06 Jan 2023 00:04:12
Just got home and I'm going to start with the positives.

DZ my Chelsea MOM.

MC is getting better.

All of our youngsters played well.

KK was much better.

Havertz was good.

Now the negatives.

Ziyech (I am biased) offered very little in the second half but was ok ish playing a bit deeper in the first half. I'm just not sure what he offers.

PEA for me worked hard but offered very little as an attacking threat.

For the first 7 mins of the second half we didn't touch the ball. City got sent out early and we allowed them to play without putting any pressure on the ball on a City player. Far to passive.

There goal was at the other end but I thought Dave, Kepa and MC could all have done better.

The young lad who came on for City at half time looks class.

The ref had a good game.

1.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 06:02:57
I'm sorry Tom but did you watch the game? Cucurella got exposed numerous times. He's not getting better at all. Okay, maybe he's gone from a match rating of 2 out of 10 to 3 out of 10.

2.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 08:37:52
Standard I was at the game.

I was critical of MC in his first few games and I would much Chilly to be playing. In my opinion he has improved in the last three or four games, I except it was a low bar.

I’m the first half last night he was good but he did get caught out a couple of times when Mahrez came on, mainly because he didn’t get tight enough.

As I’ve said I think Dave, Kepa and MC have to a % of the blame for there goal.

We all see games differently I suppose.

I have been very supportive of GP but I thought his management last night was far to passive and that was highlighted in the way the team came out for the second half. We lacked aggression and allowed them to control the game for far to long.

Playing poorly and dropping points is ok but for me playing ok and dropping points is far more annoying. If that makes sense?

3.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 08:46:51
I suppose we do Tom. I caught only the second half and watched a post match breakdown by Glenn hoddle and someone else and they were slaughtering Marc cucurellas performance, and rightfully so. It's been a disaster for me.

4.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 09:46:56
For me too, haven't been impressed with cucurella in the slightest. He looks lost when trying to defend and offers little going forward. So far and I know its early days but he looks a big downgrade on Marcos Alonso. Going forward Hall over Cucurella. Need to get him out the firing line for a bit, imo of course.

5.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 13:27:29
This season has been coming. Let’s face it together and deal with it with some class. No shouting for the manager to be sacked, Cheer the team on as best we can, cut the young players some slack, they will make mistakes but no more that some of the so called experienced players. However the club have to do their part. Get rid of Kepa, Jorginho, Apzi, Aubameyang, Cucurella, Sterling. The club’s buying and selling has been a mitigated failure. I apologise but I can’t post without mentioning my old friend Jorginho. For me he has been one of the main reasons for Chelsea failure to challenge for the PL title. How that guy has been the playmaker for 5 years? playing EVERY bloody game beggars belief, he is absolutely wretched. Can’t wait to be rid of him. And it’s not lost on me that despite press rumours around that halfwit Sarri taking him back, he never ever came close to coming back and actually signing the Italian jumping flea. I remember throwing prayers up to the footballing gods to make it happen. Onward and (hopefully) upward next season. A wee run in Europe might help with morale.

6.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 13:58:00
Stephen, is that a copy of a previous post?

Jorginho will almost certainly be leaving in the summer at the latest. I think PEA and Dave (legend) will also be leaving.

7.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 14:23:42
? not far wrong TomB. Can’t help it…… you’ll be glad you are not sitting next to me at SB? ?.

8.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 15:09:10
We can't beat the high press. MC lost the ball 12 times and it's not only up to him. Ok, that was City's pressing maybe we would be able to deal with someone else's pressing.
But I am not unhappy how we played last night. Man. City is one of the best teams in the world. And we had 10 injured first team players. Mandy, James, Chilwel, Fofana, Kante, Jorgihno, Mount, Broja, Sterling, Pulisic. Did I forgot someone?

9.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 19:04:28
I'd be playing the young lads consistently from here. I feel that every time we're on a bit of a barren run and barely ever has a coach in this position (Mourinho, Conte, Tuchel spring to mind) taken the opportunity so I'm not holding my breath.

Hall looks class. And Carney deserves a run in the side I think – both those players were seriously impressive when they came on. I guess managers might be hesitant to play young players in this situation not only that it might seem like a gamble, but for the idea it could end up ruining the young players' confidence being in such poor sides. Seems unfair for them to have to carry the burden. I'm reminded of how I dreaded young players being introduced to past England squads before Southgate changed the culture/ got rid of the malaise. Nonetheless, I still think it's time. Play them and stick with them. The fans might give them a bit more room and support as well. Big shout out to Zakaria, who was very solid, and showed good feet in tight situations. Why was he not playing earlier in the season? The injury? Regardless, he's almost first name on the teamsheet in midfield right now.

I'm really confused with what happens to us at the start of second halves at the moment. It's like we need to go a goal down or have a weaker opposition equalise to remember to play again. I'd also like to say that, although I love Kova, the way he moves with the ball, his ability to break the lines and carry (as well as his very occasional long-range screamer) his general lack of passing ability (in addition to his general lack of shooting ability) is really a thorn in our side at the moment. A couple of big counter-attacking opportunities wasted with a godawful pass – especially one to Lewis Hall who had acres of space to run into if the pass had been on target. When you look at it, our creative players must really be so frustrated – they never get played in. That's been a feature for a few years now. Imagine someone with Fabregas's passing in this team. Not saying it would magically change everything instantly, but it would certainly be interesting.

10.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 20:07:49
EdW, I agree with a lot of your post.

Pep sent out City early for the second half and brought on a young lad who delivered lots more energy to a slow and deliberate first half performance by City.

In contrast we came out half asleep. We put zero pressure on the ball or the player. It was the thing that disappointed me most about last night’s performance.

11.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 21:33:29
I don’t think play the kids is the answer to our malaise; young players need to be eased in when the time is right We would get overrun by other mid-table sides. Sounds like desperation to me; it up to Potter to sort it out.

12.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 21:45:04
Take your point Jimbo. I do think giving more minutes to Hall and Chukwuemeka would be good policy though – they brought hunger and energy that's been severely lacking (as did Connor Gallagher) .

Shout out to the referee for a good performance as well – another ref, Mike Dean for example, would have probably given Gallagher a stupid pair of yellow cards, one for the push on Rodri (which Rodri instigated), another for the tackle on Stones. Thought it was a decent, balanced showing from Tierney.

13.) 06 Jan 2023
06 Jan 2023 21:49:09
Hall is a great prospect probably should already start. DZ is a must starter only true DM that we have and will hopefully keep. CC serious potential. Hutchinson not ready yet.
We need rwb badly as cover for Reece-James.