closed Man United 2-0 Chelsea

[Special Juan 28,141]

1 hour ago, cosmicway said:

The way Diego Costa gets the stick in this thread is as if he has already left Chelsea and he is in China with a little red Mao book.
First of all this was definitely the wrong sort of match to judge him. Away, against a strong opponent who had most of the possession. Against Crystal Palace maybe.
Diego's style is this: Sleep most of the day then bite like a snake. If he stays with us for twenty years and if he becomes the league's top scorer you won't see anything else.
If we use Batshuayi now is it going to work ? He was last seen against West Ham for the capital cup where he was given a great chance but he skied it with his shin. Then some cameo appearances.
I think it's the time for the present squad to be encouraged to get their act together and play like lions in the next six matches.

There is real justification as to why he's getting stick though. Since China talk he's been abysmal, and as for judging him in this game that's incorrect as he's been judged all season because he's our main striker. We seem to want to judge him top quality but then cover him in cotton wool and use excuses for him when he's poor. I think the lot of them bar Kante were truly shite on Sunday, and nobody can tell me that Costa in this game was deserving of an excuse, he was simply back to the old Costa where he wanted to be the bullied one and cover for the awful deficiencies he has, and has had for months.

[It's too big 625]

It shows how critical having Courtois is. Alonso missing was crucial too, but Begovic isn't on the same level as Tibo, and Tibo commands the box and organises the defence well. I wonder how Utd would have adapted if they had lost De Gea and similar player to Alonso before the game. When you've set out all week to prepare with the same team, then on matchday two of your first teamers suddenly need to be replaced, it's not easy to get around. I am not surprised Conte was a little lost in the first half of the game, he wasn't able to prep. No one could have predicted that, otherwise Ake would have travelled. 

[cosmicway 1,333]

1 hour ago, Special Juan said:

There is real justification as to why he's getting stick though. Since China talk he's been abysmal, and as for judging him in this game that's incorrect as he's been judged all season because he's our main striker. We seem to want to judge him top quality but then cover him in cotton wool and use excuses for him when he's poor. I think the lot of them bar Kante were truly shite on Sunday, and nobody can tell me that Costa in this game was deserving of an excuse, he was simply back to the old Costa where he wanted to be the bullied one and cover for the awful deficiencies he has, and has had for months.

Diego is not a ball player. He 'll never be. Also seeing that he is 29 he's got two-three more good years. Players with his style seldom go beyond 31-32. I think He needs to concentrate and score us some goals.
The most useless ever of this type was Dimitriadis (AEK Athens 90s). Could only kick the ball with his shin. But fast as a bullet inside the area, won the title of top scorer for 3 consecutive years (= three Toyota sports cars). The one of the same type who is a wee bit of a ball player is Mitroglou (Olympiakos - Benfica).

[Special Juan 28,141]

2 minutes ago, cosmicway said:

Diego is not a ball player. He 'll never be. Also seeing that he is 29 he's got two-three more good years. Players with his style seldom go beyond 31-32. I think He needs to concentrate and score us some goals.
The most useless ever of this type was Dimitriadis (AEK Athens 90s). Could only kick the ball with his shin. But fast as a bullet inside the area, won the title of top scorer for 3 consecutive years (= three Toyota sports cars). The one of the same type who is a wee bit of a ball player is Mitroglou (Olympiakos - Benfica).

I think it's dead simple with Costa, he is purely a fox in the box because outside of it he's like a Hedgehog on a motorway. The best players with small deficiencies cover their weakness by being a little bit more dynamic, Costa cannot be dynamic because for me he has one string to his bow, that's been in the area and that's his only threat, he's not even good in the air so even that lets him down in the box.

[cosmicway 1,333]

9 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

I think it's dead simple with Costa, he is purely a fox in the box because outside of it he's like a Hedgehog on a motorway. The best players with small deficiencies cover their weakness by being a little bit more dynamic, Costa cannot be dynamic because for me he has one string to his bow, that's been in the area and that's his only threat, he's not even good in the air so even that lets him down in the box.

He did score with the head many times.
The question is to do it again between now and June. China is expecting.

[manpe 10,861]

22 minutes ago, cosmicway said:

He did score with the head many times.
The question is to do it again between now and June. China is expecting.

Goals49

Goals Per Match0.58

Goals With Header4

[Jase 43,479]

4 hours ago, coolhead23 said:

 

Brilliant analysis on the United - Chelsea game on MNF ... Great comparison by Neville on Hazard and Messi. Worth a watch.  

Felt painful watching that but good analysis. If Luiz is seriously carrying an injury, then Conte has to maybe think about dropping him. It's bad enough we're playing with a liability upfront. We don't need another one at the back. Right now, we can't keep clean sheets and we're finding goals a bit hard to come by.

[cosmicway 1,333]

4 hours ago, manpe said:

Goals49

Goals Per Match0.58

Goals With Header4

How many did we score with headers though ?

[manpe 10,861]

42 minutes ago, cosmicway said:

How many did we score with headers though ?

The whole team in this season? I don't know, not a lot. One by Diego that I know, and maybe a few by GC from corners but other than that I don't recall.

[Jase 43,479]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/18/chelsea-partly-blame-virus-for-off-colour-display-against-manchester-united

[Kieran. 6,317]

2 hours ago, manpe said:

The whole team in this season? I don't know, not a lot. One by Diego that I know, and maybe a few by GC from corners but other than that I don't recall.

That controversial header from Marcos against Arsenal too

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, manpe said:

The whole team in this season? I don't know, not a lot. One by Diego that I know, and maybe a few by GC from corners but other than that I don't recall.

 

5 minutes ago, Kieran. said:

That controversial header from Marcos against Arsenal too

Pedro at Leicester and Wolves.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Costa must have had that virus since January then.

[cosmicway 1,333]

14 hours ago, Jason said:

 

Pedro at Leicester and Wolves.

There used to be log-keepers and goals compendium videos round here.
I don't think our play-makers aim for peoples heads all that much, under Conte system.
Also the chance of a corner kick resulting in a goal is small in the premier.

[the wes 7,212]

19 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Costa must have had that virus since January then.

He has the Chinese virus Costa caught it off oscar