closed Sheffield United 3-0 Chelsea

[DanP2311 65]

Defense is the start of the offense. IMO defense is the issue.  

[communicate 2,703]

5 hours ago, Rapkun said:

Something that isn't talked about enough IMO is the lack of rotation in the team. The likes of Willian, Azpi and Mount look absolutely exhausted. Kante being overplayed whenever he is available as well.

Those 3 look dead. It doesn't take a genius to understand why. Our two best presser and our mainstay fb. 

[Laylabelle 9,347]

1 hour ago, Tomo said:

I'm more confident for Liverpool than i am Wolves. We've brung our A game to every single clash against them in the last two years bar last years fixture at Anfield.

Our last leage win at Anfield was 2014.... I dont see that changing.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Leicester has to play Sheffield and Spurs, also United and Leicester play eachother on final day. 

I think we have the chances to finish in 3rd, but not with performances like today.

[Laylabelle 9,347]

9 minutes ago, BlueLyon said:

Leicester has to play Sheffield and Spurs, also United and Leicester play eachother on final day. 

I think we have the chances to finish in 3rd, but not with performances like today.

3rd?! We'll be lucky lol. Just can't see Man U dropping points. Leicester maybe but I can't see us winning games other then Norwic...maybe wrong but today was piss poor. 

End of tommrow we could be 5th. Our goal difference also doesn't help us. Its shite.

76% of the ball..15 shots..4 on target yet we lost 3-0...its mad!!! They deserved the win..1-0 been nicer to look at though.

 

[Jase 43,479]

5 hours ago, Pizy said:

Id say Leicester are very likely to drop points still, but unless we win out (LOL!) it doesn't matter. Really, we need Leicester to lose ALL of their remaining matches and we have to beat Norwich and Wolves. We ain't beating Liverpool.

Based on how we've been performing, I highly doubt we will beat Wolves. Our best chance is hoping City's ban doesn't get overturned, which is quite pathetic when this is what we have to rely on - another club getting banned from Europe.

Was just thinking yesterday, ever since 2011/12, we have either fight for the title or fight/struggle to qualify for the Champions League or in one case, have a 'Mourinho Season'. It's pathetic. 

[Puliiszola 519]

6 hours ago, Laylabelle said:

I dont think we'll battle with Leicester...they have that advantage of goal difference. I can see points against Norwich thats it...even if they drop points we definitely will first.

 

Leicester face Sheffield, spurs, United in 3 of the 4 games with Bournemouth being the 4th (battling for their life). If they get 6 points from these 4 games, I will be surprised

[cosmicway 1,309]

Horrible but not unexpected.
Sheffield were on the improve the last few days and we were awful.
No defense, upfront no attacking ideas whatsoever - zero, zilch.

We are facing Norwich-L'pool away-Wolves next, with L'pool playing vacation football these days.
If City's appeal is accepted I 'm afraid it's Europa for us next season.
I 'm rather disappointed with this Chelsea team. I don't think they are capable of much more & it is really a "care-taker" Chelsea team.

 

[Laylabelle 9,347]

4 hours ago, Puliiszola said:

Leicester face Sheffield, spurs, United in 3 of the 4 games with Bournemouth being the 4th (battling for their life). If they get 6 points from these 4 games, I will be surprised

I can see them dropping points but If they win today they'll be above and if draw today they'll be above on goal difference.

I just can't see us not dropping points against Liverpool and Wolves.

Hope to be proven wrong but play like today...

Just the waiting game now. 

[manpe 10,861]

Felt that changing to 3-4-3 at HT was a mistake, was quite surprised to see that. We were 2-0 down and they themselves were playing 3 CBs, so it's not like they were gonna go all out attack with a solid lead. The change in formation only meant we had most of possession with no penetration in non-dangerous places, they could easily man-mark our forwards out of the play with us having less people in final 3rd.

Tactical mistakes were made imo. But also what Frank said, that all you could hear on the pitch were Sheffield players. We lack leaders in such circumstances. We dominate and score? Great, the team motivates itself and goes with the momentum. We struggle and trail? Everybody's heads go down and nobody is there to pick them up.

[Puliiszola 519]

2 hours ago, Laylabelle said:

I can see them dropping points but If they win today they'll be above and if draw today they'll be above on goal difference.

I just can't see us not dropping points against Liverpool and Wolves.

Hope to be proven wrong but play like today...

Just the waiting game now. 

I understand. It's going to be a tough 2 weeks. We need to really pull up our socks for the last 4 (maybe 5) games of the season. But it's not impossible or even improbable. 

Also, have to keep some perspective. If someone had told you at the end of last season, exactly an year ago, that despite losing Eden, and not signing a single one, Chelsea will very much be in the hunt for top 4 maybe even 3rd, while integrating the likes of Tammy, Reece, mount, tomori, Gilmour to the squad, you would have put them in an asylum. 

Honestly feel that today we are able to go all out for big money first team signings in werner, ziyech, kai etc because we can save all that stupid money that we spent on "squad players" like bakayoko, Drinkwater, zappacosta, baba Rahman etc etc. 

So even without top 4 (I still strongly believe that we will get top 4), I still think that this will be a successful season. We already have 4 new signings. Yes 4!!! Werner, ziyech, CHo, and RlC both of the latter 2 who barely played a part and would be like 2 new signings. Along with whoever we sign more. I am sure FL and the board are aware of the issues and I feel some of the steps have been in the right direction (freezing jorginho out and leaving him to dry). Unfortunately injuries screwed us up. 

I can't see just the doom and gloom like most of this forum because I honestly see so many positives from this season.

Obviously there are some glaring issues too, but it's a start. Rome was not built in a day. Pep in his first season with a massive transfer budget barely got top 4. Klopp was poor in his first half season. Hence I keep telling people to have perspective

[Atomiswave 6,072]

14 hours ago, ulsterchelsea said:

So you reckon that Frank Lampard, serial winner, Mensa candidate isn't smart enough to have worked all that out? And the fact he's pure raging after each loss isn't down to the fact that maybe just maybe our defence is Clueless/useless. Be surprised if the lads haven't coached set pieces/defensive tactics more than regularly. It never ceases to amaze me that average Joe's like us can see and know that the blades will be a handful in those areas but for some reason think that an above average learner like Frank just hasn't understood this...

Then explain how worse defences look astute compared to ours, explain how they can do the basics and we cant. Its clear defence is not his priority, if not then bench those that repeatedly fail the team, play more compact etc. We all knew SU was gonna be tough right? Then how in the hell did we come out so lifeless and devoid of energy? We should have been compact and solid and hope to nick it yesterday considering we need every damn pts, not only did we do the opposite but in the worst way possible and he didnt change until it was too late. I want him to do so great with us I really do and he will get next season but there are a few red flags consistently from the outset.

[Tomo 21,733]

3 minutes ago, Atomiswave said:

Then explain how worse defences look astute compared to ours, explain how they can do the basics and we cant. 

Because we're doing a complete 180 on our style of play and that takes serious time (even more so given we've effectively lost four world class players in that process, two to sale and a further two to decline/not fitting this system as well) and rebuilding with academy players.

You keep saying you want him to adapt to sort the defense out in the short term and stop us conceding goals, well Sarri did exactly that with his cautious possesion and you spent the whole season moaning about how boring it was.

[Atomiswave 6,072]

11 minutes ago, Tomo said:

Because we're doing a complete 180 on our style of play and that takes serious time (even more so given we've effectively lost four world class players in that process, two to sale and a further two to decline/not fitting this system as well) and rebuilding with academy players.

You keep saying you want him to adapt to sort the defense out in the short term and stop us conceding goals, well Sarri did exactly that with his cautious possesion and you spent the whole season moaning about how boring it was.

Its not fucking moaning when stating facts ffs, you can change your style and still have some form of stability and shape. Your just making excuses now. We look utterly clueless and look like we have 4 DL's on his worst days. How was the team so rotten yesterdy knowing we need pts? This is not acceptable no matter how much you jump up and down. Any other manager and he was a goner for sure...so dont make it sound like we are hating on him, we are just worried by the same clueless mistakes that likely will cost us a CL place.

[Puliiszola 519]

7 minutes ago, Atomiswave said:

Its not fucking moaning when stating facts ffs, you can change your style and still have some form of stability and shape. Your just making excuses now. We look utterly clueless and look like we have 4 DL's on his worst days. How was the team so rotten yesterdy knowing we need pts? This is not acceptable no matter how much you jump up and down. Any other manager and he was a goner for sure...so dont make it sound like we are hating on him, we are just worried by the same clueless mistakes that likely will cost us a CL place.

We could barely get a CL place with one of the best players in the world and easily the best player in PL. 

We lost him, could not replace him, integrated 5/6 youth players into the team, changed our total system and style of play, and you are wondering why we are struggling to get top 4 or there is a lack of consistency. Seriously? Lol

How many of you expected us to even be in a top 4 race without hazard, with injuries to kante, pulisic for long spells. 

Obviously, we have issues, any team in such a massive transition and change will have such teething issues. Which place did pep finish in his first season with city despite spending a fortune and not losing the best pl player? Or Klopp? 

It's not making "excuses", it's having a perspective. This is not fifa, it's real life. 

 

[Tomo 21,733]

3 minutes ago, Atomiswave said:

Its not fucking moaning when stating facts ffs, you can change your style and still have some form of stability and shape. Your just making excuses now. We look utterly clueless and look like we have 4 DL's on his worst days. How was the team so rotten yesterdy knowing we need pts? This is not acceptable no matter how much you jump up and down. Any other manager and he was a goner for sure...so dont make it sound like we are hating on him, we are just worried by the same clueless mistakes that likely will cost us a CL place.

Point is, when you're in the teething processes of learning a new/complex style of play there's a trade off. Sarri covered up the issues by playing a more cautious game while Frank has chosen to try and be a bit more direct trading defensive solidarity.

It's not excuses, it's a fact, you can't do a complete 180 on your style of play (especially when you're transitioning to such a complex style, one that even Pep struggles to get consistent results with soon as he loses 2 or 3 key players), effectively lose 4 game changers and not expect serious growing pains.

Yes Frank has made mistakes this season and there's aspects of his management he needs to fine tune to ultimately make it at the top level but this notion there's no potential of a top coach there is bolax, I mean have you forgotten despite his flaws he has outfoxed four CL winning coaches in this calender year?

[Atomiswave 6,072]

1 minute ago, Puliiszola said:

We could barely get a CL place with one of the best players in the world and easily the best player in PL. 

We lost him, could not replace him, integrated 5/6 youth players into the team, changed our total system and style of play, and you are wondering why we are struggling to get top 4 or there is a lack of consistency. Seriously? Lol

How many of you expected us to even be in a top 4 race without hazard, with injuries to kante, pulisic for long spells. 

Obviously, we have issues, any team in such a massive transition and change will have such teething issues. Which place did pep finish in his first season with city despite spending a fortune and not losing the best pl player? Or Klopp? 

It's not making "excuses", it's having a perspective. This is not fifa, it's real life. 

 

No that doesnt fly this season, this has been a shit PL season and we have been in top 4 almost the entire time, we have lost blown games in incredible fashion. I'll say again he will get next season then we can judge but many of us are seeing red flags and they aint going away, actually its getting worse.

[Laylabelle 9,347]

I'm just grateful it finished 3-0..from the start you could tell how it was going to go! They came at us from the kick off