we really missed Gallagher in this game.

When Madrid brought on Camavinga they brought on energy and really revitalised their team. We can only bring on Jorginho. Jorginho is a good passer of the ball but he doesn't bring dynamism or energy. He can however control the game and slow it down when required. We don't really have that dynamic impulse from midfield to bring on.

RLC somewhat sometimes but not on a high enough level i'm afraid.

If you bring on Gallagher at 75 minutes you'll have a whole new impulse in there + he is a goal threat.

Also Broja would be a better replacement for Werner than Pulisic.

Add Broja and Gallagher and you have 2 players with pace and energy who can really have an impact from the bench. 

Alonso got tired and we didn't have anyone to replace him. I think to start with Chillwell and bring in Alonso as an attacking impulse for 15 minutes would also be a good sub to have 

Edited April 13, 20224 yr by azpi28

The more I think about it, the more unlucky I think we were. We’ve absolutely destroyed Real Madrid at Bernabeu, scored 4 and we still didn’t make it. That’s cup games for you though. 

Is there not a MOTM topic?

11 minutes ago, CaitlinCFC said:

Is there not a MOTM topic?

@PloKoon13 has not surfaced yet...

39 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

@PloKoon13 has not surfaced yet...

Pump pump pump. 

1 minute ago, Munkworth said:

Pump pump pump. 

So, so proud of them last night - how can anyone not be? Quite a game and a whole lot better than the City v Liverpool game at the weekend that the media were all gushing over.

We deserved to win the tie and go through but we go out as holders with our heads held high.  

Don't want to fault anyone as they all gave their absolute all, but i guess they had subs and made changes that had a positive impact whereas we brought on no-one who made us better. We play in a tougher league and weren't able to rest players at the weekend like Madrid and we were tiring late on and extra time which was all Madrid needed. 

Can look back at the first leg, where we ultimately lost the tie and again last night with missed chances and a below par Kante making "mistakes", but it's such fine margins and sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don't but i'm sure this will just make TT and the boys stronger and hungrier and we'll be back lifting that trophy again before too long.

"CAREFREE..........................!"

We have to blame ourselves as a club for this defeat. And you will think a football club like ours will know better after all these years in top competitions like the premier league and the champions league.

When Tuchel came last season, I felt he would have identified certain positions in this team that need new players. For example our defensive midfield and midfield as a whole needed one or two better players. And this was clearly obvious. Infact we needed to have released certain players in that midfield but we didn't.

Yesterday, we lost the game because Kante was tired. Assuming we had a top player who could come in for him when he was tired yesterday, we would not have conceeded that goal and probably we would have scored the fourth goal before we conceeded that second goal. I want to think we have some Chelsea fans like me who want Chelsea to be a big European giant like Real Madrid. Because of that we are not afraid of Real Madrid.

All we need to do is to recruit well and make sure the structure of our club is solid. If we are going to be a great European giant, then we have to do well every season. Although we won last season, we still have to try to do something this season.

I also have Tuchel to blame for this defeat. I think all through the season I've been saying that his 3-4-3 formation cannot work in every game. And I blame him because he should have known that that formation will not work in that first leg against Real Madrid.

In a 3-4-3 formation, when you attack with your wing backs, you leave only three players at the back and that will leave the opponents' wing forward unmarked in your own half. That was the case with Vinicius in that first leg. You cannot be using that 3-4-3 formation in every match.

 

2 hours ago, Gol15 said:

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

You have a point Gol. Maybe if the Alonso goal had stood, which Kante had set up with his run and pass, TT might have then made the substitution and brought on Jorginho to sit deep, play his triangles and slow everything down. However, we were so on top at that point in the game he might not have wanted to make the game slower.

3 hours 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.

Very true. I meant to say to bring them both on after we took the lead so they could slow the game down and close it out, Just like real did after they took the load

9 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

Very true. I meant to say to bring them both on after we took the lead so they could slow the game down and close it out, Just like real did after they took the load

I think a few wanted TT to do this with changes after Timo scored and got injured:

 

Mendy

 

James

Silva

Rudiger

 

Dave

Chalobah

Jorginho

Alonso

 

Kovacic

Mount

 

Havertz

For God's sake, Chalobah was on the bench, and we were 3-0 up, you couldn't bring in Chalobah for one of the attackers like RLC or Timo. Too bad.

4 hours ago, dansubrosa said:

The more I think about it, the more unlucky I think we were. We’ve absolutely destroyed Real Madrid at Bernabeu, scored 4 and we still didn’t make it. That’s cup games for you though. 

28 shots away at the Bernabeu apparently 

On 13/04/2022 at 13:49, Vagabond said:

 

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.

How gracious of you to let other people have a different opinion from yours. Because that what this discussion about Kante is: opinions. So not a matter of scientific "evidence" that you present, that others dare to deny.

On 13/04/2022 at 13:44, 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. 

I must admit, when - before VAR was dialled in - I saw the goal repeated at a different angle I immediately suspected it was a hands ball and that it wouldn't stand. Not just because the ball brushed Alonso's hand, but because the contact caused the ball to drop before his foot so he could shoot and score. That influenced the run of play significantly, when otherwise if the ball hadn't touched his hand, it probably would have gone past him.

On 13/04/2022 at 06:18, Zeta said:

Replace Saul with Gallagher in the summer, maybe bring in Rice as well if the new owners feel like breaking the bank. 

I hope not, I think like Lukaku he's not a stylistic match (although ofcourse he won't be a d**khead and think the world owns him a favour like the latter does).

He's a good player at what he does but I'm really not getting the desperation to bring him here.

Edited April 14, 20224 yr by Argo

8 hours ago, Valerie said:

How gracious of you to let other people have a different opinion from yours. Because that what this discussion about Kante is: opinions. So not a matter of scientific "evidence" that you present, that others dare to deny.

When you say you'd be ok with Kante losing possession 16 times and winning only 50% of his duels on a regular basis and you assure me that's you opinion, what do you expect? That I'll agree and see your point?

To me you're either taking the piss, or you love Kante so much that you're deaf to any of his faults or criticism towards him -no matter how valid it may be-, or there's no point in talking football to you. So there's my opinion of your opinion, since you prefer me being direct.

Well now the other British sides sides have safely made it through am seeing comments echo those of Piers Morgan, that we "bottled it" at Real. 

All the West Ham, Leicester and Rangers fans having a pop now. Mind you I guess their sides are at least in European competition, unlike Arsenal or failed in a third rate competition Ala Spurs. Lol

12 hours ago, Vagabond said:

When you say you'd be ok with Kante losing possession 16 times and winning only 50% of his duels on a regular basis and you assure me that's you opinion, what do you expect? That I'll agree and see your point?

To me you're either taking the piss, or you love Kante so much that you're deaf to any of his faults or criticism towards him -no matter how valid it may be-, or there's no point in talking football to you. So there's my opinion of your opinion, since you prefer me being direct.

You're not a very good reader, are you. 

1 hour ago, Valerie said:

You're not a very good reader, are you. 

My question:

"So if you think Kante didnt cost us today, would you be ok with him performing like that on a regular basis?"

Axmans answer:

"Yes."

Your answer:

"Yes from me as well. [...]"

 

You want to keep going with more silly comments or leave it at that like I intended from the start?

11 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Well now the other British sides sides have safely made it through am seeing comments echo those of Piers Morgan, that we "bottled it" at Real. 

All the West Ham, Leicester and Rangers fans having a pop now. Mind you I guess their sides are at least in European competition, unlike Arsenal or failed in a third rate competition Ala Spurs. Lol

To be fair if spuds came back from 3-1 down to take the lead and then lose the tie, we would say they bottled it..

 

33 minutes ago, The Don Antonio said:

To be fair if spuds came back from 3-1 down to take the lead and then lose the tie, we would say they bottled it..

 

You just compared us to Spurs...of the horror...

18 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

To be fair if spuds came back from 3-1 down to take the lead and then lose the tie, we would say they bottled it..

 

To be fair the Spuds wouldn’t be coming back from 3-1 down, they don’t have the proper mentality for it. 

20 hours ago, The Don Antonio said:

To be fair if spuds came back from 3-1 down to take the lead and then lose the tie, we would say they bottled it..

 

If they qualified in the first place, if they got out of the group stage, if they got through R16, if my aunt had balls.