Aina had a decent game, he lost the ball on the wing for the first goal, but we had plenty of cover in behind with Willian, Cahill and Matic.

Begovic whilst not at fault for any of the goals, he looked a bit rusty.

Matic, Cahill and Terry all looked slow, don't think we can afford to play all three together, not for now anyway.

The goals came from RM pressing us in possession, they always had between one and three players pressing the ball holder.

Not convinced by Begovic at all personally, decent shot stopper but little else. Seems to concede a lot of goals on his near post too.

Stupid place for Aina to concede possession, especially in the manner he did it too and hopefully a big lesson learned from him.

Cahill worries me. For backs to the wall defending, sitting deep, he's superb. As soon as you're asking him to push up he looks average. His ball distribution is poor and he instinctively backs off when defending rather than going forward and pressing.

Matic looks a ghost of the player we bought, I just hope Kante can fill the void.

I think yesterday confirmed what a lot of us already suspected, that there's a lot of work still to be done.

Didn't watch the game but Madrid goals were 1. huge deflection 2. Huge mistake by a single young player 3. Once in a lifetime shot. On another night they won't go in...

Ok so I'm gonna list the issues I saw.

1. This is down to conte unfortunately. We didn't press the ball from the front. As soon as they had half decent possession, RLC shielded and traore ran back to defend in a deep 451. I really hate seeing this, it allows the opposition easy possession and to dictate the pace of the game. Clearly been instructed to play like this.

2. Defence still on the back foot. Cahill and terry were never right up the a**e of the strikers. Instead allow them to come off and turn. When we played the ball up top, there was constant pressure. Was the same against Liverpool.

3. Full backs offering nothing going forward. In the modern Game fbs are crucial when attacking. I didn't see one overlapping run/ run in behind from a full back. Too rigid.

4. Certain Players aren't good enough. Matic is gone. Oscar is average. Pedro is trying to hard and needs to relax. Cahill/terry is too slow and only suit a low block. Azpi is a RB. RLC isn't a forward. The list could go on

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by jamie#8

Didn't watch the game but Madrid goals were 1. huge deflection 2. Huge mistake by a single young player 3. Once in a lifetime shot. On another night they won't go in...

Unfortunately it wasn't the result. It was the performance. We were dominated by a B side who are supposedly less fit than we are having started preseason later.

Ok so I'm gonna list the issues I saw.

1. This is down to conte unfortunately. We didn't press the ball from the front. As soon as they had half decent possession, RLC shielded and traore ran back to defend in a deep 451. I really hate seeing this, it allows the opposition easy possession and to dictate the pace of the game. Clearly been instructed to play like this.

2. Defence still on the back foot. Cahill and terry were never right up the a**e of the strikers. Instead allow them to come off and turn. When we played the ball up top, there was constant pressure. Was the same against Liverpool.

3. Full backs offering nothing going forward. In the modern Game fbs are crucial when attacking. I didn't see one overlapping run/ run in behind from a full back. Too rigid.

4. Certain Players aren't good enough. Matic is gone. Oscar is average. Pedro is trying to hard and needs to relax. Cahill/terry is too slow and only suit a low block. Azpi is a RB. RLC isn't a forward. The list could go on

This is a huge issue right now. Playing both Azpi & Pedro on the left yesterday gave us zero width down that side with two inverted players. Azpi needs to play on the right and an actual left-footed LB is needed with all haste. Optimistically Jay DaSilva could grow to take that spot, but in the meantime somebody is needed to replace Rahman if he's off on loan.

Sadly I fear a combination of players who are on a downward curve in their careers (Pedro/Cahill/JT/Matic) and inexperienced youth with no proven track record (Aina/Loftus-Cheek) will be to the detriment of the team's performance this year. Leicester essentially won the league playing 4-4-2 last season so no qualms with Conte's tactics so far, but I'd like to see Conte give 4-3-3 a go or even return to 4-2-3-1 before we kick off v West Ham.

Hopefully we'll sign a new FB (with a proven track record of assists year on year), a proven CB and perhaps a new attacking mid/#10 (assuming he stays to mitigate the risk of an underperforming Oscar/unproven RLC) before the season starts.

Edited July 31, 20169 yr by the special one

I do hope we don't have to endure much of Pedro this season

The news is Moses and Cuadrado will be sent out on loan so Pedro can have more playing time.

Sadly I fear a combination of players who are on a downward curve in their careers (Pedro/Cahill/JT/Matic) and inexperienced youth with no proven track record (Aina/Loftus-Cheek) will be to the detriment of the team's performance this year. Leicester essentially won the league playing 4-4-2 last season so no qualms with Conte's tactics so far, but I'd like to see Conte give 4-3-3 a go or even return to 4-2-3-1 before we kick off v West Ham.

Hopefully we'll sign a new FB (with a proven track record of assists year on year), a proven CB and perhaps a new attacking mid/#10 (assuming he stays to mitigate the risk of an underperforming Oscar/unproven RLC) before the season starts.

From what i saw yesternight, Hazard has the potential play as our number 10 or behind the striker. I think if he play there more regularly he can be better than playing on the wings.

The news is Moses and Cuadrado will be sent out on loan so Pedro can have more playing time. 

 

How is that "the news" ?

 

I would say it is nothing more than an assumption. 

How is that "the news" ?

 

I would say it is nothing more than an assumption. 

 

Surely you knew wallosh is our exclusive man behind the scenes  ? 

Surely you knew wallosh is our exclusive man behind the scenes ?

Not really bro, i was told the Pedro i saw running around last season is currently better than the two altogether. So i thought given the fact the majority here held on to that belief, Conte will send the two out so Pedro can have more time running up and down with the ball. And dont forget Pedro has achieved more than the two!

Well he is a undeniably a better player than both of them.

Don't forget your promise, Ede!

 

I'd like to share some of the ones I took if it's cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sat right behind Chelsea's bench, Kante sat with other staff in the stands. Had a great time, despite the result.

It's not letting me upload anything! It's telling me my files are too big

If you add me on Facebook, I have a photo album of the day. Didn't get as many pictures as I should have. Here is the link to my Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/ben.edewaard

Well he is a undeniably a better player than both of them.

Well, let's wait and see Conte's decision on the three players.

Not really bro, i was told the Pedro i saw running around last season is currently better than the two altogether. So i thought given the fact the majority here held on to that belief, Conte will send the two out so Pedro can have more time running up and down with the ball. And dont forget Pedro has achieved more than the two!

 

Luckily for you, I don't think Conte will pick his team based on what the majority of people on an internet forum would rather see, hard though that is to believe...

If you add me on Facebook, I have a photo album of the day. Didn't get as many pictures as I should have. Here is the link to my Facebook page https://m.facebook.com/ben.edewaard

 

I'm not on Facebook

Are you Dutch or do you have Dutch roots (because of your last name)?

Edited August 1, 20169 yr by Valerie

I'd like to share some of the ones I took if it's cool.

 

 

Sat right behind Chelsea's bench, Kante sat with other staff in the stands. Had a great time, despite the result.

 

Thanks, I enjoyed that. Good to see Stamford the Lion also travelled   And that is one massive stadium, good grief.

Thanks, I enjoyed that. Good to see Stamford the Lion also travelled   And that is one massive stadium, good grief.

 

And it's filled every weekend for amateur sport.   

And it's filled every weekend for amateur sport. 

 

Isn't that the football stadium for Michigan University? How on earth can it be filled every weekend....

And it's filled every weekend for amateur sport. 

 

Football in this country used to pull similar crowds when football was still an amateur sport. In fact it was more impressive as our population back then was only about 30-40 million, whereas the States has 324m at present.

And it's filled every weekend for amateur sport. 

The university team does fill it for every home game, but they only have seven home games each season.

I'm not on Facebook

Are you Dutch or do you have Dutch roots (because of your last name)?

You bet! I live in a city called holland so almost all of us have Dutch roots.

You bet! I live in a city called holland so almost all of us have Dutch roots.

Holland, Michigan? Must be, if you went to a match in Ann Arbor, Michigan :-)

Edited August 1, 20169 yr by Valerie