OneMoSalah

Criminally underrated by our fans more than anything. There have been so called Chelsea fans who were saying he was finished last season and the season before.

Not necessarily, he is definitely worth of a lot of criticisms he has had as he is a striker and his role is to score goals ultimately although they obviously have to do more than that these days. Ok he maybe isn’t a pure number 9 so to speak but if we had one who was scoring goals regularly then maybe we could accept him not being as prolific. He was bought with the expectations of being a regular goalscorer though and that will always go against him whoever makes a judgement on his performances in his time here. Obviously we still want more from him as he has probably been the guy most have thought would be our most consistent and regular sources of goals when we signed him. He probably anticipated being that himself as did Frank and TT when he came in also especially based off what he achieved at Leipzig. Its not unfair for anyone to turn around and say his lack of goals and particularly the big chances missed have affected our season. They would have gotten us extra points at some stage which would maybe have us a bit better than we are at present and its been a reoccurring theme with other CFs also. It was the exact same issue last season with many players (Abraham I think got this a bit also like Morata before him) also as we missed a lot of the big chances we created and that nearly came back to bite us.

The problems been only 6 of those goal involvements in the second half of the season have come in about 1250 minutes. In which only 2 were actual goals. Yes 19 goal involvements for the season is decent but it only tells half the story and is extremely misleading from what a lot of the games this season actually reflect. One positive though cannot get any worse next season, surely? And recruiting another CF be it an Aguero or Haaland or whoever, will hopefully add more goals to the team. And even then if its similar next season if we get another CF/regular source of goals it wont be too bad.

This is a wee concern. Although I think Nagglesmann will instantly be their first choice. Or maybe a little bit out there but perhaps Max Allegri? Hes been out the game for a while now and is available. Leaving Bayern to manage Germany though is odd when Flick has been there 1.5 seasons as manager, although there has been grumblings that he is severely unhappy with Hasan Salihamidzic, dating back to the sale of Thiago and also that Bayern are letting Alaba and Boateng leave for nothing. Plus their recruitment has been poor. Tuchel has been of interest to Bayern before after he left Dortmund and Ancelotti got sacked so I would imagine if there was any sort of chance, albeit very slim (you’d hope we would state our intentions to back him this summer and let him continue growing what he’s doing here), they would maybe want to go for him this time round. I dont think though, not as first choice. Bayern cheapes out not trying to get him from Dortmund after Guardiola suggested he replaced him prior to going to City because he was under contract at Dortmund, so doubt it would happen with him under contract here.

I suppose it just shows, top players don’t always become top managers at all or will be top managers at the beginning of their managerial career. I think the whole making mistakes and learning from them is the only way to truly progress as a manager. There was wee signs at times, although not often enough maybe, that he was doing so but the general lack of progression or regression is maybe a better word, of the team as well as lack of a clear structure/system in place which you could identify what we were trying to do certainly held us back.

Yeah. It is hard to say exactly. Thats why I think a move and playing every week may be the only way we truly find out. Unless he earns his place again here but would say its unlikely. Unless he has an absolutely huge change of fortune. He has been really solid so far with Tuchel though and if he starts the FA Cup final continuing in this vein, I think it would make people a bit more comfortable although obviously we would prefer to see Mendy. That will be a tough call come the final also. Does he stick with Kepa as his cup GK or put in Mendy? l would say under Sarri he did have some big moments and not very many poor ones it any at all from the top of my head. Definitely in the Europa League he was good and there were a collection of very good saves in PL games as well I remember some very good saves v Fulham, Liverpool, Southampton, Watford and Spurs in particular. The only concern or weakness I think he had was coming for crosses but it wasn’t as bad as it looked the next season. Not sure about stats with Sarri but if they were that bad I would be surprised I dont think we would of got as many clean sheets if so, although I suppose its misleading entirely as we had the 3rd best record with Rudiger, David Luiz and Marcos Alonso/Emerson in a back 4. Under Frank aye, it went clean wrong and the defence wasn't great too as you’ve said but he made some very good saves in the Super Cup and a few other games right at the start but he did pretty much go through arguably the worst GK decline/poor spell most have probably ever seen in a season, which even if he did manage to play well in some games, that run of mistakes had already overshadowed how people felt about him.

Tbf I think those comments from Frank were weird, like I don’t know was it so that he could turn around and say the teams not ready and we need more time to get to a certain level? For me though it felt more like he was saying that to hide his short comings as a manager. I mean I dont know about yous but I think his short comings as an actual manager here were sometimes brutally exposed here. Tactically particularly. Identifying trends in games and being proactive to stop them by making alterations/subs. And lack of an actual style or clear way of playing. I get its only been since January Tuchel’s been in and next season who knows what will happen but he knows he’s got limited time to make an impact and he has instantly turned things around. He is here to bounce back also from his time at Paris which is maybe further motivation for him too, to prove a point but I think if he says he is going to do this or that, he will put everything into it to do what hes said.

I have hope he fulfils his potential but don’t think it will be here. I think he’s going to be a cup GK if he stays. He was very comfortable today, came for some balls he wouldn’t of came for last season and vocal when he had to be (which their was always some sort of weird opinion that he was too vocal? If I have time I’ll dig out the article it was one of those really shit ones that somehow made it onto the athletic though) with the defence. I think we are looking at Donnarumma by sounds of it also who has a contract expiring.

Aye precisely the same thing. First trophy win for this group of players will be vital in their progression also. Said the same with Frank, with the academy guys particularly. Hudson-Odoi has one for the Europa with Sarri but for James, Mount, Tammy, Billy this will be their first here. Plus throw in Kai, Timo, Pulisic, Chilwell. You have guys like Mendy and Thiago Silva also who arrived this season. Then ultimately the manager. It can only have a positive effect and hopefully they get a taste for it. Still got the CL also and we never know how that may go also.

Absolutely. Putting this sort of level of performance in against City and losing the final to whoever goes through from Leicester or Southampton will be an absolute nightmare.

Great result. Rudiger fantastic all game round. Jorginho and Chilwell as well. Undoubtedly Chilwell’s bedt game for us by a mile also. Hope Silva and Mount aren't too badly done in and can be available for the next game. Mount’s pass for Werner was also outstanding but I am not surprised to see very little appreciation for it as it is Mason Mount. Have to win v Leicester or Southampton. Have to. Also that game should give us huge belief for going up against Real I think. The tactical plan worked a treat and we have the pace to affect the game on the transition.

Reece extremely lucky there. So so lucky. Waken up its the 83rd min v Man City..

Pulisic on for Mount. Another faultless performance from Mason. Hopefully nothing too serious.

Carrying on from the Porto game. Chilwell having his best game in a Chelsea shirt as well for me.

Shoild of been two Ziyech again..

Get in. Werner and Ziyech combo again.

Tbf it clearly wasn’t intentional. Not sure what people expect there. Fernandinho has clearly tried to avoid Mount there with that foot, he would and could have put all his weight down and stamped on him if he really wanted to. Should definitely be on a booking though for the second foul. Hes been offside a lot. But would disagree about giving the ball away. He’s actually kept it better than usual. The space that City leaves though unfortunately this is his sort of game so we just have to lump it unfortunately. Bringing him off would be premature particularly if City push further up and leave spaces. If he’s done nothing by 60-65 minutes though I would be thinking about Christian or Kai.

Okay thats poor by the ref. Wins the ball. Books him.

Yeah defo should have 1. A very very strict ref maybe he’d be off but would be very soft probably. Considering how Mike Deans letting the game go so far as well, he probably should have booked him for the second one but if he did earlier for the first one he’d of sent a precedent and there would be countless bookings, breaking up the flow of the game.

Personally I think Jorginho and Mount are running the show for us. We really need to take a chance. The intensity we are playing with is great.

Obviously never watched him under Conte or Sarri then. Big chance there for Chilwell. Should of taken it down I think then shot.

Unlucky from Ziyech there. 2 good attacks already though. Promising signs. Werner particularly for the disallowed goal.

True. And hes in the squad. In Kepa’s case I think its different because you could say the difference in quality is huge between him and Mendy. But again Tuchel did promise him a fresh start and as we know hes in today. I just don’t see how Abraham hasnt been given more of a go, look I am not saying hes amazing, far from it but Werner bar a handful of games has looked ordinary. I do think Tuchels primary objective was obviously to come in and improve the team but I do think there is also additional task for him trying to get the best out of both Kai and Timo over time. Obviously if they do well that helps the team no doubt but I feel the whole mandate that we wanted a German speaking manager prior to his appointment speaks volumes also. Today will be a good opportunity for Timo though as City will leave spaces so lets see.

Not necessarily. I mean look at the game v Porto. Abraham was in but we had no CMs on the bench, even without Kovacic. Plus I am sure for the cup games you aren’t allowed the same size of bench as the CL? Pretty sure its only 9.

He had 6 months left on his contract. So it was either take the 3m or lose him for nothing. 3m for someone who played maybe 2 games for the club at first team level as well. As well after the Arsenal game Lampard said the club were looking to extend his contract, which he eventually rejected as he wanted to leave as he felt it was a better chance for him to play first team football. Do your research before posting comments such as the club rated him so low....