mad_mac Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I have, through social media, and today I read a pundits video analysis also stated, that Chelsea are very "one dimensional!" I think we have such amazing talent in midfield, from the DMs to the AM's, but it seems that last season and this season we always talk about us "lacking in the final third." I don't want to start a whole Torres bashing thread, but I do wonder what it's going to take from a striker next season to make us "click!" I also think Ivanovic at RB takes away an attacking outlet that we could see if Dave was moved over there and we brought in someone like Luke Shaw. The only issue there, Ivanovic has never done anything to justify being dropped from the team. However, yesterday he put a good number of balls into play that completely sailed over the opposition box. So, I have to ask what's going to happen this summer and will we see a change in style, or will it continue to be a typical Jose style of grinding out the results for as long as he's here?
carrickblue Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 i think we are predictable, especially against the likes of Palace and West Ham. if teams try and play against us, it allows the talent we have to be more creative but if you're Tony Pulis you know we're going to play it out to Ivanovic and he's going to leave a big space behind. you also know we're going to faff around for a bit in midfield and we don't have anyone to run at you with the pace of Sterling, Sturridge or Suarez maybe, if we were confident about the back 4 and our defensive midfield, Jose might let us be a bit more cavalier in attack - we tried that earlier in the season and in consecutive games conceded 6 goals to Sunderland and Stoke. we are a good side but i think as a general rule we need to start games with a much higher tempo, we need to shake the opposition. too often we start slow and let opponents settle in. a more vigorous striker would certainly help but i just feel we need to unleash some pace, at least in the premier league. we do look a much better proposition in Europe the way we are currently set up
mad_mac Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 Yesterday we looked that bereft of ideas we were getting in one another's way. I think we ran into each other at the top of the box on several occasions and allowed them to counter.
CFC-Forever Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I think if we had a top class striker you'd see a big difference. We haven't being the same since Drogba started to lose his touch.. Even in his later years Drogba could still put in a world class performance now and again (who can forget the Champions League final against Munich), but the cracks started to show even before he left. As soon as Drogba left the club we should have brought a world class striker in, but we didn't.. And that's what's ultimately costing us now.
icecoolguy22 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Needs a full back with better crossing if all our wide players like to cut in and cram the middle. For that reason, we will probably get Luke Shaw, can't see Ivanoic get dropped ( and I don't want to). Enough said about the striker, but the amount of long high balls we threw was ridiculous. We have plenty of creative players, need to remain calm and patient, no point to throw our strength and rely on long balls against the best long ball merchant in the country.
jack_super_class Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 If we had a quality striker (Diego Costa) and full backs playing on there correct foot who are quick,can dribble and can cross (Shaw and Azpi) we would be more balanced and have a greater attacking threat. Full backs are todays wingers.
axman2526 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 If we had a quality striker (Diego Costa) and full backs playing on there correct foot who are quick,can dribble and can cross (Shaw and Azpi) we would be more balanced and have a greater attacking threat. Full backs are todays wingers. Careful that could be taken as criticism of Brana and that does not seem to be accepted on here. In a defensive game, aka facing a Barca, a Bayern, a City etc having Brana in there works well, but he is bloody hopeless crossing the ball and, City wonder strike aside, offers little except from set plays from there. So against weaker sides that we should be attacking more, Azpi on the right and a true left footed left back could help I agree.
Sloth Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 A lot of teams have sat back against us, that's where they can hurt us. It was inevitable Palace were going to do the same, however I didn't expect such awful defending, we actually got real hurt on the counter attack and we where all over the place. There has been no striker to score the goals that is true but our final 3rd as you mentioned hasn't been efficient either. I think we are just going to have to give this another season and see where we end up, Abramovich wants good football, we need to start playing better on the attack, not just rely on Hazard to do everything. Anybody remember the first game of the season against Hull? We where unbelievable in the first half, our football was spectacular, we really looked like a good side, it's a shame we sold KDB because he looked promising, especially in that game. Well our first half performance was class, then the 2nd half we just completely changed, we didn't stick to the philosophy we just passed the ball around our half and didn't want to attack anymore and we where happy with the 2-0. If we could have more of that I would be happy, just better football, more movement and less sloppiness, I don't think we really need to go out and buy a lot of players, the only player we really need is a striker.
MJB Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I often wonder, any possibly somewhat naively, what would happen in these games like palace what would happen if we started really cagey and allowed them a lot of possession in the first 10-15 minutes. Would they become more confident and thus take more chances allowing us to utilise our counter attacking talent ? Perhaps sounds ridiculous or maybe I have stumbled on a managerial masterpiece
mad_mac Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 The long balls to Hazard need to stop, that's for sure
felipeluis_4 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 (edited) I think that a problem is that there are no true goal scorers in the team, i mean the striker is a issue, only eden is a threat in the team, he is our top scorer, but look at him, for him it's pass before shoot. Every team needs someone that wants the spotlight, if the striker is not gonna make a difference, someone on the team needs to put the goals in... hazard is not that guy... maybe he can put some goals, but he is more a 10 as a wide men rather than a wide foward. Edited March 30, 2014 by felipeluis_4
felipeluis_4 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 maybe schurlle makes that wide foward role, but he is not reliable enough...
Jonty Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 I don't understand when I watch City play and when I watch us play, why Silva/Nasri/Toure all seem to carve up defences parked on the edge of their box so easily, when Hazard, Oscar and Willian are unable to do so yet are just as talented.
Sloth Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 I don't understand when I watch City play and when I watch us play, why Silva/Nasri/Toure all seem to carve up defences parked on the edge of their box so easily, when Hazard, Oscar and Willian are unable to do so yet are just as talented. Oscar lately just looks so blunt, I used to remember a creative player now he looks more like an attacking midfielder. Willian was awesome for the first half of the season, he used to play every now and then and impress, he was full of flair and creativity, now he has completely changed as a player. He seems more of a work horse and even though we concede less there is also the negative aspect that his attacking prospects are dimming. Oscar does seem to be getting back on track in the last few games mind, not as bad as he was earlier this month and all of last. Lets just give it another season I guess.
felipeluis_4 Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 Oscar lately just looks so blunt, I used to remember a creative player now he looks more like an attacking midfielder. Willian was awesome for the first half of the season, he used to play every now and then and impress, he was full of flair and creativity, now he has completely changed as a player. He seems more of a work horse and even though we concede less there is also the negative aspect that his attacking prospects are dimming. Oscar does seem to be getting back on track in the last few games mind, not as bad as he was earlier this month and all of last. Lets just give it another season I guess. But why? Willian earned his spot on the team for that, the drive, the creativity!!! Everybody was saying how hazard oscar and willian was our best atacking trio because all attacked and defended and that mata was well benched. Now willian has converted in ramires-like player and oscar looks more as a striker sometimes... Motivation? Maybe both of them were on fire because both wanted to bench mata?
Sloth Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 But why? Willian earned his spot on the team for that, the drive, the creativity!!! Everybody was saying how hazard oscar and willian was our best atacking trio because all attacked and defended and that mata was well benched. Now willian has converted in ramires-like player and oscar looks more as a striker sometimes... Motivation? Maybe both of them were on fire because both wanted to bench mata? I suppose it's just natural, you can't have 100 percent in both departments. A lot of people will disagree with me here but I felt Oscar and Willian have been under performing since Mata has left. I think competition was a big factor in everyone playing so well and impressing. Now here is the crazy suggestion, would buying another CAM be a good idea? Perhaps it might be a decent idea.
enigma Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) It's not even about being one dimensional. We have seen how fast and attacking we can play (a la Man City & Arsenal wins, and our style of play during pre-season), but it's the fact that Jose is so deeply focused on defence, that it negates our offensive ability. We should use Azpi at RB more, with Cole at LB, rather than having a naturally right footed player at LB. I understand that it's important to not concede during games, but isn't it more important to actually score goals? I dislike watching us play, on edge and nervy, wondering if we'll score or whether we will concede. Even with our defence being as strong as it is, I just don't feel confident that we won't concede against these smaller sides. When push comes to shove, we should be beating those lower league teams with relative ease, whereas it looks like we're hanging on by the skin of our teeth during those games. I also believe that using more width would help immensely, especially when it comes to breaking teams down. Look at the likes of Liverpool and Man City; they use the likes of Sterling and Navas respectively with great effect; even their full backs provide that attacking option when moving forward, whereas we have Ivanovic who bombs forward with very rarely any end product. As much as people like Ivanovic, he is not a wing back! Jose is the manager, but surely even he is seeing what we're seeing. You don't need a degree in Sport Science/Coaching to understand that how (and who) we are playing is not working for us as well as it should be. It just feels like these smaller teams are sussing us out; realising that all they need to do is defend deep and hit us on the break, then they could come away with a draw or (at the most) scrape a win. Jose is a tactical genius and a very intelligent manager, but not knowing how to counter and break down teams who play this tactical style of play, is a little bemusing to say the least. Edited March 31, 2014 by enigma
felipeluis_4 Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 I suppose it's just natural, you can't have 100 percent in both departments. A lot of people will disagree with me here but I felt Oscar and Willian have been under performing since Mata has left. I think competition was a big factor in everyone playing so well and impressing. Now here is the crazy suggestion, would buying another CAM be a good idea? Perhaps it might be a decent idea. Exactly, when mata was in the bench and everybody was upset about that, willian and oscar were literally on fire... they saw mata as a threat for their place on the starting eleven... I was thinking the same, if we buy another am should be someone like reus? a wide forward, so hazard can concentrate in creativity, or someone creative like mata was?
Butch Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 I think it is a combination of things: Let's not beat around the bush. The number one problem, and everyone can see this, is that our striker(s) are either lacking confidence or physical condition, or both. A confident striker that is on form brings so many benefits that are both tangible and not. At the moment, I get this distinct feeling that our creative players take it upon themselves, often to our detriment, to score goals. Also, the movement is just not there. On top of that, I can't remember the last time our striker won the ball that was passed forward to go and "win". Jose knows this all too well, and I think this is the main reason he has said (and maintained despite our league position) that we are not favorites to win anything. I'd be pretty astounded if we could win any silverware this season with misfiring strikers. The quality is just not there. Second, the "one dimensional" aspect could most probably be referring to Hazard. Everyone and their brother knows this is our key man. If he performs, we perform. If he doesn't, which is now looking more and more regular, unfortunately, we don't. I don't know if it is the amount of games or the weight of expectation or the undivided attention of the opposing defenders or the need to do everything himself that gets him into trouble, or maybe it's a little of everything, but he has been off-color since that hat-trick he scored for us. The difficult thing for us is that I'm not sure its as easy as sticking a rocket up his back-side. He is one of the few attacking players that is a threat for us on a semi-regular basis. I think he is not getting much help, especially through the middle. The big problem area that I am seeing in our poor performances is the center of midfield. Matic has been good, but he is tasked with one responsibility, and that is certainly not to attack. And when despite all the attacking talent we have on the pitch, you see him up there trying to thread balls into people, losing possession and then having to hare back and cover while the other side counters, you know we're in a spot of bother. Oscar has been the most disappointing for me. He was supposed to step up after Mata's departure, but he has definitely stepped down, if anything. We need him in there, threading passes, playing interchanges with Hazard and our right winger and striker, and generally just taking the games by the scruffs of the neck. He has not done that. Lampard tries hard, but he has also not been able to do that when he's played. Ramires has never been able to do that. We need that midfield maestro who can control the pace of the game, much like Lampard used to do for us, and to create space and provide astute passes for Hazard (and our striker). When we don't do well, it's because our game tempo is slower than it could be. When we do well, it is because we attack at pace, and get people in behind the defense. And when we do well, it's because we have good movement, and therefore people to pass the ball to. But against Palace, for example, the movement is just not there, and people are just standing behind defenders, making it difficult for the person with the ball to be able to find avenues to pass, leading to lost possession because they are trying something to intricate, or because they decide that taking a shot from 30-40 yards away is the better option. Cheers, Butch
ForeverCarefree Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 We don't have our fullbacks overlapping quickly often enough, that overlap against stubborn defenses can create better chances and it's no coincidence that our best chance at the weekend came from Dave overlapping and playing the ball across the face of the goal. Being naturally right footed though it's a lot harder for Dave to provide natural width and it's one of the reason I think we will see us sign a new left back in the summer. We are lacking some strength and aggression and self confidence in our attack, Drogba, Hasselbaink, Crespo as examples were strikers who took responsibility, had the ability to hold off defenders and if need be take a shot from distance and get it on target. But it keeps coming back to the lack of a strong focal point in our attack... Without that top quality striker we are going to continue to struggle up front.
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