What a bizzare game. Strong start, strong finish....nervy in between.

Some beautiful goals though.

15 minutes ago, BlueNProud said:

May I get a clip or a GIF of that 2nd goal please?

https://streamable.com/gqp7q

Top marks for Conte today - pretty much got everything right, and nice to see him enjoying the win with the crowd at the end !

Shame we didn't get to see Barkley. I think he would have come on had Christensen not needed replacing early in the 2nd half.

 

What a difference, why? Hazards on another level football brain wise, absolute class. Nice touch with the shirt. And Musonda looks very comfortable on the ball.

But why do we blow so hot and cold?

26 minutes ago, mojo said:

Yes, yes, f**kin 'ave it.

My lip reading translation anyway.

1 hour ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Thank god Alonso is off. Probably his worst game for us since signing.

Well I guess he's entitled to one now and then 

Finally a nice convincing and emphatic win. Hazard was a joy to watch from the beginning and so glad Conte let him play the whole 90. This game is proof that you keep your best player on the pitch at all times unless victory is all but sealed. The biggest smile I had on my face however was before the game started. So glad we went 3-4-3. Just much more fluid and takes the pressure off Hazard as you have the other winger in Willian causing havoc however him in the 3-5-2 requires way too much reliance on Hazard. I hope Conte persists with 3-4-3 more against lower placed opposition. Just gives the opposition more breathing space.

The whole team impressed bar Alonso who was a little below-par but would like to give credit to Bakoyoko. Another impressive showing today. Switched off a couple times however looked really impressive and quite a monster out there with his power and you saw that Yaya Toure ability when he is able to accelerate with the ball.

Gives us a good added goal difference too and we have a few nice fixtures in league coming up so good that we ended the little rut. Bring on Arsenal!

Man I enjoyed that despite the brain farts all over the pitch at times. 

Great goals and Haz was impressive. Can't expect a 180 seeing how dire we were before but a good step forwards. 

Bats did good too. Next.

Glad we were quick out the blocks today and got those 2 early goals as it could have been a nervy 90 minutes again otherwise. We played some fabulous stuff at times and showed Brighton up as the relegation candidates they probably are. But we nearly shot ourselves in the foot and they could have easily got back in the game had the ref awarded them 1 or 2 penalties, and they also came close on a number of occasions.

Was a reminder today that sometimes you get the decisions and sometimes you don't. We should have had a pen against Norwich, Brighton should have had one today.

Hope Courtois is back mid-week as Willy, despite making a couple of good saves - he's not good for my heart!

Hazard - not much to say that hasn't been said time and time before, except............

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, maddoo said:

a sneaky 2/1 away win I think

Im getting really good at this prediction stuff

This time good line-up. 3-4-3 is working amazingly well against lower opponents. Absolutely no need to put another slow midfielder against 15 teams in this league. Willian and Hazard are our fastest, best dribbling players that understand each other. The combinations between them especially on fast run have always been working well. Conte must stop benching Willian for the good of this team. Batsman didn't score a goal, but his two shots first half were better than Morata would deliver. He's having tough time on counter attacks and when passing generally but at the same time had some very good deflections that, again, Morata would slow down with extra touches and claim for fouls after diving. Didn't like Bakayoko in and he was terrible but got no idea Drinkwater and Fabregas are injured. My apologies for that. 

The subs also good. Zappa for Alonso was much needed, because Marcos was slower than current Lampard's shape probably. Musonda with great pass, some great runs also and I'm glad he showed up. Maybe Ross aint ready and better not rush him in. 

Hope this Brighton team is going back to Championship. Unpleasant behaviour from these j***s, foul after foul, clear and clearer, they always unhappy with referee. Never apologised, especially this c*nt Duffy was for red card and he didn't check how Christensen was. Go where you belong, bloody peasants. 

53 minutes ago, Stim said:

https://streamable.com/gqp7q

thanks bud

1 hour ago, Brutos said:

A shout out to Willy made couple crucial saves

Yes, made a couple of very decent saves. But I want to forget the rest of his performance. Every time the ball was lofted into our box I shut my eyes and hoped for the best - pretty much what he did too I expect!!

1 minute ago, Nibs said:

Yes, made a couple of very decent saves. But I want to forget the rest of his performance. Every time the ball was lofted into our box I shut my eyes and hoped for the best - pretty much what he did too I expect!!

I believe that's the case with almost every latin goalkeeper. Amazing reflex, decent saves and just a minute later - some crazy stuff. :D Low brain and too hot heads. 

MUCH better effort and above all, pace and movement today. 3-4-3 made a big difference in my opinion. The XI with only Morata-Hazard up top just has run its course. Once teams learned to shut down the cross from Azpilicueta or whoever, Morata was effectively removed from the attack as his skills with his feet are very low. Saw some of the best attacking play in quite sometime. 

There were some poor moments as well, especially the middle third of the match. Defensively we were all over the place at times and Alonso was non-existent most of the match. Once Hazard put us up by 3 I felt Brighton lost hope and Christensen's injury was not as big as it could have been. Caught a break on the first non-penalty call (much like the Willian dive vs Norwich), but the second was not a penalty for me. If BHA had cut it to 1-2, it would have been interesting to see how Luiz looked at CB under pressure.

What was with Willy in the first half? He came out challenging balls all over the pitch. He had a couple of real nice saves and looks much better than Begovic last year, but calm down a bit please.

I have to say I am really impressed with Charly Musonda. He deserves more playing time in my opinion. In fact, I am not sure I would not play him in place of Pedro some. We need to make sure he does not get away. 

Fantastic game from Hazard and awesome gesture giving his shirt to the girl (or boy?) immediately as the match ended.

Great day to be a Blue. Hope the momentum can be carried forward mid-week.

Come on you Chelsea!!

Good stuff. I'm convinced Hazard has been carrying something (Not the team!) For the past few weeks. He was on fire today and with William (and Michy) also on top form, we had an unstoppable attack. Alonso was a bit dreamy and Ruediger made a few boo boos but overall very satisfying.

Brighton are denied a penalty but we know how that feels.

1 hour ago, mojo said:

Shame he won't be manager next season lol

Edited January 20, 20188 yr by TheChelseaBlues

Going to go against the grain here but whilst I thought it was a good solid performnce and a great result i actually thought that Michy was absolutely dire. Runs were shockingly bad, to me he looked like he hadn't trained with the first team as a lot of missplaced passes behind players and not into runs. Even passing the ball straight off the pitch on one occasion.

Lets hope some transfer activity in the forward positions can strengthen us going forwards from here.

2 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Dermot Gallagher doesn’t know the difference between Batshuayi & Bakayoko 

He also kept saying Katie instead of Kelly which is her name!!

43 minutes ago, TheChelseaBlues said:

Shame he won't be manager next season lol

Wont suprise me if he is manager next season, probably wont get his contract renewed

48 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Going to go against the grain here but whilst I thought it was a good solid performnce and a great result i actually thought that Michy was absolutely dire. Runs were shockingly bad, to me he looked like he hadn't trained with the first team as a lot of missplaced passes behind players and not into runs. Even passing the ball straight off the pitch on one occasion.

Lets hope some transfer activity in the forward positions can strengthen us going forwards from here.

Thought Michy played OK myself.  Not great - far from, but just OK.  Obviously helped that we were 2 up inside of 6 minutes, but played the full 90 and Conte did see the need to hook him off (which again he would have done if he was as poor as you make out). 

Got the impression that the team more or less played at a canter after the second goal went in.  So lots of sloppy passes, unnecessary flicks and Brighton thinking they are making a game of it.  Not easy to keep at it for the full 90 several times a week, and no point running yourself into the ground when you're in control.  Hazard's second is one I could watch a hundred times over.  Love the way both keeper and covering defender dive the wrong way. Lol!   

Edited January 20, 20188 yr by hutchslongthrow

Maybe Sky being Sky didnt know the difference either [emoji14]

You probably correctly LOL

Soooooooo much better with Willian's energy in attack instead of Fabregas.

Even more so when Luiz came on to pick them out from defence.

5 hours ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Soooooooo much better with Willian's energy in attack instead of Fabregas.

Even more so when Luiz came on to pick them out from defence.

I keep saying that Fabregas is the key challenge for Conte to solve. Last season the solution was to leave him out entirely. Now we seem to need his creativity but we looked to play with greater speed without him and that made all the difference.