robsblubot

How many goals do we have to score to win a game? Let's only talk about our strikers and lukaku when we stop conceding so much. Sort out the middle and defense.

Just pass it to Shirley!

yes, mistake by Cech no argument there. That should not have stopped Cahill from doing better though. He was too far from Crouch and tried his usual block - not good enough for me. Must get the 3 points! Stoke are poor.

Cahill's mistake as much as Cech's. Announcers of course just can't criticize Cahill... We are playing well, against a poor side. Just need to get our shit together to get the 3 points. Perhaps Terry should've been on Crouch? (that sounds strange:))

yeah... his ball control right before the cross/assist was top notch! Quick touches, all in control, throwing off the defender completely. With the possible exception of an unlikely injury-free Eto, Lukaku would've been our best striker had he stayed. So as good the loan move was for him, Mourinho made a mistake.

Whatever dude, Ba was average to me. Already talked about the "assist" to Sunderland defender (nowhere near any Chelsea player). He did have one clear cut chance and fell to the ground like he always does despite being a big guy; you can argue about the PK (foul/in/out), but a better striker would have remained on his feet and scored. He also had a shot from outside the box that went to row 'z'. Ba was dispossessed a few times, including one when he was falling and made a horrible back pass that could've led to a counter. He played fewer minutes, but enough to have made an impact. Anyway, you seem to like Ba and I am pretty confident he's nowhere near what Chelsea needs. I've said it many times, Torres being poor does not make Demba Ba adequate in any way or form. Chelsea need better strikers to be contenders in Europe.

Would you care to tell me what great play, or plays, Ba did do while he was on? because WHILE I WAS WATCHING THE FUCKING MATCH I certainly did not see it. Did you also miss the "Torres was really poor" part of my post too?

Agree that Torres was really poor, but Ba wasn't much better. Before someone mentions his assist... he assisted the defender! instead of his teammate; we were just lucky the defender decided, under no pressure whatsoever, to put the ball in the back of his own net. Despite being a bit over the hill, Eto'o still seems to be the more rounded striker we've got.

We've been defending poorly for quite a few games now, so it wasn't an accident. Once again, we don't keep the football well, which means we are always under threat of a cross, or set pieces... We need to keep the ball better. Starting with the defenders who should be more proactive at intercepting and keeping possession not just blocking, blocking... Mikel did not help much because they were playing wide and long balls, but he was a bit soft in one of their goals.

Don't know if a pk or not (perhaps a soft one) but certainly a legendary miss by Ba.

yeah but consistency is what makes Ronaldo and Messi so special.

Completely agree. Arsenal lacked steel in the middle when Song was there. Even Arteta has been better than Song in that holding position.

Lukaku should really go and watch Bull Durham ('88) with Costner and and Tim Robbins and pay heed to what Costner says in the movie...

^^ Completely agree! Mourinho on Lukaku: "Maybe there is a new rule in football, where, when the season is finished, every player is free to decide his future," he said. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9055574/premier-league-chelsea-boss-jose-mourinho-says-pressure-is-on-manchester-city

Absolutely! Luiz had little to do with it the same way Cahill also is not alone Chelsea defense. However, Luiz brings technique, talent to the side. He immediately improves on ball possession and long balls too – we’ve discussed that before.

Really no argument concerning John Terry, just don't think Cahill is nearly at the same level. A player is good enough or he isn't in my mind. Other traits may be nice to have, but if talent isn't there, he doesn't belong in the starting XI up of a top club. I wonder how effective this style is these days, since the other top sides play very differently - including the ones sitting above us on the standings.

:D :D :D Sorry it's specially funny when coming from you.... I really can't see how people want Chelsea to compete against the other top clubs with players like Cahill. That's something I will never understand. BTW, to be be clear here: we've been conceding A LOT of goals without Luiz btw.

yeah we've been conceding very few goals and getting the results... not to mention playing superbly. Hey we meet at the world cup with Luiz and you guys with Cahill, then we'll talk.... I mean if you make the single-elimination stage of course.

Just hope I don't see either Courtois or David Luiz playing for Barca any time soon.

His shielding of the ball is indeed quite good, but we all seem to disagree on how important that skill is, esp when he brings little/nothing else. I reckon it is also not very important to Mourinho either, especially having seen how his teams tend to play: quicker more direct style. I just can't see Mikel fitting in that quick/direct style Mourinho typically employs where possession is really not that important (suffice to see our possession numbers so far in the season). I particularly don't like Jose's style so much, but he's the top manager so...

yeah actually thought Cahill was better than Terry this time around. Terry's passing was a bit lacking especially in the first half. We've not been keeping the football well enough. We do rally well, but we need to start playing better football. Arsenal are playing better and deserve to be ahead.

Starting Essen was one of the craziest a things I've seen done. Predictably match unfit.

Agreed. Loyalties can be broken with just the right amount of money.

No lukaku needs to learn how to speak without saying much because right now he likes to talk and he says lots of shit.

Not disagreeing with most of the points being made - agree with most actually. Now, back to Basel game, he was a bit pedestrian on the ball, but it is very difficult to pass the ball when you don't have anyone to pass the football to. The off-the-ball movement of all players was sub par. We had a bad game; we were under pressure from Basel and did not cope well with that. Every player who received the ball in midfield had no other teammate close enough to play quick passes, which is the best remedy against pressure and tight spaces.