Chelsea v Newcastle United - Official Build Up / Matchday Thread

Perfectly acceptable all round, for me. Defeat likely, but to go in unlucky to be 1-0 down at the Champions elect is no disgrace. Good to see some solid performances, and very relieved to see Timmy in nets!! Still huge question marks over Dummett as a left back (Santon please) and Gouffran is just completely anonymous, but after a fairly underwhelming season it was nice to see Cabella still trying tricks. Bit weird that he seems to have less in his locker than Sammy, who had a really solid cameo, but I am still concerned by a lack of attacking effort. Towards the end, 2-0 down, nowt to lose, Sammy gets the ball left, good skills, good pace, whips in a ball and only Perez in the box? It was weird - we'd already brought on Riviere! Then when it's cleared, Chelsea get it - the positional sense, when attacking, remains poor and is a real legacy of Pardew.

I'd like to see Sammy keep getting chances, Sissoko needs to keep that ranging midfield role, but otherwise we seem close-ish to an identity. 4-2-3-1 seems right, but it's just about supporting Perez better. I'd like to see Perez in one of the wide positions and De Jong up front in that false-9 type role. I wish we could see the Tiote of old alongside Colback, I'd be sorely tempted to cash in and get a decent destroyer somewhere, a Matic 'light'! Abeid would be worth a shot, of course. All in all looks ok. Be nice to have a manager, mind. Or head coach.

 

Chelsea did just enough for the 3 points without breaking sweat, Newcastle didn't do enough for a point.

 

I think the old **** was celebrating his birthday thank Christ. If he comes in I would probably laugh myself to an early grave.

 

I thought we did very well. No points or goals, but we played entertaining football and took the game to Chelsea in the first half. Desperately unlucky to go in behind at half time. Quite a few plusses, the performance of Cabella in particular.

 

Cabella was good as was Perez.

Krul made a difference to the defence and Coloccini etc were better without having to protect the keeper.

Too many passengers though.

 

Oops

 

Probably right there, Gouffran seems to start more often than not, no matter how bad he is. Ditto Williamson. We've got a few to come back though. Aarons in particular will be massive for us next year. If he's still here.