Closed Chelsea 1-1 Schalke

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Fabregas scored one, but missed an incredible chance in the 1st. Drogba missed a Torres opportunity in the 2nd. Team was way too lenient the whole match, playing like the win was a natural result.

I've been saying this since last season, our defense is our weak point. Playing a more attacking football, we are conceding more goals: 7 in 5 matches. Now that David Luiz is gone, I hope people will understand that making less error than Luiz doesn't mean you are a world class defender. Another goal conceded where Cahill was doing "ball watching". Another game where Matic was leaving too much space in the mid. Its unbelievable that months ago people were saying he was as good as Yaya Toure.

Good match from Hazard. Willian was good. I understand Mourinho for starting Drogba, but I hope he won't make that mistake again.

They played the game at a typical CL pace, slow and careful. It ended up being the undoing because when we couldn't get the decisive goal we had no rhythm to pick it up when needed.

This was all too reminiscent of last year all and all.

[bababoom 4,478]

You could tell the Hazard and Drogba partnership needs plenty of work

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Yes, maybe some of us were underestimating Schalke before the match, but Jose think it will be enough for the players he played today to win this match, with an eye to City match, so we are not entirely wrong here

Well, sometimes it worked, sometimes no. We are unlucky today, and move on, work hard for our next game. Happy that the other result was draw too.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Yes, thought it was strange. A few great passes aside, Eden's general passing wasn't good today.

He wasn't bad but definitely not brilliant. And its in these games where he needs to make his biggest mark... I like him a lot more at full speed than I do when he's lethargic and slow in the build up.

[dee25 1,044]

Ok I just have to get one thing off my chest - can we NOT turn every criticism Cesc gets into an accusation of people scapegoating him? There are a couple areas of his game that he's weak in and I think to cry 'scapegoating' when someone points out these weaknesses is just such a cheap attempt to silence a conflicting opinion. It's also a double standard because we only seem to see evidence of scapegoating when it's a player that we rate highly. It's fine to be protective or defensive of players that we like but to try to undermine genuine opinions by painting it as scapegoating....I'm sorry but that seems to me like playing favoritism.

As for the result - we drew mainly to poor finishing, take it on the chin and move on people. Still a lot of football to be played and in the grande scheme of things, drawing at home to Schalke isn't the worst thing that could happen this season.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

We could afford the draw tonight, Drogba needed the minutes, long old season ahead.

A draw wasn't terrible. Every in the group has a point now. It means we can't wrap up the group in 4 but we still can top it. Wasn't mad Drogba started just thought we made too many changes overall.

[Liquidator 5,176]

Trust me, you really don't want to know!

I heard he started his own business selling hot air balloon flights and is now considered quite a successful entrepreneur?

[Henrique 9,133]

I don't even know how to start commenting on these two phrases...

How could you possibly say that our defense was our weak point last season when Torres and Eto'o were our main strikers?!

And how in the world can one understand this second phrase you wrote, how you managed to connect Luiz to this? And if you are saying what I think you are saying - that Cahill isn't a world class defender, well, I don't have anything much to say to you, I really don't.

Get a grip.

You are new in this forum, thats why you don't have a clue about what I'm talking about.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Ok I just have to get one thing off my chest - can we NOT turn every criticism Cesc gets into an accusation of people scapegoating him? There are a couple areas of his game that he's weak in and I think to cry scapegoating when someone points out these weaknesses is just such a cheap attempt to silence a conflicting opinion. It's also a double standard because we only seem to see evidence of scapegoating when it's a player that we rate highly. It's fine to be protective or defensive of players that we like but to try to undermine genuine opinions by painting it as scapegoating....I'm sorry but that seems to me like playing favoritism.

As for the result - we drew mainly to poor finishing, take it on the chin and move on people. Still a lot of football to be played and in the grande scheme of things, drawing at home to Schalke isn't the worst thing that could happen this season.

Definitely agree 100%, Dee. For the first time ever, I made a critical comment in passing, on how I thought "Fabregas was poor" today, and I got hammered for it and accused of "scapegoating" him. C'mon people. Seriously?

[Barbara 15,149]

That's the worst thing you could've said. Now I'm really curious. He was always so happy and in a good mood haha. Can't imagine him doing something bad.

OK now I'm curious. PM me, maybe?

Let me put it this way. It was the most "WTF!" moment I've ever seen on TC. Does that help?

I don't even know the guy, but if this PM is ever sent, make sure I'm copied

Way to make people curious, Choulo, you should be banned for that

[The Chels 2,502]

I don't even know how to start commenting on these two phrases... How could you possibly say that our defense was our weak point last season when Torres and Eto'o were our main strikers?! And how in the world can one understand this second phrase you wrote, how you managed to connect Luiz to this? And if you are saying what I think you are saying - that Cahill isn't a world class defender, well, I don't have anything much to say to you, I really don't. Get a grip.

He's nowhere near being world class lol. Gomis was bullying him only the other week!

[Liquidator 5,176]

Worldie? tell us more

She came and sat next to me, pushed her arse against my waist. I got a semi, cheekily looked at her face in the window reflection and it hastily became a full stork, saw she had an engagement ring and it shrunk back to a cocktail sausage quicker than you can say quiddich

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I heard he started his own business selling hot air balloon flights and is now considered quite a successful entrepreneur?

I wouldn't know. Mainly because I could never understand what "entrepreneur" means. Probably because it sounds French...

[Barbara 15,149]

Ok I just have to get one thing off my chest - can we NOT turn every criticism Cesc gets into an accusation of people scapegoating him? There are a couple areas of his game that he's weak in and I think to cry 'scapegoating' when someone points out these weaknesses is just such a cheap attempt to silence a conflicting opinion. It's also a double standard because we only seem to see evidence of scapegoating when it's a player that we rate highly. It's fine to be protective or defensive of players that we like but to try to undermine genuine opinions by painting it as scapegoating....I'm sorry but that seems to me like playing favoritism.

As for the result - we drew mainly to poor finishing, take it on the chin and move on people. Still a lot of football to be played and in the grande scheme of things, drawing at home to Schalke isn't the worst thing that could happen this season.

in my defense, I think people are being harsh on him for a while. Every time he's praised many make sure to add a PS at the end of their analyses saying how he's a liability (and yes, I've read this word being thrown at him a few times).

I'm not basing my feelings on the reaction today, but ever since he's here. When he makes a magnificent pass like the one for Schurrle's goal, people don't say much negative, but other than that it seems like even when they're praising him a footnote is added about how 'he can't press, can't tackle, is causing us a defensive problem'.

The defensive problem comes from a change of style and relying much more on Matic... but then Matic isn't on his best yet and it's still early days and the things don't go as we want them to go. But we can't expect Cesc to improve much better defensively. That's not the player he is, that's not what Mourinho wanted from him when he brought him here. He can improve and Skip convinced me he will improve some, but he's not a holding midfield, he's an ex-Arsenal player and he's had some bad months on Barcelona. People trust him distrusting him.

[Term-X 7,891]

I wouldn't know. Mainly because I could never understand what "entrepreneur" means. Probably because it sounds French...

Entrepreneur = Business person/someone enterprising.

Tommy10 had a sex change didn't he?..

[zolayes 14,489]

She came and sat next to me, pushed her arse against my waist. I got a semi, cheekily looked at her face in the window reflection and it hastily became a full stork, saw she had an engagement ring and it shrunk back to a cocktail sausage quicker than you can say quiddich

that happens on Virgin trains ,,, try KNOTWORK south east

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

in my defense, I think people are being harsh on him for a while. Every time he's praised many make sure to add a PS at the end of their analyses saying how he's a liability (and yes, I've read this word being thrown at him a few times).

I'm not basing my feelings on the reaction today, but ever since he's here. When he makes a magnificent pass like the one for Schurrle's goal, people don't say much negative, but other than that it seems like even when they're praising him a footnote is added about how 'he can't press, can't tackle, is causing us a defensive problem'.

The defensive problem comes from a change of style and relying much more on Matic... but then Matic isn't on his best yet and it's still early days and the things don't go as we want them to go. But we can't expect Cesc to improve much better defensively. That's not the player he is, that's not what Mourinho wanted from him when he brought him here. He can improve and Skip convinced me he will improve some, but he's not a holding midfield, he's an ex-Arsenal player and he's had some bad months on Barcelona. People trust him distrusting him.

But why does the truth bother you? Its clear that those things are true while its also clear that he is a world class performer.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I didn't see the game, but reading all the post in here, and reading Jose post match reaction, it seems we are watching 2 different match.

[zolayes 14,489]

Entrepreneur = Business person/someone enterprising.

Tommy10 had a sex change didn't he?..

No that was Torres 9

[Viper22 2,418]

Courtois - 7 - Decent when called upon and couldn't do much for the goal when his defence opened up like the goddamn red sea.

Ivanovic - 5 - Always out of position, very good going forwards as usual, especially when we're chasing the game, but needs to track back more. Has cost us goals this season and now points.

Cahill - 5 - God only knows what he was doing for the Schalke goal. Why would you back off that much?

Terry - 6 - Decent, but no more, didn't get beaten in the air much all night.

Luis - 7 - Very good starting debut, was a pleasure to see some amazing crosses coming in from our left hand side, and brilliant at 1 on 1 tackling.

Matic - 6 - Got beaten by Draxler a few times which was out of character but also made a few good dispossessions in defence.

Fabregas - 7 - Lost ball for the goal but you'd think someone else might bother covering for his mistake, decent goal but should have had another. That was a sitter.

Hazard - 8 - Very good all night IMO. Caused a lot of problems for their defence and even tracked back a few times to help Luis out.

Willian - 6 - Not his best game. His usual industrial self but no creativity and he didn't get much time on the ball.

Ramires - 5 - Decent energy but like Willian didn't offer much more all game. Seems a passenger at times, and didn't even try for Schalke's goal.

Drogba - 2 - Made Torres' performances in a Chelsea shirt look good. Terrible. Seemed to lose the ball at least 75% of the times he had hold of it.

Oscar (sub) - 5 - No impact to the game. No idea why he was brought on though, this wasn't his kind of game.

Remy (sub) - 7 - Great cameo, unlucky not to score and get an assist in the time he was on the pitch.

Costa (sub) - 6 - Didn't do much. Drifted out a little bit too much for my liking but didn't have long and Schalke were already in ultra defensive mode by then.