Closed Chelsea 1-2 Basel

[Tomo 21,751]

Fully agree. This I would love to see. I think Oscar playing deeper is a massive risk but it's one I'd be willing to take. Him playing next to Mikel or a withdrawn Ramires could possibly work as he'd be an ideal link player and can of course also get forward and join the attack.

Eto'o

Hazard - Mata - Willian

Oscar - Ramires

Something I'd really like to see.

If im honest i think if any of our attacking players get turned into a pivot player it will probably be KDB.

Im on the opinion we should switch formation, a view that's growing bigger with every passing game, Jose got us the title in 2005 by changing from the diamond, he needs to think of something again, because 4-2-3-1 will only work with this team if Oscar or KDB turn into Modric.

[The Skipper 20,609]

If im honest i think if any of our attacking players get turned into a pivot player it will probably be KDB.

Im on the opinion we should switch formation, a view that's growing bigger with every passing game, Jose got us the title in 2005 by changing from the diamond, he needs to think of something again, because 4-2-3-1 will only work with this team if Oscar or KDB turn into Modric.

It's very difficult to change formation with this squad though because the players we have bought are better fitted to that 4-2-3-1 formation.

I think it's the link up play and movements between the attacking 4 that really needs to improve.

[Tomo 21,751]

It's very difficult to change formation with this squad though because the players we have bought are better fitted to that 4-2-3-1 formation.

I think it's the link up play and movements between the attacking 4 that really needs to improve.

True, funnily enough i wonder if the diamond is worth a go but instead of two forwards one behind the forward.

-------------------x------------------

x-----------x----------x------------x

------------------Mikel-----------------

----------Rami-------Oscar-------------

------------------KDB------------------

---Willian/Mata------------------------

-----------------------Eto'o------------

Rami can be the engine, Oscar and KDB can press the opponent and still offer creativity and then when Mata plays he will have a free attacking reign without having to worry (as much) about defending. We don't play with that much width anyway so it could work out quite well.

Im probably way off the mark, that's why i ain't the manager

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Azpi could have been a key player tonight with his overlapping runs. When is he gonna get some gametime?

He is even better than Bran offensively and works better with our RAM.

Hope he plays 90min against Fulham

[The Mak 4,459]

Spot on.

It's why I want Mata to start against Fulham. Like you said, we need order in our attack, and Mata truly brings that. Jose just needs to put his faith and belief into that.

Mata was a leader last season but he's sort of been diminished into a squad player. Not one of Mourinho's best motivational tricks in my opinion. Mata is still our most dangerous forward especially with Hazard not performing.

Speaking of Hazard: he seems to play a lot better when Juan does.

I agree with you that we need some Juan magic. We need Mata in top form very soon.

Agreed mate.

I was thinking that about Hazard & Mata as well. I don't know about you, but one of the main highlights of last season was the link-up play between the two in particular. It was uncanny at times. I think the best example that sticks out in my mind is the goal Hazard scored against West Ham:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQgxOR91CU

Two high quality players on the same wavelength truly is a beauty to watch and it's plain to see there weren't many on the same wavelength tonight. Tonight it was all very 'individual'.

I was also thinking about Hazard and what Mourinho has said of him in the past. I believe he said in an interview something along the lines of that he is a lot harder on the 'better' players because he expects more from them; a kind of a 'tough love' approach. Mourinho might want to take some of his own advice and act more like nurturing "dad" if he's to get the best out of some of his eggs! However, perhaps only time will tell if it's simply a dip in form or something else...

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

The problem is Ashley Cole and Branslav Ivanovic they do not give us width and they have been defending shit of late. Azp is our best rightback but fucking Mourinho is too arrogant to notice that also Asley Cole has been shit give Betrand a chance as for Mata I feel bad for him Mourinho has totally destroyed the confidence he had, to be honest Mourinho is not the best type of coach for the players we have now, its a fact we saw for years that chelsea with ivanovic at RB has no width and Azp proved that to us last year when he came

[zolayes 14,489]

main worries

1 ,,A Cole ,,,he is an automatic starter and his form is very poor ... Ryan is the only alternative and Im not convinced by him.

2 E hazard ,,,what happened close season ,,,,he looks so unfit , he is a potential match winner but on current form ..NO

3 F Lampard ...not a great start either but at least there are options here

4 J Mata .... a shadow of the player we saw last year/

I could go on ...but these are my main player worries

As a team we need to turn things round and FUCKING QUICKLY

they can not let things continue in this vein ..

this is going to be a real test for Jose and the press are getting ready to crucify him and its nearly 8 months till Easter

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

I know why Hazard is playing like shit, its simple he has no fucking understanding with Oscar and the other guys the same way he has with Mata, Mata and Hazard in the team improves our goals and creativity because they understand each other more. Fucking Mourinho seems not to realize that, and I hope Azp starts playing soon otherwise we are screwed

[didierforever 7,349]

if this is our condition right now, i wonder what gonna happen during the winter slump.

[polo 18]

I know why Hazard is playing like shit, its simple he has no fucking understanding with Oscar and the other guys the same way he has with Mata, Mata and Hazard in the team improves our goals and creativity because they understand each other more. Fucking Mourinho seems not to realize that, and I hope Azp starts playing soon otherwise we are screwed

then Hazard is shit because great players must be able to play good with anyone

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

then Hazard is shit because great players must be able to play good with anyone

Messi is more effective with Xavi, Inesta and Cesc but less so when playing for Argentina that does not make him a great player??

[polo 18]

Messi is more effective with Xavi, Inesta and Cesc but less so when playing for Argentina that does not make him a great player??

yes but he's more effective with Argentina than Hazard 's performances without Mata. Messi plays good with Argentina but Hazard is SHIT without Juan

[rantdeville 195]

^Hazard is SHIT without Juan??

[tawee75 39]

Where was the fourth 22y old??? Lying sob

He has been lying since the beginning of pre-season. He has not fulfill the numerous promises he made to the players and the fans. He promised to play Lampard sparingly, promised Lukaku and KDB first team action. He cannot be trusted on whatever he says.

[tawee75 39]

There can be no excuse for this defeat because Rafa use the same boys during the second half of last season and managed to win the EL and finished strongly on the league table. Jose is just not using the boys well.

[tawee75 39]

Fully agree. This I would love to see. I think Oscar playing deeper is a massive risk but it's one I'd be willing to take. Him playing next to Mikel or a withdrawn Ramires could possibly work as he'd be an ideal link player and can of course also get forward and join the attack.

Eto'o

Hazard - Mata - Willian

Oscar - Ramires

Something I'd really like to see.

Solution: stop playing Lampard in the central mid. He creates nothing for the attackers

[teignman 441]

This "performance" was pathetic. We were at home against a far inferior side and were outplayed in nearly every facet of the game. The main issue that stuck out to me was that we look so disjointed, especially in attack. As we've seen before in this young season, we are very narrow and our creators are seeming stacked on top of each other. There were far too many points against Basel where our players literally could not get out of each others way or looked as if they had no idea what to do in possession. Don't get me started on the defense either. Once Basel decided to apply themselves in an attacking sense, they moved the ball about with ease, with Saleh in particular giving Ash an absolutely torrid time.

I certainly hope that this is the nadir of our season. Unfortunately, my deepest, darkest suspicions that we are no where near title contenders, but rather destined to battle it out for a CL place, are being confirmed. Bottom line: We need to get our heads and our arses wired together or be prepared for heaping helpings of shit sandwiches until the end of May.

[Stingray 9,441]

my only moan is about Stingray ,,,,he gave the link for the second half otherwise I would missed that complete load of shite

Yeah, sorry for that :-)

[Jase 43,479]

Missed the first half but I heard it wasn't inspiring (one shot on target?).

The major problem for me is that we don't have an identity yet, and it doesn't seem like we're working towards one either. It seems that the attacking players are confused about what we might be doing (except for Oscar who has pretty much been our best player this season) which is really sad. I think the vision is for our attacking players to be dynamic, fluidly interchanging positions to confuse the opposition but it really isn't working. We don't seem to have a focal point anywhere in the team based on that last game.

I think that Azpilicueta must play, simply because one thing that we seem to be missing is a threat from our full backs. Ashley Cole isn't a threat going forward, nor is Ivanovic (from open play).

I'll watch the game again in a few days or so to verify what I'm thinking, but right now it isn't looking good. Mourinho must get more out of these players.

A probably with that is probably because Mourinho has been reacting, perhaps a tad too much, to the opponents that we've been facing and in the process, constantly changing the midfield and striker. Against Hull, started like a house on fire and absolutely pummeled them with our quick attacking movement and passing. Against Villa, probably because of the threat from counter attacks, we took a more conservative and controlled approach and only narrowly won. At Old Trafford, because it's Man United away from home, we setup to play on the counter and the same thing goes against Bayern. Against Everton, there was like a bit of both and with Basel, we looked to dominate the game but were absolutely clueless and hopeless in breaking them down.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

Absolute Fukin joke.

Hazard, Luiz, Cole, Lampard deserve to get dropped