We deserve three points yesterday, unfortunately we didn't score the 2-0 and 3-0 in the first- half !

When you don't do that, you know that the opponent will get the confidence, to score 1-2. Hopefully the next-game we play like in the first-half and kill the game.

15 hours ago, Old Shaggy said:

Think I'll give our matches a miss until we sort our sh*t out. I'm not in it to watch us get our asses handed to us every match

 

Isn't that the exact definition of a "fair weather fan"?

 

Any road up, the honeymoon period lasted about as long as the time that @loz   has his wallet open when it's his round, but hey, we still have Willian to hate on, eh?

 

 

15 hours ago, dynamite said:

Anyway I'm going to stay positive. We were a tired team today after midweek, so that explains some of the subpar performances.

 

Next 2 games are Norwich and Sheff utd so things will look a lot better when we get 6 points from these games. Plus 3 of our best players still injured that will come back. 

we wont be winning both them games , so things arent going to lok much better.

If we are including CHO & RLC as three of our best players awaiting return then we really have sunk to a recent low.

RLC still has a lot to prove and CHO even more so.

It's not too many seasons back that we were regularly in the top 3-5 position in the EUEFA club co-efficient tables and were feared across Europe - I doubt many teams fear us in the EPL let alone Europe these days.

What a mess the Board have made of the club over the last few years.  Yes, we have a great trophy haul but we are maybe 5 years or so away from being a true European powerhouse again.  A long slog lies ahead for Frank & Co - and that's assuming the Board quickly get their collective arses into gear.

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

Isn't that the exact definition of a "fair weather fan"?

 

Before your reincarnation you would of called them a Glory Hunting ****** !!!, your'e going soft. 

5 minutes ago, Bloo said:

If we are including CHO & RLC as three of our best players awaiting return then we really have sunk to a recent low.

Low ? seriously if you have been watching them come through -like a lot of us have- you wouldn't call it a low when they arrive back, but something exciting and full of hope.

14 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

Funny that you talk about being realistic but in the same breath you’re writing off our top 4 chances after 2 games.

Top 4 is still absolutely within the realm.  We were never going to rattle off a long unbeaten run to start this season, like we did last year.

What's funny about it?

The top 4 this season like with teams like Arsenal, Spurs, City, Liverpool are all far stronger than we are and importantly are winning games.

We have a side that has lots of young promising players but not much experience in key areas which is what we have seen with our results and performances thus far.

If you think we can get top 4 then fair enough but I think you are putting far too much expectation on our team and manager given our circumstances this season.

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by Chelsbear

15 minutes ago, coco said:

Before your reincarnation you would of called them a Glory Hunting ****** !!!, your'e going soft. 

I've always been a mellow softy, you know that.

But is does strike me as a bit surreal that we have people writing off the season and some of our promising young talent after 2 matches.  And booing the f**king blooming team.

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by yorkleyblue

12 minutes ago, coco said:

Low ? seriously if you have been watching them come through -like a lot of us have- you wouldn't call it a low when they arrive back, but something exciting and full of hope.

 

I'm simply saying that if RLC and CHO are two of our best players then we have fallen way off the pace.  I don't really see that as being mutually exclusive with exciting and full of hope.

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by Bloo
Spelling!

1 minute ago, Bloo said:

 

I'm simply saying that if RLC and CHO are two of our best players then we have fallen way off the pace.  I don't really see that as being mutually exclusive with exciting and full of hope.

If they become our best players that will be good, i dont understand how that can be a bad thing ? Nobody is saying they are currently our best players, but we are pinning our hopes on them yes, but that's because of the transfer ban.

I missed the game and only saw the highlights on MOTD. I was really impressed at first and when Mount got his goal I thought the floodgates would open but instead it was all Leicester after that. I suspected the MOTD lot were being crafty with the editing, but having now skimmed through a few pages here I see it really was like that.

The pundits speculated that it’s a fitness issue, I agree that might be a contributing factor but nobody can play at 100% intensity for 90 minutes, so I’m not completely buying it. I think it’s more that we’re simply still a work in progress. With a new manager, new system, and a bunch of young/inexperienced players, it’s going to take a while for them to learn how best to function together, especially when the match is not going according to plan. We seem to have already nailed it at times though, which is a good sign. The fans wanted Frank back, to see the kids given a chance, and a move away from Sarri‘s „boring“ possession based football, and this is exactly what we’ve got. As fans we now need to stand behind this bunch of players and the manager and let them grow together into a team. Anybody booing the team at this stage (or freaking out on an Internet forum) need to figure out what the f**k they really want.

A lot people who have already posted on here appear to have got the measure of yesterday’s game. I was sat in the family stand with my youngest and I have to say it was one of the best atmospheres at the Bridge for several years. At times I could even hear the Shed Upper singing. Okay, we became more apprehensive as a crowd in the second half but for a while there the noise volume reminded me of more expressive times.

In terms of play we were great in the first half, particularly the first 30 minutes.

We must not forget that Leicester are a good team. I was there last season when they beat us 1.0

Leicester got their tactics better in the second half and that could be a sign of their manager’s experience. As the game progressed their use of space was much better, and we lacked passing options. I thought the two central defenders had a good game and Christensen stifled Vardy well.

We are a work in progress and Frank still has a lot to learn but no one can say we are boring. The internet makes communication easy for everyone and this is why we have to tolerate those who are doom and gloom. It might not work with Frank but let’s give it a go.

 

1 hour ago, Bloo said:

If we are including CHO & RLC as three of our best players awaiting return then we really have sunk to a recent low.

RLC still has a lot to prove and CHO even more so.

It's not too many seasons back that we were regularly in the top 3-5 position in the EUEFA club co-efficient tables and were feared across Europe - I doubt many teams fear us in the EPL let alone Europe these days.

What a mess the Board have made of the club over the last few years.  Yes, we have a great trophy haul but we are maybe 5 years or so away from being a true European powerhouse again.  A long slog lies ahead for Frank & Co - and that's assuming the Board quickly get their collective arses into gear.

RLC was making real progress before the injury, but overall i agree with your very straight talking, especially about the board. Even with the transfer ban the squad should not be this short on real quality. Far too much money wasted on far too many bang average players and too slow to replace players in decline. Tho we'll have a lot of money to spend next summer, i don't have much confidence in the board buying the right players.

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by Dixons

1 hour ago, Chelsbear said:

What's funny about it?

The top 4 this season like with teams like Arsenal, Spurs, City, Liverpool are all far stronger than we are and importantly are winning games.

We have a side that has lots of young promising players but not much experience in key areas which is what we have seen with our results and performances thus far.

If you think we can get top 4 then fair enough but I think you are putting far too much expectation on our team and manager given our circumstances this season.

It’s funny because it’s not realistic to write off our chances of making top 4 after we are only 1/19th of the way through the league schedule.

I’m glad you brought up Arsenal.  They are without question playing with less experienced players - they started 2 teenagers against Burnley, and they are arguably weaker at the back than we are.

I get that we haven’t looked great yet, but that’s my argument, as hardly anybody on this forum is accounting for the fact that we have players who will improve this season.  I see time and again the same “we lost Hazard, he saved us time and again, we can’t replace him”, and while this is true, so true is the fact that Abraham will improve as the season goes on, Jorginho seems to have adapted fully, Christensen will only get better now that he’s playing regularly, Mount is on the up and up, Pulisic is still finding his feet and should be very important as we go.  Not to mention, Kante has been playing with a knock, Willian should end up contributing heavily despite his shocking cameo yesterday, and we have a multitude of very important players out with injury.

Are we going to win the league?  Hell no.  But it’s crazy to say our top 4 chances are gone already.  You mention circumstance - if anything, our current circumstances enhance my argument that it’s too early to write us off.

Playing this way, fitness is defo a problem and not something that will be put right in a few weeks or even months.  Klopp had the same problems at Liverpool with his players gassing out, and that was a squad who were already playing at a fairly high tempo.  Just got to be very patient with what the longterm goal is. 

Just watched the gsme back, and i think the main issue with the second half was pedro, kante, and azpi down our right side. 

Sloppy passes, and disjointed pressing, meant Fuchs and maddison had acres of space. 

I will put this one down to tired legs, and i think if Lampard had a few more of the injured players back, there wouldve been more rotation for this game. 

Lets just take the positives out the 1st 3 games.

We are starting games fantastically well, but we just need to get better at game management, and controlling the game in periods where the intensity drops. Hopefully these periods become shorter and shorter with fitness, but its impossible to play for 90 minutes at that pace. 

Mount looks ready to have a big impact, i really think he is going to go from strength to strength. 

Emerson has been great, aggresive, great on the ball, great stamina to get up and down the pitch, long msy it continue. 

It is still early days, we will get better, we have some more very good players to come back in, and although results havent gone our way, we have played some scintillating football at times. 

Long hard season ahead, we knew it would be tough, i thought the support was fantastic yesterday, so lets keep it it and stick behind the team.

 

I think we have to look at City and Liverpool when Guardiola and Klopp first came in, 3rd and 8th.

Frank is working with a younger team which is learning a new style of play and getting the fitness levels up to what we need, that won't happen overnight, We are a work in progress and we need to be realistic about that.

If we had of scored two or three during the first half in both games against Liverpool and Leicester it would have been well deserved. We will get there though once Frank's ideas are fully taken on board by the team. 

Edited August 19, 20196 yr by Malcolm9

I think we have to look at City and Liverpool when Guardiola and Klopp first came in, 3rd and 8th.
Frank is working with a younger team which is learning a new style of play and getting the fitness levels up to what we need, that won't happen overnight, We are a work in progress and we need to be realistic about that.
If we had of scored two or three during the first half in both games against Liverpool and Leicester it would have been well deserved. We will get there though once Frank's ideas are fully taken on board by the team. 

I know people made this comparison last season with Sarri but comparing Lamps to Klopp and Pep first season is now really reaching, both came with a proven track record

Frank alluded to it in the presser but the team at the moment needs to learn tempo and control. This isn’t the championship where you go flat out for 90 minutes but a more subtle thing where you go flat out at times and just manage the game at others. Going flat out all the time leads to forced rushed passes which turn the ball over with team out of position. 

Willian can’t play any worse and kantes  touch will tighten up with more match fitness. 

As I say I thought Zouma went up a level, even played an accurate, lofted, cross field ball early on. He can maybe improve even more. We won’t be a great team this season, but if all goes well we may have a style by mid season quite different to any Chelsea team I’ve seen for years, but closer to Sarri than conte or mourinho. 

25 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Frank alluded to it in the presser but the team at the moment needs to learn tempo and control.

Would almost certainly be a lot easier for Frank if we had a true leader on the pitch - the sort of guy that commands respect and calls out those not sticking to the plan or simply not thinking on their feet.

The only Chelsea man at the ground yesterday (apart from Frank) that could do this was wearing a flat grey cap and spectating. 

A strong Captain has to be a priority for Frank - not one of these 'token' Captains that get  the 'band due to longevity at the club.  That's fine as a club Captain but on-pitch you need a real leader and they seem hard to come by since JT left us.

37 minutes ago, Brutos said:

1 hour ago, Malcolm9 said:

I think we have to look at City and Liverpool when Guardiola and Klopp first came in, 3rd and 8th.
Frank is working with a younger team which is learning a new style of play and getting the fitness levels up to what we need, that won't happen overnight, We are a work in progress and we need to be realistic about that.
If we had of scored two or three during the first half in both games against Liverpool and Leicester it would have been well deserved. We will get there though once Frank's ideas are fully taken on board by the team. 

I know people made this comparison last season with Sarri but comparing Lamps to Klopp and Pep first season is now really reaching, both came with a proven track record

Well Pep should have won the league with that squad and Klopp coming 8th was pretty poor really, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish.

3 hours ago, Bloo said:

Would almost certainly be a lot easier for Frank if we had a true leader on the pitch - the sort of guy that commands respect and calls out those not sticking to the plan or simply not thinking on their feet.

The only Chelsea man at the ground yesterday (apart from Frank) that could do this was wearing a flat grey cap and spectating. 

A strong Captain has to be a priority for Frank - not one of these 'token' Captains that get  the 'band due to longevity at the club.  That's fine as a club Captain but on-pitch you need a real leader and they seem hard to come by since JT left us.

When he is back give the captains armband to James.

Watched the game on TV and thought we were lucky to get the draw. We looked tired and the tactics we are playing needs high energy players. The midweek game and being early in the season may be the reason but we looked weak in midfield after 30 minutes. Leicester just looked bigger and stronger. We need a player like RLC to assert some strength on the opposition. He won't be back for some time so maybe we need to adapt or increase our fitness.

Zouma looked better than and more confident on the ball than Christensen so that was a positive. The TV pundits said we were defending corners in a "zonal" pattern. How does that work if players make a run and nobody picks them up? Was Zouma doing his job properly? Does "zonal" work? Questions to be answered.

We have two games against lesser competition now and we really need a win if not two. Its too early in the season for these to be must win games but we need to get some confidence from somewhere. The players would have been very down after that performance. The younger players confidence will be hit harder than the more experienced guys so the longer they go without a result the harder it will be to recover. Not being positive here but it will become harder for Frank & Jody if this continues. I think things will improve if Rudi comes in soon as his power, speed and general enthusiasm could rub off on the younger players. Not sure why Kante's contribution didn't have more impact on the game.

If we can get Rudi back and Kante heading off the attacks maybe we should sit a bit deeper and hit the opposition with pace. Pulisic and Mason are very quick and to have them forcing a high press works to a degree but they seem to tire very quickly.

I'm not expecting much from this season and Frank must be given time. Its very disappointing to hear stories of booing this early in the season and its the last thing the young players need. It really is counterproductive and whoever that is needs to stop. Mount, Pulisic, Tammy and some others are very young and having their own fans booing will have a bad impact on them. Give the team a chance and realise the board has caused this problem. They got caught breaking the rules and the team are suffering because of this. We are obviously short of some top quality and having to make do and mend with maybe one or two too many young players. Its OK to have one or two young players but we sometimes are starting with 3 with more on the bench.

Overall I'm not too concerned because its very early days, Rudi will be back soon and we have had some tough games. Get a win or two and things can change quickly.

 

Edited August 20, 20196 yr by Andy North

I made this Twitter thread using StatsZone and Opta data. My overall conclusion is that Chelsea did not pass nearly enough in the attacking third against Leicester, and that will kill them as they try to play this pressing+attacking style. Nonetheless, Kanté and Mount stood out as really efficient players.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 19/08/2019 at 16:56, gazza said:

we wont be winning both them games , so things arent going to lok much better.

Nice reverse jinx!