Closed Man United 1-1 Chelsea

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

It's like we score and instantly push the off switch. Very frustrating to watch as a fan.

Strange I thought we played better once we went up one. We were in control and probing fie a second.

I think the result has many here buying into the media propaganda about 'negative' tactics. I would encourage you all to go watch the game again when you've cooled down and watch how we played after we scored.

It's stings that we conceded late but we were by far the better, more threatening team on the day.

[zolayes 14,489]

Proper Fan

you can be sure he is not called Dowd

[DYC. 7,542]

Well im just speculating as i don't watch much abroad.

I remember the game against Shaktar under RDM at home where the ref was amazing and got everything spot on including playing advantage and keep the game flowing, he was brilliant and I went out of my way to praise him on the match thread.

I can't remember the last time I felt that watching a PL game.

The refs here suck big time, bar Bjorn Kuipers. The ref that did Chels v Maribor is constantly criticised here.

And I hear nothing but complaints when people talk abouts refs in Spain and Italy. Don't know about Germany..

[xPetrCechx 13,565]

We must to improve our RW too.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

To improve this team is actually very hard because some of the players are already one of the best in the world in their position

GK-LOL unless we sign Neuer

RB-probably already got the best RB in BPL and Dave can be there when needed

CB-Very few top class are for sale unless we get the likes of Benatia and Varane. Hummels is overrated and hated by Dortmund fans now

LB-Luis and Dave are fine

CDM-Matic beast, unless we get Vidal no way to improve

CM-Fabregas great-unless we get Iniesta or David Silva again no way to improve probably

LM-unless we get Ronaldo Hazard will always be there

CAM-Oscar is good, again doubt there are many better players for sale

RM-Reus now there is where we can improve

ST-Costa is fine

So apart from Reus the team is pretty much impossible to improve.

[Yeboii 1,844]

Positives:

We gained a point from a difficult game where City dropped 3 points at a game they should have won give their quality.

Also, a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford being our worst result in the league this season just goes to show how wonderful we have been doing.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Cundy on Twitter and I completely agree:

"It says a lot when you return from both Manchester clubs with a draw but feel like we lost & they feel like they won! Still top & unbeaten!"

Cesc should have gone off instead of Oscar imo.

Only thing I would fault Jose for today.

[laura90 556]

Also this match just shows even more what I said since the beginning of the season. Chelsea doesn't have the depth needed for people to already congratulate Chelsea on the title. A few injuries and the team looks weak, a few more and there's very untested players being played like Ake will have to with both Ivan and Azpilicueta out. Should have kept Van Ginkel or Romeu.

Wrong. People should congratulate Chelsea on the title, we are winning it and there is no point in questioning it.

Mouirnho knows it, and that's why he wont bother to attack tougher opponents, like Manchester clubs or maybe Arsenal if they somehow improve in their race for the fourth place, like they usually do.

It's not even about our quality( depth) or the lack of it, we are good enough as it is, simply because our competition is average at best.

Our only real competition are City, and they suffer from their usual post title hangover. Pelle is being found out and he doesn't stand chance against Mou. Even if we suffer few injuries they are more injury prone. They won't challenge us. If we lose points, they will lose more.

And no, Man Utd is not contender.

So why would Mourinho risk loses against top dogs? He really doesn't need to and we know him and his methods long enough not to be suprised .

[Shakez 755]

Mixed feelings about this game, aside from the backfour everybody underperformed. It is not a bad result, but that's 2 big games in a row where we basically had the win in the bag. Shit like that stings.

Big points i took from this game:

1. Our attacking midfield lacks killer instinct (yes even Hazard) like José mentioned in his interview. Im not asking for CR7/Messi lvl, but players like Robben/Ribery/Reus are killers in front of goal. Our players do create chances but something is missing...

Such thing is hard to teach but maybe a player like Reus who is both good on the ball (looking at Schürrle) + infront of goal (mainly Willian) is something we need. Unless Hazard starts banging in those goals on a regular basis.

2. Our bench is pretty weak, aside from André we don't really have an attacking threat up our sleeves (Costa/Remy where out though). I would take last years bench over this years.

3. Controlling the midfield against decent opposition. Do we ever actually own possession against a top 5 team? It isn't José forte, but it always seems like we play the underdog position. I know for sure we won't ever control the midfield in a 2 man's pivot (not with Cesc). Cesc isn't a commanding presence, and he needs a box to box besides himself to relief pressure. Oscar is a good presser but he isn't the best passer under pressure.

Still it is early in the season, and we are still in a good position. Our team still has alot of points too improve upon though.

[cosmicway 1,333]

yes, he was so bold to say last season that he team lacked balls against Palace. Well he clearly lacked balls today bringing Obi fucking Mikel (that was terrible btw) when we were dominating. I get it that most of our midfield had been booked, but it was still no excuse to bring him.

I didn't complain about the tactics in the first half because I felt it was a disastrous performance by the players, nothing wrong with Mourinho's approach. But the moment he brought Mikel on and moved every single player behind the ball with still 20 minutes to go, he just screwed up.

Iva didn't deserve be sent off, I'm not even sure it was a free kick, but in all honesty, it pays Mourinho right for such a coward approach. Their defenders were lost after our goal, we should have capitalized, not played like a small team.

Real's third goal yesterday is for the football anthology.

100% automation - impeccable.

[chelseafc9010 224]

We can complain about the referee all we want, the fact is we were scared of defeat once again and decided to park the bus at 1-0 up. The whole red card saga, late goal, getting dominated and sitting deep in the last 5 min is all de ja vu from the Man City game, really dissapointed you would think Jose would have learnt after the City game but nope, another 2 points dropped!

[MichaelDance 552]

Oh for fuck sake really???

"Chelsea face a fine of £25,000 for picking up more than six yellow cards in one match."

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29781219

That ref should be fined for crap decisions.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I'm mystified at all the people on here who thought bringing on John Obi Mikel with 20mins to go was a bad idea... I'm seriously questioning if those that thought it was stupid have any tactical acumen at all.

We were up 1(not safe) Oscar played like a pedestrian all game, didn't make one play that resembled good football. We had the youngest bench I've seen since some Carling cup game and no real way to change the current of the game with the players getting tired. Matic and Cesc were on yellows and with the way Dowd was handing out the cards today, it was almost a certainty someone was gonna get sent off. What would've been the best thing to do in this situation? Keep it the same lineup with our two shields on yellows or bring in another holder who can help control the game while we probe for a killer goal?

I just feel like many people here watch the game from the perspective of what they think people will say rather than from what is best for the result. I'm absolutely shocked people here actually think we tried to park the bus once we went up 1-0! we were all over them and they hardly had a kick! Just because we didn't get the goal doesn't mean we parked the bus... We were seconds away from an impressive road win at a tough ground and people are complaining because we conceded late on account of a shit sending off and a bang bang goal.

Its clear we have been spoiled if after going to Old Trafford and Etihad we have a 6 pt cushion on our most feared competitor and supporters are still complaining about the two flukey goals that robbed us of a 100% record in the prem. LOL

We're sitting pretty right now, not to say there aren't things to nitpick about (Hazard needs to start fucking finishing! wow) but the general mood around here should be up! we are top of the league and clear of City by 6pts. What's the gripe about?

Oh and stop listening to the stupid media about negative tactics, we played very positive and could only get one goal from a 36yr old striker who everyone on this forum, save a few, thought was dead and buried! We didn't create much but that's on account of our best players not being at their best and we still had the best chances to score...

I don't know about you guys but I'm carefree right now. We played well enough to win with a severely weakened bench and minus the goal pig... Man Utd just helped the Prem by keeping us just within striking distance, that's all.

[xPetrCechx 13,565]

604 Guests?! So Many City/United fans here...

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It's not only the fact that Mikel was brought on, but the tactical message that was sent to the team. It's no surprise we retreated to a shell when Mikel came on. Those were the orders.

We also had no problems dominating the game in the 2nd half when Oscar was on the pitch. Once he came off, we became more defensive and lost control. It was a premature (with 20 MINS to go and only 1-0) and ultimately bad substitution given the circumstances. It made more sense to bring on Schurrle.

[Polo7 3,496]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It's not only the fact that Mikel was brought on, but the tactical message that was sent to the team. It's no surprise we retreated to a shell when Mikel came on. Those were the orders.

We also had no problems dominating the game in the 2nd half when Oscar was on the pitch. Once he came off, we became more defensive and lost control. It was a premature (with 20 MINS to go and only 1-0) and ultimately bad substitution given the circumstances. It made more sense to bring on Schurrle.

We started losing control before Oscar came off. We were playing counter attack from the moment we scored. United got more imposing, hence the introduction of Mikel.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ It's not only the fact that Mikel was brought on, but the tactical message that was sent to the team. It's no surprise we retreated to a shell when Mikel came on. Those were the orders.

We also had no problems dominating the game in the 2nd half when Oscar was on the pitch. Once he came off, we became more defensive and lost control. It was a premature (with 20 MINS to go and only 1-0) and ultimately bad substitution given the circumstances. It made more sense to bring on Schurrle.

but that's not what happened though was it? we were still on top of the game and probably looked more likely to score then too.

Schurrle for who? and what do you do about the two yellows in the holding position? what manager in the world would leave their two holding midfielders in a vulnerable position with that many cards coming out? Can schurrle shield? lol

[Tomo 21,741]

Ultimately if we were offered 7 wins and 2 draws both in Manchester, 6 points clear of City with also 3 off our hardest away games out of the way, we would have took.

The circumstances of losing the wins in Manchester was a bitch, but ultimately we are in a great position to kick on, 6 points against QPR and a most likely Sturridgeless Liverpool are a must tho. In my opinion we must keep the gap on City at least 5, any less and thing's get tense.