Has anyone got any observations about the way we play? One thing that stands out for me is a limit to our confidence in possession. Yesterday against top class opposition they passed it around confidently for approximately 8 to 10 pass sequences (throughout the game) without pressure, then for no apparent reason someone would pass it back to McGregor who booted it up the pitch resulting in loss of possession. We do this all the time and it seems like the players don't believe they can hold on to the ball beyond a certain point.
We seem uncommonly one paced. We never break at speed and regularly allow teams to regroup and any attacking advantage at lost, if we get a chance of a counterattack.
I think they're drilled in possession and patient build up, but some sides just will not come forward out of defence unless they're sure of getting the ball. The fans around me tend to become impatient and start screaming to get it in the box or push up, and I think the players react to some of this. A bit of a change from our previous visit up here when we hardly touched the ball. We still got bullied at free kicks by opposition players parting the wall though. At least it was read well by the keeper.
Good point, along with the lack of breaking at pace, throw ins, and wall set up comments in other posts. We tend to play a very cautious game, notably in the second half as was obvious yesterday when we stopped pressing up field which we had done in the first half. That was the turning point IMO and allowed them to push up. In the first half they were limited to David Luiz pinging out long balls from their own half, none of which worked. In the second half they were all around our area and Hazard was running riot against an out-of-sorts Chester. However a word of caution to all contributors to threads of this nature. PLT will accuse you of "lack of perspective", of second-guessing the manager, of criticizing the players, particularly Graham, and in general showing a complete lack of "maturity". You may even find your Rep Power points have mysteriously disappeared. So beware, the Mod God is watching you.
I think you might be confusing cause and effect, with regards to yesterday's match anyway. I don't think City sank back towards their own goal out of habit or fear - they did it because Chelsea got in their faces and made it happen. They're a jolly good side!
I'm annoyed with our crossing. Still not good enough. I forgot who it was but in 2nd half on left hand side someone crossed it in the box when we had a lot of players forward It was figgy! and I was fuming. We had 3 open players on the edge of the box and there were about 6 chelsea players in front of Cech and figgy crosses it to virtually no one right in the middle of the 6 chelsea players... We just cross so often but I don't think figgy/elmo are up to it. Few minutes later Elmo has to deal with cole i think on the right wing... he's about to cross it and the whole ****ing stadium can tell his kick will just hit cole...and of course it does. It baffled me. If he kicks it it goes nowhere, he need to either shimmy to the left or get passed cole before crossing and yet he still kicks it right at him. It's too easy and predictable. We need Aluko back quickly. He would link up with Elmo to help him out, or he would run down to the byline to get Cole off his back or play a 1-2 inside ... We're doing alright but we're technically struggling. Imo that's why we aren't going forward with the ball. We're trying to play like Arsenal/Swansea etc... on the floor with movement but we don't have the technical players on the field right now. Some aren't confident enough to try, some have horrible first touch and some lack speed. You look at Koren, Meyler, Elmo, Bruce etc... they'll try some nice flicks etc but we end up losing it because we're lacking players like Aluko.
Agree, 2nd half their midfield harried ours in threes, so after a few passes space and time to remain composed evaporated.
We need Brady and Aluko back sharpish. It's all well and good saying we're too slow and cautious but the only player with pace enough to hit the opposition on the break is Elmo, but all he can/ever wants to do is cross it in and he can't cross a ball to save his bloody life. He should try bringing it inside and hammering the ball low into the box or pulling it back from the byline sometimes as well. On the other flank whoever plays there, be it Boyd or Quinn, doesn't have the pace to make the run all the way down the flank even if they had a 10 yard head start. They have to stop and lay it off and play their way into dangerous areas rather than force their way trough. Sagbo can hit fast on the break too, but again the midfield isn't fast enough to get up in support before the opposition get back and organised, which leaves you playing it back and prodding for gaps to open or trying to play it through an 8 or 9 man defence. With Brady and Aluko back in the side the 4 more attacking players all have the pace to just keep running, cause problems and support each other.
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that when we set up with our 352 formation, it actually turns out to be a irregular 442/451? Elmo always pushes up and doesn't track back often enough, where as Figueroa is the opposite (not sure if their under instruction). With Elmo pushing up, Chester ends up at RB with a CB pairing of Bruce and Davies and Figgy at LB. Then we end up with a midfield 4 of Elmo, Livermore, Thudd and Meyler, with 3 CMs and one RM. Obviously this makes us predictable when we attack as we only have one option with Elmo, who more often than not puts an average cross in to no one.
Are we unhappy at losing a game 2-0, to Chelski ? Man we've come a long long way. I've got to agree with AlRawdah, they beat us(in the second half) because they are a very good side. If people are critical of a team that were actually the better side for the first 45, against the current premier leagues second placed club... Man we've come a long way
No one's slagging off the team or complaining we got beat by Chelsea. It's just a constructive discussion about the way we play (who knows Brucey might spot it and get some feed-back). There's also no reason why people can't comment about stuff the team does well.
Exactly. That's what a discussion forum is all about. A discussion of the good, the bad, and the ugly. Those who say Chelsea are a very good team are stating the obvious. We all know that. We all recognize we are probably punching above our weight given the differences in personnel, payroll, etc. Tell us something new. Not that we "lack perspective"!!
It's actually a compliment to Bruce and the team's hard work and success that we have the luxury to look at the details instead of panicking about being in the bottom 3.
Bet any of the teams below us would like to play the way we do, have the same points and be in 10th place
And leaves Chester 1-on-1 in a position he isn't used to against one of the top players in world football
Aluko is the explosive player who can frighten defenders & Brady on form can too, Boyd's tricky but not really quick.. however our medium-paced build up doesn't bother a top notch Mourinho defence. Swansea are similar, better in possession than us but offer little goal threat without Michu
