Closed Chelsea 2-0 Leicester City

[Styles 9,790]

Nope, I think we'll continue to see the Matic - Fabregas pivot especially in games where we're expected to dominate, like this one. We had our best period in the game in the 2nd half without Ramires on the pitch. Today's first half performance wasn't solely due to Fabregas and Matic failing to fully control the midfield. The whole team was substandard. Also you need to stop looking at it as a Fabregas - Matic duo, and start looking at it as a Oscar - Fabregas - Matic trio.

Sure, against better teams we'll put in Ramires, and Ramires will get plenty of game time but it won't be because of 'Matic - Fabregas' per se. I look at Ramires as Oscar's competition tbh, or as let's say the 4th midfielder that can come in and replace Fabregas, Oscar or even Matic.

Trust me, I do see it that way; I'm aware of Oscar's role in the set-up but he is still more of an auxiliary midfielder, rather than a bonafide CM like Matic and Fabregas are in the set-up. Our back 4 was there for the taking on several occasions today with no protection, that won't happen for much longer.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think I'll stick with Twitter for today. This forum's been toxic today

[The Skipper 20,609]

Trust me, I do see it that way; I'm aware of Oscar's role in the set-up but he is still more of an auxiliary midfielder, rather than a bonafide CM like Matic and Fabregas are in the set-up. Our back 4 was there for the taking on several occasions today with no protection, that won't happen for much longer.

That has more to do with the fact that we didn't expect Leicester to be this 'brave' going forward and also Matic IMO, who had a quite poor game today by his own standards, he gave the ball away needlessly in our own half on numerous occasions. Small tweaks to fix that, we don't have to bring in Ramires to fix that.

I'm sure you know that with more expansive football we'll generally be more exposed at the back also...

[Barbara 15,149]

someone's been happy to see the King back. Actually someone's been happy all the second half. I loved all Roman takes. He's such an awkward, nearly embarrassing fanboy watching our matches

(although it could be he was happy to have finally signed a striker that scores and was actually clapping Costa He probably doesn't even remember Torres is part of the squad now).

edit: who won the MOTM by BPL? I never know where to find out this information... thanks in advance.

[Styles 9,790]

That has more to do with the fact that we didn't expect Leicester to be this 'brave' going forward and also Matic IMO, who had a quite poor game today by his own standards, he gave the ball away needlessly in our own half on numerous occasions. Small tweaks to fix that, we don't have to bring in Ramires to fix that.

See, that was my fear. I thought any team that shows ambition against Matic-Fabregas pivot would get a lot of joy.

I'm sure you know that with more expansive football we'll generally be more exposed at the back also...

Of course, I just don't think we can continue to be that exposed regularly.

[The Skipper 20,609]

See, that was my fear. I thought any team that shows ambition against Matic-Fabregas pivot would get a lot of joy.

Of course, I just don't think we can continue to be that exposed regularly.

Perhaps not, but IMO it'll just take a slight tweak and ensuring players perform their roles correctly, rather than bringing in another player completely.

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

can someone please tell me the name of the player who was the official man of the match announced at the ground.

[Alabama 1,992]

Lose u guys will complain...win u guys will as well complain...jux loving the link up between eddie and diego...I can now fanfarely say we now have a striker...welldone diego...

[Myself 793]

Fabregas was horrible? Wow, I don't know what people are watching sometimes. Sure, he wasn't amazing but he had a solid game, especially in the 2nd half. People are putting too much stock into that first half performance.

Horrible was a bit of a stretch, fair enough. But what did he really do throughout that whole game? He didn't retain possession as well as we know he can (mostly in the first half) and he didn't link up well with Hazard, Costa or Schurrle.

Before you go and assume I'm a naysayer, I'm not, these were just things I picked up throughout the match. The whole team (bar Ivanovic, Hazard, Willian, Courtois and at times Oscar) was poor and Fabregas wasn't an exception

[ulvhedin 526]

will that count as Fabregas assist?

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Horrible was a bit of a stretch, fair enough. But what did he really do throughout that whole game? He didn't retain possession as well as we know he can (mostly in the first half) and he didn't link up well with Hazard, Costa or Schurrle.

Before you go and assume I'm a naysayer, I'm not, these were just things I picked up throughout the match. The whole team (bar Ivanovic, Hazard, Willian, Courtois and at times Oscar) was poor and Fabregas wasn't an exception

He was the player who retained possession better than any other this game, never misplacing a pass aside from a few risky long balls.

"What did he really do throughout that whole game?" What do you want him to do? He's a midfielder who is playing very deep, you know. He isn't supposed to do anything flashy. He kept hold of the ball, rarely lost it, played some good passes, delivered good set pieces, tracked back and made a few tackles and interceptions, and even got another assist for Hazard's goal. Everything went through him today. He had 96 touches of the ball--more touches than any other player on the pitch--and controlled the center of our midfield while Matic looked disturbingly shaky.

What else do you want him to do?

He wasn't among the best players on the pitch, but he was among the few who were solid.

[Myself 793]

He was the player who retained possession better than any other this game, never misplacing a pass aside from a few risky long balls.

"What did he really do throughout that whole game?" What do you want him to do? He's a midfielder who is playing very deep, you know. He isn't supposed to do anything flashy. He kept hold of the ball, rarely lost it, played some good passes, delivered good set pieces, tracked back and made a few tackles and interceptions, and even got another assist for Hazard's goal. Everything went through him today. He had 96 touches of the ball--more touches than any other player on the pitch--and controlled the center of our midfield while Matic looked disturbingly shaky.

What else do you want him to do?

He wasn't among the best players on the pitch, but he was among the few who were solid.

What do I want my deep lying playmakers to do? Dictate the tempo of the game, play smart passes and 1-2's and make runs forward. I can recall about 4 times where he was just walking and he either got dispossessed or nearly got dispossessed. His main duty is to dictate the tempo and produce those deadly through balls, and he didn't do either of those.

I'm not going to judge too harshly though, it is only his second game.

[DYC. 7,542]

Our back 4 was there for the taking on several occasions today with no protection, that won't happen for much longer.

More of a tactical issue than a personnel issue imo. You have the front 6 that's trying to press and be proactive and there's the back four sitting deep and containing. Especially Cahill, man that guy needs to grow some balls and take more risks.

That really needs to be fixed. You either soak up the pressure or you press (which means pushing the defensive line higher up). And it should be the latter imo, especially against inferior sides. Defenders should be able to defend with more space in their backs and defend proactively at this level.

Don't know if you saw the Real-Atletico game, Ramos and Varane would often cross the halfway line. I'm not saying the same must happen at Chelsea but better than they're doing now.

[robsblubot 3,595]

He was the player who retained possession better than any other this game, never misplacing a pass aside from a few risky long balls.

"What did he really do throughout that whole game?" What do you want him to do? He's a midfielder who is playing very deep, you know. He isn't supposed to do anything flashy. He kept hold of the ball, rarely lost it, played some good passes, delivered good set pieces, tracked back and made a few tackles and interceptions, and even got another assist for Hazard's goal. Everything went through him today. He had 96 touches of the ball--more touches than any other player on the pitch--and controlled the center of our midfield while Matic looked disturbingly shaky.

What else do you want him to do?

He wasn't among the best players on the pitch, but he was among the few who were solid.

Have to disagree with that because I'm sure Jose dint pay 32m for Gareth fucking Barry.

Gareth who is a good player and rarely misplaces a pass. I just have to think fabregas ought to be/do better than that.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

What do I want my deep lying playmakers to do? Dictate the tempo of the game, play smart passes and 1-2's and make runs forward. I can recall about 4 times where he was just walking and he either got dispossessed or nearly got dispossessed. His main duty is to dictate the tempo and produce those deadly through balls, and he didn't do either of those.

I'm not going to judge too harshly though, it is only his second game.

You're doing precisely that. Because he did dictate the tempo of the game, just wasn't as decisive as he was in previous game. No player can make 2 through balls every game, you know. That's an unrealistic expectation. He made more through balls against Burnley than Oscar and Willian put together the entire last season.

Have to disagree with that because I'm sure Jose dint pay 32m for Gareth fucking Barry.

Gareth who is a good player and rarely misplaces a pass. I just have to think fabregas ought to be/do better than that.

Are you saying he's supposed to make through balls every game? 3 assists in his first 2 games is hardly a Gareth Barry level player.

[Liquidator 5,176]

I couldn't give a turd how bad we play in the first half if we win at full time.

Football's a game of 2 halves and we always had the ability to go up a gear or two.

[robsblubot 3,595]

You're doing precisely that. Because he did dictate the tempo of the game, just wasn't as decisive as he was in previous game. No player can make 2 through balls every game, you know. That's an unrealistic expectation. He made more through balls against Burnley than Oscar and Willian put together the entire last season.

Are you saying he's supposed to make through balls every game? 3 assists in his first 2 games is hardly a Gareth Barry level player.

I'm not saying anything other than that i expect more from him.

He had a poor game. Decent but poor by his standards.

He doesn't have to win us every match that's why we have other stars,but I'm not going to praise him for this performance.

[Myself 793]

You're doing precisely that. Because he did dictate the tempo of the game, just wasn't as decisive as he was in previous game. No player can make 2 through balls every game, you know. That's an unrealistic expectation. He made more through balls against Burnley than Oscar and Willian put together the entire last season.

Are you saying he's supposed to make through balls every game? 3 assists in his first 2 games is hardly a Gareth Barry level player.

If it came off like that, then I'm sorry. As you can tell we've not had a player like him for a while now, so if I'm 100% honest, I don't know what to expect with a player like Fabregas.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Why the fuck cant you enjoy in win? Its start of season, we are not yet fully fit and gelled together, but it will come eventualy. We won easily, even if we conceded, we would still comeback and destroy them. We play as much as we need to, comfortably and we got first two wins. Costa scored two already, cesc has 3 assists and all you do is complain complain complain...i even think Oscar is becoming very important from tactical point, he ads extra versatility in midfield.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Robguima, on 23 Aug 2014 - 11:04 PM, said:

I'm not saying anything other than that i expect more from him.

He had a poor game. Decent but poor by his standards.

He doesn't have to win us every match that's why we have other stars,but I'm not going to praise him for this performance.

I'll have to disagree. No one is praising him for his performance, but calling it "horrible" is strange and I was responding to that. He didn't have a poor game by any stretch of imagination, unless you have unrealistic expectations. "Decent but poor by his standards"? What are those standards? Is he supposed to make 2 assists from through-balls every game to meet those standards? What the hell. It's not like he didn't make some neat passes and got an assist. Yes, it wasn't much of an assist, because Hazard had to do most of the work afterwards, but still, he was there, building our attacks, as he did the entire game. He could have gotten another assist if Iva was luckier.

It wasn't a spectacular performance by him, but it was a solid one. Only Hazard made more key passes than him in this game.

Myself, on 23 Aug 2014 - 11:14 PM, said:

If it came off like that, then I'm sorry. As you can tell we've not had a player like him for a while now, so if I'm 100% honest, I don't know what to expect with a player like Fabregas.

Yeah, I get it. Just to put things into perspective: David Silva made 16 through balls in the entire last season. That's 1 through ball every other game. Seems like not much, but it was actually second best result in the entire Europe last season, the first being Cesc's 24 through balls in a season. I know Cesc does a lot of through balls, but if he did 2 through balls every game like he did against Burnley, he would have over 60 through balls in a season. That's very unrealistic. So we should try managing our expectations. So far Cesc is more than on target.