or some kid Luis Alberto who we bought for 7 million who can also score and assist. Interesting what will happen with him too. Costa would have thrived in that kind of game had we been able to snag him in the summer, same with Kono. You can have that shape and sync with the midfield and backline but have a player who is pacy and good in the 1v1 like a Kono and it unbalances, causes players to leave positions they are safe in, draws players out, etc. Or quick as **** barca tiki-taka from 2009 but that is not happening with the players we have.
Yes I was having a go but I was also stating what I believe is the answer to the question. Just like Barca of recent times, they do dominate games but they are so fragile at the back, teams know exactly how to beat them. The fact is Rodgers was given the exam questions beforehand and still failed it. To be fair, not many managers have been able to deal with such tactics.
Second that. Mixing it up is the way to winning things. Philosophical football will win you audience but pragmatical one will win you trophies. Having said that, you folks most deserve to win it this year even though no team has been really outstanding this year.
Anti football? Effective fruitful football, compare your success over the last 20 years. Don't believe the hype we at present hold the record for the most goals scored in a premiership season. Worth noting we also hold the record for the most away wins too. Chin up lad
You played good football under Ancelotti, when you broke the record. No doubt about that, you should have kept hold of him. Mourinho though is a defensive minded manager
"Don't believe the hype" What the **** is that supposed to mean? There is no 'hype', there's just the fact that Chelsea are a boring defensive team. And if its so effective & fruitful then why are Chelsea on course to finish 3rd??
Ironically, Rodgers prefferred patient style when he joined us if used with high quality players is the answer. We didn't like him playing that style as our players weren't suited. It really just comes down to your better players being at their best on one day. Sure Chelsea could isolate or thwart one good player but if you've 6 all on song you eventually break through. We just weren't good enough on the day. Nothing to do with tactics.
I think that was part of the problem though... our players weren't all on song... but worse- they weren't a team. There was too much selfishness in the team- everyone trying to be a hero and take the shot from way out when a team-mate was in space closer.
Chelsea were happy to stand off us because we don't really have anyone that can shoot from distance. If you have a player that has a potential to hit a thunderbolt with pinpoint accuracy to test a keeper or get an uncanny deflection, that player will scare a defender into going out of position to close him down allowing space for your more intricate players
You simply need to attack better than the other team defends. The game against Chelsea was frustratnig but they defended perfectly. Not only that, we simply weren;t good enough in our attack - it was disappointing, trying to force things, getting frustrated, and taking half chances.
Round up the mob, take up the pitchforks, light up the ***-gots and torches and chase Mourinho, Pulis and Fat Sam out of the league! I'm kidding. It's good to laugh. We have fun here. We needed to be more patient and, above all, play better. We've played through teams before but we just weren't good enough on the night. That's the long and the short of it, I'm afraid.
Perfectly accurate article. But it's not diving so it's an ok form of cheating isn't it. The just as important bit was how our players, especially the supposedly world class ones didn't turn up. There's been signs of that selfishness up front in recent matches...well this time it cost us. The wound was self inflicted...it doesn't mean Mourinho isn't a classless cheat who represents all that is ugly not just in football but in any sport.
