I miss Mata, such a good link between midfield and strikers. 

Oh dear

id much rather people waited to write us off until we've at least played a few COMPETITIVE games. no it hasnt been great in terms of quality over pre-season, but i really cant believe the negativity of some people. i thought tonight was a step forward from Wembley, we looked sharper and moved the ball more quickly despite not playing our first team... I'm going to wait until after we've played city to assess our chances. 4 points from our first 2 games would be a very good start to our title defence, so lets see what happens

I miss Mata, such a good link between midfield and strikers. 

 

Yep, but the thing is we have a player perfectly capable of doing that for us and that's Fabregas. He should be behind the striker and we need a proper CM alongside Matic.

Can't really see the point in having two dynamic wide players if they can't get the ball in the box and if on the odd occasion they do we don't have anyone at this moment in time to receive it, let alone put in the back of the net. Two games, no goals for the League Champions does not look good at the moment.

Ehhm really dont know how to answer that if you watch football it will help I suppose...in short it creates space it stops the backline getting set it gives haz more freedom and stops players doubling up,he can drift in to the middle more when its on the right, and all you need is a tap in man and remi is more than proficient at that, That's likely why real m paid eighty mil for a Welshman, sorry to be a smart arse but come on...

Yep, but the thing is we have a player perfectly capable of doing that for us and that's Fabregas. He should be behind the striker and we need a proper CM alongside Matic.

Cesc is much better playing deep than as a number 10. We need a proper box to box that can score goals.

id much rather people waited to write us off until we've at least played a few COMPETITIVE games. no it hasnt been great in terms of quality over pre-season, but i really cant believe the negativity of some people. i thought tonight was a step forward from Wembley, we looked sharper and moved the ball more quickly despite not playing our first team... I'm going to wait until after we've played city to assess our chances. 4 points from our first 2 games would be a very good start to our title defence, so lets see what happens

 

I don't think anyone is writing us off and I think most of us know that it's pre-season (well it was).  We understand that pre-season is about fitness levels and perhaps throwing in a few new plays.  I agree at times tonight we looked a little sharper than at Wembley but from where I sit I am seeing the same reoccurring problem, that when we reach the opponents 18 yard box...strikers standing next to defenders without any real movement, midfielders playing footsie around the box then eventually choosing the wrong pass or a hopeless shot into 2 or 3 defenders or passing backwards all the way back to the back four.  I thought we got that out of our system but clearly IMO it has re-surfaced.  Our 'creators' should be creating by now I would have thought and the striker(s) making the correct runs...a bit of a miss mash tonight I thought.  

We need a proper box to box that can score goals.

 

De Bruyne? 

 

In all seriousness couldn't agree more... hopefully Sparky will use Marco Van Ginkel in a box to box role this season, personally think the potential is there (will be interesting to see given Euro 2016 next year too) 

Edited August 5, 201510 yr by the special one

just finished watching tonight's game. don't know what to make of that performance. seems to me the hesitancy on attack that we saw in the second half of last season hasn't been addressed. we don't look like a side that can break down a half-organised defence

 

we'll have to see how Saturday goes but it looks like 0-0 or 1-1 to me.

Not bothered about the result or preseason games, what matters this time a year is what goes on behind closed doors and in the gym not what goes on in stadiums half filled with tourists. Its irrelevant.

Ehhm really dont know how to answer that if you watch football it will help I suppose...in short it creates space it stops the backline getting set it gives haz more freedom and stops players doubling up,he can drift in to the middle more when its on the right, and all you need is a tap in man and remi is more than proficient at that, That's likely why real m paid eighty mil for a Welshman, sorry to be a smart arse but come on...

 

Umm I don't watch football...only been watching Chelsea since 69....anyway as I was saying...I don't entirely disagree with your observations but as soon as Hazard gets the ball he has two or three players surrounding him squeezing the space either forcing him to try and beat them, grab a foul or attempt to pass the ball and immediately run into any space that may have been created. Due to work  I only watched the 2nd half tonight but Willian had the same problem, as soon as he got the ball he had a couple of defenders in front of him.  While space is created towards the middle of the pitch it was generally quickly swallowed up by an opposing player and even when our midfielders did get the ball around the 20 - 25 yards, they tended choose the wrong option in terms of passing as there was little to no real movement in front of them or play footsie without any real penetration.  How many balls came across the box in the 2nd half?  Apart from the odd high cross for the ghost of Drogba, there were no 'tap ins' created.    

 

Anyway its good that us fans see the game differently and we can have good discussion without insulting one another... here's hoping we grab 3 points on opening day..

Cesc is much better playing deep than as a number 10. We need a proper box to box that can score goals.

 

I don't think he is to be honest, in his current position he offers no scoring threat and he's weak defensively, playing him further forward creates a different outlet rather than the predictable style we have now. Teams have figured us out.

Well, pre-season has been a huge success.

What on earth is wrong with Chelsea? Forget about the title, with this performance, we won't make it on top 4. Need a better backup striker, a good play maker who drives the team forward and john stones. The build up play is good but until we make some changes, we should just park the bus.

 

It's pre season, Man City lost 4-2 to Stuttgart, are they not going to make top 4 either then ?

Not to have a moan but I do not recall the last time we had a pre season where we did not win a single game in the 90 allotted minutes.

What on earth is wrong with Chelsea? Forget about the title, with this performance, we won't make it on top 4. Need a better backup striker, a good play maker who drives the team forward and john stones. The build up play is good but until we make some changes, we should just park the bus.[/size]

Lordy, Bdae is that you?

Gotta say I pre season is simply to generate fitness but these results and performances aren't exactly inspiring are they? I have a bad feeling about the season ahead as it is. Not sure why but I've felt that way since the last one ended and pre season has done nothing to ease those fears.

I have the exact same bloody feeling Bobby

Not to have a moan but I do not recall the last time we had a pre season where we did not win a single game in the 90 allotted minutes.

We didnt win any matches summer of 2010 and we lost the community shield. It was a very poor season after though. Drogba had contracted malaria, Lamps was out with a mystery injury, at one point JT and Alex were both injured that Paulo had to play at centreback.

We didnt win any matches summer of 2010 and we lost the community shield. It was a very poor season after though. Drogba had contracted malaria, Lamps was out with a mystery injury, at one point JT and Alex were both injured that Paulo had to play at centreback.

Ahh right, well then lets hope history does not repeat itself.

What on earth is wrong with Chelsea? Forget about the title, with this performance, we won't make it on top 4. Need a better backup striker, a good play maker who drives the team forward and john stones. The build up play is good but until we make some changes, we should just park the bus.

 

You are an insult to the actual awesome Gem we already have here.

 

This is not me feeding the troll, just exploiting an opportunity to praise a TSE legend.

This is not me feeding the troll, just exploiting an opportunity to praise a TSE legend.

 

Kiss arse

 

Not putting a whole lot of stock into the pre-season results, but performance wise, I have concerns.

 

Mostly in attack. We look disjointed. I'm going to hope that it's mostly issues that will be resolved when the players have competitive games to motivate them, but I don't know.

nice to see the fringe/ younger players in the 1st half

second was enjoyable, an equalizer would of been nice

overall think have enough players of quality ready for the weekend to do the business

hope the fluidity & goal scoring begins then

Umm I don't watch football...only been watching Chelsea since 69....anyway as I was saying...I don't entirely disagree with your observations but as soon as Hazard gets the ball he has two or three players surrounding him squeezing the space either forcing him to try and beat them, grab a foul or attempt to pass the ball and immediately run into any space that may have been created. Due to work I only watched the 2nd half tonight but Willian had the same problem, as soon as he got the ball he had a couple of defenders in front of him. While space is created towards the middle of the pitch it was generally quickly swallowed up by an opposing player and even when our midfielders did get the ball around the 20 - 25 yards, they tended choose the wrong option in terms of passing as there was little to no real movement in front of them or play footsie without any real penetration. How many balls came across the box in the 2nd half? Apart from the odd high cross for the ghost of Drogba, there were no 'tap ins' created.

Anyway its good that us fans see the game differently and we can have good discussion without insulting one another... here's hoping we grab 3 points on opening day..

Well thats why i said would be nice to have them both together when hazard is the only danger man who wants to play direct and run at defenders it's easy to snuff him out if you have that same tendency on the other side you split defenders you switch the play often and its very hard for them to set and dig in whereas with only hazard doing it we are not too hard to contain

Pre season will all be a a distant memory when we win our first game of the season.