We look tired

[pushpinpussy]

not one to be negative but we look tired out there. every single one of them.

[Aclaret]

No wonder, we've been given the run around

[Burnley1989]

Poor today, one of those days, you can’t be even slightly below your performance levels against these sort of teams, not one player comes out with much credit

[MACCA]

Playing 3 games a week, now expected to play 3 in next 6 days with 2 being Chelsea and Man C.

Squad is threadbare and with a couple of abysmal transfer windows it was always going to be tough.

Brighton is the big one, could have been wholloped 5-0 today and Wednesday for me, if we win next Saturday

[wilks_bfc]

Poor today, one of those days, you can’t be even slightly below your performance levels against these sort of teams, not one player comes out with much credit

Pope (again)

[Guller Bull]

Dwight has been totally anonymous.

[Burnley Ace]

Run ragged on another heavy pitch

[blake's wand]

We haven't really caused them any problems today, look tired and picked up some injuries we didn't need.

I think we should play a second team on Wed and regroup.

Let's not forget Chelsea are a very good team. Feels like we always play teams after they get a new manager

[BOYSIE31]

Poor performance all round

[superdimitri]

Bound to be tired, so much harder working off the ball.

[Juan Tanamera]

If you allow the opposition to pass round you at will, you end up chasing shadows = tired/knackered.

[DCWat]

I wasn’t too disappointed at half time, I thought we’d put in a reasonably good performance. Second half, we did look tired and were chasing shadows.

I thought Cork did well first half, alongside Tarkowski.

We know we’re a few players short - right back, right wing, perhaps a striker and for me, a central midfielder.

Hopefully we see a couple of signings to help the first XI out, by close of play tomorrow.

Some of the criticisms are a little too harsh, in the middle of a difficult run, in which we’ve taken six points. Most of us probably predicted a couple of points at most!

[tarkys_ears]

Yeah thought the same.

Games are coming quite frequently at the moment and we are using the same players.

I don't watch much other football - do other teams rotate much or are they doing the same as us?

[kentonclaret]

Perhaps a couple of additions before the window slams shut might help to freshen things up a bit?

[Silkyskills1]

442 yet again at Chelsea. Another similar defeat to one's from previous years. As alluded to already we look very jaded and injuries mounting up yet again.

[CaptJohn]

Squad size is starting to bite us. The loss of Wood is a worry and hopefully Brownhill can get fit soon as he gives us a lot of energy in the middle of the park. Westwood is running on empty and Cork clearly not fully fit. Maybe park the bus against City and play all of Long, Dunne and Bardsley instead of any forwards?

[ksrclaret]

We need to be better on the ball and we won't be as shattered. Simple as that.

[jackmiggins]

As poor as Newcastle away (2019) - embarrassingly poor.

[jurek]

More than tired!
Bereft of any ideas going forward
and makes you wonder how on earth
we managed to turn it around
In the second half against Villa.
Embarrassing stats too.
No attempts at all last time I looked.

[Top Claret]

Tarkowski looked knackered on the 2nd goal he moved like an ice berg

[Peter Loo]

First defeat in 4 games so not bad at all.

[Stevie Morgan]

Could really do with longer than 2 days after city before Brighton. Must be tempting to rest players in the city game.

[Top Claret]

Squad size is starting to bite us. The loss of Wood is a worry and hopefully Brownhill can get fit soon as he gives us a lot of energy in the middle of the park. Westwood is running on empty and Cork clearly not fully fit. Maybe park the bus against City and play all of Long, Dunne and Bardsley instead of any forwards?

We should give our key players a rest against City.

We have key games coming up against bottom half clubs in February

[Tribesmen]

Yer have too much in the last number of games so best cut the lad some slack

[Top Claret]

Could really do with longer than 2 days after city before Brighton. Must be tempting to rest players in the city game.

Play the under 23s

[tiger76]

First defeat in 4 games so not bad at all.

I didn't expect anything today, and 2-0 at Chelsea is no disgrace, what is worrying is that we didn't even test their keeper.

City is another free hit, and then we have 4 crucial games, Brighton, Bournemouth, Palace, West Brom, a couple of wins in the league, and progress in the cup will ensure an exciting end to the season.

What's more concerning than the defeat is the mounting injury list again. Hope none are too serious.

[Bin Ont Turf]

A bridge too far was that.

Getting the run around 3 times in just over a week has taken it's toll.

[DomBFC1882]

I didn't expect anything today, and 2-0 at Chelsea is no disgrace, what is worrying is that we didn't even test their keeper.

City is another free hit, and then we have 4 crucial games, Brighton, Bournemouth, Palace, West Brom, a couple of wins in the league, and progress in the cup will ensure an exciting end to the season.

What's more concerning than the defeat is the mounting injury list again. Hope none are too serious.

Their keeper could have brought a book and a deckchair

[BabylonClaret]

Chelsea are a good side. They've been o a poor run but they've a new manager who has plenty of plaudits as being a good tactician and he's now had more time with the side.

Thought we played well first half and unlucky to go behind but pretty much every game that has happened we've drifted sadly out of the game (except against Villa).

We do need more cover though. Our midfield looks shot 2nd half

[tiger76]

Their keeper could have brought a book and a deckchair

a bit chilly for a deckchair in January, but he might have got through a chapter or two of War and Peace.

The reality is our season won't be decided by games like today, and if we can dig results out against our fellow lower half sides we'll be fine, we were poor today though, but all teams have their off days, and if we're going to have one I'd rather it was against the likes of Chelsea than say Brighton or West Brom who we face in the next couple of weeks.

[Holmeclaret]

Bound to be tired, so much harder working off the ball.

Couldn’t agree more. The amount of work we do put in combined with the current fixture list is taking its toll.
Exactly why we can’t expect too much in cup competitions, though I appreciate that it’s an opportunity to blood younger squad members. If we progress past Bournemouth, I would expect us to field a stronger team but at what cost?

[DomBFC1882]

a bit chilly for a deckchair in January, but he might have got through a chapter or two of War and Peace.

The reality is our season won't be decided by games like today, and if we can dig results out against our fellow lower half sides we'll be fine, we were poor today though, but all teams have their off days, and if we're going to have one I'd rather it was against the likes of Chelsea than say Brighton or West Brom who we face in the next couple of weeks.

I'm with you tiger

Definitely need some new blood though so tomorrow is a massive day

[expoultryboy]

Chelsea set up with a 3-4-2-1 formation , which was always going to make it difficult for Wood to get anything upfront or Cork/Westwood to compete in midfield . Somebody mentioned using Stephens in front of the back four , which would of allowed Pieters to stay wider . We did look tired , but next weekend's the more important game . Onwards and upwards .

[giveusaB]

Although we have City on Wednesday Brighton are away at Liverpool same night.

[DomBFC1882]

Shame we didn't play the Fulham game as if we'd have won that we'd be sat comfortably on 25 points

[Safron]

A change of system away from the 442, especially away would be a start in certain games

[Peter Loo]

I didn't expect anything today, and 2-0 at Chelsea is no disgrace, what is worrying is that we didn't even test their keeper.

City is another free hit, and then we have 4 crucial games, Brighton, Bournemouth, Palace, West Brom, a couple of wins in the league, and progress in the cup will ensure an exciting end to the season.

What's more concerning than the defeat is the mounting injury list again. Hope none are too serious.

Yes and with two of those injuries to two of our five strikers the most concerning for me.

[TsarBomba]

As poor as Newcastle away (2019) - embarrassingly poor.

Embarrassing? Really?

Havertz cost about twice as much as our squad, and he’s sat on the bench. Along with the worlds most expensive goalkeeper. And Pulisic. And Kante.

We weren’t quite at it today, but let’s have a bit of realism.

[tiger76]

Yes and with two of those injuries to two of our five strikers the most concerning for me.

That's not a problem, step forward Kev Long

No in all seriousness it is a big worry, and if Wood is out for the season as the rumours suggest, then we may not have much option but to dip into the market tomorrow.

[warksclaret]

We do look tired and woeful at keeping the ball. We played well for 15 minutes today then they took over. We did defend well in fairness-but our first attempt in injury time !!!!!!

[Rileybobs]

No in all seriousness it is a big worry, and if Wood is out for the season as the rumours suggest, then we may not have much option but to dip into the market tomorrow.

Where have you heard this?

[NewClaret]

Basically given the run around by a better team who’s substitutes individually cost more than our whole team (not fact checked this).

No shame in that and no need for an inquest.

[Steve1956]

Tired?.......Tired? ........f**k me!

[tiger76]

Where have you heard this?

Someone mentioned it on this forum, how much truth there is to it IDK, and hopefully it's just a minor knock that he can shake off.

Otherwise with Barnes out just now, we're left with only Jay & Vydra as 1st choice strikers, with perhaps Mumbongo and Thompson as sub options, and neither of those is proven at this level, so we would be somewhat thin on the ground to say the least, and given that we're struggling to score goals with a fully fit strike force Villa excepted, then heaven only knows how we'll manage with a depleted front line.

[Woodleyclaret]

Hudson-Odyi is a kick and rush merchant who loves to run into gaps
Problem was we failed to double up and the two goals came from slack marking
Sean doesn't do squad rotation unless forced to but I would play Joel and Vyds from the off .Jay I would play cm with Ash Dwight Johan alongside him
Defence is Erik if Charlie still out and Bardsley at rb

[DomBFC1882]

Basically given the run around by a better team who’s substitutes individually cost more than our whole team (not fact checked this).

No shame in that and no need for an inquest.

I'm not going to argue regarding performance mate and the fact today was inevitable however we can't just start saying that because of the cost of their squad bla bla bla

That excuse could be used against most teams, most recently villa and Liverpool

[Steve1956]

Perhaps a couple of additions before the window slams shut might help to freshen things up a bit?

Surely they will be Tired to??.....Tired?....Tired? ive never heard so much shite in all my life!

[kentonclaret]

Having just offered a group of players in their 30's new contracts SD can have no complaints if his team are looking tired after playing a series of tough games during this revised Covid schedule.

[huw.Y.WattfromWare]

We didn’t look tired at all. The guys worked their socks off against a better team with fitter, stronger players. That is the market we are in but don’t fault them for that. They were all out there giving their best.

[DomBFC1882]

Having just offered a group of players in their 30's new contracts SD can have no complaints if his team are looking tired after playing a series of tough games during this revised Covid schedule.

Exactly. His transfer policy of not signing youth is inevitably going to catch up with him.

I cant remember a player under 25 who was signed and walked into the team the SD