Closed PSG 1-1 Chelsea

[thekid9 418]

That is such a Troll Football way of thinking. Wow.

You do realise it's 17 not 7, right?

You do remember Costa played so little in our CL campagne so far with Drogba and Remy rotating places, right?

You do realise Costa would score many against those teams we had in our group, right?

Buy yeah, sorry, he has to score from the bench! He has to score whenever he moves a muscle in his body on and off the pitch! He has to score when he's asleep! He has to join this forum and score in each thread! What a lazy bastard!

Diego Costa games Appearances in group stage = 5 - goals 0

Drogba appearances in the group stage = 4 - Goals 2

Loic Remy appearances in the group stage = 2 - Goals 1

Your argument is completely invalid.

[The Chels 2,502]

you claim Ivanovic drops in to the box to help clear out crosses, yet, tonight, it was Azpi who was doing that more often.... look, they had Cavani and Ibra, who was winning every single aerial battle against JT, in the box most of the time. The only way we could avoid conceding was by shutting the flanks down and blocking their crosses. I love bane as much as the next guy here, but he just isn't doing much in that regard all season

I agree that Ivanovic is a defensive liability but it is clearly a tactical decision from Jose for our FBs to drop into the box when the opposition have the ball on the flanks. It means we have more men to defend the incoming cross but it also means that our wingers are often isolated 1v1 (or 2v1) against their players and so we have virtually no chance of stopping the cross. Doubling up on the opponent and preventing the cross from coming in (and thus preventing the attack) with the midfield players dropping into the box instead is surely the most logical solution but Jose seems to think otherwise and we were made to pay for that.

[DYC. 7,542]

Has the bar been set so low that expecting a team that cost ~ 200 million £ to be able to string 5 passes together in the opposition half is expecting something Barcelona-esqe?

Yes.

[Styles 9,790]

Ivanovic was out of position and left Rami isolated and Cahill should have been first to the header.

Moments before the goal their defense was in trouble as Hazard ran at them. We got into more dangerous positions at the start of the second half before they scored.

Yeah, because PSG started committing more bodies forward and pushing. Once they did that we broke down as usual i.e. Ivanovic out of position, players isolated, Cahill missing headers etc. Contrary to popular belief we're not very good at defending. Any 'control' we had was because PSG didn't put pressure on us, in my opinion. Once they did all that was left was for Courtois to make save after save.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Those performances are getting really boring and even slightly frustrating. When we'll progress from this kind of performances away from home?

We'll go through PSG, but against Real, Atletico, Barca and Bayern it will be very hard to win the competition if we cant play better.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Diego Costa games Appearances in group stage = 5 - goals 0

Drogba appearances in the group stage = 4 - Goals 2

Loic Remy appearances in the group stage = 2 - Goals 1

Your argument is completely invalid.

Dude seriously - Costa's been missing for 3 games, it's called Match sharpness - remember Aguero against us he looked shit. You just have to play them and get them up and running

Costa was rested for most of CL qualifiers - to save his hamstring.

He's a goal scorer and is doing well - just chill

[Barbara 15,149]

They did this because they play a high line.

What people don't (want to) understand is that it is impossible to control a game with only 6 players (3 midfielders, 2 wingers and the center forward) and no overlap from your full backs.

Chelsea can't play a high line with Terry, Cahill and Ivanovic. Jose might be a defensive minded coach, but not a suicidal one.

which is why if you're going to play Fabregas at #10, you have to play Luís in the LB. Simple as that.

Cesc is easily marked out of these games - Luiz did it very well today imo - but it also helps him to find more space for his magic passes if we drag players to our wings. We just CAN'T do that with Azpili in the team. Sorry, he has a lot of defensive qualities, but he's really null in the attack with the eventual good cameo there.

Also Willian was visibly tired - I didn't think I'd see this day, but even he didn't have the usual energy.

So if he wants to start Cesc as #10 because he's more creative than our alternatives (Oscar, Willian), just make sure to also add width to the team, otherwise we're easily nullified as we were.

We didn't have ANY attack in this match and it showed when our goal came from a play orchestrated by three out of our four defenders in the match.

I think we controlled well the game until we made another stupid defensive mistake. It's their turf, Courtois saved us, but I even expected more bite from PSG, so I won't count those headers as something unexpected, or completely avoidable. It's normal stuff from a team playing the first leg of an UCL round of 16 at home. Still I didn't feel we'd concede (although with this defense I ALWAYS feel insecure about conceding stupid goals). So we were in control to win the match, but when he saw Blanc's approach to the match he could have instructed at least one of our AMs to show up more in the attack. He didn't. Then he played Fabregas - who is still coming from injury and no Luís, we were the terrible attacking show. I said early in the first half that if we didn't show some bite we'd end up the match with no shot on goal. I wasn't that off mark if you ask me.

That's completely giving up on attack and NO TEAM should ever do that unless there's a huge disparity in the quality between both teams. That wasn't the case. We're becoming more and more pragmatic in those matches and while I defend it in a few instances, today was completely unnecessary.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Yeah, because PSG started committing more bodies forward and pushing. Once they did that we broke down as usual i.e. Ivanovic out of position, players isolated, Cahill missing headers etc. Contrary to popular belief we're not very good at defending. Any 'control' we had was because PSG didn't put pressure on us, in my opinion. Once they did all that was left was for Courtois to make save after save.

Well, that's subjective and you have every right to interpret it that way.

But what is unquestionably objective is that we got a positive result. For all the criticism, we keep getting more positive results than all of the other teams in England and even in Europe. Even in the so called "big games" we are yet to lose. Can't all be luck, we must be doing something right.

[Muzchap 8,966]

which is why if you're going to play Fabregas at #10, you have to play Luís in the LB. Simple as that.

Cesc is easily marked out of these games - Luiz did it very well today imo - but it also helps him to find more space for his magic passes if we drag players to our wings. We just CAN'T do that with Azpili in the team. Sorry, he has a lot of defensive qualities, but he's really null in the attack with the eventual good cameo there.

Also Willian was visibly tired - I didn't think I'd see this day, but even he didn't have the usual energy.

So if he wants to start Cesc as #10 because he's more creative than our alternatives (Oscar, Willian), just make sure to also add width to the team, otherwise we're easily nullified as we were.

We didn't have ANY attack in this match and it showed when our goal came from a play orchestrated by three our of our four defenders in the match.

I think we controlled well the game until we made another stupid defensive mistake. It's their turf, Courtois saved us, but I even expected more bite from PSG, so I won't count those headers as something unexpected, or completely avoidable. It's normal stuff from a team playing the first leg of an UCL round of 16 at home. Still I didn't feel we'd concede (although with this defense I ALWAYS feel insecure about conceding stupid goals). So we were in control to win the match, but when he saw Blanc's approach to the match he could have instructed at least one of our AMs to show up more in the attack. He didn't. Then he played Fabregas - who is still coming from injury and no Luís, we were the terrible attacking show. I said early in the first half that if we didn't show some bite we'd end up the match with no shot on goal. I wasn't that off mark if you ask me.

That's completely giving up on attack and NO TEAM should ever do that unless there's a huge disparity in the quality between both teams. That wasn't the case. We're becoming more and more pragmatic in those matches and while I defend it in a few instances, today was completely unnecessary.

He cannot go another season without winning and its fucking with his mind. He's reverting to safety instead of attack. To be fair our team is shaky under pressure - but we have to learn to deal with that.

I think losing our passing tempo and movement from the start of the season has hurt us most - we're too static, which goes back to the point above - not conceding or conceding few goals is now our sole aim, with the hope Hazard creates - we've regressed back to last season - again because of the lack of trophy! We need to beat the Spuds - grab some silverware and hopefull things will change and fast

[Madmax 9,219]

Diego Costa games Appearances in group stage = 5 - goals 0

Drogba appearances in the group stage = 4 - Goals 2

Loic Remy appearances in the group stage = 2 - Goals 1

Your argument is completely invalid.

No you're right, we should recall the guy featured in your avatar and username.

[MichaelDance 552]

Some people are forgetting we are away and at away games a draw is good enough for us as long as we don't loose. We are much more positive at home because we know our pitch and we have that sparkle which gets other teams scared, and end up making mistakes and we win. (We've had a few bad days by not rotating but when we do we end up making our own mistakes... Bradford for example).

A draw or a win away is better than loosing... Trash them time at home.

[Azpinator 2,325]

Diego Costa games Appearances in group stage = 5 - goals 0

Drogba appearances in the group stage = 4 - Goals 2

Loic Remy appearances in the group stage = 2 - Goals 1

Your argument is completely invalid.

OMG what a FLOP! SELL HIM!

I don't think he played 90 minutes in any of those. It's better to judge by minutes played than appearances

And even if I'm wrong. We came out on top of the group, and he would have scored at least 2 against Maribor at the Bridge. We're seeking the trophy for the club. Unless the top scorer means more to you.

But to say he's not an improvement from the 3 we had last year? That argument is laughable since he's one of the reasons we're 7 points clear in the league. And still, the best time to discuss that is at the end if the season, not now.

[MichaelDance 552]

No you're right, we should recall the guy featured in your avatar and username.

If we did do that because of that member we might as-well give PSG the win at home... better to loose now than end up in shame because Torres just can't score to save his life.

[supporter 3,088]

Cavani's goal was totally unstoppable. That goal has changed EVERYTHING. In that scenario, playing away in the Champions League with PSG turned towards us, it would have been imprudent to have raised another kind of match.

See the "BIG" Bayern, they have drawn away against Shakhtar, horrible result compared with ours.

Calm down everyone. I also would have preferred to win clearly, but Champions League is always difficult. We are alive and is now the PSG who have to be concerned.

Quiet, calm. We have struck first and at The Bridge we are infallible.

Regards to ALL.

[Barbara 15,149]

He cannot go another season without winning and its fucking with his mind. He's reverting to safety instead of attack. To be fair our team is shaky under pressure - but we have to learn to deal with that.

I think losing our passing tempo and movement from the start of the season has hurt us most - we're too static, which goes back to the point above - not conceding or conceding few goals is now our sole aim, with the hope Hazard creates - we've regressed back to last season - again because of the lack of trophy! We need to beat the Spuds - grab some silverware and hopefull things will change and fast

but he isn't stupid. He can't be that stupid to rely in our vulnerable defense. We have walking liabilities there, literally, it's suicide to rely in this defense. He needs to grow a pair in some matches. If that's the approach against RM, Barça or Bayern, I won't complain. But against a PSG that from minute one showed they were more worried about not conceding (to avoid what happened last year and maybe go for it at the Bridge and surprise us), he SHOULD have been more attack minded. I'm not saying to go for the kill, but release ONE attacking midfield, allow the team to attack. But yeah, he's too afraid of losing these days and it's starting to get its toll on him. Good thing the league looks like a done deal, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if we lost to Spurs in a couple of weeks. Like not at all. specially after the 5-3? He'll defend like there's no tomorrow against a team that is inferior to ours in terms of quality and that has good attackers. With this defense he should try to WIN the game instead of settling for a result because if there's one certainty is that a mistake will come. If our keeper will save us, or the opponent will miss the goal (like Cavani did today) it's another story. But that's not a reliable defense, he shouldn't be so defensive in games against PSG, Liverpool and Spurs. He should understand that there are chances we'll concede, especially away from the Bridge and he could show a little more ambition against teams that are clearly not at the same level as us.

Well, that's subjective and you have every right to interpret it that way.

But what is unquestionably objective is that we got a positive result. For all the criticism, we keep getting more positive results than all of the other teams in England and even in Europe. Even in the so called "big games" we are yet to lose. Can't all be luck, we must be doing something right.

we're doing something right. And also a few wrong things and counting with a lot of lucky results. Well, I'm not complaining about the results, but it also doesn't make me have any sort of hope about winning this competition. Actually as I just stated, it makes me feel nervous about playing Spurs. I mean freaking Spurs!!!!!

There's a reason why we were spanked by Atletico and Spurs... and that shows what happens when we don't have our keeper saving our arses or any lucky goal for us.

[LAB 1,030]

Great result, but I can't say I'm thrilled by the performance. However, the way we are set this season is good for the championship because we can go and beat small teams easier and that is what matters most for me atm. This team desperately needs to win the league. It's true that when we face a big opponent we lack the mindset of a superior team and that's why personally I don't expect anything exciting from CL this season normally. I just want us to win the league and move on from that state of mind. If everything goes well and this is still a problem next season, then it starts to get worrying and unpleasant.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

which is why if you're going to play Fabregas at #10, you have to play Luís in the LB. Simple as that.

Cesc is easily marked out of these games - Luiz did it very well today imo - but it also helps him to find more space for his magic passes if we drag players to our wings. We just CAN'T do that with Azpili in the team. Sorry, he has a lot of defensive qualities, but he's really null in the attack with the eventual good cameo there.

Also Willian was visibly tired - I didn't think I'd see this day, but even he didn't have the usual energy.

So if he wants to start Cesc as #10 because he's more creative than our alternatives (Oscar, Willian), just make sure to also add width to the team, otherwise we're easily nullified as we were.

We didn't have ANY attack in this match and it showed when our goal came from a play orchestrated by three out of our four defenders in the match.

I think we controlled well the game until we made another stupid defensive mistake. It's their turf, Courtois saved us, but I even expected more bite from PSG, so I won't count those headers as something unexpected, or completely avoidable. It's normal stuff from a team playing the first leg of an UCL round of 16 at home. Still I didn't feel we'd concede (although with this defense I ALWAYS feel insecure about conceding stupid goals). So we were in control to win the match, but when he saw Blanc's approach to the match he could have instructed at least one of our AMs to show up more in the attack. He didn't. Then he played Fabregas - who is still coming from injury and no Luís, we were the terrible attacking show. I said early in the first half that if we didn't show some bite we'd end up the match with no shot on goal. I wasn't that off mark if you ask me.

That's completely giving up on attack and NO TEAM should ever do that unless there's a huge disparity in the quality between both teams. That wasn't the case. We're becoming more and more pragmatic in those matches and while I defend it in a few instances, today was completely unnecessary.

Was going to say the same thing as Muzchap - Jose is going the safe way this season. Another trophyless season and Roman could get mad.

Maybe next season, after winning the league and the Capital One, plus a long journey in Champions League, he'll be more relaxed and will reshape the defence. Or at least get them a bit higher on the pitch.

[The Mak 4,459]

I have to admit, it's frustrating seeing the players we now have play like it's 2012 all over again.