30 Dec 2021 08:19:33
Another tough result to take. I think there's a need to be realistic though, 7 C.V. cases, 6 injuries. difficult to cope with, what else is TT meant to do. You've also got players that clearly aren't match fit having to play, it's ruining our season.
I'm going to wade in to this Mount argument. 1) work rate, by far the best in the squad and when half your squad isn't fit we need his work rate 2) he isn't an out and out winger, he won't beat 2 players down the line with some magic step overs, he will win the ball and get us up the pitch though 3) his end product is being questioned? More goals and assists than any other "No.10" in the league. That includes B. Silva, Foden, KDB, Grealish, Maddison and Smith-Rowe.
It's ok from the outside saying " formation, tactics, 4 back". there's no coincidence that 3 of our last 4 managers have gone back 5. We can't defend in a 4. Jorginho, needs extra legs, which we haven't got at the moment with unfit and injured players. Rudiger is exposed in a 4, positioning is shocking. Alonso and Azpi haven't got the legs for it. You'd need 37 year old Silva to play EVERY game in a back 4.
Calm down, a lot of it is out of TT hands. If we had a fully fit squad and I say squad because the whole squad is suffering, barely any C.V. cases, not being made to play when other teams with less cases have been called off, injuries to the players without C.V. would we be doing better? 100% YES!
30 Dec 2021 09:25:02
Also would've helped if Dean was at least a semi competent referee. All night long he gave damn near every decision in favour of Brighton. He doesn't call small foul from them on Jorginho in midfield for example, which I'm fine with. But when Mount then puts a bit of pressure, wins the ball and puts it in an empty net he quickly blows for a foul so VAR can't intervene. Ridiculous double standards being applied.
Plus 2 penalties completely ignored on Pulisic (kicked in the box, how much more clear should it get? ) and Mount (pretty clear blocking foul, but a bit more debatable so this one didn't grind my gears as much) .
If the ref is at least average, we're 2-0 up with that Mount sequence or one of the penalties and the game is dusted. We didn't play well, and you can see that no player on the team is fit at this point. They're all either exhausted, injured, or just back from injury without any match fitness. They're playing on even less than fumes at this point. We lose on average 1 to 2 players per match to injury, and somehow we along with City have been the only teams not getting any matches postponed (despite having a severe C.V. outbreak and a multitude of injuries) .
Season feels a bit cursed, and I genuinely think top 4 is improbable with both Reece and Chilwell out for a significant amount of time. But I hope the club don't overreact and sack Tuchel. There's not much he can do if half his team is injured and the attackers can't finish chances.
30 Dec 2021 09:32:33
A superb post dan and I agree with everything you say with one exception. I think Dave can still play as a RB in any team.
I would like us to move to a four because I think we have strengths further up the pitch but you are right in your assessment of our CB’s. I would also add we don’t know if Chalaboa could play in a four.
So, as you say dan and putting Silva to one side we have two defenders who can play in a four. Dave, (probably leaving) and Chilly who is injured for at least six months. Before anyone says James, he had moments of madness under Lamps in a back four.
My dream of us playing a back four anytime soon will just be that for the time being, a dream.
30 Dec 2021 09:53:55
Sorry, that sounded negative about Dave, I meant week in week out.
I agree Tom mate. I’d love us to play a 433 and utilise our attacking strengths. That was my hope at the start of the season but I think we’re probably another midfielder and centre back off being able to. The massive one for me is Chilly getting injured, I don’t know how we get to the end of the season with Alonso playing week in week out.
I just hope we can get the squad back to some sort of normality and I think we’ll be fine. Not saying we’ll win the league like but top 4 and maybe a cup or 2.
We definitely need to address the left back issue in January though…not sure how.
30 Dec 2021 10:13:38
Jackson. I agree about the pen on Pusilic and I did think Mounts challenge and goal should have stood but if they had been given and I was a Brighton supporter, I would have thought they were harsh.
For me it’s all just papering over the fact the we were outplayed by Brighton for the majority of the match and the team that TT picked should never allowed that to happen.
Anyway, I was very impressed with there DM ( can't remember his name) and also March, who works very hard.
30 Dec 2021 10:28:06
Great post dan23, well thought through and very accurate. I agree with all you say as well Jackson.
30 Dec 2021 11:35:49
Interesting posts lads. I disagree about the referee neither incident was a penalty, Pulisic lost control of the ball and crashed into the defender: I would have been furious if either had been given against us. Yes we had had bad luck with injuries but we should not keep using that as an excuse for poor performances a club like Chelsea should have adequate cover. Given that we have international centre backs it is damning that we apparently can’t play with a back four: if that’s true, something has gone wrong somewhere.
30 Dec 2021 11:49:47
Dan22 a great post, everything you say is spot on.
I was at the game and it was clear that some players were doing the best they playing out if their usual position and generally the team looked no where near fit.
As with all sports, if unfit timing and confidence will be affected to misplace passes, react slow to second balls and not take chances in front of goal.
I have never thought we had such a strong deep squad as the media and pundits said at the start of the season as a number of our players even when fully fit lack the physical and mental strength needed to be title contender.
Mason is one of the few players in our team with that physical and mental strength that is needed, especially when there is a lull in performance.
I think TT has managed to get the best out of the players we have. As you say any tactical change would need 4 at the back which has previously been proven not to work with the CBs and CDMs we have. Now that teams have worked out how to play against us (as they did with Conte’s second season), we are now very predictable and easier to beat. But without our first 11 fully fit we are going to struggle to have what it takes to see out games. And I think if TT went to a back 4, we would be weaker not stronger.
I think we need to support the team through this difficult time and not expect too much of them this season, 3rd or 4th spot is a more realistic ambition., unless city suffer a similar bad run with C.V. and injuries.
I must say the atmosphere in the stadium from the start was subdued, although it always seems quieter in the near the away fans, which is where we sat last night.
Come on you Blues, let’s get a win on Sunday, although I must say I do not exactly feel confident they will with the depleted squad issues we have.
30 Dec 2021 12:37:09
Jimbo, in my opinion it’s not only our current CB’s that stop us playing with a back four.