So, that's today.

Not against Soton.

At West Ham

Not against Burnley

Against Everton

At Villa (scored late to take lead and held on)

Not v Man City

Killed Swansea

At Newcastle

Not at Spurs

Came back at Soton

Against West Ham

At Stoke

Against Hull

Never lead at Newcastle

Against Spurs

draw at Sunderland

Against WBA

At Liverpool

Against QPR

Not at Man U

At Palace

Against Arsenal

Against Villa

Not at City(Lampard)

Against Swansea

At Everton

Against Leicester

At Burnley

 

Now, I get that not all of these are one goal leads that we held on to, but in the main we've taken leads and held on to them.  And those that we didn't we still got something out of it, other than against Sp*rs.

So, that's today.

Not against Soton.

At West Ham

Not against Burnley

Against Everton

At Villa (scored late to take lead and held on)

Not v Man City

Killed Swansea

At Newcastle

Not at Spurs

Came back at Soton

Against West Ham

At Stoke

Against Hull

Never lead at Newcastle

Against Spurs

draw at Sunderland

Against WBA

At Liverpool

Against QPR

Not at Man U

At Palace

Against Arsenal

Against Villa

Not at City(Lampard)

Against Swansea

At Everton

Against Leicester

At Burnley

Now, I get that not all of these are one goal leads that we held on to, but in the main we've taken leads and held on to them. And those that we didn't we still got something out of it, other than against Sp*rs.

We've lost a one or two goal lead 9 times since January 17th.

Sometimes we've regained it, sometimes not. It's a worry but we've also won our last 4.

We're a mixed bag across the board, from performances to the team to individual player performances and team performances BUT at the moment the positives are outnumbering the negatives. That's going to be good enough to win this league but we're a team in progress and we'll build on that next season.

Sometimes it's exhilarating, sometimes it's frustrating and that takes a lot out of the supporters so people will lose their rag but there's not a single supporter at the games or on this forum who doesn't want this club, this set of players or this manager to succeed.

We're all pulling in the same direction and we'll do that right up until we're lifting that trophy. KTBFFH.

Hullcalona played like many tough bottom of the table sides against us, they really had nothing to lose especially after going 2-0 down so they went for it. Yes we did look all at sea after that, but much improved in the second half.

 

So glad for Remy too. This is the toughest league in the World and no one has a God given right to steam roller struggling clubs.

 

Things have been a bit hairy of late and that was a skin of our teeth victory but its nice to be looking down on the rest with a reasonable margin as I've a feeling we're going to need it, that said the others are bound to drop points before the end of the season.

 

Shelly verdict: Cautious optimism.

When 1/3 of those games are against 3 of the top 5

 

Three teams we've taken seven points from nine against this season. There's being cautious and pessimistic, but honestly some out-do Pvt Frazer with the "we're doomed" stuff. As for giving up the title when we're drawing a game with fully 60 minutes still to play, I take it you all switched off after Barca scored their second.

 

Hull, btw, have taken points off Man C, Arsenal and Liverpool this season. They've not taken any off us.

 

Another important win, just about staggered over the line. Good to see Costa seems to have found his goalscoring form at such an important time. Fabregas was better than recent weeks. People question why Luiz hasn't played more, well if yesterday is anything to go by then they got their answer. Courtois had a good game and made some important saves in spite of the howler (and it was a howler). Our corners are awful. And where would we be without Hazard?

 

When 1/3 of those games are against 3 of the top 5 

+

We've giving up leads in MULTIPLE games since NYD

=

Yes, we could easily drop 9 points.

I have faith, but it's not very strong with the form we've been in.

 

Wenger's record against Mourinho:

Played 9, lost 5, drawn 4. 

 

I believe Rodgers has yet to beat Mourinho's Chelsea in 5 attempts. 

 

And I believe Mourinho's win % against Manchester United is the highest in Premier League. 

 

 

So to summise, you're chatting sh*t. There's no way a Chelsea side that have lost twice in 29 games is going to lose 3 of their remaining 9 fixtures. 

 

We've won 6 of our 9 league matches since new year's day. 

 

We are winning the title. 

We could lose all 3 of those big games and still end up winning, but as FC says, no way are we going to lose all 3, not with the team and manager we have.

We could lose all 3 of those big games and still end up winning, but as FC says, no way are we going to lose all 3, not with the team and manager we have.

 

A vital win.

Courtois

 

Ivanovic

Terry

Zouma

Azpi

 

Fabregas

Matic

 

Cuadrado

Oscar

Hazard

 

Costa

Lots of terrible reactions when Hull equalised. It was facepalm worthy. "Handing the title to City." - "Mourinho out."

Get a grip. It was before half an hour had played and there was loads of time left. We made it difficult but we got the result and that's all that matters.

We're going through a sour patch performance-wise but we're still comfortably in the lead.

I always believe we can get a result, I refuse to throw in the towel especially if there's still time remaining. Sometimes we don't get the result... Tottenham away, Southampton home & away and Burnley for example. But sometimes we do! You just have to believe.

Who said Mourinho out? I don't remember reading that.

Mourinho out

 

You.

Courtois

 

Ivanovic

Terry

Zouma

Azpi

 

Fabregas

Matic

 

Cuadrado

Oscar

Hazard

 

Costa

 

Wrong thread, ignore it.

One thing I think I noticed yesterday is that Oscar seemed to slot in directly beside Matic (in terms of formation, obviously not in terms of positioning) in central midfield, with Fabregas remaining the furthest forward of the three midfielders. Did anyone else spot this or am I mistaking off-the-ball positioning for our actual formation?

You.

Lol very funny

One thing I think I noticed yesterday is that Oscar seemed to slot in directly beside Matic (in terms of formation, obviously not in terms of positioning) in central midfield, with Fabregas remaining the furthest forward of the three midfielders. Did anyone else spot this or am I mistaking off-the-ball positioning for our actual formation?

 

It certainly seemed like he played deeper and Cesc remained further forward 

One thing I think I noticed yesterday is that Oscar seemed to slot in directly beside Matic (in terms of formation, obviously not in terms of positioning) in central midfield, with Fabregas remaining the furthest forward of the three midfielders. Did anyone else spot this or am I mistaking off-the-ball positioning for our actual formation?

 

I think we went to more of a three man midfield rather than 2 in the holding role. 

 

I think Matic was playing the anchor role... Or the Makelele position if you will. 

 

Then Oscar and Fabregas had a bit more fee license to move and interchange in an attempt to stretch Hull a bit more and make us a little more unpredictable with regards to our positioning. 

I think we went to more of a three man midfield rather than 2 in the holding role. 

 

I think Matic was playing the anchor role... Or the Makelele position if you will. 

 

Then Oscar and Fabregas had a bit more fee license to move and interchange in an attempt to stretch Hull a bit more and make us a little more unpredictable with regards to our positioning. 

 

I think you may well be right, although it seemed like Fabregas was given the most licence to get forward.

I think you may well be right, although it seemed like Fabregas was given the most licence to get forward.

 

To continue the Jose's Chelsea Mark I comparison:

 

     Makelele

Essien-Lampard

 

 

 

        Matic

Oscar - Fabregas

 

 

Matic was in the Makalele role, sitting there keeping it tight and tidy. 

Oscar was the Essien, maundering the field, keeping the team moving, creating space. 

Fabregas was the Lampard, he was the attacking threat, he was the one with the most license to get forward and create problems. 

To continue the Jose's Chelsea Mark I comparison:

 

     Makelele

Essien-Lampard

 

 

 

        Matic

Oscar - Fabregas

 

 

Matic was in the Makalele role, sitting there keeping it tight and tidy. 

Oscar was the Essien, maundering the field, keeping the team moving, creating space. 

Fabregas was the Lampard, he was the attacking threat, he was the one with the most license to get forward and create problems. 

 

Yeah I understood, it just seemed like a role reversal positionally considering the relationship Oscar and Fabregas usually have.

 

That said, this is the first time I have ever heard Oscar compared to Michael Essien!

Edited March 23, 201511 yr by PloKoon13

Yeah I understood, it just seemed like a role reversal positionally considering the relationship Oscar and Fabregas usually have.

 

That said, this is the first time I have ever heard Oscar compared to Michael Essien!

 

The similarities are so glaring I'm surprised no one made the comparison sooner. 

 

I agree with what you're saying that normally it is Oscar who is the more advance, my guess would be that due to Oscar having the fresher legs he was given the role that required more mobility, he did seem to drift all over the pitch following his introduction and looked to find space wherever he could, spending a lot more time nearer to the centre circle than we normally see. 

ivan MOTM?  you are kidding right!

I think he meant MOTM for Hull.

Who said Mourinho out? I don't remember reading that.

I recall something along the lines of "Sick of Mourinho" and "Rather have Carlo" etc.

To continue the Jose's Chelsea Mark I comparison:

 

     Makelele

Essien-Lampard

 

 

 

        Matic

Oscar - Fabregas

 

 

Matic was in the Makalele role, sitting there keeping it tight and tidy. 

Oscar was the Essien, maundering the field, keeping the team moving, creating space. 

Fabregas was the Lampard, he was the attacking threat, he was the one with the most license to get forward and create problems. 

 

 

That said, this is the first time I have ever heard Oscar compared to Michael Essien!

 

for me it takes two good players to make 1 Super Frankie Lampard