Should beat Arsenal convincingly on Sunday.
Chelsea 2017/18 thread - FA Cup Champs, League chumps
- Thread starter duffer
- Start date
Yeah I agree he didn't have a great game, but he's still young and learning he has something raw about him and his finishing is excellent, just needs to work on his overall game. Getting that goal will have done good for his confidence as I bet morata coming here has put him off a bit.
Btw I know the opposition was really poor but Christensen is so good on the ball, really talented.
I really like Michy, he just frustrates me at time. Given that last season Conte's main reason for not playing him was that he needed to learn to hold the ball up and be more physical, I just found it really disappointing that a year later he was still getting shrugged off the ball by defenders so easily. Hopefully he'll improve though, and we can hardly complain about his goal return.
Yeah I think I share the same opinion but he is one of them players that I could see it clicking for all the sudden, and as you say he definitely knows how to score. Was impressed with Zappa too last night, he is really quick.
So impressed with how the team has bounced back from all the media criticism amid talks of our "crisis" the players have shown they still have respect and the will to fight for Conte.
Zappa was quite poor to be honest. Fluffed 3 shots on goal and did not put a single cross on target the entire game. He would need to improve a lot to be PL quality.
Last night again spelled how much we need to keep Morata fit if we are to have a successful season. Michy is the type of player who if he was banging the goals in for say West Ham, our fans would be calling for him to be signed without looking at the bigger picture of whether he suits our style of play. His overall game as you quite rightly say is garbage, with his movement in particular being very poor. I somehow think this is about as good as he will get for us now and expect him to be moved on quickly when a suitable replacement can be found.
Qarabag were very poor last night which gave the team an easy run out rather like a training exercise. That said, we did have a tendency to be a little sloppy with our passing at times. The goals will give us confidence for the harder matches ahead.
Christensen again looked assured, not really sure what Cahill was thinking again with his rash challenge. Zappa looks to have lots of energy but will need more end product. Michy again disappointed. Eden looks quite a way off full match fitness. Surprised Alonso again played the full 90, he will need some rest at some point in the coming month.
Overall a pleasing result and a good start for a difficult three weeks.
Still favorites for the league for me. Conte really gets them functioning and talk of splits is wishful thinking.
They went through a tricky start with much better results, Morata has eased in, and now Hazard is back, too. They're gonna go for the title, again.
Some interesting thoughts from Pirlo on Conte the manager (from Pirlo's book)
Stolen shamelessly from Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/chelseafc/comments/709wlg/andrea_pirlo_on_conte_during_their_juve_days/
Stolen shamelessly from Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/chelseafc/comments/709wlg/andrea_pirlo_on_conte_during_their_juve_days/
I consider myself particularly fortunate: I know Antonio Conte. I've worked with a lot of coaches in my time, and he's the one who surprised me the most. One little speech, a few simple words, was all it took for him to win me over. Me and the whole of Juventus, a planet we disembarked on pretty much at the same time.
On the first day of our training camp up in the mountains at Bardonecchia, he got everyone together in the gym to introduce himself. He had some venom ready for us and the altitude wasn't causing him any trouble. I suppose that's just how vipers roll.
"Lads, we've finished seventh each of the last two seasons. Crazy stuff; absolutely appalling. I've not come for that. It's time we stopped being crap."
After only a few minutes, he'd striped away all the mystery. One thing in particular was very obvious: he was like a bear with a sore head. As we Italians say, 'Aveva un divolo per capello' - 'he'd a devil for hair', and if the hair was fake then the devil was 100% real and made from a material that's impossible to replicate.
"Every single person here has performed badly over he last few seasons. We need to do whatever it takes to pull ourselves up and start being Juve again. Turning round this ship is not a polite request; it's an order, a moral obligation. You guys need to do only one thing and it's pretty simple: follow me."
Our first impression was absolutely correct. When Conte speaks, his words assault you. They crash through the doors of your mind, often quite violently, and settle deep within you. I've lost track the number of times I've found myself saying, "Hell, Conte said something really spot on again today."
"And listen carefully boys, because I'm not finished. Get it into your heads that we must return to the levels where we belong, the ones that are written into the history of this club. It would be criminal for us not to finish in the too three this year."
Naturally we won the scudetto at the first time of asking and it was all down to him. The success was all his, a triumph of bloody mindedness that went beyond everyone's expectations. It really couldn't have gone any other way, given the example we had in front of us every day. Conte was like a man possessed, the very essence of Juventus burned deep into his soul.
"You all need the same anger as me. Full stop." His message was short and to the point, a bit like a telegram - certainly the most convincing one that I've ever received. He's not a guru, Conte, nor is he a magician, for all he's been known to pull some crazy speeches out of the hat. You either do what he says or you don't play. He runs on Conte-time and so do we.
He obsesses over every last detail, exploiting it to his advantage. When he's looking at tactics, he'll have us watching videos for hours, explaining over and over again where and why we got a move wrong. He's plainly allergic to error (perhaps to horror as well) and I for one pray every day that a cure is never found.
Out on the training pitches at Vinovo, quite often we'll end up winning, for the simple reason that we're not playing against anyone. From Monday to Friday, the opposition don't exist. He'll have us playing games of 11 versus none, making us repeat the same moves for three quarters of an hour, until he sees they're working and that we're starting to feel sick.
And that's why we still win when it's 11 against 11. If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, what does that make Conte? I was expecting him to be good, but not this good. I thought he'd be a tough, committed, charismatic kind of coach, but plenty of other managers could learn a lot from him in terms of his technical and tactical awareness.
If I could go back in time, I'd only change one thing: I wouldn't pick the spot next to Buffon in our dressing room. It's the one right in front of the door, and the most dangerous spot in all of Turin, especially at half time. Even if we're winning, Conte comes in and hurls against the wall (and thus my little corner) anything he can get his hands on, almost always full bottles of water. Fizzy water. Very fizzy water.
It's really quite a rage. He's never happy - there's always some small detail that's not quite right in his mind. He can see in advance what might happen in the 45 minutes still to come. This one time, for instance, we were losing to Milan and he just couldn't make sense of it. "Losing to them! Them! I can't understand why we're not beating them! They're not even playing well!"
It's a different story at the end of a match: he tends to disappear completely. At a push, he'll come in for a quick word, but only if we've won. He's at his worst at night when he's alone with his thoughts. He necks these horrible concoctions to help him sleep, almost like he's actually just played the game. He was the exact same when he did play. He struggles to sleep and goes over and over everything, then hits the rewind button in his head and does it all again.
It's an inner torment without a start or end point, a song on some kind of loop where you can't tell what's the first verse and what's last, you can only make out the chorus. He's completely immersed in his job, which is also his great pleasure. I've never quite understood whether it's the coach or the fan who takes up the position in the dugout, but either way it's someone who makes a difference.
He still managed to have that effect even during the long ban linked to the strange Calcioscommesse affair, dating back to his time at Siena. You could tell he really felt it on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday - those are the most important days for the team and he wasn't allowed to come near us. It drove him absolutely crazy that he couldn't pop his head into the dressing room (let's just say he ended up there a few times by mistake).
His absence was obvious at half time, but his deputies, Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrerra, simply did what he'd told them to. They didn't have much freedom in the post match interviews either: Conte supplied the ideas and words, they put their faces to them.
I never once saw him cry or get upset during that whole period. Just before the sentence was delivered, we were out at a training camp in China and the tension was writ large on his face. He was spending whole days on the phone to his lawyers. He never went into specifics with us players, he was good at keeping us separate from his problems and making out that nothing had changed.
Only on one occasion, just before the bomb went off, did he ask the leaders for help. I was there, along with Buffon, Chiellini, and Marchisio. "Lads, this is a difficult time. You need to give me a hand, even more so than normal. Give your all in training and in games and when I'm not there, you be the ones who keep the rest of the boys on their toes. Don't slacken off. Don't let everything we've built go to hell in a handcart."
On the first day of our training camp up in the mountains at Bardonecchia, he got everyone together in the gym to introduce himself. He had some venom ready for us and the altitude wasn't causing him any trouble. I suppose that's just how vipers roll.
"Lads, we've finished seventh each of the last two seasons. Crazy stuff; absolutely appalling. I've not come for that. It's time we stopped being crap."
After only a few minutes, he'd striped away all the mystery. One thing in particular was very obvious: he was like a bear with a sore head. As we Italians say, 'Aveva un divolo per capello' - 'he'd a devil for hair', and if the hair was fake then the devil was 100% real and made from a material that's impossible to replicate.
"Every single person here has performed badly over he last few seasons. We need to do whatever it takes to pull ourselves up and start being Juve again. Turning round this ship is not a polite request; it's an order, a moral obligation. You guys need to do only one thing and it's pretty simple: follow me."
Our first impression was absolutely correct. When Conte speaks, his words assault you. They crash through the doors of your mind, often quite violently, and settle deep within you. I've lost track the number of times I've found myself saying, "Hell, Conte said something really spot on again today."
"And listen carefully boys, because I'm not finished. Get it into your heads that we must return to the levels where we belong, the ones that are written into the history of this club. It would be criminal for us not to finish in the too three this year."
Naturally we won the scudetto at the first time of asking and it was all down to him. The success was all his, a triumph of bloody mindedness that went beyond everyone's expectations. It really couldn't have gone any other way, given the example we had in front of us every day. Conte was like a man possessed, the very essence of Juventus burned deep into his soul.
"You all need the same anger as me. Full stop." His message was short and to the point, a bit like a telegram - certainly the most convincing one that I've ever received. He's not a guru, Conte, nor is he a magician, for all he's been known to pull some crazy speeches out of the hat. You either do what he says or you don't play. He runs on Conte-time and so do we.
He obsesses over every last detail, exploiting it to his advantage. When he's looking at tactics, he'll have us watching videos for hours, explaining over and over again where and why we got a move wrong. He's plainly allergic to error (perhaps to horror as well) and I for one pray every day that a cure is never found.
Out on the training pitches at Vinovo, quite often we'll end up winning, for the simple reason that we're not playing against anyone. From Monday to Friday, the opposition don't exist. He'll have us playing games of 11 versus none, making us repeat the same moves for three quarters of an hour, until he sees they're working and that we're starting to feel sick.
And that's why we still win when it's 11 against 11. If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, what does that make Conte? I was expecting him to be good, but not this good. I thought he'd be a tough, committed, charismatic kind of coach, but plenty of other managers could learn a lot from him in terms of his technical and tactical awareness.
If I could go back in time, I'd only change one thing: I wouldn't pick the spot next to Buffon in our dressing room. It's the one right in front of the door, and the most dangerous spot in all of Turin, especially at half time. Even if we're winning, Conte comes in and hurls against the wall (and thus my little corner) anything he can get his hands on, almost always full bottles of water. Fizzy water. Very fizzy water.
It's really quite a rage. He's never happy - there's always some small detail that's not quite right in his mind. He can see in advance what might happen in the 45 minutes still to come. This one time, for instance, we were losing to Milan and he just couldn't make sense of it. "Losing to them! Them! I can't understand why we're not beating them! They're not even playing well!"
It's a different story at the end of a match: he tends to disappear completely. At a push, he'll come in for a quick word, but only if we've won. He's at his worst at night when he's alone with his thoughts. He necks these horrible concoctions to help him sleep, almost like he's actually just played the game. He was the exact same when he did play. He struggles to sleep and goes over and over everything, then hits the rewind button in his head and does it all again.
It's an inner torment without a start or end point, a song on some kind of loop where you can't tell what's the first verse and what's last, you can only make out the chorus. He's completely immersed in his job, which is also his great pleasure. I've never quite understood whether it's the coach or the fan who takes up the position in the dugout, but either way it's someone who makes a difference.
He still managed to have that effect even during the long ban linked to the strange Calcioscommesse affair, dating back to his time at Siena. You could tell he really felt it on a Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday - those are the most important days for the team and he wasn't allowed to come near us. It drove him absolutely crazy that he couldn't pop his head into the dressing room (let's just say he ended up there a few times by mistake).
His absence was obvious at half time, but his deputies, Angelo Alessio and Massimo Carrerra, simply did what he'd told them to. They didn't have much freedom in the post match interviews either: Conte supplied the ideas and words, they put their faces to them.
I never once saw him cry or get upset during that whole period. Just before the sentence was delivered, we were out at a training camp in China and the tension was writ large on his face. He was spending whole days on the phone to his lawyers. He never went into specifics with us players, he was good at keeping us separate from his problems and making out that nothing had changed.
Only on one occasion, just before the bomb went off, did he ask the leaders for help. I was there, along with Buffon, Chiellini, and Marchisio. "Lads, this is a difficult time. You need to give me a hand, even more so than normal. Give your all in training and in games and when I'm not there, you be the ones who keep the rest of the boys on their toes. Don't slacken off. Don't let everything we've built go to hell in a handcart."
A lot of that sounds like Mourinho.
Whats peoples opinion on Azpilcueta?
For me, he's the best defender in the League, he's ridiculously consistent and a very professional individual. Not many players would be able to play RB, LB and CB all at a very high level. Think it was Mourinho who said that if he had 11 Azpi's he would win the Champions League
Always thought he doesn't get the credit he deserves due to him not being flashy, he's not amazing going forward but from a purely defensive point of view i don't feel there's many better than him in football today
For me, he's the best defender in the League, he's ridiculously consistent and a very professional individual. Not many players would be able to play RB, LB and CB all at a very high level. Think it was Mourinho who said that if he had 11 Azpi's he would win the Champions League
Always thought he doesn't get the credit he deserves due to him not being flashy, he's not amazing going forward but from a purely defensive point of view i don't feel there's many better than him in football today
I never thought Azpilicueta was going to be so good. Never says bad shit in the media, comes across as a great teamplayer and quality-wise he's very solid. Some of the best business Chelsea have done this decade regarding transfers.
If he was 3 inches taller he's be the best defender in the world. As it is, he's just one of the best.
100% the best defender in the league. Love his ability to play the ball out of defense and his crossing in this early season has proven to be so important. I think Neville and Carragher both agreed he was the best in the league some time ago too, which was nice to see because I don't think he gets the credit he deserves either. Cahill getting in the team of the year ahead of him last season? Stop it.
That thing about him being quiet in the media and focusing on his football is something that I think is really good for us, and something I also love about Kante. You know with both that they're not going to have some toys out of pram episode, they're just going to turn up and perform at a really high level week on week. I think the importance of that gets overlooked sometimes over a long season.
Absolute joke for Cahill to displace Rudiger and Christensen. Wish Moses and Willian weren't in the lineup either.
Best traditional Right Back in the league. Although that position is now dying.
3rd to 4th best at a traditional Left Back role, though that position is dying too.
4th to 5th best CB in the league.
Solid player all round and I am glad Chelsea have him but if he was at another club I wont be hoping my club signs him.
Run of the mill 2-0 win today.
Zappa had a poor game over all and was only saved by that misplaced cross ending up in the goal.
He has don't nothing to warrant starting over Moses.
Didn't think Fabregas would start. Wrong decision for me as it gives Arsenal a chance in midfield.
He also set up a goal after winning the ball high up the pitch and squaring it towards the 6 yard box.
Moses has reached Bosingwa/Mikel uselessness and as long as you're breathing, I'd take you over him. Bakayoko looks like he's ready to start and might take Fabregas' once Hazard comes back.
Thought Conte got it wrong for the most part. Switching to the 3-5-1-1 at half took our edge on the wings away. In the first half, we were always one pass away from creating a real chance yet mucked it up. Not having Luiz is gonna kill us a bit unless Cahill gets replaced as well.
Agree entirely, an insult to the league playing Fabregas in a midfield two, almost as though Conte wanted to throw the match.
Disappointed
Only watched the last 25 minutes of the first half and the final 10 of thd second. Chelsea got kinda screwed by Oliver though, didn't they? Between the penalty by xhaka on david luiz in the first half and the non-call on alexis repeated foul on the brazilian just before he lost his mind
Total brain fart from Conte. Almost everyone on here and a Chelsea forum I read knew starting Cesc was the wrong decision.
3 points and 11 goals behind the manc brothers effectively 4 points in 5 games.
3 points and 11 goals behind the manc brothers effectively 4 points in 5 games.
Christensen should be starting over Cahill really, it's not that Cahill made a mistake but Christensen is different class. I'd love it if they do a Matic and sell him to us.
Agree, it was like a schoolboy error, nonsensical.
I even get the thought about football bets and Conte has been linked before in Siena to turning a 'blind eye' to fraud.
I get the feeling Christensen might be the future captain of Chelsea, seems intelligent, well balanced and a good player.
Conte has too much trouble with Wenger.
You mean in about 10 years time. Surely United can afford to buy a decent defender than wait that long.
Yup. Club has made so many exceptions for him right from when he signed to making sure he spent that third year here to become club trained before going on loan and to rejecting a pretty fecking massive bid from Gladbach.
Disagree. We were much better in the second half. Bakayoko should have started for sure; Arsenal had the better of midfield in the first half and we had the better of it in the second once he came on:
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Cahill is pants though and needs to be out of the team immediately. I said from day 1 that Rudiger was better already and nothing I've seen has convinced me otherwise. Zappacosta is also much better than Moses.
You did not watch the game did you.
Second half neither team created anything and it was absolutely dire football. That level of football would barely be acceptable at city/united away and this was arsenal at home ffs.
Also Moses was decent till 75th minute before his performance fell off a cliff likely due to exhaustion. Seems like Zappa needs a lot of adapting to before he can compete with Moses.
I know it tightened things up, but what's the point of controlling the game if you can't create chances? I don't think we were even close in the second half. The game was there for the taking in the first half.
Of course I watched the game. We were better going forward in the first half yes but Arsenal opened us up numerous times; Welbeck missed a sitter, Ramsey hit the post, Kolasinac had a decent effort from range, etc. We were the better side overall in the second half and had much more control.
Hazard needed to come on earlier as Willian was absolutely dire. His decision-making was just appalling all match. As soon as he came on Arsenal dropped deeper out of fear and we were instantly more dangerous.
Don't get the logic in easing Hazard in when he's so important to the team. Also given how sharp he looked when he did come on it leads to me believing he was beyond ready to start. Chelsea without him is so inferior that he has to be prioritized even if it hurts the team for a little while.
Condition is important. Look at O.Demebele. He had pre season but refused to train for a week to force the transfer. Rush to play for Barcelona and now had a major injury.
Hazard came off an injury. Had no pre season. He may hit the ground running in term of form, but his condition may not be ready and easy to catch injury down the road. Look at big picture, it's better to get him back in best condition to maintain his class than risk niggling injuries in more important period.
IIRC Ronaldo final season with us was similar to Hazard situation. He had surgery for his ankle after the EURO, so no pre season. SAF eased him back slowly with sub appearance despite knowingly he was important player for us, and had no problem perform at high level from the get go. We didn't start the season well that season neither. Home draw with Toon. 5 points after games and drew our first CL game.
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He's in a great condition, he wouldn't look that sharp if he wasn't. Take Dembele, he's looked well off the pace so far.
You must have missed the point if you don't understand what happened to Dembele. The guy did alright but now he will sit out for month due to a injury that would be prevent if his body condition is better with training.
Talented player can play with even if their body condition is at its best. The risk of injury is bigger when their condition is not optimized.