5 hours ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

We'll have to disagree about Mourinho. Surely being a tactical genius he would have used this strategy when we played them. I don't think there's an issue with the squad at CB. Zouma is about to shake off the rust in the FA Cup and then we have a solution for this. Or Conte makes a tactical adjustment. 

Moses is learning everyday at WB. I think Conte can take him to a top level. He's played how many matches at WB? 20? Maybe Conte figures putting Willian ahead of Moses is better than having Pedro there. Maybe Zouma is better suited than dave at RCB sometimes. 

It's 1 out of 14, Conte was outdone today, he can make adjustments without buying new players there. I'm all for getting him what he needs, I just think it's a knee jerk reaction to say those two couldn't get it done tonight so we need to change the squad. Those two are very good players, Moses on the up and Dave at his peak.

Part of how Conte adjusts to this is what will determine if he sticks around long term and hopefully he thinks the solution to this issue can be handled internally. IMO those two positions are two of the least urgent spots we need to buy for. 

I dont get it you disagree with me to agree with me? I said tweak it by moving zouma to RCB and dave to WB I never mentioned buying once...although I would, think you're debating yourself here mate. 

28 minutes ago, Zeta Orionis said:

I think that's an important point.

People are saying we're playing 3-5-2, but it's not really.

It's 3:

Dave Luiz Cahill

4:

Moses Matic Kante Alonso

3:

Pedro

Costa

Hazard

 

With the 2 "wingbacks" up and down the field, that leaves us with just 2 people in the centre and against a side that floods the middle or just has dominant players, they will struggle.

 

If we played with a 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1, that would leave us with 3 in the middle and more capable of coping in those circumstances.

Eg.

3:

Dave Luiz Cahill

5:

Moses Fabregas Kante Matic Alonso

2:

Hazard Costa

 

It does of course mean we can't make a space for Pedro or Willian to start as well, but against the better sides where it will be a battle in the middle of the park, it might be more important to dominate that area and sacrifice a bit of space up front. We'd have to adjust the way we play in those games as well, since we wouldn't have the extra pace to spring as many counter attacks

I agree but maybe we need a more dynamic left wing back 

Footballs funny isn't it? It's always about the latest game. We beat Spurs 2-1 not so long back but it's forgotten now because we lost the latest one. I actually hope we get them in the FA Cup at the Bridge.

21 hours ago, TrueBlueBIH said:

 

Keep thinking back to Hazards chances.

That one in the opening 5 minutes was a game changer, it wasn't even that difficult considering his talent. The header was another that could have changed the game.

Painful defeat but let's dust ourselves and keep it moving. We lost 5-3 to this scum a few years ago but still ended up winning the league comfortably while they finished 5th. Our next game is against a Leicester team without their key players while Liverpool play Utd so a chance to go 8points clear of them. Let's not be too down. KTBFFH 

Another thing; I'm glad this so called run is over. Usually it becomes nothing but unnecessary pressure we don't need. What matters at the end of the season is who won the title and not which team went on some 13 game unbeaten run. Let the gooners have their fun as we know they don't much to cheer for these days. 

7 hours ago, The Brit said:

No surprise that commentary from martin Tyler was so pro-Spurs tonight...made it sound like they had created chance after chance, when they had just two efforts on target...and created very little else.

To be fair it's in their interest that Spurs win. They can't have one team running away with it as that would make it boring and no one would watch.

Is the commemorative DVD out yet? Personally not had the chance to have a look in Poundland yet.

7 minutes ago, 1905 said:

Is the commemorative DVD out yet? Personally not had the chance to have a look in Poundland yet.

Levy would never sell anything for that little.

8 minutes ago, Ivanov87 said:

To be fair it's in their interest that Spurs win. They can't have one team running away with it as that would make it boring and no one would watch.

I get that, but it's bloody irritating! Still, to be fair, Graeme sourness provided the most accurate analysis of the match so far from anyone I've seen in the media...without any hype or hyperbole, said it was a game between two good sides, decided by a slim margin of Alli taking his chances and hazard not...exactly what I said! Said this has opened the door in title race for the others, but made the point that chelsea still the team to beat and will bounce back  quickly

13 minutes ago, Ivanov87 said:

Another thing; I'm glad this so called run is over. Usually it becomes nothing but unnecessary pressure we don't need. What matters at the end of the season is who won the title and not which team went on some 13 game unbeaten run. Let the gooners have their fun as we know they don't much to cheer for these days. 

I also think the record of 14 games is a little misleading as the 14th game was in the next season..we matched their record for 13 wins in the same season...still, like you, the record is not something's to be obsessed about, only winning the title matters

27 minutes ago, Chelsbear said:

Keep thinking back to Hazards chances.

That one in the opening 5 minutes was a game changer, it wasn't even that difficult considering his talent. The header was another that could have changed the game.

Yep. Love Hazard - our most talented player and most valuable asset by a long way. But he was frustrating last night. No-one was great but he had one of those games where on occasions he didn't look bothered. With the ball at his feet, he still looked our best player but his head dropped a couple of times and it always looked like he could easily go up a couple of gears but didn't. Might have had a knock but it's these sort of games where you need your big players / match winners to perform and he didn't (nor did anyone).

 

Edited January 5, 20179 yr by Nibs

Was mad as hell last night but I'm over it...Hazard buries either of his two golden chances and its a completely different outcome imo

47 minutes ago, Ivanov87 said:

Another thing; I'm glad this so called run is over. Usually it becomes nothing but unnecessary pressure we don't need. What matters at the end of the season is who won the title and not which team went on some 13 game unbeaten run. Let the gooners have their fun as we know they don't much to cheer for these days. 

I do think aswell going on long runs then losing can really effect a teams confidence. Take Arsenal's 'Invincibles' lost to Man U and they feel apart soon after.

Saying that though, I'm getting a bit concerned about our record against the top 6. We are clearly very good against the teams below but apart from our game against Utd who were sh*t then we haven't played well at all against our rivals. City should've buried us long before we equalized.

we have Arsenal and the dippers coming in the next few weeks and I really want us to match them. 

Just now, Bobbywoodhogan said:

I do think aswell going on long runs then losing can really effect a teams confidence. Take Arsenal's 'Invincibles' lost to Man U and they feel apart soon after.

Yeah, the Leicester game is very important. We did bounce back brilliantly after losing back to back to Arsenal and Liverpool so I'm confident we won't fall apart. 

Just now, Ivanov87 said:

Saying that though, I'm getting a bit concerned about our record against the top 6. We are clearly very good against the teams below but apart from our game against Utd who were sh*t then we haven't played well at all against our rivals. City should've buried us long before we equalized.

we have Arsenal and the dippers coming in the next few weeks and I really want us to match them. 

I think we will beat Arsenal at home but Liverpool away worries me. 

Just now, Ivanov87 said:

Yeah, the Leicester game is very important. We did bounce back brilliantly after losing back to back to Arsenal and Liverpool so I'm confident we won't fall apart. 

Very good point

A dull ache permeates my being.

2 hours ago, Zeta Orionis said:

I think that's an important point.

People are saying we're playing 3-5-2, but it's not really.

It's 3:

Dave Luiz Cahill

4:

Moses Matic Kante Alonso

3:

Pedro

Costa

Hazard

 

With the 2 "wingbacks" up and down the field, that leaves us with just 2 people in the centre and against a side that floods the middle or just has dominant players, they will struggle.

 

If we played with a 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1, that would leave us with 3 in the middle and more capable of coping in those circumstances.

Eg.

3:

Dave Luiz Cahill

5:

Moses Fabregas Kante Matic Alonso

2:

Hazard Costa

 

It does of course mean we can't make a space for Pedro or Willian to start as well, but against the better sides where it will be a battle in the middle of the park, it might be more important to dominate that area and sacrifice a bit of space up front. We'd have to adjust the way we play in those games as well, since we wouldn't have the extra pace to spring as many counter attacks

We're crying out for an Essien type player, I hate to say it but we get bullied by Spurs now whenever we play them. Essien would have been in there yesterday sending them flying.

I remember when we had the likes of Ballack, Essien, Lampard, Drogba, JT and Cole in the side and we would bully not just Spurs, but most teams we came up against. Exactly why Barcelona hated playing against us.

Conte's Italy played with 3 midfielders who were all physical as well as a defence that were like warriors. I feel like a Matic and Kante are too docile and not aggressive enough.

Conte is yet to put his stamp on this team, he's had 5 months and didn't get the signings he wanted yet we sit 5 points at the top of the table and 7 ahead of Spurs. Come May, we'll be laughing and they'll be battling it with the Goons for 4th.

23 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 

Absolutely gutted!  But the table looks okay, considering Liverpool play United next.  We need to win the next few games to steady the ship... 

Come on Chelsea!

Come on Chelsea!

15 minutes ago, dhidza said:

23 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

 

Well said.

On the plus side we no longer have to worry about Madrid coming in for Hazard. Especially if he keeps performing like that.