6 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Borja can't play every game (he will reinjure his knee if otherwise)

He needs off loading, fast. What on earth is the point in any player that can only play every other game? It’s not like he’s very good to start with.

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by Snedger

22 minutes ago, Snedger said:

He needs off loading, fast. What on earth is the point in any player that can only play every other game? It’s not like he’s very good to start with.

The problem is it is almost impossible to find an alternative. PL st is crazy expensive 

Palmer takes all his chances and we win. He didn't and we lost. Pretty simple. 

We are struggling with sides that park the bus. Carrick knew this and did just that. Against a bus we still created 2.33 xG. We just didn't finish it. 

Villa, who is 10+ points clear us on the table and best team of 2023 in England won Middlesbrough with a late 87 min goal couple days prior to this. 

They also scored the only chance they pretty much had all game against us. Our pressing in their half was impressive and that was lead by the attackers and mostly Caicedo. Caicedo was good on the night. Their goal is partly his fault as well. Bigger plame on Colwill.

7 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Seems like there is quite a bit of anger around about this result.

Why are you so mad about it Mod?

It’s just the complete mess it all is! If we play well and lose, it’s annoying but we can’t complain much being the lesser of the two teams in the game.

Against Boro’ we were complete sh*te! I can only remember Enzo and Gusto actually stringing some passes together of any worth. Everyone looked completely off the boil! Even Palmer! 

I’ve said it so many times here the last few years, but the problem is much deeper! It easy to accept being a mid table club if we actually played like one! We played like Poch has lost the dressing room, but again, I think it’s deeper than that!

Its not as if Middlesbrough were really good, they are missing a hat full of players, we were just shockingly poor!

2 hours ago, evissy said:

Against a bus we still created 2.33 xG. We just didn't finish it. 

By created you mean poor Boro players literally giving Palmer the ball directly in front of the net on at least two occasions. Unforced Boro mistakes is what "created" that Xg.

 

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by OriginalS

2 hours ago, Bob stark said:

Not sure Conor or enzo are at fault at all. Disasi is also in perfect position. 

It was 100% Caicedo fault and Colwill for not tracking runner (I have seen this scenario many times though 🤭🤭). 

Silva case is a bit complicated. This has been the case for a while. He is basically a cover guy only so it kinda put more responsibility on player around him. 

Even with all of the above, that you are correct about, there is still a period whereby it is a foot race between Colwill and the Boro player, as can be seen. Colwill not only struggled to keep up pace, he had no nous, no art or craft in defending or channelling players, he is just trying to occupy the easy space to stop a cross, not really being fully aware of where the ball was at one point.

6 minutes ago, OriginalS said:

By created you mean poor Boro players literally giving Palmer the ball directly in front of the net on at least two occasions. Unforced Boro mistakes is what "created" that Xg.

 

However you want to see it. Glass half empty it is...

2 hours ago, evissy said:

Palmer takes all his chances and we win. He didn't and we lost. Pretty simple. 

We are struggling with sides that park the bus. Carrick knew this and did just that. Against a bus we still created 2.33 xG. We just didn't finish it. 

Villa, who is 10+ points clear us on the table and best team of 2023 in England won Middlesbrough with a late 87 min goal couple days prior to this. 

They also scored the only chance they pretty much had all game against us. Our pressing in their half was impressive and that was lead by the attackers and mostly Caicedo. Caicedo was good on the night. Their goal is partly his fault as well. Bigger plame on Colwill.

We didn't create 2.33 xG, i think we were gifted most of that.

In order to overcome a low block there are two options. One is constant movement by all players rapidly moving the ball with one touch passes between very mobile players nipping in and out of the block, a la Man City, Bernardo Silva, for example. The other is accurate shooting from distance. Not necessarily scoring but being alert to pick up the pieces. 

We successfully did this once and unfortunately Palmer missed his chance.

Generally we don't, or can't, do either of these options so we retain possession pointlessly, we have no movement off the ball, our shooting is laughable and therefore we will always be easy to defend against. This will continue to occur in every game because Poch is incapable of coming up with a solution.

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by WhiteWall

18 minutes ago, Modueke said:

It’s just the complete mess it all is! If we play well and lose, it’s annoying but we can’t complain much being the lesser of the two teams in the game.

Against Boro’ we were complete sh*te! I can only remember Enzo and Gusto actually stringing some passes together of any worth. Everyone looked completely off the boil! Even Palmer! 

I’ve said it so many times here the last few years, but the problem is much deeper! It easy to accept being a mid table club if we actually played like one! We played like Poch has lost the dressing room, but again, I think it’s deeper than that!

Its not as if Middlesbrough were really good, they are missing a hat full of players, we were just shockingly poor!

What is sobering about this post, whilst i agree with pretty much all of it, i actually thought that Enzo was pretty ineffectual again and i thought Gusto looked powder puff and easily out fought. Genuinely struggling to find a single player that comes out of this with a modicum of positivity.

5 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

We didn't create 2.33 xG, i think we were gifted moist of that.

In order to overcoem a low block tehre are two options. One is constant movement by all players rapidly movign the ball with one touch passes betwenn very mobile players nipping in and out of the block, a l Man City, Bernardo Silva, for example. The other is accurate shootign form distance. Not necessarily scorign but beign alert to pick up the pieces. 

We successfully did this once and unfortunately Palmer missed his chance.

Generally we don't, or can't, do either of these options so we retain possession pointlessly, we have no movement off the ball, our shooting is laughable and therefore we will always be easy to defend against. This will continue to occur in every game because Poch is incapable of coming up with a solution.

Looking at the spelling in that post, I can sense your level of frenzied agitation 🙂 ... slow down on that keyboard LOL

You're not wrong though.

It's the lack of movement I find most frustrating. We obviously can't shoot for sh*t LOL, so I guess you just have to respect the duty of care from the players in protecting the crowd from bloody noses and black eyes !

 

2 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Looking at the spelling in that post, I can sense your level of frenzied agitation 🙂 ... slow down on that keyboard LOL

You're not wrong though.

It's the lack of movement I find most frustrating. We obviously can't shoot for sh*t LOL, so I guess you just have to respect the duty of care from the players in protecting the crowd from bloody noses and black eyes !

 

I had to go back and edit it. My level of touch and care of the keyboard was proper Chels!

23 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

What is sobering about this post, whilst i agree with pretty much all of it, i actually thought that Enzo was pretty ineffectual again and i thought Gusto looked powder puff and easily out fought. Genuinely struggling to find a single player that comes out of this with a modicum of positivity.

No you are probably right tbh, I probably just cherry picked a couple of notable passes that wasn’t sideways from each. It just seemed to me Enzo and Gusto were the only 2 wanting to push it forward more! Mudryk tried bless him but we are way off the level of little flick passes to each other!

If the game last week pissed Silva off, after last night, he must be looking in his spare room for today digging out the families suitcases ready!

8 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Looking at the spelling in that post, I can sense your level of frenzied agitation 🙂 ... slow down on that keyboard LOL

You're not wrong though.

It's the lack of movement I find most frustrating. We obviously can't shoot for sh*t LOL, so I guess you just have to respect the duty of care from the players in protecting the crowd from bloody noses and black eyes !

 

I think for the entire game we pressed well and that gave us 75% of possession. If Boro gave us the ball that was partly down to our pressing. Our problem was finishing. Second half changes made us worse and we totally lost the plot. That responsibility is on Poch.

5 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

OK, but you can't give a free pass to Silva in my book just because "it is a bit complicated". 

 

With silva it is what it is. 

As ccb you can argue that he is one of the best cb in the world but in back 4, he has a lot of limitation. 

2 hours ago, Modueke said:

It’s just the complete mess it all is! If we play well and lose, it’s annoying but we can’t complain much being the lesser of the two teams in the game.

Against Boro’ we were complete sh*te! I can only remember Enzo and Gusto actually stringing some passes together of any worth. Everyone looked completely off the boil! Even Palmer! 

I’ve said it so many times here the last few years, but the problem is much deeper! It easy to accept being a mid table club if we actually played like one! We played like Poch has lost the dressing room, but again, I think it’s deeper than that!

Its not as if Middlesbrough were really good, they are missing a hat full of players, we were just shockingly poor!

It was a wet, cold night in the north east. Not quite Stoke but close enough, we should have expected what happened lol.

Serious lack of common sense from our forwards and attackers when chasing the game. 

Both wingers tucked in close to Broja and Palmer, with Gallagher and/or caicedo pushing up centrally in midfield just left it all too easy to defend. 

I can understand wingers drifting inside when we play with just the 3, as it makes it easier to link attacks. But when we bring a 4th, central attacker in (and then every other player aimlessly rushing forward, it blocks more than it creates. 

Surely when playing with no reckognised full back, both wingers should sit high and wide to stretch the defense and allow space for late arriving midfielders to occupy. 

Again, it must be the age of the squad, but theres next to 0 common sense when adapting to in game situations. 

13 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Sadly yes ... he has to stay back, 

When the danger started, Caicedo (orange circle) was actually further up the field than Silva (red)  🙂 

Fernandez was jogging back even slower than Silva, and Gallagher isn't even in the (wide angle) screen shot LOL

 

 

This is why I can't understand Enzo playing so far forward, he simply hasn't got the legs to recover and isn't he supposed to be playing a pivot with Caicedo?  I'd rather have him alongside Caicedo and Gallagher playing more forward...I hope it will change when the injured players start coming back, our midfield is so open every game.   

9 hours ago, Bob stark said:

With silva it is what it is. 

As ccb you can argue that he is one of the best cb in the world but in back 4, he has a lot of limitation. 

The question is whether Silva is worth his place in the current lineup. My view is he isn't. As bad as Colwill is at left back he has lots of upside. The bad side of Silva is starting to dominate the good. There are regular mistakes now. 

25 minutes ago, ozboy said:

The question is whether Silva is worth his place in the current lineup. My view is he isn't. As bad as Colwill is at left back he has lots of upside. The bad side of Silva is starting to dominate the good. There are regular mistakes now. 

IMO Silva will surely be slowly phased out when Chillwell and Badiashile come back as Colwill will move to the centre along side Badiashile and for now Gusto on the right until James returns.  Silva can continue in the cup games...providing we get into the next rounds.  

Still the very same set of issues that we have had since TT and Roman left the Club.

No Leadership on or off the pitch

No proven striker/goalscorer worth the name

An ex-Spurs head coach and before him ditto a former Brighton coach  neither of whom has ever won a thing

Owners who care far more about money, profit and Super Leagues and very little about real Chelsea fans and the shocking performances on the pitch

The fanbase that is fast becoming tourist based, with no real interest in the Club other than what is on the Menu in West View

Fans who went to this game have said only Silva, Broja, Gilchrist and Colwill came over to acknowledge the away end.

Not a surprise many do not care about the fans, I would not expect it from the foreign lads coming in to this without a JT or Lamps to guide them, however Conor not doing so is a big black mark on him imo.

1 hour ago, axman2526 said:

Fans who went to this game have said only Silva, Broja, Gilchrist and Colwill came over to acknowledge the away end.

Not a surprise many do not care about the fans, I would not expect it from the foreign lads coming in to this without a JT or Lamps to guide them, however Conor not doing so is a big black mark on him imo.

He's apparently getting a banner this weekend. 

1 hour ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He's apparently getting a banner this weekend. 

Bit premature ... 

I guess they can chuck it in the same bonfire as the Mount one when the owners sell Conor LOL

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

He's apparently getting a banner this weekend. 

Would be much better spending their money on signs telling the owners, Stewart and Winstanley where to go