Blue Armour

Well...he's at least contributed well most of the times when fit. And maybe another positive being he won't complain about not getting game time.

This. The team had been pretty poor at this in the last 3 games., but a bit better in the last game. Ironically the best pass he got, came from Rudiger who went on that mazy run. Shame Lukaku was offside. Lukaku is not like Drogba or Kane who will either drop deep or play wide if they're not getting the ball. Lukaku needs more direct passes. And it's a bit weird because it looks like Tuchel actually wants him to just stay up front for the most part (unlike how he played for Inter). You'd think the midfield would do a bit more work to get the ball up to him.

At the moment, I would say Kovacic is more forward thinking and plays better passes in the final third. Both of them need to improve end product. Maybe RLC will improve with game time. He used to have good combinations with Hazard under Sarri

This is my mood right now when I think about how VAR impacted this game.

Lukaku is also more static compared to our other players. And today we didn't play the ball to his feet enough. And when he finally got chances he bungled them. Tuchel should show more courage and tweak his gameplay as needed. Felt he should have subbed Lukaku for Werner. At least our chance creation would have improved. After all,...its these players who won the CL. Not Rom. I don't see why he would have to complain about being subbed.

DP

Terrible, and in some ways a lot worse than the City game. Both CMs were playing far too conservatively, and Lukaku not adapting his game. It feels like playing with a crutch with Lukaku in these big games...and if he fails to do the one the thing he's been brought in to do...that's the worst. Should have scored in at least one of the 3 different occasions. Might as well have played Werner, because he would have at least created chances. Am fearing what @Tomo has been talking about earlier. The fact that Tuchel refuses to even sub off Lukaku to tweak our gameplan. In the end, 1-0 in a group game away to the strongest opposition is not the worst thing. But what a cheap way to drop points.

Agree with the lineup...but think Jorginho/Silva had some fitness concerns? Might see Kovacic and/or Chalobah instead. Also wouldn't mind seeing Ziyech restored to the lineup.

This. When Lukaku came, I already made peace with the fact that he is not Didier Drogba. His hold-up play and inventiveness is not up to par. But that doesn't mean he's useless in big games. I would still bet on him scoring given a decent half chance at any point in the game. His ability in front of goal is unquestionable. It just means that the team around him has to do all the work, and set him up. Today we couldn't. Kovacic and Kante could barely break out of our half with the ball, and very few long balls were played over the top to either Werner or Lukaku. Same happened at Anfield after we went down to 10 men.

Yeah, the main reason I'm disappointed was because this was our home against them. Should have done more to at least get a point. But anyway, last season they also beat us at the Bridge and we went onto win away. Also, City played Arsenal at home and also drew to Southampton, whom we face next. Need to take advantage where they didn't.

Yeah, hope that isn't a trend. I like that he's willing to try different methods, but hoping he doesn't settle on this one.

Come on Vesper, we need to be at least a little angry 😄 j/k

This same City team lost embarrassingly to Spurs at the season's start. They also had a terrible start last season only to win the title at a canter. So yep, 3 points on week 6 doesn't do anything. Just disappointed as a fan. Because this was the second big game of the season, possibly most difficult, and we lost it at home because we setup so negatively.

Well to be fair its only on loan, so it looks like they knew what they were doing. If RLC can maintain this form, then Chelsea are good.

Also slightly off-topic from the match itself, looks like RLC is moving ahead of Saul Niguez in the pecking order. Not that it wasn't obvious from the last two matches. Seems to have got some of his swagger back.

Don't think anyone is saying its the end of the world. It was always bound to happen. We've had difficult fixtures one after another, and Tuchel got it right in all of them bar this one. And on the topic of this one, he got it woefully wrong. Negative setup and didn't correct it at halftime despite that terrible 1st half. But yes, I agree the goal is to compete and be closer to the title. I don't agree with the notion that we're only fighting for top 4. This team, barring injuries, is much better than that.

Lukaku could have done better on a couple of occasions, but it was negative ultra defensive setup in midfield that cost us this game. Just woeful until Kante was swapped for Havertz

DP

Don't agree with that. Barring injuries, we can definitely challenge for the title this season. Its not going to be one of those seasons where 2nd or 3rd placed teams finish far from the first. This match just handed the reality check that was coming. We are just not outright favorites.

Another one of Tuchel's odd setups costing us the match. Setup too defensively with neither Kante or Kovacic having the ability to carry the ball out of City's high press. Should have changed it at half time, or at least shortly after, seeing how it was clearly failing. But not going to whine about it. He gets it right far more often than wrong, and after this relentless barrage of tricky fixtures, he deserves leeway. City deserved to win this match.

* Provided Kepa is keeping during penalties.

Quoting myself here....but today's match answered my questions a little more. Central midfield it is.

In the second half we became something like the title winning Chelsea sides of yesteryear....a relentless blue machine. Lukaku and Werner looked real dangerous on the break. I'm hoping to see more of that this season, albeit with goals scored!

Whatever the case, it would be daft to let him walk on a free. There's a reason why Rudiger is an almost constant member of our back line. You see all the other 4 position being rotated frequently by Tuchel, but Toni is always there. There maybe better defenders out there, but his character is what makes him unique. Also, he's got bags of pace. According to the latest reports, he's still stalling over an offer. Club's offering 125k pw. Shameful if true, considering how much the non-starters are earning.

Seeing Ronaldo baga brace made me a little tense about this season., but Lukaku really eased that bit of tension. Just relieved to have him on our side. Practically turned two half chances into goals (not too unlike Ronaldo)