Chelsea 2-3 Real Madrid

[Jase 43,479]

1. Although we lost out narrowly in the end, it was still an embarrassing loss considering Real Madrid played their B/C/D team and only their second pre-season match.

2. We might have gotten new optimism from having brought in a new manager and 2 decent signings, it still can't hide the fact that we still have some rubbish players and a poor defence. We can buy all the best players there is in attack and midfield but if we don't sort that back 4 out, we won't get anywhere. It's almost a joke now that we're about to enter the 4th/5th season playing with the same back 4 that everyone can see there's obvious problems with it.

3. Conte is hell bent on playing the 4-2-4, isn't he? I'm all for new formation being played, even if I'm not liking this new one, but it's somewhat concerning that we haven't really tried out different formations so far.

4. Just as we are often told not to read too much into pre-season results and performances, can we even take positives from some of the players' display today? I mean, they played against a Real Madrid B/C/D side after all.

[Artandur 939]

4 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

No.

I guess that's why it's called irony 

[quickpassnmove 924]

As Blue-in-Me-Veins says above, Chelsea don't have enough athletic ability in CM to keep up with top clubs abroad, NOR MID-TABLE AND TOP TEAMS IN THE PREM.

If we were starting the season now, Kante should be paired with Chalobah/Fabregas and one of our FBs has no experience at the top level. 

As others have said about the upcoming season, it doesn't look hopeful unless Chelsea buy a minimum of FOUR MORE PLAYERS: CM, FB, CB

 

The link-up play between CM and the attackers should improve, but I don't see the side going far without major improvement in the back line and CM. The match today was  a lot of ineptitude from the two youngsters up top too.

Or, as AVB has said... Yes, I agreed with AVB on Chelsea seasons ago.

 

Get your head outta your ass, CFC. Ambitious, or not?

[LAM09 6,865]

You're not impressed by Chalobah ?

Did ok, but he was in a midfield that outplayed by a second string RM.

[Chelsea Buzz 487]

Well, once again just a friendly but.....

Shambolic first half after a nice opening 10 minutes. You can see Conte really wants to play a 4-5-1 and then counter quickly and immediately.

it is clear some dead wood must go: Oscar, Mikel, Begovic, Ivanovic. RLC was lost before now non existent. Thought Striker might help. Nope. Experiment can end now.

The Good: really like Batsguayi. Physical, fast and strong with the ball. Terrific addition. Chelobah shows potential. Hazard looked trimmer and quicker, glad to see him get action. Traore is quick and gained some weight. I like this kid. Hate to say it, but thought Cuadrado showed skill (other than falling down) getting past his man and keeping possession down the wing. Probably better at getting past the defender than Willian and quicker. Love Willian though.

The Better: Kante will improve midfield a lot. Him and Matic may partner well. Cesc will have to move up the pitch and play in the middle behind Costa, etc.

The Needs: gotta have Koulibaly and hope he is as good as advertised. Need one more striker and would love to find a quality RB. A Begovic replacement is a must for a decent back up keeper.

Team is still trying to adjust to Conte style and strategy. Better and more implemented this match. It's coming, when the right players on the pitch of course.

Even with the awful first half, I found some positives. Gotta keep improving. I see things I like. Gotta shore up the back certainly. Conte will sort it out.

Come on you Chelsea!!

[OhForAGreavsie 5,904]

12 minutes ago, nono said:

I really hope that we are going to soon start clearing the deadwood on this team.

 

I just looked him up as I didn't know the name. Yes it was him. I was surprised to find that the twat actually played for us for 8 years ! Really poor. He is usually very fair but he was extremely critical imo. Should have at least said something positive about Chalobah who gave an amazing performance.

I saw his debut. Being old does that to you.

Graig is not usually fair, he is usually extremely critical. That is something I don't like but can accept. He is often under-prepared however because he hasn't done his homework and that is unforgiveable.

[nono 791]

2 minutes ago, Jason said:

1. Although we lost out narrowly in the end, it was still an embarrassing loss considering Real Madrid played their B/C/D team and only their second pre-season match.

2. We might have gotten new optimism from having brought in a new manager and 2 decent signings, it still can't hide the fact that we still have some rubbish players and a poor defence. We can buy all the best players there is in attack and midfield but if we don't sort that back 4 out, we won't get anywhere. It's almost a joke now that we're about to enter the 4th/5th season playing with the same back 4 that everyone can see there's obvious problems with it.

3. Conte is hell bent on playing the 4-2-4, isn't he? I'm all for new formation being played, even if I'm not liking this new one, but it's somewhat concerning that we haven't really tried out different formations so far.

4. Just as we are often told not to read too much into pre-season results and performances, can we even take positives from some of the players' display today? I mean, they played against a Real Madrid B/C/D side after all.

CB should have been top priority this season but we've signed a new striker and a midfielder before doing anything for CB. At this point I hope we just pay Roma/Valencia/Napoli whatever they want. Losing a couple million pounds is way better than how much we'll suffer if we go into the season without a new defender. Terry and Cahill are both way past it.

[Unionjack 7,531]

8 minutes ago, Pizy said:

We need 3 more signings. Another forward, a CB, and a midfielder.

What I wouldn't give to ship Oscar and make another play for Nainggolan. Or go pay up and get Joao Mario.

So we dont need a FB too then?

Id swap Maticv and Oscar for him

[Pizy 18,538]

8 minutes ago, Jason said:

1. Although we lost out narrowly in the end, it was still an embarrassing loss considering Real Madrid played their B/C/D team and only their second pre-season match.

2. We might have gotten new optimism from having brought in a new manager and 2 decent signings, it still can't hide the fact that we still have some rubbish players and a poor defence. We can buy all the best players there is in attack and midfield but if we don't sort that back 4 out, we won't get anywhere. It's almost a joke now that we're about to enter the 4th/5th season playing with the same back 4 that everyone can see there's obvious problems with it.

3. Conte is hell bent on playing the 4-2-4, isn't he? I'm all for new formation being played, even if I'm not liking this new one, but it's somewhat concerning that we haven't really tried out different formations so far.

4. Just as we are often told not to read too much into pre-season results and performances, can we even take positives from some of the players' display today? I mean, they played against a Real Madrid B/C/D side after all.

#2 is the most concerning and frustrating. We've known for how long that new defensive players are needed? A year? 

How is it possible that we haven't signed a bloody CB yet? It's the priority position for us and we haven't signed any. It's as if we're pulling an Arsenal and simply refusing to spend the necessary money. 

 

[nono 791]

2 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

I saw his debut. Being old does that to you.

Graig is not usually fair, he is usually extremely critical. That is something I don't like but can accept. He is often under-prepared however because he hasn't done his homework and that is unforgiveable.

Hazard made one misjudged pass as soon as he came on and he said something along the lines of "that's the Hazard of last season". When he scored the goals they didn't give him any credit and blamed the keeper for both goals. If it was Ronaldo he'd be down on the field himself to fellate him. 

Didn't give Chalobah the credit for his amazing performance.

Lied about Costa having a bad attitude and a problem with Conte which was why he wasn't playing when the club have made it clear he has a back injury.

Said Pedro did nothing all game which was fair enough.

[Fulham Broadway 17,045]

Be prepared for mid table mediocrity this season.

Lots of melodramatic comments and 'Conte is a useless cunt' type posts in TC match threads

[Polo7 3,496]

2 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Be prepared for mid table mediocrity this season.

Lots of melodramatic comments and 'Conte is a useless cunt' type posts in TC match threads

Whats wrong? Who hurt you?

[Fulham Broadway 17,045]

1 minute ago, Polo7 said:

Whats wrong? Who hurt you?

Then Conte will be sacked and it starts again

[Fulham Broadway 17,045]

New manager will come in around January....

Ivanovich and Oscar still playing...

[Pizy 18,538]

16 minutes ago, Unionjack said:

So we dont need a FB too then?

Id swap Maticv and Oscar for him

We do, but we aren't even being loosely linked with any. We'll be seeing a lot of Ivanovic there sadly.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

Very impressed with Chalobah, Batshuayi, Cuadrado and Hazard as a shadow striker (Griezmann role).

Defence needs to be looked at if we want to be challenging for the title this season. A ball playing centre back is a must IMO. Real Madrid made the difference in the 1st half by playing Varane and Nacho way over the half line and Carvajal and Marcelo as wingers basically, whereas Chelsea's defence stood clueless around our 16 yard box.

This is how I see our ideal line-up once Zouma is back:

 

                                             Willian Diego Costa/Batshuayi Hazard Cuadrado

                                                           Kante Cesc/Matic/Chalobah

                                             New LB New ball playing CB Zouma Azpilicueta

                                                                       Courtois

 

* Courtois, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Kante, Willian, Hazard, Cuadrado definite starters.

 

As much as admiration I have for Terry, Ivanovic and Cahill, there is no way any manager in this world would make a team play a high line and a high intensity game with them on the pitch. 

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

I thought we were bad until I saw Bayern is absolutely slaughtering Inter.

[Essien19 1,415]

What's up with Miazga? Bought him but is never given a fair chance, don't know why...

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