closed Chelsea 4-0 Juventus

[Vesper 30,120]

34 minutes ago, cosmicway said:

F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c.
We still have to beat Zenit in Russia to finish first.

they are now missing their best CF, Sardar Azmoun (injured), and their best CB Dmitri Chistyakov (red card suspension)

they are Brasilian (4) and one Colombian heavy (in bold, half of their 10 outfield players), so that cold ass weather is not THAT much of a huge advantage

GK Stanislav Kritsyuk   
CB Dejan Lovren  32yo and slow
CB Yaroslav Rakitskiy   32yo and slower
LB Douglas Santos  (dangerous)
RB Vyacheslav Karavaev   
DMF Wilmar Barrios  
CMF Wendel  (dangerous)  
AMF Claudinho   (dangerous)
LW Andrey Mostovoy    
RW Malcom (dangerous)
CF Artem Dzyuba    (33yo tank)

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by Vesper

[Vesper 30,120]

26 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Alonso's and Azpi's lack of pace restricts our control over the offensive play speed of the game and also robs us off options such as high ball over the top or fast diagonals into space. we are a much worse side offensively with azpi and on both ends with alonso.

well don't blame me, I have wanted Theo Hernandez at LB/LWB for ages, lol

and if he had not blown out his Achilles in the Euros, we very likely would have Leonardo Spinazzola there anyway (and he can play either side, he is one of those very rare right footers who is, like Cancelo, better a as LB than a RB)

[King Kante 1,643]

42 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Alonso's and Azpi's lack of pace restricts our control over the offensive play speed of the game and also robs us off options such as high ball over the top or fast diagonals into space. we are a much worse side offensively with azpi and on both ends with alonso.

As you probably know, I am one of Alonso's biggest supporters on here. However, there is not a situation where I see him starting against Sancho/Rashford and it coming out well defensively. In my opinion, start Dave get control of the game and look to bring him on after 60+ mins depending on what is required. 

Seriously, Utd have been crap but it would just like them to put in a sh*thouse performance against us (especially with Taylor as ref) and bang us on the counter. 

Edited November 23, 2021 by King Kante

[MoroccanBlue 5,379]

Alonso and Rudiger did a fine job against Salah

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

50 minutes ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Alonso and Rudiger did a fine job against Salah

No they didn’t . Alonso made a stupid mistake just before the goal we conceded and got breezed past multiple times.

maybe we could play CHO as left wing back. Has a decent left foot and bags of energy. Seems like the best solution to me of chilly really is out atm

shame Saul is a dud. He was brought exactly for that situation and has played last 2 years as lwb for tletli 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

well don't blame me, I have wanted Theo Hernandez at LB/LWB for ages, lol

and if he had not blown out his Achilles in the Euros, we very likely would have Leonardo Spinazzola there anyway (and he can play either side, he is one of those very rare right footers who is, like Cancelo, better a as LB than a RB)

Theo would have been so so perfect for us. Just as hakimi. No idea why that thick head loves ACrippled Milan so much 

seeing how shit his brother Lucas is for Bauern (should have conceded 2 pens today but Bayerndusel) always reminds me of how superior Theo is

[The Skipper 20,609]

2 hours ago, Jase said:

Just wondering. He looked like he was ready to come on but didn't. Thought Tuchel would want to shake off the rust on Alonso given he hasn't played in a while. Tuchel better not go play Azpi at LWB!

Alonso is genuinely the worst player in the squad imo. 

[King Kante 1,643]

Thinking about it, I actually wouldn't be surprised to see Saul at LWB on the weekend. Risky considering how he has played since arriving but I can actually see TT pulling that. 

[NikkiCFC 8,301]

1 hour ago, King Kante said:

However, there is not a situation where I see him starting against Sancho/Rashford and it coming out well defensively.

We beat United 6 times with Alonso starting, City 5 times. Spurs 9 times. So he faced all those great wingers and there was zero damage defensively because of him.

[Stats 7,142]

I am actually proud of what we are achieving. Look a menace in defence and attack. The team/squad is literally complete. We can have players rotating in and out the team and they all look at home. I mean Chalobah was on loan at Lorient last season and played most of the games in midfield. Tuchel works with him and tries him as RCB and looks absolutely assured there. CHO has had to be patient but is getting his chances and looking the real deal. James is getting better and better with each game.

We beat a European giant today 4-0 with our first three scorers all coming from the academy. Chalobah, James and CHO. Every game we have at least 2/3 academy players on starting 11. Sometimes we generally like last night have around 5 players from academy featuring on pitch (Mount and RLC coming on). We long have yearned to see some of our academy players get a chance and have been criticized by media for not giving them a chance. Now we are giving them chances. People thought after transfer ban, that would be it, but nope despite the riches, we are still giving our academy player chances. Proud to see this. In fact, there is no other club in the major leagues who is giving this many chances to their academy players whilst completing for major honours.

Really happy for Ziyech tonight. Was fantastic. CHO fantastic once again and got a goal too. There is not one player who I can pick out a negative on but James was just another level again. Only 21!  

Bring on Sunday!

[NikkiCFC 8,301]

Negatives tonight:

Injuries and fans booing Morata. What is wrong with them?

[LAM09 7,043]

25 minutes ago, Mana said:

I know we have beaten a big name but remember this isn’t prime Juventus. I mean their main striker is one of our rejects Morata.

And they are off the pace in Serie A (8th place). It’s like Dortmund beating United under Ole and a Dortmund fan saying we beat a massive football giant.

Great win and we beat the toughest team by far in our group, but there will be tougher challenges to come, including maybe City that if we meet them in Europe again, they will want serious revenge.

But I am happy that I am seeing progress within this team. 

They were top of our group prior to kick-off, so they haven't faired too bad in Europe.

[Jase 43,479]

From 3:03 here...

Tuchel said he ended up bringing Azpi - instead of Alonso - on for Chilwell due to confusion because he was too focused on the match. The initial plan was to bring Azpi on for James and of course, Alonso for Chilwell. 

[Special Juan 28,133]

Told ya, absolute cake walk this, Juve are shite.

[Stats 7,142]

6 hours ago, Mana said:

I know we have beaten a big name but remember this isn’t prime Juventus. I mean their main striker is one of our rejects Morata.

And they are off the pace in Serie A (8th place). It’s like Dortmund beating United under Ole and a Dortmund fan saying we beat a massive football giant.

Great win and we beat the toughest team by far in our group, but there will be tougher challenges to come, including maybe City that if we meet them in Europe again, they will want serious revenge.

But I am happy that I am seeing progress within this team. 

I know it is not prime Juve, but they are still a European giant and a big name. They have an extremely experienced coach who was probably hoping to stifle the game out, but did not work.  While they are not the same team, they still have extremely talented players. Bonucci, De Ligt, Sandro, Chiesa, Locatelli... let's not downplay the extent of the win. I expected us to win, but to win so emphatically is what really stands out, especially when on paper, our preferred front 3 did not even start the game (Mount, Havertz, Lukaku).

Edited November 24, 2021 by Stats