Chelsea 1 - 3 Real Madrid

[LAM09 7,061]

AC, Lukaku & Mendy have possibly decided the tie. Hope I'm wrong, though.

[cosmicway 1,333]

6 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

If we're talking keepers with their feet there's no competition either between Ederson and Allison in my opinion. Ederson is light years above Allison who is also prone to making mistakes and overplaying.

I always feel that Mendy thinks he's better than he is on the ball. It's not like much is being asked of him either and on the same note he's better with the ball at his feet than the likes of Cech and Courtois are. But he has the likes of Thiago Silva and Rudiger in front of him who are excellent on the ball. Just give it to them! I still want us to play out the back and not just hoof it away but he holds on to the ball too much too often to try and draw a player out and it's a risk for a player who is decent on the ball but not elite.

The player on his right, Thiago, was by far the safest option to pass the ball than Rudiger.
He also miskicked and Rudiger who had a yellow card could not afford to foul Benzema.
Now really, that was from the days of Jugoslavia - Zair 10-0 with commentator Malcolm Allison saying nasty things about Zair.

Edited April 6, 2022 by cosmicway

[milka 3,393]

This squad doesn’t have the same vibe as it did last season.

With the arrival of Lukaku, everything changed.

[cosmicway 1,333]

1 minute ago, milka said:

This squad doesn’t have the same vibe as it did last season.

With the arrival of Lukaku, everything changed.

Lukaku is definitely sh*t (bring back Pato).
But the defensive formation still intrigues me. Why those open spaces ??? In a match like this Mou would endeavour to secure the clean sheet as the first priority.

[Tomo 21,751]

1 hour ago, Milan said:

Same here. Obviously that third goal is not helping but I can totally see us taking to extra time at the very least.

In general I wanted the away goal rule to stay but it's what could help us this time.

Also Ancelotti has a habit of allowing big comebacks, an early goal in Spain and its game on.

[cosmicway 1,333]

1 minute ago, Tomo said:

In general I wanted the away goal rule to stay but it's what could help us this time.

Also Ancelotti has a habit of allowing big comebacks, an early goal in Spain and its game on.

Look first of all you have to admit Real Madrid is the eternal team. 
When your grandchildren have grandchildren they will be still winning trophies.
The 4-0 defeat against Barcelona maybe was a blinder as Ancelloti fielded an experimental team.

I don't fancy us. I might slightly if it was 2-3 or stayed 1-2 or a 2-2 draw.
Also I believe Tuchel's system was disastrous. Against Brentford the same, but maybe he did n't care. But tonight ? Allow all those free runs to Madrid ? 

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

13 minutes ago, Vesper said:

2 key plays fucked us

Mendy's insanity

and asshole Rom missing that absolute sitter

It is really mindboggling. Lukaku always misses it when it would be easier to score

Also, for Mendy, it was almost the same mistake as the one that did go unpunished vs Toney. Even more annoying is: Neuer made almost the same error vs Villareal today as well but Moreno missed.

12 minutes ago, Vesper said:

I would LOVE that

just for the lulz from arse fanbois reactions

🤣

 

See above.  Villareal don't take their chances when they really should. They are combative and technically well rounded but lack the killer instinct and ability to finish teams off.

Everything points to this being City's year.

[Nero 1,874]

Fucking international break.

[coolhead23 1,147]

13 minutes ago, Vesper said:

2 key plays fucked us

Mendy's insanity

and asshole Rom missing that absolute sitter

There are your sad displays   ... I feel it is not just those 2 ... the team collectively is not giving confidence nor seems determined (yes we have few good ones here and there). Looks like everyone is busy trying to sort their future at the club.

Our general play is also so average, transition are not clean and swift, final third there are no runs which allows to create for chances, finishing I think is no longer a breaking thing, pressing is all over, etc etc etc. 

[Superblue 6,372]

7 minutes ago, Tomo said:

In general I wanted the away goal rule to stay but it's what could help us this time.

Also Ancelotti has a habit of allowing big comebacks, an early goal in Spain and its game on.

I was thinking the same with the away goal rule. 3-1 at home does not seem as bad this year as it normally would do.

It's a bloody big ask but if we got the first goal over there it really would be game on. 

The weekend game against Southampton though is critical first to give us some breathing space in the league. That's must win and then we can go to Madrid with a bit more confidence but almost a free hit opportunity.

[cosmicway 1,333]

What away goals ?
The away goals would be in their favour.
Forget it. It was not Xamax or Young Boys who managed to beat as 3-1 in a first leg match. It's Real.

[whats happening 1,621]

20 minutes ago, Nero said:

Fucking international break.

i mean yes, but its the same for everyone.

[cosmicway 1,333]

Those are 180 minute affairs.
The days when visiting teams were numbed by the stadium roar are gone - since uncle Tom Cobley's time.
Tuchel made a mess.

[Blues11 213]

I still think we have a chance. Would love to see James in a more advanced position when we're chasing, but the only problem is Vini is going to run circles around all our other defenders...

AC was playing on skates tonight and that was just a dreadful mistake by Mendy. 

Regardless of what happens we need to improve in the midfield next window. When we have to change our shape chasing goals, -all of our midfielders get exposed.

I still have hope and an early goal changes everything. Would rather see James being pushed up to RW with Havertz, Pulisic, and either Mount or Ziyech sitting behind the striker if we're still behind after halftime. It's better than bringing Lukaku or Werner off the bench....

Edited April 6, 2022 by Blues11

[Pizy 18,936]

Looking ahead to beyond this season, what we really need in order to attack the CL again next season is a couple of high quality wide players to surround Kai with. Enough trying to sign expensive #9’s. We desperately need to identify the next Jota/Luis Diaz/Son type. We need this sort of aggressive wide forward type who puts relentless pressure on defenses. It’s what we all thought we’d get with Werner. Saw it up close with Vini Jr today. You see it with Mbappe and lately Dembele at Barca.

Werner is done here, CHO will never live up to his early promise, Ziyech is not that sort of player, and Pulisic is too wildly inconsistent. If we can have Chilly and Reece fully fit and sign a couple of top class support players for Kai we will be so dangerous.

 

[NikkiCFC 8,331]

Moved to Amsterdam, didn't watch any games last month or so. Looks like it's better that way. 

[MoroccanBlue 5,383]

8 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Looking ahead to beyond this season, what we really need in order to attack the CL again next season is a couple of high quality wide players to surround Kai with. Enough trying to sign expensive #9’s. We desperately need to identify the next Jota/Luis Diaz/Son type. We need this sort of aggressive wide forward type who puts relentless pressure on defenses. It’s what we all thought we’d get with Werner. Saw it up close with Vini Jr today. You see it with Mbappe and lately Dembele at Barca.

Werner is done here, CHO will never live up to his early promise, Ziyech is not that sort of player, and Pulisic is too wildly inconsistent. If we can have Chilly and Reece fully fit and sign a couple of top class support players for Kai we will be so dangerous.

 

Midfield. 
 

Gallagher will help but we need a DM. 

[cosmicway 1,333]

1 minute ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Midfield. 
 

Gallagher will help but we need a DM. 

We need a scouting team.
The no one priority is good scouting team and the second priority is to have the budget.
The one we have now brought Kai but Werner ? Lukaku ? 

[Superblue 6,372]

1 minute ago, MoroccanBlue said:

Midfield. 
 

Gallagher will help but we need a DM. 

I agree. I think tonight may be the last time Tuchel has trust in a big game environment in that Jorginho and Kante combination. For me moving forward it needs to be Kova and one. He has been the only one of our central midfielders to be consistently excellent throughout the season as a whole.

I think previously and certainly last season they offered the best mix in midfield but Kante has looked shot in recent times and he's a 31 year old who relies entirely on his athleticism. 

There could be some big calls this summer. Lukaku and Werner are obvious to look at moving on and bringing in one or two new attacking options but there's a genuine argument that decisions need making on Jorginho and Kante. Both will have 1 year left on their contracts and whilst you don't want to lose too much experience within the group, we do need to look towards the future and get legs in the middle of the park. 

Would a new owner be willing to make such a big decision, especially with Kante? It's funny regarding the Ricketts and a lot of the complaints about how they run and manage the Cubs because I've seen a few Cubs fans on the Athletic forum actually defending them for making brave decisions for the longer term view by being willing to dispose of players loved at the club but either were over the hill or hadn't been performing. 

[King Kante 1,643]

Shot ourselves in the foot in this one and then had Benzema produce some magic which you've got to take your hat off too. 

If we get an early goal, it will be game on but we cannot have Lukaku or RLC on the pitch and we need to start Kova.