Given the circumstances, not bad.  He needs to improve but its never hard to find your way in a new club/league when the expectations are the sky and the performances about level with hell.

Not the best game (poor, actually), but Shaqiri was playing well today. Also, agree he could have done with a bit more help.

There were so many times they could have used him to go around the defence today, but they insisted on trying to go through a crowd of Stoke shirts through the middle.

(Hazard, especially).

You can see he's capable of doing damage in that position but they weren't willing to use him.

Edited November 7, 201510 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

Im not even mad. I don't expect him to come in to a new league, especially one as tough as thr prem and set the world alight. He turned 21 in july and hasn't had a consistent run in the side. He is still a baby in footballing years and will for sure improve; he just nedds time and shown patience.

That's what frustrated me the most. He offered width, but Hazard just decided not to use it instead dribbling around the middle. If Baba has proven anything is that he can cross the ball and can use his left very well.

 

Baba was being targeted and despite struggling I think it would be important to note he managed 4 tackles and 3 interceptions, which is the most of all players (and he only played 2/3s of the game). So despite losing many duels he still won the most of all the players from Chelsea. What does that say? Not necessarily that Baba did great, but he was obviously overworked and none of the players on the left were really helping him out. 

 

Also - the reason Baba did so well vs Dynamo is was that he wasn't isolated wth Oscar helping out. Yes, Baba won almost all one on ones vs Yarmolenko, but after a tackle there was someone close by to clear the danger. 

Edited November 8, 201510 yr by Jon Stakes

The team looks nicely balanced when on the ball. The only problem yesterday was having such a toothless striker and not enough bodies in the box.

I would like to see a 4-4-2 diamond or a 3-5-2,

Just so that with two strikers there's a chance the opposition defence has something to actually worry about.

Yes he made a mistake that resulted in a goal, but if Jose drop everyone on the basis on that, we won't have 11 players to play next game. I thought he had a decent game until he got carded, considering the amount of cheap tackles went on that day, thought it was pretty poor to card him. After that, he wasn't sure whether to get too close or stay in his zone, therefore the mistake. He could have got a bit of help from the attacker ahead of him, 1:1 against Stoke's best winger was a challenge, especially on a card. There was a nice forward pass he put in for Hazard in the first half, showed he has some quality. I thought after the card, he stopped charging forward. He should get another game, let's not go back to the Ivanovic at right back, Willian at wing back scenario.

Ba-ba Rahman, have you any goals?

Got torn to shreds by Shaqiri today, needs to improve and will do if given a long run in the side.

Never got torn to shreds, was giving a torrid time but gradually got into his stride & probably was glad to see his winger sub off,

Both Matic or Hazard gave him no help in protecting left-side either.

Yes he made a mistake that resulted in a goal, but if Jose drop everyone on the basis on that, we won't have 11 players to play next game.

 

Don't know how you can blame him for the goal. Baba was in a no win situation with him basically left defending against two players. Yes, he probably should have been more aggressive, but it wasn't his faul he had no backup.

 

I blame Hazard much more than I blame Baba. Hazard left Baba overexposed and constantly fighting 1-on-1. Hazard was Chelsea's worst player. Up front he was uselessly dribbling instead of passing to better placed players. At the back he was non-existent.

Edited November 9, 201510 yr by Jon Stakes

I kept on watching Baba making that overlapping run and being ignored consistently and thinking we really need that width and whipping balls into the box but when I looked in the box there was hardly ever anyone busting a gut to get into the danger area. Costa keeps on coming deep to link up play and effect the game Pedro Willian  & Hazard are hardly a threat with crosses coming in.

 

From an attacking sense we are far too 1 dimensional and are getting found out, we are being crowded out in the middle and not really exploring any other options. We need a number 10 who is strong on the ball and in the air to actually have a presence and give us another option when attacking. Unfortunately unless it's individual brilliance we  are going to struggle to score from open play.

I kept on watching Baba making that overlapping run and being ignored consistently and thinking we really need that width and whipping balls into the box but when I looked in the box there was hardly ever anyone busting a gut to get into the danger area. Costa keeps on coming deep to link up play and effect the game Pedro Willian  & Hazard are hardly a threat with crosses coming in.

 

From an attacking sense we are far too 1 dimensional and are getting found out, we are being crowded out in the middle and not really exploring any other options. We need a number 10 who is strong on the ball and in the air to actually have a presence and give us another option when attacking. Unfortunately unless it's individual brilliance we  are going to struggle to score from open play.

Draxler!

He had a mare, but Shaquiri was unplayable today. We should have put a helper on him. He was very good against DK. I think our back four against Stoke is the way to go. I am agnostic between Cahill and Terry (yes shoot me!), but I feel Terry is important to have on the pitch right now. Zouma is a great CB (horrible RB), Dave is stability personified, and Baba will come good. 

Draxler!

 

I think he signed for Wolfsburg recently? Though I don't think he'll ever leave Bayern, I'd break the bank for Müller.

Baba's still quite raw, especially on the defensive end. He needs to bulk up and stop getting caught out of position.

 

As for positives, he's good on the ball, quick and likes getting forward. I remember watching his Youtube compilation when we were about to sign him and his crosses into the box were probably the most impressive thing about him. The problem is, we're so inept at our attack, most of the time he'd have nobody to cross the ball to.

Ok player. But good enough for Chelsea ?

Ain't anywhere near Coley standard. Dare I say even Berty ?

He is young. Hazard on his side as well as JT, doesn't help. I think people forget that even Filipe Luis when he did play, would get caught out as well from time to time.

He had a poor game but he's sure to improve.

Ok player. But good enough for Chelsea ?

Ain't anywhere near Coley standard. Dare I say even Berty ?

Hes 21. If he was up to Cole standards already he'd be in line to be the best left back ever.

I will still take F Luiz ahead of him. Just dont know why Jose is against giving players chances to prove themselves.

I think he signed for Wolfsburg recently? Though I don't think he'll ever leave Bayern, I'd break the bank for Müller.

Yeah, their replacement for KDB, but wolfsburg can't resist big money. Though he hasnt exactly lit up the league for them this year, but he's unbelievably talented. 

Muller is one of the few players in the world who is consistently world class almost every game he plays, I'd fully agree with you there.

No shame in getting bested by Shaqiri, he's a very good player when he turns up like he did today. I was more concerned at the lack of protection Baba had from both Hazard and Willian.

Just seen this, on the one had people are disappointed with the protection, and then the other half arnt happy with asking hazard would work back.. It's a no win

Just seen this, on the one had people are disappointed with the protection, and then the other half arnt happy with asking hazard would work back.. It's a no win

I'm more disappointed in Willian than I am Hazard.

 

I would be perfectly fine if Hazard stayed in the middle and did next to no defensive work like when Oscar was out left and Hazard stayed in the middle, problem was him and Willian were switching often and when you are on the wing you have to provide cover for your fullback, especially one who is still adapting to the team/league, neither of them really gave Baba the necessary protection.

Put in three or four great balls into the box. He's a left back but he hangs around in advanced left wing positions half the time. He could really be a threat if he's used more.

Still not brilliant defensively, but it was nice to see both fullbacks getting forward. Only real positive in terms of performance, I thought.

Edited November 24, 201510 yr by GhostOfDembaPast

The heir to Ash? Not a chance...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...Ash could never cross as well as that!

Very lucky not to concede a pen in the first half when it was 1-0.

 

Diabolically stupid challenge, and that's putting it mildly.

Quality balls he delivered tonight. The best full back we have by far attacking wise.

His defending was suspect though but then so was the whole back 4 IMO

Edited November 24, 201510 yr by Chelsbear