One of the worst Chelsea performances I can remember, particularly second half. There was a period in the first half where I was excited and thought we should have scored, but the second half was woeful. 

Passing was absolutely terrible and the players seemed to just give up. The only two players that looked like they were trying were Hazard and Alonso. 

Let's hope the tactics change for Sunday and that the players show up - I think the United game is incredibly important for the season now and although I hate to say it, it's a big one for Conte. 

 

For one of the best tactical coaches in the game, how Conte couldn’t see that a midfield of Niangolan, De Rossi and Strootman would absolutely overrun Bakayoko and Fabregas is beyond me.

3 hours ago, Pendergast said:

Btw, we probably lost the first spot so that means we'll face Besiktas, Barcelona or PSG + Real Madrid if they beat Spurs. So much with the deep run. We should focus on PL. 

If we are in the UCL, regardless of who we play, we will go with our strongest team. What kind of mindset is that to reach knockouts and have a surrender attitude?  Also, I still feel that top spot is very attainable. As poor as Atletico have been in the UCL, I still think they will get something out of the Roma game. Qarabag, although not to be underestimated is a game we should win. We do that and Atletico do there part, we will be top going into that last game against Atletico. I see that situation very possible.

This video pretty much sums up all my thoughts perfectly.

23 minutes ago, ivorycoast said:

This video pretty much sums up all my thoughts perfectly.

I think we have pretty much covered it on the forum, yet would not have recognised Steve Nicoll without the caption!

No one mentioned the injury crisis Conte has faced.

just watching some of the video analysis posted above. looks pretty clear our defence don't know or are keeping to their individual responsibilities and our 3-4-3 is leaving us far too exposed in the middle of the field. we can all see it, time for a change in approach and some hard work to get it right from here. 

If we want to keep 3 at the back we absolutely have to switch to a 3-5-2 with morata up top and hazard in the free role behind. Kante, Drinkwater and Bakayoko in midfield against tougher opponents, cesc for the games where we may have heavy possession. 

I think generally two issues:

One is getting the midfield right so Fab can be benched - Risk dependent on injury recovery.

Two, is our changing of CBs making us more defensively prone like City last season.

I think with point 2 it is also tied in with midfield balance which we do not possess, yet for me Azpi, Christensen and Rudiger would be best.

That would put Luiz (Brazil intl), Cahill (England intl) and Fabegas (Spain inlt) on the bench in a world cup year - dressing room unrest on the horizon......

 

Edited November 1, 20178 yr by Strider6003

10 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

I think generally two issues:

One is getting the midfield right so Fab can be benched - Risk dependent on injury recovery.

Two, is our changing of CBs making us more defensively prone like City last season.

I think with point 2 it is also tied in with midfield balance which we do not possess, yet for me Azpi, Christensen and Rudiger would be best.

That would put Luiz (Brazil intl), Cahill (England intl) and Fabegas (Spain inlt) on the bench in a world cup year - dressing room unrest on the horizon......

 

Conte has a reputation for not caring for reputation and playing who deserves to play no matter of their age.  Only seeing proof of a chance for others in the League Cup. We can all see the players you have mentioned are playing poor so I ask where are the guts Conte is known for?

 

You Don't want to play Luiz in midfield and have no Kante and Drinkwater is not ready. Ok fine play the young lad who started with Drinkwater against Everton. He is a center midfielder no? Luiz is playing like his old comical self so why not play Andreas who, for me, has played better this season? etc etc. You have an actual wingback in Zappacosta, why displace the defense moving Dave out there and, very oddly, swap Rudiger and Cahill from their normal sides of the back 3?

 

It is very Jose esc, chopping and changing too often and not leaving out regular poor performers. Conte is not all to blame the players need a large share as does our board for a window where we did not improve our depth of numbers well enough, but Conte is not fault free either.

 

If we are going to lose and play badly I would rather young players like the ones I have mentioned get to learn from that, at least we would be trying something. Heck you are putting it back on the board are you not? Would you not be saying "We are short in the first team so I am giving chances to the academy you have invested heavily in"?

just look at this:

 

 

Edited November 1, 20178 yr by mad_mac
link missing

19 minutes ago, mad_mac said:

just look at this:

 

 

It's the shame......

22 hours ago, Beerqueen said:

It wouldn't surprise me. He looked gutted in the last quarter of the match every time they showed him. 

Well at least he cares, I can appreciate that. 

7 hours ago, timetowaste said:

For one of the best tactical coaches in the game, how Conte couldn’t see that a midfield of Niangolan, De Rossi and Strootman would absolutely overrun Bakayoko and Fabregas is beyond me.

But is he? For me he is brilliant at man management, at drilling the players, where we lacked last year was big games, that was down to poor tactics a lot of the time, he said himself he has had less time to work with the players and we see not just once or twice this term that his tactics have been really poor.

 Im a big conte fan, but truth is, after our 10th place finish, he came in changed system, took teams by surprise, tactics they weren't used to, now they know what to expect, the players aren't on the training ground as much and the problems he masked over are back.

 I'm watching Tottenham outplay Real all over the pitch, they are fast, dynamic, every English team top except us, we are the first English team to lose, and to who, a 5th place serie A team? I mean they are decent but not enough so to beat chelsea 3-0, we have problems and we need a solution fast, this is a group we know can dissemble. 

41 minutes ago, Donny Blue said:

But is he? For me he is brilliant at man management, at drilling the players, where we lacked last year was big games, that was down to poor tactics a lot of the time, he said himself he has had less time to work with the players and we see not just once or twice this term that his tactics have been really poor.

 Im a big conte fan, but truth is, after our 10th place finish, he came in changed system, took teams by surprise, tactics they weren't used to, now they know what to expect, the players aren't on the training ground as much and the problems he masked over are back.

 I'm watching Tottenham outplay Real all over the pitch, they are fast, dynamic, every English team top except us, we are the first English team to lose, and to who, a 5th place serie A team? I mean they are decent but not enough so to beat chelsea 3-0, we have problems and we need a solution fast, this is a group we know can dissemble. 

Spurs beating the back to back European Champions by the same margin we lost this game. Bad few days for us Blues...

3 hours ago, mad_mac said:

just look at this:

 

 

What is wrong with that?...

 

LMAO seriously that is some funny stuff. You got to laugh when you see Sunday league stuff like that.

Well after tonight's results, all I can say is ouch! That was hard to stomach. 

 

I knew we had a few weak links in our squad, but to see the other English clubs winning so comprehensively against better opposition highlights how far we have fallen in such a short period.

1 minute ago, xXRuufioXx said:

Well after tonight's results, all I can say is ouch! That was hard to stomach. 

 

I knew we had a few weak links in our squad, but to see the other English clubs winning so comprehensively against better opposition highlights how far we have fallen in such a short period.

Gotta say it but Spurs were very good tonight as were City.

Wake up call for our lads I hope.

16 hours ago, axman2526 said:

What is wrong with that?...

 

LMAO seriously that is some funny stuff. You got to laugh when you see Sunday league stuff like that.

Mate that's actually embarrassing, if that happened in a sunday league team the coach would go nuclear at them, how is that possible from seasoned professionals at a top club, I can't explain that.

Why you got to laugh at it. Cause conte probably did go nuclear on them and if he did not he should have done.

21 hours ago, mad_mac said:

just look at this:

 

 

I recall watching that at the time and thinking "WTF did I just witness?"!!!

Knew that would go viral on social media and rightly so. Possibly the worst bit of "defending" I have ever witnessed at this level and Conte must have gone absolutely ballistic with them. The more you watch that clip the more you just have to laugh as otherwise you'd cry. So glad Christensen wasn't on the pitch for that. On that very fact alone he should start against Utd on Sunday.

 

 

 

 

English clubs in the UEFA Champions League this season 
Won: 15
Drawn: 4
Lost: 1   

On 10/31/2017 at 23:16, mojo said:

That final clearance looked exactly like Ashley Cole's in the Barca semi...

I still struggle to see how the primary takeaway from this game seems to be shortcomings in our midfield. The defence did not play like a unit, did whatever they felt like. Some of our attacking play was excellent play was excellent in the first half.

Aside from the defence, it was just sad to see how we fell apart after the 2nd goal.

Not saying a 2 in midfield with Fab is a good idea. Just saying that this isn't really a game that reinforces that point. Several other issues here, some mental.

Hope it sets us up for Sunday and if we do well this setback will soon be forgotten (And pigs will fly)

Can I say I enjoyed spurs beating RM last night?