Defensively, Chelsea Were Excellent

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:38 pm

Even from the midfield, they snuffed us out and didnt really give us a sniff.

Apart from the goal, of course.

Bin Ont Turf · Post by **Bin Ont Turf** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:41 pm

To be fair they didn't have to do much.

Did Wood get a kick all game?

ClaretinMyBlood · Post by **ClaretinMyBlood** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:45 pm

Thought on the few occasions we pressured them they looked shakey.
Unfortunately we didn't do it often enough.
Better side came out on top tonight, every now and again every team throws in a poor performance, tonight was one of ours.

Conroy92 · Post by **Conroy92** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:46 pm

I dont agree. The way we played in the first half was meat and drink to them and I think they won 95% of aerial battles. But we didn't do enought to test them and at times, during the second half, they looked genuinley frightened of us coming forward.

ElectroClaret · Post by **ElectroClaret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:48 pm

So why didnt we take advantage of that?

ClaretinMyBlood · Post by **ClaretinMyBlood** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:49 pm

They were there for the taking at 1-1. Then we went to pot. Poor performance, put it behind us and move on. Hope we don't go into Sunday's game thinking it's a stroll in the park, play like we did tonight and we'll struggle against a fired up battling side.

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:57 pm

I would't agree at all. I thought chelsea were excellent and we were not as good as them - but we haven't yet reached the stage when we can beat the good sides when they're on form. I thought we might win tonight because I've seen Chelsea recently (specifically v. Southampton) and thought they looked beatable. Today, they did not play like they did v. Southampton.

We played against a fired up battling side today, and one with better players than Stoke have. If we play like we did today, IMO we will win.

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 10:59 pm

Both of our attackers are generally poor on the ball. But that's not their main function. Wood adds height, and Barnes always makes a nuisance of himself, but they have yet to find a true understanding, like Vokes and Ings had. I always feel that we have a much better chance of scoring a goal when Vokes comes on. At least he has the ability to play the ball more than a little bit.

ten bellies · Post by **ten bellies** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:00 pm

They did a job on us. Conte had done his homework.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:03 pm

What was disappointing was once we'd drawn level we didn't push on. We were capable of applying such pressure to Man City to force a draw. And yet we let Chelsea take control again.

Steve-Harpers-perm · Post by **Steve-Harpers-perm** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:04 pm

Did a job on us like Spurs at Christmas. We just weren’t at it tonight but onwards and upwards!

Bordeaux · Post by **Bordeaux** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:07 pm

4-4 on aggregate, we win on away goals....

Blackrod · Post by **Blackrod** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:07 pm

I agree with the OP. They were excellent tonight.

Walton · Post by **Walton** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:11 pm

They were stronger and fitter than us in every single position. Their defenders bullied our strikers and their strikers bullied our defenders.

Vino blanco · Post by **Vino blanco** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:12 pm

In all positions they had better players with more vision, faster thinking and I hate to say it, tonight they had more desire. Every fifty fifty ball, every knockdown, every second ball they won, nearly every midfield headed challenge was theirs. They didn't need to get out of second gear at times. As for the Clarets, we didn't adapt well and many of our lads didn't perform to the best of their capabilities: I thought Tarky and Ward both had poor games and our strikers were nullified. Having said that, we could have got a point against a very good team. Still a great season, though and I enjoyed being on the Turf tonight.

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:27 pm

I thought the second goal for them was poor. Surely we have the ability to defend a ball across our box better than that. If Mee was there, I don't think it would have happened.

ontario claret · Post by **ontario claret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:29 pm

Every ball in the air in the midfield, I knew that they were going to control it. Unacceptable.

ClaretTony · Post by **ClaretTony** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:39 pm

Walton wrote:They were stronger and fitter than us in every single position. Their defenders bullied our strikers and their strikers bullied our defenders.

They were also better than us - that doesn't mean our players were poor, just that theirs were better right across the pitch tonight.

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:40 pm

Our players were poor.

Tall Paul · Post by **Tall Paul** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:43 pm

For perspective, there was a snippet on Sky that said their starting line up cost £270m compared to our £40m.

vancouverclaret · Post by **vancouverclaret** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:57 pm

Chelsea were the better team. Lennon didn't have a good game. I would like to have seen Wood and Vokes up front with Barnes dropping in behind them and taken Lennon off. Difference in watching this season and previous Prem seasons I feel like we have a chance against any team.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:58 pm

Also disappointed that Southampton had no problem scoring twice and created more chances than we did against Chelsea.

ClaretMoffitt · Post by **ClaretMoffitt** » Thu Apr 19, 2018 11:59 pm

do agree, they made absolutely no space for us and their centre backs gave us absolutely nothing all night.

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:04 am

Spijed wrote:Also disappointed that Southampton had no problem scoring twice and created more chances than we did against Chelsea.

I reckon the reason Chelsea looked so poor against Southampton was because for some reason they couldn't be bothered running about or being interested in the game. Not because Southampton had some magical formula that made Chelsea go lethargic.

starting_11 · Post by **starting_11** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:15 am

dsr wrote:I reckon the reason Chelsea looked so poor against Southampton was because for some reason they couldn't be bothered running about or being interested in the game. Not because Southampton had some magical formula that made Chelsea go lethargic.

Yeah and Ditto to us tonight.

No idea what was going on but everyone was half asleep/couldn't be arsed.

dsr · Post by **dsr** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:16 am

starting_11 wrote:Yeah and Ditto to us tonight.

No idea what was going on but everyone was half asleep/couldn't be arsed.

Not the game I saw. Did you go to Leicester by mistake.

CrosspoolClarets · Post by **CrosspoolClarets** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:35 am

Their tactic of pressing us and forcing us to play long from our defence worked well for them, meat and drink for Cahill. We rarely got in and amongst them. A masterclass from Conte and Chelsea. We always beat the Champions, but doing the double over them would have been a step too far.

brigante · Post by **brigante** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:15 am

ClaretinMyBlood wrote:Thought on the few occasions we pressured them they looked shakey.
Unfortunately we didn't do it often enough.
Better side came out on top tonight, every now and again every team throws in a poor performance, tonight was one of ours.

Pretty much my thoughts. They also out-Burnleyed us. Constant harrying and pressure on the ball versus our lads who looked uncharacteristically nervy in possession. Hazard continues to be one of the best players I've seen on the Turf.

Guess we'll have to settle for the Europa rather than 6th place...!

Vegas Claret · Post by **Vegas Claret** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 1:21 am

Conte had Dyche's number tonight.

Culmclaret · Post by **Culmclaret** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:02 am

Another learning experience. We have come so far from the team that started last season it is easy not to hear Sean when he says we ‘are work in progress’. Some of the criticism of the team and individual players following last night’s defeat shows how high our expectations are now! Heaven help us if we lose to a team below us!

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:13 am

Vegas Claret wrote:Conte had Dyche's number tonight.

That's one thing that surprised me last night as Chelsea have had a very poor season by their standards and are sill unlikely to finish in the top four.

Corky · Post by **Corky** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:16 am

This is the gulf in quality between a potential top 4 team and the top of the also rans.

If we had a choice of swapping Wood and Barnes for Moreta and Giroud I know who I'd have.

CaptJohn · Post by **CaptJohn** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:31 am

Walton wrote:They were stronger and fitter than us in every single position. Their defenders bullied our strikers and their strikers bullied our defenders.

I have to agree with this. They were a yard faster than us all over the park and of course their skill levels are excellent. However they must also have been watching the Commonwealth games diving competitions because they seemed to excel, with Giroud being given a perfect ten for artistic content with his many theatrical pirouettes. I don't know why he does it (Gallic influence perhaps) because he is an excellent player.

ashtonlongsider · Post by **ashtonlongsider** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:39 am

I thought Chelsea were excellent full stop. Best side at TM this season IMO. That left sided defender Emerson was very impressive.

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:54 am

Some of the comments do nothing to disprove my belief we have our fair share of the most miserable whinging supporters anywhere in football, fortunately mixed in with some of the best of course.

My own thoughts were that we were outplayed in every area of the pitch by a team that played to their potential. Some of our players were below the high standard they have set themselves and we did well to contain Chelsea and restrict the scoreline.

Those still clamouring for Tarkowski and Pope to be automatic selections for England should appreciate that perhaps they are not the finished article just yet.

Spijed · Post by **Spijed** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:56 am

It's ironic that the two best teams we've seen at home this season - Chelsea & Spurs, are the two sides that are the worst in terms of the elite clubs this season, behind Man City, Man U. & Liverpool.

beddie · Post by **beddie** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:03 am

Their pace made a big difference, very quick to close us down and break up play. We just didn't have that bit of luck that I thought we got last Saturday.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:04 am

They were superb all over the field. We were very good but still a level below them.
Shame Lennon, Pope and Tarks had their poorest appearances in Claret but it didn’t affect the outcome.
Roll on Sunday.

ewanrob · Post by **ewanrob** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:23 am

Pace is our main Achilles' heel, we don't seem to move the ball around quickly enough or with any real accuracy like a lot of other teams. Ive said it before, but we don't win enough 50/50's and because we are so stringent with our positions on the pitch we never seem to react to a bounce or mis-placed pass....their 2 or 3 breakaways came about because of this.

But they were very good tonight, looked like they had 2 extra players at some points (not incl Madeley), so nothing to beat ourselves up about really.

4:20 · Post by **4:20** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:29 am

They were brilliant, we weren't at our best but we didn't disgrace ourselves, hopefully the win for them will carry over to the semi final giving them more confidence. Could be a blessing this defeat.

SalisburyClaret · Post by **SalisburyClaret** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:33 am

They had 3 at the back but really only needed one.

BabylonClaret · Post by **BabylonClaret** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 9:34 am

Harsh to say we didnt push on after scoring. The goal came during a period when we pressured them and looked the better side.

We didnt press om because Chelsea reacted and pushed hard agaisnt us. Not because we dropped off. Tjey are a better side and showed it.

No disgrace and shows how far we have come that people are moaning we didnt get the result.

Stayingup · Post by **Stayingup** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:42 am

Bin Ont Turf wrote:To be fair they didn't have to do much.

Did Wood get a kick all game?

Did Wood get a pass?

He doesn't win headers 1 on 1 like Vokes does
But last night he got no service

RocketLawnChair · Post by **RocketLawnChair** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 10:59 am

Said it on another thread. They are a bloody good side when they are at it and unfortunately last night they were. My two problems from our point of view were one our decision making which was probably due to the pressure they put on us. But the poor decision making was summed up for me when we got a free kick in the 90th minute Pope came 50 yards out of his goal to take it then passed it 15 yards sideways, we hadn't broken them down all night so why he did that rather than launch it towards the penalty box is anybody's guess.

And secondly in this first half Wood and Barnes kept coming back to help out as pair one of them needed to stay up the pitch, this to be fair was sorted at half time. But in the first half it was like we spent the entire 45 minutes defending a corner we were that deep.

Walton · Post by **Walton** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:04 am

RocketLawnChair wrote:But the poor decision making was summed up for me when we got a free kick in the 90th minute Pope came 50 yards out of his goal to take it then passed it 15 yards sideways, we hadn't broken them down all night so why he did that rather than launch it towards the penalty box is anybody's guess.

This one was baffling - playing it to Lowton to try and get an accurate ball into the box from 50 yards, on his wrong foot.

No Ney Never · Post by **No Ney Never** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 2:02 pm

piston broke wrote:They were superb all over the field. We were very good but still a level below them.
Shame Lennon, Pope and Tarks had their poorest appearances in Claret but it didn’t affect the outcome.
Roll on Sunday.

Does Ward not merit a mention too? Defensively had a poor game, particularly leaving mosses in acres of space for their second. Both their goals came from his side of the pitch.

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 5:31 pm

No Ney Never wrote:Does Ward not merit a mention too? Defensively had a poor game, particularly leaving mosses in acres of space for their second. Both their goals came from his side of the pitch.

But we play narrow FBs all the time. It worries me but it has been very successful so SD wins again.

No Ney Never · Post by **No Ney Never** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 6:17 pm

piston broke wrote:But we play narrow FBs all the time. It worries me but it has been very successful so SD wins again.

Ward isn't a fb though is he? And what does 'so SD wins again' supposed to mean in the context of this discussion?

JohnMac · Post by **JohnMac** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:13 pm

A contrast of views.

Most football fans - Moses had an exceptionally good game along with several other Chelsea players.

The usual negative posters on here - Ward, Tarkowski, Long, Pope, Wood, Lennon and Lowton were absolute shite.

Someone behind me last night shouted at Pedro 'Get a proper name you effing tosser'.

Not sure if I've ever heard that before

piston broke · Post by **piston broke** » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:15 pm

No Ney Never wrote:Ward isn't a fb though is he? And what does 'so SD wins again' supposed to mean in the context of this discussion?

It means he’s right and I’m wrong. Ward is a FB for RofI as he was at Wolves and BHA.