1 minute ago, Stas1 said:

Our squad is paper thin in terms of quality players. A few injuries and we collapse.  We need a proper ruthless clear-out and new blood in if we seriously intend to compete for trophies.

With TT's job secured and our title aspirations out of the window, I would welcome if we start using our youths more often, polishing some diamonds. 

It seems dependant on having James, Chilwell, Silva,  Kante + Joriginho/Kovacic fit. We got 4 useless attackers that can be sold to find some good options for wingbacks, defence and central midfield.

Is there any chance we can activate the buyback for livramento..and does one exist for Lamptey

4 minutes ago, Stas1 said:

Our squad is paper thin in terms of quality players. A few injuries and we collapse.  We need a proper ruthless clear-out and new blood in if we seriously intend to compete for trophies.

With TT's job secured and our title aspirations out of the window, I would welcome if we start using our youths more often, polishing some diamonds. 

BR played a second string team against pool and got a result .. we had Barkley /Saul and couple of others full internationals- clearly Jorginho was too tired I am

sure we could have found better solutions there. 

Realistically lads it's not over for us yet, Brentford could do us a favour or City could drop points in the 2nd half of the season. 

For me the most crucial part of this horrid run is that it highlights that while this system is probably the best way to get the most out of the squad it relies heavily on us having access to everyone in the squad i.e first choice players for their specific position. We haven't had that since this bad run started. 

Secondly for whatever reason the inside forwards in this system don't seem to be able to create consistently high volume chances for their teammates it doesn't matter who plays there no one seems comfortable being the creator.

We can bemoan the lack of goalscoring prowess from our players but how many good goal scoring opportunities does this system or the players in it really create? Nowhere near close enough to City or Liverpool. 

We have the elite goal scorer in Lukaku but that won't be enough to win the league when there isn't enough creativity from the team and we compete against the best teams in the country and Europe regularly.

For how good the system makes our defence our creativity continues to struggle not all the time but games like this do highlight the need for a truly elite chance creator. I was hoping Ziyech or Havertz would fill that role even Werner, Mount or Pulisic but that doesn't seem to bad bad case. 

CHO sadly isn't consistent enough to be that player at least for now. Also I don't have much of an issue with what he did in the 2nd half I only caught the end of the game but I can see what he was trying he just got his timing wrong he either has to play the ball early or use the runner as a decoy to go by himself.

Previously in the season he had multiple chances even more clear cut than that and he chose to shoot and it cost us in the long run so him choosing to pass there I have no issue it's just a shame he wasn't able to execute it. 

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by LongtimerLurker

3 minutes ago, comtrend said:

It seems dependant on having James, Chilwell, Silva,  Kante + Joriginho/Kovacic fit. We got 4 useless attackers that can be sold to find some good options for wingbacks, defence and central midfield.

How many chances do we create ? Jorginho jobs and Kante have poor vision. Our creation comes from link up with wingbacks and we have slow wingbacks .. our entire forward play is so slow it allows the opposition too much time to get back in shape. I can understand one or two attackers not doing well.. but this 3 at the back has meant all our attackers who come highly recommended are not putting up any numbers .. surely there is a problem with the way we set up too!

Amazon have spent more time debating lukaku’s goal than any other decision.

9 minutes ago, comtrend said:

It seems dependant on having James, Chilwell, Silva,  Kante + Joriginho/Kovacic fit. We got 4 useless attackers that can be sold to find some good options for wingbacks, defence and central midfield.

I disagree if we lose Andreas, Rudi and Cesar I'm of the opinion to scrap 3atb and move forward with a back 4 that utilises more of the attackers in our squad. You say we have useless attackers but Mount, CHO, Pulisic, Ziyech and Havertz to an extent are all played out of their ideal position or rather the place on the pitch where they flourish the most.

I'd like two good cbs brought in James and Chillwell restored back to fullbacks and potentially a dm signed. Any midfield trio of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Mount and Havertz should be good enough as long as Mount and Havertz don't play together with a single dm let's not do that again 😅

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by LongtimerLurker

13 minutes ago, smileysmiles said:

Keep kidding yourself.

you are entitled to your opinion of course but if you can’t see the value of Mason offensively and defensively then you can’t know much about football . 

4 minutes ago, LongtimerLurker said:

I disagree if we lose Andreas, Rudi and Cesar I'm of the opinion to scrap 3atb and move forward with a back 4 that utilises more of the attackers in our squad. You say we have useless attackers but Mount, CHO, Pulisic, Ziyech and Havertz to an extent are all played out of their ideal position or rather the place on the pitch where they flourish the most.

I'd like two good cbs brought in James and Chillwell restored back to fullbacks and potentially a dm signed. Any midfield trio of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Mount and Havertz should be good enough as long as Mount and Havertz don't play together with a single dm let's not do that again 😅

A midfield 3 of someone like a bissouma/ rice + Kante/kova + mount/havertz along with a front 3 of lukaku/pulisic/ Werner.. will make us serious contenders.

Tuchel going mad post match…and rightly so. 

1 minute ago, Jangz said:

A midfield 3 of someone like a bissouma/ rice + Kante/kova + mount/havertz along with a front 3 of lukaku/pulisic/ Werner.. will make us serious contenders.

Only if we get 2 CBs that are good enough in a 4.

17 minutes ago, LongtimerLurker said:

Realistically lads it's not over for us yet, Brentford could do us a favour or City could drop points in the 2nd half of the season. 

It's over, we are 3 wins behind them, it's true they will probably drop points in a game or 2 but we will drop far more than them.

6 minutes ago, LongtimerLurker said:

I disagree if we lose Andreas, Rudi and Cesar I'm of the opinion to scrap 3atb and move forward with a back 4 that utilises more of the attackers in our squad. You say we have useless attackers but Mount, CHO, Pulisic, Ziyech and Havertz to an extent are all played out of their ideal position or rather the place on the pitch where they flourish the most.

I'd like two good cbs brought in James and Chillwell restored back to fullbacks and potentially a dm signed. Any midfield trio of Jorginho, Kovacic, Kante, Mount and Havertz should be good enough as long as Mount and Havertz don't play together with a single dm let's not do that again 😅

I don't mind loosing Andreas and Cesar since I think they are both average at best, we can easily replace them with better defenders. Rudiger is our best defender atm, but his distribution and the time he spends on the ball can be improved alot. To be more specific I think CHO, Ziyech, Pulisic and Werner can all be sold and that money spent to improve defence, midfield and wingbacks,

7 minutes ago, Jangz said:

How many chances do we create ? Jorginho jobs and Kante have poor vision. Our creation comes from link up with wingbacks and we have slow wingbacks .. our entire forward play is so slow it allows the opposition too much time to get back in shape. I can understand one or two attackers not doing well.. but this 3 at the back has meant all our attackers who come highly recommended are not putting up any numbers .. surely there is a problem with the way we set up too!

With the players I mentioned fit and in form we dominate the play against every team that is not City or Liverpool in the league. We scored alot of goals with that setup even when we had 3-4 injuries to our attacking players earlier in the season.

47 minutes ago, carrickblue said:

City's title to lose. We might help them if we stop Liverpool on Sunday. 

Welcome to the EPL Bundesliga ..this is becoming a one team league much like the rest of Europe.   One or 2 teams and the rest are also rans.  

Us every December.

 

 

48 minutes ago, Term_X said:

Crap?, Conte’s Spurs will be there all the way, the man is simply too much of an elite coach for them not to be. Arteta has got Arsenal firing too, finally got the system/structure and players to fit down a tee.

Yep. Why should anybody believe this Chelsea team will finish ahead of them right now? They are both playing better than us, they are catching us, and another month of the same sh*t will see them overtake us.

54 minutes ago, loz said:

I fully agree about Odoi. I really don't see the player in him that some do abd I never have. For me is a championship player, in fact maybe not even that as the championship is a battle. He might do well in Scottish football or French football where defences are not strong but I don't think he is remotely near yhe quality or potential to be a top 6 player in the English league. 

I think it's a case of our fans wishing for something that isn't really there because he's a Chelsea lad and they desperately want him to succeed. If he was playing somewhere else, would anyone here be even remotely interested in bringing CHO to the club given what we've seen so far? In fact, his peers from the rival clubs, the likes of Greenwood, Foden, Saka, Smith Rowe etc have done far more with the opportunities they were given than he has.

I don't think the club are quite ready to sell him yet, but he needs to go on loan.. Sitting on a Chelsea bench won't make him a better player and at the moment he's nowhere near the required standard to be playing regularly for a top side.

Go the usual Chelsea youngster route, prove yourself on loan and come back ready to compete with the big boys. Or fail and find your level somewhere else.

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by abramovich

Lady luck strikes again with James and Christensen injured and just 1 sub left to change things.

We started well got the goal and then Brighton started to outplay us.

Although we had chances we just did not get our timing or decisions right.

Can't fault Pulisic as being played out of position.

Rudiger could have gone for that challenge on Lamptey and I can see some refs ruling out our goal due to Lukaku's use of arms against Maupay. For me Maupay marks Lukaku to draw the foul.

Now we are in a sticky place with a lot of games coming up.

1 hour ago, Backbiter said:

Blew up on 94m 1 sec, with us attacking. What a surprise.

Ref was a donkey 

12 minutes ago, bluehaze said:

Us every December.

 

 

Leave out - none of our lot would hit the target…

Edited December 29, 20214 yr by Munkworth

To think in Franks first season, Pulisic looked like an almost decent replacement for Hazard. Since his injury he’s been more Jasper Gronkjer. 

6 minutes ago, Petworth Chelsea Fan said:

To think in Franks first season, Pulisic looked like an almost decent replacement for Hazard. Since his injury he’s been more Jasper Gronkjer. 

That’s very unfair on Gronkjer.

Mount can only carry this team so far, he needs some help

1 hour ago, smileysmiles said:

Mount was poor, sorry but effort doesn't make up for terrible decision making. 

Lack of decent wingbacks is costing us dearly. 

 

Mount was our best player by far. Again. 

1 hour ago, Jezq8 said:

 I must say CHO was terrible sorry to say it but He is overrated.

Many have been saying that for years.