Chelsea F.C. III: The Age of Antonio

[Haffa]

I think both our squads are lucky in that they are lacking in areas but thankfully we only have to concerntrate on the League this season.

No Europe helps both sides immensely in getting things right now and then adding depth/quality where needed should either finish top 4.

If we can find someone to partner Matip and an actual LB then I think we will be fine as well.

I don't think anyone can bag Luiz since he returned. There hasn't been a single performance that showed he'd go back to the Brazil/Germany WC match.

I wouldn't want Cahill in our side as k think he benefits from having. A calmer leader next to him in Luiz. He does his job enough to be a good part of a solid defensive unit.

What Klopp wouldn't give for a Kante style CM, which just goes to show that your Technical Director and scouts have done very well in strengthening an obvious weak area of the squad.

I don't think Gaz is the long term option there for us, but you're right Luiz is covering the deficiencies on our left well. In his defence Alonso isn't half an Ashley Cole and is our weak link in a back 5.

That 'Germany' match is for the most part the outlier. He was prone to going on wandering runs in the past but he curbs that now for the most part. That probably had something to do with the fact he was a striker until late in his youth career.

It only took them 5 years to find that Kante sized hole. They have done a good job replacing our entire spine though.

 

[saint.nick]

Years of lapses? Or a few bad ones here and there? He's far more consistent than you give him credit for.

It's obvious you haven't watched him play since he returned. He's the one who is covering for others.

I think it was more than a few here and there.

 

[Haffa]

I think it was more than a few here and there.

I think you're wrong.

 

[Haffa]

But anyway, he's our pretty average centre back and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Haffa]

Another great performance. 12 wins on the spin and a new club record. Azpilicueta and Hazard the stand-outs for me. Running out of ways to describe how good Azpilicueta is. Did two or three player's work, all without being even slightly showy. Pedro reminds of the Malouda of the double winning season. A player who gels with the team perfectly and who is lethal and effective in the final third. Courtois is starting to look like the world class goalkeeper we know he is, two fantastic saves.

Best defensive record in the league. And all this with the same team that finished 10th last season. The only additions to the squad this season are Kante, Alonso and Luiz. Remarkable transformation.

We (rightly) eulogise about the 04/05 & 05/06 teams but 10 clean sheets out of 12 straight wins is completely extraordinary. We don't even remotely look like conceding to any of these teams, the ONLY times I've been worried were:

- most of 1st half v Tottenham

- those 25 mins in the middle v Man City we were all over the place at the back

- the last 4 or 5 mins v Sunderland

In 12 games that's mental. We've looked scarily comfortable.

All about the next game...

 

[Haffa]

13

 

[Haffa]

It ends at 13. I miss Three Point Lane.

New 64" tele delivered yesterday. We're sending it back - it doesn't work properly.

So that is how to beat us. Don't over commit, use the space just outside the area where will not press and wait for clever players to spot mistakes as defenders fail to pick up runners. Reminds me of a run of 4/5 games starting with the City game where we kept on picking up points while being clear player for player the better set of players, but far from dominant as a team. This time we played OK but lost - mostly because of our inability to deny time and space to opponents on the edge of our box..

Those two goals were perfect examples of how we don't press outside our own box.

Poor Pedro, ran a lot first half without much success and ended up playing WB to a back 2. Must have been knackered at the end.
Kante must have been ill of something - why else would you take off our best legs when pushing for a couple of goals. Makes no sense. We were due a loss, shame we couldn't do it against any other team.

 

[Jimbo]

Nice to know we can still deal with teams from League One and below

Unlike at least one of our PL contemporaries...

 

[Haffa]

City beat a League One caliber team.

 

[Jimbo]

City beat a League One caliber team.

True

 

[Jimbo]

Good to see the new digs approved

Hopefully it will be finished before Mr Abramovich finally gets sick of football and sells the club

 

[Mong]

City beat a League One caliber team.

How did your lot go against them at their last meeting?

lolz

 

[Jimbo]

 

[Mong]

Thought you'd want to avoid that one...

You lot make it too easy at times.

 

[Haffa]

Lolz.

 

[Haffa]

Good to see the new digs approved

Hopefully it will be finished before Mr Abramovich finally gets sick of football and sells the club

Exactly. Don't have the benefit of being handed charity stadiums unfit for football.

Mock ups make it look spectacular. Those brick column look the goods.

 

[Jimbo]

The only thing more pathetic than wannabe hooliganism is a grown man with ADHD...

 

[Jimbo]

Exactly. Don't have the benefit of being handed charity stadiums unfit for football.

Mock ups make it look spectacular. Those brick column look the goods.

Definitely

We should kick the yids out of Wembley and get Didier back. Loved the joint...

 

[Twizzle]

what is you current stadium capacity ?

 

[Jimbo]

41.5k