3 hours ago, Womble said:

I still can't get over that Zappacosta substitution...

The most bizarre substitution I've ever seen in all my time supporting Chelsea...

 

44 minutes ago, erskblue said:

The most bizarre substitution I've ever seen in all my time supporting Chelsea...

 

Was pretty much Benitez's go-to, no?

Here's a stat : Chelsea only attempted two shots on target, with both coming in the 11th minute.  So after falling behind, we failed to register a single shot on target in over an hour of football ...

14 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Here's a stat : Chelsea only attempted two shots on target, with both coming in the 11th minute.  So after falling behind, we failed to register a single shot on target in over an hour of football ...

Do you know how many shots we had if you include off target? I guess you can't blame Sarri if the players can't hit a cows arse with a banjo.

Also, what's better; a shot on target that tamely reaches the goalkeepers arms without him having to move a muscle, or a shot that goes a foot wide and sees the keeper desperately dive in the fear it's going in? That's one of the problems with stats for me.

I recall Hazard and Higuain had a couple of respectable efforts that went wide in the first half. Can't recall their keeper having look up from his book in the second half - despite our possession and a succession of corners.

1 minute ago, Snedger said:

Do you know how many shots we had if you include off target? I guess you can't blame Sarri if the players can't hit a cows arse with a banjo.

Also, what's better; a shot on target that tamely reaches the goalkeepers arms without him having to move a muscle, or a shot that goes a foot wide and sees the keeper desperately dive in the fear it's going in? That's one of the problems with stats for me.

I recall Hazard and Higuain had a couple of respectable efforts that went wide in the first half. Can't recall their keeper having look up from his book in the second half - despite our possession and a succession of corners.

Well, for sure, you aren't going to score if you don't shoot on target ... as to whether that is down to the players, or the tactics and team selection is a subject for personal opinion, but for me, it's "all of the above".

Utd defended in numbers and with our two wider players, Hazard and Pedro (later Willian) prevented them from shooting in the box and finding Higuaín.

We didn't have a midfield runner that could come in and hit a pile-driver or find Higuaín, result impotent.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Well, for sure, you aren't going to score if you don't shoot on target ... as to whether that is down to the players, or the tactics and team selection is a subject for personal opinion, but for me, it's "all of the above".

Indeed, they only count if they go in. I really just mean in terms of feeling. A shot that whistles past the post somehow feels like a better effort than one trundling to the keepers feet. When trying to assess the tactics, it's worth adding near misses because it gives a better reflection of how all this possession translates into actually trying to score. In my eyes we don't have many efforts at all considering how much of the ball we have. But why?

We all know how we are going to play, who's going to play, who are the subs  to come on, and how we will lose the game, and we lost exactly how we anticipated. After losing so many games lately, many of us already used to it. F* that, when was the lat time Chelsea get used to losing without putting up a fight? There's nothing working with this system 6 months into the season. We got defenders who still can't or not bothered to defense, best midfielder in the team playing out of position to accommodate the manager's pet who couldn't defend or run, still NO goal scoring striker, and the best player in the team is sick and tied of bailing others out week after week. Alonso needs to be banned from the team, play Cahill at left back if we have to, the guy is just NOT interested to defend. Higuain who's supposedly a great finisher, never gets in scoring positions to have a proper shot in games that mattered, let's forget about Huddsfield game, Giroud would have scored. People could argue Higuain needs more time, but that's the very reason we signed him this is the guy who knows all about Sarri ball, and should start firing straight away. I feel bad for Kepa and Hazard, a good young GK just have shots fired at him at will without a proper defence and DM in front of him, and our star player just couldn't be bothered to do everything on his own every game. Lastly for f* sake, what's wrong with putting another striker on as the last sub? It's not like we have a return leg to play, at least do a Fellani on United.. Instead, we have one right back for another, it's the Sarri way, just keep the same formation and tactics, results will come!

12 hours ago, DidierIsImmortal said:

Bring in JT and Didier

That would be an immediate positive action! 

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

Was pretty much Benitez's go-to, no?

Sarri is gearing up to win the Europa League then 

3 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Was pretty much Benitez's go-to, no?

I've been trying to forget much of Benitez reign with us !

2 hours ago, erskblue said:

I've been trying to forget much of Benitez reign with us !

Nah. Didn't want him at first but did a decent enough job and warmed to him in the end.

Is streets ahead of the Sarri tactically speaking...but then so is my Nan and she's dead.

 

2 hours ago, erskblue said:

I've been trying to forget much of Benitez reign with us !

You know just how bad things are with Sarri-ball when you almost look back and appreciate what you had with the FSW.

I said almost!

This poor fan had a bad birthday...