Always cost us...

Lowton been consistently poor for some time now. Definitely need to look for a long term replacement.

Can’t afford to give two goals away like that to teams like Chelsea at all.

Can't afford to miss chances like the header Barnes missed, either.

Got to stick those away against teams like this.

Chelsea passing to feet. Our passing to the general direction. That has been the difference first half.

Herts Clarets wrote:Chelsea passing to feet. Our passing to the general direction. That has been the difference first half.

If it was the difference, you'd think at least one of their goals would have come from their passing. The only pass to feet that mattered was Tarkowski's. To the wrong team.

On another thread I've put that if they know the pressing game for they must know it also against but not today, two silly errors both in the same place.

thatdberight wrote:If it was the difference, you'd think at least one of their goals would have come from their passing. The only pass to feet that mattered was Tarkowski's. To the wrong team.

If we passed to feet it wouldn't have been intercepted by a Chelsea player

Herts Clarets wrote:If we passed to feet it wouldn't have been intercepted by a Chelsea player

Yeah. I think you're just making stuff up now. The fact remains that Chelsea's passing game, of whatever variety, had no impact in the two goals they scored in the first half. None. But still, whatever rationale you've come up with. Stick to it.

Crying out for a new right back, right winger and a replacement for Cork.

KRBFC wrote:Crying out for a new right back, right winger and a replacement for Cork.

Spot on

Here's a question.

If Chelsea thought any of the Burnley players would improve their team, who would that player be playing for tonight?

That will then help people divine why our players might make more errors than theirs.

thatdberight wrote:Here's a question.

If Chelsea thought any of the Burnley players would improve their team, who would that player be playing for tonight?

That will then help people divine why our players might make more errors than theirs.

Then let’s stop whining about how Chelsea players get picked for England over our lot then, can’t have it both ea ways.

KRBFC wrote:Then let’s stop whining about how Chelsea players get picked for England over our lot then, can’t have it both ea ways.

I can't say that I have ever moaned about that.

That's the difference between the top teams and us. They will punish you more often than not when you make a mistake

3 defensive errors but if Barnes hadn’t missed his sitters...

It is individual mistakes and unfortunately the usual suspects in Lowton and Tarks
Still, didn't expect to get anything tonight
Sheff Utd away will be the benchmark

KRBFC wrote:Crying out for a new right back, right winger and a replacement for Cork.

Unfortunately there's no cm in the world that would fit out team, well out scouting network can't find him

KRBFC wrote:Crying out for a new right back, right winger and a replacement for Cork.

When Bardsley goes this summer we need to be looking to sign a new first choice right back and let Lowton be cover.

Right back and midfield are 2 areas we obviously need to look at upgrades , but if we can get Drinkwater fit and add a quality player in Jan we could be shaping nicely

KRBFC wrote:Crying out for a new right back, right winger and a replacement for Cork.

I thought Cork was one of our better players today.

ElectroClaret wrote:Can't afford to miss chances like the header Barnes missed, either.

Got to stick those away against teams like this.

Ash could have had a hat-trick today. But he didn't

Tarky, why does he do it, silly trying to slot the ball between two/three defenders when a pass outside him was the better and easier option. He can forget England until he sorts out these mistakes.

Herts Clarets wrote:Chelsea passing to feet. Our passing to the general direction. That has been the difference first half.

Said the exact same thing. We pass in to an area rather than to feet and if the ball is intercepted our transition recovery isn’t the greatest which is what happened with the 1st 2 goals

I only watched the first half because I got sick of our general lack of competitive edge.
I hope we can pick up enough points to ensure survival off lower table sides... we won't be picking up very much of the top half based on what I've seen.

boatshed bill wrote:I only watched the first half because I got sick of our general lack of competitive edge.
I hope we can pick up enough points to ensure survival off lower table sides... we won't be picking up very much of the top half based on what I've seen.

Considering we've brushed aside Norwich, Southampton and Everton without much effort and looked comfortable away from home is there much to worry about?

Spijed wrote:Considering we've brushed aside Norwich, Southampton and Everton without much effort and looked comfortable away from home is there much to worry about?

Yes, and as long as we do this we will be allright.....but no better than that.

boatshed bill wrote:Yes, and as long as we do this we will be allright.....but no better than that.

That'll do for me.

HuncoatClaret wrote:I thought Cork was one of our better players today.

He runs around a lot, just lacks the physical presence and technical ability to keep the ball, far too often sloppy passes or easily pushed off the ball.

KRBFC wrote:He runs around a lot, just lacks the physical presence and technical ability to keep the ball, far too often sloppy passes or easily pushed off the ball.

I don't really think he's sloppy, if anything he's too safe when we build up. Granted he runs more than anyone in professional football (probably), Cork finds himself holding a lot of possession by the sheer run-willing, space-creating graft of those around him without really doing anything useful with it. With Westwood you're trading tidiness for energy, but that isn't a terrible thing if you accept Hendrick is that 'replacement for Cork' we need to keep the ball moving more progressively (shudder at that turn of phrase). Westwood and Hendrick is our current best central midfield pairing.

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Lowton been consistently poor for some time now. Definitely need to look for a long term replacement.

Can’t afford to give two goals away like that to teams like Chelsea at all.

Massive at fault for the 1st and a terrible attempt from a corner to clear that almost immediately lead to the killer 3rd

boatshed bill wrote:I only watched the first half because I got sick of our general lack of competitive edge.
I hope we can pick up enough points to ensure survival off lower table sides... we won't be picking up very much of the top half based on what I've seen.

Jesus, bill, cheer up.
You do realise we were playing Chelsea?
Not Torquay reserves?

There isn't the slightest chance we'll be relegated.
I tell you this every season, but it doesn't seem to sink in.

Have a little faith.

How Lowton gets a game is beyond me he has been consistently poor for the last 2 seasons. Bardsley must be introduced along with Taylor at left full back.
Pieters has done OK but Taylor is a different class.

McNeil game as improved under Pieters though as he has to play a different style, he doesn't get the support of a wing back

THEWELLERNUT70 wrote:Massive at fault for the 1st and a terrible attempt from a corner to clear that almost immediately lead to the killer 3rd

And - technically - needlessly gave a penalty away for a push, but fortunately VAR were checking for the dive following "non-contact" by Tarkowski.
Interestingly, if Oliver hadn't blown for a penalty against Tarks for the "dive", could VAR have intervened and awarded a penalty for the Lowton push?
This is the issue with VAR, it's still down to the opinions of 2 fallible humans.

Lowton was at the centre of a good few yesterday. The corner for their 3rd. The terrible control on the 1st. There was the poor defending where Pope had to make the low down save to his left. He was also very close to a push for that VAR penalty decision. Majority of Chelsea's threat came via Pullisic on Lowton's side. Although bardsley isn't the same threat going forwards, he is a lot less error prone defensively for me. Bring back Bardsley and address RB in January.

Lowton and Tarkowski were at fault for the first two yesterday. At the other end Barnes missed two sitters.
We need a replacement for Lowton as he has been poor in more games than as has been good recently. We also need to bring back Taylor into the stating line up, although Pieters is an adequate cover but Taylor offers something more.
Yesterday in midfield I thought Cork offered more than Westwood but we need to improve in this area.
Seeing the two main chances missed by Barnes, we could do with a striker in the Charlie Austin mould although a much younger version. After Barnes was subbed we changed tactics and it produces two good goals.

Hopefully in January we can unload some and fill the areas we need improvement on, but I can't see it happening.

In all 3 of our games against the Big 6 this season we’ve conceded crucial goals as a direct result of individual errors. It’s more noticeable against these sides because they punish you almost every time, but it isn’t just confined to these games. Pukki’s chance early in the Norwich game another example of our defenders not having their heads screwed on.