Closed Chelsea 1-1 Southampton

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Considering at one stage since Jose's sacking we had more managers then trophies glad he lasted this long!

[chrismada9 1,948]

Considering at one stage since Jose's sacking we had more managers then trophies glad he lasted this long!

Everyone can say his tactics are wrong (I'll admit I was one of those people in this thread), but I'm confident Mourinho's here for the long run this time, rather than just walking out because of a stupid disagreement with Abramovich. Say what you like about him, everyone puts faith in him one way or another, because he understands how to win games tactically! Why do you think we are where we are in the league? But then you think, 'no campaign goes without its hiccups'.

There's just no way you can judge a top class manager's status just by watching their side get outplayed tactically in a couple of games.. especially when early form in the season has been second to none. It's up to the manager to identify the problems with Chelsea's game, and work around them. Mourinho has always been one of the world's best tactical masterminds simply by doing this sort of thing.

Do I have faith in him? Yes!

Do I feel his tactical nouse can win us the league this season? Absolutely!

But 'No campaign goes without its hiccups'.

[illmatic 901]

What a shit of week

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I remember from how we played with Damien Duff and Arjen Robben with Lamps in the middle and a strong defence.. we won the league with them didn't we?

And remember the string of 0-0s and 1-0s? I do.

My whole point is winning is more important than entertainment.

If you lot are all content with 4-4 draws then I'm fucking buzzing for you. Give me a scrappy, shitty 2-1 any day of the week.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Agree sod play pretty pretty football and having sod all to show for it.Dont care if they neutrals arent entertained!

[chrismada9 1,948]

And remember the string of 0-0s and 1-0s? I do.

A lot goes into a 1-0 win. I can remember last season going to City and winning with that scoreline. Mourinho's mind games and tactics were spot on!

Arsenal going to the same venue, playing tiki-taka and losing 6-3. What does that tell you?

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Just miss keeping a clean sheet...happens but seems more of a surprise then a normality when it does

[Muzchap 8,966]

Quite a turnaround, Muzchap. Have you been hacked?

Lol nope - just sick of it - made time today (Mother's Day) to settle down and watch us play and it was painful.

We couldn't do the basics - simple pass and move

Our attacking prowess now boils down to pass to Ivanovic and he will lump it in the box

It's just so one dimensional.

Yes - we are 6 points clear with a game in hand - I get that

But - how can we consistently play so bad - it's just FUGLY football

Willian looked good as a number 10 - why not keep him there ?

ANY opposing player that runs with the ball just bypasses our midfield with ease - it's really shocking

To top it off - thought I'd laugh at the Mancs and Yids - and saw a lesson on attacking, free flowing football! It's no coincidence that suddenly players being played in their favoured positions worked out.

So why can't we expirement a little more. The team looks jaded and 'glass half full' - everybody looks fucked off with each other. It doesn't smack of a harmonious squad... We've one a cup, progressed in Europe and sitting at the top of the league - but not one player has a smile on their face !!!!!!

I respect Jose - I really do - but there's a fine line between a Leader and a Despot and I'm sad to say I fear he's crossing the line.

I'm cool with anybody mocking my posts and calling them 'Aids' (very disrespectful to AIDS victims and sufferers I might add) - but I'm saying it as I'm seeing it.

I expected a massive performance, a show of force - desire, passion, hunger and what I saw was not that.

I hope we do win the EPL - I would love nothing more than to have this post shoved down my throat come the end of season.

I'm just scared that this might be the best it gets - that this is the way we will play forever under Jose - and that - I'm just not cool with, I know be a winner not like Arsenal etc - but there has to be something slightly better than this???

A very troubled supporter

[Laylabelle 9,534]

Least didn't loose.a happier mum and nan on mothers day lol

[Jase 43,479]

I know at this time point of the season, the results are way more important than the performances but my god, that showing against Southampton was excruciating to watch. Almost cried out of despair on several occasions.

1. Why was our pressing as a unit non-existent? Several players were almost just jogging about and then there were players who actually pressed but crucially, the ones behind them didn't follow suit. For instance, when Matic and/or Fabregas went to press, the back 4 didn't even move in unison and instead, we left so much space in between the lines for Southampton to exploit.

Clearly, our slow-poke defenders were afraid of Long's and Mane's pace and if that really was the case, then for crying out loud, speak with the others and tell them not to just go blindly press and leave us exposed. Communicate! Not to mention, we kept on losing out on the second balls by not pressing together, thus unable to put any sustained pressure on them.

2. Why can't our players even make a 5/10-yard pass? Every week it's the same problem and in this game, it was absolutely appalling the number of times we gave away the ball cheaply. Ruined so many attacks!

3. Why did we play so narrow, especially against a side who defended narrow, tight and compact? Saw the image showing the average position of the players and the front 4 along with Matic and Fabregas were totally in the middle. There was no width coming from any of them. If you can't go through them, then go around them. Stretch the play!

4. Can the players actually stop moaning if decisions don't go our way? It's happened so many times it's ridiculous. If the referee doesn't give the foul, don't just stand there and throw your arms in the air, get back and do your work!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I know at this time point of the season, the results are way more important than the performances but my god, that showing against Southampton was excruciating to watch. Almost cried out of despair on several occasions.

1. Why was our pressing as a unit non-existent? Several players were almost just jogging about and then there were players who actually pressed but crucially, the ones behind them didn't follow suit. For instance, when Matic and/or Fabregas went to press, the back 4 didn't even move in unison and instead, we left so much space in between the lines for Southampton to exploit.

Clearly, our slow-poke defenders were afraid of Long's and Mane's pace and that really was the case, then for crying out loud, speak with the others and tell no them not to just go blindly press and leave us exposed. Communicate! Not to mention, we kept on losing out on the second balls by not pressing together, thus unable to put any sustained pressure on them.

2. Why can't our players even make a 5/10-yard pass? Every week it's the same problem and in this game, it was absolutely appalling the number of times we gave away the ball cheaply. Ruined so many attacks!

3. Why did we play so narrow, especially against a side who defended narrow, tight and compact? Saw the image showing the average position of the players and the front 4 along with Matic and Fabregas were totally in the middle. There was no width coming from any of them. If you can't go through them, then go around them. Stretch the play!

4. Can the players actually stop moaning if decisions don't go our way? It's happened so many times it's ridiculous. If the referee doesn't give the foul, don't just stand there and throw your arms in the air, get back and do your work!

1. fatigue. played 120 mins on Wednesday the guys looked emotionally and physically fatigued in both games.

2. Fatigue. When you're running on fumes your technique goes out the window.

3. Its pretty much how we've played all year we lack natural width which is why we brought in Cuadrado. Ivanovic is the only guy who pulls people out wide.

4. I'm sure its mostly frustration.

[Jase 43,479]

1. fatigue. played 120 mins on Wednesday the guys looked emotionally and physically fatigued in both games.

2. Fatigue. When you're running on fumes your technique goes out the window.

3. Its pretty much how we've played all year we lack natural width which is why we brought in Cuadrado. Ivanovic is the only guy who pulls people out wide.

4. I'm sure its mostly frustration.

1. We may have played 120 minutes against PSG in midweek but I'm not using that as an excuse. We had 3 days of rest and the game against Southampton was only our second game in 14 days! Not to mention, we suddenly decided to turn up in the second half. Was that because of fatigue?

2. I take that point but again, not buying the fatigue excuse. Our inability to play the 5/10-yard passes has been happening in every game.

3. Just because we have played that way all season, it doesn't mean we should be playing through the middle all the time. There's such thing called intelligent play. Find different solution to a problem if the initial one isn't working!

4. Frustration? It happens in every game and the players should focus less on moaning about referees (maybe they have been influenced by Mourinho's agenda with referees) and more on making sure we win matches.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

1. We may have played 120 minutes against PSG in midweek but I'm not using that as an excuse. We had 3 days of rest and the game against Southampton was only our second game in 14 days! Not to mention, we suddenly decided to turn up in the second half. Was that because of fatigue?

2. I take that point but again, not buying the fatigue excuse. Our inability to play the 5/10-yard passes has been happening in every game.

3. Just because we have played that way all season, it doesn't mean we should be playing through the middle all the time. There's such thing called intelligent play. Find different solution to a problem if the initial one isn't working!

4. Frustration? It happens in every game and the players should focus less on moaning about referees (maybe they have been influenced by Mourinho's agenda with referees) and more on making we win matches.

1. up to you but having watched them today and against PSG I can deduce we have a tired squad both physically and mentally.

2. If you're not willing to accept fatigue as a reason we haven't been at our best then we clearly just have a shit team. I beg to differ, Willian, who usually passes it 85% was at 78% Oscar who is usually 83% was down to 76% Hazard who is 86% was down to 78% if that's not fatigue then we've invested in the wrong players.

3. It doesn't change the fact we don't have the players who hug the touchline. we essentially have two tens playing on the wing, their natural tendencies will be to come inside. Its just how it is I don't necessarily agree with it.

4. Most fouled team in the Prem... says it all.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

We were absolutely average since turn of the year (bar that Swansea game). We can be lucky we got all these positive results because if you watched us play, we should not win 9 of last 10 games.

I would accept one heavier loss and then a mind click in players and Mou heads and then watch better performances. But no, its like this every game. Passive performances, not to say that our attackers havent clicked any better than at start of season. Fuck me is Mourinho so uncapavble of instructing Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Costa to play team game in attack?

There is one example from today game. Willian has the ball on right side of penalty area. There are three chelsea players around him. NEITHER OF THEM MOVED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WHAT THE FUCK? They were all marked and didnt even move to get in open space, while Willian was just standing there with the ball for a miracle (typical from Willian). No wonder we cant break defences with 10 opponents inside if our players dont even move.

Also, where are the one-two's between our AMs and between wingers and fullbacks? We are absolute shit in that department.

Mourinho will not win CL ever if he will play counter attacks with these players who cant click together and defense based setup who cant keep the lead.

Ooh and another lead thrown away, well done.

I dont know what is it, but if things wont get better by end of next season, I wont be happy even if we win another PL title. To me, enjoying the games with offcourse good results is reason why I watch chelsea. But in 2015 we were shit shit and more shit. Even the games we won, we didnt dominate and in some we didnt even deserve.

[Jase 43,479]

2. If you're not willing to accept fatigue as a reason we haven't been at our best then we clearly just have a shit team. I beg to differ, Willian, who usually passes it 85% was at 78% Oscar who is usually 83% was down to 76% Hazard who is 86% was down to 78% if that's not fatigue then we've invested in the wrong players.

Well, considering we tend to argue about how awful Willian and Oscar can be, maybe we have invested in the wrong players...

3. It doesn't change the fact we don't have the players who hug the touchline. we essentially have two tens playing on the wing, their natural tendencies will be to come inside. Its just how it is I don't necessarily agree with it.

It might be their natural tendency but it's not like they have never attacked on the outside of the fullback before. They have and should look to do that a bit more when we aren't getting joy through the middle. Hazard has done that from time to time on the left wing!

4. Most fouled team in the Prem... says it all.

Convincing.....