Closed Chelsea 1-1 Schalke

[Styles 9,790]

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.

Cahill? World-class?

[Footballover 222]

Cahill? World-class?

Can't understand what is so funny about it. In today's standarts, there are only a few better than him. IMO he was the best center-back in the PL last season and was preferred by Mourinho over a 50M pound defender. Can't be that bad...

[Special Juan 28,141]

Not the greatest result in all honesty but in the grand scheme of things the football at times was excellent. I can see massive improvement in our attacking style compared to last season and also our ball retention is much tighter this season. Hazard and Cesc were very impressive for me, Cesc was feeding the ball all over the field with ease and Hazard had them all over the place.

It's frustrating but nothing major is lost as yet, we should of buried those chances but that's European football and football in general, you must capitalize when the chances arrive. I was very surprised to see Didier start, I thought it was the wrong choice before KO and still say it now. I'd of gone with Remy all day long and think he would of made more of a threat. Thought Luis had a very solid game and played some fantastic crosses and his energy levels were very promising.

2 points lost but the performance was very good IMO and on another day we win 2/3-0

Heads up for City.

[Styles 9,790]

Can't understand what is so funny about it.

What's funny about it is that Cahill is nowhere near world-class. He is distinctly average, he excels at nothing and and is repeatedly shown up in one-on-one situations.

I still haven't forgotten Kenny fucking Miller embarrassing him in a friendly last year.

there are only a few better than him.

Even if that were true (it's not) it would only mean that there is a real dearth of quality CBs if Cahill is considered one of the best around.

IMO he was the best center-back in the PL last season and was preferred by Mourinho over a 50M pound defender. Can't be that bad...

Terry was easily better than Cahill last season.

Luiz is never a 50m defender in real value so that's a moot point. If somebody was mad enough to bid even 20m for Cahill he'd be sent packing immediately.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Positives:

1. Luis' performance. Those crosses were 'delicious'.

2. Going forward and actually creating chances. Much improvement from last season.

3. Saved by Maribor's stoppage time equaliser against Sporting Lisbon. Everything still the way it is in the group (sort of).

Negatives:

1. Mourinho starting Drogba and not Remy, at least. Feels like the former was chosen because of sentimental reasons.

2. Defensively still look a suspect and way too open at times. Team not pressing as a unit and getting bypassed way too easily at times.

3. Missing chances galore. That was so like the 2013/14 Chelsea.

)

The importance of a proper finisher(costa) up front has been underestimated, that was the only thing preventing Mourinho from playing more attacking football last season. We would turn to Arsenal attacking in vein then conceding when we miss all our chances.

We have to pray Remy is far better finisher than drogba is or I can see Mourinho getting frustrated and going defensive once again if costa is not fit.

[Cosmin 2,484]

The way the game was, I think it's better for us that we didn't win it. The draw should be a wake-up call and I hope the players and the manager realize that we can't afford treating this competition like it is Capital One Cup. This is UEFA Champions League and there's no time for taking it slow. I'm expecting a much better display against Sporting.

I'm also expecting Filipe Luis to be an important man for this club rather sooner than later.

[Tomo 21,751]

Already it's obvious what Jose's main aim in next summers market. A proactive centre half who can play a high block.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Already it's obvious what Jose's main aim in next summers market. A proactive centre half who can play a high block.

I wanted a CB this past summer, and I do hope we go for one in Jan, even if it means us playing an inflated price for him.

[Styles 9,790]

Already it's obvious what Jose's main aim in next summers market. A proactive centre half who can play a high block.

Perhaps the Benatia links were real.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Perhaps the Benatia links were real.

My biggest disappointment of the summer. He would have been perfect for us.

[Viper22 2,418]

Absolute pish that Liverpool end up only English club to win in CL and it was *** victory

I'm sure that fact won't be repeated in the media daily for the next fortnight.... >.<

[zolayes 14,489]

Already it's obvious what Jose's main aim in next summers market. A proactive centre half who can play a high block.

David Luiz ...(smileys still not working)

[Viper22 2,418]

Already it's obvious what Jose's main aim in next summers market. A proactive centre half who can play a high block.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

The way the game was, I think it's better for us that we didn't win it. The draw should be a wake-up call and I hope the players and the manager realize that we can't afford treating this competition like it is Capital One Cup. This is UEFA Champions League and there's no time for taking it slow. I'm expecting a much better display against Sporting.

I'm also expecting Filipe Luis to be an important man for this club rather sooner than later.

I agree with this; last night's performance and result should do us more good than harm in the long run, especially with the Sporting/Maribor draw.

Some people here, and almost everyone in the media, have gotten carried away by our 12 point start to the season. Our squad is improved but it is not the finished article and we certainly can't expect to coast to any results. Even the Bolton game will be tricky with a squad team. To complete the squad rebuild will require either that some youngsters come through to fill the gaps or that we go back to the market. Probably the latter I think.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

The importance of a proper finisher(costa) up front has been underestimated, that was the only thing preventing Mourinho from playing more attacking football last season. We would turn to Arsenal attacking in vein then conceding when we miss all our chances.

We have to pray Remy is far better finisher than drogba is or I can see Mourinho getting frustrated and going defensive once again if costa is not fit.

I'm not the best person in the world to comment on Drogba's performance since I always saw myself as being equally aware of his weaknesses as I was of his strengths. I would never have brought him back as a player and simply don't believe that he offers us anything worth spending a squad place on. The only thing which makes his return tolerable for me is that Jose did it. If any other manager had done this I'd have blown a gasket. I guess all of this makes me predisposed to see the negatives rather than the positives with Didier so it's best if I say nothing about his display.

I'm not a huge Remy fan either. My worry is that his touch is too loose and he therefore won't contribute to the precise controlled build up we aim for. Doesn't rule out him playing his part by just finishing things off however. That said, I do think that he improved us when he came on and deploying him wide looks like an option Jose may be able to use.

One of the things I love about Jose is his pragmatism. Any manager can decide to commit men forward but the trick is to be able to do it and win. If Jose doesn't have the players available to play on the front foot then he won't waste his time trying. If he needs to be defensive, he will. An attacking style is something we all want to see from our team but it's not an aim in itself; attack and win is the aim.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

Finish off chances like in previous games and this game could've ended 4-1 (or 5-2, you pick).

Hopefully this won't be the case vs City.

Perhaps so but you can't deny that was an average performance, especially when we failed to control the game and still looking suspect defensively.

Perhaps we'd all agree that last night just confirmed what we already know. Change the results of the 4 PL games and the actual performances might attract just as much scrutiny as last night's. Those good PL results have stemmed from some good play but, to an extent, they have also camouflaged aspects of our play that could be better. Last night could turn out to be a helpful reminder of where we are in our development and a warning not to get ahead of ourselves.

[AndersonBLUE 819]

A point against Schalke in our group isn't bad at all.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Literally just signed a new deal at Madrid.

[LegenTerry 273]

Fucking hell. Why the fuck would we waste 40m on Draxler? Some fans are so fickle its unbelievable

First,this post was a joke to reduce tensions all over this forum cause everyone are like "bring back him,sell him,sack him blah blah"

Second,that thing doesn't change fact that Oscar is our worst player last couple of months,even from january he is lost and unrecognizable and I think if he doesn't improve in the future he could be benched or even selled.

And third,if we sell Oscar it would be min.30m € so please,tell me. do you think we would bankrupt if we add 10m for better player like Draxler is?

[LemmeBorrowThat 124]

Some of my random insightful comments on the match:

- This team has no idea how to play with effort for a whole game. Since last year and probably before that, depending on 1) who they play or 2) whether or not they already scored determines how much effort they will play with at said point in the match. Mid-table team? Trot up and down pitch. Score 1-0 in our favor? Trot up and down the pitch. It's frustrating.

- Hazard weaves through defenders effortlessly. He was a little selfish at times yesterday though.

- Filipe Luis is quite dependable with the ball at his feet, and does a good job finding teammates with passes and crosses. He has to play more.

- Drogba....happy to have you back. Father Time has clearly taken some ability away from you, the explosiveness is gone. You made the right cuts, you played hard and were always aware of what to do...but you just didn't have to speed or touch of the past to finish it off. Aging sucks.

- Draxler is a speed demon. I'm shocked he's still at Schalke but who knows...maybe he stays for a prolonged period of time.

- Prince-Boateng...very versatile and very abrasive. Took some stupid shots, took some threatening shots but it was Huntelaar who managed to even it up.