closed Chelsea 0-2 Man City

[OhForAGreavsie 6,060]

1 hour ago, !Hazard! said:

In Mourinho's case it's the chef that's rotten

Unless Sari gets to Waitrose for a bit of shopping over the next four days, he'd better set up with 5 eggs at the back or we are going to struggle badly. Our full backs are not going to help provide the right kind of attacking platform in a flat four, and we are not getting the width from anywhere else.

[Laylabelle 9,534]

3 hours ago, the wes said:

the thing is our board don't have patience tho 

Hopefully this time be different.. Not holding onto that though

[OhForAGreavsie 6,060]

1 hour ago, Azpinator said:

It's not a small club narrative. It's about a team in its first month of reforming its identity. In my opinion, you just cannot seriously expect that team to challenge a well-oiled machine like Pep's.

There's a headline on the BBC football page asking why is it so hard to defend the Premier League title. I have not read the article, mainly because I believe I know the answer. The answer is that it is not hard, it's simply that the last several Champions have not been great teams. United's last hurrah, City's side limping home when we and Liverpool slipped up late in the season, ourselves twice and Leicester. This City side is different; it is a good team and will almost certainly defend the title. They are too good for us. No sense beating ourselves up. We just have to get down to work and focus on trying to get closer to them. 

[mccg 1,528]

Rome wasn't built in a day that old chestnut saying springs to mind with this Sarri system/team ?! Yikes

[mccg 1,528]

10 minutes ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

Unless Sari gets to Waitrose for a bit of shopping over the next four days, he'd better set up with 5 eggs at the back or we are going to struggle badly. Our full backs are not going to help provide the right kind of attacking platform in a flat four, and we are not getting the width from anywhere else.

Maybe "sari" will get himself a nice garment at waitrose also lol

[Tomo 21,751]

47 minutes ago, the wes said:

the thing is our board don't have patience tho 

On what evidence? The last time we had a good "progress" season despite winning nothing was Jose's first season and back and he wasn't sacked.

[zekinjo 449]

I’m telling you now Captain or not, Azp will never contribute as RB, he will fail big time in this Sarri system. This is his fourth match under Sarri and was never even close being decent. Hard to pick who is more useless Azpi as RB or Alonso as LB. Won’t even scratch about CB and midfielders, attacker’s... This season is finished but what’s worst is it’s not even started.

[Alabama 1,992]

5 minutes ago, zekinjo said:

I’m telling you now Captain or not, Azp will never contribute as RB, he will fail big time in this Sarri system. This is his fourth match under Sarri and was never even close being decent. Hard to pick who is more useless Azpi as RB or Alonso as LB. Won’t even scratch about CB and midfielders, attacker’s... This season is finished but what’s worst is it’s not even started.

Please do yourself a favour by either stop watching Chelsea matches or stop your negative contribution...

[bigbluewillie 1,930]

I can't believe the comments on here, i'm over my disappointment with the shitty game.

Now let's look at the situation realistically, what were you all thinking we were going to hit the ground running, game one and your on it like fucking locust.

Get used to the idea that there's probably a lot more heart break to come, it's going to be a long hard trek, we need to get behind the manager and the lads, not slating them, they have been brainwashed into negative tactics by the former manager, now Sarri has to influence them into his philosphy, it will take time.........so for fuck sake be patient

[OhForAGreavsie 6,060]

6 minutes ago, zekinjo said:

I’m telling you now Captain or not, Azp will never contribute as RB, he will fail big time in this Sarri system. This is his fourth match under Sarri and was never even close being decent. Hard to pick who is more useless Azpi as RB or Alonso as LB. Won’t even scratch about CB and midfielders, attacker’s... This season is finished but what’s worst is it’s not even started.

This is not news. Even without seeing it in action it is obvious that Dave is not a Sarri 4-4-2 full back. In a Jose system where he is less integral to the attacking structure then he can be outstanding but not playing in today's shape. To get the best out of Dave we should line up in Conte's 5 at the back. That RCB role is perfect for Dave. The best Sarri right back we have is on loan at Wigan so there is some thinking for the boss to do.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,060]

3 minutes ago, bigbluewillie said:

I can't believe the comments on here, i'm over my disappointment with the shitty game.

Now let's look at the situation realistically, what were you all thinking we were going to hit the ground running, game one and your on it like fucking locust.

Get used to the idea that there's probably a lot more heart break to come, it's going to be a long hard trek, we need to get behind the manager and the lads, not slating them, they have been brainwashed into negative tactics by the former manager, now Sarri has to influence them into his philosphy, it will take time.........so for fuck sake be patient

Some of what you say is valid but there's no brainwashing. Antonio changed because that is what suited the players at his disposal. With virtually the same players available to him Sarri will face a difficult choice. Sacrifice points and stick to your guns, or sacrifice your principles and chase points with five at the back.

[El P. 1,354]

Brainwashed into negative tactics, lol. I mean, yes, we ruined slower-than-my-grandma Alonso and Fabregas, we ruined super-intellignet Willian, we ruined overly-composed Morata. And then that fucker Conte came and played the bus, omg.

On a serious note, 90% of this team is no top 4 quality, I am sorry. This defense will crumble badly I'm afraid.

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[Pizy 18,866]

My last comment/question about this match. I wonder if today was enough for Sarri to realize that Alonso simply cannot excell in his setup. He has started every preseason game so far and has looked poor in each. Even clubs lower in the table will be able to get at him. Every opposing manager will have their side under instructions to target him, it'll be all over their film study.

It's bad enough that Cesc will have to play for a bit longer until Kante is ready. We can't have another passenger in Alonso. We need to get Emerson up to speed ASAP.

[Starman60 1,343]

1 hour ago, BXL70 said:

If you want to challenge the facts that the most valuable teams are those that get trophies, look at the evidences instead of repeadtly insulting me: 

RM: CL.

EDF: WC

MC: PL

That's being said, there might some exemptions but be realistic. Most valuable team won on average. And inded City has a net spend of around 150 every year while we have 50. It is translated on the pitch. Like it or not.

Hey mate, calm down. I have never "repeatedly" insulted you. I made a comment on a post you had made and I just didn't agree with it. It wasn't personal and it's the first time I have responded to one of your posts so I dont understand where this "repeatedly" is coming from.

I put posts up all the time that other guys dont agree with but I take it in good heart, because at the end of the day we are all fans of the same club. So put your sword away and calm the fuck down.

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, Stats said:

However the two concerns today for me in particular was Azpi and Alonso. Azpi is brilliant at what he does but in an attacking formation like Sarri's, he looks a bit out of placed, because he does not have that pace and acceleration to pose enough of a threat on the right hand side. If he is going to have Azpi playing at RB, then we need Emerson on the left hand side because he is very offensive. Having one more defensive fullback in Azpi and a attacking FB on the other flanks is fine. However playing Alonso and Azpi, is one of the slowest fullback combo you can have in football. Surely Sarri has to identify this because they won't pose as attacking threat as Sarri will like. Look when he was at Napoli. he had Hysaj on one hand who is very attack focused then on the LB he had Ghoulam/Rui who are also very offensive. Zappacosta may not be starter material, however him and Emerson playing is much more of a Sarri team. Azpi was poor today on both aspects which is strange.

I would agree that Azpilicueta is not a modern full back who will pose a big attacking threat but I would think with time, he would do just fine under Sarri. The least he will give is being reliable and consistent defensively, which I believe are the qualities you would want from your defenders first and foremost, and let's not forget that even in a defensive system, he was able to contribute a decent amount of assists. There's no reason why he cannot at least replicate that if worked correctly in this Sarri approach. Out of the two full backs, Alonso is really the bigger concern. He is just downright slow, isn't going to win many 1 v 1 battles and take his goals out, he hardly provides assists to the team. Since Alonso joined us, he has contributed only 7 assists in all competitions and he was playing in the attacking wing back role under Conte. Azpi matched that tally in last season alone. Sarri's continuous use of Alonso so far has really been the peculiar thing and Emerson wasn't even on the bench today!

I know we have many issues in this team - and Azpi shouldn't even be high up on the list - and one of the things that hasn't been mentioned is Jorginho from a defensive point of view. He is great at what he does offensively but defensively, he is pretty terrible especially with him being given the role to screen the back four. Doesn't seem capable of winning 1 v 1s and can get past pretty easily as we have seen so far. Kante's return should help him out a bit but I kinda fear this could go down the same route as Fabregas unless Sarri tweaks the side. And oh, playing Jorginho, Fabregas and Barkley in the midfield three is just horrible. Barkley is like neither here nor there at the moment. Jorginho isn't the greatest at defending judging by the displays so far. Fabregas...well, don't think I have to mention about it. It's really suicidal that Kante is our only solid midfielder from a defensive point of view.