Closed Norwich 1-3 Chelsea

[Stef 15]

I get the feeling we'll see more of that "Hazard - Oscar - Willian" attacking midfield.

I have the same feeling, this could become something really interesting. But I also would love to see Mata back at his normal level!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Be honest, who had a little whinge when Ba started?

Sinking it yet?

He was brilliant in the 1st half did everything but score.... Unlucky not to.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I just don't get it, why is it people can't post here without showing they have some sort of agenda? Like the things they said in the past has to be upheld for their "forum credibility" to be maintained? It seems like no matter what is done on the pitch people here and also other sites can't swallow their pride and admit to not knowing as much as they'd like to claim they do. Anyways I digress....

I thought in the 1st half we were brilliant. We were finally afforded space to turn and go at defenders, Mourinho echoed my feelings when he said it was 'strange because it was quite easy for us to have the ball' and Norwich did nothing to stop us going forward. The blueprint recently has been to close us down extremely quickly from the half way line into the attacking third. Norwich did very little of that and as a result we produced a fair few decent chances.

Our back 5 were not really put under any real pressure until about 60 mins in the game, none of them were standout players; for the most part they had an easy game.

Lamps was very good moving the ball forward quickly, he was very poor positioning himself make a difference in the middle of the pitch. I really think our best partnership is going to be Ramires and Essien should they ever be afforded the chance to play in tandem... Ramires just looked gassed having to get up and down the pitch, he had to cover a SHIT TON of ground today.

Mata, Schurrle and to a lesser degree Oscar were fairly quiet. Mata started well and played some tasty passes through for some quality chances that weren't taken. After that he slowed a bit and became lost when we had to try and chase a result. Schurrle's work rate is really impressive I just wish his finishing was even average... He gets into great areas and never tests the keeper, he's positioning himself to be a super sub but not if he can't hit a beach ball in the ocean. Oscar got lost a bit out on the flank and though he scored and assisted its clear to me he's better in the 10.

For a guy that rarely plays I thought Ba was exceptional. yes he missed some good chances that would've killed the game early on, but until the guy gets a decent run of games its gonna be hard to find striker's form. He battled for balls, tested the backline, had a decent shout for a pen and had a ton of aerials where he challenged the keeper and won. I would like to see him get more of a run out but its hard when you don't score....

The game changed when Jose employed the 3-5-2 tactic. No real secret. We were winning a lot of balls back in the attacking third by simply crowding them out and applying a great deal of pressure. The squads work rate is probably the best of any I've seen in the EPL this year! No bias, just facts.... We are starting to look like a Jose Mourinho team game by game. Hazard showed that electrifying pace the get the winner. He was fortunate it went in but his pace fashioned the opportunity; here's hoping he can start to put together a run of form and start playing like the guy who wowed us last year. What can be said about Willian other than he hates tottenham? This guy is fucking FAST.

All in all a bit of luck got us the 3pts but we made our luck with the ability and skill we possess. Here's hoping that continues for a while yet!

[James 5,199]

Most of my mates support Norwich, they said the Norwich fans and Sky commentary team kept quiet and listened when the Willian song started up!!!

He hates Tottenham, he hates Tottenham, he hates Tottenham, he hates Tottenham!

[Tomo 21,733]

We're nowhere near our best yet are only 2 points behind Liverpool/Arsenal. Sounds good to me.

Not to mention we have 3 of our hardest away games out of the way too.

[The_Flash 1,144]

There is not an option for it and its rare for me to say this, but if i had to pick a MOTM, i would pick 'The Team'.

Sadly our lack of quality in our strikers is a real worry. As i said in his thread, Demba could have got a hat trick, but didnt, and at 1-1 I was worried where and if another goal was coming. It is a horrible feeling each game, worrying that we have a great sqaud but no killer strikers.

There is nothing we can do just now, so the whole rest of the team will have to continue to be strong, and quite frankly keep scoring.

Wilian's goal was brilliant, Hazard's wasnt bad either

[Barbara 15,149]

Guys, I'm starting the I Got The Blues stats analysis now and if there's anything you'd like to be showcased in addition to the usual stats, let me know. Today I'll provide two 'specials': 1) complete [100% of passes showcased] stats for transition to attack and special focus on the pivot work on that. 2) Mata and Oscar's interchange in the CAM/RW showing minutes played by each of them on each position.

If there's something else you're curious to know, now it's the time to ask

I won't be as present during the international break, but before I leave I'll write the new stats article and will answer to it properly [i decided to follow the club's schedule, no Chelsea, no Barbara, hehehehe].

So let me know if there's anything you'd like to see detailed [or completely] scouted.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Both Mata and Willian made their PL debut against Norwich, and both scored the final goal in 3-1 wins.

[polo 18]

willian looks brilliant

[agbotek 7]

The premier league title will be decided by the coaches experience and by squad depth among the six contenders . Mourinho displayed his years of experience by making brilliant changes to kill off the over zealous Norwich. Look at the calibre of players that came off our bench, i couldn't be more impressed. Star studded tottenham fell to a supposedly weaker side because AVB could not respond as he should. A lot of teams rely solely on their strikers to score and when that does not happen they get frustrated. But chelsea on the other hand have allot of attack minded mifielders and so when our strikers are marked out the midfielders and defenders take over.

[Fulham Broadway 16,855]

MOTD 2 - Up to their usual standard with the anal-ysis. Just crapping on about the mistakes of loaning out lukaku and offloading sturridge rather than praising the performance

[Jype 6,398]

MOTD 2 - Up to their usual standard with the anal-ysis. Just crapping on about the mistakes of loaning out lukaku and offloading sturridge rather than praising the performance

Heard they also focused on Norwich's penalty shout but completely ignored the fact we should have been awarded a penalty as well in the beginning of the match, right after Oscar's opening goal.

[Jase 43,479]

Heard they also focused on Norwich's penalty shout but completely ignored the fact we should have been awarded a penalty as well in the beginning of the match, right after Oscar's opening goal.

Yup and then they go on to wank about Norwich's performance, Januzaj's goal against Sunderland, Hansen babbling about his past Liverpool glory. Our performances, changes from Mourinho, Willian's goal, Ba's penalty incident all ignored. Wasn't mentioned, at all!

[zolayes 14,489]

Heard they also focused on Norwich's penalty shout but completely ignored the fact we should have been awarded a penalty as well in the beginning of the match, right after Oscar's opening goal.

I am sure Ba's claim was just before Oscar scored ,,,,but do you ever expect us to get a fair deal from the media,,,

[zolayes 14,489]

Not to mention we have 3 of our hardest away games out of the way too.

Spurs away ...Hammers found it easy

[didierforever 7,349]

Spurs away ...Hammers found it easy

in that case, the BAGGIES got 3 at OT.

[Tomo 21,733]

Both Mata and Willian made their PL debut against Norwich, and both scored the final goal in 3-1 wins.

and in both games we took the lead inside 5 minutes for them to equalize midway through the second half

Lets hope we don't finish 6th this time tho, although i wouldn't mind another CL win.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

There is not an option for it and its rare for me to say this, but if i had to pick a MOTM, i would pick 'The Team'.

Sadly our lack of quality in our strikers is a real worry. As i said in his thread, Demba could have got a hat trick, but didnt, and at 1-1 I was worried where and if another goal was coming. It is a horrible feeling each game, worrying that we have a great sqaud but no killer strikers.

There is nothing we can do just now, so the whole rest of the team will have to continue to be strong, and quite frankly keep scoring.

Wilian's goal was brilliant, Hazard's wasnt bad either

broken record.... how many games has Ba played? if you knew anything about strikers you would know with time on the pitch they will start to finish. Are you saying that since he came from Newcastle he's just forgotten how to score? its all about getting a consistent run in of games.... Teams play us a lot differently than they do other teams(very low block) he did a lot of good things in the 1st half and just didn't get the luck of the green.

Every post you write you say the same thing, we get it, you think we don't have any strikers! WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT NOW??? Get over it... Support what we have, better yet support the badge.