1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Trouble is, he's been missing those sorts of chances all season and he's cost us a few points this season through bad finishing. 

He's a £60m striker, our most expensive ever player. Chances like that 1v1 should be his bread and butter and should be finishing that 99 times out of 100. Do you think if that chance had fallen to Diego Costa or Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink they'd have missed it? I don't because they were pure goal scorers and they had a ruthlessness in front of goal that Morata doesn't possess. 

I don't think Drogba was a great goal scorer actually, great in big games, but most of all he was an excellent complete forward. He brought players into the game, when Drogba played the likes of Malouda, Anelka, Kalou & Lampard would score double figures a season. Drogba was better with his back to goal than he was facing the goal, I think that's also the case with Morata. But no I do agree I think Drogba is a better goal scorer than Morata, no question. But Drogba at 24/25 was also struggling just as much as Morata is now, same age. 

Like I said, give him another season and we'll see where it goes. But this time I want to see Batman get his chance. 

Edited April 20, 20188 yr by Slojo

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Trouble is, he's been missing those sorts of chances all season and he's cost us a few points this season through bad finishing. 

He's a £60m striker, our most expensive ever player. Chances like that 1v1 should be his bread and butter and should be finishing that 99 times out of 100. Do you think if that chance had fallen to Diego Costa or Jimmy Floydd Hasselbaink they'd have missed it? I don't because they were pure goal scorers and they had a ruthlessness in front of goal that Morata doesn't possess. 

Wouldn't argue with that but we are in danger of looking back at past players through blue-tinted glasses.

Costa was great when he was on top of his game but he came with a lot of baggage and when things turned sour he became a liability. As for JFH, great goal-scorer but I was never a massive fan. I can recall the forum back then and many moaned about how selfish he was and when he wasn't scoring he contributed very little else.

I know we could do with a 20+ a season reliable striker but I would prefer the goals to be spread throughout the team and the striker be a better all-round player than someone like JFH or Costa. I've been as pissed off as anyone with Morata and his at times, attitude but maybe there are signs he is turning the corner.

1 hour ago, didierforever said:

There should be something positive going on to be positive. I dont know if everything after this point would be classified as "aggressive" and "knee-jerk" or not but I will try and put my point ahead.

Our midfield was getting ripped apart by each and every team we played. Literally. Yet, Conte continues to use cesc in a 2-man mid. Whats their to be positive here. Honestly. 

This was my first post right after the team sheets were announced. Give me a reason to be positive. Everyone here knew what our problem(s) were, how can a 10million pound earning manager not see that? Last night we actually controlled the game, did not need to defend for the majority of the game and hence gave the opponents very few chances that they created or chances that they could take and capitalize on our mistakes. And we did make a few - GCs last ditch tackle after the poor touch, Kante playing the ball blindly and square right in front of our own box. Maybe it was due to cesc not being on the pitch or due to the 3-man mid, but majority of the fans have been wanting both of these or either of these things to happen, it could have saved our season or atleast given us a better chance to finish in top4. If the manager does not do the needful, I dont see the point of being positive. He is basically handicapping us in every game and not trying ANYTHING different to stop the rut. I honestly in no way think thats "knee-jerk". Yes, the way I express can be OTT and come out as "aggressive", but definitely not knee jerk. 

Jesus Christ I'm not being that literal, I'm not saying you post 100% negative posts, I'm saying you are overly negative when it's not necessary. 

Do you think calling Conte a bald c**t is mature? You said that when we were losing to Southampton, that's the type of behaviour I expect from trolls on twitter. Don't get me wrong I understand that it's a terrible season and I can't expect you to pretend that nothing bad is happening, but I don't go in every thread talking about Conte. The constant digs at the same players and manager is just getting tiresome, offer constructive criticism, not name-calling and silly comments. 

Conte's decisions this season have pissed me off, playing Cesc in the two-man midfield when we have Drinkwater who doesn't play (something we've agreed on here) but it's pointless repeating it all the time, most of the forum are aware of it and if you haven't noticed Conte has a lot of people who aren't his fans anymore. Just go on his thread and look for yourself, people who I thought would never dislike Conte now dislike Conte. 

Edited April 20, 20188 yr by Slojo

5 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Wouldn't argue with that but we are in danger of looking back at past players through blue-tinted glasses.

Costa was great when he was on top of his game but he came with a lot of baggage and when things turned sour he became a liability. As for JFH, great goal-scorer but I was never a massive fan. I can recall the forum back then and many moaned about how selfish he was and when he wasn't scoring he contributed very little else.

I know we could do with a 20+ a season reliable striker but I would prefer the goals to be spread throughout the team and the striker be a better all-round player than someone like JFH or Costa. I've been as pissed off as anyone with Morata and his at times, attitude but maybe there are signs he is turning the corner.

I loved Costa's confidence and how he would score in a game with hardly getting a chance at goal. 

But at the same time I remember how bad of a player he was, he would ruin every single counter attack as soon as he got the ball. I don't think Morata is anywhere near as bad on the ball as Costa was, Costa looked like a Championship player at times with his back to goal. I also think Morata has better movement and gets himself in better positions, it's why he's scored a lot more headers when Costa scored about 4 headers the whole time he was here.

And when I saw people comparing this situation with Torres then I knew for definite people are getting way in over their heads. 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

@Nibs You might want to see his tweet. 

 

 

I don't think any Chelsea fan can be unhappy with that response. Fair play. 

 

I would like him to carry some of that anger and aggression onto the pitch

52 minutes ago, Slojo said:

I don't think Drogba was a great goal scorer actually, great in big games, but most of all he was an excellent complete forward. He brought players into the game, when Drogba played the likes of Malouda, Anelka, Kalou & Lampard would score double figures a season. Drogba was better with his back to goal than he was facing the goal, I think that's also the case with Morata. But no I do agree I think Drogba is a better goal scorer than Morata, no question. But Drogba at 24/25 was also struggling just as much as Morata is now, same age. 

Like I said, give him another season and we'll see where it goes. But this time I want to see Batman get his chance. 

I didn't mention my Drogba in my post? But agreed, Drogba's strength was being able to bring others into play, creating space for others etc. 

I don't think Morata does that... Giroud in his limited game time for us so far has shown he's better at hold up play and I would say his passing ability has looked better too. 

I don't think we have other players to rely on to score our goals, none of Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Drinkwater are ever going to be regular goalscorers. Our defence used to be good for quite a lot of goals when you think of the number of times Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz and Cahill would pop up with a goal. 

If anything I think our current team/system leans heavily on the forwards scoring and when Morata is pissing away 1v1 chances it massively hinders us. 

48 minutes ago, Nibs said:

Wouldn't argue with that but we are in danger of looking back at past players through blue-tinted glasses.

Costa was great when he was on top of his game but he came with a lot of baggage and when things turned sour he became a liability. As for JFH, great goal-scorer but I was never a massive fan. I can recall the forum back then and many moaned about how selfish he was and when he wasn't scoring he contributed very little else.

I know we could do with a 20+ a season reliable striker but I would prefer the goals to be spread throughout the team and the striker be a better all-round player than someone like JFH or Costa. I've been as pissed off as anyone with Morata and his at times, attitude but maybe there are signs he is turning the corner.

Ignoring whatever off field problems Costa had, in terms of doing the job he was bought for, scoring goal, he's the best at in my twenty plus years of watching Chelsea. He's was extremely clinical in front of goal. 

JFH was another whose currency was goals, I think his overall record for Chelsea was better than a goal every two games. Yeah when he didn't score he wasn't likely to pull much else out the bag but more often than not he got you goals... Not unlike Van Nistelrooy used to be for United (who I'm surprised to learn, only won the league once). 

I agree I would prefer not to rely on any one given player to score us goals but as I said in my above reply to Slojo, where are the goals coming from in this current team if not the forwards? Outside of Hazard and Morata/Giroud who are we looking to that will score us a goal... Alonso? 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

I loved Costa's confidence and how he would score in a game with hardly getting a chance at goal. 

But at the same time I remember how bad of a player he was, he would ruin every single counter attack as soon as he got the ball. I don't think Morata is anywhere near as bad on the ball as Costa was, Costa looked like a Championship player at times with his back to goal. I also think Morata has better movement and gets himself in better positions, it's why he's scored a lot more headers when Costa scored about 4 headers the whole time he was here.

And when I saw people comparing this situation with Torres then I knew for definite people are getting way in over their heads. 

I loved Costa and his aggressive attitude and his ability to finish. Still haven't changed my avatar...I think Costa was truly elite at leading a line with workrate and fight.

But my God when you put the ball to his feet and expected him to create it was like watching a newborn giraffe learning to walk on an ice rink.  Morata, for all his problems is better at building up play than Costa.  He just isn't the finisher, and unfortunate or not strikers will always be judged by their goals.  

I wish Morata had half the fight in him that Costa did.  

18 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I agree I would prefer not to rely on any one given player to score us goals but as I said in my above reply to Slojo, where are the goals coming from in this current team if not the forwards? Outside of Hazard and Morata/Giroud who are we looking to that will score us a goal... Alonso? 

Kante, Fabregas, Azpi, Cahill, Rudiger, Christensen- all of them barring Cahill are incredibly poor at scoring. Kante and Fabregas in particular, are absolutely woeful when it comes to shooting. Really awful. 

Alonso will always pop up with a goal here and there, when not banging in the free kicks, but there is literally no one else. Moses when he can be bothered but he is extremely hot and cold. 

Edited April 20, 20188 yr by Blueblur

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

Jesus Christ I'm not being that literal, I'm not saying you post 100% negative posts, I'm saying you are overly negative when it's not necessary. 

Do you think calling Conte a bald c**t is mature? You said that when we were losing to Southampton, that's the type of behaviour I expect from trolls on twitter. Don't get me wrong I understand that it's a terrible season and I can't expect you to pretend that nothing bad is happening, but I don't go in every thread talking about Conte. The constant digs at the same players and manager is just getting tiresome, offer constructive criticism, not name-calling and silly comments. 

Conte's decisions this season have pissed me off, playing Cesc in the two-man midfield when we have Drinkwater who doesn't play (something we've agreed on here) but it's pointless repeating it all the time, most of the forum are aware of it and if you haven't noticed Conte has a lot of people who aren't his fans anymore. Just go on his thread and look for yourself, people who I thought would never dislike Conte now dislike Conte. 

Fair enough, but then again, hard to talk about anything else than the most obvious and glaring mistakes that are happening. Like I said, its like being handicapped and then being expected to win a 100m race against usain bolt.

29 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I didn't mention my Drogba in my post? But agreed, Drogba's strength was being able to bring others into play, creating space for others etc. 

I don't think Morata does that... Giroud in his limited game time for us so far has shown he's better at hold up play and I would say his passing ability has looked better too. 

I don't think we have other players to rely on to score our goals, none of Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Drinkwater are ever going to be regular goalscorers. Our defence used to be good for quite a lot of goals when you think of the number of times Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz and Cahill would pop up with a goal. 

If anything I think our current team/system leans heavily on the forwards scoring and when Morata is pissing away 1v1 chances it massively hinders us. 

Ignoring whatever off field problems Costa had, in terms of doing the job he was bought for, scoring goal, he's the best at in my twenty plus years of watching Chelsea. He's was extremely clinical in front of goal. 

JFH was another whose currency was goals, I think his overall record for Chelsea was better than a goal every two games. Yeah when he didn't score he wasn't likely to pull much else out the bag but more often than not he got you goals... Not unlike Van Nistelrooy used to be for United (who I'm surprised to learn, only won the league once). 

I agree I would prefer not to rely on any one given player to score us goals but as I said in my above reply to Slojo, where are the goals coming from in this current team if not the forwards? Outside of Hazard and Morata/Giroud who are we looking to that will score us a goal... Alonso? 

That is the trouble. In the past we had our strikers + Lamps, Joey Cole, Essien, Ballack, JT, Ivan......goals would come from a number of sources. Now we don't have that luxury - Willian, Pedro, Fabregas - they will get the odd goal but nowhere near enough, so we are too reliant on our striker and Hazard.

Edited April 20, 20188 yr by Nibs

39 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I didn't mention my Drogba in my post? But agreed, Drogba's strength was being able to bring others into play, creating space for others etc. 

I don't think Morata does that... Giroud in his limited game time for us so far has shown he's better at hold up play and I would say his passing ability has looked better too. 

I don't think we have other players to rely on to score our goals, none of Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Drinkwater are ever going to be regular goalscorers. Our defence used to be good for quite a lot of goals when you think of the number of times Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz and Cahill would pop up with a goal. 

If anything I think our current team/system leans heavily on the forwards scoring and when Morata is pissing away 1v1 chances it massively hinders us. 

Ignoring whatever off field problems Costa had, in terms of doing the job he was bought for, scoring goal, he's the best at in my twenty plus years of watching Chelsea. He's was extremely clinical in front of goal. 

JFH was another whose currency was goals, I think his overall record for Chelsea was better than a goal every two games. Yeah when he didn't score he wasn't likely to pull much else out the bag but more often than not he got you goals... Not unlike Van Nistelrooy used to be for United (who I'm surprised to learn, only won the league once). 

I agree I would prefer not to rely on any one given player to score us goals but as I said in my above reply to Slojo, where are the goals coming from in this current team if not the forwards? Outside of Hazard and Morata/Giroud who are we looking to that will score us a goal... Alonso? 

I think we still haven't filled the huge void left by Lampard, we lost 20 goals from Midfield with his departure and we desperately need a goal scoring midfielder

32 minutes ago, Blueblur said:

Kante, Fabregas, Azpi, Cahill, Rudiger, Christensen- all of them barring Cahill are incredibly poor at scoring. Kante and Fabregas in particular, are absolutely woeful when it comes to shooting. Really awful. 

Alonso will always pop up with a goal here and there, when not banging in the free kicks, but there is literally no one else. Moses when he can be bothered but he is extremely hot and cold. 

When any of those players have the ball anywhere near the box, I'm not expecting any of them to shoot. Kante and Fabregas especially can be so passive in front of goal (literally and figuratively) passing the responsibility of scoring onto other. 

22 minutes ago, Nibs said:

That is the trouble. In the past we had our strikers + Lamps, Joey Cole, Essien, Ballack, JT, Ivan......goals would come from a number of sources. Now we don't have that luxury - Willian, Pedro, Fabregas - they will get the odd goal but nowhere near enough, so we are too reliant on our striker and Hazard.

The thing with Lampard, Ballack, Cole, Malouda was that they liked scoring lots of goals. 

I get the impression with Fabregas that getting an assist means more to him than scoring a goal... He's proud of his assists record so would rather do that than score goals. The likes of Matic, Kante, Bakayoko I don't think they see it as their responsibility to score goals, so often don't even try.  

8 minutes ago, Imran_CFC said:

I think we still haven't filled the huge void left by Lampard, we lost 20 goals from Midfield with his departure and we desperately need a goal scoring midfielder

Lampard was a freak of nature, you'll never see a midfielder in the Chelsea team again who scored goal as frequently as he did... but we've not even come close to finding someone who takes on any sort of goal scoring burden from midfield since he left. How often do you see any of our players, let alone one of the midfielders pick up the ball come 25 yards from goal and smash an effort on target? Rarely happens... Frank used to try one at least once or twice from outside the area during a game. We need someone with that kind of goal scoring desire and aggression again. Ross Barkey has that potential I think if he ever gets fit enough to be picked regularly. 

I think there is a tendency to be a bit too misty eyed for Costa, and a bit too critical of Morata.

If you compare their PL stats, there really isn't an awful lot to separate them, especially if you take the last two seasons Costa was with us ...

Source: Squawka Comparison Matrix.

 

 

5 hours ago, Osgood is Good said:

 

I would like him to carry some of that anger and aggression onto the pitch

He does, the problem is how he deals with the anger. He's one of those people that get's worse the angrier he get's.

5 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I didn't mention my Drogba in my post? But agreed, Drogba's strength was being able to bring others into play, creating space for others etc. 

I don't think Morata does that... Giroud in his limited game time for us so far has shown he's better at hold up play and I would say his passing ability has looked better too. 

I don't think we have other players to rely on to score our goals, none of Kante, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Drinkwater are ever going to be regular goalscorers. Our defence used to be good for quite a lot of goals when you think of the number of times Terry, Ivanovic, Luiz and Cahill would pop up with a goal. 

If anything I think our current team/system leans heavily on the forwards scoring and when Morata is pissing away 1v1 chances it massively hinders us. 

Ignoring whatever off field problems Costa had, in terms of doing the job he was bought for, scoring goal, he's the best at in my twenty plus years of watching Chelsea. He's was extremely clinical in front of goal. 

JFH was another whose currency was goals, I think his overall record for Chelsea was better than a goal every two games. Yeah when he didn't score he wasn't likely to pull much else out the bag but more often than not he got you goals... Not unlike Van Nistelrooy used to be for United (who I'm surprised to learn, only won the league once). 

I agree I would prefer not to rely on any one given player to score us goals but as I said in my above reply to Slojo, where are the goals coming from in this current team if not the forwards? Outside of Hazard and Morata/Giroud who are we looking to that will score us a goal... Alonso? 

Apologies for some reason I saw Drogba instead of Costa. 

And I strongly disagree, Morata in the earlier part of the season showed excellent hold-up play, he was actually very good yesterday despite his misses. The United match he had the defenders on strings, we have seen a good player in him, but if we can't see that player consistently then he's never going to make it here. 

20 hours ago, Slojo said:

And I strongly disagree, Morata in the earlier part of the season showed excellent hold-up play, he was actually very good yesterday despite his misses.

Was she putting him off then?

 

....I'll get my coat

Could of had a 10 minute hat trick, good job Dave knows where to find him..

Against a team that had to come out and attack and 80 minutes in when they were tiring, his freshness and pace was too much for them to deal with.

He missed another chance but to be fair there was an extra man on the goal line, the other one however he had a poor heavy touch.

At least now him not scoring is more down to good keeping/defending than pathetic finishing like hitting it straight at the keeper.

Edited April 22, 20188 yr by sonic90

Great header.

He could of had a hat trick if our players were quicker about things. Twice Hazard just needed to put the ball across the goal but he did his usual stop, twist and shout routine. One of the crosses from Dave I was surprised the ball got to him and so was he, the Scumhampton defender should have got his head to it. 

Glad to hear the board are giving him another year to prove himself. I honestly do believe the kid has potential to be a good striker for us if given the time.

Conte explanation for struggles to get into the top four: "Our top scorer has scored only 12 goals, when your top scorer only gets 12 goals then it is hard to fight for something important"

 

That sounds fairly typical Conte, someone else’s fault. Nothing at all to do with the managers sh*t defensive tactics and let’s get one up and retreat into defence. Ball bag.

I like the role he has had the past few matches, coming off the bench, fresh, in matches that we have a lead.  Good time for him to build back up the confidence he had earlier this season.

Wish he would’ve came on a few minutes earlier yesterday but glad he got some time in there.

14 hours ago, DG19 said:

Conte explanation for struggles to get into the top four: "Our top scorer has scored only 12 goals, when your top scorer only gets 12 goals then it is hard to fight for something important"

 

Meanwhile, Bakayoko is playing like absolute dog sh*t every game but still gets a start.