closed Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Cesc has to start from now on. Matic/Kante have been figured out.

[Igi26 346]

15 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

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. 

It's not that quality has gone down much but our opposition is more motivated. It's very hard in any sport to win 11 in a row so we should all be happy.

[Cosmin 2,484]

I don't think we're shaky at all. Indeed, it is a bit risky to always protect these 1-0 results, but to be honest, the opponents never seemed to be able to make a serious threat after we scored. Indeed, Sunderland were very close to score an equaliser, but that clearly came out of nowhere. Our points were almost never in danger after scoring against them, West Brom and Palace. The opponents do not create chances. That's why even one goal is enough. 

And let's face it, it's getting harder and harder to score too much against these small teams, as the managers try to block Hazard, Costa, Pedro, Willian and so on. They are fouled, they have almost always two men near them. It's hard to score too many goals under these circumstances, but we compensate by our almost flawless defending. I think being so precise defensively is way more harder than scoring a shitload of goals. Just look at what happened to Liverpool at Bournemouth. 

It's fantastic that we can achieve points week after week, because when we meet our main opponents, the big teams, they will be forced to come at us and they will expose themselves. 

 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

1 minute ago, Igi26 said:

It's not that quality has gone down much but our opposition is more motivated. It's very hard in any sport to win 11 in a row so we should all be happy.

I'm not unhappy, but I can't say I'm deriving the same amount of joy from the matches, only the results and the bragging rights here in the UK. 

The quality has obviously gone down. Matic isn't playing anywhere near as well and we aren't moving the ball well. 

[Igi26 346]

Just now, MrExcalibur100 said:

I'm not unhappy, but I can't say I'm deriving the same amount of joy from the matches, only the results and the bragging rights here in the UK. 

The quality has obviously gone down. Matic isn't playing anywhere near as well and we aren't moving the ball well. 

Opposition is closing passing lanes, defending with 10 guys, we created chances and could score two more. Every next game when we win, more pressure on our players. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Just now, Cosmin said:

I don't think we're shaky at all. Indeed, it is a bit risky to always protect these 1-0 results, but to be honest, the opponents never seemed to be able to make a serious threat after we scored. Indeed, Sunderland were very close to score an equaliser, but that clearly came out of nowhere. Our points were almost never in danger after scoring against them, West Brom and Palace. The opponents do not create chances. That's why even one goal is enough. 

And let's face it, it's getting harder and harder to score too much against these small teams, as the managers try to block Hazard, Costa, Pedro, Willian and so on. They are fouled, they have almost always two men near them. It's hard to score too many goals under these circumstances, but we compensate by our almost flawless defending. I think being so precise defensively is way more harder than scoring a shitload of goals. Just look at what happened to Liverpool at Bournemouth. 

My belief is that it's gonna be easier for us to express ourselves against bigger teams. It's fantastic that we are achieve points week after week, because when we meet these big teams, they will be forced to come at us and they will expose themselves. 

 

I think we're becoming overly concerned with maintaining this winning streak and it's making us play less freely than we can. 

As for managers trying to block the players you mentioned. Wait, haven't smaller teams always played defensively against us? It's standard football. We had no problems with Everton and Leiciester. 

Why do you think we can express ourselves against bigger teams? Maybe a month ago, but not at the level we're playing at. City battered us and we couldn't express ourselves. Same with Spurs. 

Let's just admit we're not playing as well anymore. 

[Cosmin 2,484]

@MrExcalibur100 - I don't think that the quality went down. It is still there. It's just that the circumstances changed. We are not playing against machines, we are playing against humans. Humans who are able to adapt and to learn from others' mistakes. Also, our players get tired, they get injured, it's hard to be constantly fresh. Better times will come in terms of entertainment, but honestly, this is better than anyone ever expected from us this season. 

Everton never defended with 10 men. Leicester either. You don't seem to take into consideration the fatigue. We had plenty of entertainment and we will have some more, but for now it's essential to keep winning. Of course it's about mantaining the streak. Why wouldn't it be? 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

1 minute ago, Igi26 said:

Opposition is closing passing lanes, defending with 10 guys, we created chances and could score two more. Every next game when we win, more pressure on our players. 

Standard. Always. Season after season. The lesser team plays very defensively, against the better, more expensively assembled team. What's the novelty here I'm missing? The reason it seems teams are "defending" better against us is because we aren't playing anywhere near as well since the international break. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Just now, Cosmin said:

@MrExcalibur100 - I don't think that the quality went down. It is still there. It's just that the circumstances changed. We are not playing against machines, we are playing against humans. Humans who are able to adapt and to learn from others' mistakes. Also, our players get tired, they get injured, it's hard to be constantly fresh. Better times will come in terms of entertainment, but honestly, this is better than anyone ever expected from us this season. 

I agree. Don't think for a second this is a moan. It's only stating the obvious we aren't playing as well than say, a month ago.

I think Fabregas will eventually end up gaining a spot back in the first XI. The problem I see is we have no control of the midfield. Obviously Conte sees it to. Palace dominating us is kinda sad to watch. 

[Beigl 1,387]

As our quality of performances has gone down a little bit, we still dominate games or aren't even in danger of conceding a goal or two.
Now we have to sit back and look what City and Arsenal do tomorrow. I think a draw would do us nicely, as we would be 8 points clear on both of them.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

36 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

I agree. Don't think for a second this is a moan. It's only stating the obvious we aren't playing as well than say, a month ago.

I think Fabregas will eventually end up gaining a spot back in the first XI. The problem I see is we have no control of the midfield. Obviously Conte sees it to. Palace dominating us is kinda sad to watch. 

Think i had a conversation with you about the lack of quality passers in our back 3 and 2 man midfield about a month ago.

Teams have simply figured that out aswell. They're sitting extremely deep and are focusing their attention on our front 3 and 2 wingbacks and allowing Cahill, Azpi, Kante and Matic time on the ball.

You basically want what Azpi did for our goal today. Push forward into space. Force them to deal with you and if they don't, punish them and deliver that final ball.

 Fabregas should indeed be starting ( against the weaker teams) but it's frustrating that we again find ourselves having to pick between Matic and Fabregas. They both offers us something extra on one side of the pitch but they weaken us on the other end.

In the summer we really need to be looking for a playmaker that can spray those passes while still being able to defend properly.

 

[Special Juan 27,602]

I'd rather focus on the fact that was another fucking massive win....Seriously what form we are in.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

You on crack folks? It's bloody 11 on the trot and you still moaning about this and that? Third game in the space of only six days of course it was not going to be an easy game. We're on course to finish the year with 13 wins in a row can't believe there is some of you trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

They said we should be lucky if we finish top 4 come May, they said three at the back is never going to work in England, they said David Luiz is a clown and Marcos Alonso a Sunderland reject, they said Conte is going to get the sack by the end of the season. Here we are top of the league, nine points clear with a passionate manager in charge and a happy squad. Great times to be a Chelsea fan    

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Just now, petre.ispirescu said:

You on crack folks? It's bloody 11 on the trot and you still moaning about this and that? Third game in the space of only six days of course it was not going to be an easy game. We're on course to finish the year with 13 wins in a row can't believe there is some of you trying to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

They said we should be lucky if we finish top 4 come May, they said three at the back is never going to work in England, they said David Luiz is a clown and Marcos Alonso a Sunderland reject, they said Conte is going to get the sack by the end of the season. Here we are top of the league, nine points clear with a passionate manager in charge and a happy squad. Great times to be a Chelsea fan    

Always think on how to improve.

[11Drogba 2,000]

4 minutes ago, petre.ispirescu said:

You on crack folks? It's bloody 11 on the trot and you still moaning about this and that?

More like estrogen pills than crack.

[quickpassnmove 924]

Good to win, first half made me think that we could lose for a few moments, but CP didn't generate shots on goal. Very nice match from Alonso BTW. Azpi, MotM for me.

Time for those transfers in. We are looking weaker and it's NOT because of the schedule; it's because we don't do enough with build-up play (same old Chelsea).  We're still just a counterattacking side that relies heavily upon Diego and Eden. We need more than that.

If we get another CM in the lineup with Kante, we can play Cesc a little more as a third CM, which I think we should do while we still have him.

Looks like that streak is ready to end, but then again, Chalobah is surely getting a start next game. No way in hell it's Matic and Fabregas (throw Ivanovic in for good measure???).

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

6 minutes ago, Blue Colored Sky said:

Always think on how to improve.

Pretty sure we have a manager in charge that says this word - "improve" - in almost all of his interviews so I think it's safe to say we're in good hands. 

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

4 minutes ago, petre.ispirescu said:

Pretty sure we have a manager in charge that says this word - "improve" - in almost all of his interviews so I think it's safe to say we're in good hands. 

Yes, so why you bemoans that fans do the same and figure out how to improve?