Back-pass-ayoko was abysmal today. I actually felt sorry for him. His confidence is shot. He needs time with a shrink.

Actually not that happy with the draw. Means if we get past saints, and yes it is an if, we get United or spurs, either of which is a strong team that would really suck to lose a final to. Way we are playing you cannot say it is not a possibility.

 

Great result today the boys did good. It’s been a troubled season but we’ve reached the semi final of both domestic cup hopefully we get to the Cup Final. Can’t see us getting Champions League,we are tooup & down with our form.

We need a massive rebuilding in the summer.

So glad we didn’t getting the Scum from Norf London in the semiand So hope United beat them.

COYB

Damn, Whitewall, with those ratings, you would thought we lost by 4 goals

Edited March 18, 20188 yr by Phillip

My partner reckons Conte is beginning to look like Mourinho, kind of dead behind the eyes. Would explain a lot

First game I have watched for a while and I saw in evidence so much of what I read on here, bakayoko just can't get rid of the ball fast enough, normally to who ever is closest.  Moses terrible end product going forward but very good when defending. As for hazard where is he? Oh I just saw a flick there he is !! All in all a good result, would out tibo for willy now and must admit I was pretty surprised when Pedro nicked that winner, roll on Wembley, get past the saints and it does not matter who we get in the final, spuds or manure, both will be huge and very tough 

Edited March 18, 20188 yr by luckywerthers

Noticed with Hazard too many flicks in the first half that did not come off, second half not so many flicks yet he came deeper. In extra time he got caught and looked more dangerous after that.

Certainly agree he is off-form and we are lucky that Willian is in form at this time.

The big bonus is that Morata looks like he can score again and that might just be enough to get us top 4.

I thought we deserved to go through in the end. We were not at our best but We stuck together and were gritty and showed commitment that's what I want from this team, just to show some fight and passion which I thought most of them did today.

 

Good to see Morata finally get back to scoring. hopefully he kicks on from here and finishes the season strong as we need him in form in this crucial last 10 games or so. Kante was f**king superb today, when is his contract until?? really need him tied down long term if he's not already, he's our engine and irreplaceable. Pedro also did well when he came on, although I wouldn't have taking off Willian as he was one of our best players.

 

Glad to be in another Semi, Southampton next. Can't wait to see the Utd and Spurs fans lose their sh*t and claim the draw was rigged because 2 ex Chelsea boys drew the balls out the hat. 

15 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Actually not that happy with the draw. Means if we get past saints, and yes it is an if, we get United or spurs, either of which is a strong team that would really suck to lose a final to. Way we are playing you cannot say it is not a possibility.

 

But if we drew spurs or man utd , we would meet the other team in the final..

Maybe or you never know, sparky could have got the better of them.

Dug deep and got the result.Pleased with the draw,but not  complacent.....UP THE CHELS !

3 hours ago, coco said:

That block from Moses was Biblical.

2 hours ago, Davey Baby said:

Kante was superb, as he has been of late. Hazard has lost a bit of form but that's okay, it happens. Luckily Willian is bang on form.

 

Morata was sh*t, despite his goal. I mean he wasn't as sh*t as he usually is but he's never a top striker. Still, at least he didn't get booked and he was less petulant than normal, maybe the penny has finally dropped, albeit way later than it should have done.

 

The problem is we're not that good. We can't hold a lead, and if we ever go behind, we certainly can't claw it back. Christensen isn't rugged enough for me, he's just not solid enough, not yet anyway. Once again our WBs had lots of time and space going forward but they're just not top quality, so we seldom capitalise, although I thought both did well, defensively. 

 

The real problem however is midfield. Bakayoko is just not a footballer, and if he is, he's permanently stoned. We're basically playing with 10 men when he plays, which we got away with first half because Kante reigned supreme. Second half, Fabregas, better footballer but a luxury. We do not have the players to play a 2 in midfield, and if we play a 3 to accommodate Fabregas, we have to sacrifice Willian or Hazard for Bakayoko or Drinkwater. It's a conundrum Conte hasn't really solved. We are too weak in the middle of the park, and a weak midfield makes you a weak side. We can't dominate sides, we're easily dominated by piss poor sides for long periods of a game, it's a problem.

 

Anyway we've avoided Spurs and Utd so that's good. Mind you the thought of losing to either in the final is too much to bear. We simply have to win that one. Mind you we have to beat Southampton first, and the way we're playing, that's far from a formality. Anyway well done Chelsea.

 

Message to you Antonio. Bakayoko. No more. There's a good boy.

You can play 433 and keep Hazard and Willian up top with Morata. We would just need to lose Alonso or Moses.

Stick Dave at RB as he can get forward. Play Kante, Cesc and DD as the midfield 3.

I think we only moved to a back 3 last season because it suited Luiz's playing style, as he isn't great in a back 4 which was proved in that Arsenal game at the time.

Edited March 18, 20188 yr by Malcolm9

3 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

It could be Conte v Mourinho in a final.

If this turns out to be the final it will be the most boring final in years, two defensive coaches neither of which wanting to take a chance and their only chance of silverware.

2 hours ago, Phillip said:

Damn, Whitewall, with those ratings, you would thought we lost by 4 goals

Yes. Having said i would't bitch and moan i did nothing but. Must admit i was definitely "glass half empty" today!

34 minutes ago, mojo said:

 

Love Cahill's reaction there too.

So Chelsea have beaten the Canaries, Magpies, Tigers and Foxes en route to the semi-finals. Good collection to open a new zoo.

3 hours ago, Petworth Chelsea Fan said:

Back-pass-ayoko was abysmal today. I actually felt sorry for him. His confidence is shot. He needs time with a shrink.

Doesn't matter how confident you are when there is a basic lack of ability ... fair play to him I suppose for earning himself 80 grand a week for something he can't actually do ... 

38 minutes ago, TheBluesBrother said:

So Chelsea have beaten the Canaries, Magpies, Tigers and Foxes en route to the semi-finals. Good collection to open a new zoo.

Gunna have to be the Cocks in the final then.

1 hour ago, Malcolm9 said:

You can play 433 and keep Hazard and Willian up top with Morata. We would just need to lose Alonso or Moses.

Stick Dave at RB as he can get forward. Play Kante, Cesc and DD as the midfield 3.

I think we only moved to a back 3 last season because it suited Luiz's playing style, as he isn't great in a back 4 which was proved in that Arsenal game at the time.

I thought David Luiz played in a 4 man defense in PSG before moving to Chelsea. Also, when i look at the team line up that you suggest - If the opposition decide to press us or defend hard - I dont see our forward players be able to hold the ball and we will be forced to be on the backfoot most of the time. I think this team needs an injection of players with pace, height and strength (football intelligence to but that is always a given). 

how this team is always gassed out in the second half, we have been really poor in the second half after starting so well. 

is this a fitness issue, apart from Kante every player looked tired 

glad we're through. Kanté was phenomenal, as usual. Unfortunately, nothing tremendous apart some brilliant moments from wiliian. Hope to see barça like performances (with less woodwork though) against saints and in the PL of course. UTC!!

5 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

Player Ratings

Cabellero - 6/10 - Did reasonably well. Spills most shots at him and aerially challenged, but he makes up with it with a decent starting position and cojones. When he goes he goes all in.
Rudiger - 4/10 - I really like Rudi. Miles off for me today. Allways looked nervous and uncomfortable in posession. Couldn't handle a pressing opposition
CHristensen - 4/10 - Similarly, i like AC, especially as he is homegrown. But his confidence is low and his form is poor. Ditto re care of the ball and trouble when being pressed.
Azpilicueta - 4/10 - Poor from Dave as well. Decision making poor when passing. Looked tired to me.
Alonso - 5/10 - Okay going forwards although constantly hit the first man with his crosses. Defensively poor and couldn't beat Cacasrino in a foot race.
Kante - 9/10 - Where would we be without this lad. Kante is the most valuable person in the club next to RA. Everybody else can do one.
Bakayoko - 3/10 - Hahaha. Looks like an audition for Space Jam whenever he is on the pitch. What a shockingly poor player. I was miles off with this fella.
Moses - 4/10 - I don't like him, i don't rate him. The way we play means his position is one of the most dangerous on the pitch as he is always the overload. He provides fck all. Agree that he did reasonably well defensively towards the end, however Albrighton had free rein for over an hour.
Hazard - 5/10 - A few flicks and dribbles, easily read and cut out. Got pocketed by various defenders. Disinterested performance and looked gutted about blowing his midweek job interview.  Possibly knackered.
Morata - 6/10 - For Morata this was a bit of an improvement. He did score and put himself about a little bit more. Got some decisions without have to wet himself and cry all the time.
Willian - 6/10 - Tried hard for a while but tired quickly. Needs a breather.

Subs:

Fabregas - 5/10 - Bland. Often decision making is poor, always looking for a further pass rather than shooting himself, although he does have the shot of a twelve year old.     Pedro - 7/10 - Good goal and did nothing wrong to be fair. Got dumped into a pile of sh!te and was able to climb out with some credit.
Cahill - Thankfully didn't have enough time to fck it up.
Giroud - He played for 15 mnutes and wore tights

I thought Rudi was excellent today. I thought he was the exact opposite of everything you wrote. IMO, he looked really assured in possession, his pace helped us out numerous times and I thought after Kante, was our best player. Would give Rudi an 8. I also thought Christensen looked a lot better today.

8 hours ago, paraphil said:

Might I suggest whatever wages we are paying Kante, that we double it.

Wouldn't make any difference. He'll still be driving his Mini Cooper. Enjoying his football and trophies are what matters to him.

After a crisis of confidence spell, Morata is beginning to get to grips with this Premier League lark. He was busy, stayed on his feet much more and never gave Maguire and Morgan a moments peace. That flying backheel flick from Fabregas's cross that hit the bar, but was ruled offside anyway, was outstanding. If Kane had done that, the media would have been creaming themselves.