1 hour ago, just said:

 

He didn't look injured, but I hope for sake of the boy's confidence that you are right.

I saw him wincing and rubbing his thigh.

3 minutes ago, Dixon said:

Just looking to bait, which is childish and pathetic ! Why dont you have a go at those who were actually slamming Sarri on subbing Hudson?

I have mate, if you are able to read, just like without Jorginho on the pitch the score is 1-1. 

And what is childish and pathetic is you following me around like a stalker. You're not my type mate, move on.

 

I thought we were pedestrian apart from Hazard and Kovacic but that isn't unusual this time of year when it is cold and the fixtures pile up.

It's really not as bad as people are making out. We need a striker desperately but we're still top four and have some good winnable fixtures coming up before the end of Jan. Should put us in a good spot for the run in.

14 hours ago, Munkworth said:

I’m going to have to be the odd one out and have a little faith in my team to go out and win. I know, I’m a bloody weirdo!

You fools should listen to me in future, I know what I’m on about 

Good win, good performance, good game overall.

Disappointing if CHO was subbed tactically as is never nice to sub and sub.

Willian gets a lot of stick and after watching MOTD he looked lively and was unlucky not to score two goals, on the first maybe he could have looked up and see Hazard yet he had little time as the ball was approaching the by line.

Credit to the ref for not falling for Delofeu with Luiz, I had to see it three times before clocking it.

Kovacic gave Hazard a timely assist and good to see Kante get into a shooting position though this time was off target. 

 

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by Strider6003

35 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Willian gets a lot of stick and after watching MOTD he looked lively and was unlucky not to score two goals, on the first maybe he could have looked up and see Hazard yet he had little time as the ball was approaching the by line.

Credit to the ref for not falling for Delofeu with Luiz, I had to see it three times before clocking it.

Kovacic gave Hazard a timely assist and good to see Kante get into a shooting position though this time was off target. 

 

Willian gets a lot of stick because his end product is poor. He has a lot of good physical attributes, good skill, good control, amazing pace, when he can be bothered great work ethic. When he gets in to the end phase where the simple to acute pass or the delicate or powerful finish is needed he gets these things confused time and again. 

He was unlucky with the effort that went through the defenders legs but the run through on goal he had in the first half he has to score, like eden did with his.

We needed that win as hard as it was to watch, they stuck at it and credit to them.  But watching the last few games, against those games earlier in the season, we have definitely slowed the pace of our game down for some reason, and that IMO is causing many of our problems.  Slow play together with players holding on to the ball too long, being allowed to get closed down they are forced into backward and sideway passes; until we start playing with a recognized target man and some options to drive the game forward I fear these types of performances will continue.  Palace away is another ground where the wheels can fall off.....let's hope they don't.

Stuttering win, but a vital one. It was a bold decision to keep the same 11, played a bit better than 3 days ago, and thankfully Deeney wasted that chance. We are getting better dealing with the high press, I guess that's why Sarri kept the same 11 to maintain the fluency. Hazard is beginning to play like a striker, his movement was great and good finishing for the first goal. Willian's finishing made Morata looked decent, I'm so used to his 1 great performance on top of 5-6 substandard games after these many years. CHO looked threatening, and rightly subbed to protect the result at the end. Luiz really helped out Alonso, and it was a smart move by Sarri by play another left back on that side to shutdown their main threat. The top 4 will be a dog fight till the last day, United is back into it and may get the enforcement Jose's been craving next week, Arsenal is getting results despite crappy defence, Spurs looked a step or 2 ahead of us at moment.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Willian gets a lot of stick because his end product is poor. He has a lot of good physical attributes, good skill, good control, amazing pace, when he can be bothered great work ethic. When he gets in to the end phase where the simple to acute pass or the delicate or powerful finish is needed he gets these things confused time and again. 

He was unlucky with the effort that went through the defenders legs but the run through on goal he had in the first half he has to score, like eden did with his.

I agree, and because we are a more attacking team, Willian seems to be getting these golden opportunities to score in every game of late, and he keeps missing them. He had a few against Wolves, he had one against City, and again against Leicester, and once more today. We all moan at Morata for not putting away his one v one chances, Willian deserves that same criticism for his poor finishes too. He's getting a lot of chances to score, he's getting a lot of chances to create goals from corners and free kicks, but he's very rarely actually taking these chances.

If Willian was to score these goals and play decent crosses into the box from freekicks and corners, then he wouldn't get the criticism he has been receiving throughout his career.

41 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I agree, and because we are a more attacking team, Willian seems to be getting these golden opportunities to score in every game of late, and he keeps missing them. He had a few against Wolves, he had one against City, and again against Leicester, and once more today. We all moan at Morata for not putting away his one v one chances, Willian deserves that same criticism for his poor finishes too. He's getting a lot of chances to score, he's getting a lot of chances to create goals from corners and free kicks, but he's very rarely actually taking these chances.

If Willian was to score these goals and play decent crosses into the box from freekicks and corners, then he wouldn't get the criticism he has been receiving throughout his career.

Exactly 

Decent win away against a decent side. 

Keeping the same first XI wasn't something I agreed with, but I can't say that it didn't work.

It is frightening how much we rely on Hazard nowadays. He's already in double figures in the PL league alongside all the assists he's been racking up. It'll be a sad day when he goes. 

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by DaRick

6 hours ago, Strider6003 said:

Willian gets a lot of stick and after watching MOTD he looked lively and was unlucky not to score two goals, on the first maybe he could have looked up and see Hazard yet he had little time as the ball was approaching the by line.

Credit to the ref for not falling for Delofeu with Luiz, I had to see it three times before clocking it.

Kovacic gave Hazard a timely assist and good to see Kante get into a shooting position though this time was off target. 

 

Willian's best game for a while. He is particularly good in transition especially on the counter attack and ball retention. But like others have said, end product is everything. All to often the final pass/cross isn't good enough, the flick goes to no one the shot goes wide etc. On his day he's a world beater or can be extremely average usually in the same game.

I thought we controlled the match in large parts last night not looking in much danger after we took the lead in the second half. We do though need to take more of our chances, Eden doesn't look particularly happy in his role but without him who else would step up to be counted?

 

 

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by charierre

26 minutes ago, charierre said:

I thought we controlled the match in large parts last night not looking in much danger after we took the lead in the second half. We do though need to take more of our chances, Eden doesn't look particularly happy in his role but without him who else would step up to be counted?

If his ambitions really are a ballon d'or, and he's putting up the best counting stats of his career, it's probably the best role for him. He really should have had a hat trick today.

Good away win, hard place to get a result and this keeps us in touching distance to Spurs and City. Halfway through the season we are already 11 points behind the leaders and that pretty much tells us the big gap we have to bridge to compete again for titles. 

Back to the game, apart from result, there is not much to smile about. The same slow, predictable, side passing football with no intent and penetration. Hope for 1 or 2 signing in January that will change that for the second half of the season. If we get top 4, keep Hazard and sign players that fit into this possession type of football, it would be a good start.

My concern is the pedestrian style of play, the predictability in everything we do and the mental fragility once we go behind, It's like we lost our fighting spirit, something that we were known for under previous managers. I was watching some old games under Conte and i must say ( sadly ) we looked far more exciting then. 

A few observations. Not anything that is anywhere near earth shattering, I fully accept.

A very poor goal to lose just after we'd taken the lead and I was beginning to relax ,a bit.

A succession of poor defending and it gave them back the initative just beore half time.

Thankfully we got and kept the lead. Hazard's play at times was brilliant.

I like our counter attack, when it comes off. However sometimes I feel it leaves us open to attack.

When we pressed them high up the pitch they couldn't build any momentum. We denied them both the time and space.

Like I said, just a few observations. Glad we won though.

Very gloomy outlook unless/until we can get some one other than Eden who can score. Of our regular midfielders, I don’t think either Jorginho or Kovachik have scored yet?

Thinking it through this morning, we have a long history of buying strikers who fail .... for every success - Drogba, Costa and (arguably) Crespo, we’ve had Kezman, Mutu, Sheva, Torres, Morata, Pizzaro, Michy, and going further back - Hately, Kevan, Birchenall, Garland etc.

Should have won by more but happy with the points.Eden was magic,as usual.We have lost 3 games so far this season ffs,we are not down the bottom of the table.Let the manager manage,he knows a bit more than we do.Please stop being the board of misery,talk about spoilt.Anyway "happy" new year,UP THE CHELS !

11 hours ago, Osgood is Good said:

I have mate, if you are able to read, just like without Jorginho on the pitch the score is 1-1. 

And what is childish and pathetic is you following me around like a stalker. You're not my type mate, move on.

 

I've been "following you around like a stalker" Wtf are you on?

I pick out random comments to reply to and do not make a note of who's posted them.  What I have noted tho is there's a few really intolerant, unpleasant people on here who go in for abuse,  looking to pick fights and even try and turn some fm's against others and I gather fm's have been driven away by them. Its easy to spot who these fm's are. Sadly, with the recent negative news about some of our fans this should come as no surprise. Congrats on driving another sway.

Oh, and a final word. The fact that you highlighted Jorghino actually making a worthwhile pass proved my points about him doing F all with the ball game after game. One good pass in half a season - Amazing! He was hardly great tho. Nearly cost us a goal and gave the ball away numerous times. 

 

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by Dixon

I think some of you should stop watching Chelsea especially the people here constantly moaning.

1 hour ago, Dixon said:

I've been "following you around like a stalker" Wtf are you on?

I pick out random comments to reply to and do not make a note of who's posted them.  What I have noted tho is there's a few really intolerant, unpleasant people on here who go in for abuse,  looking to pick fights and even try and turn some fm's against others and I gather fm's have been driven away by them. Its easy to spot who these fm's are. Sadly, with the recent negative news about some of our fans this should come as no surprise. Congrats on driving another sway.

Oh, and a final word. The fact that you highlighted Jorghino actually making a worthwhile pass proved my points about him doing F all with the ball game after game. One good pass in half a season - Amazing! He was hardly great tho. Nearly cost us a goal and gave the ball away numerous times. 

 

Mate, have a day off. The last interaction I had with you before this was 3 weeks ago, where you inaccurately accused me of calling you an idiot, now you are picking out random comments, and for what reason, picking a fight ? You are crying wolf, mate.

 

Now you are accusing me of driving posters away, and a veiled backhanded racist accusation. Yeah alright mate.

I think you are a confused person, who has been called out many times on here of spouting absolute rubbish. If you are leaving the site, then that will be on your own choice, but you won't get any sympathy from me, because I can't speak for anyone else, but I am tired of the daily moaning and bashing of my football club Chelsea.

Mr. 100

Edited December 27, 20187 yr by mojo

49 minutes ago, mojo said:

Mr. 100

Thanks for sharing - another thing about this play that I just remember is how Kante started all of this, but many talking heads will continue to say "Kante is in the wrong position' - Believe in Don Maurizio - dude knows what he talking about

We should never have to compare Morata with Willian! Yes Willian might chances over and over again but we know he is committed to the team which reflects in his work rate. But Morata doesn't give a f**k about us. He wants to earn respect from the fans not by giving his all on the field of play but just based on the fact that he was coming from the biggest team in Europe.

I agree, and because we are a more attacking team, Willian seems to be getting these golden opportunities to score in every game of late, and he keeps missing them. He had a few against Wolves, he had one against City, and again against Leicester, and once more today. We all moan at Morata for not putting away his one v one chances, Willian deserves that same criticism for his poor finishes too. He's getting a lot of chances to score, he's getting a lot of chances to create goals from corners and free kicks, but he's very rarely actually taking these chances.
If Willian was to score these goals and play decent crosses into the box from freekicks and corners, then he wouldn't get the criticism he has been receiving throughout his career.

2 hours ago, robdog said:

Thanks for sharing - another thing about this play that I just remember is how Kante started all of this, but many talking heads will continue to say "Kante is in the wrong position' - Believe in Don Maurizio - dude knows what he talking about

the robdog's cut :)