15 May 2022 10:29:31
In 240 minutes of cup final football against Liverpool this season we didn’t score a single goal.
15 May 2022 10:44:30
And neither did they.
15 May 2022 10:52:40
CFC, you can argue that the other way, they didn’t score against us. Anyway, it’s history now, 2 more games to ensure CL football. A new era next season, it will be an interesting summer one way or the other.
15 May 2022 11:08:48
But, yes, as well know our attack/ strikers have over several seasons now have let us down. Is it them, or those managing them (ie Frank then TT)? Would Klopp or Guardiola have got our front lines firing, or would they also have failed? Most of our goals this season have come from midfielders and defenders I think.
Seems to me that there are some problems with mindset/ physicality of some/, most of our front line: Werner's seems to be in his head whenever he has site of goal, Lukaku's is too often with too little movement (fitness? also had injury problem this season), Pulisic and Haverz can be knocked off ball too easily . though I think both are huge talents, if especially Havertz (who we missed hugely yesterday) and Pulisic as we know has too frequently struggles with injury problems.
15 May 2022 12:19:42
I agree JBS that too many of our attacking players have a mindset problem. I also agree that pulisic gets knocked off the ball too easily, but havertz’s physicality and aggression has much improved the second half of the season and with his deft 1st touch, movement and finishing, I can see him becoming a world class player. Lukaku I think is a problem full stop who creates his own issues and if Touchel was not the ma Noah we he is, Lukaku could have been a bigger negative impact on the rest of the team. Lukaku is all about him rather than what’s best for the team. I do not think we have a manager issue or defensive formation problem, but it is more about not winning the 1-1 battles and our players having the mental strength to do that. Liverpool’s aggression and determination to win is probably the best in the league atm, but their confidence is sky high off the back of many wins, including with some good fortune like the two cup finals against us. But Liverpool built their team over a number of years and it was only after the acquisitions of Allison and Van dyke that they truly started competing. I believe tuchel with time will also produce a team that can compete to win the league. If Boely and co want to make a statement by bringing in some big signings plus the academy players coming through the upgrade in form could be sooner than we think. Just imagine with the chances we have created if we had a clinical attacker or two to bury them into the net. Then with some defensive upgrades and a solid aggressive holding mid to enable us to play 4-3-3 then we will be up there with the other two. Come on u blues.
15 May 2022 14:02:03
I agree that it is no mean feat to have prevented Liverpool from scoring over the two matches but the fact that we didn’t score either means we’ve had to endure the two penalty shootouts.
Truth be told, how many clear-cut goalscoring opportunities did we create yesterday? And that’s been our problem for a while now. Our strikers are mainly having to feed off scraps.
{Ed014's Note - anyone trying to believe you are the level of Liverpool needs their head tested.
You’re the best of the mediocre rest.
15 May 2022 16:09:49
agree ed their is not a single player in chelseas team that would start for city or liverpool, even the great kante hasn't been good this season.
{Ed014's Note - is it injuries that have hampered him?
15 May 2022 17:16:12
I think James would and possibly Mount but I’m totally biased.
15 May 2022 18:38:58
I think James ahead of T A-A just, but surely Rudiger would get CH spit next to Van Dyk. and a fully fit Kante would get in to team as well. Mount definitely in contention. major difference to my mind is in their front 3 plus their goalkeeper, not least Allison over Mendy in terms of distribution.
{Ed014's Note - no way is James ahead of TAA, that’s just dreaming, Dias is also ahead of Rudiger, Mount might be lucky and make a bench but a fit Kante gets in any team in the world of which City and Liverpool are the current top two.
15 May 2022 18:41:06
Agree Tru3Blue3 that Havertz has got better with physicality and aggression and is a player I have always rated as having that special vision and movement. and he's proved he is a big game player as well.
15 May 2022 20:17:44
I totally disagree Ed. I think James is much better than TAA but all about opinions.
I would generally say it will be interesting to see who Southgate prefers for the World Cup but I have zero faith in Southgates ability to manage anything.
{Ed014's Note - well Tom my unbiased opinion is that he’s good but not yet in the same league as TAA.
I’m not even sure James is ahead of Walker.
Southgate is an utter arse who still picks Harry Maguire despite the fact he’s shite, so his judgement is, like his managerial skills, sorely lacking.
15 May 2022 22:23:32
At lease we agree on Southgate’s lack of managerial ability.