Actually thought there were some positives today. Fofana and Colwill have the makings of a top centre back back pairing, really impressed with how quickly Fofana has got up to speed. 

We press really well when City had a goal kick, just need to work on the triggers and structure for when the ball is in play, which is obviously harder to work on than dead balls, so will take time. 

Lavia was really good, grew into the game, and I thought him coming off was a mistake.

Onto the negatives, Sanchez made 2 big errors one which cost us a goal. Not good enough, complete was of £25m.

That midfield 3 doesn't work going forward, very reminiscent of the Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic trio we saw on occasions under multiple managers. Only room for 2 of Lavia, Caicedo, and Enzo, plenty of games for them to rotate.

Going forward we looked toothless, not totally a surprise with Jackson and Palmer having not played much, but Nkunku wide is a waste, really shouldve played where Enzo played, and Neto, Madueke, or Mudryk shouldve started as a natural winger.

Overall not bad, a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result, Maresca got the subs wrong, which killed momentum, but not sure what the fitness levels were like. 

 

 

we cant judge the manager until we give him a decent transfer budget

https://www.givemesport.com/john-obi-mikel-rant-about-chelsea-after-man-city-loss/

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Few things killed the game for me. 

- Nkunku at LW with no one overlapping .
  He’s not a touchline winger.

- Enzo getting at the end of all our best chances.

- Taking Lavia off (Easily our best CM at the moment). 

- Taking off Nkunku instead of moving him centrally. 

- Taking off Jackson for Guiu. As poor as Jackson was this move basically put a stopping break on the attack and we essentially played with 10 men. The lad is not ready and has a very raw overall game. 

This game didn’t show us anything new. Work in progress and we still desperately need a presence in the box and clinical forward. 
 

 

I think Lavia and Nkunku was subbed because we are being cautious with their minutes following injuries. I can understand that. The rest I agree with.

7 minutes ago, forbzy said:

I think Lavia and Nkunku was subbed because we are being cautious with their minutes following injuries. I can understand that. The rest I agree with.

That would make sense if it wasn't for the fact that both of them were in our top 5 in the squad for minutes played in pre-season ... on dodgy pitches ... 

5 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

That would make sense if it wasn't for the fact that both of them were in our top 5 in the squad for minutes played in pre-season ... on dodgy pitches ... 

True. Although Lavia was looking a little leggy right before he came off. I would have moved Nkunku into the middle and subbed Neto on for Jackson. Then again I would have taken off Enzo for Dewsbury-Hall too.

I wasn’t expecting much from today’s match and I think that we gave them a game, so kind of not too bothered. Having said so, I did not like the subs. I thought that Maresca should have gone stronger for the equaliser, getting Neto in for Enzo (who I thought was bad) and playing Nkunku more central behind Jackson. I don’t understand playing Enzo so high up, he was at times playing as a striker and got at some point in the middle of Jackson’s way so badly it was embarrassing. Get him on the bench if not being played deeper. Also, Kova was not good enough to play for us but today I would have swapped him for Enzo or Caicedo without hesitation.

Anyway, today does not define our season or where we are as a team, but next three games are going to tell us much about where we are at and should be all victories.

Despite the results ( largely predictable), gave a good game. Enzo set out a compact team and shape, despite the City dominance we were never out of it. We had good moments and should have scored with a bit of luck. The Kovacic goal was a bit of a sucker punch, dude scores 1 a season and it just happens to be a belter against us. There was nothing screaming bad about anyone, just have to accept we played against a better team. Nobody got hurt , so that's a positive.

Well here we are. New season and Jackson starts as our centre forward and predictably messes up our two best chances. And Sanchez is still our no. 1 keeper for reasons only known to the Sporting Directors. Some things never change. 

The most glaring thing from this game were our sub Veiga, guiiu, KDH. 

All of them are this summer transfer and all of them looked poor. 

 

City were not in good condition. Players unused on their bench due to lack of pre season minutes that are regulat starters, Rodri out.

An average United almost beat them (again). Shows they were a mess, Pep himself did not expect such an easy ride and he looked rather smug about it.

A predictable performance based on the same problem Potter et al had...a bloated squad with too many players having to be left out to satisfy the owners. Players shoe horned in playing out of position.  Why was Enzo playing so far forward? especially in the first half taking the space where Nkunku should have been occupying instead of playing on the left wing where Sterling should have been selected or at least Neto.  Werner-Jackson once again has learned nothing from last season, and if he continues to play up front we will end up with the same result with about 150 offsides calls with another 10 offside goals...sit him on the bench or send him on loan until he knows what the offside rule is because he is really getting on my tits now. My God how badly we need a CF.  

City were able to waltz and drifted through our midfield as if it wasn't there, which invariably put the defence immediately under pressure; likely because Enzo was playing up front instead of sitting in the middle of the park threading passes.   But for the most part it was the same old sh*t with a different shirt design.  Poor passing, poor build up play, 15-20 passes along the back line to move the ball 5 yards if that.  Players attempting suicide passes leaving the receiver with no chance of doing nothing with it other than lose it or pass it 10 yards backwards.    

This may have been EM first real game in charge and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt in terms of game plan, but FFS select players and put them in the position where they play best, after all he has near on 50 players to choose from, and likely another 2 or 3 coming in before the window shuts; for me he has no excuse for not selecting the best 11 players in their right positions.     

Anyway this was no doubt a free pass given the opponent and the first game of the season...but with this squad there should be no more free passes after about 5 games.

9 hours ago, big blue said:

Actually thought there were some positives today. Fofana and Colwill have the makings of a top centre back back pairing, really impressed with how quickly Fofana has got up to speed. 

We press really well when City had a goal kick, just need to work on the triggers and structure for when the ball is in play, which is obviously harder to work on than dead balls, so will take time. 

Lavia was really good, grew into the game, and I thought him coming off was a mistake.

Onto the negatives, Sanchez made 2 big errors one which cost us a goal. Not good enough, complete was of £25m.

That midfield 3 doesn't work going forward, very reminiscent of the Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic trio we saw on occasions under multiple managers. Only room for 2 of Lavia, Caicedo, and Enzo, plenty of games for them to rotate.

Going forward we looked toothless, not totally a surprise with Jackson and Palmer having not played much, but Nkunku wide is a waste, really shouldve played where Enzo played, and Neto, Madueke, or Mudryk shouldve started as a natural winger.

Overall not bad, a draw wouldn't have been an unfair result, Maresca got the subs wrong, which killed momentum, but not sure what the fitness levels were like. 

 

 

Pretty much agree on all points, although I continue to be unconvinced by Colwill.

I thought Lavia was the best player on the pitch and couldn't understand the substitution.  Fofana looks really good, just hope he stays fit.

I thought Gusto was quite poor and both Palmer and Nkunku underwhelmed. 

I'm still waiting to see what all the fuss is about with Fernandez as another meh performance goes by.

But the last word must be for Sanchez. I suspect having announced him as No 1 and having 7 other keepers that can't do what Maresca wants he must have watched that performance from Sanchez and thought Oh Merda!

1 hour ago, WhiteWall said:

Pretty much agree on all points, although I continue to be unconvinced by Colwill.

I thought Lavia was the best player on the pitch and couldn't understand the substitution.  Fofana looks really good, just hope he stays fit.

I thought Gusto was quite poor and both Palmer and Nkunku underwhelmed. 

I'm still waiting to see what all the fuss is about with Fernandez as another meh performance goes by.

But the last word must be for Sanchez. I suspect having announced him as No 1 and having 7 other keepers that can't do what Maresca wants he must have watched that performance from Sanchez and thought Oh Merda!

I think it can be easy to forget that Colwill is only 21 and he's not coming through playing with Marcel or Frank. Could have done with more exposher to Tiago befoe he left but they are going to have to very much learn on the Job Forfana him self is only 23 and hasn't really played football for almost 2 years. They are actually one of my plus points from the sh!t show of the way we our being run as a club because you can see the nucleas of a defensive partnership for the next 8 years.

But pretty much agree with everything else you say. Mudryk gets alot of heat, I'm not sure we can say that Enzo has showen anything more in the time he has been here. Based on what I have seen and assuming the dream of Conor comming back in to the fold is dead. The best way forward would be to bring Palmer inside to play that 8/10 role, Noni who really has pushed on  (still not conviced but he deserves the chance) and Enzo to the bench - Lavia was very impressive and Caicedo is a must

 

When all is said and done i don't think it was as passive and submissive as some have mentioned. A bit more sharpness in the final third, a little bit more pace and ideally a true presence up top and its a different game. Drogba, Costa. These types of player profiles score in this game.

I know that this is only showing us with the ball and not us without but there was opportunity. This is more progressive already than i am kind of expecting from Maresca ball in the long run. Yeah, i know we lost, i know we played some players out of position, didn't use the best players for those positions and there were some definitely off their game, but it wasn't all sh!te.

 

 

Even though it was a disappointing result good to see Lavia, Nkunku and Fofana come through unscathed  not sure due to injuries they have ever played together before.

 

Unfortunately I missed the game...anybody got a link to the full match pls?

After yesterday's game, albeit a loss, there were definite sign of shape, that was missing much of last season. I am quietly optimistic now for things on the pitch, but will avoid talking about the Owners, DOF's, shocking signings, lack of a Shirt sponsor (nobody wants us for ONE year) and the abandoned plans to upgrade Stamford Bridge, for the very real fear of getting high blood pressure, and this, from a point of historically very low blood pressure.

Some observations

Sanchez is definitely NOT good enough. Same errors and lack of control as last season. Slightly worrying that Maresca picked his as his starter because of his distribution.

Jackson, 😖same old, same old, errors, misses, can't time his run, how many f*cking more times? Guiu is a better bet - long term

Enzo, gave the ball away so much that he should have had a sky blue shirt on. Definitely NOT Captain material and on this performance, should be dropped in favour of Gallagher who looked excellent alongside Caicedo at the tail end of last Season or Dewsbury Hall who will get more game time under Maresca and looked decent.

Lavia looked excellent, why was he taken off ??

Nkunku needs a run of minutes, not to be taken off after less than an hour.

Need a REAL goalscorer like Osimhen NOW !!!

Players that really do need to leave ASAP are Sterling, Broja, Badiashile, Kepa, Mudryk (loan) Lukaku, David Fofana, Betinelli and Sanchez.

 

 

Edited August 19, 20241 yr by coombsie

11 minutes ago, Simplymo said:

Unfortunately I missed the game...anybody got a link to the full match pls?

No need to put yourself through it. 
Haaland scored.
Sanchez should’ve saved Kovacic’s goal.

Jackson cost us a draw by being brain dead, all he had to do was watch the line and time his run like you’re taught when you start playing 11 a side at 10 years old?
Outside of that, probably one of the most boring 90 minutes of football you’ll see all season. 

Yeah after giving it some time, probably not the worst we’ll see all season just some glaringly obvious players who aren’t good enough for this level.

Sanchez shouldn’t play another minute unless injury dictates.

Jackson isn’t a footballer and never will be. 
If people persist on playing Enzo as a 10 then we may as well not play him at all.

KDH is more Drinkwater than Kante, no more than a Championship level player.

Was actually surprisingly disappointed in Gusto’s performance yesterday, not his usual self going forwards and especially defensively.

Other than that Lavia was my Chelsea MOTM & I thought Fofana & Colwill look to be forming a solid enough partnership, better than what we had last season at the least. 

We left points on the table with Jackson’s inability to do the basics of a professional footballer.

2 minutes ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Yeah after giving it some time, probably not the worst we’ll see all season just some glaringly obvious players who aren’t good enough for this level.

Sanchez shouldn’t play another minute unless injury dictates.

Jackson isn’t a footballer and never will be. 
If people persist on playing Enzo as a 10 then we may as well not play him at all.

KDH is more Drinkwater than Kante, no more than a Championship level player.

Was actually surprisingly disappointed in Gusto’s performance yesterday, not his usual self going forwards and especially defensively.

Other than that Lavia was my Chelsea MOTM & I thought Fofana & Colwill look to be forming a solid enough partnership, better than what we had last season at the least. 

We left points on the table with Jackson’s inability to do the basics of a professional footballer.

I actually think that KDH is actually going to be very good when he settles into the pace of the Prem.

Long time lurker, now registered.

A huge problem is Winstanley and Stewart.

Everyone knew Potters bloated squad was a problem - yet they have failed to move players on over successive windows - in fact have compounded the problem by buying more

They went for Maresca - but in doing so, his tactics were well known, and it ought to have been obvious it meant one of Caicedo Lavia and Enzo being sacrificed from the team each week, but they still chose him (this also ignores that the system threatens to also not get the best out of Nkunku and possibly Palmer)

We have the wrong players for the tactics yet the same people have recruited the players and the manager - they should be out of the door rapid

 

 

 

Highlight of the game was the crowd singing Conor's name.

I thought City didn't really get out of first gear, we failed to capitalise on Rodri's absence, and isolating our two most creative players extremely wide was pretty baffling.

I was told Palmer did well in spite of Poch the other day, if he's out getting chalk on his boots like that all season he'll be lucky to get a third of last years output.

Didn't really see any difference with Palmer. Did what he normally did. Stayed wide or played through the channel. Freedom was up to him. 

tbh - I thought Palmer and Nkunku did well enough - it is bloody hard to play against Citeh.  I think Enzo was the weak link. And it is a link. Or it should be. the no.10 spot. Clearly not the position for Enzo jnr.

I wasn't particularly impressed with Neto - but then he has hardly played with any of his teammates at this point.  But bringing him on says that Enzo.Snr has very little faith in Mudryck or Madueke - and of course no faith at all in Rheem Sterling.