Chelsea 2017/18 thread - FA Cup Champs, League chumps

Hazard ban for diving? Looked a clear dive to me

A dive is either without contact or deliberately attempting to initiate contact. This was neither. It was a foul that the ref deemed a penalty even though for me it was clearly a soft one. Move along.
 
We need Sanchez this January. Morata is low on confidence. Might not finish in the top 4 if he keeps performing like this
 
Chelsea's fullbacks are top drawer. Alonso has been good for a while now and everytime I watch them, Zappacosta contributes a lot.

Shaw's done okay, and he was good against Everton so hopefully he goes from there but we need a new right back.

I won't mind if we took a punt on a particular Brazilian right back who plays for Lyon. :(
 
We need Sanchez this January. Morata is low on confidence. Might not finish in the top 4 if he keeps performing like this
Hysterical much, he's our top scorer and your going on about might miss top 4
 
Chelsea have the worst midfield of the top 6

Kante - good defensively but limited on the ball
Bakayoko - underwhelming
Drinkwater - average
Fabregas - old and no longer in his prime

Terrible midfield in all honesty. They have no depth either.
 
Chelsea's fullbacks are top drawer. Alonso has been good for a while now and everytime I watch them, Zappacosta contributes a lot.

Shaw's done okay, and he was good against Everton so hopefully he goes from there but we need a new right back.

I won't mind if we took a punt on a particular Brazilian right back who plays for Lyon. :(

Fullbacks are arguably their weakest positions.
 
Fullbacks are arguably their weakest positions.
I disagree. Their fullbacks are good on the ball and have great stamina. The weakest point in the team is clearly the midfield that can’t maintain possession when pressed.

They need a player like Kovacic in there. I’d be absolutely amazed if Chelsea aren’t in the market this summer for at least one top class midfielder.
 
Fullbacks are arguably their weakest positions.

Really? I'd say midfield is where they need strengthening.

Their fullbacks contribute a lot. I like the look of Zappacosta. He reminds me of Zabaleta.
 
Chelsea have the worst midfield of the top 6

Kante - good defensively but limited on the ball
Bakayoko - underwhelming
Drinkwater - average
Fabregas - old and no longer in his prime

Terrible midfield in all honesty. They have no depth either.

I think their midfield is just to provide stability and balance to their over committed fullbacks. They attack from wings much more than though the middle. On top of that Hazard alone is carrying their attack.

Yeah if you consider passing ability they have the worst among top 6.
 
:lol: the title "Hakuna Morata" means "No Morata" in Swahili. May be appropriate after his performance last night.
 
:lol: the title "Hakuna Morata" means "No Morata" in Swahili. May be appropriate after his performance last night.

It's a play on the phrase "hakuna matata," which the rest of the world knows from The Lion King:



Clearly, there's lots to be worried about with Morata, at the moment, though. :D
 
Conte doesn't sound too happy with the transfer business.

However, Conte said via Sky Sport Italia: "I do not aim high with my requests, especially as in my history I've rarely been given the players I asked for.

"I always ended up at clubs who were running an austerity programme.

"I just try to do my work. If someone arrives, good, if they don't, then that's fine too. I have to continue my work, either way."
 
Conte doesn't sound too happy with the transfer business.

In my history I've rarely been given the players I asked for.

Not even Mourinho would be so blunt. /me grimaces

Was he referring to Morata, or just addressing his current window's targets?
 
Conte doesn't sound too happy with the transfer business.
He is going to a club in the summer that will give him all the players he wants. He has personal ambition of winning the Champions league, same as PSG. Wont be surprised if he wins it for them in next 3-5 years.
 
In my history I've rarely been given the players I asked for.

Not even Mourinho would be so blunt. /me grimaces

Was he referring to Morata, or just addressing his current window's targets?
I think he is speaking about all of his career, Even at juve, he left because there were problems with recruitment targets and how he wanted to take the club forward.Similar that is happening at chelsea, who buys players not because their manager wants them but because the Dof gets them.
 
Well last night was the most disappointed I have been as a Chelsea fan this year, Morata should have won us the game and Conte substitution to take off Fab and not Baka was pure madness. We didn't play too badly had we taken our chances but I just feel it was an opportunity missed.

People need to calm down with the top 4 talk no one from 2-6th is guaranteed top 4 but you have to believe both us and united have by far the best chances to do it.

HOWEVER the most positive thing I have read in a very long time from Tibo;

“It has just turned the new year so we will wait a few weeks and then sit around the table,” Courtois said. “I’m happy at Chelsea and a deal is close. Has it been a distraction? Not for me. I’m just calm and relaxed because I’m tied to Chelsea. Despite the rumours and everything, I am focused on Chelsea and I’m happy here.”

“Do Eden and I encourage each other to sign? Yes. He will say: ‘If you sign, I will sign,’ and I say the same to him. I think we are both happy at Chelsea, we both have a good part to play. We have been champions twice in the four seasons I have been here and we can have our peak years together at Chelsea.”

It looks likely that both will sign a contract extension, most likely for astronomical wages but deservedly so.
 
Isnt the sole job of Chelsea's midfield to get the ball to Hazard and let him do something ridiculous and get an assist/goal?

I've watched Chelsea a lot this season, and they are as reliant on Hazard as we are on Pogba, probably even more.
 
Isnt the sole job of Chelsea's midfield to get the ball to Hazard and let him do something ridiculous and get an assist/goal?

I've watched Chelsea a lot this season, and they are as reliant on Hazard as we are on Pogba, probably even more.

in the 3-5-2 it essentially is in the 3-4-3 less so. We desperately need a creative CM and a mahrez/lemar type player.
 
Far too easy for Arsenal to get between the lines last night. Still think Chelsea should have won it. When you look at the quality of the chances created it's pretty clear cut even though it felt as if Arsenal were dominating. Expected goals had it at 3.08 - 1.23 in Chelsea's favour fwiw.
 
Isnt the sole job of Chelsea's midfield to get the ball to Hazard and let him do something ridiculous and get an assist/goal?

I've watched Chelsea a lot this season, and they are as reliant on Hazard as we are on Pogba, probably even more.
Our record without Hazard for the duration of Conte's has been excellent (not to mention we went infront after taking him off), that's not to say we would be better without him we obviously won't be but we still have coped quite well.
 
Our record without Hazard for the duration of Conte's has been excellent (not to mention we went infront after taking him off), that's not to say we would be better without him we obviously won't be but we still have coped quite well.

That's because you're a good team. But, Hazard is such a good player that when he plays everything goes through him and you are a much better team compared to when someone like Pedro or Willian plays. You also have a good manager; who can set the team up to win ugly.
 
Far too easy for Arsenal to get between the lines last night. Still think Chelsea should have won it. When you look at the quality of the chances created it's pretty clear cut even though it felt as if Arsenal were dominating. Expected goals had it at 3.08 - 1.23 in Chelsea's favour fwiw.

I was about to ask for the xG for both sides. That's a huge gap Chelsea should have capitalized on.
 
http://www.goal.com/en/news/chelsea...ss-ive-rarely-been-/g0b8r1bu0t9o1745v526hrbn7
However, Conte said via Sky Sport Italia:
"I do not aim high with my requests, especially as in my history I've rarely been given the players I asked for.

I always ended up at clubs who were running an austerity programme.

I just try to do my work. If someone arrives, good, if they don't, then that's fine too. I have to continue my work, either way."
Correct translation and context presumed, he's probably not a big fan of Ross Barkley.
 
With rumor Chelsea is after Andy Caroll and failed to sign Llorente in the summer, it's kinda safe to assume Conte clearly wanted a forward with big physique (?), thus Lukaku was his first choice?
 
We need Sanchez this January. Morata is low on confidence. Might not finish in the top 4 if he keeps performing like this
Forget about Sanchez, he ain't joining a club whose board won't pay big bucks in transfer fees.

Or any striker for that matter in January.

Chelsea is getting Barkley and Carroll. Picture that in your minds. From the likes of Sandro and Lemar to these two buffons. You couldn't get a better circus act than from the Board.
 
Forget about Sanchez, he ain't joining a club whose board won't pay big bucks in transfer fees.

Or any striker for that matter in January.

Chelsea is getting Barkley and Carroll. Picture that in your minds. From the likes of Sandro and Lemar to these two buffons. You couldn't get a better circus act than from the Board.
Given the circus our board is and how well organized and professional City's board is. So...
 
Forget about Sanchez, he ain't joining a club whose board won't pay big bucks in transfer fees.

Or any striker for that matter in January.

Chelsea is getting Barkley and Carroll. Picture that in your minds. From the likes of Sandro and Lemar to these two buffons. You couldn't get a better circus act than from the Board.
Surely rumors about Barkley and Carroll aren't credible? :lol:
 
Think barkley is good for the 15m we will pay. Severely lack creativity in the middle IMO so as long as he can continue being as creative as he was at everton last year, then it could be a good signing. Could easy have kante sitting and giving free license to him and fab in a 3-5-2.
 
Well last night was the most disappointed I have been as a Chelsea fan this year, Morata should have won us the game and Conte substitution to take off Fab and not Baka was pure madness.

Agreed on the substitutions, but I couldn't feel disappointed overall considering how downright entertaining that match was. It feels like the title is long gone, so now being entertained is great. :)
 
Agreed on the substitutions, but I couldn't feel disappointed overall considering how downright entertaining that match was. It feels like the title is long gone, so now being entertained is great. :)

Yeah I was extremely entertained also! Just felt like if we could have edged them at there ground it would have been a really big result and with the chances we created we should have.

Overall though since the arsenal match its been good news, I'm intrigued to see what barkley can bring and it appears to be that Tibo & Hazard both will sign extensions.
 
How’s he going for £15m? Embarrassed for Everton
 
Yeah I was extremely entertained also! Just felt like if we could have edged them at there ground it would have been a really big result and with the chances we created we should have.

Overall though since the arsenal match its been good news, I'm intrigued to see what barkley can bring and it appears to be that Tibo & Hazard both will sign extensions.

Yeah, doing them 5-2 if Morata had been on form would have been nice. :drool:
 
Think barkley is good for the 15m we will pay. Severely lack creativity in the middle IMO so as long as he can continue being as creative as he was at everton last year, then it could be a good signing. Could easy have kante sitting and giving free license to him and fab in a 3-5-2.
He’s a mediocre player who shows glimpses of decent play once in a Long while. Nothing to get excited about. It goes to show how Low standards at the club have fallen. I have to give credit to the board for managing the fans’ expectations of player recruitment. Every player bought by the board is perceived to be a great buy or at least cheap even if said player is cack.