21 Oct 2020 08:46:42
Says it all really that our best players were our fullbacks and Mendy. Sevilla were by far the better team, we just looked clueless in possession and our press was very weak. Really don't understand this obsession with Mount at the LW position. He's not a good winger at all and it showed again tonight.
Even more crazy since it's putting Pulisic on the right where he isn't anywhere near as effective. He has a bright future but as a midfielder, not as a winger. On a positive though a clean sheet against a good Sevilla side was a nice welcome, Reece james was my MOTM and hopefully he gets a run in the starting 11 now. Early to say but i really like the look of Mendy too.
21 Oct 2020 09:49:03
It did feel like we were the away side. Its clear that the team has been working on its defensive shape but it felt like they forgot how to attack as a result. Press was weak and in possession we were useless. The performance continued from the 2nd half at Southampton which was dire. I know we played Sevilla but they are a team we should beat. They are not a European powerhousez rhey are average at best.
I think this weekend at Old Trafford will be telling for Frank's ability as a manager from my perspective. I want him to do well and I will back as long as his out manager but I do think he is well outside his depth at Chelsea now.
Continuously playing players out of position, playing Pulisic on the RW to accommodate Mount on the LW is shocking. Mount is simply not good enough to play on the wings. He plays our best player in Pulsic out of position. He brings on Abraham on in the dying seconds? What has Giroud done to Lampard? CHO will probably end up leaving, he performs well before the international break and now finds himself firmly on the bench and behind Mount again. What does he have to do.
{Ed001's Note - how can a team which repeatedly wins the Europa League not be a European powerhouse?}
21 Oct 2020 09:55:35
I think I agree with your choice of MOM LondonBlue.
Early days on Mendy but he did make one very good reaction save.
21 Oct 2020 09:59:27
I think we played a good side Shak. Our performance was ok lMO.
21 Oct 2020 10:13:58
Ed1 what I meant to say was that they are not definitely in the same levels as Liverpool, Bayern, Real Madrid, Juventus, PSG, Athletico Madrid etc who are UCL elites and have experience in the latter stages.
Yes they are a Europa League specialist. They have a manager who has given them a good identity and its working well for them. They play nice football and are defensively sound.
But in all honesty I expected a lot more from our performance. I'm more disappointed with our performance than the draw. Maybe the focus was just defence or maybe their manager was tactically too strong for our Lampard, who knows.
{Ed001's Note - it was only a couple of seasons ago they beat Liverpool in the final. They have a better pedigree in Europe than Chelsea for heaven's sake. Your comments are downright disrespectful of a club that has proven themselves year on year to be capable of winning European trophies.}
21 Oct 2020 10:17:07
Defensively we seemed solid for sure.
Lets see what happens vs Utd this weekend. They have had a great result away at PSG which will do wonders for their confidence. I do expect them to set up the same way so we will get a lot of the possession. let's hope we deliver a better performance ðŸ™.
21 Oct 2020 10:50:25
Liverpool have gone so far forward in the last couple of seasons Ed.
But as I say I wanted more from our performance. It was dire with the ball, mistakes one after another. Wrong passes etc.
{Ed001's Note - I understand that, but there is no need to downplay Sevilla's strength to suit your agenda. If you can't be balanced in your comments, it makes it difficult to trust your assessment.}
21 Oct 2020 10:58:25
I have to agree with Ed here. We aren't the Chelsea we were, we are building back up to being a top team. We can't expect to just roll over great teams like Sevilla, didn't you hear the stats?! They have only lost 2 games in the last 28 or something!
I was very happy with our dogged performance, we had a couple of ropey moments (Zouma) but the team dug in and recovered. We created a few chances and it looks likes the team are starting to get used to Werners runs etc. All a work in progress. I would like to see a more consistent press higher up the pitch but that will come.
We did have chance we just didn't take them, an off night. We have been good going forward so that's what i will put it down to.
I still think we need to sort out our CM's, Rice or a player of that ilk would be ideal.
21 Oct 2020 11:16:46
We are work in progress. I’m not sure how long the continuously referenced Mr Klopp has been with Scousers but he has been given time to improve their team and I hope Lamps is given a similar amount of time.
We got a draw last night with just an ok performance let’s see if we can get a result at their place in a couple of weeks time.
Every game this season will be interesting and there will IMO be lots of ups and hopefully just a few downs. Time will as always tell.
21 Oct 2020 11:22:03
Fair enough Ed, Sevilla definitely ain't as bad as I may have made them to look.
{Ed001's Note - thanks mate, sorry to get on your case, it just felt disrespectful to what is a big club. I was out in Andalusia for 6 months and they are big, not Barca/Real Madrid big, but they dominate the region.}
21 Oct 2020 11:22:39
What are the strength (s) of this Chelsea team? Cos it’s really difficult to see from the way we played. If the strengths of the team can’t shield the weaknesses in the team (in the way we play) . I don’t think we can have a good performance cos all that will be seen are the weaknesses in the team.
21 Oct 2020 11:53:12
I think you are right about the DM position Viking but I’m glad we just didn’t buy what might have been a 2nd or 3rd choice.
Drinkwater springs to mind.
21 Oct 2020 12:00:09
It's alright Ed1, no need apologise mate. I got lost in transition with our performance and your right Sevilla isn't a club that should be used for my agenda (unintentiinal) because they are a good side as my friend Tom also said. I was disappointed with our performance.
{Ed001's Note - disappointment does make us tend towards hyperbole or other things to get our points across. That is why I tend not to comment until I have taken time to calm down these days. When I am replying, if someone is saying something that has irked me in some way, for whatever reason, I try and type up, then delete, then type up again, delete again etc a few times. It helps me recover my perspective. The problem is when I am too busy and don't have time to do that. Then I make statements I wish I hadn't.}
21 Oct 2020 12:07:32
Sevilla are a very very good side.
Arguably have started as well as any spanish team and have the most stable squad they've had for a long time.
I thought that it looked like two good teams cancelling each other out last night. Actually similar to the tight disciplined games we used to enjoy.
I'm happy with the performance. Get some perspective.
21 Oct 2020 12:18:52
Sevilla have only lost 2 games over 90 minutes since February which included going unbeaten against Bayern Munich (90 min), Barcelona x2, Inter, Man Utd, Wolves, Roma and Atletico Madrid. They have a very good manager.
I definitely disrespected them calling them average. Nice one Ed ðŸ‘.
{Ed001's Note - I had actually forgotten they had Lopetegui in charge, he is very good.}
21 Oct 2020 12:50:10
Yeh his a very well drilled manager. We couldn't cope with the high press he installs.
{Ed001's Note - it is a difficult tactic to beat if it is played well.}
21 Oct 2020 13:03:54
Just quick response to Tom's question of how long the much referenced Mr Klopp has been at Liverpool. Answer: since October 2015, ie 5 years. It took him 3 seasons to get the club challenging for EPL and coming second but winning Champion's League. One more to win EPL.
21 Oct 2020 13:36:56
Success came very quick then JBS. Haha!
I’m am perplexed by some people who expect instant success and even more perplexed by fans who think last season wasn’t successful.
Thanks for the information JBS.
21 Oct 2020 14:14:25
I’m with Ed and I mentioned in my post last night, I’m taking it as a good point and a big clean sheet. I definitely think it’s something to build on.
21 Oct 2020 14:41:42
said before the game I would be happy with a draw against an exceptional European team like Sevilla. only a few months again they narrowly lost to Bayern in the euro super cup after winning the Europa league again. All this talk about a team like chelsea should best teams like sevilla are not only arrogant but entirely false. Maybe 10 years ago, but as it stands at the moment, their supporters could say they should have beaten a team like Chelsea.
21 Oct 2020 15:18:25
Yes Tom I am also perplexed that some think that Frank can do in one EPL season and five games what Klopp took three seasons to get right in terms of a title challenge - with LFC shipping many goals at the back and having bad results to lowly teams (sound a bit familiar?! ) - and with no transfer bans etc.
I think it might be though because CFC has had so much success in recent times whereas LFC not much more than that Gerrard night in Istanbul (2007 was it? ) and were perhaps more inclined to be patient with a rebuilding process. LFC patience has obviously paid dividends!
As did United's patience with Ferguson whose United finished 11th, 2nd and 11 th in first three seasons and took six seasons to win the top league (ie either First Divn, or then EPL) . Can only say that I would like to see if Frank can build something similar, and we must give him time here to see if he can.
Question I suppose is how much time? 2 seasons? As many as Klopp or Fergie took? Fergie was of course almost sacked after 3! Frank's heart is clearly Blue through and through, and he did get us 4th place and an FA Cup final with v young and relatively inexperienced squad last season. He is trying to get us playing exciting but defensively more high risk soccer, and buys into the Klopp/ Guardiola philosophy in this respect. He had wins in EPL last season v Mourinho (2), Arteta, Guardiola and Ancelotti (though also away losses against last two) . I would hope that most proper fans would wish to stick with him through at least two summer transfer windows (ie into his 3rd season) rather than rushing back on the manager merry go round. Hope and think that Roman would share that view too, but who knows.
21 Oct 2020 21:56:01
Honestly didn't realise Sevilla were on that good of a run, knew they were a well drilled team but blimey! . They're definitely one of the elites in Europe so i should've shown them more respect if i'm honest. They'd give anybody in the competition a run for their money, even took Bayern to extra time in the Super cup. A Bayern team that wiped the floor with us a month or so earlier. Fair play to them, think they could go on a good run in the competition.