4 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Rakitic has to be very careful now, that's good for us. One deliberate tactical foul (instant yellow) and two big physical fouls, he should be on a last warning now... Surely. 

with this twat of a ref, not so sure

4 minutes ago, Nevamind said:

so false 9 worked?

No, we are still really struggling to get the ball out of defense. Courtois has nobody to aim for and the ball comes right back at us. When we do get forward, we look dangerous, but we could do the same and more with a striker on the pitch.

Defence has been terrific, back to their best and Fabregas is playing his role in there.

Well listening to parts of the game on Talksport - much to my surprise we appear to be the better team this half and unlucky to not be two up by the sounds of it.   Fair play to him, maybe Conte got it right after all.....anyway as long as Barca don't score I'll be happy with a scoreless draw going to Barca for leg two....they will be more anxious than us at that point... 

Got to put our chances away otherwise Barca will punish us.

Wouldn’t mind seeing morata on for Pedro and hazard moving to the left 

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

No, we are still really struggling to get the ball out of defense. Courtois has nobody to aim for and the ball comes right back at us. When we do get forward, we look dangerous, but we could do the same and more with a striker on the pitch.

Got to agree, its ok counter attacking with the ball on the floor but anything bouncing or in the air and it goes straight back to Barca. I personally think Morata would be perfect with his movement.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

No, we are still really struggling to get the ball out of defense. Courtois has nobody to aim for and the ball comes right back at us. When we do get forward, we look dangerous, but we could do the same and more with a striker on the pitch.

Very true, I dread it whenever Courtois picks up the ball, 80% of the time it's going to Barcelona. 

But I can't say the false 9 hasn't worked completely, we've been doing well out there and the combinations from Hazard/Pedro/Willian/Fabregas is what's created our chances. 

Just now, Jezq8 said:

Got to put our chances away otherwise Barca will punish us.

Wouldn’t mind seeing morata on for Pedro and hazard moving to the left 

Agreed but I don't think you can say our efforts on goal have been clear cut chances so far. Mostly great efforts from distance.

Would still be very pleased if this score remained till FT.  Just hoping those missed chances don't come back to haunt us. 

Just now, Jezq8 said:

Got to put our chances away otherwise Barca will punish us.

Wouldn’t mind seeing morata on for Pedro and hazard moving to the left 

Pedro's pressing and running has helped us massively, not sure hazard-morata can reproduce that. 

I would still like to shore up the mid though. DD for cesc. Has been played around way too often.

1 minute ago, Jezq8 said:

Got to put our chances away otherwise Barca will punish us.

Wouldn’t mind seeing morata on for Pedro and hazard moving to the left 

Tbh it was Willian creating chances out of nothing more than putting chances away, wasn't like he missed a sitter.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

No, we are still really struggling to get the ball out of defense. Courtois has nobody to aim for and the ball comes right back at us. When we do get forward, we look dangerous, but we could do the same and more with a striker on the pitch.

it's tough because the front 3 tonight are great to play together. i think conte should think about playing hazard somewhere behind morata and have willian and pedro either side. it would mean scrapping 3 at the back with the wing backs though. 

I think we have been absolutely spot on in 1st half, so unlucky not to be a couple of goals ahead by now.

Come on!!!

4 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Would be very harsh, but I've seen MANY players get sent off against Barcelona for less.

Either way he should be on his last warning like I said, one more bad slide tackle and I expect him to be sent off. 

True. If it is poorer team, the player would have been sent off.

Need a striker!! Can’t believe we still do false 9 with Eden. His best moments have been out wide ffs. 

Everyone is talking about Morata, Giroud anyone?

Come on you Blues!

1 minute ago, gussy122 said:

Would still be very pleased if this score remained till FT.  Just hoping those missed chances don't come back to haunt us. 

yeah that's always the worry, but then let's hope if we get more chances we actually put them in the net the second half. on a different day those shots would have gone in. it's always when you need them to go in they bloody well don't lol. 

great 1st half. 

Need to keep going and take our chances when they come. 

I hate pundits praising Biscuits, I can’t stand him as a footballer. Dirty, snide, horrible player.

i don't think anybody can criticise the performance in the first half. the players have been fantastic

Dutch TV and analysts decided that rudiger on pique shouldve been a penalty. What a load of w**k.

1 minute ago, Slojo said:

Very true, I dread it whenever Courtois picks up the ball, 80% of the time it's going to Barcelona. 

But I can't say the false 9 hasn't worked completely, we've been doing well out there and the combinations from Hazard/Pedro/Willian/Fabregas is what's created our chances. 

The false 9 has it's moments, but we always end up going through phases where we can't get the ball and we tend to concede a goal from it. It didn't happen in that half when Barcelona dominated the ball, but it's risky hoping for the same outcome in the 2nd. 

1-0 would be excellent here. Still Barcelona is best at second half as stats go this season.

Dutch TV and analysts decided that rudiger on pique shouldve been a penalty. What a load of w**k.

They can't be serious he slipped