Well, what a sad pathetic display of sh*t shower that was. Disjointed aimless jogging around, no cohesion whatsoever, the usual suspects did not disappoint me in their manifestation of ineptness.  

TT blames the result on tiredness, which may be an acceptable excuse if the team runs out of steam after 60-70 minutes, but we kicked off the match like we had a few spliffs in the dressing room prior to start.

Also noticed how nonchalant was TT in his post match interview, with a wry smile as if to say I do not give two sh*ts how this bunch performs.  

Something is not right.

Body language was also interesting. Looked like players were fed up Lukaku. Players seemed to often avoid playing him in and when he complained at both Ziyech and Azpi, they both bit back, which you don't usually see.

17 minutes ago, abigsmurf said:

I've run out of patience with Lukaku now. It was embarassing seeing him completely nullified all game simply by a defender wrapping arms around his waist.

He has doesn't have the agility to either shrug him off or the intelligence to use it to win a penalty. Utterly pathetic seeing a man his size get manhandled so effortlessly.

He is possibly missing his sidekick friend Lutaroo Martinesss...Evidently we should pair them at the Bridge to solve this problem.

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by rocker_joker

I don't know why we bother to watch at this time of the year, it's almost guaranteed at this point that the players will down tools. What are they waiting for, the manager to get sacked again? is that what it will take for them to start putting the effort in again? Well they can f**k off, I'm sick of it happening every season.

We need a new identity at this club. An identity that doesn't allow players to do this every season, an identity that backs the manager when things get tough. For once, the players are the ones that need to go when things go wrong. If you go hiding or stop putting the effort in because things get tough, then you need to leave, you're not Chelsea material, simply as that. It's inexcusable that almost every game in the winter period is a slog where we rely on the individual brilliance because you can't be asked to match the work rate of your opponent. We play with the energy levels of a Serie A team at this time of they year and it's something we have allowed to poison our club for too long. 

Something feels off. We’re spiralling again.   A win feels so far away. Scoring more than 1 goal feels so far away. 

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

I don't know why we bother to watch at this time of the year, it's almost guaranteed at this point that the players will down tools. What are they waiting for, the manager to get sacked again? is that what it will take for them to start putting the effort in again? Well they can f**k off, I'm sick of it happening every season.

We need a new identity at this club. An identity that doesn't allow players to do this every season, an identity that backs the manager when things get tough. For once, the players are the ones that need to go when things go wrong. If you go hiding or stop putting the effort in because things get tough, then you need to leave, you're not Chelsea material, simply as that. It's inexcusable that almost every game in the winter period is a slog where we rely on the individual brilliance because you can't be asked to match the work rate of your opponent. We play with the energy levels of a Serie A team at this time of they year and it's something we have allowed to poison our club for too long. 

We need a Director of Football and a clear strategy. Once we have that it should be a lot easier to identify the right managers and players for the system.

Players are tired.

Haven't we got a world class Academy to call on ?

x

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by azpi28

6 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

That is natural though. Top club fans believe we should beat everyone and are rather unhappy when we don't.

I don't think we worked hard enough or wanted it enough tonight. Brighton did far more on both counts imo.

Of course. I guess what I’m trying to say is us being poor wasn’t the only factor tonight. We were bad but I think some are getting carried away. I don’t think the players have “downed their tools” though suspect you may disagree on that. As I said somewhere earlier in the thread, I think we were worse in the first half, despite going up. The main headscratcher for me was the lack of subs till 80th minute. Wtf?

Well that was sh*t.

We're losing Tuchel. That much is clear. Today's squad is pathetic, said so many times we can't play a 4 with our 2 key wingbacks out but for some reason, some people think Azpi and Alonso can play in a back 4.

Then we have Odoi, Ziyech and Lukaku, the forward 3 that barely presses and barely beats anyone 1v1.

Last season we galvanized at this point of the season to fight alongside each other and got to 2 finals and winning the biggest one. Now we look like a broken team. 

I'd be happy for Tuchel if he left and succeed with another club, he hasn't been respected by a certain section of this fanbase enough. 

Disappointing once again. We looked physically and mentally tired tonight. You just get the feeling that whichever 11 Thomas picks, the outcome is going to be the same. 

Something has to change drastically before it's too late. Thomas has to talk openly to these players and clear the air out.

2 minutes ago, Dean said:

Of course. I guess what I’m trying to say is us being poor wasn’t the only factor tonight. We were bad but I think some are getting carried away. I don’t think the players have “downed their tools” though suspect you may disagree on that. As I said somewhere earlier in the thread, I think we were worse in the first half, despite going up. The main headscratcher for me was the lack of subs till 80th minute. Wtf?

I disagree on some.

I think all the defenders tried. Dave is just slowing down and Alonsos form has fallen off the cliff but I don't think any of them downed tools.

Jorginho was sh*t, Kante was well of it he looked like a poor man's Bissouma, Kova managed to set Brighton up with a good 4 minute spell of pressure. Again though I don't doubt their work ethic, they were just really poor.

I would question Mount, CHO, Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz and Werner though, who looked like they did not give a toss. Ziyech did not even have the effort to celebrate his goal!

24 minutes ago, Dubair said:

Really poor performance. Got nothing offensively from Azpi/Alonso and both were caused issues down their sides defensively also.

Im losing track of the amount of chances CHO is missing to create a 2 goal cushion in games  as well, he’s not good enough to be an attacker for Chelsea, needs to be moved back to wing back asap. 

Needs to be gone...on a long loan or for good.  This is about the best he will get.  No improvement over the last couple of years.  I keep hearing about this kid has so much talent; I've yet to see it. For a winger he can't beat a defender worth sh*t. Ziyech and Pulisic are just as bad as wingers; and while Ziyech may has scored tonight he is a luxury player you can't have in the line up from this point forward...totally disinterested, and too many lazy games where he doesn't even break into a sweat.

3 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

I disagree on some.

I think all the defenders tried. Dave is just slowing down and Alonsos form has fallen off the cliff but I don't think any of them downed tools.

Jorginho was sh*t, Kante was well of it he looked like a poor man's Bissouma, Kova managed to set Brighton up with a good 4 minute spell of pressure. Again though I don't doubt their work ethic, they were just really poor.

I would question Mount, CHO, Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz and Werner though, who looked like they did not give a toss. Ziyech did not even have the effort to celebrate his goal!

Yeah the lack of goal celebration was weird. I do put a lot of the apparent lack of effort from others down to fatigue. Am keeping the faith, naive fool that I am 

This is what happens when certain teams get their games postponed and we're forced to play week in and week out. Our squad has been left physically and mentally drained. Honestly, just looking forward to the cup competitions and hoping we get to champions league next season.

Disappointed with the result and performance. Team look like they are playing with no confidence or belief. Players look tired, even when subs came on Werner and Havertz couldn’t run away from their markers with the ball.

Personally not bothered about the club World Cup. Would rather get players rested/fit for the latter part of the domestic season.

I thought our form had improved as we have a couple of decent performances however those are the exception rather than the rule. 
 

It’s time for Tuchel to realise that this 352 system does not work without dynamic wingbacks (James and Chilwell). Chilwell is not coming back anytime soon. Our forwards are….shocking. Zero chemistry between them. 
 

I suppose the question is, has our recent form been down to purely injuries/tiredness..or is there a bigger problem?

6 minutes ago, The Rising Sun said:

Players are tired.

Haven't we got a world class Academy to call on ?

I'm just not having the tired excuse. How can they be tired from minute 1? Are they tired during every winter period? because this seems to happen every single season. If they are tired, why does it always seem to hurt us more than any other team in the league? I don't see other teams drop off like we do every year. It's funny how they suddenly find their energy levels again when the manager gets replaced though isn't it?

x

Edited January 18, 20224 yr by azpi28

Chelsea have played 36 games, Brighton a lot less and we have played more in the league to keep us on track for the World Club championship.

Brighton are a decent side I watched them play either City or Liverpool and thought they were cheated by cowardly officials. For me the best team outside of the top five.

I think all our players gave a lot of effort yet were not good enough on the day.

Mount did not dot stand out today neither did CHO despite getting more of the ball.

Our resident pensioners in Silva and Azpi both played well.

Ziyech was ok and of course he scored.

Their goal was clever too, it surprises me at times how few tall players we have at corners.

Kova should have started for me to help beat their press.

Werner was giving the sort of ball on the break that Lukaku might have produced something from.

I was also disappointed Pulisic was not introduced for CHO.

I also get frustrated that our strikers do not run to the near post for crosses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Am I the only one with any sympathy for the players and the fixture congestion? 

That was our 15th game since the start of December, whereas it was Brighton's 9th. That's a team that's played a game every 3.2 days, against a team that's played a game every 5.5 days. It's a huge difference in this league where anyone can beat anyone. 

Although I don't believe in it myself, I'm seriously thinking we should start pulling 'sickies' like other teams seem to be doing, even when it's not all covid related! 

The one player I can't have sympathy for is Lukaku, and I'd be surprised if any of the players around him have much sympathy for him after the disrespect he gave them with his interview, let alone his apparent lack of interest in matches.

I've got no doubt we'll come back from this soon, but the finger pointing and moaning at the players as TT at the moment is ridiculous.

1 minute ago, strider6004 said:

Werner was giving the sort of ball on the break that Lukaku might have produced something from.

Werner actually runs and shift the defences around. It's not a coincidence chance creation became easier with Timo on the pitch. 

3 minutes ago, j.mitchel said:

Am I the only one with any sympathy for the players and the fixture congestion? 

That was our 15th game since the start of December, whereas it was Brighton's 9th. That's a team that's played a game every 3.2 days, against a team that's played a game every 5.5 days. It's a huge difference in this league where anyone can beat anyone. 

Although I don't believe in it myself, I'm seriously thinking we should start pulling 'sickies' like other teams seem to be doing, even when it's not all covid related! 

The one player I can't have sympathy for is Lukaku, and I'd be surprised if any of the players around him have much sympathy for him after the disrespect he gave them with his interview, let alone his apparent lack of interest in matches.

I've got no doubt we'll come back from this soon, but the finger pointing and moaning at the players as TT at the moment is ridiculous.

Absolutely. Fixture congestion is very much a factor and will be recognised as such by the powers that be. 

2 minutes ago, j.mitchel said:

Am I the only one with any sympathy for the players and the fixture congestion? 

That was our 15th game since the start of December, whereas it was Brighton's 9th. That's a team that's played a game every 3.2 days, against a team that's played a game every 5.5 days. It's a huge difference in this league where anyone can beat anyone. 

Although I don't believe in it myself, I'm seriously thinking we should start pulling 'sickies' like other teams seem to be doing, even when it's not all covid related! 

The one player I can't have sympathy for is Lukaku, and I'd be surprised if any of the players around him have much sympathy for him after the disrespect he gave them with his interview, let alone his apparent lack of interest in matches.

I've got no doubt we'll come back from this soon, but the finger pointing and moaning at the players as TT at the moment is ridiculous.

I agree 100% but it's not on TT to pull sickies, it's on the club to ask for parity across the board. 

I think somewhere along the way the camel's back was broken. We are not at all the cohesive unit we were 2 months ago

55 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

I'm sorry but Tuchel is running out of imagination, courage and time...1 win in 7...

What was Lamps record going wrong, before he got the Tic Tac