We only had 7 but I couldn't even say that he took them all, we needed JWP for that duty, as far as I remember they all reached the danger area, we didn't get on the end of them.
The first goal was clearly his fault. Then many set pieces were also poor. One of my complaints stated that in general JWP is a better player and should be starting. Fully justified after a poor game and poor season.
Chelsea were very good. It did however highlight, as it would, some of our shortcomings. Clasie in front of Hojbjerg.. no. Clasie in front of JWP.. no.. If a team is finding a way round the diamond is there a plan b. ...no.
One defeat against a superbly organized team does not make us a bad one, we will play worse than we did today and win. On a positive note, we have played a lot of tough fixtures already this season and are still not badly placed.
I suspect some of our shell shocked regulars are thinking that it is the start of another blip, like the ones we always have towards Christmas!
We looked short of quality in midfield. Clasie and Davis were not good enough to produce the interplay and through balls needed to break down a very good Chelsea team. We are a decent side but Chelsea were on a different level today. Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk
We aren't a bad team but we also lack quality/good back up in a few areas. We still need another forward and have done from the start of the season. As I said a few pages back we are averaging about a goal a game, but also averaging conceding a goal a game. Our attacking play (not just forwards) is lacking.
When I saw todays line up I texted a message to a friend, I said this looks like a graft team, but no craft, it more or less proved to be that way. The most fluid movement came late on after Sofiane and Hojbjerg came on, too late then, the damage had already been done.
This is the only page I've read of this since the game. Best I don't bother with the rest. FFS. Here's my simplistic overview. I really don't think any one Saints player can be said to have had a bad game today. Some mistakes were made but **** me who hasn't made a mistake in a game? We played very well in the first half against a tough and difficult to break down Italy Chelsea team. They were very good and despite our efforts we were beaten by the better team. That's it.
Tom what did you think of the Referee today, did he forget to bring his notebook or had he mislaid his cards?
We are the same team today as we were yesterday...my opinion doesn't change after one game. Chelsea have more quality than us, but we could beat them some days....today wasn't that day. We didn't play our best....or Chelsea didn't let us. Learn and move on.
Chelsea were better than us today, and there's nothing wrong with that - they really should be. We were a little too slow in the build up, always allowed Chelsea back into their very solid defensive formation. I have the same gripe as always with Chelsea teams, once ahead they are extremely good at stopping the flow of the match. Constant falls looking for free kicks, plus niggly fouls that stop our build up but aren't quite worth a yellow card.
I seriously wonder what game you watched. We were beaten by the best team I've seen this season, having dominated them for 37 minutes if the first half. We couldn't break them down like we have other teams, but that's no crime and doesn't mean we didn't play well. No shame in not being able to break that blue wall down. Ask Mourinho.
We certainly lost to a better team but I don't think we played 'very well' in the first half at all. It may have looked that way due to possession and terroritory but that was due to them letting us have the ball... and we had one shot in target in the first half (entire game actually). And that was Tadic from a set piece.
I just don't get this at all. I'm going to log off as I've read enough doom and gloom. I get annoyed when we lose, but today I left thinking that we were just beaten by a better team despite trying hard and doing well.
Forgot to add, just seen Martina's dance-moves for the 2nd goal - forget that it led to a goal and just enjoy the comedy of it!