Closed Chelsea 3-2 Shakhtar Donetsk

[CFCRazor 49]

Mod, could you change the name of this thread to Defensive team selections and move it to another forum please? Kthx

[different level 1,056]

Moses definitely made my evening just as thoughts of having to watch my favourite team on thursday evening started to fill my head. Expected an easier match than the one in Donetsk but that wasn't the case, in fact we were quite lucky to get away with that victory. Ramires was off his usually high standards, Cahill and especially Luiz made a bit too much mistakes, but Betrand was our worst player last night as he was totally raped by Willian and was caught out of his position way too often leaving huge spaces for the curly afroman. Nando and Oscar had good first half both taking advantage of Shakhtar keeper's brain fades, but were a bit lost on the pitch after the break. Otherwise things are looking good, a draw in Turin and we are past the group.

[robdog 2,084]

I know where you sit. I know where you sit, I know where you siiiiiit....YOu sit in the West End....I know where you sit

I am joking by the way

[robsblubot 3,595]

All this talk and constant bashing on the defense and individual players shows a poor knowledge of the game. When Ashley has a poor game and then Betrand also has a poor game, doesn't that give people some hints?! Do you think Shaktar played a lot on the right by accident or perhaps they saw something interesting there?! Perhaps they watched what Valencia did there a few days earlier?

David made one mistake in my book: bad positioning in the second goal (he lost the man for a second there). It was a tough cross to mark, but he cannot mark the ball (he tried to block the cross), but the player. In the first goal he was marking a striker in the box when he had to rush to the left to cover a number of bad plays and tackles from Ramires, Hazard, and a slip from Bertrand; he also correctly blocked the narrow cross, but Shaktar player passed back (which is also a correct play in that situation).

in the first half I think, Fernandinho makes a diagonal run already beating a couple of players, and David joins him in the run blocking the shot all the way, until the shaktar player gives up and has to pass the ball back. Pretty much a perfect defensive play and yet the announcer manages to criticize David by saying something like he takes a too relaxing approach to defending...

Terry will certainly help with his experience especially, as both Cahill and Luiz lack there. However, I am getting worried about defending in general and that has very little to do with the center backs, or even the fullbacks. The entire team is marking very poorly. Starting with Torres who has bursts of dedication, but it's just not consistent enough (not talking about attacking here). Mata is a very poor marker, and honestly I haven't seen anyone as bad as Hazard when defending. Oscar is a bit better, but no tackler either. Hopefully mechanics will improve, but regardless of the defenders picked, I see many conceded goals ahead.

[robdog 2,084]

IMO:

10. Stamford Bridge was so dead, really painful and shameful.

Are you basing this observation from the television? If so, I think you need a trip to Da Bridge to find out. Yes, it will be different from what you are used to, but IMHO the atmosphere @ Da Bridge is awesome. I want to go again & I am struggling to figure a way to extort/rob/steal for more ways to fund my next Blue Mecca. I would love to see a match @ Da Bridge under the lights. So if any of you want to help donate for my cause, pm me

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

I don't get this this Luiz bashing. I'm not saying he had a good game, but he should def be our first choice CB.

Cahill and Terry? lol how deep do you want to defend? Maybe if you want to park the bus.

I'm even more convinced now that Luiz get's stick cause he sticks out (in his play and looks) and he has a bad reputation and also some of these commentators just can't seem to understand what a modern CB is.

Yeah, he had a horrible header in the 2nd half which could have easily cost us a goal, and he had 1 instance where he lost the ball going forward.

Luiz is going to be Luiz, he's just THAT type of CB. If you want him to play it safe, then don't select him, that's RDM's fault. When you select Luiz to start, you don't expect him to turn into Terry, he's going to play like Luiz. That's like selecting Ramires to play holding midfielder.

He'll be aggressive, he'll make interceptions (some amazing ones), he'll build from the back, he'll make some forward runs. Maybe we get caught out a few times, but this part of the growing pains in our evolving playing style. Mikel dropped back (great job by him) everytime Luiz went forward, and if he looses the ball then he shouldn't be criticized anymore than any other midfielder loosing the ball, beacause he's basically switched roles at that instance. He's not leaving anyone by himself at the back, he's creating matchup problems which can easily turn into goals and it almost did in the last minute of the 1st half.

I watched yesterday's match twice, once while I was all tense and nervous and every little mistake meant 10 times more and the second time when I could watch the match remaining calm as a neutral would and Luiz had a good game. You watch that again and see the countless attacks he shut down himself, some vital interceptions which none of our other CBs are capable of.

The horrible game Bertrand had yesterday, any other of our CBs than Luiz (maybe Ivan) and you're guaranteed gifting at least 3-4 more goals.

Again, not saying he had an amazing game and without faults, but just don't agree with the amount of criticism he's getting.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Are you basing this observation from the television? If so, I think you need a trip to Da Bridge to find out. Yes, it will be different from what you are used to, but IMHO the atmosphere @ Da Bridge is awesome. I want to go again & I am struggling to figure a way to extort/rob/steal for more ways to fund my next Blue Mecca. I would love to see a match @ Da Bridge under the lights. So if any of you want to help donate for my cause, pm me

Alright, you dont need to throw in my face you have been to SB. It was super quiet (yes, it was from TV), you could often hear Shak fans screaming for their lives. I am not saying it is always like this, but it was dead yesterday. Look at Napoli game last year, it was totaly different...

Even though I have never been to a game in London, I can say it is not 1% how it is here in Brazil. We dont fill up the stadium so often (primarily because of the inability of our amateur clubs in marketing and season tickets, lack of infrastructure and price), but in important games it is as loud as it gets. You can easily compare big clubs with Turkish, German and Ukrainian fans.

I dont think it is a problem with our fans, I just think the stadium is wrognly planned and we need a rebuild or something. In Germany and in Brazil`s 2014 arenas, they mix high price and quality seats (for business fans and turists) with standing seats behind the goal (die hard fans). The way SB is planned right now, gives us 30k of quiet fans and a small percentage of chanting ones. I know the stadium is old and we did a really fine job with it, but I dont see us getting loud the way SB is today.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Atmosphere last night was a bit subdued in the Shed Upper, where I was sat. Very noisy in the MHL I could tell, but when the whole Shed was singing together, it was some fucking racket. Trust me, it really is the microphone positioning at the ground. Stamford Bridge can be very noisy.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Atmosphere last night was a bit subdued in the Shed Upper, where I was sat. Very noisy in the MHL I could tell, but when the whole Shed was singing together, it was some fucking racket. Trust me, it really is the microphone positioning at the ground. Stamford Bridge can be very noisy.

Yeah matthew harding lower is always the most noisy stand and where most of the singing comes from. i was in East upper, and there was a group of us singing but most behind us were just sort of commentating on what was happenning, which doesn't help the noise levels. It does get pretty noisy though at times.

Also lol, at the bloke singing blue is the colour at the start... :blue scalf:

[Hutcho 8,443]

Alright, you dont need to throw in my face you have been to SB. It was super quiet (yes, it was from TV), you could often hear Shak fans screaming for their lives. I am not saying it is always like this, but it was dead yesterday. Look at Napoli game last year, it was totaly different...

Even though I have never been to a game in London, I can say it is not 1% how it is here in Brazil. We dont fill up the stadium so often (primarily because of the inability of our amateur clubs in marketing and season tickets, lack of infrastructure and price), but in important games it is as loud as it gets. You can easily compare big clubs with Turkish, German and Ukrainian fans.

I dont think it is a problem with our fans, I just think the stadium is wrognly planned and we need a rebuild or something. In Germany and in Brazil`s 2014 arenas, they mix high price and quality seats (for business fans and turists) with standing seats behind the goal (die hard fans). The way SB is planned right now, gives us 30k of quiet fans and a small percentage of chanting ones. I know the stadium is old and we did a really fine job with it, but I dont see us getting loud the way SB is today.

IF they just had standing areas behind the goals then that would create a much better atmosphere, as you would be able to get many more people in there.

[Rmpr 8,977]

IF they just had standing areas behind the goals then that would create a much better atmosphere, as you would be able to get so more people in there.

EXACTLY.

I am really in no position to judge, but as Alex said: MHL and SHED are loud, the thing is they represent a small percentage of the overall crowd. So when we are in a bad situation, the away fans can easily match our vocals...

I was not there to know if it was a microphone problem or not, but what transparent to TV is also important. Mainly because a large part of our fans can only experience us from a far distance. When I was in Munich, we out "sang" Bayern by a far mile. Liquidator at the beginnig and Blue is the Color at the end was the best thing I have ever experienced.

[Stingray 9,441]

Thank you for a completely meaningless post and for avoiding the point behind what I said. I don't care if you are here because of Hazard, I am CHELSEA supporter and will criticize any error that is costing the team.

Excuse me Choulo, I have a lot of respect for you in this forum, but why claim I am only here for Hazard. Did I say that? No. I do love the guy, that's true.

I was actually being sarcastic with my comment, not meaningless. Just check who David Hume is, what the quotation I said is all about and maybe you will get the meaning.

I do not however like you claiming I am here only for Hazard. Not at all actually. I think that is a cheap shot not based on reality. I would have actually expected more from someone that is a mod on here like you.

I still salute you in all friendliness.

[didierforever 7,349]

dint know where to post this or how to start a new thread so just posting it here - our youngsters had a big victory in nextgen tournament. routed molde 6-0.

http://www.goal.com/...ce=breakingnews

[robdog 2,084]

Alright, you dont need to throw in my face you have been to SB. It was super quiet (yes, it was from TV), you could often hear Shak fans screaming for their lives. I am not saying it is always like this, but it was dead yesterday. Look at Napoli game last year, it was totaly different...

Even though I have never been to a game in London, I can say it is not 1% how it is here in Brazil. We dont fill up the stadium so often (primarily because of the inability of our amateur clubs in marketing and season tickets, lack of infrastructure and price), but in important games it is as loud as it gets. You can easily compare big clubs with Turkish, German and Ukrainian fans.

I dont think it is a problem with our fans, I just think the stadium is wrognly planned and we need a rebuild or something. In Germany and in Brazil`s 2014 arenas, they mix high price and quality seats (for business fans and turists) with standing seats behind the goal (die hard fans). The way SB is planned right now, gives us 30k of quiet fans and a small percentage of chanting ones. I know the stadium is old and we did a really fine job with it, but I dont see us getting loud the way SB is today.

You really took offense from my post? Bro, I only asked you if you are judging the atmosphere from being at the match or on your television. I believe you can't always believe what you hear on the TV. Like an earlier post, it depends on where the microphone is located at. And again, I implore you to goto Da Bridge & make your judgement from there & not what you heard on the TV.

[Kez 2,727]

Frustrating performance last night, we were struggling with the basics such as the simple passes, didn't deserve to win but that's football you win some you lose some. Oscar's goal was a beauty. We went absolutely crazy for Moses goal when the ball went out for a corner I just had a feeling that it would go in.

& I can assure all of you saying that the atmosphere was dead last night it most certainly was not in the MHL, sometimes it's hard to pick it up on TV but we spent the majority of the match singing.

Also lol, at the bloke singing blue is the colour at the start... :blue scalf:

That was awful & embarrassing. :/

Shouting Shit in the middle of Shaktar's chant was hilarious!

[rawi chelsea 9]

Actually no one makes mistakes more than Luiz. And i'm glad we won, more than glad even. But Luiz's bad play is not helping our cause.

We already have a shaky defence without him!

Totally agree and the sad thing is that luiz can be the best defender in the world with his incredible control of the ball and attacking skills but right now he is far away from that.

[Jase 43,479]

[Rmpr 8,977]

You really took offense from my post? Bro, I only asked you if you are judging the atmosphere from being at the match or on your television. I believe you can't always believe what you hear on the TV. Like an earlier post, it depends on where the microphone is located at. And again, I implore you to goto Da Bridge & make your judgement from there & not what you heard on the TV.

No I did not take anything offensive but you was not there yesterday, so you cant judge last game atmosphere by your last visit at SB. I said it was not a good atmosphere against Shakthar, not always.

Yes TV might give a different impression, but dont go saying it was loud and the whole stadium was vibaritng, because it was more than clear that it was not.