1 minute ago, Sindre said:

He's not creative enough to fill that kind of role. Nor a good enough passer.

Even so, he'd still look loads better there than so deep in a pivot. 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even so, he'd still look loads better there than so deep in a pivot. 

If we are to play with a pure 10 we need someone far better than Gallagher there.

Its about making the team work surely? Not Gallagher so if time shows that we are better without him we'd have to bench him

 

8 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even so, he'd still look loads better there than so deep in a pivot. 

With the arrival of Zakaria I dont think we will see Gallagher again in the pivot.

51 minutes ago, Sindre said:

If we are to play with a pure 10 we need someone far better than Gallagher there.

Its about making the team work surely? Not Gallagher so if time shows that we are better without him we'd have to bench him

 

The team hasn't 'worked' since Tuchel has been here though. Even at our very best (which is now becoming a rarity) we are still lackluster in attack. 

 

18 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

The team hasn't 'worked' since Tuchel has been here though. Even at our very best (which is now becoming a rarity) we are still lackluster in attack. 

 

Of course it's worked.

You don't win the Champions League on merit without a working team. You aren't top of the league either until you get hit by an injury crisis with a non functioning team.

 

Just now, Sindre said:

Of course it's worked.

You don't win the Champions League on merit without a working team. You aren't top of the league either until you get hit by an injury crisis with a non functioning team.

 

Than you and I differ on what constitutes a working system. For me, its something that is sustainable. I don't see our system as sustainable unless we are contempt with being a cup team, as it is perfect for one off games. Even when we were top of the league last season we were still lacking goals from our front men and relied heavily on our backline and wing backs. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Even when we were top of the league last season we were still lacking goals from our front men and relied heavily on our backline and wing backs. 

This I agree with but it's got a lot to do with the quality of the players in my opinion.

Sterling comes in and seems to have no problem scoring goals in this system so I am tired of excuses for our underperforming attackers. 

1 minute ago, Sindre said:

This I agree with but it's got a lot to do with the quality of the players in my opinion.

Sterling comes in and seems to have no problem scoring goals in this system so I am tired of excuses for our underperforming attackers. 

I as well but you need to ask yourself how much is it on our attackers vs the system? Lionel Messi himself wouldn't thrive under this slow, turgid, recycled possession that Tuchel seems so keen on delivering. 

I mentioned this quite a few times today but it genuinely feels like he is giving the players mixed signals, and its being blatantly shown on the pitch. They don't know what the manager wants. 

 

1 minute ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I as well but you need to ask yourself how much is it on our attackers vs the system? Lionel Messi himself wouldn't thrive under this slow, turgid, recycled possession that Tuchel seems so keen on delivering. 

I mentioned this quite a few times today but it genuinely feels like he is giving the players mixed signals, and its being blatantly shown on the pitch. They don't know what the manager wants. 

 

For a long time we created the most chances in the entire league in this system. And we had Werner, Havertz and even Mount missing sitters left and right. I will not agree that the system is the problem here. Teams learned to slow us down when we lost our wingbacks and then our midfield. And we still haven't found top form yet but I think we will get there.

And it's only against teams that park the bus we look "slow". Parking the bus will slow down any teams as that's the whole point. But it's at those times you need those players with a littlebit of magic. Players that are capable of beating their man to open up that little pocket of space that kills the opponent or a player that's capable of seeing a pass that others are blind too (like Cesc, Mata) and we haven't had that. The latter we are still very much missing but at least Sterling brings in a bit of the former which is why he's looked like our best attacker so far by a massive distance.

 

5 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

I as well but you need to ask yourself how much is it on our attackers vs the system? Lionel Messi himself wouldn't thrive under this slow, turgid, recycled possession that Tuchel seems so keen on delivering. 

I mentioned this quite a few times today but it genuinely feels like he is giving the players mixed signals, and its being blatantly shown on the pitch. They don't know what the manager wants. 

 

I always see this excuse that top forwards/strikers would struggle in our system and I honestly don't believe it. Peak Messi and Ronaldo would all score goals in this system, so would Mbappe, Neymar or Haaland. The fact of the matter is that several of our forwards just aren't good enough and haven't been good enough since the days of Hazard and Costa. Look at the shot conversion rate of our forwards over the last few seasons compared to other teams and you will see how bad they've been.

5 minutes ago, Sindre said:

For a long time we created the most chances in the entire league in this system. And we had Werner, Havertz and even Mount missing sitters left and right. I will not agree that the system is the problem here. Teams learned to slow us down when we lost our wingbacks and then our midfield. And we still haven't found top form yet but I think we will get there.

And it's only against teams that park the bus we look "slow". Parking the bus will slow down any teams as that's the whole point. But it's at those times you need those players with a littlebit of magic. Players that are capable of beating their man to open up that little pocket of space that kills the opponent or a player that's capable of seeing a pass that others are blind too (like Cesc, Mata) and we haven't had that. The latter we are still very much missing but at least Sterling brings in a bit of the former which is why he's looked like our best attacker so far by a massive distance.

 

Individual quality is the half of it. City and Liverpool carve these low block teams apart because they move the ball at a pace that forces the opposition to either make a mistake or be caught out of position. Hell, even at our very best last season we were able to do so. But again lies the consistency issue as these matches are genuinely a rarity. These lot pick and choose when to do so whereas City and Liverpool do it on a weekly occurrence. Why is it so difficult for us to move the ball with intensity?

I see some matchdays Tuchel saying he wants the side to be patient in the build up against these low block sides. This again just creates more confusion and it isn't at all surprising why its being reflected on the pitch and performance. What does he want?

12 minutes ago, Frankie8Lampard said:

I always see this excuse that top forwards/strikers would struggle in our system and I honestly don't believe it. Peak Messi and Ronaldo would all score goals in this system, so would Mbappe, Neymar or Haaland. The fact of the matter is that several of our forwards just aren't good enough and haven't been good enough since the days of Hazard and Costa. Look at the shot conversion rate of our forwards over the last few seasons compared to other teams and you will see how bad they've been.

Ronaldo, Messi, Haaland, Neymar, and Mbappe don't/didn't score their goals in 0 mph football. That's a damn certain. 

 

4 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Individual quality is the half of it. City and Liverpool carve these low block teams apart because they move the ball at a pace that forces the opposition to either make a mistake or be caught out of position. Hell, even at our very best last season we were able to do so. But again lies the consistency issue as these matches are genuinely a rarity. These lot pick and choose when to do so whereas City and Liverpool do it on a weekly occurrence. Why is it so difficult for us to move the ball with intensity?

I see some matchdays Tuchel saying he wants the side to be patient in the build up against these low block sides. This again just creates more confusion and it isn't at all surprising why its being reflected on the pitch and performance. What does he want?

Ronaldo, Messi, Haaland, Neymar, and Mbappe don't/didn't score their goals in 0 mph football. That's a damn certain. 

 

Our slow possession has nothing to do with missing chances though. How many times over the last few years, even under Lampard, did we dominate games and have about 10+ shots and still ended up losing the game because of said missed chances? Pretty sure if we had better finishers in those matches we would have gone on to win those games or at least drawn them.

8 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Individual quality is the half of it. City and Liverpool carve these low block teams apart because they move the ball at a pace that forces the opposition to either make a mistake or be caught out of position. Hell, even at our very best last season we were able to do so. But again lies the consistency issue as these matches are genuinely a rarity. These lot pick and choose when to do so whereas City and Liverpool do it on a weekly occurrence. Why is it so difficult for us to move the ball with intensity?

I see some matchdays Tuchel saying he wants the side to be patient in the build up against these low block sides. This again just creates more confusion and it isn't at all surprising why its being reflected on the pitch and performance. What does he want?

Ronaldo, Messi, Haaland, Neymar, and Mbappe don't/didn't score their goals in 0 mph football. That's a damn certain. 

 

Except Liverpool dont anymore. Other than the odd game their goal scoring has been poor of late. I think its obvious that our forwards aren't that good. Yes you can criticise the midfield for not creating the chances but Tammy was not world class, Lukaku didn't want to be here. Giroud wasn't starting for Arsenal before he came to us, Mount didn't score much even in the championship. Werner should have done better but many criticise his finishing and ball control. Havertz wasn't bought as an out and out striker. Indeed we still don't know what his best position is. Ziyech was supposed to provide crosses rather than goals and after Hazardouschoice has finished talking about pulisic the lad will probably be ready to top himself.

In the end Lukaku and Werner have been flops. Lukaku with the benefit of hindsight was probably never going to work at chelsea and maybe the system contributes to it. Werner is the one I think Tuchel definitely stuffed up. Yet there were some good judges on this forum who said Werner would struggle against low blocks and so it proves.

We are going to be facing low block teams all season because our system will give us lots of possession and so we do need to find a way to score goals and stop breakaways and set pieces.

If I look at Anelka, Drogba, Crespo, Costa, Gudjohnsen even Kalou they were better. 

In any case Stirling, Auba, Havertz and Broja are enough. Its on Tommy to make that work. I must say I though Havertz's goal was an excellent strike. 

 

Anyrate I thought Gallagher did alright against spammers, its how he should have played in the first game, just move the ball around, don't try too hard, get some rhythm and wait for the rhythm to carry you forward.

Chelsea's still finding their rhythm this season. 

Edited September 5, 20223 yr by ozboy

Gallagher is clearly talented but not sure if he has a place at chelsea. He has to be on par to other players and to be honest Loftus cheek is ahead of him right now. The only system i can see him play in is the 4.3.3 in that 3 i the middle. I would have sent him on loan again to Crystal Palace this year to develop the physical aspect and gain more valuable first team experience.

Chuck him in a deal to get Rice next summer.

Let's remember folks that Lampard did not have a stellar first year with us and several thought we overpaid for him based on his name and family connections. Let's give Conor some time eh?

I don't think he'll be here next year. Decent player but can't see him staying in the team. 

Bielsa will turn him into Patrick Vieira, Yaya Touré and Frank Lampard rolled into one. 

The days of me being unable to take him seriously because he looks like Jimmy Bullard will be history. 

Edited September 7, 20223 yr by PloKoon13

These young guys need a ton of attention. In a team that plays twice a week the coach has little to very little time to coach players individually. This is why experienced players get the nod and or coaches protect young players from being exposed alone to the profession. In a smaller team coaches can get a lot of out of these lads. This is why it always goes the way it goes.

4 hours ago, evissy said:

These young guys need a ton of attention. In a team that plays twice a week the coach has little to very little time to coach players individually. This is why experienced players get the nod and or coaches protect young players from being exposed alone to the profession. In a smaller team coaches can get a lot of out of these lads. This is why it always goes the way it goes.

A good backroom staff with some experienced assistents will help with that individual coacing  hopefully.

Conor and Levi Colwill both starting for England U-21s against Germany this evening.

Match is live on Youtube if anyone wants to see them in action !

 

 

17 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Conor and Levi Colwill both starting for England U-21s against Germany this evening.

Match is live on Youtube if anyone wants to see them in action !

 

 

Scored & was the best player on the pitch.

On 17/08/2022 at 13:39, Gol15 said:

Ideally he should play further up, along side Mount. Let's face it, he's that similar type of a player.

Release him from the defensive tasks that Kante does and focus on his best abilities, by playing him further up the pitch. He is going to do it better than Havertz because he is used to that position from the 4-3-3, Havertz needs the 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 and solo space in the middle, Gallagher doesn't need that much I think.

Obviously we need someone like Fofana so that James can play as the wing-back so that RLC can be in the middle with Jorginho. Literally that final CB transfer can enable Gallagher and in that case we could save ourselves the 40-50m that were going for Gordon. Not the final fix but, Gallagher did have 8 PL goals last season so I see no reason why he wouldn't be playing with Mount, he can finish and he can press with him.

As soon as someone put him in a more advanced position he scores an amazing goal. Mr. Potter is doing it!

3 minutes ago, Gol15 said:

As soon as someone put him in a more advanced position he scores an amazing goal. Mr. Potter is doing it!

Exactly! He’s in competition with the likes of Mount, he’s not a Jorginho replacement.

Edited October 1, 20223 yr by 2211

10 minutes ago, 2211 said:

Exactly! He’s in competition with the likes of Mount, he’s not a Jorginho replacement.

That doesn't mean we don't desperately need a Jorginho replacement though !