closed St. Patrick's Athletic 0-4 Chelsea

[communicate 2,703]

2 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Lol Bats has had a great half in terms of general play but couldn't finish, I'm use to the opposite.

Our general play offensively I thought quite poor. Michy and Tammy did not work well together. Hopefully this 442 diamond won't be part of our main formation. Never big fan of it

[Fernando 6,585]

14 minutes ago, bigbluewillie said:

where are ya all watching it

This one is working for me:

http://www.dubs.cc/ch2/

[Fernando 6,585]

I wanted to see Castillo play. 

What happen to that guy? 

[Vesper 30,190]

24 minutes ago, Fernando said:

I wanted to see Castillo play. 

What happen to that guy? 

 

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

We are playing a 433 if anything. Hope we really nurture Gilmour. Has the potential to be something special. Almost Xavi esq. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

Class from Giroud. #1 for me. 

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

2 hours ago, Hutcho said:

That is a much stronger team than the first game.

Really excited for tammy mount and tomori. They are the 3 I could see pushing for first team so hope they do well

Reece is ahead of all of them in my opinion. That said, we probably need to carry three strikers so Tammy's path into the squad looks clear.

[ZAPHOD2319 4,819]

Giroud was impressive to me. Not that it was great defence that he was going against, but he is embracing the style of play Lampard wants.

Mount was impressive. He is really grabbing the opportunity to make this squad and running with it.

Too many players in the second half that are showing they might be in over their heads. 

It was about as fun a preseason match as I have watched in a long time. Mostly due to knowing these guys have a realistic chance of making the squad, now can you deliver on that opportunity. 

[Superblue 6,372]

A few thoughts from today:

Tomori looked very good and comfortable in there today. I hope he'll be given some sufficient game time in the friendly against Barcelona because it would be good to assess him against significantly stronger opposition where we will have to defend and won't dominate as well as today. Hopefully he can make the step up because his ability and composure on the ball could put him above Zouma in the pecking order.

The two games have definitely showed much more intent with our passing. We should benefit from the work with Sarri last season with regards to looking to dominate possession and be comfortable on the ball, but it looks like Lampard is trying to quicken up the transition and get the ball up the pitch into dangerous areas much quicker. It should benefit Kovacic and Jorginho too, both were ridiculed at times last season as only being able to recycle and keep possession but both have so much more to their games and skill sets than that and both are very capable of playing at a quicker tempo and playing those dangerous passes to create chances.

I've been impressed by Batshuayi for both games. I understand he spent much of his holidays training and staying fit, and came back earlier than was needed. He looks sharp and hungry. His finishing wasn't up to scratch today but he's pressing well, working hard leading the line and his general and hold up play seems to have improved.

I cannot see there being a role for Bakayoko in this squad. He just simply isn't technically anywhere near good enough to play in a team that will look to control and dominate the game.

[MoroccanBlue 5,382]

24 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

 

The two games have definitely showed much more intent with our passing. We should benefit from the work with Sarri last season with regards to looking to dominate possession and be comfortable on the ball, but it looks like Lampard is trying to quicken up the transition and get the ball up the pitch into dangerous areas much quicker.

Which is essentially why I stated that if we were moving on from Sarri, of those rumored, Lampard would be the best fit. Aside his connection to the club, Lamp's plays progressive football. It's better to continue steering the ship vs starting over with someone like Allegri, Santo, or Blanc. Taking two steps backwards. 

This pre-season schedule is looking to work in our favor in terms of fitness and development. Starting out easy, progressively getting stronger opponents. 

[Jase 43,479]

Bit surprised to see Kepa was in the stands today.

Liked Mount's goal. Lampard-esque and it's been awhile since we last saw a player making a run behind the opposition defence and score!

[Jase 43,479]

2 hours ago, Fernando said:

I wanted to see Castillo play. 

What happen to that guy? 

He was with the Development Squad.

 

[OhForAGreavsie 6,075]

49 minutes ago, Jason said:

He was with the Development Squad.

 

There were two games at Cobham this morning. One featured the development squad, the other featured players who are already a part of the loan army,  or who are perhaps set to become a part of it. Juan played for the loan team. Should we take that as a clue to the next step? Probably.

[Superblue 6,372]

2 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Which is essentially why I stated that if we were moving on from Sarri, of those rumored, Lampard would be the best fit. Aside his connection to the club, Lamp's plays progressive football. It's better to continue steering the ship vs starting over with someone like Allegri, Santo, or Blanc. Taking two steps backwards. 

This pre-season schedule is looking to work in our favor in terms of fitness and development. Starting out easy, progressively getting stronger opponents. 

Agreed, I've very much been in the pro Lampard camp and whilst it's very early days I like what I've seen so far with what he and the coaching staff are trying to achieve.

[Jase 43,479]

 

[the wes 7,212]

 

[Tomo 21,751]

8 hours ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Agreed, I've very much been in the pro Lampard camp and whilst it's very early days I like what I've seen so far with what he and the coaching staff are trying to achieve.

Lampard's style does seem the type that's reliant on quality of players better they are the better the system looks. That's not a criticsm on Lampard atall (it's similar with Pep who in my opinion is now only second to Fergie on the all time list) just with a system that's complex and requires heavy technical ability it's not a system like Simeone's, Conte's, prime Jose's and to an extent Klopp's that could make average players look amazing. For example Cahill was a key player under Jose and Conte but even at his best he would look like a fish out of water with our new style.

With that in my mind hopefully we won't get as many of the teething problems that Lampard's Derby had. Not only that but this time he's had the groundwork layed for him with a season of Sarri while at Derby he took over from Gary Rowett who from what I've heard makes Pulis look an expressive attacking manager.

[Vesper 30,190]

10 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

There were two games at Cobham this morning. One featured the development squad, the other featured players who are already a part of the loan army,  or who are perhaps set to become a part of it. Juan played for the loan team. Should we take that as a clue to the next step? Probably.

I would love to see him loaned out to an EPL club that will actually play him, or if that doesn't exist, then the Bundesliga, and failing that, the Championship.

 

EPL target clubs

Sheffield United (literally only one LB on roster, the totally meh Enda Stevens)

Newcastle (they have only one true first team LB on the books,Paul Dummett, who is meh)

Brighton & Hove Albion (if he can beat out their backup, the tepid Gaëtan Bong)

Southampton FC (he could backup Bertrand)

 

 

[communicate 2,703]

8 hours ago, Tomo said:

Lampard's style does seem the type that's reliant on quality of players better they are the better the system looks. That's not a criticsm on Lampard atall (it's similar with Pep who in my opinion is now only second to Fergie on the all time list) just with a system that's complex and requires heavy technical ability it's not a system like Simeone's, Conte's, prime Jose's and to an extent Klopp's that could make average players look amazing. For example Cahill was a key player under Jose and Conte but even at his best he would look like a fish out of water with our new style.

With that in my mind hopefully we won't get as many of the teething problems that Lampard's Derby had. Not only that but this time he's had the groundwork layed for him with a season of Sarri while at Derby he took over from Gary Rowett who from what I've heard makes Pulis look an expressive attacking manager.

For me watching yesterday especially lamp 4231, it is a typical 4231. With narrow wing. Watching yesterday game you can see the amount of time Kennedy and Pedro got the ball between the line and combine with either no 10 or Giroud. Willian and Pedro will be fine playing this role but will CHO be good as narrow wing I don't know. Sarri played him very wide and ask him to beat player one on one which is his best strength. 

Billy I thought played extremely well as one of the double pivot offensively. I can see kova  playing this role next to Kante/Bakayoko. Ruben is also an option but he need to get fit first and get better defensively. It does mean that Jorginho is the odd man out. 

Our right back also need to get better. Zappacosta is just bad and Azpi is not really good offensively. 

 

[Tomo 21,751]

11 minutes ago, communicate said:

For me watching yesterday especially lamp 4231, it is a typical 4231. With narrow wing. Watching yesterday game you can see the amount of time Kennedy and Pedro got the ball between the line and combine with either no 10 or Giroud. Willian and Pedro will be fine playing this role but will CHO be good as narrow wing I don't know. Sarri played him very wide and ask him to beat player one on one which is his best strength. 

Billy I thought played extremely well as one of the double pivot offensively. I can see kova  playing this role next to Kante/Bakayoko. Ruben is also an option but he need to get fit first and get better defensively. It does mean that Jorginho is the odd man out. 

Our right back also need to get better. Zappacosta is just bad and Azpi is not really good offensively. 

 

With the style Lampard wants to play he's not going to discard Jorginho. It seems so many people are taking his connection to Sarri a little bit too seriously and by that thinking he'd be obsolete without him, I will be amazed if Jorginho isn't a starter this year and I'd wager his role won't be a million miles from what it was last season. By the same token Baka's days are numbered, not suited to the progressive possesion based game we are playing, he won't see a competitive minute that I am sure.

I agree with the fullbacks, hopefully Reece James lives up to his reputation when he's fit again.