Closed Schalke v Chelsea

[zyzz 711]

I don't understand why we're just waiting for the equaliser. We could dominate them without any problems. Their defense is so shaky so lets go and attack them

PS

Glad that Farfan and Huntelaar are injured. Schalke are awful when it comes to defending set pieces this season so i'd start Ivanovic again although he didn't play well today.

[NishC300 1,865]

Torres' goal

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Schurrle

[Rmpr 8,977]

This is a game for Mata, imo.

1. Oscar has been horrible so far.

2. We need to keep the ball more on our feet.

3. We also need Juan's key passes to set up good counters to kill the game.

[Toli 977]

awful game but a good result. seems like the players are either saving themselves up for city or dont have motivation to play. just walking around the pitch without desire/determination.

[Jase 43,479]

Playing Azpi at LB has really rendered out attack...non-existent. Because he's playing there, Schurrle is used on the LW to help protect him defensively and as a result of that, Hazard is having a rather quiet half on the RW and being subdued to just defending work. When we do get forward, we couldn't even keep the ball long enough to save our lives. Too many decent counter attack chances all being wasted and that is rather pathetic when they are gaps and spaces to be exploited in this vulnerable looking Schalke side.

[edetarod 2,155]

awful so far, absolutely awful football

which makes the fact we're winning even sweeter

[Shakez 755]

awful game but a good result. seems like the players are either saving themselves up for city or dont have motivation to play. just walking around the pitch without desire/determination.

It aint over lol...

[JamesGodfrey 87]

Glad we got the early goal but we cannot come into the 2nd half the way we ended the 1st. We need to hold the ball up better and have a better understanding of our attacking movement, there's been a few occasions where we had very good chances to counter and a sloppy pass has ruined it.

[Korea 734]

Why did we change hazard and Azpi sides ?

Experimental?

[Milan 17,854]

Birthday present from Chelsea maybe?

I still don't accept it, only after the final whistle

[Jase 43,479]

This is a game for Mata, imo.

1. Oscar has been horrible so far.

2. We need to keep the ball more on our feet.

3. We also need Juan's key passes to set up good counters to kill the game.

Funnily enough, what we are doing now is no different to what Benitez did last season defensively. Defend with 2 banks of four and leave the CAM and ST upfront alone and as a result of that, we are getting overrun and somewhat outpassed, in midfield especially. 2 v 3 in that area with Schalke's wide player joining inside creating 4 v 2. Our FB(s) is getting drawn inside, leaving us exposed on the flanks.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

We need to give the ball more to hazard,He has been our most dangerous player.

[Sheva. 5,373]

3. We also need Juan's key passes to set up good counters to kill the game.

Oscar should be able to do this though, but he doesn't get his head up quick enough, frustrating.

[Special Juan 27,429]

Hate how we have allowed them to come at us, we have lost our way here and it looks like they will get the next goal if we don't wake up.

[LegenTerry 265]

A half to forget.We need to score one more goal so we can relax and take the match to the quiet end.Schurrle is promising he's trying but Hazard and Oscar,naaah so it would be nice to see Mata now.

[Shakez 755]

Our biggest issue is and will always be our CM as long as we refuse to invest into that department. If even Schalke is running us over in midfield im already dreading sunday.

[bushman 2,043]

True. Hopefully he's talked it out with Ryan, don't see him surprising the team by putting Azpi in there without explaining the reasons.

Did the scouting report. Two reasons that spring to mind would probably be -

a. To neutralize Schalke's wing-backs. Not sure why Bertrand can't do that, but Azpilicueta definitely has a special role to perform.

b. Or we are playing a 3-5-2 and Jose's fucking with us.

Very observing by you the future coach, I might add here.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are playing crap.