8 minutes ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

It’s a bit of a shame for Barkley having such a good player competing for a spot but a good problem to have. 

I have to feel though Kante for me needs to be in the middle..it’s a bit of a dilemma but when you have the worlds best dm you play him at dm, I think having kovacic in the way he was taking control would allow that scenario more and give Jorginho a bit more time on the ball without lying deep in the middle 

I would rather have jorginho pushed up a little bit and have Kante in the middle too.

f**king amazing game!!!!!! Kovacic clean and tidy and dribbles exactly like Hazard, same technique, 

Alonso always divides opinions. So good at one end and average on the other. If he can defend he would be world class at LB

What I liked about this game was that we were pushing for the win throughout the game against one of the top sides. Throughout most of Roman Abramovich's era, we have been the team playing on the counter and sucking up most of the pressure. I like counter attacking football and I like seeing good defensive performances, but it was nice to see us being the ones trying to force a win through possession against the top teams for a change.

Alonso once again showing why he is a nailed on starter- can't defend especially well but pops up with quite a few important goals! He's our Ivanovic 

Wow, exciting, nervy, exhilarating, anxious, orgasmic, just a few words to describe this Sarri-Ball. 

As others have stated, we controlled that match fully except for the final 15 minutes of the first half.

Let's start with the weaknesses, so we can finish strong. Obviously as open and forward playing as we are, we are just as open at the back far too often. Opponents driving hard to the end line then centering to an open player in the middle of the box will be a recurring nightmare for the coaching staff the next few nights. Midfielders have to drop back and help out here, which seemed they did in the second half. I have to ask where Christensen is as well in our back line instead of Luiz. Though I will add that Luiz has not killed us. Rudiger was steady. The defending will get better I think and soon. Saw a huge improvement in the second half. Arsenal hardly threatened.

Kepa is still getting adjusted certainly. Probably should have stopped at least one of their goals. He has only been here for 10 days. He will tune up I am sure.

Finally got to see the Sarri style of forward football and at full speed. The triangle, short & quick passing in your own half to get the ball out and up the pitch quickly really looked sharp most of the match, especially the first 20 minutes. Is this not refreshing? Watching Gooners play chase while we maintained 60%-65% possession was wonderful!!

Let's start with Morata. Looks better. Still struggles with hold up play a bit, but really looks invigorated and excited about the year. Nice goal most certainly.

Really pleased with midfield. Jorginho showed some nice passing touches and is a leader out there with this new style of play. Kante has handled the new role well and nearly scored. I thought Barkley looked great out there. I was very pleased. But then Kovacic came on and, just wow! Really shut down his side of the pitch and kept possession numerous times. He looks like a special one. Did anyone determine if we have a buy option at the end of the year? He looks like a keeper.

Willian and Pedro appear to have adapted well to the new forward pressing and attacking football. Though I think Pedro's runs and speed into the box is more suited to our new style. Willian did cost us on their first goal. Hazard is Hazard. What a game changer. Should certainly start now, with Willlian on the bench. Giroud remains a nice option up top. Shame he could not get in late with those two shots. 

Arsenal is not winning the league this year or even going to sniff it. Plus they are in transition, so not a win for the ages. But we saw a lot of great things for the future. We will continue to get better. Plus, we need to keep Arsenal behind us in the Top 4 race.

Go enjoy the London evening all of my Chelsea mates in the UK!! It's a good night to fly the Blue flag!! Always fun to beat the Arsenal. KTBFFH

Exciting days ahead my friends!!

Come on you Chelsea!! 

 

9 minutes ago, zes said:

f**king amazing game!!!!!! Kovacic clean and tidy and dribbles exactly like Hazard, same technique, 

Alonso always divides opinions. So good at one end and average on the other. If he can defend he would be world class at LB

In fairness to Alonso I thought he defended well in the second half, I don't think he played particularly badly in the first half either he just got dragged out of position and the midfield failed to track Arsenal's runners in the channels.

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by the special one

I really like Barkley and was encouraged by his performance today. However I fear that he may pushed Barkley out of the first 11 with his performance. 

I didn't realize the domination on the ball - I guess I was too busy chewing on my fingernails 

 

I also thought that Willian could have done more to put pressure when he lost the ball - he casually jogged back. 

2 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I also thought that Willian could have done more to put pressure when he lost the ball - he casually jogged back. 

Yeah I noticed, especially towards the end of the first half, that Willian was often the one forward player not pressing.  Not sure if that was tactical instruction from Sarri (maybe to help shore up the left side, defensively) or if he was just being lazy.

I had an off-the-scale sh*te week in work this week. I had a few last year too only to watch Chelsea surrender at the weekend. It looks as if this season will be different. Even if we hadn't nicked it I would still have really enjoyed the match today. So as The Brit said earlier, bring it on!

II liked Sarri anyhow just knowing he smokes. Smokers are always more interesting than non-smokers, being in touch with your death wish does that. 

We have a problem with Luiz obviously. The one thing you can't be as a defender is casual and he is the most casual player I ever seen. Morata is gone too unfortunately. But most of the rest look good with the highlights being Hazard, Kovacic, Pedro and the gorgeous Jorginho.

I'd prefer not to see Kante get multiple nosebleeds every time he gets the ball in the attacking space and would much prefer a role reversal with him and Jorginho.

Overall a stomping, rampaging , riotous game of football. Loved it. 

 

 

I bet there was a meltdown in here toward the end of the first half 

I love Sarri 

46 minutes ago, SimonH said:

You can tell when you get a player within a couple of minutes sometimes. That happened today with Kovacic

we have won a watch with this one, issue is Madrid will want him back. I really hope we have a clause to buy the lad.

 

 

Bang on. Thought exactly the same thing. He looks a different level to the rest already, and you have to feel for RLC/Barkley.... Mateo looks a real talent. 

In everything that's been said we shouldn't overlook the quality of Morata's goal, that's really important for him.

Arsenal are going to concede a lot with that backline, Sokratis and Mustafi are dreadful.

love this

 

What I liked about this game was that we were pushing for the win throughout the game against one of the top sides. Throughout most of Roman Abramovich's era, we have been the team playing on the counter and sucking up most of the pressure. I like counter attacking football and I like seeing good defensive performances, but it was nice to see us being the ones trying to force a win through possession against the top teams for a change.

The short one touch football, always probing and looking for a weakness... lovely. People seem to think that because of his position in the formation that Jorghinio is a DM. I would say Sarri sees him much more as a Pirlo than a Makalele.

I would rather have jorginho pushed up a little bit and have Kante in the middle too.

While I agree I think Jorginho's range of passing benefits from being a bit deeper.

6 minutes ago, Scott said:

love this

 

I love this Russian Collusion at Chelsea

Edited August 18, 20187 yr by robdog

11 minutes ago, TheFunkeyGibbon said:

1 hour ago, SimonH said:

I would rather have jorginho pushed up a little bit and have Kante in the middle too.

While I agree I think Jorginho's range of passing benefits from being a bit deeper.

100% agree, I just don’t like Kante in that advanced role.

maybe playing more diamond with 2 DM’s and kovacic as more of almost number 10? Might shore up the gaps at the back a little too. I don’t know.

1 hour ago, WalterWhiteCFC said:

At times with kovacic, the way he moves, looked like we had 2 hazards on the pitch...even wears his old shirt

Totally agree, I was getting so confused at first haha. Kovacic looks like the real deal, I am pumped!

What a game, apart from the 15-minute cocentration lapse, we absolutely dominated them. When Hazard & Kovacic came on they lit the ground on fire.

London is f**king blue & forever will be.

1 hour ago, CFCCAN said:

for? all the good Alonso? does offensively he is a nightmare? defensively and just isn't quick enough getting bac?k?? when he's in the opponents half?; I guess its a case of risk and reward with him or does Sarri have a look at Emerson and give up some of the forward movement.  

He is a natural left midfielder, I’d like to see him as a left winger, maybe more next season, possibly as back up to Hazard. As you said, it’s risk and reward, he’s an awkward player, but such a threat in the attaching thrid, he can win you games, then again he can lose you games, I probably wouldn’t start him every week. 

More positives than negatives. A work in progress for sure . Great to get one over on the old enemy.

13 minutes ago, SimonH said:

maybe? playing more diamond with 2 DM’s and kovacic as more of ?almost number 10? Might shore up the gaps at the back a little too. I don’t know?.

That’s not a bad idea at all, but I can’t see us changing it at this stage.

watching gooner fan tv - The Chelsea fans are singing soo loud Robbie is having a hard time give his interviews