closed Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Good to see when Palace kept coming at us in second half we kept defending the box well, kept competing for 50/50s etc although it was a bit less than convincing going forward at times as it has been last few games. Pity to lose Costa and Kante but opens up a really big opportunity for Batshuayi and Cesc/Chalobah. Marcos Alonso had a tough game today but stuck at it, Zaha is no easy opponent and I'm sure he might cope a bit better against Bournemouth, Don't think their wide players are as fast or direct as Palace's are. Regardless 11 wins, 9 clean sheets, Kante and Costa (big loses yeah) get a forced rest on Boxing Day. 

[Diceflix 207]

I think Costa was on his intention to get booked, just so he can get Christmas day-off...

 

Anyway we shouldn't be worried losing Costa and Kante for the next game at Home, the subtitutes are promising...., and boy, i'd love to see Cesc to have more times on the field

[Leif 6,006]

We've been in the right mind to not play Fabergas in our biggest games where we expect to be pressed and not see much of the ball. He's had some great appearances for us lately, and again I say he's very underrated by us, but we shouldn't suddenly say 'Yep, he's a starting player now, automatically in the XI each game.' Not at all. There's a time and place for Fabregas. We need to make more time for him, but he isn't right for us to start every game. I'm sure if he had been starting every single game, we wouldn't have collected 33/33 points. 

[kmk108 1,186]

In regards to Alonso, I wonder if he's been told by Conte to go to the center a little more. My memory of his games this season have been him staying wide and swinging balls in. It seems like he was trying to be like Moses on the left.

[the wes 7,212]

Dave man of the match for me the wee man was everywhere on the pitch top it of with a perfect 👌 assist to costa

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Narrow win, but still 3 pointssss 11th game in the row yeahh

We will definately miss Kante in middle and Costa, but this will be great chance for Bats and Cesc/Nate to show what they got. At least we play at home and we get almost 10 days of rest, so everyone will be fresh. 

Come on Chelsea 

(btw why did you guys remove that smiley with chelsea scarf?)

[Pizy 18,917]

Fabregas coming on changed the game. They had us pinned back for a good 10 minutes and we couldn't hold the ball for longer than a single pass. He came on and was excellent.

Our goal was really not troubled for the entire 90 minutes. 

Very confident in Bats and whoever comes in for Kante next week.

[Diceflix 207]

 

If you know what I mean....

[mccg 1,528]

20 minutes ago, the wes said:

Dave man of the match for me the wee man was everywhere on the pitch top it of with a perfect 👌 assist to costa

Yeah xmas period i'd think about putting Dave to wing back and give Moses a turkey bench sandwich, and as its time of good will i'd give Ivan the right sided back 3 slot lol or maybe ho ho ho

[oxfordblues 299]

i know dave won MOM but i voted Luiz,held it all together at the back and you work it from the back.

 

[Styles 9,790]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

Fabregas coming on changed the game. They had us pinned back for a good 10 minutes and we couldn't hold the ball for longer than a single pass. He came on and was excellent.

Our goal was really not troubled for the entire 90 minutes. 

Very confident in Bats and whoever comes in for Kante next week.

Chalobah

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

We're on an incredible run now but i'm starting to get concerned about some of our recent performances. I don't think it's sustainable. The quality of our play has gone down considerably since the international break. I'll like to see Conte give Fabregas a chance, even after the Bournemouth game. 

Alonso, Matic, Kante, Costa. We seriously lack some technical quality in this side (in comparison to many other top European sides) and our wins are becoming more of a war of attrition than us actually playing well. Maybe the run is playing on the players' minds and they're just doing whatever it takes to get a result. Maybe some dropped points somewhere will wake us up. Not that I wish for that but we aren't playing well in my opinion. 

[Pizy 18,917]

6 minutes ago, Styles said:

Chalobah

Not Cesc?

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

Just popped out into the garden with a can of beer when all of a sudden the ball that Townsend took the free kick with came hurtling down and knocked the beer right out of my hand,

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

1 hour ago, Pizy said:

Fabregas coming on changed the game. They had us pinned back for a good 10 minutes and we couldn't hold the ball for longer than a single pass. He came on and was excellent.

Our goal was really not troubled for the entire 90 minutes. 

Very confident in Bats and whoever comes in for Kante next week.

The Matic / Kante midfield tandem is looking less impressive by the day. The technique of some of our players and our inability to dictate the tempo of games is shocking in comparison to other European sides. I watched the Dortmund vs Hoffenheim game the other day and both teams were miles ahead of us in possession. No reason why trash like Palace should be dominating us. 

 I admit I severly overestimated the ability of Matic. If you only have a dozen good games in you a season, you're not a very good player.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

We're on an incredible run now but i'm starting to get concerned about some of our recent performances. I don't think it's sustainable. The quality of our play has gone down considerably since the international break. I'll like to see Conte give Fabregas a chance, even after the Bournemouth game. 

Alonso, Matic, Kante, Costa. We seriously lack some technical quality in this side (in comparison to many other top European sides) and our wins are becoming more of a war of attrition than us actually playing well. Maybe the run is playing on the players' minds and they're just doing whatever it takes to get a result. Maybe some dropped points somewhere will wake us up. Not that I wish for that but we aren't playing well in my opinion. 

[Starman60 1,343]

This was a superb win today against a dogged Palace side. Costa doesn't get a sniff for most of the game but one chance and one  goal. Fucking awesome !!!!!!! Benteke was in Dave's pocket all day long and Townsend should be playing American Football as a kicker!!!

I have to say I am bloody loving this under Conte. His touchline antics are infectious and he really has transformed our fortunes. And more importantly, his post match press conferences reflect more positively on our club. Too long have we been a top side and been hated and disrespected. He has not only turned the team fortunes around, but the club doesn't draw heat from his comments or actions, like Jose did. A truly inspired appointment in my opinion.Long may he reign and long may it continue.

[Starman60 1,343]

6 minutes ago, Iggy Doonican said:

Just popped out into the garden with a can of beer when all of a sudden the ball that Townsend took the free kick with came hurtling down and knocked the beer right out of my hand,

So  that's you house beside Gatwick Airport.....Nice

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

2 minutes ago, Starman60 said:

So  that's you house beside Gatwick Airport.....Nice

No Heathrow !

[Styles 9,790]

13 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Not Cesc?

Matic + Cesc = car crash