frustrating half. 

Not playing bad, but still seem to sh*t our pants when we get the 18 yard box. 

Pedro has been awful.

Pedro just had a terrible half of football - I can count at least half a dozen instances of lost possession and wayward passing.

Jorginho has been better in tackling today and made some really neat interceptions.

Hazard has been sleek but there is no real penetration. Kante has been decent, so have Azpi and Luiz.

Higuain hasn't received any service.

Both Kovacic and Pedro need to be substituted.

Higuain has shown nothing so far. We need to attack faster. If only we had a quick young winger to break quick. 

2 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Old school thinking this is where you need fast wingers that can cross with pace to shake it up a bit.

Where's CHO?

dross....defensively awful, midfield non existent and always overrun when Bournemouth come forward and the same old story in attack, pissing around outside the box.  

1 minute ago, dansubrosa said:

All of the attacks have revolved around Hazard and Pedro.

Its like we may as well play with a false nine if we aren’t going to get Higuain into the game. Frustrating.

I think Azpilicueta put in a ball that was perfect for a striker to get onto, but Higuain was nowhere near it.

Just now, Ernie_blue said:

Where's CHO?

Not on the bench.

Just now, Ernie_blue said:

Where's CHO?

He is playing his strongest position today: the bench. Br. Sarri

Watford lead spurs

Same old story really. Higuain wondering what he has gotten himself into in that half. If teams want to constrict space around the box we have no answer. 

We need to be able to play on the counter more when required. We win the ball back but we're so slow going forward after then that teams are set by the time we get into dangerous areas. Need to play, dare I say more English football, rather than Italian. 

Willian on for Pedro second half I suspect

Just now, Spiller86 said:

Same old story really. Higuain wondering what he has gotten himself into in that half. If teams want to constrict space around the box we have no answer. 

We need to be able to play on the counter more when required. We win the ball back but we're so slow going forward after then that teams are set by the time we get into dangerous areas. Need to play, dare I say more English football, rather than Italian. 

In my experience we've been like this for a long time. Not just the current manager. We've never been fast on the counter.

Disappointed not to see CHO in the squad today, he would offer the perfect solution from the bench for this game. A lack of tempo in our game and frustratingly Higuain seems more intent on dropping into midfield at times, which is only slowing us down more. Another meh performance from Kovacic, jack of all trades master of none springs to mind.

RLC for Kovacic and Willian for Pedro would be my changes if there are no goals after 60 minutes, followed by Giroud for Higuain. Not a bad performance but we risk leaving with nothing if we keep being countered because of sloppiness in possession.

It's really simple, the passes need to be in space and more direct, otherwise the opposition always gets the time to put 8 players in their box which is hard to score against.

No wonder CHO wants to leave, how often does he have to watch Pedro or Willian not play well to know he won't get a chance. Been going on for months now.

Just now, forbzy said:

Willian on for Pedro second half I suspect

That's on 62 mins. Barkley for Kovacic on 70 Giroud for Higuain 81

Not all bad, but we're hardly making it difficult for Bournemouth. And to be fair to them whenever they've broke past Jorginho's press, which has again been far too often, they've looked capable of scoring. They're absolutely setup to win this game on the counter if we aren't careful.

As impressive as Kovacic's footwork is, there's just not an attacking instinct about him. Annoying, as he's a very neat passer and dribbler, but there's just no potential end product. Loftus Cheek in his place for me. I'd love to see Kova in Jorginho's spot instead with the latter replaced, but that's not going to happen.

Hope we can step up and get the three points here.

Willian for Pedro Ruben for Kovacic please.

Just now, charierre said:

That's on 62 mins. Barkley for Kovacic on 70 Giroud for Higuain 81

Probably right. I think I would rather see RLC for Kovacic though

Bournemouth have tiny centre backs the smart thing will be for Sarri to bring on Giroud and go direct but of course he doesn't want to upset his boo HIGUAIN

Sarri doesn't know the meaning of direct football. If it takes less than a hundred passes, in his world it's not an attack. I bet if Chelsea player finds himself in front of an open goal, he'll just turn around and start looking who to pass the ball to.

Edited January 30, 20197 yr by abramovich

The problem with sarri ball is to keep possession and try to defend by always having the ball. That’s why we are so reluctant to taking shots and crosses as it may fall to the opposition and expose us on the counter attack. As we play a high press/ line 

Just now, forbzy said:

Probably right. I think I would rather see RLC for Kovacic though

Me too, I won't hold my breath though

Thought we got rid of serial winner like Conte for attacking football? Last time i checked we have been struggling to score goals for about 3 months now.

7 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Where's CHO?

He is the ideal person to get the best out of Higuain; beat the fullback and whip in a cross.

Pedro wants to run into space, Willian wants to come inside. He is not on the bench so that is that.