waffle
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Just thinking about the Riccy sending off (which was totally deserved and fair play to him he has apologised as was recognised on MotD), prior to todays game he was on 4 yellow cards, does this red go towards that tally or does it mean that when he returns from his three match suspension he remains on 4 yellows and as such if he was to pick up another he will have another one match ban?
just
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Shearer said he didn't think Cashley made contact but the video was inconclusive. Lawrensen and Lineker certainly weren't convinced either way.
I was sat behind and to the right of that goal and as he put his head down, you could see him move his arm up towards the ball. The ball appeared to have hit his arm.
B
Brian M
Guest
Jose must be rolling over in his well appointed Portuguese 'grave' at that shambolick performance. (I use 'performance' in its most liberal sense). I cannot remember a game in living memory where our defending was worse. Maybe that Liverfool game when we didn't have any centre backs. Maybe. But I seriously doubt it.
If anyone looking at the squad we've got, with the manager we're stuck with now, thinks we're seriously going to be there or there abouts come May, they need to stop having magic mushrooms with their Christmas roast.
We need a world class right back.
We need a world class striker to partner / take the place of, Drogba. And don't be fooled for a moment by Sheva's game today. He's still well past it, and CANNOT be relied on to save our ar*e on a regular basis like Drogba does. I'm not a fan of Anelka, but if you gave me a choice between Anelka up front with Drogba rather than Sheva or Mr. Piz, I'd be choosing Anelka every time. As would most fans I suspect. A 433 with Drogba the target man and Anelka on the left and Joe Cole / SWP on the right would work really well.
We need to play Bridge at left back NOT Cole. Cole is laughable, and Bridge can always be relied on to give 100%.
We need to drop Lamps and play Ballack. At least until Lamps finds something remotely resembling form. Or else bench Essien, who looks like he's happy to play in 2nd gear so he doesn't get injured for the African Cup of Nations. Or is he still missing JM? Either way, he has not been the same player since JM left. Not even close.
And finally - and most importantly - we need to hire a manager who KNOWS WHAT THE F*CK HE'S DOING. Because Grant demonstrably does not.
I'm sure I'm not the only fan who longs for those days of 'boring, repetitive, but ultimately RELIABLE 1 v 0 wins'. Oh, trust me, I wouldn't mind 4 v 4 if it was because we were playing sexy football, Barca style. But we are not. We are not playing anything REMOTELY like sexy football. And Grant can prattle on all he likes about how the style of football we're playing is more attractive under him, but - if he honestly thinks it is - he is delusional.
Also, he has NO IDEA how to change a game. JM was (IS) the master at this. Grant just sits there with that blank, 'Gee I hope something good happens' look on his face.
It was the big game character of three or four of the Chelsea players that stopped us losing our fantastic home record today. Nothing else. Not his so called tactics. Not the so called shape of the team. But individual character of the lads on the park.
Man Utd are going to win the title at a canter. I hate saying that, but we're half way into the season now and the facts are there for all to soee. Arse are over performing and don't have the legs to go the distance (but I fancy them to pick up a cup this year). Liverfool are reliably unreliable and will self-destruct. And as for us? Well, we're riding our luck big time. And luck and character only get you so far. But we will be found out (if we haven't already been). Make no mistake about that.
Man Utd have a settled squad. A manager who knows what he's doing. And the wind in their sales. Nothing, except a major injury crisis will slow them down now.
I tell you what, we'd better make a couple of FANTASTIC buys in January or we will be lucky to get 4th. And then how happy will RA be I wonder...
If anyone looking at the squad we've got, with the manager we're stuck with now, thinks we're seriously going to be there or there abouts come May, they need to stop having magic mushrooms with their Christmas roast.
We need a world class right back.
We need a world class striker to partner / take the place of, Drogba. And don't be fooled for a moment by Sheva's game today. He's still well past it, and CANNOT be relied on to save our ar*e on a regular basis like Drogba does. I'm not a fan of Anelka, but if you gave me a choice between Anelka up front with Drogba rather than Sheva or Mr. Piz, I'd be choosing Anelka every time. As would most fans I suspect. A 433 with Drogba the target man and Anelka on the left and Joe Cole / SWP on the right would work really well.
We need to play Bridge at left back NOT Cole. Cole is laughable, and Bridge can always be relied on to give 100%.
We need to drop Lamps and play Ballack. At least until Lamps finds something remotely resembling form. Or else bench Essien, who looks like he's happy to play in 2nd gear so he doesn't get injured for the African Cup of Nations. Or is he still missing JM? Either way, he has not been the same player since JM left. Not even close.
And finally - and most importantly - we need to hire a manager who KNOWS WHAT THE F*CK HE'S DOING. Because Grant demonstrably does not.
I'm sure I'm not the only fan who longs for those days of 'boring, repetitive, but ultimately RELIABLE 1 v 0 wins'. Oh, trust me, I wouldn't mind 4 v 4 if it was because we were playing sexy football, Barca style. But we are not. We are not playing anything REMOTELY like sexy football. And Grant can prattle on all he likes about how the style of football we're playing is more attractive under him, but - if he honestly thinks it is - he is delusional.
Also, he has NO IDEA how to change a game. JM was (IS) the master at this. Grant just sits there with that blank, 'Gee I hope something good happens' look on his face.
It was the big game character of three or four of the Chelsea players that stopped us losing our fantastic home record today. Nothing else. Not his so called tactics. Not the so called shape of the team. But individual character of the lads on the park.
Man Utd are going to win the title at a canter. I hate saying that, but we're half way into the season now and the facts are there for all to soee. Arse are over performing and don't have the legs to go the distance (but I fancy them to pick up a cup this year). Liverfool are reliably unreliable and will self-destruct. And as for us? Well, we're riding our luck big time. And luck and character only get you so far. But we will be found out (if we haven't already been). Make no mistake about that.
Man Utd have a settled squad. A manager who knows what he's doing. And the wind in their sales. Nothing, except a major injury crisis will slow them down now.
I tell you what, we'd better make a couple of FANTASTIC buys in January or we will be lucky to get 4th. And then how happy will RA be I wonder...
B
Brian M
Guest
Let me know which part of, "I cannot remember a game in living memory where our defending was worse" you're not grasping; and I'll type it again in a bigger font for you.
But yes, to answer your question, the manager set down his stall with the formation(s) and tactics (so called) for this match. So yes. Hell yes. He's responsible. You think JM would've made the team play like that? Not a bl**dy chance in hell.
How many times did we let in 4 under JM? (and at home no less!)
valim
In the Ressies
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we need 1 right-back miguel - valencia
1 winger - quaresma but we canon play like joe cole total slow
1 strike - david villa or anelka - wanger love
my ratings for this cool games
cech - 3 mistacke again
ferreria slow not for chelsea more - 3
alex - good playing today - 7
carhvallo - not his best form 4
a.cole - some good some bad - 5
essien - 6
ballack - 8 good best games for chelsea
kalou doing nothing -3
j.cole total noob he canon drible one man like bouma is not for for line up hi is for beach - 1
pizaro - are killing my heart in this match - 2
sheva good form - 7
1 winger - quaresma but we canon play like joe cole total slow
1 strike - david villa or anelka - wanger love
my ratings for this cool games
cech - 3 mistacke again
ferreria slow not for chelsea more - 3
alex - good playing today - 7
carhvallo - not his best form 4
a.cole - some good some bad - 5
essien - 6
ballack - 8 good best games for chelsea
kalou doing nothing -3
j.cole total noob he canon drible one man like bouma is not for for line up hi is for beach - 1
pizaro - are killing my heart in this match - 2
sheva good form - 7
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Yes we never let in 4 at home under Jose but we did let in 2 against Villa without reply and that was all of 3 months ago with arguably a stronger line up than we had today.
I dare say there are plenty of excuses for that performance though.
I dare say there are plenty of excuses for that performance though.
B
Brian M
Guest
Agreed, not his (or our) finest hour by a long chalk. But just because JM's Chelsea was momentarily struggling, does not for one fraction of one second mean that JM and the players that loved him, would not have knuckled down and turned that form around. 5 pieces of silverware under JM would suggest he / they most certainly would have.
I'm 100% in agreement with Star on this (and most) subjects: Grant is not Chelsea class. And it'll be nothing short of miraculous if we EVER win anything under him.
Do you think Real Madrid, Barca, AC Milan, Juv, et all would've hired Grant? Not on a cold day in hell. He's a football administrator with a thick black book of contacts who's been put in charge of the boss' petting zoo because they're mates, and because he knows how to say the words, 'Yes boss' in Russian. And the sooner we bring in a real manager, the sooner we'll be true title contenders again.
TheWestwayWonder
Why dont we get together and call ourselves an ins
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Probably not the best time to bring this up, but how does a result like this reflect on the whole "entertainment value" debate?
Yes, Chelsea were poor in the first half, and yes going down by two is not advisable. But if games like that were to happen more often, over 1-0 scorelines and the like, I would gladly accept a draw against a good team (which Villa are, undeniably) while the team is depleted (which it is)
I dont think its any coincidence that our "sexier" signings (who have, hitherto, been pretty worthless) thrived in a wide open, flowing game like today
That said, I acknowledge the defense was terrible, especially on set pieces and at fullback. And I think a manager who has more of a "style", even if its not conducive to defense, wouldnt have let that happen. I just feel that with Grant, the team is much more schizophrenic from week to week.
Yes, Chelsea were poor in the first half, and yes going down by two is not advisable. But if games like that were to happen more often, over 1-0 scorelines and the like, I would gladly accept a draw against a good team (which Villa are, undeniably) while the team is depleted (which it is)
I dont think its any coincidence that our "sexier" signings (who have, hitherto, been pretty worthless) thrived in a wide open, flowing game like today
That said, I acknowledge the defense was terrible, especially on set pieces and at fullback. And I think a manager who has more of a "style", even if its not conducive to defense, wouldnt have let that happen. I just feel that with Grant, the team is much more schizophrenic from week to week.
Schizophrenic from week to week will not win you much, that's suspiciously sounds like a dear old Claudio team "there or thereabouts" "good but not quite good enough" and so on.
And I realise Sheva was great in the second half but is it any coincidence that the times he's looked like the player we presumed we were buying and we've seen more "exciting" football generally is because he (like the rest of the players) has been given extra space due to a sending off or playing against a hapless midfield/defence which allows you much the same?
So yes it was great to see the old Sheva but I wouldn't be surprised if it's back to service as normal from him when he meets a team playing with 11 men who know the rudimentary art of defending against him.
Ballack's performance was a definite plus though.
Merry Christmas to everyone it's 40 degrees where I am on my hols!
And I realise Sheva was great in the second half but is it any coincidence that the times he's looked like the player we presumed we were buying and we've seen more "exciting" football generally is because he (like the rest of the players) has been given extra space due to a sending off or playing against a hapless midfield/defence which allows you much the same?
So yes it was great to see the old Sheva but I wouldn't be surprised if it's back to service as normal from him when he meets a team playing with 11 men who know the rudimentary art of defending against him.
Ballack's performance was a definite plus though.
Merry Christmas to everyone it's 40 degrees where I am on my hols!
ethicalstrategy
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There's a world of difference between losing 2-0 away - including a last minute goal when we were chasing the game - and conceding 4 at home. I'm not even sure we did that under Ranieri! With the quality of the players we have, even allowing for injuries, losing 4 goals at home has to reflect on the ability of the manager to organise his team and on his ability to change things during the match. We were handed a lifeline in this match and let it go twice. Once may be an accident but twice starts to look like carelessness. Certainly more McClaren than Mourinho.
Well I was scoffing on a two day old mince pie during the game and no pay out.
Guess Jose if he saw the result must have thought "what the hell happened there!"
I wonder if Newcastle can live up to that game for sheer seesaw goings on.
Lets hope so but we win.
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