26 Jan 2025 09:13:53
Not a regular poster. But just wanted to share my thoughts from the City game.
Chelsea looked threatening in the first half hour. They tried to press the City defense, with ironically Jackson looking like a potential threat, but being incredibly wasteful whenever he got the chance. However due to their high press and high defensive line it seemed to leave a lot of room in the back for Gvardiol and Haaland to exploit, Chelsea's defence looked utterly woeful and out of shape. Cucurella was consistently caught out of position when City were on the counter, and deservedly levelled the game up at half time. In fact they probably deserved to be ahead by 2 on the balance of play.
After half time, Chelsea seemed to transition to a lower block and didn't press City's defence as much which made it easier for them to play from the back. The 2nd half was them being toothless which forced Palmer time and again to drop deep and get the ball but it seemed like there was genuinely no attacking quality (except perhaps Madueke) that would help him out. He could have had two assists in the game had Jackson just been a more clinical finisher, or had he taken the chances for himself.
There's not much to report from the second half other than the goalkeeper made a howler allowing Haaland to lob an easy goal past him, and since Chelsea were looking for a late equalizer it left space for Foden to run into from behind and score. The key point in the 2nd half for me was when De Bruyne came on. Before his arrival City looked like they had no creative threats and were lobbing long balls up to Haaland hoping he'd outwrestle the Chelsea center halves, but as soon as he came on City started to try play through the channels again. It's like City had an additional threat for Chelsea to worry about, they could go both direct and through the middle if they wanted.
It's funny to me how woeful Jackson was but after his substitution there seemed to be no attacking threat from their part, he seemed like the only one that was actually challenging the City defence apart from Madueke.
Feel free to share your thoughts. I'd hardly consider myself an expert and just want to understand the game better.
26 Jan 2025 10:34:55
Sanchez was at fault for the second goal for staying so far out from the goal. Nice execution from Haaland, though. Chaloba was at fault for the third goal. He went towards Colwill and Haaland and left Foden on his own in loads of space.
26 Jan 2025 11:08:39
I think you've summed thiungs up pretty well Strade., including fact that though Jackson infuriatingly misses good chances he also at keast keeps the opposition defence and especially their CBs working hard that canb leave room for others. Soemone suggested that he should be played on the left as starter with a more consisten taker of chances at CF. But do we have said CF? When Poch took over he played Jackson on left and Nkunku inside ghim and they looked pretty good linkinging in pre-season but gthen Nkunku got that bad injury. But there is something about Jackson's pace, some of his passing, and seeming apparent ability to score more often when breaking through from an oppoistion high press than when in the box oerhapos that makes me at least want to keep him at the Bridge. He just looks v short of confidence in front of goal gaving for a while seemed to have got more clinical earlier in the season.
26 Jan 2025 12:03:51
Neutral here
You are pretty much spot on.
You cannot play high line against city and don't press them. Meresca hasn't got a clue on how to do it.
Sancho is a waste of space and why Cucurella struggled. You need your winger either to contribute offensively or defensively. Sancho offers neither and is worse than Sterling.
Halland Tore Chalobah to shreds and he is your main center back apparently
You have no leader on the pitch. Thaigo Silva and his presence is greatly missed
Inspite of buying a truck load of attackers you still can't score goals nor create. where did the money go btw?
This City side got trashed by PSG 4-2 three days ago and you gifted them with two goals
And inspite of all the above, you are about sign Granacho who is no better than Nkunku.
26 Jan 2025 13:12:46
Welcome Strade, I assume you’re not a Chelsea supporter but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
Putting aside his goal, I thought Noni was woeful. We started with an aggressive press and then for some strange reason became passive.
26 Jan 2025 16:00:30
I too thought Noni was awful, time to try the number two keeper although I was not 100 % sure of Fofana but now he is not there we look more brittle at the back.
26 Jan 2025 18:32:37
Seymns, the Neto performance against Fulham is still fresh in my mind and I think that may be the reason Noni is being picked before him.!