Blue Armour

Mikel getting criticized for not playing is funny, I admit, but tbh... just like stated in the post above, I can guarantee that we would have had even less possession then we had against City yesterday if Mikel was playing along with Rambo and Matic. And while Mikel might have shown, at least 90% of the time, more positional awareness, a few lapses in his concentration would have negated any of that.

The Falcao project might've stood a chance if the rest of the team was playing top notch football ...but if he's expected to uplift a team that's currently in the doldrums, then its best to just leave him on the bench..Not the best signing based on current circumstances.

No. Just, no.

I know, it hasn't happened in the EPL before, but with Porto and Inter..

Not trying to make comparisons here, but Mourinho has had tough starts to seasons before, but still finished strongly right?

Annoying that Cuadrado comes in without Moses even getting sniff...same goes for Remy and Falcao...the former is the also the last player from the side to even score against City ffs.

Then who would you have us our 'long term solution'? Sorry, I'm not disregarding your other points, but I just can't understand why this is brought up frequently. I'm not sure how much Mourinho had to do with shaping our squad at the start of this season, but I really doubt that any other name could get a much better result against City's starting 11 today with the team we had out today. You might argue a few others might have us playing a bit more fluid, but on a 'results' basis I don't think there would have been any improvement. The only real thing that frustrates me, is that despite finishing top of the table last season, and making player sales last season, we're being so frugal in terms of transfers,,..while City are spending like there is no tomorrow. And this is right after, they were found to be in danger of breaching FFP.

Then why would they even renew his contract? But yes, for some reason they do look like screwing him over in terms of transfers. I remember before pre-season started this year, when Mourinho was asked how the squad would shape up over the summer, and he said, just a little more 'freshness'. I remember he specifically mentioned 2 areas were they could add players: 'Midfield, Defense'. Fast forward 2 months later,and he comes out saying Chelsea don't need more.

That post makes it look more bleak than it should be. Back when KDB, Mata were on the bench., we didn't have Matic or Fabregas in the starting 11. We lost Schurrle and got Cuadrado,...but the real issue is in defense were we lost Filipe Luis and haven't signed a replacement. In other words, we have no one to challenge our full-backs who are key to both our attack and defense. This is what is really holding us back atm , IMO.

Exactly. It doesn't seem things are in sync. If the expectation from the board for Mourinho to look to his reserves to make up for squad deficiencies, it still doesn't look he wants to try some of them in coming matches... I really hope we bring in at least one player to reinforce any one of the key positions in midfield/defense.

Yeah, Hazard was...and even Ivanovic during the set-pieces. Too distracted by Cech, and tried too hard to make life tough for him during the freekicks without concentrating on his own job. I bet someone of stern stuff like Drogba, if put through on goal against Cech, would've smashed one in top corner without thinking twice about nostalgia. The fact that its Cech would have actually encouraged him

Speaking of movement, I've said this since Torres' time here, but we still seem pretty poor at releasing the ball to the striker into space, each time he makes the run. I've noticed that with both Falcao and Costa. Too often the pass comes to them late (or in some cases not even made), by which time the opposition defender has had time to react and re-adjust his position to either intercept or put the striker off the ball. Players like Falcao will rely a lot on that quick, well timed pass. The only time that happened in this game was with that long ball over the top from Fabregas.

Not much in reaction to the recent result, but I do hope we bring in someone before the end of the summer transfer window. I don't care who, but at least someone to reinforce any one of the key areas of the pitch. You cannot go into a new season with the same starting 11 from last season, and expect to have the same or even better results. Statistically impossible. You're basically asking all of the same set of players who did well last season, to match or even better their performances this season, and that's extremely unlikely in all probability. Which is why you need reinforcements. Someone to challenge for one of the key starting positions, to prevent the team play from becoming stale. After the end of last season, I remember Mourinho remarking that he would be looking to reinforce 3 areas: Striker, midfield and defender. Now it seems he's settling for using one of the reserves coming back from loan or from the youth academy. If that's the case, he needs to give more game time and confidence to see if they can really make a difference, instead of persisting with the same old tired, starting 11.and only giving them cameo appearances.

Nonsense, not when he's aspiring for football's greatest prize:

Tbh...it might have had a part to play, even if its not an excuse. Too many scuffed shots in front of goal., crappy clearances, and lot of under-hit passes by players (ala Hazard) who are typically more careful with the ball. Whatever the grass was, I don't think the players were too comfortable with it.

Please don't make a post-match topic for this one. Let's just close this thread and move onto the next friendly.

Yup.

If it aint a Chelsea fan, it will be one soon, I suppose.

Not really, at least not so far. IMO. Back then we gave away at least 3-4 key squad players while barely signing any backup for them. At least this time, so far, we have accounted for Cech with Begovic and Drogba with Falcao.

Man,..that disguised pass to Cole @ 1:35...Class (not to mention Ballack letting it run through to Cole with the fake). Miss a lot of players from that team...him, Essien, Anelka..

Unlike the Lampard move, I'm pretty sure this one will actually strengthen our rivals. No matter how shaky the Gooners defense is, I'm sure he will compensate for at least some of the mistakes they tend to make, and probably even help organize it better, especially during set-pieces. Nonetheless, I have no complaints. He was good enough to stay and strengthen our back-up goalkeeping options for the whole of last season. Ideally, for Chelsea, he would have made the move abroad, hell even at least out of London...There are a lot of other teams I would rather have him play for other than Arsenal within England itself. But at the same time, you have to remember how many Arsenal players that have come to us, that we have put to good use and plus..his personal needs will obviously come first. And finally remember, the most important reason for letting Cech go is because of this: Courtois. Young keepers like him don't come around often, and you have to do everything in your power to keep them at the club for as long as possible

Absolutely loved Joe Cole's game, and how he used to link up well with Lampard and Drogba. I'm not from London, but I always liked the idea of a boyhood Chelsea fan growing up to play for his favorite club and winning 3 titles with them. On top of that, he was an English player with flair unlike any of the others...It might not have all ended in sunshine, but I felt he achieved as much as he could ever possibly want with the club.

Understand your concerns, but Falcao won't be vying for a starting position like Torres will he? If he comes at all, I just hope he doesn't get automatic preference over Remy

Hmm...is Adidas now working for us to sabotage United's kit designs? Their huge deal with United must have been a cover-up!

Will have to see how it looks like on the players before making the final call, but I'm not sure what the obsession is with having the Dutch flag on the jerseys.