Jase

The thing is, we have better defenders now than Klopp did back then and unlike Liverpool, we had defensive/pragmatic managers for years. So, the defending bit shouldn't be an alien thing for us but that has like disappeared since Conte left. Someone pointed out above that we had a decent defensive record under Sarri but that's more down to the possession football style of his. We kept the ball a lot and prevented opponents from coming at us consistently. That said, there were a number of games where we looked defensively shambolic.

It helps when you have a proper goalscorer upfront too.

Funny you mentioned Luiz to lead the team when he was playing like his typical headless chicken self last night. Organizing/Leading the side defensively is much easier for a player when there's proper defensive organization. Otherwise, if the game becomes chaotic like last night, you'll left with players running around aimlessly trying to plug the holes and needing them to make the correct decision every single time and that is something that shouldn't be happening at this level. I'd be wary of saying "Rudiger and Kante will improve us defensively when they return" because if there's no cohesive, proper defensive organization in this side, then the team is bound to fail regardless. It's up to Lampard and his coaching staff to sort this out first and foremost.

Jose Mourinho's hopes for Frank Lampard at Chelsea

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope we improve with time because our play looks a tad frenetic. Not enough calm and composure when in possession.

*bumped*

Salzburg had 23 shots, 9 on target, 3 goals. We had 10 shots, 8 on target, 5 goals. Nice to see us being clinical after last season but allowing 23 shots...CHRIST!

The last 10-15 minutes of the first half aside, we were so bad. Couldn't string passes together, kept giving away the ball and defended like clowns with no organization. If this is a sign of things to come, I'm not gonna survive watching our defending this coming season!

We are a mess defensively! Everyone just seems to be running around and there's no like proper defensive organization!

Better start praying we will score more goals than we will concede in 2019/20...

BONKERS!!

The commentator mentioned Derby conceded a lot of set piece goals under Lampard last season...

Wasn't the case under Dieter Hecking.

It is only pre-season, that is true but at the same time, the "it's only pre-season" statement is kinda a double-edge thing because if we do poorly during it, people would be predicting all sorts of disaster.

Don't think that's their style. Maybe Gladbach this weekend.

Or Mourinho's first team with us. Extremely strong, solid, multifaceted teams.

Possession football is fine but it's so much better when a team can do that and play direct football (and I don't mean it like Allardyce's or Pulis' route one football) effectively. Makes the team less predictable and more dangerous.