10 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

you lost me when u said rudiger and christensen.. Christensen is a bitch and i hope he doesnt start against watford or else Deeney will make him his bitch. Christensen is good when the game is on the ground and more continental but when it is a british physical game he puts on his skirt and plays like a you know what.  Hopefully zouma plays against watford

look at Kurt Zouma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Nc3QkF_DY

I still can’t get my head around the toe poke for a corner at the half.

I still can’t get my head around the toe poke for a corner at the half.

It was laughable this why am not even upset it's just comedy at the moment

I don’t comment on here much really falling into the category of being an old git and not being surprised by anything in football, although results like last nights still leave a bloody nasty taste!

Anyway here are some of my observations most of which have probably been highlighted on here!!

Kepa:  not a bad keeper but he’s typically continental, crosses are a definite no no which means you need a very powerful centre half or twin centre half’s to defend the six yard box. I watched Rudiger when he was playing in the Bundasliga and while he’s been with us, a good player but the uncertainty of the keeper behind him seems to have affected his confidence. Definitely think he needs a Terry like figure alongside him then I think he’ll be fine. Christiansen btw is not the answer as a defender nor is Zouma, you can see the panic in his eyes when Kepa bowls the ball out to him and his defending is very questionable as well, can’t fault his enthusiasm though.

The collection of full backs we have are ok, but we could probably do better in the transfer market if anything decent is available (don’t think we will ever be fortunate to have another Ashley Cole or Ivanovich again)

The midfield boys and the forwards we are very strong in that area, especially with Werner and Ziyech to come, it’s a question of Frank just finding the right combination and the players he selects understanding his system. So in effect we need to get a dominant centre half alongside Rudiger and if Kepa still looks dodgy with a pretty decent defence in front of him get Kaspar Smeichel!! Our forward line and midfield players have the potential to be as good as anything in the Premier league at the moment It’s also Franks first season so I don’t think you’ll see the consistency he so craves from his team this year.

Oh and while I think John Terry was one of the best centre halves this country has produced I don’t think he’d be the answer to our defensive frailties from a coaching point of view, just look where Villa are!!!

 

 

 

Edited July 2, 20206 yr by rocker_joker
typos

The turning point of the game was when Rudiger got that panic attack and kicked the ball for the corner with 30 seconds to go. He had time and space to kick it to the nearest parking lot, but no, please have a corner on the plate with the ribbon.  Goal from that corner was imminent.

Moyes didn’t even have to say anything at half time. They already knew they would score more.
Rudiger and Christensen were terrified every time Antonio got the ball near them or smiled at them. Lampard probably should have done a gutsy thing and replaced Rudiger at half-time.  

Watching this defense, you feel that even randomly assembled team of Joe SixPack would score a goal or two against them.

The bottom line is: this defense is beyond repair. They won’t get consistently better. If Lampard persists with the same defense next season it may do unrepairable morale damage to the team. 
It would gradually demotivate the rest of the team. We talk about simple stupid mistakes which writes off all team efforts. Not being outplayed by better teams, but making consistent simple mistakes against weaker teams. 

It is now obvious that MU will get the third place. Chelsea, Leicester and Wolves would fight for the fourth till the last day.  This last minute conceded goal and lost point might prove to be crucial. 

11 hours ago, loz said:

I don't disagree. If a player is out of form then no disputing at all that they shouldn't be exempt from being dropped.

My point is more longer term than temporary form.

I mentioned a lot of players who I don't think are up to the standard required if we are genuinely targeting challenging for titles in the near future. That has nothing to do with form and everything to do with ability. However as you, consistently, see it as all about Jorginho then I may as well.

Is he a player, in his role, who will be a key player in a title challenging side? No. Is he a top four, there or thereabouts player? Absolutely. We have many of them but you only really have one focus so it's pointless talking more widely.

I hope we sell him whilst we can still get decent value for him and reinvest the money. There are others I feel the same about but you don't really invest much time in considering them.

For me, i always get suprised by many of our comments. when u have a team with players, it is important to follow them properly. u must understand the kind of players they are, their ability, how they play when they are playing a position, If u watch the France NATIONAL team, u will observe that I think Matuidi always plays alongside Kante in the midfield. Then also i think there was a season when Matic played alongside Kante for Chelsea, and maybe it was a little bit better then. When u play with only one defensive midfielder in the midfield with two attacking midfielders with him, the load may be too much for that defensive midfielder alone to carry, I mean the defensive duties in the midfield, if u know what i mean.

For example, look at Man Utd, when they play Mctominay, they still have to play Fred with him, especially in a tough match. So, maybe Chelsea needs to sort that midfield out one way or the other. If we were a team like Man City, u may be able to afford to play one defensive midfielder, when even if oponent score against you, you will score many more back with the likes of Bernando Silva, Mahrez, David Silva, Debruyne, Aguero, sterling. If we want to go that way then we must buy very very good attacking players in front of Kante to compensate for him, because with him alone, the work may be too much, and we may be conceeding goals against a good team.

But to make up for that, we must have a very good attacking midfield that retains possession, such that the opponents will not have the ball much to attack us . Then positions like right back and left back are very important. we need better players in those positions.

35 minutes ago, rocker_joker said:

 

845 touches and 658 passes and 99% of those in our own f**king half.

ok. I haven't read through the thread. I'm sure many people are pissed and rightly so. That was a self-inflicted cock up on so many fronts. But let's not get full of doom and gloom. I've spoken to people and heard a lot of negativity just generally. Obviously some of it is justified. But let's keep some perspective/hope. All is not lost, yet.,

What did last night show? That the squad isn't good enough, particularly in some key positions. We knew that. We undid the good work by beating city, but we're still in a good position to qualify for the CL. A tough ask, but doable. 

It has seemed for a while that the final game against Wolves could be a potential decider. That is looking even more likely. So strap yourselves in, this is Chelsea, the ride is never smooth.

 

There appears to be too much hysteria and much of this is coming from new members to this board, I think there could be some fishing going on here.

Yesterday’s game was disappointing. Let’s move on.

Many people quite rightly feel that the premier league is the best league in the world.

If we were as poor and hopeless as some people are writing, we would not be sitting fourth in the table. League table positions don’t lie.

Is it a cast iron guarantee then we will end up in the top four? Of course not.

Back in August with a new inexperienced manager and a transfer ban any true Chelsea fan would have taken a top 6 place. That would have been great given the circumstances.

This team is going through a building process and Frank is still learning.

People need to take a better perspective on things.

It’s not as bad as people are suggesting. We are inconsistent but taken as a whole Chelsea have been good this season with many encouraging signs.

Having read through all the comments, looked at the stats, and watched the match I think the overall conclusion is that the new kit is bad luck, or the 3 sponsorship is to distracting to our defenders. Either way time to get on to Nike to make a new shirt before the start of next season.

I said in July last year we would get fourth, that is where we are now.

I also thought we would get to the semis of the FA Cup, just wish I had visited the bookies back then.

Frank will look at this and change something that will motivate others not wanting to be dropped.

I also thought Moyes will keep the Hammers up just unfortunate they beat us though not the first time we have slipped up at West Ham by any means.

13 hours ago, SFL82 said:

Just watched franks post match he doesn’t blame the defence he is again talking about missed chances. 
 

I think his naivety is showing, he is an attack minded player and it’s almost as if that’s his full focus and defending is an after thought, it does not work like that at top level  

 

He was asked Specifically about set pieces bring our weakness and he put it down to them being bigger than us....not what I wanted to hear from the manager after that sh*t show 

        So why bench a Tall, Physical Zouma who is also our best leaper for soft ass Christensen. It is not a co incidence that Christensen hasn't scored a goal for us since he joined the club. Most Defenders score at set pieces and even Azpi who isnt the tallest chips in with some at set pieces. I am honestly sick of Christensen . He is great defender when teams want to put the ball on the ground and play tika taka like city did but when it is a phsical English game he just goes into his shell. We also need to fix our Left Center Back position. Zouma and Tomori are the only ones who can play that position well. Rudiger plays better on the right but has to switch to the left to accommodate Christensen..

2 hours ago, The Swan said:

There appears to be too much hysteria and much of this is coming from new members to this board,

Yesterday’s game was disappointing. Let’s move on.

Are you Ashley Cole in disguised? He basically said the same thing you posted.

 

Everyone acting like Chelsea are some pony side who are gonna be lucky to avoid relegation at this point. Yeah, they are inconsistent and it is frustrating to watch but we can't act like they didn't just beat City and Leicester and also Liverpool before the break. They're not going to win out and with how our CBs have been all year, we all should've known that this type of performance was going to rear its head at some point. We can over take Leicester and stay on top of United. Additionally, hopefully CAS actually uphold some of City's punishment and they will be out of CL next season.

3 hours ago, The Swan said:

There appears to be too much hysteria and much of this is coming from new members to this board, I think there could be some fishing going on here.

Yesterday’s game was disappointing. Let’s move on.

Many people quite rightly feel that the premier league is the best league in the world.

If we were as poor and hopeless as some people are writing, we would not be sitting fourth in the table. League table positions don’t lie.

Is it a cast iron guarantee then we will end up in the top four? Of course not.

Back in August with a new inexperienced manager and a transfer ban any true Chelsea fan would have taken a top 6 place. That would have been great given the circumstances.

This team is going through a building process and Frank is still learning.

People need to take a better perspective on things.

It’s not as bad as people are suggesting. We are inconsistent but taken as a whole Chelsea have been good this season with many encouraging signs.

We're in the same boat as I see it. Will you lot stick with Lampard and us with Solskjaer? We didn't have a transfer ban but our handicap in this regard is Woodward. I think Frank Lampard has done a good job and I think Jody Morris is a good number 2. All things considered, Lampard has done really well and will get better. Not so sure about Ole though. Had Fernandes not signed, we might be looking at 6th or 7th and a change of manager. If he blows top 4, we still might. 2 points in it now and Leicester are slipping up a bit. I think City will win their appeal and be back in the CL next year, but Guardiola will be looking to rebuild. With all these sides in transition, you have to think that the dippers will consolidate their title and probably win another.

11 minutes ago, Stretford Ender said:

We're in the same boat as I see it. Will you lot stick with Lampard and us with Solskjaer? We didn't have a transfer ban but our handicap in this regard is Woodward. I think Frank Lampard has done a good job and I think Jody Morris is a good number 2. All things considered, Lampard has done really well and will get better. Not so sure about Ole though. Had Fernandes not signed, we might be looking at 6th or 7th and a change of manager. If he blows top 4, we still might. 2 points in it now and Leicester are slipping up a bit. I think City will win their appeal and be back in the CL next year, but Guardiola will be looking to rebuild. With all these sides in transition, you have to think that the dippers will consolidate their title and probably win another.

I think both of us will keep the same managers next season.

The season after will depend on results for both.

Also for you if Liverpool continue their winning streak they leapfrog you in the clubs honours list which I think will put more pressure on Ole.

I think Lampard might turn us into the old Arsenal of staying in the CL not sure if he yet has the cup winning ability. 

 

1 hour ago, Stretford Ender said:

We're in the same boat as I see it. Will you lot stick with Lampard and us with Solskjaer? We didn't have a transfer ban but our handicap in this regard is Woodward. I think Frank Lampard has done a good job and I think Jody Morris is a good number 2. All things considered, Lampard has done really well and will get better. Not so sure about Ole though. Had Fernandes not signed, we might be looking at 6th or 7th and a change of manager. If he blows top 4, we still might. 2 points in it now and Leicester are slipping up a bit. I think City will win their appeal and be back in the CL next year, but Guardiola will be looking to rebuild. With all these sides in transition, you have to think that the dippers will consolidate their title and probably win another.

What a depressing thought about the scousers. 

Next day , don’t seem so bad but let’s just acknowledge that WHU have done the league double on us and that result may lose us CL football next season also it may not. Which tbh was a lofty goal back last September.  I’d be happy with top 6 and can’t slag the manager and coaching too much. Think that if we see next season a couple of new options come in and a couple leaving from the defensive team  we’ll see an improvement. Once again it’s all down to good recruitment like the 2
clubs we aspire to match and challenge for the title. 

20 hours ago, JM7 said:

We should have settled for a point. It obviously wasn’t our night. 

I went to bed so pissed off that we didn't even get a point and the realisation that the pikeys have taken 6 points off us this season.

We get it back to 2-2 with nearly 20 minutes to go and look the team in the ascendency with better players on the pitch to take the 3 points.  And with the clock running down, West Ham were clearly happy with the point. Taking time every time the ball went out whilst we were rushing to keep things moving, but even then, I had that nagging doubt that our defence could also hold out if they got one more opportunity, and so it turned out.

Said it back in January and nothing has changed. As exciting as the future is at CFC, with regards to the defence and keeper who played last night, not one of them are good enough to be starting for a team hoping to be challenging for the PL & CL and I wouldn't mind if all were moved on.

 

Liverpool weren't going to win anything when they relied on Karius and Lovren, so it shows how much a decent keeper and a commanding centre back help.

8 hours ago, Brutos said:

9 hours ago, The Rising Sun said:

Compare the comments on the City game to the West Ham game.
it's not only the team that are inconsistent !
it's the same old failings though, tons of possession , no end product.  Deplorable defending especially on crosses.
I can't see how hard this is to fix ,  surely it can be sorted out ? Although it's lasted all season , beginning to think we only beat City because they didn't sling crosses into the box..!
Anyway, forget CL and the Cup , I didn't want the season to restart anyway. I'm writing it off, it's the only way to keep sane

We got lucky against city, I made the same statement after the match we deserve some luck but it wasn't because we had their number Sterling should have scored and they had several tap ins that they missed. I haven't gotten excited since the restart because I can see the same issues we had at the first match against United still present

Depressingly, spot on. Hadn't thought of it those terms, but yes, the problems during v the United opening game are still with us towards the end of the season. 

Liverpool weren't going to win anything when they relied on Karius and Lovren, so it shows how much a decent keeper and a commanding centre back help.

Absolutely. Said this many times before. They bought well with VanDijk and Alisson.

Now they are bidding for Koulibaly if reports are to believed. If you want to be at the very top you need quality. We know that. You can go so far with brilliant system and great coach.

14 hours ago, Malcolm9 said:

Liverpool weren't going to win anything when they relied on Karius and Lovren, so it shows how much a decent keeper and a commanding centre back help.

Exactly, they pretty much had the best attack in the world at one point too with Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge. They've won f*ck all.

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

Exactly, they pretty much had the best attack in the world at one point too with Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge. They've won f*ck all.

I'm sorry, " best attack in the world " and "Sterling and Sturridge."?????????

Gotta be a wind-up, surely!