16 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

i used to sit in front of a guy who kept shouting "kick it in the net" - every game.....where is he now???

He’s called @TomCFC85 and he’s on here typing it instead. 

1 minute ago, Skinnedy said:

Serie A transfer window opens tomorrow

My birthday is tomorrow

All I want for my birthday is a striker 

 

Have you had many disappointing birthdays before!

9 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I would criticise Sarri for a lack of a plan B when things aren’t going our way but judging by our recent performances I’m not sure anyone is too sure what plan A yet. 

See ForEverCareFree's post....that's Plan A

1 minute ago, WhiteWall said:

Have you had many disappointing birthdays before!

I came up with a joke yesterday....

A birthday in the first week of January is a lot like you talking about your Fantasy Football team... nobody gives a f×#k 

My expectations are so low right now, that I will genuinely let out a "yippee kay ay" if we swap morata and Higuain 

3 minutes ago, atomis said:

Pep is a far better manager and motivator.......he got what wanted by his board. These 2 help alot. And us not having forwards does not explain the endlessly boring and slow footy. Theres zero pace when we attack, no hunger......every single time we are more than willing to allow the opponent to get back and the attack dies out. How many times must Sarii witness it before doing anything about it.

Trophies won, sure Pep wins. However, I'm not sure he's any better tactically than Sarri. The difference is that Pep maybe rotates a little more. In regards to motivation, Sarri is known to have a temper when needs be. Even recently after (I think) the wolves game, Rudiger said that Sarri was scary after the game because he was so angry at the players for the poor performance. Sarri has proven that he can take teams and build them up to the highest level, have them playing well and winning games.

I agree that Pep got what he wanted by the board and that's the main issue for me, I am just not sure how much ambition Roman has any longer. I mean sure, we've spent a lot of money on two/three players, but we've also sold to buy too, so it's not like we're splurging for the sake of it. I would like to think the ambition is there and going strong, and that we bring in a couple of top quality players in this window, but who knows with this club and board. A lot of moves these days seem to be more business oriented rather than football oriented. 

Conversation would be very different had Morata's goal not been incorrectly ruled out. 

sh*t decision that cost us two points.

That aside the same issues keep happening, again all as advertised in the Sarri brochure. Limited rotation led to low energy play, although we did see a bit of a Plan B with Fabregas coming on. 

Like it or not folks, this is the guy we hired. This is his way. For better or for worse this is Sarrismo.  

Lighten up, we all know that Morata has not been the striker we all thought we bought and more recently he's been dog sh*te when it comes to putting chances away but he can't be blamed for the 80 yards of sh*te going on behind him; I think any striker would be tearing their hair out watching 85 minutes of sideways and backwards passing and having an audience standing on the 18 yard box when someone actually does get a cross into the box; watch City, they have at least 4 or more players running into the box when they go forward, its like a minefield to our lot and that comes from the coaching staff as naturally a forward player would head to the box and 6 yard box without thinking...

Just now, enigma said:

Trophies won, sure Pep wins. However, I'm not sure he's any better tactically than Sarri. The difference is that Pep maybe rotates a little more. In regards to motivation, Sarri is known to have a temper when needs be. Even recently after (I think) the wolves game, Rudiger said that Sarri was scary after the game because he was so angry at the players for the poor performance. Sarri has proven that he can take teams and build them up to the highest level, have them playing well and winning games.

I agree that Pep got what he wanted by the board and that's the main issue for me, I am just not sure how much ambition Roman has any longer. I mean sure, we've spent a lot of money on two/three players, but we've also sold to buy too, so it's not like we're splurging for the sake of it. I would like to think the ambition is there and going strong, and that we bring in a couple of top quality players in this window, but who knows with this club and board. A lot of moves these days seem to be more business oriented rather than football oriented. 

Pep also came with the reputation of one of the world's best managers and a proven winner. Sarri is 12 years older and is yet to win anything. I agree that we need to back him in the market but that doubt over how good a manager he really is will always be there until he starts winning trophies.

1 minute ago, enigma said:

Trophies won, sure Pep wins. However, I'm not sure he's any better tactically than Sarri. The difference is that Pep maybe rotates a little more. In regards to motivation, Sarri is known to have a temper when needs be. Even recently after (I think) the wolves game, Rudiger said that Sarri was scary after the game because he was so angry at the players for the poor performance. Sarri has proven that he can take teams and build them up to the highest level, have them playing well and winning games.

I agree that Pep got what he wanted by the board and that's the main issue for me, I am just not sure how much ambition Roman has any longer. I mean sure, we've spent a lot of money on two/three players, but we've also sold to buy too, so it's not like we're splurging for the sake of it. I would like to think the ambition is there and going strong, and that we bring in a couple of top quality players in this window, but who knows with this club and board. A lot of moves these days seem to be more business oriented rather than football oriented. 

 Fair.....but I'll say pep is far better tactically. He does not just play 1 way and 1 formation. You can see purpose and intent when they press and go forward.......look how they press. Nahh mate he is far better in tactics too and imo not a batch on Conte in that regard. His style might have worked in Italy, where competition is crap and the tempo far slower......but not here my man. Here you either adapt and get the best you can out your players or you will be eaten. Theres absolutely no guarantee it will Work at Chels just beacuse it did in Italy. It just migh you never know, but until then he better be flexable and mix it up. So far im not seeing anything worthwhile.......its the same thing diffirent opponent.

At the moment the only player Sarri really wanted, Jorginho, he has. Apart from that, he's working with a large % of players that were poor last season. Barkley hasn't had a single stand out game. Azpilicueta has been average for most of the season. Alonso has been the same Alonso, just scoring less goals. Morata is poor. Giroud turns up once every 5 games. Willian is inconsistent. Pedro is reliable and is our best goal threat after Hazard up top. Luiz is playing pretty well this season. Rudiger is generally solid in defence, but sometimes doesn't always defend as well as he could.

Generally Jorginho, Kova and Kepa have been good for us. The problem is, people are quick to judge and criticise them, mainly Jorginho when he doesn't have a good game, but he's new to the league, so adapting to that, but also he's come from a Napoli team who knew their roles and the system, whereas here he is surrounded by players who are adapting to the system and don't really "get it" yet. 

12 minutes ago, abramovich said:

Pep also came with the reputation of one of the world's best managers and a proven winner. Sarri is 12 years older and is yet to win anything. I agree that we need to back him in the market but that doubt over how good a manager he really is will always be there until he starts winning trophies.

Pep never started from the literal bottom (think Sunday League) and coached teams up until Serie B, to then manage Napoli in Serie A to where they finished his final season almost pipping Juventus to the title. Pep has always had the best players at his disposal since starting his senior management career. Sarri had a professional career before starting coaching at 40 years of age.

It isn't easy to give up a career in banking like that, to then manage sunday league teams for next to no money and continue coaching until the level he got to, just for the sheer passion he had for it. Just because he hasn't won a trophy, doesn't mean he isn't an elite level manager in the tactical sense. Former players and even colleagues (including Pep and Arrigo Sacci) have complimented his football brain previously. However, he's never had the fortune to walk into a Juventus, Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid job with world class talent at his disposal. If he had, I am sure he would have plenty trophies by now. 

Edited January 2, 20197 yr by enigma

22 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

The difference is that you could see signs of things clicking with Guardiola and City, I'm not seeing that at all with us and Sarri. I'm far from saying he should be sacked, but I'm also not that optimistic of it all fixing itself in the next year either. You can't just blame the strikers either, they aren't telling the wingers / wing backs to pass backwards every game. They aren't telling the midfielders not to play through balls into them. We need an upgrade on both of our strikers, but the pair of them would be a lot better off if the team actually showed urgency. Every striker is at their most dangerous inside the box, they can't do anything if the rest of the team show no urgency to actually get into the box and create anything for them.

To be fair, there were signs of "clicking" in the first month or so of the season. The team were playing with urgency with two-touch football and scoring a good amount of goals. I think what has happened over the last month or more, in my opinion, is that the players have overdone the initial game plan which was a two touch pass system and now they are passing more times than needed which has resulted in slow and toothless performances with a lot of possession. In other words, a "growing pains" of the system for lack of a better term. It's similar to a junior tennis player learning how to hit groundstrokes for the first time and they start overdoing their shots and make errors everywhere. Of course, factor in the injuries and our lack of a threatening striker.

At this point, I think it has less to do with the system being a problem, and more about Sarri getting the players back to basics and at least getting the personnel that can buy into what he selling. And IMO I believe Sarri deserves time for all of that to happen which I feel not just the board has to give him but also the fans. 

We have no divine right to be in top four. It's that simple. The league is ultra competitive now. If Sarri had come in a few seasons ago, I have no doubt we would be winning a title. He's just happened to come in to the league at a time when our rivals are all playing well. Sometimes the timing is right, sometimes not. Unfortunately for Sarri the timing for him to come in as a coach has been the wrong time. It's going to be tough to challenge for the title unless he's truly backed. 

That was hard to watch. Players were predictably tired thanks to Sarri’s incomprehensible lack of rotation. We really didn’t threaten until Fabregas came on. But it was all just a bit desperate by then. 

Meantime we had to endure the spectacle of Azpi and Alonso doing a poor impression of attacking full backs while Zappacosta and Emerson sit on the bench.

God knows what Fabregas is thinking from the bench while we pass ourselves sideways and into oblivion. 

Even Ross Barkley has been infected by the pass sideways or backwards bug. Poor Kante looks anything but a world-beater these days.

What a bloody mess Sarri is making of things. 

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

You proud of that, are you, you tosser?  Celebrate one of our own getting injured and you call your self a Chelsea fan?  Plastic twat.  Was a time when people got banned for celebrating or even suggesting injury to our own players.

Decent people don't even wish injury on opposition players.  sadly, you appear to be the very worst of what this world has become. f**king ignore button is getting busy again.

When the f**k have i wished anyone an injury, f**k off with your ignore button, plastic c**t yourself.

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I’m still struggling to wrap my head around what it is exactly that we’re meant to be doing or aspiring to be doing to open teams up?

We have the ball a lot. Rüdiger and Luiz exchange a few passes amongst themselves. Occasionally we’ll pass it back to Kepa. Then Jorginho gets it and plays a one two with Kante, then it goes back to Luiz then it goes to a fullback who gives it to Jorginho who gives it to Rüdiger who gives it back to Jorginho. He then passes to Willian who runs sideways past a couple of players and then gets tackled, he throws his hands up in the air whilst Kante retrieves the ricochet. He then plays it to Jorginho who plays a one two with Barkley (who apparently now is only capable of passing backwards, sideways or falling over). Jorginho gives it to Alonso who plays a five yard backward pass to Hazard who then attempts to dribble through the entire opposition defence, loses and we then scramble back in a mad panic whilst our opponent bypasses the entire team in two quick passes. Dave puts in a tackle and then the whole process starts again.

Oh mate, you have so nailed it! Reading your post so much better than watching CFC!

Saw MOTD - can't make up my mind about the Morata offside certainly close.

The highlights were mainly us coming close, we seem to lack a bit of trickery in front of goal and think Hazard is our best No.9 option even though with injuries today that would have been difficult.

Re Morata, an early header and shot that lacked conviction for me and he actually looked better as the match went on yet did not get the clear cut chances except one chance he blasted against the keeper.

RLC looked good on one break setting up an assist and was good to see Sarri use Cesc.

Really disappointing to drop two points at home though don't think this will define our season.

 

 

12 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Re Morata, an early header and shot that lacked conviction for me and he actually looked better as the match went on yet did not get the clear cut chances except one chance he blasted against the keeper.

 

 

actually Morata checked where the GK was located before he put that shot on goal - even the commentators gave him props because of his premeditated shot attempt - IMHO RLC wasn't up to snuff & Barkley could have done a bit better as well - maybe we should move Side Show Bob back to midfield & let Christensen play w/ Rudiger

We are running out of scoring options. The way we are playing and the number of passes we put together before a final shot or pass, we are aiming to score the perfect goal. There are no quick crosses, not early through balls, shot outside the box, and set pieces are just awful. For most of the game, we were in cruise mode, and managed to put the crowd into sleep, The Morata goal should have stood, 2 goals gone to the toilet because of guessing work by the linesmen in the last 4 days. Hazard was unlucky, Gk had no idea about he first save, ball hit the head and bounced the other way. Losing Willian in the game wasn't the deciding matter, he was wasteful in possession and set pieces as usual, RLC actually did a pretty good job even he's not match fit. Cesc should have came on earlier for Jorginho, Cesc is a better player in possession and has better long passing game. Our best 2 chances were created after he came on. Both Leicester and SouthHampton have done it against us without riding too much luck, I reckon most teams will come to the bridge knowing they have a good chance by parking the bus and stay patient.

Just watched this latest garbage home performance.

Everything Gunn had to do was simple. Bar the one that hit him in the face where he got lucky.

He got lucky too it was morata and not lukaku or salah otherwise our perfectly good goal would have stood.

Defense did well, kepa was solid. Otherwise what can you say? Hazard is spent, how else can you explain how average he was? Willian was misplacing passes before he got injured. RLC may as well have stayed on the bench for how useless he was.

Why is alonso the only one willing to shoot? RLC, Barkley, Kante, hazard all had chances to shoot and wanted to walk the ball in.

Totally useless. Southampton are an average side just like Leicester and we drop home points again.

On top if it all what a boring match. More fast forwarding again for this recording.

3 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Celtic have admittedly not been hitting the heights of the past as a whole but Tierney is but he is only 21 and definitely has significant potential - certainly on a par with where Robertson was at a similar age. Appreciate you’re a rangers man so might not necessarily agree. 

 

I’m not saying we should sign him but there’s worse players we could take a punt on.

It’s nothing to do with Rangers, he’s been very poor this season and stagnated. We need the finished article as our starter isn’t good enough. 

I’ve seen him play in the flesh around 5 times now and I don’t see it at all.

I miss our counter attacking football. 

5 minutes ago, DannyLB said:

I miss our counter attacking football. 

We seem insistent in dragging ourselves into the top four struggle by dropping points in games we simply have to win. It's infuriating.

37 minutes ago, Cam said:

We seem insistent in dragging ourselves into the top four struggle by dropping points in games we simply have to win. It's infuriating.

And so so boring. This and the Leicester game. More boring than any of Jose's games imo.