Sorry, Tuchel must act now and drop Lukaku out of the line-up against Lille.
Otherwise it will be difficult to go through to the next round with such a "striker" upfront.

1 hour ago, PloKoon13 said:

I sincerely hope that the lineup against Palace was the result of Azpilicueta and Hudson-Odoi being unavailable at the last minute and not some bizarre experiment. Despite what Vialli said twenty years ago, full-backs are actually rather important in modern football.

I don't think either would have made much difference TBH.  CHO can't beat a lamp post and Dave although a great servant, his legs are going and against Zaha or anyone with pace he'd be struggling.  TT's pragmatic style is either down to the fact that neither of the so called talented line up are so out of form or he's afraid to be brave when we need to, both in terms of team selection or how he manages subs. 

5 wins on the bounce now - our best streak of the season, with some of our worst form LOL.

Would love to know why Lukaku keeps getting picked. Must surely be a club decision and not TT's own choice ?

4 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Would love to know why Lukaku keeps getting picked. Must surely be a club decision and not TT's own choice ?

Just watch from 1:30 and look into the face of Tuchel when he is asked about Lukaku. I think this says it all.

 

6 minutes ago, TheGermanOne said:

Just watch from 1:30 and look into the face of Tuchel when he is asked about Lukaku. I think this says it all.

 

Interesting that he says Lukaku’s issues are “not about a system”. 

4 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Interesting that he says Lukaku’s issues are “not about a system”. 

No his issues are mainly the fact he’s f**king sh*t. 

Edited February 19, 20224 yr by Munkworth

2 hours ago, TheGermanOne said:

Sorry, Tuchel must act now and drop Lukaku out of the line-up against Lille.
Otherwise it will be difficult to go through to the next round with such a "striker" upfront.

It's funny because on one hand it's testament to just how good a coach Tuchel is that he's managing to get us winning inspire of Rom but at the same time I can't really praise him for it because he's bloody picking him 

1 hour ago, Argo said:

It's funny because on one hand it's testament to just how good a coach Tuchel is that he's managing to get us winning inspire of Rom but at the same time I can't really praise him for it because he's bloody picking him 

I can only assume he is hoping to play him into some sort of form. I am sure it must be tempting for Tuchel to run to a system with more of a false 9 (e.g. Havertz), although the danger there is that it will create friction behind the scenes. I also don't think that will radically increase our goals scored. Really we've struggled in that area ever since losing our 2 first choice wing backs. Maybe we will see some improvement when Reece returns but it depends on whether he can refind his early season form.

1 hour ago, Argo said:

It's funny because on one hand it's testament to just how good a coach Tuchel is that he's managing to get us winning inspire of Rom but at the same time I can't really praise him for it because he's bloody picking him 

Unfortunately is a no win situation Tuchel finds himself in. If he doesn't pick Lukaku our biggest investment there might be some concerns from the board plus Lukaku throwing a tantrum. When Lukaku is picked he is not making the difference that we bought him for and often looks like a championship striker.

Honestly the least enjoyment I have taken from a win. We were terrible. I don't think it would have improved CP but why start him in the middle and Havertz on the left? Why keep picking Lukaku when it is so so clear you don't rate him and he does not want to be here? Is Roman making that call?

I keep waiting in hope we will soon return to playing good football and get results to go with it.

Since December started we have basically been terrible to watch almost every game, today being one of the worst with a half a$$Ed effort fron near everyone. Sloppy passes, poor link up. Just awful.

The system is just bad. After a win we change back from 4141 to 343 . You don’t have to player for that so why keep

trying… Sarr as a leftback sorry that is too much why bring Kennedy back and rate him high but don’t use him.

i heard people saying to go back to 343 with Havertz as false 9. Wake up people don’t you see he is out of shape, form and he is not happy performing. Reece and Ben still out and Kante is not the same Kante of last year.

mount is also out of form. We haven’t started with the same lineup for more 2 matches. Forwards need to play more often together and they need the ball from the back.

Edited February 19, 20224 yr by Hall

5 minutes ago, Hall said:

The system is just bad. After a win we change back from 4141 to 343 . You don’t have to player for that so why keep

trying…

Tuchel said this was a 4-1-4-1 today.
For me it was more like a 4-1-4-0 lol

7 minutes ago, TheGermanOne said:

Tuchel said this was a 4-1-4-1 today.
For me it was more like a 4-1-4-0 lol

Yeah we were clearly not a back 3 today. AC and Sarr were fullback, the latter getting forward more. 

If you watched the game is clear we played a back 4 with AC scared to attack.

And it was a 4-1-3-0, cannot count CP.

Edited February 19, 20224 yr by axman2526

2 minutes ago, TheGermanOne said:

Tuchel said this was a 4-1-4-1 today.
For me it was more like a 4-1-4-0 lol

Well if you put it this then It was 2 1 2 ( no sarr , Christen, Kante, Pulisic and Lukaku)

no wingback and no attacker.  Why don’t Tuchel put Havertz or werner in the Lukaku position ang Lukaku as a winger. He can cross better then most of out players. I bet the guy play @ the 9 position be still be poor because of the 2 man marking. Lukaku can make his run on the wing

3 hours ago, TheGermanOne said:

Just watch from 1:30 and look into the face of Tuchel when he is asked about Lukaku. I think this says it all.

 

Yeah, pretty obvious he sees the same flaws as us. He is stuck in a tight spot given Lukaku's price tag.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Honestly the least enjoyment I have taken from a win. We were terrible. I don't think it would have improved CP but why start him in the middle and Havertz on the left? Why keep picking Lukaku when it is so so clear you don't rate him and he does not want to be here? Is Roman making that call?

Honestly largely thanks to you know who's presence it's feels like following England at the minute, ala an obligation instead of a passion.

The most frustrating thing is one simple change and we will have structure and team setup again. It's a lot easier to accept sh*t when it's genuinely the best we can do, well not accept but you know what I mean. I'm not saying we will dominate the world but I'd rather draw 1-1 the way we did vs Burnley or even Everton than the way we did vs Brighton twice.

I remember when i was in Australia I stayed up late and woke up at stupid hours to watch games (and this wasn't when we were doing particularly well) which rendered me an absolute mess the following day, would I now? I'll wake up to check the lineup but if Rom is starting forget it.

4 hours ago, CFCCAN said:

I don't think either would have made much difference TBH.  CHO can't beat a lamp post and Dave although a great servant, his legs are going and against Zaha or anyone with pace he'd be struggling.  TT's pragmatic style is either down to the fact that neither of the so called talented line up are so out of form or he's afraid to be brave when we need to, both in terms of team selection or how he manages subs. 

I disagree about Azpi. Every time he has played against Zaha, he has gotten the better of him, including at the start of the season. Azpilicueta isn't finished just yet, he's still a very competent defender who I would trust against anybody. He's still putting in his usual 7/10 performances and even grabbing the odd MOTM. He's not dropped off anywhere near as badly as Ivanovic did.

Edited February 19, 20224 yr by Scott Harris

4 minutes ago, Argo said:

Honestly largely thanks to you know who's presence it's feels like following England at the minute, ala an obligation instead of a passion.

The most frustrating thing is one simple change and we will have structure and team setup again. It's a lot easier to accept sh*t when it's genuinely the best we can do, well not accept but you know what I mean. I'm not saying we will dominate the world but I'd rather draw 1-1 the way we did vs Burnley or even Everton than the way we did vs Brighton twice.

I remember when i was in Australia I stayed up late and woke up at stupid hours to watch games (and this wasn't when we were doing particularly well) which rendered me an absolute mess the following day, would I now? I'll wake up to check the lineup but if Rom is starting forget it.

Has spread from Rom though now. I mean we were bad before the 2 week break we were told we badly needed but we have come back form it worse. Every one of the 4 performances since then have been utter sh*t.

Apparently we need another few weeks holiday, is what TT is eluding to in his post match comments.

6 players got sick from a combination of the heat and ACs while we were at the club world cup, no one slept properly and the players are once again mentally and physically exhausted.

So that is why we were so bad today, so that does not exactly print a promising picture for the coming week now does it?

For anyone who wants to read it his interview is at the bottom here: https://www.skysports.com/football/crystal-palace-vs-chelsea/report/446541

I am tired of the excuses for why we are playing so poorly especially our attack.

Edited February 19, 20224 yr by axman2526

5 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

5 wins on the bounce now - our best streak of the season, with some of our worst form LOL.

Would love to know why Lukaku keeps getting picked. Must surely be a club decision and not TT's own choice ?

Not buying that. Can’t see the board dictating who the manager picks & doesn't. By that same token you would argue Kepa has no business on the bench then since he is the World’s most expensive goalie.

I just think he sanctioned a deal for an expensive dud, and he has to make it work.

14 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Not buying that. Can’t see the board dictating who the manager picks & doesn't. By that same token you would argue Kepa has no business on the bench then since he is the World’s most expensive goalie.

I just think he sanctioned a deal for an expensive dud, and he has to make it work.

Is a fair point.  Would surely mean Kepa and Havertz also must start each game based on their transfer fees and huge wages.

3 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Is a fair point.  Would surely mean Kepa and Havertz also must start each game based on their transfer fees and huge wages.

Difference was he didn't sanction their moves. With Lukaku, no matter what the reason, he came under his watch.

Let me be honest, it was bizzare formation. We played sarr and chris as fb. Kai as floating lw or some weird stuff. Puli as some rf  or some sort and ziyech as rw. It was a mess. I don't understand why not play

Lukaku

Puli - Havertz - Ziyech

Plus we play with 4cb and we have a dm sitting in front of them offensively.

1 hour ago, Bob stark said:

Let me be honest, it was bizzare formation. We played sarr and chris as fb. Kai as floating lw or some weird stuff. Puli as some rf  or some sort and ziyech as rw. It was a mess. I don't understand why not play

Lukaku

Puli - Havertz - Ziyech

Plus we play with 4cb and we have a dm sitting in front of them offensively.

People only want looking for a reason to blame a player. If you really looking @ the fact that we play 4 CD in this formation then you should see why are bad today. And Kante is not AM and changing pulisic because he has 1 good game in that position with Kai.

It’s like playing Footbal managers 10 years ago and playing players out of their positions.

People have to wake up of their dreams ,

we are playing bad because of no wingback.

our system of 343 need the winger to come up and over and you can’t do that with Sarr and Christensen and waiting for a decent cross. You play with 10 player anyway because Sarr can’t pass the ball let alone shoot it in the goal.