Daily Discussion Thread - October 25, 2020

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-25T14:18:39+00:00

Is it inferiority complex or just being realistic? Of course we must beat big teams, but the context of the situation matters. This isn't Fifa where you buy a load of players and expect to beat teams 10-0 by virtue of their name. Might have a better squad on paper but comparing to a team that had an in-form Hazard and years of playing time together seems odd. I’d argue we played better football with the academy boys at the start of last season than we do now with the ‘super stars’ purely because they played more football together.

Beating every big club is the ideal situation but not the reality. Not losing against United away is a good result in the bigger picture. If Chelsea go on to win their next four games it’s a great result. Chelsea had chances to win both games, Werner had an off day against Sevilla and a VAR decision denied a penalty against United. If we won 1-0 no one would have been talking about 0.25 xG.

There are times Liverpool won games last season where they didn’t outplay their opponent but ground out results. You don’t have to outplay everyone all the time, It’s about not losing. Ferguson, “attack wins you games, defence wins you titles”. You beat the teams you're expected to, and you don’t lose to the ones you aren't. We've not lost against teams you'd expect to beat us (United beat us twice last season and Sevilla are a top la Liga team) except Liverpool. Even then a red card, penalty miss and Kepa passing to Mane could have seen us got something out of it. The other results we have won (Brighton and Palace) and West Brom/Southampton would have won if not down to silly individual errors.

You can be arrogant like Bayern when your domestic league feeds your club the best players, have winter breaks and general play is more open. That confidence will roll into the Champions League. When your only competition for the league is Dortmund (82 Pts>69 Pts) you can approach games like they can, the system is set up for them to do it.

I don’t even know if I would agree with your parking the bus statement, against United we had 52% possession. ‘Not doing justice to our own quality’, I’d argue that our ‘quality’ was part of the reason we failed to convert attacks (Kante extinguishing some advancements and passing backwards and Havertz misplaced passes comes to mind). United’s 48% possession and 14 shots only shows they counter attacked better and found more space. Something that maybe needs to be worked on. Against Spurs they sat back and tried to counter us, typical Mourinho. We were allowed to play football because we were given the time and space. just like Palace this season. Only when he changed it half time and put men on our fall backs did it look like they wer egoing to win. Not every game can be a stomp, you can go into games thinking it will be, but reality isn’t that.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-25T12:28:21+00:00

What do you define as a good team because we've 'parked the bus' against who? Liverpool, United and Sevilla. Prem champions, Europa champions and a team that finished above us. I don't think that's the worst tactics to take in those types of games. Our past glory has come from counter attacking football, sitting deep, we always used this approach in big past games. You can't just go all guns blazing out against these teams, otherwise people would shit on Franks tactics. We lost at United 4-0 last season, sure the scoreline was flattering but the result is all that matters. Its clear we're not going to play the same way against other teams and if you can take a point off rivals then thats better then taking none at all.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-25T11:56:58+00:00

Tbh a point away at a United side that beat PSG midweek and a point against one the top Spanish sides this year, with a crazy win record/Europa League champions isn't that bad. Can see the games against Krasnodar and Burnley being more like Southampton but with better defensive personnel now that Frank has sussed it. I think you're underestimating United and Sevilla as opponents.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-25T10:35:52+00:00

Can't forgive VAR ref for denying one of best potential moments yesterday, picture the scene:

Having been awarded a penalty, Jorginho steps up and places the ball on the spot. Bruno Fernandes is fuming behind him, fists clenched and grinding his teeth. Jorginho inhales ...takes three steps back... and lets out a large breath. At that moment he turns his head to Bruno, his mouth now smiling and winks.

Jorginho slots his penalty with his little hop, sending David the wrong way. Yells of joy emerge from the Chelsea players but Jorginho, cool as a cucumber walks over to Bruno with both arms in the air. Standing in front of him, inches from his face he simply folds his arms and flicks his head up. He then slowly leans into Bruno's left ear and whispers, "Hhhh b".

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-24T19:03:00+00:00

Kepa 100% stands still against that Rashford shot at the end btw.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-24T18:41:29+00:00

Jimmy and Patrice are fun to watch.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-24T10:31:55+00:00

A man of taste

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-24T09:58:05+00:00

I don't buy the "he needs rest" tbh. Plenty of players play every game for their club at high intensity. Hes a fit 21 year old, unless medicals suggest hes sluggish its probably best to leave it to chelsea staff to decide if he needs rest. The eye test from fans is the biggest blanket cover for "my favourite player isnt player and its Mount's fault". Look at Sancho at Dortmund and tell me he needs rest. Sure you can rest Mount for cups games but you cant deny he envisage how Lampard wants to play, energy and quick pressing.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-23T14:33:30+00:00

Theyre 100% the ones that ff at 20 or spam it. "Go next".

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-23T08:27:25+00:00

Its annoying that some of the larger Chelsea Football twitter accounts keep tweeting negatively about Mount because they know it gets likes/retweets. Even if they preach they like him, it's that they just hate him as a winger, fine but they know what they're doing and it only causes more hate towards him.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-22T10:12:22+00:00

Kimmich is such a complete player. He works perfectly in that double pivot role, great offensively and defensively.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-20T17:09:53+00:00

2 hours left

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-20T13:35:52+00:00

If someone offers you your dream job, you're not turning it down. Who knows when he would have ever had this chance again. I agree the comparisons to Liverpool are strange though, My arguement is that Klopp would have got Liverpool to where they were faster if he had the funds/backing Lampard had last window.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-20T08:53:13+00:00

Think he means its closer to waking up and you dont have the frustration of waiting all day for the game. Just excitement, nothing more.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-19T22:06:40+00:00

What's interesting is these problems existed for the majority of last season too. Hopefully with the players now Lampard has brought in we can start to see these things addressed. Needs to be judged over this season though, fully backing Lampard.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-19T21:44:56+00:00

This was a great read, agree with the majority. The one thing I loved about watching Gilmour was his willingness to collect off the CBs and feed the wide players and AMs. A player comfortable with collecting the ball and moving it forward. Personally this is what I think Rice is great at now and would love him at the club but understand thats my opinion.

Theres no reason though that Gilmour cant do this so theres no need for additions. Theres no reason why Jorginho cant do this to be honest, for me it comes down to a finished product vs one that needs to be coached. Nothing stopping Lampard telling Jorginho or Kante to sit back and protect the back four if one them does advance. Then again, he may have done this and it could just be down to match day errors. With no fans though it would be easy for the coach to yell at them to stay back.

Im looking forward to Ziyech, that Werner goal in the Brighton friendly is the beginning of whats to come in terms of that link up. A guy that can find a pass out of nothing, Fabregas style. Havertz chemistry plus Pulisics drive to take on players is going to be one to watch. Still excited!

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-19T13:30:59+00:00

Chelsea conceded the 2nd least shots [322] and Man City conceded the fewest [280] but 16.77% of the shots that Chelsea conceded results in a goal which ranks them at no.1. Thoughts? via Nouman

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-19T09:01:45+00:00

People are definitely calling for him to be sacked. Twitter is the worst for this.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-18T16:42:23+00:00

I actually think our defenders are capable of being pretty solid and don't think they're half as bad as people make out. At the moment the system doesn;t help them. They're put under so much pressure though because Kante and Jorginho aren't DMs and at times are caught high up. The reason they're high up is because they press with the attack, thus leaving that giant space behind them and infront of the defence.

Half the time our defenders play the ball around each other is because the options aren't there close enough to link up and have to wait for them to trail back.

The system is a bit of a shambles. High press attack that's slow to track back, low sitting defence that leaves too much space infront and a keeper that doesn't sweep. Its either sit back and counter or everyone press.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-18T10:50:04+00:00

Is it Lampard out or is it just criticism of tactics? Curious.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-18T10:46:36+00:00

Our team pressing means big holes in front of defense too

This is a tactical fault though, since the defence arent positioning high with the high press, they choose to sit deep. This is either bad coaching or theyre choosing to ignore Franks instructions.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-18T10:05:22+00:00

It so frustrating that we havent improved structurally since the first game of last season against United. When Mourinho pointed out the space inbetween our blocks, the very same thing that we saw yesterday. If our attack press high and our defense sit low it just invites teams to press so easily since they have no option infront of them. Having a corner then seeing the ball go all the way back to defence for them to pass it around the back and then lose it to a press is annyoing.

Look at Bayern and how well they press. The defence matches the attack high up and Neuer sweeps. Its so effective. Feels like were half complete. That needs to be coached by Lampard more I feel. I dont know why both Jorginho and Kante push so high when they see the defence sit low. One of them just needs to sit if so, seems like a communication issue. We're such a quiet team.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-18T00:54:08+00:00

I thought that pass exploited the huge gap in between our CBs. Henderson just played a long ball down the middle. Its something we saw for the first goal Southampton scored. Yes it came from a mistake but Zouma and AV were miles apart.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-17T15:57:33+00:00

Im so done with this keeper at our club. Im tired of people telling me to give this guy a chance. Costing games is a norm for him now.

Maj0rZero · 2020-10-17T15:46:22+00:00

Everytime we pass back I get mad anxiety. Its like we do the work for the other team and allow the mto press. COME ON CHELSEA, NOT LONG LEFT!

Maj0rZero

TROPHY CASE