They were essentially the same level team we knocked out last season. Really not that great just like their sides that won it in previous years, except instead of having Ronaldo as their ace, it's now Benzema.

I don't expect them to get so lucky again, the probability is that City or Liverpool are going to win it now...

Still not seen the camera angle that VAR see the clear and obvious handball, it's all guess work with no clear view.

After the disallowed goal the ref started giving us a plethora of free kicks, RM players only had to touch a Chelsea player and he gave us the free kick, he knew we was robbed of that goal.

Be warned City and Liverpool, Uefa do not want English dominant season in the CL.

If your going to say i'm wrong don't bother unless you can show me the video VAR say proves he clearly handled it.

 

 

41 minutes ago, guddy69 said:

RLC..  I don't think so, he never does much and just can't make a decent pass.. Sadly 

I think you’re right about RLC, mate. It’s a shame because he had such promise … maybe someone like Man U or inter-Milan will pay a shedload for him!

My stream died early last night so went to Five Live so great to see the highlights I missed.

One of those that won't be shown is Courtois's face at 0-3 down absolute disgust or shock not sure yet he thought they were out!

 

27 minutes ago, coco said:

 

I thought we were robbed but the replay showed the ball did touch his hand so it's just Real Madrid being lucky there.

Ngolo Kante really let us down. He lost possession 16 times and only won 50 percent of his duels. In hindsight tuchel should have taken him and RLC out for jorginho and azpi . Its no Coincidence  that both goals conceded originated from the right side. 

No blame goes to Jamees. He was a monster amongst men

 

17 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

Ngolo Kante really let us down. He lost possession 16 times and only won 50 percent of his duels. In hindsight tuchel should have taken him and RLC out for jorginho and azpi . Its no Coincidence  that both goals conceded originated from the right side. 

No blame goes to Jamees. He was a monster amongst men

 

Last year Kante was MOTM against Real Madrid, now he was responsible for the both goals we conceded. What a difference 1 year makes...

1 hour ago, Gol15 said:

I thought we were robbed but the replay showed the ball did touch his hand so it's just Real Madrid being lucky there.

I've been saying for months that the handball rules are utterly ridiculous. It happened a few weeks back. I can't remember who the teams were, but a penalty was awarded when the ball literally brushed the players hand. Handball needs to go back to the old rules.

If a hand or arm (up to elbow) interferes with a goal scoring opportunity, then it should be a goal. When the ball literally brushes a player's hand then it has become ludicrous. The same as the offside rule when a player's hand or arm is offside, it's offside, even though the players foot/feet are onside. 

2 hours ago, coco said:

Still not seen the camera angle that VAR see the clear and obvious handball, it's all guess work with no clear view.

After the disallowed goal the ref started giving us a plethora of free kicks, RM players only had to touch a Chelsea player and he gave us the free kick, he knew we was robbed of that goal.

Be warned City and Liverpool, Uefa do not want English dominant season in the CL.

If your going to say i'm wrong don't bother unless you can show me the video VAR say proves he clearly handled it.

 

It isn't a clear and obvious handball. What are players supposed to do, have no arms? May as well tie their hands behind their backs, it's how the game is going. Natural movements of the hand and arm are difficult to control. There needs to be some logic and leeway in instances where it isn't clear cut. 

10 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Yes.

 

6 hours ago, Valerie said:

Yes from me as well. Despite individual errors we actually won this match, at the Bernabeu, and got knocked out only after extra time because of a dreadful first match. I'm not going along with blaming particular players, it was the team last week that cost us.

Ok then, if you want him to perform like that every week I don't believe there's anything that could convince you, no matter what evidence is presented. I'll leave it at that.

 

4 hours ago, just said:

Absolutely Vagabond. Much prefer the central pairing of Kante and Kovacic. We have a far higher tempo with those two playing together in the middle. 

 

That's not the point. If prefer that pairing too, but that doesn't make me blind to the obvious fact that he had an abysmal game. His reaction for their second goal was the worst in his whole career as far as I'm concerned. Which is why I find it puzzling that you three would be ok with him performing that way on a regular basis. Have you taken a look at his stats? Or noticed how Rudi and Silva reacted to his nonchalant play?

5 minutes ago, enigma said:

It isn't a clear and obvious handball. What are players supposed to do, have no arms? May as well tie their hands behind their backs, it's how the game is going. Natural movements of the hand and arm are difficult to control. There needs to be some logic and leeway in instances where it isn't clear cut. 

Yeah i have no problem with the rule, like i have no problem with VAR intervening for clear and obvious mistakes, but i have not seen a clear view of his hand touching the ball, if i did i would change my mind, maybe VAR does have a video that proves that, but we have not seen it.

The handball was correct, though the rule is farcical. The more annoying one was no VAR review of the foul on Havertz in the box as the snake came out to collect a ball, I cant believe that wasnt looked at.

Just proud of that performance, we won’t win every game, just brilliant to see we can play the best off the park.

Firstly, i thought it was a magnificent effort last night and an outstanding performnce by the team and manager. With the save from Courtois form Havertz's header at 3-0 possibly being the turning point. A fourth there and its goodnight Vienna surely.

Two aspects I think were important taht i picked up on.

The fact that the likes of Modric, Benzema, Casemiro, Alaba and Kroos, all 30 and above are energetically running around all game long, some through extra time as well, whereas a number of our players were out on their legs towards the end, is surely a clear indication of teh difference in the competitiveness of our respective leagues. Unless the benches of english sides are deep enough and are used wisely enough we will always suffer in the final stages of european competitions when we play agaisnt teams from far less competitive leagues, in terms of teams and fixture scheduling.

The other point is that when we get to these stages, the points that a number of us have previously made about certain players are proven to be the case as these are the matches that really matter. Pulisic is clearly not good enough and i am not sure if he ever was except for a few fleeting moments. RLC, is great in the right environment, but sadly is just not elite level, Christensen (from the 1st leg) may be getting himself a move to a club that he thinks is elite, but he clearly is not up to that standard. And sadly the clock is ticking on poor N'Golo. I love this guy and am so pleased that he has been committed to Chelsea for so long, but clearly his decision making in possession, never brilliant except in flashes, is definitely on the wane and arguably cost us, or didn't help us, with both goals.

As I said last night, If we could have kept that first leg to 1-2 at least, then we win this tie. Annoying and frustrating. But then it's all ifs, buts and maybes at the end of the day. 

Even with such a display I guess in some eyes it is imperative we have a villain to blame. Ok then.

Blame Kante for his pass before the Modric worldie,  blame him for not smashing the Madrid player before the ball gets to vini jnr.

But let's also offer out fair blame over the whole tie eh?

Blame TT. He prepared the team for the first leg and clearly did a pi$$ poor job of it. He selected Dave on the left side who was mugged time after time and offered 0 protection to the useless Rudiger. Blame Silva for not marshaling his defence, blame Christensen for not being at the races.

Blame James for not being a difference maker, blame Jorgi and Kante for losing the midfield battle. Blame Mount and CP for offering nothing. Blame Mendy for not saving the first goal and giving them the 3rd. Blame Lukaku for missing a sitter, blame Ziyech for missing a free hit in the box.

Blame Benzema for being that good this season.

And all that was in just the first game.

While digging out Kante, and I am not saying he did not make mistakes yesterday, also be fair in digging out how Havertz and Pulisic wasted good chances as well.

As I said in the first leg Lukaku and Ziyech missing sitters is as bad as Mendy giving them a goal.

I was really proud of the effort last night by everyone in the squad. Let's build on that and continue to play the way we can moving forward

With some of these laws common sense has to prevail. You can't even be sure from the replays that it actually brushed his hand, only thing anyone can say with any certianity (other than Alonso) to my eyes it went very close to his hand,  which he is trying to pull away. If his hand wasn't there he would have controlled it with his body anyway. But the flow of the game the move the finish, it's a goal....

 The offsides rule as well. We get called up for so many when the player has a stray pube over the line (I know this has been done to death on the forum),  it just drives me insane.

Remember when the benefit of the doubt went to the attacking side ?  

Anyway thanks for listening, I'll shut up........., FA cup here we come !

 

The most ludicrous thing about this rule is - if Alonso decided to pass the ball to someone in the box and they scored, then the goal would have stood which doesn’t make any sense at all.

Edited April 13, 20224 yr by Ledgerson

4 hours ago, Zeta said:

Replace Saul with Gallagher in the summer, maybe bring in Rice as well if the new owners feel like breaking the bank. Replace Luakaku with a striker. Replace either Pulisic or Ziyech with someone better, and suddenly our bench looks a lot stronger and we'd be winning that game. We're just lacking in a few areas at the moment.

Agreed. Let's close some disappointing chapters and hope we can sell a few players. I'd keep Ziyech and sell Pulisic, but that's fo another thread.

In the meantime, I'm still proud of how close we ran Madrid! Let's win the FA Cup now. KTBFFH!

3 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

Ngolo Kante really let us down. He lost possession 16 times and only won 50 percent of his duels. In hindsight tuchel should have taken him and RLC out for jorginho and azpi . Its no Coincidence  that both goals conceded originated from the right side. 

No blame goes to Jamees. He was a monster amongst men

 

The problem is Don by bringing in Jorginho the pace, tempo and forward passing goes out the window and we lose out on fast closing down and turn overs too. He isn't the answer for games played at a high speed. Bring him on to slow things down and keep retention of the ball by all means, but chasing a game against top opposition, adding dynamism, ball carrying and creativity, no chance. It's not his thing and it's been proven time and time again.

I know you going to say "what are you reading that dick head for Andy" ... but a mate sent me a link on the wind up and it was the funniest thing I read for a long time. 

Gooner and professional bell end Piers Morgan writing in The Sun ..........  "Tuchel embarrassing" and get this, "Chelsea choked" 

Fell off my chair 🤣 

 

Edited April 13, 20224 yr by andy

5 minutes ago, andy said:

I know you going to say "what are you reading that dick head for Andy" ... but a mate sent me a link on the wind up and it was the funniest thing I read for a long time. 

Gooner and professional bell end Piers Morgan writing in The Sun ..........  "Tuchel embarrassing" and get this, "Chelsea choked" 

Fell off my chair 🤣 

 

the only european football he will see is when arsenal play friendlies 

36 minutes ago, just said:

The problem is Don by bringing in Jorginho the pace, tempo and forward passing goes out the window and we lose out on fast closing down and turn overs too. He isn't the answer for games played at a high speed. Bring him on to slow things down and keep retention of the ball by all means, but chasing a game against top opposition, adding dynamism, ball carrying and creativity, no chance. It's not his thing and it's been proven time and time again.

That's why Kante could have been out of the game at min 75' after we had a 3:0 lead, to slow things down and close the game routinely. Maybe it wouldn't have happened but if you want a tactical sub before the end of the game that's the one that could have been made. Instead of that we conceded 2 goals before adjusting to the situation.

And while we would have lost the tempo of the game it would have benefited us, it's normal not to want a fast pace game when you're protecting the lead. When it comes to forward passing well it's not like Kante was passing the ball so much forward, his forward passing... Isn't a thing at the position of Jorginho. 20/20 hindsight

Edited April 13, 20224 yr by Gol15