Stoke City Vs Chelsea (PL) 7/11/15 17:30GMT

[TheChelseaBlues]

Again i will say Costa would not get into most prem sides He does not scare a defence

very little pace moves left checks back right it not hard to defend against

and i have forgot the last time he shot at goal

loves to fight the defender instead of thinking of scoring

so he holds up play what is the point if nobody runs past him

we play across the box not one player picks up the ball when he is running towards goal

if you dont shoot you dont score

we cant rely on free kicks and corners

Fact most goal are scored with no more than three or four passes

Costa doesnt score from outside the box. I remember seeing all of his goals at Athletico 2 seasons ago were inside the box and I bet at least 90% last season were as well. He depends on movement and space created by others which we dont do at the moment. Hes a great player when things are clicking but looks average or worse when he has to create his own chances

[Petworth Chelsea Fan]

Costa has turned into his Subbuteo version.

[lesblues]

Quite frankly we are not good enough, in any area of the pitch.

GK: Begovic, not good enough after years of real top quality in Cech and Courtois

Defence: Ageing, out of form, no fight, JT legs gone, Ivanovic enough said, Cahill never been convinced, Zouma, is he really the answer?? Baba, not given the chance

Midfield: Worse than poor, Matic non existent, Fabregas anonymous, Ramires same old issues with possession and passing, Hazard probably listened too much to the hype. Willian totally exonerated he has been brilliant !!!

Strikers: Do we really have any? Costa needs to stop being a street fighter and return to playing football, Falcao, we should have listened to Man Ure, a deal that should NEVER have been done and Remy again not being given a chance but rarely lets us down.

Therefore we clearly need to bring in fresh blood. I am not a fan of the January window and PRAY that we survive in the Prem to bring in JOSE's required choices (unlike this year) in the summer

Sorry but exactly are the Jose's required choices?

CB: Stones, Varane Marquinho, (January window?), Laporte ~35-40million pounds?

MF: Koke, Ruben Neves ~30-55million?

Attacker/CF: Griezmann ~50million?

How much are we spending in Jan? Then summer?

[dellaw]

my lottary team are having so much bad luck

the balls dont roll correctly

the person who picks them doesnt like us

we were so close we got one number

things improved we got two numbers

we didnt buy a ticket

 

simple message if you dont shoot you wont score

[TheBluesBrother]

Well that was a shame. We played the best football we've played this season and still lost. We were relentless but unfortunately couldn't put the ball in the net. Begovic is a liability and I can't remember another Chelsea goalkeeper conceeding so many goals by the first week of November. His positioning is poor and I reckon the back four have little confidence in him either. Remy should have had a penalty. Pedro was unlucky to hit the post and generally the Gods are'nt with us at the the moment. Getting rid of Cech was a massive blunder. Courtois and Cech should have fought it out for number 1 position.If we play like we did at Stoke and put the chances away we could see a revival. Costa needs to up his game because he has been poor this season.We need to string a run of winning games together to bring back that confidence.

[Bloo]

I thought we played pretty well first half and second half of the second half!  Stoke's star shone brightly for a short period after the break and they took their chance - every credit to them.  Their defending under our full scale assault in the latter stages of the game was very good too.  Not far off how we used to defend when under the cosh.

 

Ref - patchy game.  On another day Pedro could've walked, Charlie the Thug should've walked and Remy honest or naïve or both should've had a pen' - notwithstanding this we should be able to rise above these things and win games against teams like Stoke.

 

At best Stoke will never be more than a mid-table side set up and playing as they do.  One of the last bastions in the Prem' of old fashioned man's football (although better than the effete version practiced on the continent and policed by over zealous ref's) they do tread a very fine physical line with a capacity to irritate beyond belief - they lack flair (maybe apart from their new expensive striker) and compensate with a brutalist approach.  Even 'on song' we have rarely found this mob easy to deal with.

 

As for us, probably all been said by now but...

 

...we seemed up for it and played some decent-ish football, not scintillating but far from a disaster.

 

...Costa, it wouldn't bother me if we sold him.  He is not the answer to our seemingly jinxed Number 9 position (Drogs notwithstanding).  He is paid (an awful lot) to score goals and he isn't cutting the mustard.  I couldn't give a fig that he his wound up by defenders, that's part of the game, equally, tough luck old son if you are surrounded by defenders (4 midweek against Dynamo) and don't always get the ball at your feet.  How about being in the *leeding box when you damn well ought to be?  How about keeping the ball when it does get to your heavily sponsored boots?  It's a long while since I have seen someone so easily dispossessed.  How about you go and get the *loody ball instead of hovering around like you have a love affair with the far left corner of the pitch?  For sure, the occasional Bull-like runs are awesome and the staring eyes are amusing (increasingly less so) but how about scoring a few for us and earning your corn?  Shape up or ship out.

 

...Baba, ok to pretty good vs Dynamo but utterly bamboozled by the short one yesterday.  This is one game that I think Azpi should've been on the left.  Maybe Baba will get there, maybe not but whatever I am tired of these players swanning in from abroad with their clubs/agents demanding big fees and wages and then needing time, often a season or two, to get up to speed with life in the Prem'.  Why do clubs tolerate this *hite?  You can either do the job and are worth your corn or you can't. Maybe half wages or less for the first season would focus their mind a little more.  I hold him mainly responsible for the goal although Bego looked leaden and Azpi needs a thump on his bonce for not covering Arnautovic.  For the goal, our defence was utterly shambolic.

 

...Tibo - hurry up and get back soon.  Rumoured to be back shortly, and whilst he is not yet the finished article, we need a world-class shot stopper for every important game.  Begovic is a good enough back-up keeper but he is sometimes flat footed and his distribution is so slow at times it's like time stands still.

 

...Zouma - nice lad, a tryer, maybe one day he'll be ok.  Top table he ain't.  We need better in this critical position.

 

...why do we continue to do the 'let's trot up to the final third and then pass the ball left, right, back, forward a bit, left again, right again and then once we have checked that the opposition are in a nice defensive formation we then try to toddle off forward only to be rebuffed?  Utterly bizarre for a team that is latterly famous for being probably one of the best counter attacking outfits on the planet.

 

...we missed JM on the bench.  The stand in crew looked flummoxed at times but fair play they aren't front men and they aren't on £10m pa or whatever.  Sadly no inspiration was coming from the technical area.

 

...JM, great manager, a worthy hero but by Christ man drop the crap.  The world against us is not working in our favour and I am tired of your hang-dog demeanour.  How about trying upbeat, positive and inspirational a bit more - maybe that's how you are in the dressing room etc but you are the very public face of the club.  We need much more from you and like the players you are (as you often mention) rather well off and are paid handsomely.

 

So...onwards and upwards but only if some people get their proverbial fingers out and do what they promised for the club.  Norwich can't come soon enough -- God how I hate international breaks.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Bloo

[bluelion111]

Much has been said already about our lack of shooting in/around the box and I think its partly down to there not being one or two players whose job it is to take these shots with others designated to make room for them. Previously, everyone and their cat knew Lampard was going to arrive to finish most moves off  so when he got near the box the others knew to start creating space and drawing defenders away from him.

[claytonblue]

What strikes me with this Chelsea team is; we can have all the ball; pass and counter pass and it all just breaks down in front of goal. Sometimes you need to mix it up and hit the early ball. But even for that to have effect; your front man has to do more than Costa; just snarling around the opposition centre half; trying to wind them up. Yet having no attempts on goal in the whole game to call of.

 

For me Costa is showing form here; that got him loaned out to the Liga2 in Spain. Most people would have gone for Costa; had they wanted to sign a striker and had the money to do so. Like most would have gone for Sheva; and Torres too; but sometimes you have to be a bit more savvy and take a punt on a Jamie Vardy or a Charlie Austin. If the latter for example was fit and available in the January would consider him; least you get someone who wants to actually play football rather than snarl around for 90mins. He even managed to get involved with a steward; admitted it was nothing but he still ends up getting involved with that rather than getting involved doing what he should be doing; sticking the ball in the net.

 

No qualms about the shift the others put in; but all that passing around forwards; backwards; sideways any which way; you sometimes have to say sod it get in the mixer. Then its back to Costa; who on this showing needs someone up top with him if he cannot manage it himself.  

[Stim]

Diego Costa comes off a 21 goal season but we started this one badly so he is terrible and wouldnt get into most prem teams. I weep.

[BenCFC19]

Yesterday was just a perfect example of a game where nothing went our way, but we can't use that as an excuse because some individual performances were just downright awful. Firstly Costa was an embarrassment, we expect his usual antics but it's just getting completely out of hand now and we're seeing him in an argument with the centre half and the referee more than we're seeing him on the ball which just isn't right.

Secondly, I'm a fan of Ramires but good lord yesterday he was beyond woeful. I just don't understand how a player who plays for the English champions and is a regular name in the Brazil set-up can be so poor on the ball, his long passing is laughable and he just isn't creative in any way, it's uncountable how many times he gets to the edge of the box and slips through a pass that is either way too soft and gets cleared or way too early and goes straight to the keeper

[Wolv]

Tibo needs to come back soon. I felt begovic had time to move to his right. He should have adjusted his position when play moved to the right

[WeatherMan]

Why cant we create anything from.open play?

Players aren't running on the overlap.

Players aren't running beyond the last man.

By not doing these basic things it's making us so easy to defend against.

Players keep wanting the ball to feet on the edge of the area and then don't look to beat their man.

We aren't stretching defences but all of this is so basic and I'm lost why we aren't doing these things.

Fabregas is a tremendous passer of the ball but if he's got no one to aim a through ball at what's he supposed to do? He's not going to run past players and scores 30 yard screamers.

Costa is clearly frustrated, he's sometimes dropping as deep as the half way line looking for the ball because the service from midfield is abysmal.

I don't understand how and why players as talented as the ones we have are incapable of doing something as basic as making a run towards the near post.

There's only so much Jose can do, once the players step onto the pitch they're the ones who are meant to do their jobs and the attackers in particular are failing miserably and frankly they should be ashamed of themselves.

 

Points well made FC and in fact the pundits highlighted exactly this on Motd last night. Tactically we are a complete mess this season and it's something which doesn't show signs of being improved any time soon. Baffling.

[The Brit]

Costa scored a lot of goals last season running behind defenders...the arsenal goal at the bridge a good example..but he looks to have lost a yard as we saw against dynamo in midweek when he couldn't get away from the defenders and flopped to the ground instead...he rarely makes those runs now and just drops deep or goes out wide...he's never going to score from there is he...and if he isn't in the box, midgets hazard, Willian etc are hardly going to win the ball in the air

[barak81]

Costa scored a lot of goals last season running behind defenders...the arsenal goal at the bridge a good example..but he looks to have lost a yard as we saw against dynamo in midweek when he couldn't get away from the defenders and flopped to the ground instead...he rarely makes those runs now and just drops deep or goes out wide...he's never going to score from there is he...and if he isn't in the box, midgets hazard, Willian etc are hardly going to win the ball in the air

 

Spent force it looks like, one to many hamstring pulls.. For me we need to look at our other options now and find a strike in Jan

[Mike Carefree]

Respect to all Blues that went to stoke.....Especially the ones in the box

[coombsie]

Pretty sure that José gave the board a list including Stones, Pogba, Varane and Koke and got none of them. He is probably now pointing out to the same Board the problem this has given us:

 

 

 

Sorry but exactly are the Jose's required choices?

CB: Stones, Varane Marquinho, (January window?), Laporte ~35-40million pounds?

MF: Koke, Ruben Neves ~30-55million?

Attacker/CF: Griezmann ~50million?

How much are we spending in Jan? Then summer?

[Zola Power]

I like Ramires for his energy and the occasional great goal. However, he cannot pass the ball for sh*t. He loses possession in the worst areas and puts us back under pressure. As for Costa? Time to leave him out and give Remy a run in the side as he wouldn't be any worse. RLC deserves a run in the team and could save us millions in the transfer market.

At the end of the day the title and maybe even top 4 has gone, so why not start thinking ahead to next season and sorting the problems out now.

[Nibs]

I like Ramires for his energy and the occasional great goal. However, he cannot pass the ball for sh*t. He loses possession in the worst areas and puts us back under pressure. As for Costa? Time to leave him out and give Remy a run in the side as he wouldn't be any worse. RLC deserves a run in the team and could save us millions in the transfer market.

At the end of the day the title and maybe even top 4 has gone, so why not start thinking ahead to next season and sorting the problems out now.

 

Have to agree on that. For all the good Ramires does in tracking back, getting in tackles and having the energy and lungs of a marathon runner, I cannot recall a Chelsea player who miss places so many passes and gives the ball away as much. It is beyond bad.

 

And Costa? It has just got tiresome. Remy might not be the long-term answer but offered more in 15 minutes than Costa has done in 3 whole games.

 

It was painful again yesterday. Despite playing some decent football it looked like we lacked belief. I turned to my son at half-time atnd said we're gonna lose this

1-0. Hate being proved right but we huffed and puffed without ever looking convincing yet Stoke looked dangerous every time they broke. We are just so predictable and easy to defend against - we could still be out there now and we wouldn't have scored. 

 

So Jose, I think we must be at the stage where it isn't possible for us to win the league so lets try something different. Today the u 21's beat Liverpool 4-0. A goal each for RLC and Traore and a brace to Abraham. Let's see a couple of these lads (and /or Kenedy) starting matches and have Abraham on the bench. It's time for the likes of Costa and Ramires to sit it out.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Nibs

[54veteran]

I think the game as a whole has changed and we haven't noticed. So many good value imports to be had, but we continue to shop sloppily. Our transfer policy has been shambolic, decisions no doubt made by a committee of faceless beuracrats. Jose's get-together after the Liverpool match was revealing. Who the hell are all these managers? 

[Zola Power]

Yep I agree. Change formation for a start. The other sides have sussed us out and know how predictable we are, even bang average teams are finding it easy against us. We have lost the fear factor and the only way to get it back is to win matches. Give some of the youngsters some decent game time, who knows, we may unearth a gem or two.

[Blue Tony]

Pretty sure that José gave the board a list including Stones, Pogba, Varane and Koke and got none of them. He is probably now pointing out to the same Board the problem this has given us:

 

 

 

Sorry but exactly are the Jose's required choices?

CB: Stones, Varane Marquinho, (January window?), Laporte ~35-40million pounds?

MF: Koke, Ruben Neves ~30-55million?

Attacker/CF: Griezmann ~50million?

How much are we spending in Jan? Then summer?

 

Missing the bigger picture.

 

How many of these players will want to come to a club with no European exposure? Their agents will advise heavily against it for commercial reasons. We will be in a situation not unlike Liverpool and Spurs in recent years who have to troll through the second tier of stars and hope a gem shows up, which in turn means a dogfight for Europe the following season (a catch 22).

 

Add to that your existing stars who need to leave to enhance their "Brand" and you have additional problems.

 

Buckle your seatbelts guys and gals!

[lesblues]

I think the game as a whole has changed and we haven't noticed. So many good value imports to be had, but we continue to shop sloppily. Our transfer policy has been shambolic, decisions no doubt made by a committee of faceless beuracrats. Jose's get-together after the Liverpool match was revealing. Who the hell are all these managers?

Same bureaucrats that aided in getting the players needed on our way to winning the double. Same 'coaches' that were with him when the double was won last season. He didn't win it all by himself you know.

[Viper]

 

...why do we continue to do the 'let's trot up to the final third and then pass the ball left, right, back, forward a bit, left again, right again and then once we have checked that the opposition are in a nice defensive formation we then try to toddle off forward only to be rebuffed?  Utterly bizarre for a team that is latterly famous for being probably one of the best counter attacking outfits on the planet.

 

This 10000000000X what is that about!!!?????? they did this from about last xmas onwards. I have no idea what thats meant to be.

[mbh]

People saying we had plenty of chances, loads of possession & really played well, No we did not, you do not win games with plenty & loads of Chances or Possession, it is goals that win matches, we never came near to scoring until Remy & Pedro appeared & then it was only two runs

by Remy that appeared to worry there defence, they looked comfortable all night long otherwise.

Alright we should of had a penalty, but the refs will give us nought because Jose antagonised them, infered they where incompetant, just because they are misguided, there was no need to go overboard like he did with attack on them, FA & the media, what he sowed, we are know reaping

the non-rewards, expect nought because that is what we are getting.

Yes, Chelsea ran around alot, had loads of passes but no forward penatration, we never got behind there defence to really put them under pressure, so they sat there & swatted all our attacks, they may have not deservered to win, but then again neither did we, flattered to decieve.

[54veteran]

Same bureaucrats that aided in getting the players needed on our way to winning the double. Same 'coaches' that were with him when the double was won last season. He didn't win it all by himself you know.

 

I'm sure Jose called the shots putting last season's team together, bold moves that turned us into a title winning side. It's hard to believe he has had anything to do with our dealings since then.