1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Starting 5 defenders against Wrexham? Making subs that had nothing to do with tactics? I don't think that's normal personally. I don't think any sub made today was made with the intention of improving us on the pitch outside of Pedro. Everybody else was about giving minutes, even before the game was won.

bingo.
Which also, once again, points to how unbalanced the squad really is that we ended up with 5 defenders.

23 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Their value can't drop to any less than they would be if they didn't play at all though, even if they play bad. This is why they play. Liam Rosenior deserves criticism, but he deserves criticism for taking on a job like this in the first place, but I can't criticise him for the players he picks because I don't believe he has the final say.

The role of any head coach at Chelsea now is not one of a traditional football manager. You'll never see Mourinho, Conte, Ancelotti or Tuchel type of figure at Chelsea again, not under these owners, they would never accept the restrictions in place. It will be coaches looking for that stepping stone in their career. Why do you think Maresca went along with all of it until the end? What was his options when he promoted Leicester? Get sacked around November at Leicester, or go to Chelsea? It's easy. He went to Chelsea and immediately became the yes man. He never upset those in charge, he kept his down, did as he was told, raised his profile with the CWC win. The next season starts and a few months in, the City rumours started, he spoke out in the media saying he was unhappy, and he left within weeks. Reputation intact, profile raised, Maresca comes out smelling of roses.

I wasn't a fan of Maresca (and his atrocious football) and I'm not a fan of Rosenior for the same reasons. They don't have the clubs best interest at heart. I wanted Maresca gone long before he left, but I wanted him gone based on the football he had us playing, I never wanted him gone on his terms, but that is exactly what happened. That told me everything I already suspected and now I know that owners will never get the right coach, so my energy is on pointing the finger at them rather than any coach.

But that is counterintuitive. I understand what you mean but, if they keep playing they’ll lose money by getting eliminated of Cups or not qualifying for the CL, and these players still won’t increase their value so the owners won’t recover their money. But I agree with you, I just can’t think of any logical reason for tonight’s lineup and performance. And LR is as guilty as the rest of them.

29 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Starting 5 defenders against Wrexham? Making subs that had nothing to do with tactics? I don't think that's normal personally. I don't think any sub made today was made with the intention of improving us on the pitch outside of Pedro. Everybody else was about giving minutes, even before the game was won.

Majority of our fit players are defenders so this should not be shocking to you. Even our bench was filled with defenders.

As for the subs, Guiu for Sarr was positive even if he ended up being useless, Lavia was shocking so also a good change, Cucurella is better than Hato so also positive change, Neto should have come off earlier but also a good change. The only bad sub was Gusto for Josh.

Sorry but this seems like a tin foil hat take.

2 minutes ago, RMH said:

But that is counterintuitive. I understand what you mean but, if they keep playing they’ll lose money by getting eliminated of Cups or not qualifying for the CL, and these players still won’t increase their value so the owners won’t recover their money. But I agree with you, I just can’t think of any logical reason for tonight’s lineup and performance. And LR is as guilty as the rest of them.

This is true, but that would require the ownership to understand that, which they don't. They think the players they have brought in are capable of it. A shock result like Wrexham is inconceivable to these owners because they don't understand the competition or the sport. They also don't really value the cups because there isn't much money involved in them. Boehly himself was in the media a week or so ago saying he didn't know anything when he bought the club and I don't think much has changed now. They are still thinking that they can operate by selling to buy and be successful both financially and on the pitch. This is why they don't rate Roman Abramovich's time at the club, they can't grasp the idea that it's winning on the pitch that brings stability. They should have kept focusing on that, not throw it all out and basically say Abramovich was a bad owner.

1 minute ago, Remodez said:

Majority of our fit players are defenders so this should not be shocking to you. Even our bench was filled with defenders.

As for the subs, Guiu for Sarr was positive even if he ended up being useless, Lavia was shocking so also a good change, Cucurella is better than Hato so also positive change, Neto should have come off earlier but also a good change. The only bad sub was Gusto for Josh.

Sorry but this seems like a tin foil hat take.

No coach with a brain is starting Badiashile and Tosin in the same team unless they are instructed to. One of them make a mistake in every game they play, the pair of them is just a disaster waiting to happen. They should be used for emergencies only, and only ever one at a time. Cucurella could have started too, seeing as he could do with the minutes after recovering from injury.

Sanchez, Acheampong, Sarr, Hato/Tosin/Badiashile, Cucurella, Essugo, Lavia, Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap. Balanced, we likely win the game comfortably and can actually take players off to be rested for PSG and not risk Pedro.

We went all cowardly to match Wrexham’s 343 with 5 defenders and 2 DMs. And it’s ok by some of the fans. That’s how much the standards have dropped.

Until the clowns in the board room are kicked out nothing will change. The expect these types of performances to continue

24 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

No coach with a brain is starting Badiashile and Tosin in the same team unless they are instructed to. One of them make a mistake in every game they play, the pair of them is just a disaster waiting to happen. They should be used for emergencies only, and only ever one at a time. Cucurella could have started too, seeing as he could do with the minutes after recovering from injury.

Sanchez, Acheampong, Sarr, Hato/Tosin/Badiashile, Cucurella, Essugo, Lavia, Santos, Neto, Garnacho, Delap. Balanced, we likely win the game comfortably and can actually take players off to be rested for PSG and not risk Pedro.

I think the fact you just came up with a lineup near identical to what LR picked is enough to suggest that it is normal rotation rather than board interference which was my whole point.

I wouldn’t have picked Tosin either but we don’t know anything about Essugo fitness to know if he could have started.

13 minutes ago, Remodez said:

I think the fact you just came up with a lineup near identical to what LR picked is enough to suggest that it is normal rotation rather than board interference which was my whole point.

I wouldn’t have picked Tosin either but we don’t know anything about Essugo fitness to know if he could have started.

Rosenior* played 5 defenders, 3 of them no older than 20, and a nightmare CB pairing. He had 2 midfielders. This was against a team sitting deep and looking to counter.

I picked 4 defenders, 2 of them kids, 3 at most, but would have likely picked one of Tosin or Badiashile. I had 3 midfielders which gives us more control and more opportunities to break down their defensive line, which also limits the chances of seeing a bozo moment from Tosin or Badiashile.

Edited March 7Mar 7 by Scott Harris

Not even worth mentioning the stupid Tosin 80th minute sub like f**king clockwork we see every Matchday.

It’s clear Rosenior is instructed to do this.

His go to move is flood the team with defenders and defensive-minded players when he feels the slightest pressure.

I really don't understand this obsession with Tosin, Gusto and Badiashile.

Edited March 8Mar 8 by Deino

Fact 1) I don’t rate this ownership group or the SDs .. I think they have done a below average job treating players like cattle.

Fact 2) This team was all down to PSG and the upcoming run which will be critical given our upcoming features

FA Cup throws these fixtures so very often even when we had the heavy artillery. We won, minutes for Latvia, Essugo and CC plus Derry - no injuries of note - routine FA Cup so let’s move on.

We don’t need to always take extreme positions on every result so feel some of the commentary on here over the top.

9 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Not even worth mentioning the stupid Tosin 80th minute sub like f**king clockwork we see every Matchday.

It’s clear Rosenior is instructed to do this.

He made Tosin captain yesterday….

9 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Not even worth mentioning the stupid Tosin 80th minute sub like f**king clockwork we see every Matchday.

It’s clear Rosenior is instructed to do this.

Come off it, we can't just think every good decision made on the pitch is Rosenior and every bad one is because he's instructed to do it by the owners.

6 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Come off it, we can't just think every good decision made on the pitch is Rosenior and every bad one is because he's instructed to do it by the owners.

I think it’s more than evident he’s instructed to rotate and constantly. We’ve already read Matt Law’s segment on the matter with regards to the sporting director’s influence on that and with Rosenior’s comments.

We’ve made more subs than any other team and we’ve also dropped more points from winning positions than any other team. Almost like we’re more worried about tomorrow vs what’s right in front of us.

You guys are overreacting a bit here. We had to rotate here and the five at the back formation was the best fit to give all the players some minutes at the same time. Lavia, Delap, Sarr, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong all needed and got minutes and most of the guys that will play a lot in this important part of the season got a much needed rest. Just think that we are fighting Man United for a UCL spot and they are getting almost a two weeks break at the moment.

Rosenior had to rest most of the important players, while giving others minutes and keeping them match fit. It really was important to have a lot of the bench players on the pitch at the same time and the five at the back formation was a good fit for that.

We can call him a puppet and a fraud all we want but on the whole, so far, he’s been a major upgrade on Maresca. Baby steps.

However if any of Tosin, Badiashille or Pedro Neto see meaningful minutes again this season then serious questions need to be asked.

1 hour ago, petre ispirescu said:

You guys are overreacting a bit here. We had to rotate here and the five at the back formation was the best fit to give all the players some minutes at the same time. Lavia, Delap, Sarr, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong all needed and got minutes and most of the guys that will play a lot in this important part of the season got a much needed rest. Just think that we are fighting Man United for a UCL spot and they are getting almost a two weeks break at the moment.

Rosenior had to rest most of the important players, while giving others minutes and keeping them match fit. It really was important to have a lot of the bench players on the pitch at the same time and the five at the back formation was a good fit for that.

Honestly, it'd have been better if the setup wasn't something that looked like a teenager threw together on FIFA at the last minute.

Edited March 8Mar 8 by Deino

2 minutes ago, Deino said:

Honestly, it'd have been better if the setup wasn't something that looked like a teenager threw together on FIFA at the last minute.

I agree but my feeling is that certain players were in need of game time and there were four center backs that had to play. It was either this formation where most of the center backs played in their natural position, or a four at the back with two out of four playing full backs. This way he only had Acheampong as a right back/wing back with three others playing in their natural position.

2 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

I agree but my feeling is that certain players were in need of game time and there were four center backs that had to play. It was either this formation where most of the center backs played in their natural position, or a four at the back with two out of four playing full backs. This way he only had Acheampong as a right back/wing back with three others playing in their natural position.

It would have been better if Sarr and Josh played for the first half and build chemistry, inserting Badiashile and Tosin on the 60th minute if needed.

I'd rather he experiment with Jesse Derry than play all our CBs especially his go to sub every time.

16 minutes ago, Deino said:

It would have been better if Sarr and Josh played for the first half and build chemistry, inserting Badiashile and Tosin on the 60th minute if needed.

I'd rather he experiment with Jesse Derry than play all our CBs especially his go to sub every time.

Agreed, wasting minutes on Tosin & Badiashille is purely with a view to sell.

Giving Josh & Sarr minutes together is potential future proofing.

1 hour ago, petre ispirescu said:

You guys are overreacting a bit here. We had to rotate here and the five at the back formation was the best fit to give all the players some minutes at the same time. Lavia, Delap, Sarr, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong all needed and got minutes and most of the guys that will play a lot in this important part of the season got a much needed rest. Just think that we are fighting Man United for a UCL spot and they are getting almost a two weeks break at the moment.

Rosenior had to rest most of the important players, while giving others minutes and keeping them match fit. It really was important to have a lot of the bench players on the pitch at the same time and the five at the back formation was a good fit for that.

Those two in particular shouldn’t ever play again. Especially with Sarr and Josh are the future.

50 minutes ago, petre ispirescu said:

I agree but my feeling is that certain players were in need of game time and there were four center backs that had to play. It was either this formation where most of the center backs played in their natural position, or a four at the back with two out of four playing full backs. This way he only had Acheampong as a right back/wing back with three others playing in their natural position.

I think you're right. My issue throughout the game was the lack of quality in doing the basics and that, for me, should still be a given regardless of the lack of match sharpness for particular patterns of play.

But he must now know that there are second string players that cannot be trusted. Tosin, Badiashile, Guiu, Delap.

We now have 9 league games and we're the underdogs, quarter final of the FA Cup and if these next two CL games go our way, we are deep in that competition as well. We cannot have any more rotation for minutes sake. We have to play our strongest side in every game and only if one drops out through injury or suspension then, and only then, can the understudy step up. But it cannot be any of those players. In fact if Joao Pedro gets injured I would rather see Mhueka than either of Delap or Guiu.

Edited March 8Mar 8 by WhiteWall

Said my piece on the selection and subs yesterday.

In the main his line ups have been good, I will give him that.

We are lucky to be through. Let's see who we draw, (we need some luck both for us and for Arsenal and City being handed hard away draws imo), and how we do against PSG on Wednesday, it will all come down to that.

Get a result that gives us a real shot at progressing to the quarter final then yesterday worked out just great, goes the other way is likely Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer, Fofana and Co played poor and will be questioned if Wrexham selection caused it.

And who does he start in goal? Cause it looks to me Sanchez may have had his confidence broken and, if that is the case, he would be a massive liability.

I think that we’ll do well against PSG, to be honest. As I thought that we would get points from Arsenal and Villa, and it turned out that we didn’t play too shabby against LeArse and beat Villa convincingly. This team has shown that can play well against good teams that try to play, and we’ve been good before against them even under Maresca. So it’s not Rosenior’s touch, imo. Just like under Maresca, I think that we can give PSG a good go.

Edited March 8Mar 8 by RMH