4 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Oh come off it, that's a bunch of crap.
We need upgrades in so many positions it isn't even funny.

We were sixth last season, behind every team we consider "top" in this country. Including Arsenal.
That's roughly how good this squad is at the moment. Are you happy with top six? 

Last season it was a mixture of negative tactics going into games, injuries and chances missed. It wasn't much to do with our overall quality, but when you're hoofing the ball up top to the big man and hoping something happens, it's never a good thing. The PL has gotten stronger, it's that simple. 

1 minute ago, enigma said:

Last season it was a mixture of negative tactics going into games, injuries and chances missed. It wasn't much to do with our overall quality, but when you're hoofing the ball up top to the big man and hoping something happens, it's never a good thing. The PL has gotten stronger, it's that simple. 

Yeah, because the club betrayed the manager. 
We weakened our own squad last summer, replacing Matic with Drinkwater and Costa with Morata.

There are five teams in this league with a better squad than us right now. Let's not kid ourselves.

1 minute ago, Sindre said:

Yeah, because the club betrayed the manager. 
We weakened our own squad last summer, replacing Matic with Drinkwater and Costa with Morata.

There are five teams in this league with a better squad than us right now. Let's not kid ourselves.

Costa was Conte's fault, not the board. The board were put in a difficult position due to that. 

14 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Oh come off it, that's a bunch of crap.
We need upgrades in so many positions it isn't even funny.

We were sixth last season, behind every team we consider "top" in this country. Including Arsenal.
That's roughly how good this squad is at the moment. Are you happy with top six? 

5th. 7 points above Arsenal.

13 minutes ago, enigma said:

Same thing if any club loses one of their best players. I'm really fed up with the B.S impatience. 3 weeks in and people already whining without giving Sarri time to improve the players. He's spent no time with them at all. Whatever anybody thinks of the players we have, they're not under a negative, defensive manager any longer. Sarri is absolutely capable of improving them, but fans are incapable of allowing any time whatsoever without talk of bringing in player/s who have done nothing. 

Mate Sarri is not Jesus. He cant make Fabregas 10 years younger he is past it. The man has no legs anymore he jogs around everywhere. Who said anything about Sarri? I was mentioning the personnel not the coach. Sarri himself stated that he was fortunate to have players who were suited to play his football at Napoli.

Other big teams have decent back up for their starting 11. Our back up for Kante is Drinkwater and Bakayoko. 

I know Sarri can improve players he has done it in the past with Jorginho, Mertens who were considered flops before he came to Napoli but they always had the attributes needed for this style of football.  

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by zes

40 minutes ago, Sindre said:

We were sixth last season, behind every team we consider "top" in this country. Including Arsenal.
That's roughly how good this squad is at the moment. Are you happy with top? six?? 

We were?

31 minutes ago, enigma said:

Costa was Conte's fault, not the board. The board were put in a difficult position due to that. 

Costa wanted to leave himself same as Courtis now. Personally i dont want anyone here that is not happy. 

54 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Oh come off it, that's a bunch of crap.
We need upgrades in so many positions it isn't even funny.

We were sixth last season, behind every team we consider "top" in this country. Including Arsenal.
That's roughly how good this squad is at the moment. Are you happy with top six? 

We came 5th!

Ok, after trying very hard not to post, what the heck, its the flipping Community Shield, so why miss out on the fun and not post? Here goes.

It is beyond early, but as someone posted earlier, it is not the results per se, its what your eye balls are seeing and not seeing. You want to see some effects of Sarri on the pitch. Other than picking the formation and XI, I have not really seen anything. This is the third match I have watched. They all look very similarly: (1) back line opens up like a cheap can, (2) midfield play is no existent and (3) very little, if any, true chances at goal. Sadly, among those three issues, I am not sure which is worst, which is really concerning. The opposition was much better today certainly. We never looked like we would make a game of it.

Basically, it will take time for Sarri to get his system working. Without it, such as the last three matches, you have to rely on talent and we are lacking. With Hazard and Kante out and Morata in, it makes for an even longer day. Sarri wants to play attacking football, well we need some players with that ability, if we want to compete at the highest level and challenge for top four.

Let's walk through what most everyone on here is seeing:

Defensive line is poor. Luiz at CB? The guy has had some memorable moments for CFC, but seriously? He can lose focus in a heart beat. He cannot be the answer a CB all year, can he? I am assuming Christensen is injured or resting from WC? Alonso excelled as winger. He seems lost at LB. If we are playing 4 at the back, which seems the right choice, need some help.

Midfield. Everyone looks better when Kante plays. He cannot return fast enough. If Sarri is going to play a 4-3-3 all year, I guess it will be Kante-Jouringho-(Barkley/Fabresgas). I think we all agree Cesc has been a huge part of our last two titles, but he just cannot start week in and week out. Great sub at 65-70 minute mark. Not sure Barkley is the answer either for the third MID role. Loftus-Cheek? I am not so sure. 

Forwards. Gosh, I want to see Morata succeed. I just think he continues to regress. He is not even at the Torres level. Giroud or Bashauyi has to be the answer until we sign someone. If Morata was not a 60 million signing, he would not even be on the roster. Something has to happen here. Hazard and Willian are a must. CHO needs opportunity as appropriate. Pedro can fill in here and there. Where does Moses fit in a 4-3-3? Cannot see him in there.

With our scoring woes, why not go 4-2-3-1 anyway? Put Giroud up top, with Willian-Hazard-CHO? Just a thought.

From reading Sarri's comments after today's match, there is much work to be done and he knows it. Pre-season is not supposed to mean much, but I can say the past 5-6 years, we seem to play in the PL as our pre-season has gone. 2015-16 and 2017-18 were poor pre-seasons and two of the worst PL years under Roman,

Roman does not give folks long. We will know if Sarri ball will make it by November, 90 days or so. We shall see.

Come on you Chelsea!!

 

Ignore the title, this is the post match press conference. 

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by enigma

I think we could struggle at Huddersfield next week. They'll  have seen us today and will fancy their chances. 

2 hours ago, zes said:

 

Didn't we win a knockout competition (FA Cup) this year? If he's referring to only European knockout ties he should clearly say so.

 

On the game itself, we were a bit crap, but a lot of teams will look so against City. If we are more adventurous this season we should be able to beat the cannon fodder, and that should be enough to get us CL football. We lost the CL last season because of dreadful results against some of the dross in the league.  Hopefully Hazard stays, and we add one quality signing

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by TheSage

17 minutes ago, TheSage said:

Didn't we win a knockout competition (FA Cup) this year? If he's referring to only European knockout ties he should clearly say so.

 

On the game itself, we were a bit crap, but a lot of teams will look so against City. If we are more adventurous this season we should be able to beat the cannon fodder, and that should be enough to get us CL football. We lost the CL last season because of dreadful results against some of the dross in the league.  Hopefully Hazard stays, and we add one quality signing

Isn't the idea not to be Arsenal?

1 hour ago, enigma said:

We just bought Jorginho for nearly 60m. Who else do you suggest we buy? We have players here who Sarri needs to analyse and see who fits where and if he can improve them. We can't keep going out spending money on players, especially players who are unattainable. Spurs have signed nobody, City have signed Mahrez, Utd have signed Fred, and Liverpool have made some decent signings which were needed. We don't desperately need players for the first team, we're already strong in almost all the first 11 positions. I think people play too much football manager or Fifa and have ridiculous expectations. The club is a business too, it's not just about going out buying the next shiny toy. The market is inflated, so clubs can't just go and buy, buy, buy like they used to.  People don't even bother to give players a chance any longer, it's all want, want, want from fans. This is real life, not fantasy football. 

I dont game any of those games and dont need one either to see we have huge issues. Its not about wanting a freaking neymar every summer......Theres plenty players we can get but dont. So all players are ungettibale now? Yes Sarri needs time, but why did we wait till the last moment to get him? Why are we so slow to act and better the team? Our team is average, and of you take Eden, Kante we are f**ked. So what the likes of city only bought 2-3 players, they dont need anyone, utd far stronger than us, spurs much more settled and a quality team, pool have backed their manager with his signings and will feel the benefits soon enough.......even freaking arsenal splash the Cash. No man, this aint fantasy footy, just pure ineptness once Again to put even more pressure on our new manager.

1 minute ago, Fatty_Speeding said:

Isn't the idea not to be Arsenal?

Long term, yes. At the moment we don't have the quality to challenge for the title. I'm just being realistic. Unless Sarri does magic with the squad, we will be nowhere close to the title.  Morata can't finish to save his life, and the other striking options are nowhere close to our rivals'

We lost to a better team 2 years ahead of us in development. No surprise and I don't expect sarri to work miracles.

Sarri clearly looks at us as a 3 year project...and no we ain't gonna be competing in year 1 but there are some positives...at least sabotage agent Conte has f**ked off...and some of our perennial award winning youngsters are getting a shot at the first team...just need to move on some of the deadweight so that the Sarri ball philosophy can be adopted...

I`m just curious for what i get banned? Because 1 person insulted me and i replied to him as well?
Or because i was saying the things how they are ?

CHO was intimidated by the occasion I think. Took Walker on a few times but Walker is a big man must have scared Callum. Doesnt help that he has no support up front just like Eden last season who had to do all the work. We cant rely on a 17 year old to bail us out. Hopefully Michy Batsman and Hazard can work with CHO in the upcoming games. Morata is abysmal. 

Let's be fair it's a 100% improvement over the last time we played City. We struggled for goals last season and it looks like it'll be much the same in terms of having a goal threat unless Sarri's methods start producing in the first five competitive games.

No we won't win the league, Let's try and enjoy the football.

I have faith in the coach.

12 minutes ago, brakeit89 said:

I`m just curious for what i get banned? Because 1 person insulted me and i replied to him as well?
Or because i was saying the things how they are ?

It`s fun to see some people that was arguing with me and was telling me how wrong i`m about the board and it`s all Conte`s fault.

The other fun thing is all the comedy gold about Sarri attacking football and that Conte is purely defensive manager, yet we score the most in his very first PL season ....

It`s also fun to see now how people are saying how better City team is, but last season they was crying when we lost to them, why so ? And the same people forget how Conte make double over Guardiola, and it was the first one to do. Now we will dream to beat City.

I`m just going to wait a bit more and see how many people will start missing Conte and starting to understand what kind of manager we lose.

The guy made us Champions with such a average team. He overachieved so much, and the board gift him with a one huge f**** in the transfer window and then sack him.

 

It`s fun how people are saying that the team are not ready, yet we are going into the season in 1 week time.

I`m just curious who`s fault was, that we appoint our manager, average 50 days later then all other top team have their managers? Who`s fault was that Sarri missed 1 week over our Pre-season ? Who`s fault was that we paid 3x time the fee for him to get, while we can get him a lot early, by just paying his clause. But Iron Lady need to negotiate, low balling, then wait for the last moment and then overpaid.
Same this transfer window.

Sarri wanted Rugani and Higuain, isn`t it obvious why ? Gonzalo is use to his style and even at 35 will be better then Morata. People was slamming Conte why he didn`t play Luiz, you get now why he didn`t played him? And the rest of average players, that board bought last season ?

Marina also suc**** and negotiation, he is constantly pissing other clubs and they don`t want to do buisness with us or want high fee, cause of his s*** offers.

Leonard shows he is a lot better negotiator then Marina. He get perfect price for Higuain, while he was working only for 1 week. You know when Marina will get such a deal - Never !!!

And for the match today, yeah it`s just a early match, but the season start in a week time, also i don`t see anything possitive in our game.

We should have sell Willan and Pedro, we have good offers for both, and should have get young players with a huge motivation and desire to play, unlike most of our players. How on the earth Fabregas is still on the team?

I`m epxecting to get banned again, because i`m of the few that saying the things how they are. So if something not change in our board(Marina deservedly get sacked) and big change in our transfer policy and policy also towards manager i don`t see how we can challenge in the next 3 or so years.

With sacking manager every year we don`t stand a chance, when teams like City, United and Liverpool  have their manager for so long and they backed them.

So we will see at the end of the season if i was right again or not.

 

 

We need time. But also need to help Sarri and the team with transfers when possible. Not saying to buy Ronaldo for £90m. Sarri said we needed one more midfielder Im guessing an AM in the final third to make the difference. But if we dont sign anyone we cant do much else than rely on Barkley to produce the goods. Hoping Sarri can use his magic on some players. Barkley, Emerson, Rudiger etc can definitely improve Napoli and Koulibaly were a mess in defence in their early days under Sarri. Last season they had the 2nd best defensive record. Calm. 

14 minutes ago, Luca Vialli said:

Let's be fair it's a 100% improvement over the last time we played City. We struggled for goals last season and it looks like it'll be much the same in terms of having a goal threat unless Sarri's methods start producing in the first five competitive games.

No we won't win the league, Let's try and enjoy the football.

I have faith in the coach.

Is it? I mean, yeah, we had more of the ball, but City had more chances today than they did in that game and they had more shots on target. That was a walk in the park for them today. If we played that way against them every time, they would beat us every time. At least with Conte's tactics, which were awful, they had to work for their goal. Honestly, if today's game meant as much as that game did, then it would have been just as hard to take. Even though we had more of the ball, we did nothing with it.

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by Scott Harris

Watching the meltdown inhere is funny

Meltdown picked up right where it left off. This place never fails. 

Couple of things we learned:

1. Sarri doesnt have a magic wand to turn an average team into world beaters overnight. Conte might have been an arse but he wasn't wrong abour the lack of quality and fight. Marina et al have a big week ahead.

2.  It's press or death in this system. If you don't put pressure on the ball you're cooked. I've said from the start we would find it difficult to implement this style with our squad. Today shows we've got a lot to learn quickly it also shows Kante can't come back in to the team soon enough.  

Edited August 5, 20187 yr by Spiller86