Match Ratings Ratings v Chelsea

[Dannyspur]

Our build up play is very predictable, slow passing around between the centre backs until it eventually goes out to a fullback then maybe pass made to a run down the line or pass back inside, and start again shifting slowly side to side. Teams know our best work is done when we find those pockets between the lines, so they just keep a narrow CM 3/4 and it renders us pretty toothless. we are relying on eye of the needle stuff and when our touch is off our creativity is nil and we turn to hopeful balls in from wide or rely on moments individual brilliance.

Coupled with no pre-season meaning the players levels have been lower than usual and they've been playing catch up from game one, Add in the injuries (due to WC and pre-season) and zero investment, and it just adds up to a low energy game atm.

Lloris, i put the majority of the blame for both goals with him, the first one was a weak left foot shot that he reacted poorly to, and second comedy goal he should have been at the edge of the box but decides to come when Trippier is being closed and left with no option but to pass it.

Toby, really poor for the goal, apart from that fine.

Sanchez did pretty well.

Davies, Pedro ran off the back of him but not sure he could do too much about it, apart from that meh.

Trippier, defended OK for the most part until he and Hugo decided to form a Keystone cops tribute act...

Winks, not much of note, needed to be more confident in demanding the ball from the CB's and FB's seemed to hide a bit, Chelsea's tactics left him with little options when in possession.

Sissoko, hustled and bustled, some good some not so.

Son as bad as he has been this season, everything bounced off him.

Eriksen, lethargic, and lacking in creativity.

Lamela, tried hard, did a dew nice things, skirted the line between feisty and stupid. his huff and puff didn't really lead to much.

Kane, nowhere near as expected (just like when he returned last year and took about 5 months to get match sharp.

Llorente, actually had a few nice touches when he came on, still little effect at the business end.
Moura, zero impact.

Anyway. onwards and...

Completely sums up pretty much 80% of every game this season - We take 5 or 6 touches to get the ball from one side of the pitch to the other, then another 5 or 6 back again. by which time the other team have plenty of time to get neatly into two rows of 5. we then try to play 1 yard passes in amongst them. If you look at teams like Liverpool, their fullbacks pass the ball to each other to switch play quickly cutting out the central defenders setting off speedy attacks before the defenders can organise

 

[double0]

I knew coming in this thread what the narrative would be. Loads of abuse, mostly aimed at the usual scapegoats, and it's just as expected.

Now I'm as pissed off as everyone with the result tonight but I'm also frustrated with the same old shit being spouted in here despite what actually happened in the game.

Go back and watch it again and you'll see that Chelsea's best player Hazard, who everyone was shitting themselves about pre-match, got taken off after doing the square root of fuck all. The reason for this was the defensive work of Trippier, helped by Sissoko.

But all we are getting in here are ratings of how the crowd thinks rather tham the actual performance

The second goal, as was the first, was down to Lloris. When I was a kid I was taught that if a defender was facing his goal the keeper, who can see the whole picture, takes charge.

Trippier was waiting for that to happen. Sadly Lloris decided to drop him in it and the rest is history

As for the rest, Winks and Sissoko were good. Kane did his best with no service. The three AM's did BC proud with bumbling.

But it was Lloris who cost us that game. Not any of the popular targets.

Now let's just hope they wake the fuck up before Saturday.

I wanted to wait and calm down before I wrote anything. You say Hazard came off because of Trippier fine defence display oh with the help of Sissoko basically doing all the defence harassing and tackling. Then Lloris dropped him in it when Trippier with ball at feet and not once looking up decided to score an own goal.

Poch needs money to send bottom line

 

[mpickard2087]

I'm still fucked off with it this morning.

The first half was a mixed bag, the first 20 minutes from us weren't very good and we were trying to compete off the back foot. Chelsea/Sarri have learnt from that first game they played against us this season, because in the three subsequent games they've switched play to the flanks much more and tried to overload us in those areas, more on all that later.....

However for the latter part of the first half we regrouped and managed to have our best spell of the game up to HT. We came out in a 4-2-3-1, badly outnumbered in the centre of the park, and switched to more of a 4-3-3 with Eriksen dropping deeper. This gave us a bit more control of the centre of the park and allowed us to get the ball down. The main factor though was that we started pressing high, raised that intensity a bit, and were able to force a few mistakes. All in all it wasn't fantastic stuff, but at least we'd got a foothold in the game.

The second half though is one of the most pitiful, pathetic displays all round I have seen for a long time.

We've come out with yet another change in shape. Eriksen playing a bit freer, Lamela and Son both tucked in too. This caused massive issues, with all our players/play trying to operate within a tiny patch of grass. The movement and interaction and harmony of all these players was, as is often the case (even in wins/good performances), not great and we had little by way of option. Any width was then non existent, Davies predictably not going anywhere out of his comfort zone, Trippier a bit subdued in his forward intent, possibly because of Hazard on his side to keep in mind.

Then it all started to go wrong.

The opening goal came a little out of the blue, we'd got scrappy again but it's not like we were under the cosh. However another switch of play exposes us and Davies is left two v one. He doesn't know whether to drop with his man, or push to the one with the ball. In the end he does neither, and gets taken out of the game. At this point there still looks little danger, with Alderweireld coming across on the cover, but he inexplicably gets his angles completely wrong, allows Pedro inside him and straight through towards goal, and then I know it's thumped from the six yard line but you still hope Lloris keeps it out rather than it going straight through him, even if subsequently you're hoping to get a bit of luck on the rebound.

The rest of the game I spent watching with my head in my hands (even before the second goal) staggered as to our lack of reaction and any attempt to change what was so obviously not working. I saw a lot of people say Poch doesn't have many options, or quality, to change things, that's not any excuse in my opinion. You have 11 players plus three subs, how many combinations are there to try? The guy is paid many millions a year and cant formulate some wider tactical options/ideas. Instead it's disappearing up our own arse trying and failing to tippy tappy it through the centre of the park with nothing at all changing at any point of the second half.

Why not, as the most basic starter, station Son and Lamela on either touchline and try to open up space in the centre of the park for others to operate? Or get Moura on and have him and Son on either flank for width and try to be more direct? Or even Rose is an option there, either going to wingbacks system or with him playing advanced in midfield. Why not put more crosses in with Llorente on the pitch, get more bodies into the box, and play with additional width? You could, radical I know, have two strikers on the pitch with two wide players in Son/Moura flanking them and trying to provide service. Sometimes even you have to accept that some of your golden boys *cough* Kane, Eriksen *cough* aren't doing it and take them off and see if someone else can.

And those are just examples of the top of my head, there are many more possibilities. These may not have worked, but when plan A was failing beyond belief and getting us nowhere, to not even try and find solutions is bonkers. I expect more from a team, and from it's manager.

There's a lot to put right currently. Some of them need to earn their pay packets.


Lloris - He's not done great for either goal, has he. Another big game, another couple to add to the rap sheet. It's sizeable now.

Trippier - Defended pretty well for the most part, but this came at the expense of his attacking game. The clusterfuck at the end though ruined his nights work.

Sanchez - Did ok.

Alderweireld - Defended pretty well and then got it badly wrong for the opening goal.

Davies - Got exposed for the opening goal. Defended pretty solidly apart from that, but offered no width or option down the left flank on a night it was desperately needed.

Sissoko - Worked hard and put in a good stint in the defensive aspect. A couple of involvements with the ball, but needs to offer more beyond his false fullback ultra safe stuff he's settled into recently.

Winks - Neat and tidy, but that was basically it. Unlucky with the shot that hit the bar.

Eriksen - Mediocre in all aspects of the game. Looks like he has nothing in the tank to give.

Lamela - Worked hard, some brief moments where he did well, but as the game went on it got worse and worse as we all piled into the centre of the park and got in each others way.

Son - Worked quite hard by his standards, but a horrible night for him with the ball.

Kane - Bar a few moments where he upped it and put in some hard runs, a total passenger again. I'm more interested in what he's doing phase after phase rather than the odd eye-catching moment of effort. Not pressing, not running the channels, not trying to get in behind, not holding the ball up, just occasionally dropping off and getting involved at a snails pace. Not good enough, if he's got to be carried by others why does someone not have the bollocks to say he's not ready to return? As we have seen this week so far, you cant get away with it.

Subs:
Llorente - First couple of minutes on the pitch he'd already almost got in behind and held the ball up a couple of times, which was an improvement on Kane. Mainly though couldn't get involved, as we insisted on doing tippy tappy stuff a million miles from their goal to the death.

Moura - Bring him on, change nothing, just stick him in the ultra congested centre of the park too. Fucking brainless move.

Rose - n/a.


Poch - Sunday League management, rather than Premier League.

 

[coys200]

Having watched it back I think some of the ratings here are pretty harsh. Game looks different when you watch it with a cool head and not wrapped up in the emotion. Actually thought Sissoko and sanchez were very good. Them and lamela were the only ones showing some fight and aggression. Weirdly Trippier played very well bar the mistake, he nullified hazard for the large part. Toby was ok but woeful on the goal much more his mistake than Davies. The real worry is bar silly defensive mistakes is we’ve lost our offensive mojo just couldn’t get anything to click. Hopefully against Arsenal will have some more space and maybe dele back. But overall I’m not to worried.

 

[DenverSpur]

I'm still fucked off with it this morning.

The first half was a mixed bag, the first 20 minutes from us weren't very good and we were trying to compete off the back foot. Chelsea/Sarri have learnt from that first game they played against us this season, because in the three subsequent games they've switched play to the flanks much more and tried to overload us in those areas, more on all that later.....

However for the latter part of the first half we regrouped and managed to have our best spell of the game up to HT. We came out in a 4-2-3-1, badly outnumbered in the centre of the park, and switched to more of a 4-3-3 with Eriksen dropping deeper. This gave us a bit more control of the centre of the park and allowed us to get the ball down. The main factor though was that we started pressing high, raised that intensity a bit, and were able to force a few mistakes. All in all it wasn't fantastic stuff, but at least we'd got a foothold in the game.

The second half though is one of the most pitiful, pathetic displays all round I have seen for a long time.

We've come out with yet another change in shape. Eriksen playing a bit freer, Lamela and Son both tucked in too. This caused massive issues, with all our players/play trying to operate within a tiny patch of grass. The movement and interaction and harmony of all these players was, as is often the case (even in wins/good performances), not great and we had little by way of option. Any width was then non existent, Davies predictably not going anywhere out of his comfort zone, Trippier a bit subdued in his forward intent, possibly because of Hazard on his side to keep in mind.

Then it all started to go wrong.

The opening goal came a little out of the blue, we'd got scrappy again but it's not like we were under the cosh. However another switch of play exposes us and Davies is left two v one. He doesn't know whether to drop with his man, or push to the one with the ball. In the end he does neither, and gets taken out of the game. At this point there still looks little danger, with Alderweireld coming across on the cover, but he inexplicably gets his angles completely wrong, allows Pedro inside him and straight through towards goal, and then I know it's thumped from the six yard line but you still hope Lloris keeps it out rather than it going straight through him, even if subsequently you're hoping to get a bit of luck on the rebound.

The rest of the game I spent watching with my head in my hands (even before the second goal) staggered as to our lack of reaction and any attempt to change what was so obviously not working. I saw a lot of people say Poch doesn't have many options, or quality, to change things, that's not any excuse in my opinion. You have 11 players plus three subs, how many combinations are there to try? The guy is paid many millions a year and cant formulate some wider tactical options/ideas. Instead it's disappearing up our own arse trying and failing to tippy tappy it through the centre of the park with nothing at all changing at any point of the second half.

Why not, as the most basic starter, station Son and Lamela on either touchline and try to open up space in the centre of the park for others to operate? Or get Moura on and have him and Son on either flank for width and try to be more direct? Or even Rose is an option there, either going to wingbacks system or with him playing advanced in midfield. Why not put more crosses in with Llorente on the pitch, get more bodies into the box, and play with additional width? You could, radical I know, have two strikers on the pitch with two wide players in Son/Moura flanking them and trying to provide service. Sometimes even you have to accept that some of your golden boys *cough* Kane, Eriksen *cough* aren't doing it and take them off and see if someone else can.

And those are just examples of the top of my head, there are many more possibilities. These may not have worked, but when plan A was failing beyond belief and getting us nowhere, to not even try and find solutions is bonkers. I expect more from a team, and from it's manager.

There's a lot to put right currently. Some of them need to earn their pay packets.


Lloris - He's not done great for either goal, has he. Another big game, another couple to add to the rap sheet. It's sizeable now.

Trippier - Defended pretty well for the most part, but this came at the expense of his attacking game. The clusterfuck at the end though ruined his nights work.

Sanchez - Did ok.

Alderweireld - Defended pretty well and then got it badly wrong for the opening goal.

Davies - Got exposed for the opening goal. Defended pretty solidly apart from that, but offered no width or option down the left flank on a night it was desperately needed.

Sissoko - Worked hard and put in a good stint in the defensive aspect. A couple of involvements with the ball, but needs to offer more beyond his false fullback ultra safe stuff he's settled into recently.

Winks - Neat and tidy, but that was basically it. Unlucky with the shot that hit the bar.

Eriksen - Mediocre in all aspects of the game. Looks like he has nothing in the tank to give.

Lamela - Worked hard, some brief moments where he did well, but as the game went on it got worse and worse as we all piled into the centre of the park and got in each others way.

Son - Worked quite hard by his standards, but a horrible night for him with the ball.

Kane - Bar a few moments where he upped it and put in some hard runs, a total passenger again. I'm more interested in what he's doing phase after phase rather than the odd eye-catching moment of effort. Not pressing, not running the channels, not trying to get in behind, not holding the ball up, just occasionally dropping off and getting involved at a snails pace. Not good enough, if he's got to be carried by others why does someone not have the bollocks to say he's not ready to return? As we have seen this week so far, you cant get away with it.

Subs:
Llorente - First couple of minutes on the pitch he'd already almost got in behind and held the ball up a couple of times, which was an improvement on Kane. Mainly though couldn't get involved, as we insisted on doing tippy tappy stuff a million miles from their goal to the death.

Moura - Bring him on, change nothing, just stick him in the ultra congested centre of the park too. Fucking brainless move.

Rose - n/a.


Poch - Sunday League management, rather than Premier League.

This 100%