I think we've improved judging by today's performance. Although it felt like we could've scored more I was comfortable this game that we weren't going to concede. A solid performance is what we got & really needed. Very happy. Bring on Roma now...

10 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

Also was good to see drinkwater come on. Although it was brief he added good cover defensively.

Agreed, and he also released the ball quickly for the counter attack.

Much needed 3 points, decent performance, can't get any more excited as Bournemouth were pretty awful.

Best we've played since Atletico... Hazard was amazing, my favourite player in the world to watch when he's on that form. We really should of been out of sight by half time but at least we're creating the chances. Alonso and Zappa also got forward a lot more which helped us, when our wing backs have been pinned back we look lame.

Also very impressed by Rudiger and Baka - starting to settle in well now. I know Baka has his flaws but he breaks up the play brilliantly and offers a real physical presence for us.

Many have said it - Fabergas in a two exposes us completely, hopefully Kante will be fit for Utd. 

11 minutes ago, Leonon said:

Best we've played since Atletico... Hazard was amazing, my favourite player in the world to watch when he's on that form. We really should of been out of sight by half time but at least we're creating the chances. Alonso and Zappa also got forward a lot more which helped us, when our wing backs have been pinned back we look lame.

Also very impressed by Rudiger and Baka - starting to settle in well now. I know Baka has his flaws but he breaks up the play brilliantly and offers a real physical presence for us.

Many have said it - Fabergas in a two exposes us completely, hopefully Kante will be fit for Utd. 

Are people going to scapegoat Fabregas again? He was very good today. Dictated the pace of the game. Bakayoko was the one who lost the ball cheaply. Thought Fabregas and Hazard ran the show. Ruidger was brilliant today as well. The scoreline does not reflect the game. We outplayed Bournemouth and scoreline should have been a lot higher but the 3 points is what is most important.

Bakayoko needs a lot of work, right now he's offering too little to be a starter. Drinkwater - Kante combo behind Fabregas could be the answer when we play top opposition. Danny is an intelligent player who is a good all-around midfielder. 

Alonso continues his poor form. Failure to sign a left back in the summer is turning into a major problem.

Sounds as if we played well and the result isn't a reflection on the way the game was actually played. Pleased .

Much needed clean sheet

4 minutes ago, PedroMendez said:

Much needed clean sheet

Agreed.

fabregas played well today. 

The game suited him as we dominated possession, and our opponents didn't opt for the high press/closing down tactic.

baka had a decent game but still he has room for improvement.Especially when he loses the ball in front of our defense.

 

 

36 minutes ago, STATS said:

Are people going to scapegoat Fabregas again? He was very good today. Dictated the pace of the game. Bakayoko was the one who lost the ball cheaply. Thought Fabregas and Hazard ran the show. Ruidger was brilliant today as well. The scoreline does not reflect the game. We outplayed Bournemouth and scoreline should have been a lot higher but the 3 points is what is most important.

Not scapegoating him (we won after all) . I concur that he played excellent with the ball, my issue is people breeze past him constantly in midfield and leaves us a bit vulnerable.

I'm a huge Cesc fan - just don't think he works well in a 2. He's still an important player for us. 

yeah alonso was poor. i have always considered his pace a real negative in his play. he can't beat his man with pace and when we are attacked on the counter he's too slow to get back, it's very frustrating. not much choice though as kenedy isn't a lwb and azpi is not a natural left sided player. gotta sort that out in jan hopefully.  

Edited October 28, 20178 yr by enigma

Late to this party, but saw all of the game live. Thought we were a little slow to warm to the task, but were in complete control except for the one or two sudden good looks at goal Bournemouth found.

I like Zappa at wing. Good to see Hazard rounding into form. A little disappointed with Morata. Gotta get stronger, especially in the box. Defenders are sticking to him like glue. Need Kante back.

Nice three points!

Come on you Chelsea!!

1 hour ago, Qaz said:

I was a bit annoyed with Michy again when he came on. For someone playing all of 10 minutes, you'd think they'd chase everything and be energetic.

Add Willian to that too. Neither really gave the legs to 'defend from the front'

It was good to see us win a scrappy game like that, I thought well to be honest 

1 hour ago, STATS said:

Are people going to scapegoat Fabregas again? He was very good today. Dictated the pace of the game. Bakayoko was the one who lost the ball cheaply. Thought Fabregas and Hazard ran the show. Ruidger was brilliant today as well. The scoreline does not reflect the game. We outplayed Bournemouth and scoreline should have been a lot higher but the 3 points is what is most important.

Yep agree, I can't criticise Fabregas for that performance although I wasn't happy to see him starting. 

Bakayoko was the weak link out of the two this game. 

 

Wow how bad were Willian and Bats in that short cameo. Very good performance today. It just goes to show how easy it is to play from the back without Cahill. We controlled the game completely and the defence had nothing to do due to keeping the ball so well. This also allowed Cesc to control the game but his through passes were quite off today which is unlike him. Azpi MOTM. Hazard got the goal but I felt he is going back to his old ways of not being direct enough. If only he thought like a forward. He is a No. 10 to be fair. Thats why we need another forward like AM in January. Another Pedro type AM. 

Huge fan of Rudiger. I like how calm he is. Very confident with him at the back. He also gives us speed which helps Alonso.

Lack of vitality in the vitality stadium, if you ask me, apart from in the away end. Anyway, solid performance, we moved the ball well and created opportunities, just didn't kill them off. 

We should have pissed up against a team that showed no ambition except to survive, and it was only until they went a goal down that they decided to press. It seemed like they were waiting for us to make a mistake before pouncing. We kept the ball well and dominated the game and, for most of the time, Fabregas was allowed to do as he pleased because of the lack of pressure in midfield. Hazard was different class and provided space for others to exploit. Alonso is low on confidence and wouldn't be in the side if we had a viable alternative. In the Champions League, we can't afford to have one passenger in the team.

We won, and ultimately, is what counts. Bonus for the clean sheet.

Now and however, we should have cleaned them up a little more efficiently. A one-nil lead is kinda of a thin margin. Anything could've happened. 

Hazard was the man no doubt.  Will gladly take the win and to the next game.

"best defense is a good offense"

we couldn't finish them off but we kept the door shut and that was a positive. 

A big week coming up Roma A and Man Ure at home.   

13 hours ago, CFCholland said:

13 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

He only puts on a performance when he wants, for the most part he's pretty much a ghost of the player of a couple of years ago.  Maybe complacency setting in? 

I feel like there's something wrong with him, he's not trying as hard as he used to and you can see him sulking. Needs a kick up the arse.

Willian looks like he's suffering from depression-like symptoms. No joy in his demeanor, no major effort, no commitment.

Is he a member of this forum?

12 hours ago, ashwin said:

Will, I thought we played some lovely football today. Great link up play and we would have bagged a few on another day. It's real joy to watch a skillful CF like Morata link up with Has and Pedro.

I thought everyone was good today. 

This was one of those days when the ball just doesn't go in. 

I agree that sometimes we just can't manage to score, but against Bournemouth we weren't exactly helping ourselves. I thought there were big chunks of the match when we were slow, sloppy and laboured, and no good ball into the 16-yard box to speak of. A much better performance than the Palace match, and a clean sheet is improvement, but if we play like this against the much better opposition that's coming our way this week, I'm not confident. 

The football we played seemed a little slow to me but given the chances we had, it was a solid performance. But still I was not convinced we are in great shape. This center Bakayoko and Fabregas is just trustless - neither offense nor defense. Especially defense. We should throw in Drinkwater if Kante's not fit for the next matches. We just got lucky we had to play Watford and Bournemouth - against Roma and United we'll be exposed. Badly. Hoping we see Danny in Rome and N'golo back at the Bridge on Sunday. 

Edited October 29, 20178 yr by Pendergast