Da Herbsman

I'm pleased with the way we played. One really standout change from Tuchel (I don't want to waste my time comparing Lampard and Potter) was our transition. The moment we picked the ball, we went on the offensive. That is key to breaking down a good team in modern football. Under Tuchel, we used to take a deep breath and allow the opposition to regroup, which used to push me to the brink of mental calamity. 
Transition is so important that if Tuchel doesn't address it, amongst his other deficits, he won't last this season at Bayern. 

I'm pleased with the way we played. One really standout change from Tuchel (I don't want to waste my time comparing Lampard and Potter) was our transition. The moment we picked the ball, we went on the offensive. That is key to breaking down a good team in modern football. Under Tuchel, we used to take a deep breath and allow the opposition to regroup, which used to push me to the brink of mental calamity. 
Transition is so important that if Tuchel doesn't address it, amongst his other deficits, he won't last this season at Bayern. 

Of the three names we were.linked.with, Pochetino was the only one that made sense to me. Welcome to Chelsea. 

I think we should sell him before Arsenal change their mind. I have studied Havertz since his days in Germany and can't really see what his skills are. He is a decent finisher of free balls. That is about it. And I stress free balls, because there are strikers who do not need free balls to score, who can take on their man and still finish the business. People say he is played in the wrong position. Okay, to play deeper, he needs a lot more skills than a No 9. He must be able to: - tackle, dribble, pass, hold the ball, dictate play, etc - maybe not all of the above, but at least some. I just don't see where Havertz has any of those skills by any stretch. 

I think we should sell him before Arsenal change their mind. I have studied Havertz since his days in Germany and can't really see what his skills are. He is a decent finisher of free balls. That is about it. And I stress free balls, because there are strikers who do not need free balls to score, who can take on their man and still finish the business. People say he is played in the wrong position. Okay, to play deeper, he needs a lot more skills than a No 9. He must be able to: - tackle, dribble, pass, hold the ball, dictate play, etc - maybe not all of the above, but at least some. I just don't see where Havertz has any of those skills by any stretch. 

Thank the Lord Jesus Christ our saviour. 
It was about time we got this rat out of our club. 
 

I would drive him to Madrid, and I'm sure Pochetino would. 

There is no other position on the pitch where you don't need to be able to trap a ball or pass it. What skills does he have to play deeper?

Give him a minute. He's not even coached a Chelsea team yet. 

I would drive him to Madrid, and I'm sure Pochetino would. 

Give him a minute. He's not even coached a Chelsea team yet. 

If true they are really taking the piss, not only that we are trying to get rid of better.

Of the three names we were.linked.with, Pochetino was the only one that made sense to me. Welcome to Chelsea. 

I won't lose sleep over Nagelsmann moving on. Apparently he suffered the Graham Potter treatment at Bayern; where the players didn't think he was up to the job. 

How Loftus-Cheek gets near the team is a mystery. 

How Loftus-Cheek gets near the team is a mystery. 

You can see why RA used to sack them before they start wasting money. Imagine what Potter would have bought with £250m

How Loftus-Cheek gets near the team is a mystery. 

How Loftus-Cheek gets near the team is a mystery. 

We are shit. But most of the blame lies not with Potter. We  haven't signed well at all.
Jorghinho is not good enough, and should have been sold after the CL
RLC shouldn't be anywhere near the team.
Havertz was a one trick pony when we signed him, and remains one.
Aubemayang was a desperate signing by TT to try and save his job. It wasn't going to work. 
I can go on ...
I can excuse the rubbish that we signed under Lampare, but TT had enough time to rebuild the team. Instead he left it weaker than the one he inherited. 
The problem now for Potter is, how do you bench the big, older players without your season unravelling? Because he needs to move on from these past their best. If he is to survive, he must take apart this team at the end of the season. 

My worry is now Kepa.
For the last 15 mins he was back to his worst, mistiming and missing punches not able to collect the ball, he really needs to eradicate this from his play or we're back to square one with him.
So many times he got out muscled trying to come for the ball, he needs to be more robust take every fucker out.
He had me hiding behind the sofa everytime they crossed the ball.

It seems clear and beyond doubt now that aerial ball is not Kepa's strength. He was all over the place in this part of his game despite an overall good performance. His timing, decision to come or not, his jumps, and the force he approached it with, was all poor. There were moments when he needed to basically ramp through to the ball. Instead he just half jumped and leaned towards it. 
By goalkeepers' standard he is not tall, not muscular, and not intimidating. But he is a fine keeper. He must find a way to "wing" this problem. 

If squad quality is the problem, then the manager who spent a year and a half and £250m surely has more responsibility for it than the ones who has just taken over.
That we spent so much money on Fofana, who had a known injury history, overpaid for Cucu, whom GP was only happy to let go, went for Sterling, when we need midfield creativity, etc, puts a lot of the blame for a our current squad quality on Tuchel. I honestly can't think of.another PL manager who would have made such a mess of spending £250m, certainly not GP. 
I thought Lampard was wasteful when we paid so much for Werner, Havertz, and Ziyech. But you could excuse him for inexperience. Tuchel was just plain hopeless in that department, starting with the Lukaku signing, I'm sorry.
It's too early to judge GP. Our results have improved, and the steady decline in performance has been halted at lesst. Squad quality remains an issue, seeing that we have to scrape the barrell with RLC. But to compare GP to TT so early and under these circumstances is premature.

it's an age old debate; how much the manager decides whom we sign  I'm rather old fashioned on this; the manager picks the players we buy, unless otherwise stated. I think GP is doing okay with what he inherited. Personally, none of Tuchel's signing is top choice. 
 

Midfield is a massive problem for us. Fofana injured James injured kante injured, and as it stands hes unbeaten, fair play to the man.