Closed Brighton Vs Chelsea

[zolayes 14,489]

well at least we shouldnt be complacent now ... a lot of work to be done.

[Mustafa 885]

Although we played like school boys today... think if we just sort out our defending we can do well against City. Brighton, being the inferior side had a plan to sit off us and try to knick a goal on the counter attack... which made it hard on us because we just couldn't break them down.

Whereas City will surely look to attack us and and with Rami, Hazard, and Torres' pace we can hurt them on the counter... all im saying is we need to fix up defensively and take the chances when they come again City

P.S Will Mata be back for that match?

[Kinol 337]

Although we played like school boys today... think if we just sort out our defending we can do well against City. Brighton, being the inferior side had a plan to sit off us and try to knick a goal on the counter attack... which made it hard on us because we just couldn't break them down.

Whereas City will surely look to attack us and and with Rami, Hazard, and Torres' pace we can hurt them on the counter... all im saying is we need to fix up defensively and take the chances when they come again City

P.S Will Mata be back for that match?

Yes, Mata will be back, but im not sure if he will start. Thats up to RDM and Mata himself to decide.

[warnie_666 1,081]

Mata has been playing non stop. I feel for him.

[Ollie 4,400]

Ok so we've lost 3 in a row, the game before we were losing with 7 minutes to go so nearly lost that too. We looked shit too against Seattle conceding 2 and not scoring in the 2nd half and now we have Man City in the Community Shield. I'm fully aware that this is pre season, in fact i've made that excuse for all 3 games now and i'm getting bored of it and we're trying to get fitness levels up etc and going into the match like it's huge, giving 110% is not what's on the agenda but come on.... We look forward to watching the boys play and give us some optimism going into the new season. We should be looking to go into the City match full of confidence, looking sharp with 2 or 3 wins behind us in an unbeaten pre season like we have done in recent seasons.

I don't know if we're taking it easy or if we're actually just not very good. Hazard basically told Robbie that he doesn't want to play on the left with his display and tbh nobody looked good. The worrying thing is that we seemed to be really trying but just looked rubbish. I really just hope that this was a subdued display and the style will be turned on against Man City on Sunday. This game matters now. It's not a huge game but it's certainly a game that matters as the CS is always nice to win to get a trophy that actually counts in the honours list and it sets the marker for the upcoming season.

Judging by what i've seen, the chemistry doesn't look great, the players aren't playing like a team and are obviously not used to playing together and we need to do a hell of a lot of work in the week for Sunday because if we play like we did today, we're gonna get beaten comfortably if not horribly. I'm not overly concerned but 4 games without a win against pretty routine opposition as PSG and Milan had big players missing and struggling against Seattle... i'm not feeling too comfortable or confident right now.

Anyway... It all starts for real on Sunday, then we can really judge.

[J.F. 1,484]

CAVANI please.

[bluephoenix 1,125]

what is happening with Hazard ... he looked so good in Lille and here ... was he having any other team in his mind that he wanted to play for ?

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Mata has been playing non stop. I feel for him.

Mata has played 5 matches in the last 2 months including 2 appearances as a substitute. He hasn't had time to go away for a long vacation, but it's not as if he's been playing non-stop. He played about 5 minutes at the Euros.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Mata has played 5 matches in the last 2 months including 2 appearances as a substitute. He hasn't had time to go away for a long vacation, but it's not as if he's been playing non-stop. He played about 5 minutes at the Euros.

He's still been training and working out with the team non-stop.

[GhanaBoy 104]

cant believe Lampard takes our freekick surely someone else can. AVB was right to bench him last year , besides goals what does he bring to the table. He is not a #10 he is not a deep lying playmaker nor a box to box player anymore. Its just an English thing to glorify the english players more so than not. EX. Lampard Terry, Gerrard, and Rooney, some extent Wilshere, but in truth their counterparts are the important pieces to that giving team EX. Ballack, Cavalho. Xabi Alanso, and Christiano Ronaldo etc.. Now look at our midfield that is suppose to dominate Brighton it did not. And if my vision is correct they are no Barcelona. Everyone can see that Essien is past it yet here he is, Meireles is Mediocare, Lampard just in the team because if he does not play he complains, but more so he doesnt understand that the team no longer revolves around him. I feel sorry for Torres, such a midfield only works when you have a monster by the name Drogba, not your modern day striker that relies on service. I once said this revolution of our team is stuck half way. Our midfield is more concerning than that of the striker issue. Lampard and Co. need to take a step back or leave in order for Chelsea FC to move on. Our style is changing, unfortunately you cant teach an old dog new tricks.

P.S: Have you notice how when we sign a new player who is exciting and diffrent they eventually fall into the mandain patterns of slow passing and moving as the veterans...hmmmmm

P.S: what is di matteo's philosophy for the team because i seem to not recognize it, it seems like he tells the players to go out there and just play. Yet you can see Britton have a philosophy and a style at least.... ( at least AVB had a style of his own) How I which we had not won the Champions League and started EVERYTHING from scratch.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

He's still been training and working out with the team non-stop.

Yes, for sure, but training is different and not nearly as exhausting as playing in games. He deserves a break and he'll get one, but after that, he should be fine.

[bluezola 7]

People are right, the fact it's just pre season shouldn't take anything away from such poor performances. However, to put things in perspective Man City have lost a couple of games this pre season including against Oldham.

The biggest key thing is that given the players we have brought this summer, we should look to persevere with a 4-2-3-1 formation as Plan A, or some similar variant that gives us effectively four attacking options. Our defence on paper should be solid enough to give a good base for these four players to play with freedom. Man City themselves would be the best team to use as an example for this. The quartet of Nasri, Silva, Tevez and Aguero are given freedom to roam between themselves, making it difficult to pick up. When not in possession they are in position to press high up the field and have the intelligence to all revert back into a defensive position based on where they are on the pitch.

If this means we have to play a pivot then Ramires should play in it. He provides energy and drive. A player alongside him who can dictate the pace of the game and is more comfortable in possession such as Lampard or Mikel will allow us to bring the best out in Ramires. The pivot must be aware of defensive responsibilities but also too many fans are still taking a defensive mindset. We should be looking to be on the front foot. City play Toure and Barry, Madrid play Alonso and Khedira and United play Scholes and Carrick. None of the mentioned are what I would say specialist defensive midfielders.

Thirdly I worry about Terry in this new formation. We will be more susceptible to the counter, although this is expected taking a more attack minded philosophy, but it means Terry could be left exposed for his lack of pace more frequently. Without playing a high line like AVB, we cannot play too deep as it will leave too much space between the lines. I'm not for one minute saying he's not good enough and sell him, but I can see him from this season onwards transitioning from automatic first choice to a squad player. A possible suspension for the racism issue may be the start of Chelsea adapting without Terry at the back.

The 4-3-3 is far too rigid. It left us predictable by the end of it's span and it is all towards adapting to a 4-2-3-1. We showed how it can be utilised effectively in a defensive, counter attacking setup last season, and teams like Real Madrid show how devastating it can be in a more attacking mentality.

Have to agree with your point about 4- 3 - 3 being too rigid. It's been 7 seasons since we started using that formation, yet we have failed to adapt it in any way. Our front 3 should have been more fluid with 2 of our 3 midfield players being more creative as opposed to be just solid. The top teams have adapted their systems to counter our play which is why I say we haven't moved on. We should be looking to play 4- 2- 3- 1 now, especially with the creative players that we have. RDM needs to ensure that the front 4 do play with a fluidity and freedom that allows them to interchange. That front 4 should consist of anyone from Torres, Mata, Hazard, Marin, Sturridge and Oscar. These players are all comfortable on the ball and each has the ability to beat a players with pace to create openings. I would set an attacking training program around these players creating attacking situations and being given the license to roam across the front line. I can see why RA was keen on Pep and RDM needs to utilise the wealth of creativity he has.

The 2 defensive positions should contain a defensively astute hardworking ball winner and a deep lying creative passer. Anyone from Romeu, Ramires, Mikel, Essien, Oscar and McEachran. The latter 2 are the most creative deep lying players who if played they would get plenty of time on the ball especially as teams tend to drop off against us when the ball is on the half-way line.These 2 players would dictate our play both with speed and creativity.

Our games are being lost as we really are too rigid. You only need to watch Barcelona and Man City to see what happens when attacking players have the freedom to roam into space when in the opposition half.

I haven't mentioned Super Frank as I believe his role would be essential in the big important games and in games where we needed a lot less attacking intent but a counter attacking role.

[bluephoenix 1,125]

the only person who can bring the best out of the highly paid players: Jose Mourinho !!

[warnie_666 1,081]

Mata has played 5 matches in the last 2 months including 2 appearances as a substitute. He hasn't had time to go away for a long vacation, but it's not as if he's been playing non-stop. He played about 5 minutes at the Euros.

Doesnt matter. He needs a break from the game. It is important to come into the season with a fresh mind and relaxed

[milka 3,308]

3:1 , 3

[Magic Lamps 11,452]

This game was proof, we need s.o. to take us to the next level, a world class striker, midfielder or best right winger. Everything we produced on the right flank were pathetic crosses from iva or ramires, whereas our left flank was inexistent as a.cole and hazard had more fun crowding the middle.

[communicate 2,703]

I did not watch the game but based on what I read in this forum, the problem is our midfield again.

We have that problem since last season, nothing change. Our midfield cannot play when they are asked to boss the game.

[communicate 2,703]

This game was proof, we need s.o. to take us to the next level, a world class striker, midfielder or best right winger. Everything we produced on the right flank were pathetic crosses from iva or ramires, whereas our left flank was inexistent as a.cole and hazard had more fun crowding the middle.

That's too much too ask. What we need is one passer in midfield to replace lampard