Closed Everton 1-0 Chelsea

[bushman 2,043]

Do you? Naysmith scored against us btw, a free transfer!

Plenty, I do have. In comparison to last year, Chelsea is a better team. So far, it might not seem that way, apart from the 1st half of the first game though. Naismith here or there, most likely I would have scored into an empty net, then.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Off course but when we need to push, have very good build-up to stretch defences, were are not that good until now.

And it's a Mourinho pattern, good when there is space for counter-attack and are wainting in our half but quite average when we have to create, the central defense playing deep inviting the other team to press is a trick that will not work against many teams and only slow our build-up.

I miss our build-up from the back from last year with the full-back much more involved, especially Azpi who was like an extra midfielder when he had the ball. Central defense was closer the the midfield and fullback, easier to move the ball quickly from side to side, Luiz pushing, opening up angle passes. We were more organised in our attack, with a clear plan, good patterns in the runs of the players to stretch the oppositon and create openings.

We were putting our attacking midfielders in better position to do damage.

Totally agree, Mourinho's Madrid team particularly struggled against smaller teams in La Liga when Real had the ball and had to break them down. Ozil in particular wasn't in great form and bar him they really lacked someone with vision to find that pass to unlock a defence (Modric was struggling and still adapting to La Liga). Mourinho constantly did counter attacking drills in training (at Madrid) down both flanks, from what I've read, as it is his game plan as well all know. Is it the same at Chelsea? Going on the evidence of the games against Bayern, United, Villa and Everton we are probably going to be much more counter attacking, which I don't mind again but still when we get the ball in central areas when we play teams who will sit off us, what do we do with it? Do we continue to struggle to come up with ideas there or what? We still need a playmaker of sorts, I don't think we'll look for another CM until Lamps retires to be honest.

I'd like to see us try and build from the back some more but I don't know, I thought Jose said he was here to play the football 'the fans wanted', sure I don't mind counter attacking football but at times we lack ideas when we have the ball in central areas, we either let Ramires carry it forward or play it into the channels so Hazard/Schurrle can try and do something will the ball. Luiz should start every game at CB for us though, because he has the ability to step into midfield and find that pass over the top of the defenders or in between the full back and center back, at times we need that.

[NishC300 1,865]

Awful defending by Luiz ? I am not sure whether Cech had not made the mistake of not knocking the ball off just before I got to Naismith. His positioning was wrong, I feel. Twisting & turning instead of jumping up after the ball.

They showed on Sky, Luiz was on the edge of the box rather than marking Naismith. It left Ivanovic on 2.

[sureshot 20]

Plenty, I do have. In comparison to last year, Chelsea is a better team. So far, it might not seem that way, apart from the 1st half of the first game though. Naismith here or there, most likely I would have scored into an empty net, then.

I can't see a team yet tbh. And what exactly did you see that was better than last year? All I see is the same slow buildup and sloppy passing.

[bushman 2,043]

They showed on Sky, Luiz was on the edge of the box rather than marking Naismith. It left Ivanovic on 2.

Yes, I saw it. I just thought Cech could have jumped for that header from Jolevic to Naismith.

[bushman 2,043]

I can't see a team yet tbh. And what exactly did you see that was better than last year? All I see is the same slow buildup and sloppy passing.

May I suggest to review the 1st half of the 1st game. An admirable half of crisp passing, link up play, just awesome in my view.

Personally, I do not even remember the similar performance as I saw, then.

[sureshot 20]

May I suggest to review the 1st half of the 1st game. An admirable half of crisp passing, link up play, just awesome in my view.

Personally, I do not even remember the similar performance as I saw, then.

I disagree, apart from Eto'o header, a cross behind the defence, we didn't create any chances. Howard tried to help us a bit too.

[bushman 2,043]

I disagree, apart from Eto'o header, a cross behind the defence, we didn't create any chances. Howard tried to help us a bit too.

May I suggest to re-read my posting again ? Please, pay attention to what game I had mentioned.

[LeonDavis23 371]

I disagree, apart from Eto'o header, a cross behind the defence, we didn't create any chances. Howard tried to help us a bit too.

schurrle should've scored with his chance, it did seem that every time hazard and oscar got down the wings 2nd half they were always crowded out

[jonaaibosk 191]

Who is then? Just curious mate not trying to cause an argument

It's a toss up between De Rossi, Vidal and Javi Maritnez

Busquets is up there though, so I can understand why people would have your opinion. Was merely playing devil's advocate

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

It's a toss up between De Rossi, Vidal and Javi Maritnez

Busquets is up there though, so I can understand why people would have your opinion. Was merely playing devil's advocate

I don't think Vidal is a DM tbh, still think that Busquets is the best one out there. Martinez and De Rossi are really good though!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I disagree, apart from Eto'o header, a cross behind the defence, we didn't create any chances. Howard tried to help us a bit too.

How about the chance Eto'o created for Rami which forced Howrad into an incredible save or the one he created for Schurrle on around 40 mins and the through ball that Rami played to put Schurrle again through on goal in the 46th minute?

With the Howard mistake and Eto'o header, that's 5 clear-cut chances. Teams rarely get that much in one game and I'm probably forgetting a couple as well.

[Special Juan 28,141]

I'm still fucking furious about this result, boiling in fact.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It's a toss up between De Rossi, Vidal and Javi Maritnez

Busquets is up there though, so I can understand why people would have your opinion. Was merely playing devil's advocate

I don't think Vidal is a DM tbh, still think that Busquets is the best one out there. Martinez and De Rossi are really good though!

Don't want to get into the debate, but as a Juve follower, I have to agree with Ryan there. Vidal is by no means a DM. He spends half the match in the opposition box! He's a box-to-box central midfielder which is very much needed at Juve to make up for the "lack of energy" of Pirlo.

[English Freak 456]

I don't think Vidal is a DM tbh, still think that Busquets is the best one out there. Martinez and De Rossi are really good though!

Would be interesting to see Busquets on a team that averages around 35-40% possession...rather than 70%.

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Would be interesting to see Busquets on a team that averages around 35-40% possession...rather than 70%.

He'd still be a key player, he allows Barca to put their full backs right up the park by playing as a third CB more or less and gives the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi etc a platform to go and play. His role in that team is undisputed, after Messi hes the first name on the team sheet. His passing is exceptional, he can pass through the lines, taking 3, 4 or even 5 players out of the game at once.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

schurrle should've scored with his chance, it did seem that every time hazard and oscar got down the wings 2nd half they were always crowded out

The Chelsea midfielders getting crowded out- pretty much the story of last season and so far this season.

We really miss a combative midfielder.

[The Skipper 20,609]

The Chelsea midfielders getting crowded out- pretty much the story of last season and so far this season.

We really miss a combative midfielder.

We have one in Ramires.

We didn't have a problem in midfield yesterday, it was simply us failing to finish our chances. Everton scored because of mistakes made by a few players, not through genuine ingenuity.

We score half of our pretty clear cut chances and we win the game easily. We didn't play bad.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

How about the chance Eto'o created for Rami which forced Howrad into an incredible save or the one he created for Schurrle on around 40 mins and the through ball that Rami played to put Schurrle again through on goal in the 46th minute?

With the Howard mistake and Eto'o header, that's 5 clear-cut chances. Teams rarely get that much in one game and I'm probably forgetting a couple as well.

Exactly, we created more chances than any other match we played this season. Its annoying that we didnt score but some of us are just overreacting because we didnt score.

If we scored some of our chances and we ended up losing 2-1 or 3-2 people wont complain this much

[kellzfresh 7,229]

How about the chance Eto'o created for Rami which forced Howrad into an incredible save or the one he created for Schurrle on around 40 mins and the through ball that Rami played to put Schurrle again through on goal in the 46th minute?

With the Howard mistake and Eto'o header, that's 5 clear-cut chances. Teams rarely get that much in one game and I'm probably forgetting a couple as well.

Exactly, we created more chances than any other match we played this season. Its annoying that we didnt score but some of us are just overreacting because we didnt score.

If we scored some of our chances and we ended up losing 2-1 or 3-2 people wont complain this much