We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

I quite like this Sarriball in the main but this hitting the goalposts time and again, while impressive and somewhat exciting, has to be put to bed soon. Like tonight.

2 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

1 hour ago, Kentonio said:

We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

I quite like this Sarriball in the main but this hitting the goalposts time and again, while impressive and somewhat exciting, has to be put to bed soon. Like tonight.

Agreed. I'm pretty sure he's not teaching them to hit the post in training though.

1 hour ago, Kentonio said:

We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

"Pounding away until something unlikely goes in the net is certainly a strategy that can work, but when it goes wrong it goes particularly ugly."

 

Edited January 11, 20197 yr by the special one

24 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

1 hour ago, Kentonio said:

We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

I quite like this Sarriball in the main but this hitting the goalposts time and again, while impressive and somewhat exciting, has to be put to bed soon. Like tonight.

I hear you. Is there any truth to the rumour that the kicker for the Chicago Bears started as a Chelsea striker?

32 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

1 hour ago, Kentonio said:

We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

I quite like this Sarriball in the main but this hitting the goalposts time and again, while impressive and somewhat exciting, has to be put to bed soon. Like tonight.

Like tomorrow would be fine. :-)

1 hour ago, Kentonio said:

We are creating goal scoring opportunities though, we're just not scoring many of them.

Yes but the point the author is making is that we don't really create that many good scoring chances. Something I whole heartedly agree with. 

What this means is that when we do create a good chance we need to be taking every one. Which makes every Morata miss a very bitter pill to swallow.

It's quite ironic that having been hired to make us play pretty football and improve our attack, Sarri hasn't improved our attack at all but has instead improved our defence by denying other teams the ball.

He has a lot of work to do tactically to adjust to England. I for one am worried about the Newcastle game tonight. If there is one thing Benitez does well it's keep a disciplined shape and counter. 

When teams are sitting deep and defending the width of their 18 yard box we need something to be able to disrupt that defensive line. As @Strider6003says above perhaps with CHO pushing for a move we might actually play him, meaning he might be the answer.

 

Gotta say I agree. International has always been pretty boring to me. 

46 minutes ago, enigma said:

Gotta say I agree. International has always been pretty boring to me. 

I enjoy the World Cup as a spectacle, and the Euros when Ireland qualify, but only because it stops the summer being football free. I can see how managers think it's a waste of time and resources though

Teams in this league are much clever these days, especially with the influx of foreign managers. I have no doubt we'd have scored and won against Southhampton had Hughes still in charge, the new manager got them setup and kept good discipline, and we couldn't create much. Which team in this league is not capable of defend deep and keep their discipline, maybe Fulham? Other teams all got that in them, and unless Sarri come up with something new and different, we will keep getting goal less draws or loses. This whole Hazard as false 9 thing is another unnecessary change on top of all the ones he tried to implement. Hazard is not a natural striker, and you have fit strikers on the bench until 15-20 to go when we are chasing the game, The midfield is all about control possession and keep it safe at moment, Kante makes a few runs forward but not looking comfortable doing it, Kovacic never fancies going to the box, Barley seemed to lost because he's no longer go to the final third, he's probably worried about making mistakes and getting hooked again ( after so many times). Everthing has to go through Jorginho, which is why we looked so slow in transition, because he hasn't got that killer long pass or willing to release the ball early, it's always that one extra pass.

17 hours ago, atomis said:

Now your just putting Words in my mouth......what I said is not exactly false is it. Nothing wrong about showing ambition, its a standard we ourselves have set. Sure im not saying buy this and that, some level of logic is needed, but you dont have to be an alien entity to know we are severely lacking in strike force, something that most likely will kill our top 4......if that´sounds unfair to you so be it.

If we signed Messi, Neymar and Jesus Christ you’d still be moaning.

You remind of a teacher marking homework. All that’s missing is red ink.

Edited January 12, 20197 yr by Ewell CFC

4 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Teams in this league are much clever these days, especially with the influx of foreign managers. I have no doubt we'd have scored and won against Southhampton had Hughes still in charge, the new manager got them setup and kept good discipline, and we couldn't create much. Which team in this league is not capable of defend deep and keep their discipline, maybe Fulham? Other teams all got that in them, and unless Sarri come up with something new and different, we will keep getting goal less draws or loses. This whole Hazard as false 9 thing is another unnecessary change on top of all the ones he tried to implement. Hazard is not a natural striker, and you have fit strikers on the bench until 15-20 to go when we are chasing the game, The midfield is all about control possession and keep it safe at moment, Kante makes a few runs forward but not looking comfortable doing it, Kovacic never fancies going to the box, Barley seemed to lost because he's no longer go to the final third, he's probably worried about making mistakes and getting hooked again ( after so many times). Everthing has to go through Jorginho, which is why we looked so slow in transition, because he hasn't got that killer long pass or willing to release the ball early, it's always that one extra pass.

Disagree about the Hazard change we needed something different as our other strikers were not performing adequately yet now in January we have the option to improve.

I am also disappointed more recently with Barkley feeling he has been shoehorned into a role to support Alonso defensively and that takes away from what he is good at in an attacking sense.

Like RLC I would like Barkley in the front three or not having to cover a defender in midfield.

1 hour ago, Ewell CFC said:

If we signed Messi, Neymar and Jesus Christ you’d still be moaning.

Decent forward despite getting on in years, not too keen on crosses though. 

Decent forward despite getting on in years, not too keen on crosses though. 

I thought he was a defender ( of the faith).

28 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Decent forward despite getting on in years, not too keen on crosses though. 

Eapeciallly with those bad hands of his.

 

3 hours ago, Ewell CFC said:

If we signed Messi, Neymar and Jesus Christ you’d still be moaning.

You remind of a teacher marking homework. All that’s missing is red ink.

Still with the silly digs ha......Again when have I said give us this and that, and even if I did I wouldnt give a flying f**k what you might think of it.

I don't think trying to find 6v5 overloads is going to work my man. Also this false nine business is giving you very consistent poor results, let's change that up. 

I'm not convinced Sarriball is going to work. 

Edited January 12, 20197 yr by TheChelseaBlues

Sarriball my ARSE!!  

8 minutes ago, chi blue said:

Sarriball my ARSE!!  

Haha, neither goal remotely to do with Sarriball, all about hitting the opposition quickly & individual skill!

14 hours ago, shedpensioner said:

Haha, neither goal remotely to do with Sarriball, all about hitting the opposition quickly & individual skill!

Sarriball or not Sarriball you are 4th with 6 points of advantage.  

31 minutes ago, Master&Commander said:

Sarriball or not Sarriball you are 4th with 6 points of advantage.  

Genuine question & no disrespect intended, is that because of Sarri or in spite of him? By that I mean could we be even better if we played more to the players strengths.

40 minutes ago, Master&Commander said:

Sarriball or not Sarriball you are 4th with 6 points of advantage.  

Considering our wage bill this is probably par for the course, anything less is underachievement. I think the time to judge Sarri will be this time next year, if we are seeing good attacking football coupled with possession everyone will be happy.

1 hour ago, shedpensioner said:

Genuine question & no disrespect intended, is that because of Sarri or in spite of him? By that I mean could we be even better if we played more to the players strengths.

That's ridiculously churlish, we went 3 months unbeaten playing his style of football and were being lauded for it, now that were playing poorly were just going to ignore the first few months? This ranks alongside your incredible statement that we only played well against spurs because they let us. 

10 minutes ago, dkw said:

This ranks alongside your incredible statement that we only played well against spurs because they let us. 

"A feint retreat is performed by briefly engaging the enemy, then retreating. It is intended to draw the enemy pursuit into a prepared ambush, or to cause disarray. For example, the Battle of Hastings was lost when Saxons pursued the Norman cavalry. This forfeited the advantage of height and the line was broken, providing the opportunity to fight in single handed combat on a neutral vantage point, a battle for which the Saxons were not ready. The Parthian shot is another example of a feint retreat, where mounted Parthian archers would retreat from a battle and then, while still riding, turn their bodies back to shoot at the pursuing enemy."

54 minutes ago, dkw said:

That's ridiculously churlish, we went 3 months unbeaten playing his style of football and were being lauded for it, now that were playing poorly were just going to ignore the first few months? 

But you could then spin that as, following an initial upswing in performance under a new manager (which is fairly common) are we now seeing a true reflection of Sarri’s influence on the team?

Is he currently doing anything that wouldn’t be the bare minimum expectated from a new coach?