Still gutted about tonight. Our out ball is to our wingers but they cut that out, even if we did manage to find one they were surrounded. We were too slow in our build up so there were few options and we ended up pumping it up the middle where Zouma and Silva mopped it up. It seems the way to play us is to let the CB have it, everyone else pushes up then we give it away. They were quicker and sharper but much more importantly, the quality was way ahead. We don't have a Pulisic who can drive straight through the middle and score. Apart from Bamford our finishing is woeful and, as I said, our final ball is shocking. They all seem to lose their heads when faced with a chance at goal. I don't know if you can teach composure or you have to buy it. Only Philips and Meslier were good enough today.
Just been reading some reactions to the wallies booing the knee stuff. There are black players in every team, fans love them. Can't wear a poppy but they oblige players to knee, ffs. Football is supposed to be non political. On a side note, suarez and casilla supposedly said negro/ negrito which in spanish means black, hence not offencive. 8 match ban, Cavani posts it on media and **** all? Personally I think all 3 are innocent, they only said the word negro, black in spanish.
I think we were beaten by a better team tonight. Individual quality told but I think if we’d have played better as a team we could’ve won. Too many stray passes and a couple of players that weren’t at the races for us today. Not sure why VAR didn’t give a penalty for the Poveda challenge but I think it’s safe to assume we won’t be getting any favours from them this season. Meslier - 6 - Made some great stops. Couldn’t do anything with the goals. Distribution still needs to be improved but he’ll keep working on that. Happy with him as our no.1. Ayling - 5 - Wasn’t at it today. Can’t remember him doing much wrong but he didn’t bring anything into the game for us. Koch - 3 - Didn’t play long enough to give a good rating but lost his man at a corner again and could’ve cost us a goal. Cooper - 6 - Pretty solid from him. Commanding and marshalled the defence well. He was tripped for the 2nd goal so he could’ve do anything for that. Alioski - 4 - Looked out of his depth tonight and we were reminded why Dallas has made the LB spot his own. Tries and tries but just couldn’t keep up with the pace tonight. Phillips - 5 - Good assist but his movement wasn’t as good as it was at Everton and thought he wasn’t as quick with his passing and decision making tonight. Lost the ball in dangerous positions. Raphinha - 5 - Didn’t get involved enough tonight but still could’ve had a goal and if his rebound was better we’d have been back in it. Deserves to keep his place as even when he doesn’t do a lot he’s got something in him. Klich - 5 - Seemed a bit off it tonight and when Klich is off it we don’t do as well as a unit. So important to our team and play from front to back. Kante had the better of him tonight but on his day Kante is probably one of the best midfielders in the world. Dallas - 4 - Another one we can usually rely on and looked a little off the pace tonight. Think we might see him back in at LB where he looks a lot better on Friday. Harrison - 3 - If his performances don't start improving I think he might lose his place in the starting 11. Been off it for a few weeks now. Poor control and delivery (again) tonight, needs to be better with the positions he takes up. At fault for losing his man (James) for the cross that came to the goal, stop the cross and that’s not a goal. Bamford - 6 - Scored and took his goal well. Ask a lot of him and tonight his pressing wasn’t as good as it usually is but he did score so still gets high marks from me. Llorente - 5 - Started off a little wobbly but then kept calm and didn’t do a lot wrong. Not a bad debut and a difficult game to come into after an injury. Nice player to bring on when your CB gets injured and nice to finally have a few decent CBs at the club. Look forward to seeing more of him. Poveda - 5 - Flair player? Is he actually any good as he’s come on and looked good but never actually changed a game. Should’ve had a pen. Rodrigo - 5 - Didn’t do loads but he offers so much more attacking wise and always causes problems/creates chances. Will we see a start on Friday with Dallas back to LB? Depends on fitness and his willingness to do the harder work for the team.
That's the fifth time Fat Frank has faced a Bielsa team. Bielsa is still winning O/A but that Chelsea squad will take some beating this season. I don't think we really played/ allowed to play our normal game today, but that could have been down to quite detailed knowledge about most of our team from the 4 previous times he has coached a side against us. The London jinx continues.
Well if you had bothered to check the links you would have seen that I was comparing the cost/value of both sides, ie. Chelsea £755 million, Leeds £163 million!!
The fact that we were dissapointed to be beaten yesterday was testament to how far Marcelo Bielsa has brought our club in a relatively short time. The man is a genius. The problem with the Premiership is that it has turned the game into a league of half a dozen clubs with the rest scrambling for the crumbs.
Good afternoon everyone. Agree, Bielsa has worked wonders for our club, the man is a Genius, However to take us to the next Level ie a top six finish he will require more investment, signs are we will get that from the snippets/rumours I have read/heard, if true exciting times ahead & I do hope marcello will still be here over the next few seasons (or longer) to complete the transformation of our great club.
