Can sky be any more bias FFS

SKY doing all they can to get Alonso a retrospective ban. Shame they weren't so vocal when we played Spuds.

7 minutes ago, TheBluesBrother said:

Still the same problems......Conte must go, Morata, Alonso, Moses, Fabregas, Pedro, Cahill, Courtois, Luiz and Caballero need to go. We need a central defender of high quality and Christiensen doesn't fit the bill. A new goalie and backup,  a couple of strikers, wing backs and replacements for Hazard or Willian. We need to rebuild with a top quality manager. The season can't end soon enough for me.

Doesn’t this list give Conte ammunition with the club over players. Also there is no way a new manager will see these players go and get what HE wants because we know it won’t happen.

12 minutes ago, Zeta said:

How about the lottery numbers for tonight?

Who do you think I am, Nostradamus?!

It's interesting to see people put the comeback down to Morata being "out of the way" and nothing to do with the change in system and bringing on an extra attacking player. We looked shaky again when Conte reverted back to the original system but no, clearly it's all Morata's fault.

Glad to see Giroud do well though. Made an impact and deserves a lot of praise and probably deserves the starting spot next week. Despite the win I'm convinced the situation with Conte is beyond resolution now. It's not the first time this has happened. If we get a new manager in the summer I hope the club continue to support him beyond the first season to avoid the same thing happening all over again.

Have not posted since the Bournemouth and Watford debacles. Though I have watched all the matches, just not too many good things to post about so I have steered clear.

Really happy for Giroud today. He has come close so many times since joining and to get two, including the game winner, is fantastic. His has so much more to offer than Morata, who has quickly become the biggest disappointment I have seen. Yes, even worse than El Nino. He is the softest player in a long time. Even worse than Costa with the ball at his feet, but could not even be deserving to wash Diego's clothes based on determination and ability to fight and scrap for goals. Giroud may be slow, but he really brings a lot to our attack. He cares. Giroud needs to start the remaining games. Hope we can get something decent for Morata in a sale to a Serie A club this summer.

Our back three looks in shambles. As many have pointed out, we need huge upgrades and back four is the way to go the rest of the season, clubs figured out the back three with two wing backs a long time ago (started with Arsenal in FA final last season). Really missing JT's leadership back there, but we knew that would likely happen.

Looking to the summer, I would think Cesc and Pedro are likely gone. Cesc has had 4 fantastic years and two titles so if this happens then standing ovation for his time as a Blue. Pedro has mainly been a disappointment, though last year was terrific. Morata can be sold if the price is right. Have to find another game changer up top to replace Costa. Shame Giroud is on the backside of his career. Need to find a midfielder to go with Kante. Bakayoko may be gone. Curious where Batshauyi is next year. It is time to bring back a few of our yung loanees and give them their chance. Honestly I am indifferent if Courtois is sold.

Hope we can finish strong, make a run at 4th in case Liverpool or Spurs stumble, and win the FA, which would be a nice consolation this year.

Come on you Chelsea!!

Just now, Richard P said:

Doesn’t this list give Conte ammunition with the club over players. Also there is no way a new manager will see these players go and get what HE wants because we know it won’t happen.

 

Yeah it does but on so many occasions Conte's team selections, tactics and subs have been dreadful, so he must shoulder some of the blame.

2 minutes ago, bluedave said:

It's interesting to see people put the comeback down to Morata being "out of the way" and nothing to do with the change in system and bringing on an extra attacking player. We looked shaky again when Conte reverted back to the original system but no, clearly it's all Morata's fault.

Glad to see Giroud do well though. Made an impact and deserves a lot of praise and probably deserves the starting spot next week. Despite the win I'm convinced the situation with Conte is beyond resolution now. It's not the first time this has happened. If we get a new manager in the summer I hope the club continue to support him beyond the first season to avoid the same thing happening all over again.

Combination of both. Morata on the pitch was like playing with 10 today. How any times does he go to ground if looked at during a match? 100? The change in formation helped certainly along with Giroud insertion.

That second Saints goal my word Cahill, he was way off

This game illustrates perfectly that Conte has lost his way with the squad of players available to him. His starting formation and player choice DID NOT WORK, it was an appalling performance against one of the worst teams in the League. Anyone who sees this result as a vindication of Conte's management is kidding themselves. No goal threat until the 70th minute when a simple cross (only Alonso's second assist in Premier League matches this season) and header puts Southampton on the back-foot and they panic and start sitting-deep. Yes we scored 3 goals in 8 minutes but for the other 82 minutes plus stoppage time it was Southampton who looked more threatening and dangerous when going forward. If we line up against Burnley on Thursday with the same formation and staring eleven as today then Conte should be sacked.

18 minutes ago, Parisian Blue said:

This is one example of faint hearts on this forum. Embarrassing. 

Well done Harry Hindsight. What's your next trick, going to tell me tonight's lottery numbers first thing tomorrow morning? 

I'd be embarrassed more if I was one of the nuggets coming on here after the game had finished saying I knew we'd do it.

Bell end.

Edited April 14, 20188 yr by Blue Exile

5 minutes ago, bluedave said:

It's interesting to see people put the comeback down to Morata being "out of the way" and nothing to do with the change in system and bringing on an extra attacking player. We looked shaky again when Conte reverted back to the original system but no, clearly it's all Morata's fault.

Glad to see Giroud do well though. Made an impact and deserves a lot of praise and probably deserves the starting spot next week. Despite the win I'm convinced the situation with Conte is beyond resolution now. It's not the first time this has happened. If we get a new manager in the summer I hope the club continue to support him beyond the first season to avoid the same thing happening all over again.

the club are looking to change the philosophy and focus by all accounts, that's why they held secret talks with sarri a week ago. it seems the club may be finally going in a positive direction going forward. 

20 minutes ago, Londonisblue said:

Thank f**k for that !!!! Was so afraid of conceding a 3rd in the dying minutes ... 4 at the back changed the game dramatically : in the space of 10 minutes, we came back to being the great CFC we once were !!! Hoping we carry on that route now !!! Until we got better players on the wings I guess !!! But what a great win !!!! what a comeback !!!!

Let's hope a change in formation and Giroud can carry us to an FA Cup title and solid finish.

As they say not over till fat lady sings fans loose faith to quick x giroud may been arsenal boy needs play more . Sorry but ref f c k e d me off  . Opps shouting when game on I apologise to pub swear and shout sorry but can I have heels back please x

I think we’re in for a shock.
3-2 to Chelsea. 

Hope you put some dosh on that prediction!

I will add that Conte is such a beaten man at this point. We just won 3-2 and though playing shambolicly the first 65 minutes, he is just void of life in post match interview. He is a shell of the man from last year and the first couple of months this year. I really like him but I think his outspoken nature and style, along with his strategy match to match, has been his down fall. He has brought a lot of this on himself.

He just looks miserable during the games, after the games, etc.

Hope he can keep the guys somewhat together for the few remaining games.

16 minutes ago, coco said:

SKY doing all they can to get Alonso a retrospective ban. Shame they weren't so vocal when we played Spuds.

No change there then. It's a crime when we get away with it, clever when others get away with it.

Edited April 14, 20188 yr by Scott Harris

This game illustrates perfectly that Conte has lost his way with the squad of players available to him. His starting formation and player choice DID NOT WORK, it was an appalling performance against one of the worst teams in the League. Anyone who sees this result as a vindication of Conte's management is kidding themselves. No goal threat until the 70th minute when a simple cross (only Alonso's second assist in Premier League matches this season) and header puts Southampton on the back-foot and they panic and start sitting-deep. Yes we scored 3 goals in 8 minutes but for the other 82 minutes plus stoppage time it was Southampton who looked more threatening and dangerous when going forward. If we line up against Burnley on Thursday with the same formation and staring eleven as today then Conte should be sacked.

Spot on his stubbornness to stick with the same formation mentality will not change and the next match with be the same

6 minutes ago, Chelseagirl1969 said:

As they say not over till fat lady sings fans loose faith to quick x giroud may been arsenal boy needs play more . Sorry but ref f c k e d me off  . Opps shouting when game on I apologise to pub swear and shout sorry but can I have heels back please x

Lose faith too quick? No, there is a pattern that has formed at this club and the fans are tired of it. We are sick of what should be little dips in form turning into disasters. Today was a good a fightback, but that doesn't suddenly mean our problems are over.

Strange feeling. 

I get the complaints about morata, but the build around him was awful today, we get behind the defence once while he was on in about the 55th minute, he didn't have a lot to work with. A back 4 allows us to overlap and put balls in from more dangerous areas. 

We haven't really shown the ability to fight back results in the last 3 months, so I was shocked to see us pull it off.

Giroud was great when he came on, he is so much more stronger than morata, and I think he is an excellent impact sub. 

Defensively we looked very shaky, as we always have done this season with cahill on the team, although he wasn't the only poor defender today. 

Hopefully we at least finish the season in the same vein we finished the game today, but I am not holding my breath, and the writing is on the wall for conte now.

Just now, Scott Harris said:

Lose faith too quick? No, there is a pattern that has formed at this club and the fans are tired of it. We are sick of what should be little dips in form turning into disasters. Today was a good a fightback, but that doesn't suddenly mean our problems are over.

can't agree more.

I don't deserve us winning today. Lost all belief at 2-0. Good feeling after a win but I still hate this season so much.

Likewise, I've posted nothing in Chelsea Match Chat since the Bournemouth/Watford double-disaster to my knowledge, as pretty much every league result from then until now was a disappointment, culminating in that home loss to Tottenham for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union. 

However, it seems that Conte's switch to a back-four paid dividends, albeit he could have done so earlier (but then even at his best he was never really one for an early tactical change). 

The first goal is a pinpoint Alonso cross finding Giroud's head. Giroud is both stronger and more aerially adept than Morata, allowing him to bully defensive lines and get his headers on target more consistently than Morata. 

The second and third goals were more down to sloppy defending in the box than any particularly good play by our guys. No surprise that Willian initiated both though. He's definitely been more dynamic in recent months. Crossing in from the left with his weaker foot was never something Willian was known to do (instead plugging away along the right or maybe the centre), so maybe he's added a few strings to his bow. 

If Conte is serious about salvaging this season, he will continue with a back four formation. Unfortunately, I'm sure he expects to be gone at the end of the season regardless and so I'm not sure that he is.

On another note, I could still see a place for Morata with Giroud in a 2-man formation. Morata is deceptively quick on the counterattack and might be able to latch on to any loose balls Giroud wins. Problem is that he's an inconsistent finisher. Could that be worked on with practice?

31 minutes ago, Richard P said:

People might want 4 at the back but we haven’t got players with pace to do it. Look at the first goal Zappacosta caught in possession up field and as they score Alonso jogged back and couldn’t cover.

Emerson LB, Christensen CB, Rudiger CB, Azpilicueta RB. On paper, this looks perfect, it's worth a try at the very least.

13 minutes ago, whataplumb said:

Hope you put some dosh on that prediction!

That would’ve been nice, wouldn’t it?

Sadly I didn’t.