Main problem is the team can’t seem to defend crosses. I think that’s more of something that needs to be solved with training rather than a personnel issue.

Alonso needs to stop f**king about, sort out the midfield and defence. The amount of times we cleared the ball to a Brighton defender was suicidal, there is no connection between midfield and defence and it can't continue like that. Eventually the attack won't save us, we will get found out and go on a run of games without a win.

Just now, PhilH930 said:

Defense and midfield needs some serious work.

Need to play real Midfielders and defenders in their REAL positions, everyone and his dog knows James is not a midfielder, Everyone and his dog knows Gusto is crap

Cannot see us keeping a clean sheet with Arsenal.

We play like that, we lose 6-0 to Arsenal. Atrocious defending today.

Edited 10 minutes ago10 min by Zola_25Fan

Happy with the win for sure, but being 3 goals up and then only winning 4-3 is not good at all.

Our defence is dreadful and needs serious work quickly.

We are in big, big trouble if we do this against Arsenal.

Please Xabi, do not play Gusto against Arsenal.

3 POINTS!

We finally beat this lot, it was about damn time. Hopefully nothing too serious with Caicedo.

Attacking wise we look simply brilliant. Obviously still a lot of work to do on our defensive side but the future is looking bright with Alonso, I have zero doubt about that.

Keep 'em coming, up the Chels!

Well at least we're joint top with Hull (and Maresca's Man City).

Just now, Zola_25Fan said:

Cannot see us keep a clean sheet with Arsenal. We play like that, we lose 6-0 to Arsenal.

No i think we will get at least 1

Hato and Gusto should not be near the team when we play Arsenal.

That left side was f**king dreadful.

Undefeated season still on.

10 minutes ago, alwayshopeful said:

well alls good spuds lost 2

Shame we aren't playing them next week instead of Arsenal.

It's going to be a fun season I know that much. I'd take this over that absolute sh*te Maresca offered up every day of the week.

Well, at least we're not boring anymore

Deary me, the happiness I felt in the first half quickly diminished in the second half. Very pleased with the win, but still a lot of work to do on the training ground. A bit worried about Caicedo...

We keep letting teams dominate the midfield and we are no where near them. We can’t keep letting in goals like that it needs to be stomped out immediately

Feel more confident with Xabi than I did with Maresca.

Once we get that defence sorted. I think it will click

Just now, abigsmurf said:

Phew.

Great attacking play but an improvement in keeping can only do so much for that defence. Can't rely on a "just outscore them" approach every week.

That was a Frank approach and see where that got him. It’s 3 points but a lucky 3 points at that….defence and midfield shambolic and I can’t see us getting anything from next weeks game other than a spanking to bringbthis lot down to earth. Surprised Steveo never got a look in today given how both Gusto and Neto fell off the pace in the 2nd half.

1 minute ago, Scott Harris said:

Alonso needs to stop f**king about, sort out the midfield and defence. The amount of times we cleared the ball to a Brighton defender was suicidal, there is no connection between midfield and defence and it can't continue like that. Eventually the attack won't save us, we will get found out and go on a run of games without a win.

Will get found out next week. You cannot play the "we will just out score you way against Arsenal" , they will do us if we don't defend as team.

Letting in that last goal is unacceptable. Lack of focus at the end of the game. Again.

1 minute ago, Zola_25Fan said:

Hato and Gusto should not be near the team when we play Arsenal.

That left side was f**king dreadful.

The way Colwill is playing, he could easily be dropped too.

I think the problems in defence are both because of the players and Alonso not getting the balance right between defence and midfield. The midfield doesn't protect the defence, there is no out ball either. We head the ball away and it would just go straight back to Brighton. Nobody was there to win the 2nd balls, we had no DM, just two CM's that had zero defensive awareness.

We need a decent leader. Chelsea have constantly failed to replace JT, Gary and Dave.

Miss seeing a defender going into a tackle like Terry.

New midfielder needed badly.

Need the midfield sorted ASAP

Our defence needs a lot of time to build the chemistry because it's been a merry go round of people switching off

Just now, Scott Harris said:

The way Colwill is playing, he could easily be dropped too.

I think the problems in defence are both because of the players and Alonso not getting the balance right between defence and midfield. The midfield doesn't protect the defence, there is no out ball either. We head the ball away and it would just go straight back to Brighton. Nobody was there to win the 2nd balls, we had no DM, just two CM's that had zero defensive awareness.

Agreed. I feel like we lack a decent leader in the team to actually pinpoint when the team needs to defend.

I’ve never been convinced with Colwill and his performances.

Just now, Scott Harris said:

The way Colwill is playing, he could easily be dropped too.

I think the problems in defence are both because of the players and Alonso not getting the balance right between defence and midfield. The midfield doesn't protect the defence, there is no out ball either. We head the ball away and it would just go straight back to Brighton. Nobody was there to win the 2nd balls, we had no DM, just two CM's that had zero defensive awareness.

We completely lost the midfield battle and no point did we have control of the midfield not one. Them completely dominated the midfield and we have no answer at all.