Closed Corinthians 1-0 Chelsea

[Peppen 934]

TBH even though I thought Cahill had a poor game I thought he did care and gave everything. Perhaps his difficulties were just due to the different style of the players he was facing and his lack of international experience.

Chelsea should have (cheekily) proposed a straight swap between Torres and Guerrero; Guerrero looked a lot better and ever stronger (physically). Anyone notice how easily Torres would go to the ground, and inadvertently so, on minimal contact? That was even more worrying to me than the sitter he missed.

Add to that he's annoying attitude, and the way he screams every time because he thinks he is treated unfairly. I call for Bendtner to the Bridge.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Maybe, but I'm not convinced. I see that whenever any team plays a physical style, Mata has trouble. You can mark him out of games. It's not just a matter of people not seeing his movement, his own movement becomes terrible. His passing goes off. His decision making becomes suspect. When Chelsea went defensive under RDM, he became almost useless (3 goals in 19 games). He was our worst player in the latter stages of the Champions League. Don't get me wrong, he's our best player and still a terrific offensive player, one of the best in the Premier League, I just don't think he's a good enough player to be the best player on an elite team. Anyway, I didn't mean for my post to be a diatribe against Mata. I'm very happy he's with us and if we had a couple more players like him, we'd be a lot better off. My main point is that the reason we don't win is because our best players aren't good enough (and after Mata, we don't have anyone even near that level). You look at a team like United. Massive holes in the midfield and at the back but Rooney and Van Persie are elite talents who can't really be contained so they do are doing well (and they have a few other very good players).

He's good enough to be one of the 3 best players on a team. The problem is the sub-standard players in key positions on the pitch. The striker isn't good enough and the players in the midfield two weren't good enough today. That means that Mata has less space in which to operate and less options when he has the ball.

[HNKS 508]

Azpi was really good for the few minutes he was on. Surely he should start as RB. Ivanovic for CB!

[Peppen 934]

Didn't see any of the match can someone explain how bad we were

Imagine a team consisting of 11 Fernando Torres'es.

[The only place to be 11,313]

What? That's even worse. But I get the feeling you disagree with what I said. Could you then please say that you don't think we failed in the Super Cup, in Champions League group stage and in Club World Cup? We defended our European champion status honorably?

I think the idea that we bought shame to Europe is pathetic.

[Rambo 1,729]

We don't deserve to be chanting "Champions of Europe". What a disgrace.

[HRiver 1,512]

We're the worst European Champions in history.

[The only place to be 11,313]

We don't deserve to be chanting "Champions of Europe". What a disgrace.

But we are Champions of Europe. Some people's reactions on here are a little on the hysterical side.

The team that won the Champions League has been dismantled and we're building something new. Anyone who thought that would be painless was kidding themselves, but you have to stick by the team whilst we're doing that. Shitting on the achievements of our club is a low thing to do.

[Rmpr 8,977]

OMG, HOW CAN THIS GET ANY WORSE?

Palmeiras relegated, Chelsea losing everything and Corinthians World Chapions...

I AM ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED!

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

Why Cahill got the red card ? The TV didn't show the replay

Few Minutes ago, we lost a trophy, and what's important is that nonsense red card?!

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

We're the worst European Champions in history.

[Peppen 934]

OMG, HOW CAN THIS GET ANY WORSE?

Palmeiras relegated, Chelsea losing everything and Corinthians World Chapions...

I AM ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED!

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the 5 year extension of Fernando Torres........

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

He's good enough to be one of the 3 best players on a team. The problem is the sub-standard players in key positions on the pitch. The striker isn't good enough and the players in the midfield two weren't good enough today. That means that Mata has less space in which to operate and less options when he has the ball.

Our attackers actually had a lot of space today. Moses especially was wide open a few times as was Torres. Getting your striker behind the defence three times in a game is excellent. We had 14 shots today. Our lack of scoring made it seem like our offense was worse than it was, but we had a lot of very very good chances including 4 shots from in close any of which could/should have been a goal (Cahill off the line, Torres saved on the pass from Lampard, Moses great save, Torres trying to jump over ball, misses. Accidentally knocks it off his toe towards keeper). Not to mention, there were a number of places where we had the ball in good space on the wings and couldn't cross at all. We have had problems with disjointed attack, but today was not really one of them. It was just ineffective.

Also, agree with you on the overreaction to the loss. We are Champions of Europe, we won what is easily the best and most difficult club tournament in the world and losing one match in Japan doesn't change that.

[Styles 9,790]

We're the worst European Champions in history.

Close but no, that honour goes to Liverpool 2005.

[DYC. 7,542]

Maybe, but I'm not convinced. I see that whenever any team plays a physical style, Mata has trouble. You can mark him out of games. It's not just a matter of people not seeing his movement, his own movement becomes terrible. His passing goes off. His decision making becomes suspect. When Chelsea went defensive under RDM, he became almost useless (3 goals in 19 games). He was our worst player in the latter stages of the Champions League. Don't get me wrong, he's our best player and still a terrific offensive player, one of the best in the Premier League, I just don't think he's a good enough player to be the best player on an elite team. Anyway, I didn't mean for my post to be a diatribe against Mata. I'm very happy he's with us and if we had a couple more players like him, we'd be a lot better off. My main point is that the reason we don't win is because our best players aren't good enough (and after Mata, we don't have anyone even near that level). You look at a team like United. Massive holes in the midfield and at the back but Rooney and Van Persie are elite talents who can't really be contained so they do are doing well (and they have a few other very good players).

And we saw how much Van Persie on his own could do for a team simply not good enough to compete for the major titles last season, which was my point.