We're playing well at the moment, while also looking pretty solid defensively, but our big problem area is creating chances and scoring goals. Without improving in that department, there are going to be some draws creeping in down the line. 

After seeing Giroud again yesterday I don't think he fits Tuchels system. CHO and Pulisic might be options when we're ahead and look to counter, but I wouldn't trust them as forwards when we're looking to break teams down. So considering Werner plays LCF and Mount in the hole just behind him, I think our best shot is getting Havertz going. He has shown in Germany that he can excel in a CF role, and I think that role as a RCF is taylor made for him. He can make his runs, link up with Mount, and cut in on his stronger right foot to slip Werner in. He also gives us a bit of an areal presence up front. Alternatively I would like to see Abraham get another shot, because he's looked good linking up with Werner in SFL's last game. And Ziyech competes with Mount for the spot in the no. 10 position.

When we start Pulisic or CHO in the front trio, I would like us to have a real reference point (Giroud, Abraham or Kai, who might be able to do this as well), with them playing either side of the striker, similar to the system against Wolves and not in those wide forward roles with Mount just in behind, we've seen in the last 3 games.

Well and truly back in the fight for Top 4. That is wonderful in such a short time.

Like our chances of overtaking both Leicester and Liverpool to be honest. They face eachother next weekend as well so perfect opportunity to close the gap further.

Still a long way to go in this season. I hope Werner can stay fit. 

Given he' only been here for about 2 weeks, regardless what opposition he played against, 10 out of possible 12 is more than most people would hoped for. Last night was all about getting the results, we weren't playing all that well, and with about 20 to go, he decided the best way to win this is by defending ( therefore taking off the last striker for a midfielder), and the players responded well to hold out the result. I reckon had we fallen behind by that penalty in the first half, he'd throw on Ziyech early to add the extra attack option.

Edited February 8, 20215 yr by icecoolguy22

A win's a win and I won't ever turn my nose up at three points. 

That said, creativity is probably the biggest issue I think Tuchel needs to address. We've won our last two games thanks to penalties and without those I don't think we would have won the last two matches. We're not creating much in the way of clear cut chances. How many decent saves did we force Lloris and Ramsdale to make? We mustered 5 shots on target in those two games (including the penalties). 

When you're picking 3 central defenders and have a midfield pairing of Kovacic and Jorginho you're leaning pretty heavily on a small number of players to come up with the creativity. All three strikers have had a start in just four games and there's been starts for Havertz, Ziyech, CHO, Mount and Werner in attacking midfield positions. 

I know Tuchel hasn't had a lot of time to work with the squad but he's settled on his preferred back three pretty quickly and seemingly his preferred two playing in the holding/pivot midifled positions. The attacking positions have had the biggest rotation and seem to be the roles he seems most unsure of. 

We are building a decent run. Hope the players don't take their feet off the gas now. 

25 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

A win's a win and I won't ever turn my nose up at three points. 

That said, creativity is probably the biggest issue I think Tuchel needs to address. We've won our last two games thanks to penalties and without those I don't think we would have won the last two matches. We're not creating much in the way of clear cut chances. How many decent saves did we force Lloris and Ramsdale to make? We mustered 5 shots on target in those two games (including the penalties). 

When you're picking 3 central defenders and have a midfield pairing of Kovacic and Jorginho you're leaning pretty heavily on a small number of players to come up with the creativity. All three strikers have had a start in just four games and there's been starts for Havertz, Ziyech, CHO, Mount and Werner in attacking midfield positions. 

I know Tuchel hasn't had a lot of time to work with the squad but he's settled on his preferred back three pretty quickly and seemingly his preferred two playing in the holding/pivot midifled positions. The attacking positions have had the biggest rotation and seem to be the roles he seems most unsure of. 

It's the opposite of how i feel, the attack has enough talent and can compete with City. The midfield and defence (Tiago aside) is mid-table level.

7 minutes ago, coco said:

It's the opposite of how i feel, the attack has enough talent and can compete with City. The midfield and defence (Tiago aside) is mid-table level.

Long term, I agree. We're desperate for a centre-back who is confident with the ball at his feet and who can either carry the ball out of defence or has range of passing. (Think David Luiz but with defending ability). 

But in the short term our attacking is my immediate concern. We have a plethora of attacking options but none of them are performing to a particularly high standard. 

Werner's struggles in front of goal are highly covered but he has chipped in with 7 assists so far in the league this season and although we need him to start scoring he's been one of the biggest attacking contributors for us. 

Out of the others:

Pulisic 1 goal, 1 assist.

Ziyech 1 goal, 1 assist

CHO 2 goals. 2 assists

Havertz 1 goal, 3 assists

Mount 3 goals. 4 assists

Kovacic 0 goals, 1 assist 

Jorginho (excluding penalties) 0 goals, 1 assist

Doesn't make for particularly good reading, especially when you consider just how much money we've invested in our attacking options recently. I mean, we might as well have kept Willian. 

Right now, the thing I think Tuchel has to address is the lack of creativity and goals coming from this team. 

19 minutes ago, coco said:

It's the opposite of how i feel, the attack has enough talent and can compete with City. The midfield and defence (Tiago aside) is mid-table level.

Potentially yes but we are currently miles away from City in attack. We need a top class striker. 

defensively we need 2 centre backs as at most we have 1 more season of Silva if we are lucky. 
 

Personally I think Tuchel may well switch to a back 4 once he gets to know and see’s each players attributes more in matches and training or improved the defensive personnel in the summer. 

Maybe in the long term Chelsea can compete with the likes of Ziyech, Pulisic and CHO. Atm we are well behind City who have Aguero and Jesus. KDB who is world class and players like Silva, Mahrez, Foden, Gundagon, Torres and Sterling. There options are unreal.

29 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Pulisic 1 goal, 1 assist.

Ziyech 1 goal, 1 assist

CHO 2 goals. 2 assists

Havertz 1 goal, 3 assists

Mount 3 goals. 4 assists

Kovacic 0 goals, 1 assist 

Giroud 3 goals, 0 assist

Almost unbelievably poor really.

7 goals between Werner, Havertz, Pulisic and Ziyech is far from good enough.

3 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Giroud 3 goals, 0 assist

Almost unbelievably poor really.

7 goals between Werner, Havertz, Pulisic and Ziyech is far from good enough.

14 goal contributions between Pulisic, Ziyech, CHO, Havertz, Kovacic, Jorginho to date in the league. 

Werner has 11 (4 goals and 7 assists). Werner's lack of goals is a problem, no question but I honestly don't thnk he's our biggest problem in attack. 

56 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Long term, I agree. We're desperate for a centre-back who is confident with the ball at his feet and who can either carry the ball out of defence or has range of passing. (Think David Luiz but with defending ability). 

But in the short term our attacking is my immediate concern. We have a plethora of attacking options but none of them are performing to a particularly high standard. 

Werner's struggles in front of goal are highly covered but he has chipped in with 7 assists so far in the league this season and although we need him to start scoring he's been one of the biggest attacking contributors for us. 

Out of the others:

Pulisic 1 goal, 1 assist.

Ziyech 1 goal, 1 assist

CHO 2 goals. 2 assists

Havertz 1 goal, 3 assists

Mount 3 goals. 4 assists

Kovacic 0 goals, 1 assist 

Jorginho (excluding penalties) 0 goals, 1 assist

Doesn't make for particularly good reading, especially when you consider just how much money we've invested in our attacking options recently. I mean, we might as well have kept Willian. 

Right now, the thing I think Tuchel has to address is the lack of creativity and goals coming from this team. 

For some reason you didn't want to include Tammy, I wonder why...

16 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Werner has 11 (4 goals and 7 assists). Werner's lack of goals is a problem, no question but I honestly don't thnk he's our biggest problem in attack. 

Almost everyone have been in piss poor form lately. No doubt about that. Guess we should take the positive signs we get and Werner looked better yesterday, CHO have elevated his performances since Tuchel and Mount is getting better and better.

 

4 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

For some reason you didn't want to include Tammy, I wonder why...

Because Tammy isn't the problem? 6 goals and 2 assists is a fairly reasonable return from Tammy. 

Wouldn't have really added to the wider point of lack of creativity I was making about the supporting players. Tammy's job is to score goals not create them, my focus was on the supporting player. 

It is pretty apparent that our new incomers need (at least) this season to find their feet in the Prem. You can see how easy it is for Mason, CHO and Reece to just play their football in familiar surroundings. The trio was again excellent in everything they did. They are still young. Werner, Havertz, Ziyech for example are not in that level of comfort. Not even close. It is also apparent our young guns are very gifted. Top class players. 

Although I love Frank and everything he did with the youth, I tend to trust Tuchel more in nurturing that talent. Tuchel's got 20 year head start in coaching so no surprises there to be fair. In terms of our youth Tuchel seems a pretty sane choice...

BTW you should listen to this Pod. Matt Law goes through his info on Frank's sacking and the expectations over a Chelsea manager. Listen to that and it is pretty obvious Frank wasn't going to get an extension and making through this season was going to be a massive struggle. It gives you an idea of the level of expectation.

 

That Atletico game is in 2 weeks I believe? I've been watching some of their football this season, Felix and Suarez are in great form and they're coasting the league at the moment. We couldn't have faced a toughter side in the CL right now, just our luck really isn't it. Our last 16 opponents in the last 5 years have been ridiculous, can't catch a break, it's no wonder we've been so sh*t in it. 

Tuchel has his work cut out for him for that one. 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

That Atletico game is in 2 weeks I believe? I've been watching some of their football this season, Felix and Suarez are in great form and they're coasting the league at the moment. We couldn't have faced a toughter side in the CL right now, just our luck really isn't it. Our last 16 opponents in the last 5 years have been ridiculous, can't catch a break, it's no wonder we've been so sh*t in it. 

Tuchel has his work cut out for him for that one. 

Is like facing Bayern last season. You know we have the slimmest of chances as they are superior to us in every single department. So unless they have two shockers and we are in top form we will bow out.

Edited February 8, 20215 yr by axman2526

55 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Is like facing Bayern last season. You know we have the slimmest of chances as they are superior to us in every single department. So unless they have two shockers and we are in top form we will bow out.

In related news the first leg may not be in Spain:

https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2021/2/8/22272438/atletico-madrid-lining-up-alternate-location-s-for-chelsea-match-in-case-of-covid-19-travel-ban

3 hours ago, Slojo said:

That Atletico game is in 2 weeks I believe? I've been watching some of their football this season, Felix and Suarez are in great form and they're coasting the league at the moment. We couldn't have faced a toughter side in the CL right now, just our luck really isn't it. Our last 16 opponents in the last 5 years have been ridiculous, can't catch a break, it's no wonder we've been so sh*t in it. 

Tuchel has his work cut out for him for that one. 

I actually think the fact they're running away with the league gives us a better chance.

When you've been playing for months with multiple room for error to all of a sudden be thrown into a do or die match has often caught teams cold, PSG are the best example of that down the years.

4 minutes ago, Argo said:

I actually think the fact they're running away with the league gives us a better chance.

When you've been playing for months with multiple room for error to all of a sudden be thrown into a do or die match has often caught teams cold, PSG are the best example of that down the years.

Not so sure about that, didn't they get into the CL final last time they won the league? And it was a lot tighter then. 

8 minutes ago, Slojo said:

Not so sure about that, didn't they get into the CL final last time they won the league? And it was a lot tighter then. 

Exactly my point, they had a do or die game every week in La Liga which kept them mentally on point. More often than not the teams that make the CL final had an intense title/top 4 race over the season to keep them fully sharp.   

6 minutes ago, Argo said:

Exactly my point, they had a do or die game every week in La Liga which kept them mentally on point. More often than not the teams that make the CL final had an intense title/top 4 race over the season to keep them fully sharp.   

Ah okay, I understand what you're saying. 

But if I had to pick a team to play in the 2nd class of last 16, they would be last by a long shot, they're very good at the moment. 

33 minutes ago, Argo said:

Exactly my point, they had a do or die game every week in La Liga which kept them mentally on point. More often than not the teams that make the CL final had an intense title/top 4 race over the season to keep them fully sharp.   

Like us in 2012??

9 minutes ago, I Am Gay 4 Diegod said:

Like us in 2012??

Yes, we were in a race for top 4 that lasted until the penultimate match and went all the way in the FA Cup. 

We had huge matches every few days.