[Galactic]

I think our defence was very good today. Especially when compared to the previous matches this season.

I doubt that Rafael was supposed to mark Drogba though. Someone must have lost him. Fellaini or Smalling? I dont think we're daft enough to let Rafael mark him at corners.

Really happy for van Persie and Fellaini.

I think we're on the right track.

 

[Sarni]

Nice change from the latter part of last season when we would have lost that game 3-0 casually but we still need to improve the organization of our game before we can realistically improve. Top 4 will be the goal this season, I am still of the opinion that we will hit the true form after turn of year and will finish top 4 after strong end and possibly go far in the FA Cup.

 

[Manchie]

We have to fix those small silly mistakes as soon as possible. Like marking Drogba with Rafa and poor clearance etc , those are crazy mistakes for god sake

 

[dsch]

Carricks reaction was class.

Anyone have a GIF?

 

[Minimalist]

As the game went on my thoughts were how this was a typical Mourinho-Chelsea performance against us and even Ferguson would find it difficult to beat this lot. Furthermore, this really shouldn't be the kind of game we rely on to push us up the table. Neither is the City game next.

Performance was fine in parts and aside from a few moments, I thought we looked quite solid for once. Just suffered with a real lack of penetration.

Centre backs, Smalling and Rojo really need to do better with their distribution for me but maybe I need to analyse the game a bit more before criticising them for that.

Nice to avoid a defeat but still doesn't do much for us. Thankfully the teams around us aren't great either at the minute.

And yes, major faith restored in Fellaini. Looks a different man these days and actually was a valid outlet with each attack we had.

 

[Ronnie O'Sullivan]

We have never done well against the Chavs so this result and performance is welcome.

 

[RedRob]

How much better has Fellaini looked in the last week than in the previous year?? Man of the match today, a threat going forward and very capable in defence.

That's twice in a week we've rescued a draw at the very end, due in no small part to not giving up. Criticism of LVG's start has to be tempered by the fact that we're back to believing we can get a draw from a losing position or a win from a level position, no matter what stage of the game we're at. Under Moyes, this had completed vanished.

Van Persie's best game this season, in some very good positions and extremely alert to bag the equalizer when it presented (with less than 30 seconds of injury time remaining).

The Goalkeepers' Union will have loved this match, as two of the best young 'stoppers in the world did not belie their burgeoning reputations.

All told - a very respectable result and hopefully a turning point for the season. We may not be challenging for the title but in a weekend when we played Chelsea, we made up ground on City and kept pace with Liverpool in the league table.

 

[ivaldo]

Carragher sounds gutted!

 

[FreakyJim]

We did well to equalise, it was a great feeling, them late goals are brilliant!

Overall, there were some decent attacks, but defensively and in midfield we're average at best. They walked straight through the middle like there was no one there. Fellaini was head and shoulders above Blind which tells you something. Blind is just an expensive O'Shea. We actually paid money for an O'Shea. The difference between him and Matic - enormous.
Until we fix the midfield and defense we'd be lucky to come away with 1 point against good teams.

 

[Red Dreams]

Very good result considering the second half performances but still a lot of concerns.

Certainly a lot better than every other performance this season, let's see how we do at City.

Fellaini immense btw , glad he's now proving useful

think with Rooney and Falcao back we will beat City. Chelsea are the only team that is better than us atm. so the point with key players missing is a good result.

 

[Tribec]

Another charged finish to a game, something we've lacked now for a couple of years. If that's slowly returning, then our defending can improve and we can compete. I'm sure that LVG will be praising the players, but we've got another challenge next week, to play like this or better away to a top 2 team. Do that and we've got to start believing in ourselves again.

 

[Mali_Zeus]

Agreed. I really do trust LvG to develop and coach our players to be at their best.

And I'm pleased for him tbh after those ironic cheers at OT in a friendly, cant remember who were we playing..

 

[Alock1]

More encouragement gained from that performance than all the games against Chelsea, City and Liverpool last season.

 

[JunesBoy]

Am sure was watching a completely different game from most on here... It was always gonna be a game of wits and our team delivered.. Any other day we could have took all 3 pts but it wasn't to be today...
It's seem to be a trend now, everyne is trying to convince themselves LVG isn't good enough.. Let me be blunt... You are lying to yourself and it will only get better..

 

[El-Manos]

Defensively we looked a lot better. Rafael should not have been assigned to mark Drogba, massive miss-match.

 

[Raven Blade]

We deserved something from that game and i'm glad we got that late equaliser. We've shown that we can stand up to Chelsea, who look the best team in the league. Van Persie looked much move involved today and that's a positive sign. He desperately needed that goal.

Still not entirely happy with some of our defensive play. We're still taking too many chances and gifting possession unnecessarily. We need to bring the ball out quicker to start attacks.

 

[ItsEssexRob]

I am the only one not dazzled by our performance? We are still too slow and unproductive on the ball, it is amazing how often we take the ball backwards. No penetration.

It was a good result but it wasnt a great performance.

 

[Phil]

Fair result but I think we did well.. so it's also a bit annoying that we didn't win.

 

[charleysurf]

Still so fragile at the back. Can't trust Rafael but just no alternatives. I want Jones to become a dominant CB for us, but he won't stay fit.
Shaw was very good though. Happy with his progress.
Fellaini did well, but Blind didn't seem quite up to speed at times.
RVP worked very hard, and got his goal in the end.
Mata not great and Di Maria downright poor.

Hopefully Rooney and Herrera back next week.

 

[hundred_trillion]

Decent result but after today there're some questions that should be asked about LVG's tactics imo. Can't be bothered to go hot-headed into it but what the feck was that defending at corner.

We're not a very big team. There would have been a couple of mismatches at every corner. If Rafa was put on Ivanovic instead and he got one we'd be fuming about that instead.

 

[17 Van der Gouw]

Defensively we looked a lot better. Rafael should not have been assigned to mark Drogba, massive miss-match.

Yeah, I think Neville called that - and you're right, it was like watching Danny Devito trying to out jump Michael Jordan.

 

[JohnDoe]

Pretty pleased with our performance to be honest. We played Chelsea at the top of their game, and could easily have won this without any complaints. But our defence is still not sorted.

Fellaini was fantastic.

 

[Rowem]

A huge point, especially going into the City game - it must be a huge relief/confidence boost for the team.

Considering our recent record in the big games I'm just delighted to get a point - it's something to build on. Not too fussed about the performance.

 

[Raoul]

It was a good result but it wasnt a great performance.

Drogba worked out ok in the end ehh ?

 

[Mali_Zeus]

We did well to equalise, it was a great feeling, them late goals are brilliant!

Overall, there were some decent attacks, but defensively and in midfield we're average at best. They walked straight through the middle like there was no one there. Fellaini was head and shoulders above Blind which tells you something. Blind is just an expensive O'Shea. We actually paid money for an O'Shea. The difference between him and Matic - enormous.
Until we fix the midfield and defense we'd be lucky to come away with 1 point against good teams.

Wait what?

 

[sport2793]

I am the only one not dazzled by our performance? We are still too slow and unproductive on the ball, it is amazing how often we take the ball backwards. No penetration.

It's because you are underestimating just how good Chelsea have been this season.

 

[Kostur]

We're not a very big team. There would have been a couple of mismatches at every corner. If Rafa was put on Ivanovic instead and he got one we'd be fuming about that instead.

Fellaini was marking nobody, he had sort of 'free-role' probably to get the loose balls around centre of the goal or so. That's my problem.

But yea, in the end I'd have taken the point prior to the match and it's a fair result, no doubt.

 

[Trigg]

Van Persie on post (or near) and Rafael marking Drogba? Doesn't take a genius to see that's not right.

Ok genius.

 

[Raoul]

We did well to equalise, it was a great feeling, them late goals are brilliant!

Overall, there were some decent attacks, but defensively and in midfield we're average at best. They walked straight through the middle like there was no one there. Fellaini was head and shoulders above Blind which tells you something. Blind is just an expensive O'Shea. We actually paid money for an O'Shea. The difference between him and Matic - enormous.
Until we fix the midfield and defense we'd be lucky to come away with 1 point against good teams.

 

[Dumbstar]

Was it wrong I was willing that cross to drop to a Utd shirt. Felt wrong and right at the same time.

 

[FreakyJim]

Wait what?

He's slow and he's clumsy in midfield. Reminds me of O'Shea. My opinion, that's what.

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Drogba worked out ok in the end ehh ?

Yeah life in the old Drog yet, but cant help but still think the lack of Costa and/or Remy hurt our attack.

 

[SalfordRed1960]

Good performance first half. Poor second half. Decent result indeed.

Defense is a MAJOR MAJOR worry. Something has to be done. We won't make top 4 defending like that

Do not understand this constant defense is a worry/shi*e.

They kept one of the best attacks at bay for most of the game. Apart from Hazard's break through, which was very well played, they did f*ck all. RVP created more chances than the hole of their team. Yes, bad defending at the corner, but who would have put Rafael on Drogba, strange decision.

Midfield was by-passed quite a bit due to being out numbered and the quality of Chelsea. Did Fabregas or Hazard really cut us to ribbons as expected. It was Blind and Matic that bossed the midfield.

On the whole a much improved performance. With hopefully, Rooney and Falcao available for City, I am looking forward to it. Rojo is starting to show he is quite solid, Shaw showing what he can do. Defense is not as shi*e as people make out.

 

[Hed Zitin]

Why did we put Rafael on Drogba? That needs to be asked.

 

[pacifictheme]

Never have i been so encouraged by a draw. Very strong performance by us. Fellaini was brilliant, can't quite believe it. Shame it is City away next week, could do with a momentum building win next week. Performances coming on leaps and bounds.

I would guess Drogba was being marked by Rafael as they also have Matic Terry Ivanovic and Cahill. We don't have options to mark them all.

 

[ItsEssexRob]

Was it wrong I was willing that cross to drop to a Utd shirt. Felt wrong and right at the same time.

Slightly seeing as you are fighting them for 4th! Or have you not quite got out of last season mode yet?

 

[Mali_Zeus]

He's slow and he's clumsy in midfield. Reminds me of O'Shea. My opinion, that's what.

Completely wrong but that's your opinion so stick with it..

 

[Borys]

That was the other performance from Di Maria as a right winger- as I said numerous times, his worst position on the pitch.

Januzaj has been very good in first half, I hope he gets more minutes from now on.

Mata has been much better but that said he is not doing enough to warrant a place in the team IMO. I think we might not be seeing him often in the coming weeks.

I admit Chelsea were the better side but I don’t think there was much between us and them. And we were without Rooney, Falcao, Herrera.

Smalling is the only one CB I trust.

This late goal against Chelsea will do wonders for our confidence too!

 

[vidal7]

 

[Sied]

 

[Bwuk]

Good result, and good performance. Draw was a fair result. Still don't feel confident about our defence.