5 hours ago, Argo said:

Yeah but we had a solid plan to hurt them in attack that didn't revolve around set pieces and rub of the green, the following season we set out to just sit back against them and look what happened (that game in Manchester was the moment I fully turned against Conte, the most humiliating moment as a Chelsea fan bar none, yes even over that 6-0).

I just don't think sitting back with these group of players will help.

Rotherham springs to mind

4 minutes ago, charierre said:

Rotherham springs to mind

• Gallery
• Bar
• Calendar
• Fan
• Greens
• Guidelines
• Help
• Hurts
• Jumps
• Live Stream
• Gallery
• Bar
• Calendar
• Fan
• Greens
• Guidelines

• Help
• Hurts
• Jumps
• Live Stream
• Gallery
• Bar
• Calendar
• Fan
• Greens
• Guidelines
• Help
• Hurts
• Jumps
• Live Stream

I wasn't born at that point so can't comment but i would genuinely say i'd be hard pushed to feel more humiliated watching us ever again even if we went back to that level.

It's not the score that day i found humiliating (obviously 1-0 at The Ethiad is in itself far from a disgrace) it's the fact we went with no intention of getting a result, Conte went for a valiant defeat (as clearly demonstrated by the fact the approach didn't change even after they scored). As awful as the football got under Mou at times, one thing you can say is that he will always aim to get a result.

40 minutes ago, Argo said:

I wasn't born at that point so can't comment but i would genuinely say i'd be hard pushed to feel more humiliated watching us ever again even if we went back to that level.

It's not the score that day i found humiliating (obviously 1-0 at The Ethiad is in itself far from a disgrace) it's the fact we went with no intention of getting a result, Conte went for a valiant defeat (as clearly demonstrated by the fact the approach didn't change even after they scored). As awful as the football got under Mou at times, one thing you can say is that he will always aim to get a result.

Man City got a gift, Conte went for a draw obviously and almost had it.

1 minute ago, Gol15 said:

Man City got a gift, Conte went for a draw obviously and almost had it.

Then why didn't we go for it more once we went behind? Not only did we still refuse to attack if anything we got even more defensive. That clip of Silva and (i think) Gundogan passing it between themselves under no pressure with 20 minutes left was outrageous.

4 minutes ago, Argo said:

Then why didn't we go for it more once we went behind? Not only did we still refuse to attack if anything we got even more defensive. That clip of Silva and (i think) Gundogan passing it between themselves under no pressure with 20 minutes left was outrageous.

Because it was impossible to do anything with that squad. Man City that season was unplayable anyway, even so the goal that won them the game was because of our own weak team that gifted them the win, it's not due to Conte's tactic. Sarri tried to play and got destroyed like a total amateur, at least Conte always knew what his squad could and couldn't do.

15 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

Because it was impossible to do anything with that squad. Man City that season was unplayable anyway, even so the goal that won them the game was because of our own weak team that gifted them the win, it's not due to Conte's tactic. Sarri tried to play and got destroyed like a total amateur, at least Conte always knew what his squad could and couldn't do.

Sarri got destroyed once and the other two times we kept clean sheets and we were the better team. Also Huddersfield and Everton got results there so this notion we couldn't doesn't wash.

There's no excuse for not even trying to equalize no matter what spin you put on it, look at the difference two years later, Lampard faces the runaway leaders (as we did that day) with an injury crisis but did Lampard make excuses and accept a "valiant defeat"? No, he did what he was paid to do and worked a way round it, and we were rewarded with a comfortable win.

Edited June 23, 20206 yr by Argo

Well done Brighton , up to us to now do our stuff.

8 minutes ago, charierre said:

Well done Brighton , up to us to now do our stuff.

Just about to say the same. ?

16 minutes ago, charierre said:

Well done Brighton , up to us to now do our stuff.

Gives us a free hit here. Many would have expected the foxes to have beaten at least 1 of Watford and Brighton if not both. 

So if we draw we go back to 3 off them, lose is 4 but win and we move within a point. Not bad. We have a shot at 3rd.

 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

Sarri got destroyed once and the other two times we kept clean sheets and we were the better team. Also Huddersfield and Everton got results there so this notion we couldn't doesn't wash.

There's no excuse for not even trying to equalize no matter what spin you put on it, look at the difference two years later, Lampard faces the runaway leaders (as we did that day) with an injury crisis but did Lampard make excuses and accept a "valiant defeat"? No, he did what he was paid to do and worked a way round it, and we were rewarded with a comfortable win.

I think you forgot just how strong Man city was that year. Conte couldn't do much with the team he had, even so the clean sheet was on the table for us but as it happened many times during these last few seasons the second half started but our players were daydreaming, what Conte was saying that year didn't change because he left but because players that came along: Tammy, Jorginho, Mount, Kovacic, Pulisic.

Lampard isn't a defensive manager, Conte is or at least has been with us so you can't compare them that way, Lampard wouldn't be able to play the high pressing game with Fabregas and Drinkwater.

17 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

I think you forgot just how strong Man city was that year. Conte couldn't do much with the team he had, even so the clean sheet was on the table for us but as it happened many times during these last few seasons the second half started but our players were daydreaming, what Conte was saying that year didn't change because he left but because players that came along: Tammy, Jorginho, Mount, Kovacic, Pulisic.

Lampard isn't a defensive manager, Conte is or at least has been with us so you can't compare them that way, Lampard wouldn't be able to play the high pressing game with Fabregas and Drinkwater.

I didn't expect him to play a high pressing game just something resembling an attacking plan (especially after falling behind), we were obviously underdogs but a result wasn't impossible (they lost to Wigan around that time).

This is the third season in a row at the bridge where Aguero has been injured against us.

Blessing in disguise for us as he always scores against us when he is fit. Home, away or neutral venue.

Table could look very different on Thursday night in relation to point gaps:

Chelsea win 54 points (1 behind Leicester) with a Man U loss, 46 points (8 point gap) 

Chelsea lose 51 points (4 behind Leicester) 
Man U win, 49 points gap closer to 2. 
 

Also the draw options added in which doesn’t look as dramatic either way, shows us the importance of taking Something  away from The city game. 
 

Sheffield are no push overs but we have to see a Utd home win as a high possibility and also is losing as I hate to say almost likely. 
 

Is it in franks arsenal to go for a draw? I would play this game quite tentatively. 

Hard to see us getting something from this game unfortunately. Let’s hope I’m wrong 

Incoming Lampard masterclass, think he will revert to the 3-5-2 formation:

                  Kepa

           Azpi-Zouma-Rudi

James-Kova-Kante-Mount-Alonso

           Willian-Abraham

 

Seems like Pep wants to rest some players tomorrow

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8455295/Pep-Guardiola-vows-REST-Manchester-Citys-star-players-Chelsea.html

I really don't think 5 at the back is the way to go here. We need the extra man in midfield against a team like City. We were the better team at the Etihad and were comfortable until the individual error and very bad luck changed the game. 

Kepa

James Zouma Christensen Azpi

Kante Gilmour Kovacic

Willian Giroud Mount 

They will focus more on the FA Cup final so we have a good chance. Still hoping for a 4-2-3-1

Kepa 

James Rudi Zouma Azpili

Kante Billy

Willian Mount Pulisic

Giroud

18 hours ago, SFL82 said:

Table could look very different on Thursday night in relation to point gaps:

Chelsea win 54 points (1 behind Leicester) with a Man U loss, 46 points (8 point gap) 

Chelsea lose 51 points (4 behind Leicester) 
Man U win, 49 points gap closer to 2. 
 

Also the draw options added in which doesn’t look as dramatic either way, shows us the importance of taking Something  away from The city game. 
 

Sheffield are no push overs but we have to see a Utd home win as a high possibility and also is losing as I hate to say almost likely. 
 

Is it in franks arsenal to go for a draw? I would play this game quite tentatively. 

 

Audiobooks from Audible

Enjoy books in a whole new way, listen anytime anyplace. Start your free 30 day...

audible.com

 

 

Unfortunately Sheff United have not returned well. Yet to score a goal in 2 and a half games. Letting in 5.

 

So 2 point gap it is.

3-0 to United and Wolves also winning so they’re 2 points behind now. 

These results have really put the heat on us, in all cases I don’t think we can lose this the upside is city have nothing to play for on the table and an empty stadium so I think we at the very least should be more motivated 

Edited June 24, 20206 yr by SFL82

Liverpool wining so hopefully will demotivate City

50 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Liverpool wining so hopefully will demotivate City

Will be the opposite. Think they want to be the first team to give liverpool the guard of honour ?

United are following our back, we need to climb higher. 

City are looking good, it will be a difficult challenge but possible.

-------- Kepa -----

Azpi - Zouma - Rudiger - Alonso

-------- Kante --------

-- Kovacic -- Mount ---

Willian ---- Abraham --- Pulisic

 

Let's hope for a good performance.

At least the Vermin won’t be champions tomorrow have you seen our defending all season ? No improvement during the lay off because personnel need replacing, and City will rotate and have already put 8 in the net unopposed, and lbh we got a bit lucky with that swift double on Sunday.  As for wolves and united it’s going to be a fight until the last day I reckon, baby faces men are the main threat now as they seem to have finally clicked. Saying that we’ve stubbornly held onto 4th place even with a similar points gap earlier this year.