closed Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona

[Special Juan 27,439]

Ray Wilkins mouthing off on Talksport this morning saying the atmosphere was rubbish and we weren't much better.

[Antonio8 736]

two posts, a great goal and a mistake = 1-1 

that's football

 

[cosmicway 1,333]

Tibot will be asked to pay for the price of a ticket.
At Camp Nou we pick up where we left.
Conte's system described here as  "lau - lau emeis oi vlachoi" -someone who knows Greek translate this please in proper English- I think might just work.

[Jase 43,479]

3 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Ray Wilkins mouthing off on Talksport this morning saying the atmosphere was rubbish and we weren't much better.

Does anyone even take Wilkins seriously? Not only him though. Those idiotic pundits on ESPN FC spent a good 10 minutes moaning about Conte's decision to go with the false 9. Steve Nicol said we were lucky that it worked against Barcelona and Craig Burley even said Pedro was ineffective! Not one word about the performance from us or even Barcelona's pathetic showing.

[Special Juan 27,439]

1 minute ago, Jason said:

Does anyone even take Wilkins seriously? Not only him though. Those idiotic pundits on ESPN FC spent a good 10 minutes moaning about Conte's decision to go with the false 9. Steve Nicol said we were lucky that it worked against Barcelona and Craig Burley even said Pedro was ineffective! Not one word about the performance from us or even Barcelona's pathetic showing.

But this is what I was saying earlier. Last night was the first time in a long time I hadn't watched a Chelsea match, to a point I saw no highlights so I couldn't even give an opinion against what they were saying.

The gulf in comparisons from one pundit to the other was confusingly massive and really hard to understand just how exactly we played. It really shouldn't be that hard.

[robsblubot 3,528]

8 hours ago, bigbluewillie said:

Fuck mate.

Yeah i was critical of this home leg, but warmed to the match, i thought we were really good, and desperately unlucky not to win the game.

What about a bit more positive approach from you, never say never bud, we are CFC it aint over til the fat lady sings, if we go there with your defeatist attitude then we are truly done for.

KTBFFH

First, I am not playing, so however I might feel is very unlikely to affect the outcome of the game. 

Second, 1x1 in the first leg at home against strong opposition is never ever a good result. I find it intriguing that folks here are so positive.

Of course we have a chance, but it's just not a very good one.

BTW, it's NOT bad luck when you play zero strikers, and as a result, have a harder time scoring goals...

[DYC. 7,542]

Chels defended well but were stale offensively. Yes, certain players made some nice runs with the ball, and we also some saw some nice flicks here and there, but it ended up in nothing. Mostly sideway passes when the team actually enjoyed some possession and time on the ball in attacking third. The ability to stretch their defence and deliver the final pass was lacking.

Barca pushed Chels all the way back so whenever the ball was regained, the forwards had way too much to do to cause any real danger. Did Ter Stegen even make a save? Willian's right foot was redhot but players usually don't score hattricks with three difficult shots. Of course he was unlucky to hit the post twice.

Conte not fielding a striker played into this. No target to aim for, no one keeping the defence busy with runs and physical tussles, not one player constantly looking to get into dangerous positions.

The defending was good. Pressing was good at times and concentration levels were very good (easier when you defend in numbers and always enjoy cover of course). Barca didn't look like scoring after 20-25 min. Then Christensen happened. Nonchalance again. Stupid pass.

Think Chels did well but I feel a genuine opportunity was missed here. Barca displayed vulnerability and Conte failed to react. How did he not bring on a striker? I was waiting for a Morata half time sub. The moment was there to sacrifice a bit of defensive solidity and add firepower. A goalscorer.

1-1 is a tough score, not gonna lie. Camp Nou is a different story and you know Barca will score. Need to limit them to a single goal and find another way to score. Don't think Willian will be able to replicate those level of shots again. Odds aren't favourable but another 1-1 is possible. Maybe beat them on pens. A win there is just so unlikely.

[Tomo 21,733]

5 minutes ago, DYC. said:

Chels defended well but were stale offensively. Yes, certain players made some nice runs with the ball, and we also some saw some nice flicks here and there, but it ended up in nothing. Mostly sideway passes when actually enjoyed some possession and time on the ball in attacking third. The ability to stretch the defence and final pass was lacking.

Barca pushed Chels all the way back so whenever the ball was regained, the forwards had way too much to do to cause any real danger. Did Ter Stegen even make a save? Willian's right foot was hot but players usually don't score hattricks with three difficult shots. Of course he was unlucky to hit the post twice.

Conte not fielding a striker played into this. No target to aim for, no one keeping the defence busy with runs and physical tussles, not one player constantly looking to get into dangerous positions.

The defending was good. Pressing was good at times and concentration levels were very good (easier when you defend in numbers and always enjoy cover of course). Barca didn't look like scoring after 20-25 min. Then Christensen happened. Nonchalance again. Stupid pass.

Think Chels did well but I feel a genuine opportunity was missed here. Barca displayed vulnerability and Conte failed to react. How did he not bring on a striker? I was waiting for a Morata half time sub. The moment was there to sacrifice a bit of defensive solidity and add firepower. A goalscorer.

1-1 is a tough score, not gonna lie. Camp Nou is different story and you know Barca will score. Need to limit them to a single goal and find another way to score. Don't think Willian will be able to replicate those level of shots again. Odds aren't favourable but another 1-1 is possible. Maybe beat them on pens. A win there is just so unlikely.

If it goes to pens, given Caballero's record, do we pull a LVG and switch the keepers?

[DYC. 7,542]

1 minute ago, Tomo said:

If it goes to pens, given Caballero's record, do we pull a LVG and switch the keepers?

That would make amazing television.

[Fulham Broadway 16,915]

Away leg sold out now - should be a great night

[Jase 43,479]

35 minutes ago, DYC. said:

That would make amazing television.

 

37 minutes ago, Tomo said:

If it goes to pens, given Caballero's record, do we pull a LVG and switch the keepers?

Should do that as a F U to Courtois for not signing a new contract.

[Fernando 6,483]

6 hours ago, Jason said:

Does anyone even take Wilkins seriously? Not only him though. Those idiotic pundits on ESPN FC spent a good 10 minutes moaning about Conte's decision to go with the false 9. Steve Nicol said we were lucky that it worked against Barcelona and Craig Burley even said Pedro was ineffective! Not one word about the performance from us or even Barcelona's pathetic showing.

I think they are right we are lucky. That formation is hot and cold. 

If they can produce something similar or better at the Camp Nou then you can say something. 

Otherwise it was another Atletico performance where even Baka was amazing! 

[Tomo 21,733]

34 minutes ago, Fernando said:

I think they are right we are lucky. That formation is hot and cold. 

If they can produce something similar or better at the Camp Nou then you can say something. 

Otherwise it was another Atletico performance where even Baka was amazing! 

Baka was very good upto and including that game, whats happened since with him is truly bizarre. 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Perfect tactical game, its just shame we did that mistake for the Messi goal.

Again, we will be big underdogs at Camp Nou, but if we put up the same desire and mentality like yesterday, it will give Barca a run. 

We have to score, but more space will be perfect for barca. It will be tough game and we will have to take every chance we make. 

The good thing we have is Barca has no idea how will we lineup. Striker or false 9? 3 or 2 in midfield? That could make Barca bit confused at the back, but they will play their game and keep possesion/attack. We will have to be at our best to advantage. Clinical.

[communicate 2,703]

1 hour ago, BlueLyon said:

 

We have to score, but more space will be perfect for barca. It will be tough game and we will have to take every chance we make. 

 

For me it is important not to have attacking mentality. It sounds weird because we have to score but we have to be patient because Barca will give you a chance.

If you play against Barca and start giving space especially to Messi, more times than not you will get punished. 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

53 minutes ago, communicate said:

For me it is important not to have attacking mentality. It sounds weird because we have to score but we have to be patient because Barca will give you a chance.

If you play against Barca and start giving space especially to Messi, more times than not you will get punished. 

But letting them attack all the time at campnou wont be good idea. If we concede, thats almost game over. 

Obviously we must not go all out attack, but when we are in possesion, we need to keep the ball and attack them, not just hoof and pray. The last thing we want is give barca chance to attack us all night. 

I know we will have about 30-40 percent of the ball,  but we have to show determination every time we have it. Not just hoof and pray, that way we will only win if we have extreme luck infront of goal and barca bad day in attack

[cosmicway 1,333]

The critics don't know football.
First Barcelona have been a regular visitor to the British isles the last 3-4 years and they were having a ball against the likes of Arsenal-MU-City.
In our last but one match at the Bridge in 2012 we were outplayed conclusively. True we won 1-0 and in the return leg we held on to it thanks to the heroics from Czech-Didier-Torres, but in that 1-0 win they lost a trainload of chances and everybody described it as a weird result.
In contrast Antonio devised the perfect system to neutralize Barca and evidently he could n't make it so we had possession as well !
Tibot as I said should be asked to pay for watching the match for free but we were betrayed by one single instance.
I still can't get over it because we could be through to the stage of eight with mathematical certainty.
Now it's not over and in the remaining 90 minutes Barcelona will have to fight real hard to beat us - if they do.
I believe they have an advantage but not a big one.

[communicate 2,703]

44 minutes ago, BlueLyon said:

But letting them attack all the time at campnou wont be good idea. If we concede, thats almost game over. 

Obviously we must not go all out attack, but when we are in possesion, we need to keep the ball and attack them, not just hoof and pray. The last thing we want is give barca chance to attack us all night. 

I know we will have about 30-40 percent of the ball,  but we have to show determination every time we have it. Not just hoof and pray, that way we will only win if we have extreme luck infront of goal and barca bad day in attack

I am not talking about defending for 90 minutes, but to be patient.  Attack early and in spurt otherwise be conservative.

If we are an offensive juggernaut like Pool or City who can blitz team at will then I probably will try my luck against this poor Barca team.