Regarding atmosphere Chelsea have never been a community club (Palace for example where the atmosphere is good) most of our support travel in and aren't local. Also it's impossible to get atmosphere going if the fans at one match are replaced by others at another simply because it's a one off occasion for them.

In order to improve the atmosphere there needs to be serious change to how tickets are released. One example would be a young persons season ticket (18-30), significantly lower price paid in installments and sectioned in a part of the ground like the Matthew Harding lower right behind the goal. Or set up a supporters singing section, where the club runs events specifically for those who buy a ticket there and gives something back to them. Maybe engage with the local housing estates and get them involved. 

The age of the bridge fans is getting older and it's a problem that will keep getting worse until the club actively tries to fix it. At the moment they are closing their eyes to the problem and opening their mouths to complain. 

The form is a little worrying but this season has so far surpassed my expectations so I can’t complain too much.

If we are going to have a young manager and young squad, as virtually to a man all Chelsea fans wanted then we have to accept that consistency is going to be an issue while they are gaining experience together,  We are performing better I believe than when Klopp first turned up at Liverpool for example.

Maybe balance it up a bit with a experienced journey man/strong leader may help.

1 hour ago, bluehaze said:

Regarding atmosphere Chelsea have never been a community club (Palace for example where the atmosphere is good) most of our support travel in and aren't local. Also it's impossible to get atmosphere going if the fans at one match are replaced by others at another simply because it's a one off occasion for them.

I disagree on the first point. Our away fans travel afar from all over, and yet sing louder and longer than our home fans.

But i agree on the second point. Away games attract a different breed of supporter, fans looking for a jolly, threatening to drink all the local beer and does stuff to their women, home fans are not on a jolly, they spent too much lolly.

 

On 15/12/2019 at 09:42, coco said:

We'll not get top 4 unless we sort our home record out, so where is it going wrong ?

We have lots of possession and territory, pushing back the opposition and compressing them, we try to play like city, drawing defenders out and leaving spaces to play the triangles, but were not having much success. This is something we need to keep working on.

Set plays, the dead ball game is where we are truly way behind the others. we have little to zero chance of scoring from set plays. This is something we urgently need to look at, we waste so many corners and free kicks at the Bridge, when its the one part of the game each player can practice and improve upon, no excuses.

Atmosphere at home, is flat, but  sort the above two points out and the fans will react, like against Ajax in the 4-4.

Any other things we you think will help us at home ? fire away........

The only game at which the atmosphere was flat was against Bournemouth. The games against lesser clubs such as Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle we were in fine voice. Likewise in the CL games. Last year games at SB were much flatter than they have been this season. 

Edited December 19, 20196 yr by The Swan

3 minutes ago, The Swan said:

The only game at which the atmosphere was flat was against Bournemouth. The games against lesser clubs such as Brighton, Aston Villa and Newcastle we were in fine voice. Likewise in the CL games. Last year games at SB were much flatter than they have been this season. 

This season, I thought our fans stayed with team v Liverpool and gave them a good send off at full time, villa 2nd half was good, night game and stirring 2nd half display helped, Bournemouth and West Ham were embarrassing atmospheres, the other games were nothing special, will be interesting Sunday to see how it compares with Spurs since they got their shiney New stadium. A Fulham mate of mine went to Spurs v Palace earlier in season and said it was dreadful atmoshere wise, no surprise as big new stadiums attract Tourists, but the bridge is much smaller and  more old skool so should be more conjusive to atmosphere, look at West Ham and their new shambolic home, hardly Upton Park these days, and less said about the Emirates the better. As it's been said in previous posts, the club really has to start showing some commitment to helping improve it.

Sometimes I watch us and I see the same issues we had when we had Eden. Seems like sometimes we become so stale in the final third with disciplined teams sitting deep and we just waited for Eden to do something magical. Now, with Eden gone, we don't have that luxury anymore and we are seeing the lack of a killer instinct. Not sure if it is a killer instinct or the fact that we just haven't taken our chances when they are presented to us. Probably both, honestly.

It also doesn't help that Callum is still recovering from his injury and won't be fully 100% until late in the season or next year more than likely. He's a player that can do something in the final third that we are missing. Also, once we get Ruben back it will be nice as well. But I think we have to remember that 1. he had a very bad injury and 2. he has had some set backs on his recovery. I imagine Lampard is not going to rush RLC back and probably will be eased back into the squad even more slowly than he has brought CHO back into the fold.

I don't think that the addition of CHO and RLC will fix us by any means, but it will help.

We are a work in progress and we just need more time to get the proper players in, and get rid of the players who no longer fit this style and what we want to do. Hopefully we are just smart about our spending.

The home record is getting worse.

Another defeat at the hands of ordinary opposition.

I think Jody needs to bang a few heads together in the dressing room. 

For some reason at home we seek to control possession without actually doing anything with the ball. Far too many keepers are having their easiest game of the season now at the Bridge, three consecutive  blanks against what are in reality poor defences. Not enough efforts on goal never mind on target, is a result of poor balls into the area from what are very decent openings. It is though the lack of intensity in our play I find the most mystifying, every game we start so poorly allowing the opponents to grow effectively into the game. 

This should be a hard ground to come to for the opposition, it isn't. The ground has very little intimidation now, atmosphere is poor but is this as a result of stagnant play. Chicken or the egg?

The ENDLESS passing across the back four then too Jorginho then back again drives me insane. Surelythey are not being coached to do that !!

Just because a tactic works one week doesn't mean it will work the next.

Won against Wolves with a back 3, lost against Valencia with a back 3.
Won against Spurs with a back 3, lost against Southampton with a back 3.

In Frank we trust.

This poor home form is baffling and it's worrying that we aren't learning from it but just repeating same old, same old.

We are making very average teams look like they have the best defensive set-ups since some of the great Italian sides. It would be one thing if sides were performing heroics with their goal under siege, woodwork struck, keeper pulling off brilliant saves. But it's nowhere near that. Sides just get men behind the ball, put in a shift and are well organised and that's it - a clean sheet and 3 points, thank you very much.

Down to Lamps and Jody to fathom it out and put it right 'cos zero points and zero goals at The Bridge v West Ham, Bournemouth and Southampton is not something to sing about. We have a good, young squad who are at times are playing some very exciting football but it appears we are lacking and need a game-changer. January window...............

2 minutes ago, the special one said:

 

In Frank we trust.

I trust Frank, but some on here dont, they only show up on the forum to post when we lose, but when we win, like against Spuds, they go silent.

Struggling for creativity without Hazard. Abraham doesn't do too much outside the box. The fullbacks bar Reece James are not great going forward. Struggle to create so we take more risks which leave our defence a bit more open and we get punished every-time, opposition seem to score with one shot. Attacking players we need to strengthen the most in January, starting with Zaha. Would even look at Coutinho in the summer too. Hudson Odoi needs a loan.

Oh and i have no problem with Frank playing 343 even at home VS low block teams. We struggle too when we play 433 or 4231 its not the formation for me its the players. Our attack has needed freshening up for a few years now. I hope Frank doesn't ditch 343 because of today result, Conte beat teams playing 343 at home VS low block teams so it can work.

Edited December 26, 20196 yr by jack_super_class

Trying to understand whats happening at home with our lack of offensive penetration is difficult. Tough EPL teams (the majority of the league) with few flare players among them, have got our number at home, it feels like the blueprint on how to beat us at home is pinned up in the away dressing room. Predictable tactics from visiting teams should hold no surprise to Frank by now.

Were still one the worst teams for offensive dead balls, we should be punishing teams with so much territory and possession, either from wide balls, corners, free kicks, winning more penalties with VAR helping, but were simply not using our home advantage, in fact its a disadvantage. Teams allow us to cross knowing Tammy is the only danger aerially, with the rest of the offence dominated by bigger defenders. Maybe that's when you put Giroud and Tammy up there and say go bash'em lads with a 4-4-2 old school. Two up front, playing at home, got to be worth trying.

20 hours ago, charierre said:

For some reason at home we seek to control possession without actually doing anything with the ball. Far too many keepers are having their easiest game of the season now at the Bridge, three consecutive  blanks against what are in reality poor defences. Not enough efforts on goal never mind on target, is a result of poor balls into the area from what are very decent openings. It is though the lack of intensity in our play I find the most mystifying, every game we start so poorly allowing the opponents to grow effectively into the game. 

This should be a hard ground to come to for the opposition, it isn't. The ground has very little intimidation now, atmosphere is poor but is this as a result of stagnant play. Chicken or the egg?

I don't understand why none of our players seem to take shots from outside the box against these teams. It's constant passing around the box. Lampard of all people should know this. He said himself that he liked to take shots outside the box as if he didn't score, it could rebound off keeper and someone gets there foot on it, or it takes a deflection etc. 

1 hour ago, enigma said:

I don't understand why none of our players seem to take shots from outside the box against these teams. It's constant passing around the box. Lampard of all people should know this. He said himself that he liked to take shots outside the box as if he didn't score, it could rebound off keeper and someone gets there foot on it, or it takes a deflection etc. 

Callum tried it once and it got closed down for a corner. Tomori had a crack and think it missed.

Generally few opportunities as they cleverly put lots of bodies in the box. We had lots of corners and didn't deliver.

One short corner Callum tried what Willian did against Spurs, unlike Willian he did not score yet was close.

We were unlucky that Alonso was not fit for this though you would hope with 3 CBs one could get his head decently on to a corner. 

 

Edited December 27, 20196 yr by strider6004

2 hours ago, coco said:

Trying to understand whats happening at home with our lack of offensive penetration is difficult. Tough EPL teams (the majority of the league) with few flare players among them, have got our number at home, it feels like the blueprint on how to beat us at home is pinned up in the away dressing room. Predictable tactics from visiting teams should hold no surprise to Frank by now.

Were still one the worst teams for offensive dead balls, we should be punishing teams with so much territory and possession, either from wide balls, corners, free kicks, winning more penalties with VAR helping, but were simply not using our home advantage, in fact its a disadvantage. Teams allow us to cross knowing Tammy is the only danger aerially, with the rest of the offence dominated by bigger defenders. Maybe that's when you put Giroud and Tammy up there and say go bash'em lads with a 4-4-2 old school. Two up front, playing at home, got to be worth trying.

I am surprised Giroud hasn't been on the bench to give us the extra dimension of a lump it up to the big man when all else is failing. He has more to his game than Bats in this respect and could bring others including Tammy( who I feel gets a little bullied trying to lead the line alone by the centre backs with his as yet lack of physicality). We don't even try the old fashioned throw the centre back into the fray when chasing a game, its as if its become taboo and everyone must play a version of 'a la Pep'. 

The reason the three at the back was so successful against Spurs was the unpredictability. Teams train throughout the week on how we will play and sometimes just mixing it up a little causes enough confusion. I'm not saying completely change but  occasionally it works. Small advantages.

1 hour ago, charierre said:

I am surprised Giroud hasn't been on the bench to give us the extra dimension of a lump it up to the big man when all else is failing. He has more to his game than Bats in this respect and could bring others including Tammy( who I feel gets a little bullied trying to lead the line alone by the centre backs with his as yet lack of physicality). We don't even try the old fashioned throw the centre back into the fray when chasing a game, its as if its become taboo and everyone must play a version of 'a la Pep'. 

The reason the three at the back was so successful against Spurs was the unpredictability. Teams train throughout the week on how we will play and sometimes just mixing it up a little causes enough confusion. I'm not saying completely change but  occasionally it works. Small advantages.

I agree with the unpredictability factor and think Hassenhutl realised that was our first clean sheet against Spurs and we would try it again so outthought us. I noticed when Emerson went to backheel the ball early on I think to Willian running beyond him he was tackled both from behind and in front suggesting they had really done their homework.

Frank didn't change whether from bloody mindedness or lacking the personnel not sure.

Without the extra front man Abraham seems infective against well drilled defensive sides. Perhaps if we had a physically stronger man like Zaha rather that Pulisic or Willian then that would have made a difference, just not sure.

With the five at the back without Alonso giving forward support we seem toothless.

We had 8 corners yet very few delivered a good opportunity to score.

On 26/12/2019 at 18:03, Andy2461 said:

The ENDLESS passing across the back four then too Jorginho then back again drives me insane. Surelythey are not being coached to do that !!

Been saying this for ages, and been pulled up on it. It's the 'modern way' apparently.

Us match going fans have to take some responsibility, our atmosphere at home is f**kin awful, it doesn't really help get the players up for it, a few shouts of "we hate Tottenham" during the liquidator ( where the hell that suddenly has appeared from I don't know) then it's back to total silence as the game kicks off. 

37 minutes ago, chi blue said:

Us match going fans have to take some responsibility, our atmosphere at home is f**kin awful, it doesn't really help get the players up for it, a few shouts of "we hate Tottenham" during the liquidator ( where the hell that suddenly has appeared from I don't know) then it's back to total silence as the game kicks off. 

There was some woman kicking off in the Shed End against Southampton because people were swearing. Go sit in the West Upper if you don’t like the way us common scumbags speak. 

53 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

There was some woman kicking off in the Shed End against Southampton because people were swearing. Go sit in the West Upper if you don’t like the way us common scumbags speak. 

Better still, she should go and watch Football at the Emirates with Rupert and Octavia and sip a cup of Latte as the game is on.

1 hour ago, Munkworth said:

There was some woman kicking off in the Shed End against Southampton because people were swearing. Go sit in the West Upper if you don’t like the way us common scumbags speak. 

Or better still f**k off to the opera.?