Great for the weekend to finish on a high note by beating that horrible lot from N17.

First half was dull and I feared the worst - seeing them nicking one on the break. Also feared we could be reduced to 10 men with Silva and Jorginho walking a tightrope.

But second half was a whole lot better. Fair play to Ziyech. Have been very critical of him (as have most CFC supporters) but he stepped up today and was rightly MOTM. Good to see Mount play so well as well and all in all, a comfortable and enjoyable 3 points.

Still frustrating to see Lukaku toiling without much quality but he was a bit better. CHO was also better but still too many sideways and backwards passes when he had the defender on a yellow and walking the same tightrope as Silva.

But normal service has been resumed - Up The Chels!

 

 

 

1 hour ago, evissy said:

That Ziyech goal is a 🍑

I think we should move him on in January before it's too late. Not good enough for our club I must admit😉😂

What a day. 2 goals and a clean sheet. Dominated for the entire 90. What a goal from Ziyech, just sublime. I really wanted Lukaku to get 1 to boost his confidence as looks like we are stuck with him. Much needed 3 points.

Honorable mention to Malang Sarr. The lad is a 5th choice CB and is only around because we couldn't manage to loan him out in time before the window closed. He stepped up like a boss, respect.

39 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

God, I love Thiago Silva.

Great day...

Hope TT realise its best to play back 4 when our superstar wingbacks are out!!

1 hour ago, coco said:

I keep seeing this xG, i thought it was an emoji.

That's a big thing amongst fantasy football players..

Second half performance was one of our best performances in awhile, could have easily scored two more goals. Hopefully, our players can finally get the rest they deserve, regroup and build on this performance..

Suck it Spuds!!! I 

What a win - much needed 3 points. We dominated from start to finish. Although it was the correct decision, we got abit lucky with Kane’s goal. Other refs not have given it. Again, we dominated the first half without really threatening. 

A few mentions:

Ziyech - wonderful performance, great goal. We need to see more of that. 

CHO - looked ok but still missing an end product. Very frustrating. 

Lukaku - should have scored. Had half chances and top strikers finish half chances. Generally looked more involved and showed some positive signs. 

Sarr - this guy is growing into the squad. I think he’s shown enough to keep him around as a squad player. He hasn’t let us down. He was erratic at the start of the season but he has definitely grown. I don’t know whether he is “top quality” but he is certainly good enough to be a squad player. 
 

I think it’s time to accept that we can’t play 352 without Chilwell/James. It just doesn’t offer enough. Stick with the back 4, I liked seeing our attackers have the ball in wide areas. 
 

Solid win - enjoy your break and come back raring to go. 2 trophies up for grabs in February- massive month!

No matter our form, spanking Spurs 3 times in the space of 3 weeks was never in doubt. 

Just arrived home from the game. Via the pub and getting a takeaway curry. Another fine win over the spuds. First half was tight and scrappy but in the second half we upped the tempo and two superb goals. Some fine performances as well.

16 minutes ago, Boyne said:

Just arrived home from the game. Via the pub and getting a takeaway curry. Another fine win over the spuds. First half was tight and scrappy but in the second half we upped the tempo and two superb goals. Some fine performances as well.

I think we should play 433 from now on. The team look so much more dangerous 

2 hours ago, erskblue said:

 

 

 

 

Look at the Sanchez challenge for the Silva goal. He tries to play the ball with his foot. Not that Tierney or VAR would have penalised him if we hadn't scored.

Can't say I enjoyed the first half.  CHO was so frustrating I threw my slipper at the TV.  He had numerous opportunities to drive into open space and continually stopped and went inside...grrrr.  He never took any Spurs defenders at all in the half; he will never be a world class winger IMO. He's hardly ever brave and always plays safe. I want to see our wingers go past the opposition; maybe we have been treated to too many good wide players in the past.  We missed a few good chances and once again Lukaku was doing a fine impersonation of Timo.  2nd half was better and the only time CHO did take on the Spurs defence it led to our first goal. We controlled much of the half but once again our forward line was struggling against a very un-noteworthy Spurs defence. Still 3 points is 3 points and gives us a bit of gap on the chasing pack.  Next PL game is mid Feb and by that time hopefully we'll have another trophy in the cabinet for Madge to polish.   

3 hours ago, Dean said:

I’ll take that and happy to have been today’s contra @axman2526.

Based on our respective encounters and match stats vs Tottenham and City, I’d say the gulf between us and Spurs is at least as big as that between us and City. I’d be very surprised if spurs finish above us.

Happy to share that workload, mine have not countered festive Chelsea so far so.kaybe if we team up we will get the boys back on track 🙂

Felt we wasted 3 really good chances in the first half, especially CHO header that was a sitter.

Lukaku has to a lot better with his right foot. 2 unchallenged chances mish*t. He was involved in more play today, but still not enough of a shift imo. Multiply that effort and involvement by 3 and we will see.

Felt they were wrong on Doherty challange. Was not deliberate imo but it was late, reckless and dangerous to an opponent. So for me a red.

Also wrong on Kanes goal. Had that been Mount on Sanchez I would have been outraged it was disallowed.

So much better from Mount and Ziyech. Both brilliant today. And the difference CHO makes if he take a player on rather than passes backwards.

Sarr doing his chances a lot of good too. 

Finally a league win.

Well, that was enjoyable - always nice to beat Spurs but four times in one season, 8-0 on aggregate is even better!

My thoughts.  Like many I'm sure, I groaned when I saw Ziyech named in the team but from the start he was like a different player.  Mason was more like his old self too.  CHO was a little frustrating, losing the ball a bit too often but obviously his cross to Ziyech was great.  Thought Doherty could (should?) have been sent off for his stamp on Sarr (not that I thought it was necessarily malicious but it was reckless).  We were lucky to be given a foul on Thiago from Kane.  Ziyech's goal was sublime.  Thought there would be at least one sending off - it was getting a bit feisty.  Definitely a penalty when Dave was wrestled to the ground.

Just visited the Fighting Cocks forum.  What a mess of a site - I spent 5 minutes trying to actually find the match thread and there are adverts and videos popping up all over the bloody place.  Well I read a bit, quite a few thought Doherty could have been sent off.  Most think there's a conspiracy against them and their goal should have stood though there were a few who were arguing against that.  Can't be bothered to carry on to see what they say about wrestling Dave.  But there are a couple of people on there who are really bitter and deranged calling all Chelsea fans Nazis and wishing every one of us a violent death.  Nice.

Can we play you every week?

Oh and the irony of Harry Kane having a soft foul given against him!

biggest thing for me was that the energy levels were high all game. As  Tuchel said the formation suited Ziyech and he looked a different player. Mount was back to the old Mount and that makes a big difference.

Energy is huge in football. Dave just keeps on going.  In his own way he puts out as much as Kante and Rudigier is also an energy machine.

I dunno how good CHO really is, he probably isn't a Hazard, but he is very watchable out there on the left and he is a real team player.

And there was so much criticism of Kepa but actually he's been great and although there is always a rash error in him his shop stopping is as good as any keeper.

Boy we needed that 3 points. Chalobah back on the bench is another positive. Would certainly be great to get James back as well.

26 minutes ago, ozboy said:

biggest thing for me was that the energy levels were high all game. As  Tuchel said the formation suited Ziyech and he looked a different player. Mount was back to the old Mount and that makes a big difference.

Energy is huge in football. Dave just keeps on going.  In his own way he puts out as much as Kante and Rudigier is also an energy machine.

I dunno how good CHO really is, he probably isn't a Hazard, but he is very watchable out there on the left and he is a real team player.

And there was so much criticism of Kepa but actually he's been great and although there is always a rash error in him his shop stopping is as good as any keeper.

Boy we needed that 3 points. Chalobah back on the bench is another positive. Would certainly be great to get James back as well.

Don't see why we can't play 433 every game?

7 minutes ago, Evenflow20 said:

Don't see why we can't play 433 every game?

From now on having beaten Spurs twice with a back 4 and with different personnel there is no reason to stop playing it, when James an Chilwell come back they can take the RB and LB positions anyway. 

That   Ziyech goal seemed familiar 

oh yeah

 

2 minutes ago, Scott said:

That   Ziyech goal seemed familiar 

oh yeah

 

That was ridiculous.  Probably my only favorite moment in his time at Chelsea 😪