2 minutes ago, Barrettinator said:

WTF??? What was the point of signing him then?

Reminds me of that Arsenal signing a few years back. Kallstorm or something 

2 minutes ago, Barrettinator said:

WTF??? What was the point of signing him then?

I think he was nearly back to fitness when he signed, but got a calf injury in training a few weeks later.  Unlucky I guess, but hugely frustrating for us.

hard not to agree, especially since Eden didn't see much of the ball due to AS Roma's possession

7 minutes ago, Jezq8 said:

We do seem to miss Kante in the midfield.

and we will have to get use to this for another possibly 5 games.

 

No, we don't. We haven't looked like world beaters with Kante in midfield either bar the Atletico game. It doesn't help that Cesc has been sh*t all season. Was shocking today again.

Edited October 18, 20178 yr by Barrettinator

4 minutes ago, Barrettinator said:

Cesc at the moment actually offers us absolutely nothing. With his vision and passing skills, you'd think he'd be absolutely devastating to teams that want to press us. 

I think he's the one that is struggling the most with the high press at the moment. We can't get him into games at all. All i see Fabregas doing is running back towards goal and trying to help us defend. So many times tonight ( and throughout the season so far ) he has been deepest midfielder. It just shows how wrong our shape and tactics are right now. The defence can't move the ball out of defence, the midfielders can't help the defence, we can't get the ball to Fabregas so he can pass the ball around like the world knows he can. Honestly, you wouldn't know that Fabregas is world class passer of the ball this season, he hasn't had the opportunity to show it, he's far too deep and constantly under pressure. We need a change to our tactics, the performances this season prove that.

1 minute ago, robdog said:

hard not to agree, especially since Eden didn't see much of the ball due to AS Roma's possession

Imagine how much more goals he could have had to his name in his career if he played for a team that wasn't so defensive so often.

Hello Chelsea mates! Completely missed this one due to illness and being at the doctor's office. I will be better soon, but worried about our Blues. From a cursory review of the board, it was the complete rollercoaster.

I plan to watch the replay soon. Can someone give a good overview? Surely we were not anywhere near the shambolic level as against Palace on Saturday. I would think we would have lost today 0-4 if that was the case. Did Morata play well or was he limited? Based on Saturday's performance and the stats from this one, Kante proves a huge loss in midfield. Have to believe Drinkwater will help there. I hope so anyway. Saw the XI. I am not a fan of the 3-5-2 with just Hazard and Morata up top. Not enough offensive punch typically. I am concerned our possession is way down this year in every match. Bakayoko is strong physically, but somewhat poor in possession and passes poorly. I do like Luiz in midfield though, with Christensen at CB. How did this look tonight?

Thanks for any post match thoughts you may have.

Come on you Chelsea!!

 

Just now, Scott Harris said:

I think he's the one that is struggling the most with the high press at the moment. We can't get him into games at all. All i see Fabregas doing is running back towards goal and trying to help us defend. So many times tonight ( and throughout the season so far ) he has been deepest midfielder. It just shows how wrong our shape and tactics are right now. The defence can't move the ball out of defence, the midfielders can't help the defence, we can't get the ball to Fabregas so he can pass the ball around like the world knows he can. Honestly, you wouldn't know that Fabregas is world class passer of the ball this season, he hasn't had the opportunity to show it, he's far too deep and constantly under pressure. We need a change to our tactics, the performances this season prove that.

Teams aren't stupid. Closing down Fabregas is one of the main tactics they employ against our midfield. And once he doesn't have space, he doesn't seem to know how to create space for himself or get into positions where he can do damage. He doesn't seem to know what else to do. He certainly can't defend to save his life and he's slower than my grandma so right now, I really don't know what he offers us. Playing him in a midfield 2 these days is almost like playing a man down. Which is why I don't understand why Conte took Luiz off.

Got away with that one. Will take a draw..

1 minute ago, Chelsea Buzz said:

Hello Chelsea mates! Completely missed this one due to illness and being at the doctor's office. I will be better soon, but worried about our Blues. From a cursory review of the board, it was the complete rollercoaster.

I plan to watch the replay soon. Can someone give a good overview? Surely we were not anywhere near the shambolic level as against Palace on Saturday. I would think we would have lost today 0-4 if that was the case. Did Morata play well or was he limited? Based on Saturday's performance and the stats from this one, Kante proves a huge loss in midfield. Have to believe Drinkwater will help there. I hope so anyway. Saw the XI. I am not a fan of the 3-5-2 with just Hazard and Morata up top. Not enough offensive punch typically. I am concerned our possession is way down this year in every match. Bakayoko is strong physically, but somewhat poor in possession and passes poorly. I do like Luiz in midfield though, with Christensen at CB. How did this look tonight?

Thanks for any post match thoughts you may have.

Come on you Chelsea!!

 

We were outplayed basically. They controlled the game, pressed us hard, we kept giving it away because we couldn't deal with the pressure and we relied on their own poor defensive mistakes to get anything out of the game. It's not as bad as the performance against Palace, but it was equally as worrying. To be outplayed at home and end up being 3-2 down at one stage after being 2-0 up against an ok side at best isn't something to feel positive about.

The only positive for me was the partnership between Hazard and Morata, they are our get out at the moment and without the pair of them we offer nothing. They need help though, there is only so much the pair of them can do. I'm sure neither of them were expecting to play 2 v 6 in most of the games this season.

2 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

Chelseas defence without Kante protecting them is like a girl auditioning for a Harvey Weinstein Movie. 

EXPOSED AND LIKELY TO BE FUKCED

That's not a funny joke mate.

So, I popped into the match day thread after the game.  Same old names with the same old whinging.  Makes me f**king puke.  Top of the group, going through and still the plastic f**ks whine and moan.  Wouldn't want most of you lot watching my back up Millwall, or Exeter or anywhere, really.

6 minutes ago, Barrettinator said:

That's not a funny joke mate.

SORRY MATE

25 minutes ago, brownindian said:

I came back from office as fast as i could to watch the second half - I am glad i missed it. I have a few questions for the people who watched the game.

1. Did our players look lethargic and second best to the ball ? Did it look like they were tired and in need of rotation ? 

2. Did we try a new formation or the same old ? 

3. How was David Luiz in the midfield ? Did he solidify our midfield ? 

4. Did Morata look effective ? 

5. What is our biggest worry ? Who should we target in January Window? Attack or Defense ?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am really worried nor thinking about the Watford game.  

 

 

1 - Lethargic ? no. Second best to the ball ? almost every time. I don't think rotation is what we are in need of, more like tactical changes.

2 - Went with a 3 man midfield to begin with then bought Pedro on and stuck Fabregas in a 2 man midfield.......they scored 2 goals shortly after and we still struggled with the high press.

3 - David Luiz was erratic, had good and bad moments and i thought taking him off was an odd move. We were struggling, but we still needed that 3rd man in midfield, taking him off just added to the problems. I'm not sure if it's a position Luiz can make his own though because he doesn't have the discipline to play the role. He's very gung-ho in midfield, more than he is in defence.

4 - Morata, with Hazard, were our only threat. He didn't get many shots on goal but his movement was there and he did what he could. A lot is being asked of him and Hazard right now though, they are getting very little support.

5 - The biggest worry is the high press. It's become very clear now that it's a big weakness and teams will use it to their advantage in every game. We need to get on top of it now or we risk seriously struggling this season. As for January transfers, i'm not sure, i still think we need a LB and CM, but i'm not so worried about the numbers right now than i am our tactics.

11 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

So, I popped into the match day thread after the game.  Same old names with the same old whinging.  Makes me f**king puke.  Top of the group, going through and still the plastic f**ks whine and moan.  Wouldn't want most of you lot watching my back up Millwall, or Exeter or anywhere, really.

Right on cue. We're on a cracking run of form then, aren't we? Sorry to piss on your alternate reality. Even Conte complained about how we played. But we're whingey. You're consistently delusional and it's a bit of a joke really. 

25 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

So, I popped into the match day thread after the game.  Same old names with the same old whinging.  Makes me f**king puke.  Top of the group, going through and still the plastic f**ks whine and moan.  Wouldn't want most of you lot watching my back up Millwall, or Exeter or anywhere, really.

Consistently bad performances are right to be criticised. One bad game every now and then is alright, repeating the same mistakes and not learning isn't. You tell me why I should be happy with Fabregas being invisible for the past few games due to tactical aspects and also due to the player's ability, or lack of. You tell me why criticising our struggle against high pressing teams for 3 games in a row shouldn't be treated seriously. We could barely get out our own half vs Man City, struggled vs Arsenal at home, now Roma. 3 home games in a row we looked abysmal. Plus the board's incompetency. All valid criticisms. 

Edited October 18, 20178 yr by zes

I think we need to face it and acknowledge that if Conte can turn around some players' form, they're just liabilities.
Cahill
Fabregas
Batshuayi (Yes, I know he didn't play, I'm talking about in general)
Willian
All need to step up their game. 

31 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

We were outplayed basically. They controlled the game, pressed us hard, we kept giving it away because we couldn't deal with the pressure and we relied on their own poor defensive mistakes to get anything out of the game. It's not as bad as the performance against Palace, but it was equally as worrying. To be outplayed at home and end up being 3-2 down at one stage after being 2-0 up against an ok side at best isn't something to feel positive about.

The only positive for me was the partnership between Hazard and Morata, they are our get out at the moment and without the pair of them we offer nothing. They need help though, there is only so much the pair of them can do. I'm sure neither of them were expecting to play 2 v 6 in most of the games this season.

Thanks for your honest match day review. I look to watch it soon.

24 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

So, I popped into the match day thread after the game.  Same old names with the same old whinging.  Makes me f**king puke.  Top of the group, going through and still the plastic f**ks whine and moan.  Wouldn't want most of you lot watching my back up Millwall, or Exeter or anywhere, really.

It's almost as if they're not playing well and fans that pay exceedingly high prices for season and matchday tickets expect to watch the reigning champions put in a bit more effort. 

I will add that we are obviously in great shape to win the group, though we really need a win or draw at Roma in two weeks. If the groups finish as they are now, our knockout stage possible opponent comes from a group of: Basel, Bayern, Juve, Shakhtar Donetsk, Leipzig. Decent chance at good match up. Finish second and it would be PSG, Barcelona, Moskva, Besiktas, Real Madrid. 

Bottom line, need a couple of good January signings, and I do not mean Ross Barkley.

It's suggested tonight that Luiz and Bakayoko picked up injuries and won't be able to face Watford. Our only fit midfielder is now Cesc.

7 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

It's suggested tonight that Luiz and Bakayoko picked up injuries and won't be able to face Watford. Our only fit midfielder is now Cesc.

27 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

It's suggested tonight that Luiz and Bakayoko picked up injuries and won't be able to face Watford. Our only fit midfielder is now Cesc.

If this turns out to be the case, any news on Drinkwater's return? 

It's almost as if they're not playing well and fans that pay exceedingly high prices for season and matchday tickets expect to watch the reigning champions put in a bit more effort. 

I think it's safe to say that these people are not paying exceedingly high prices for matchday tickets. If they were they wouldn't be spending the entire match, every match, whining on an internet forum.

This sh*t formation ain't cutting it anymore.

We're getting manhandled  out there whenever the opposition team use a high press.  

Time for a change in tactics. Back to the drawing board.