3 hours ago, PrideOfLondon13 said:

Atkinson

  Shame Phil Dowd's retired he used to really get my goat, it's just not the same without him

3 hours ago, spadefx said:

You're kidding if you didn't at least have an intake of breath at Fabregas' challenge, it was clumsy & in the box. It would've been a soft penalty (hence 'lucky'), but it was a situation that shouldn't have developed.

And you've missed my point on the midfield trio. Last season we consistently lost the midfield battle, even against the so-called 'weaker' sides in the league. This season we've generally ran the show in the middle of the park. We've a good balance - we close teams down more effectively and the speed we retrieve and move possession has allowed us to create more chances for front three (you could argue it's making us a better attacking side). 

Call it 3 DMs, 1 DM and 2 box-to-box midfielders... whatever you like - it works a lot better than last season. I guess it's a matter of opinion, and we'll see different combinations in the middle, but it's looked pretty effective so far and I wouldn't be rushing to change it.

One problem there's is a massive difference from last season to this season and that's KANTE.

I see as comparisons this season as pointless specially when every other team in the league doesn't need 2 DMs let alone 3 and a workaholic Right winger. Chelsea lack creativity.

2-0 Chelsea

Comfortable win for us against the rat munchers.

My boy Diego to score yet again.

Hazard to put in a MotM performance after his disappointing display against Swansea.

Conte to out perform Klopp in the battle of energetic coaches on the touch line.

2 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

Chelsea lack creativity.

but goals scored and chances created thus far doesn't indicate that.

football is, at least for me, a funny game where lining up more defensively can make you more offensive.

let me first say that i define offensive/attacking football as when you have the ball, you try to create opportunities for your team to score. it isn't so much about possession, more technical players and or high/low defensive line. for example, i thought our 08-09 team, hiddinks variant, and ancelottis double team was more attack minded that let's say the spain team that won the world cup in 2010 and 2012, even though spain fielded a midfield of busquets, xavi and xabi with iniesta and silva on the flanks. we had a panzer wagen of a midfield consisting of essien, ballack and lamps, no one as agile, technical or creative as any of the spanish players i just mentioned.

so how do we, imo, get more offensive by being defensive? when the opposing team has the ball, they spread their team out. so, when conte fields three interception masters in midfield, cutting out the dangerous passes in between the lines, we are lined up very favourably when we do break up their play. they are spread out, we intercept the ball and they are still spread out and all three of kante, matic and oscar are capable of playing a short and fast dink to either costa, hazard or willian.

at least this is my theory and how i understands it. and i have to say, i haven't seen attacking play like this since mourinho's first half of the 14-15 season. i have seen absolutely nothing from our start that warrants any demands of fabregas being played ahead of oscar and matic, but everyone is of course entitled to their opinions. as sydneychelsea imo rightly pointed out in the swansea match thread:

Quote

... To be fair to Conte, the proof is very much in the pudding; we haven't started games as dominantly as this since we used to blitz them in the opening minutes under Ancelotti or Di Matteo.

 

Edited September 13, 20169 yr by opinionsarelike

2 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

One problem there's is a massive difference from last season to this season and that's KANTE.

I see as comparisons this season as pointless specially when every other team in the league doesn't need 2 DMs let alone 3 and a workaholic Right winger. Chelsea lack creativity.

Completely agree with Kante being a massive difference, he's been outstanding so far.

As for lacking creativity I just can't agree... we're second in the league, undefeated, second-most goals scored, most shots taken. If 'every other team' is setting up differently then I wouldn't be trying to copy them, we're doing better than pretty much all of them.

I just can't help by being excited by the team this season, so apologies if I'm a bit strong in their defence. We look great, particularly given last season and how quickly we've found form. Friday can't come soon enough.

15 hours ago, wallosh said:

Matic and Oscar shouldn't have started against Swansea, because Swansea has been awful this season that's why they allowed us to attack them throughout the first half and we all know we would have won the game convincingly in the first half if Conte had started Batshuayi and Fabregas in place of Oscar and Matic.

So.....when faced with 5 at the back, you're idea is to crowd the front mid. You really don't have a clue do you?

38 minutes ago, spadefx said:

Completely agree with Kante being a massive difference, he's been outstanding so far.

As for lacking creativity I just can't agree... we're second in the league, undefeated, second-most goals scored, most shots taken. If 'every other team' is setting up differently then I wouldn't be trying to copy them, we're doing better than pretty much all of them.

I just can't help by being excited by the team this season, so apologies if I'm a bit strong in their defence. We look great, particularly given last season and how quickly we've found form. Friday can't come soon enough.

There's only been 4 games though and none have been against a team of high quality. Shots taken, goals scored etc can't really be looked at till the seasons over as the fixtures can dictate the stats.

I honestly don't get that excited by the Chelsea team offensively. I see Chelsea with a world class forward and left winger. A beast of a DM but between that the players who make up the team are what you see the difference between Chelsea and the very best. I don't rate Willian and Oscar, yes they will run and work hard but going forward they don't offer much. If a team sits back you need players like Fabregas to pick the holes plus when your star forward enjoys playing with your most creative player then it makes sense to me.

Me personally I can see why Matic gets in the team for away games or against the bigger teams. I would play Kante, Fabregas and alternate between Matic and Oscar on the other position.

Fabregas is world class. Can do things no other player can in the squad and should be playing. The reason he isn't is because he isnt a Conte type player. It's why Milan enquired on the last day of the transfer window but they probably left it too late.

1 hour ago, opinionsarelike said:

but goals scored and chances created thus far doesn't indicate that.

football is, at least for me, a funny game where lining up more defensively can make you more offensive.

let me first say that i define offensive/attacking football as when you have the ball, you try to create opportunities for your team to score. it isn't so much about possession, more technical players and or high/low defensive line. for example, i thought our 08-09 team, hiddinks variant, and ancelottis double team was more attack minded that let's say the spain team that won the world cup in 2010 and 2012, even though spain fielded a midfield of busquets, xavi and xabi with iniesta and silva on the flanks. we had a panzer wagen of a midfield consisting of essien, ballack and lamps, no one as agile, technical or creative as any of the spanish players i just mentioned.

so how do we, imo, get more offensive by being defensive? when the opposing team has the ball, they spread their team out. so, when conte fields three interception masters in midfield, cutting out the dangerous passes in between the lines, we are lined up very favourably when we do break up their play. they are spread out, we intercept the ball and they are still spread out and all three of kante, matic and oscar are capable of playing a short and fast dink to either costa, hazard or willian.

at least this is my theory and how i understands it. and i have to say, i haven't seen attacking play like this since mourinho's first half of the 14-15 season. i have seen absolutely nothing from our start that warrants any demands of fabregas being played ahead of oscar and matic, but everyone is of course entitled to their opinions. as sydneychelsea imo rightly pointed out in the swansea match thread:

 

That's what I see though. Players like Willian and Oscar don't create enough chances for a team like Chelsea and the positions they play. Defiantly nothing like Fabregas does.

Creatvity for me is being able to create chances not just passing it around which ends up being nothing. Any team can do that. Creating chances when 11 men are behind the ball is what makes a player more than just catching a team on the counter. You need those players to win championships.

Fabregas the last time Chelsea won the league.

Hope the lads felt it watching the CL from home, not being involved, that is just not Chelsea football club of this era, that should set a fire off under them and after Swansea and the CL absence I fully expect the dippers to suffer the backlash, we will be up for it and full of fight and aggression. 

Costa to get booked in the 2nd minute, survive about 15 calls for a second yellow and then score a 92nd minute winner would do me quite nicely.

6 hours ago, Jonty said:

Costa to get booked in the 2nd minute, survive about 15 calls for a second yellow and then score a 92nd minute winner would do me quite nicely.

Can I add to this ideal scenario a few wind-ups that get an opponent or two sent off for retaliating?

11 hours ago, spadefx said:

Completely agree with Kante being a massive difference, he's been outstanding so far.

As for lacking creativity I just can't agree... we're second in the league, undefeated, second-most goals scored, most shots taken. If 'every other team' is setting up differently then I wouldn't be trying to copy them, we're doing better than pretty much all of them.

I just can't help by being excited by the team this season, so apologies if I'm a bit strong in their defence. We look great, particularly given last season and how quickly we've found form. Friday can't come soon enough.

Agreed mate - I thought we were great on Sunday bar a horrible three minutes. I think some of the criticism Willian and Oscar got was unfair. Their problem isn't creativity; it's finishing. Costa is the only player we've got who's really composed in front of goal. That's our problem going forward, not creativity.

Very pleased with the team so far and all of the performances. Even with the Swansea game as our own two errors lead to us dropping points. Defending pretty well, controlling games, creating chances and scoring goals.

I could not be more pleased, we are again a feared team.

Hope we smash the scousers

Why do people persist with this idea that players should be assessed out of the context of the team? So far the team is creating chances. Isn't that ultimately what is important? 

I'm so bored of this idea that you can take a player out for someone else and feel the individual benefit of that player's qualities without considering the way that change might affect the way the rest of the team functions? 

Put fabregas in for oscar and yes, you have a better passet in the middle. (I love oscar but I would not claim he is a better passer, or even a better footballer. For my money he isn't.) You lose the ability to press effectively though, you lose a player who can run behind Costa when has has his back to goal,  you lose the rotation of the three players on the right, and lose some defensive solidity. 

How  can you watch us this season and conclude these players aren't attacking in a very predetermined fashion? 

Conte doesn't put his most creative players on the pitch and expect them to sort it out, which to a degree is what Jose does. He picks the players most capable of strictly following instruction. 

P.s. For me the only way fabregas gets into his team is by playing behind the midfield. Which might need kante ahead of him. He doesn't see too bothered with trying it at the moment though. 

Edited September 14, 20169 yr by g3.7

11 hours ago, Jonty said:

Costa to get booked in the 2nd minute, survive about 15 calls for a second yellow and then score a 92nd minute winner would do me quite nicely.

With an overhead handball.

Prepare yourselves, guys, because this week's crystal ball is the most bizarre one yet. After doing it this week, it makes me wonder why I bother...but I made a commitment to do it for every match this season and I will. So here's the predictions for the match against Liverpool:

 

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Collins; Ivanovi?, Luiz, Mati?, Azpilicueta; Mikel; Pedro, Fàbregas, Oscar, Hazard; Loftus-Cheek (c)

Subs: Courtois, Tomori, Aina, Cahill, van Ginkel, Costa, Ugbo

 

Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Liverpool (Loftus-Cheek 3, Oscar)

 

Yes, I know, I am thinking the same. Where to start with this team? I'm guessing the half of the squad was taken out with food poisoning before the match. Collins making his debut in goal while Courtois is on the bench? Mati? at centre back? No Kanté, Willian or Costa? Loftus-Cheek starting up top and, what's more, hitting a hat trick? Young Iké Ugbo making the bench due to a desperate lack of strikers? To cap it off, with this team, we go and batter Liverpool 4-1?

Edited September 14, 20169 yr by BellettiBullet

20 minutes ago, BellettiBullet said:

Prepare yourselves, guys, because this week's crystal ball is the most bizarre one yet. After doing it this week, it makes me wonder why I bother...but I made a commitment to do it for every match this season and I will. So here's the predictions for the match against Liverpool:

 

Chelsea (4-1-4-1): Collins; Ivanovi?, Luiz, Mati?, Azpilicueta; Mikel; Pedro, Fàbregas, Oscar, Hazard; Loftus-Cheek (c)

Subs: Courtois, Tomori, Aina, Cahill, van Ginkel, Costa, Ugbo

 

Prediction: Chelsea 4-1 Liverpool (Loftus-Cheek 3, Oscar)

 

Yes, I know, I am thinking the same. Where to start with this team? I'm guessing the half of the squad was taken out with food poisoning before the match. Collins making his debut in goal while Courtois is on the bench? Mati? at centre back? No Kanté, Willian or Costa? Loftus-Cheek starting up top and, what's more, hitting a hat trick? Young Iké Ugbo making the bench due to a desperate lack of strikers? To cap it off, with this team, we go and batter Liverpool 4-1?

 

First things first: you bother because it's making us happy

Then: does you crystal ball register all injuries? Van Ginkel is out (again) with a long-term injury.

Lastly: on your last question: yes we can. With any team actually...

 

 

 

Oh Virtual Waiting Room, how I haven't missed you!

A strange time friday night that will change the psychology of the match...Now you know im always wrong at predicting so my True Blue prediction for this one is..A bore draw or a scouse win.....

Liverpool has obviously the worst fans considering their mental capacity. Diego must provoke, stamp and fight them - I don't care. It's must win. 

10 hours ago, Valerie said:

 

First things first: you bother because it's making us happy

Then: does you crystal ball register all injuries? Van Ginkel is out (again) with a long-term injury.

Lastly: on your last question: yes we can. With any team actually...

 

 

 

Thanks, Val. I'm glad it is enjoyed.

On the second point, I think because, by the end, I was running that low on players, it must have just included van Ginkel anyway ha ha.

Costa loves eating those dippers! Hazard to show more mettle tomorrow :) and with JT out we'll be getting the side show?!

Can't wait! 

Buzzing hope the lads give their best, i wouldn't ask for more. Costa is on fire hope he doesn't get a red or a yellow for that matter. He is already on three yellows five games in.

Luiz coming in could be a godsend. With Liverpool pressing high and fast we need a CB in there who is calm on the ball and can comfortably play from the back.

http://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2016/09/chelsea-v-liverpool-the-anfield-wrap-big-match-preview/

 

Well this has made me want to win even more. TWAT.