YankCherry
First Team
Wizard of Wales. I love it. He was MOM to me.
I thought the same, but what was interesting was the commentary team criticised the midfield for not trying to make a tackle.
Yep I totally agree with you. It's always interesting to hear others opinions, especially ex pros who watch a lot of football. (I know a lot of them it feels like they don't know anything about football!)But not making a tackle was key.
They created a wall. If someone had committed to a tackle then we'd have probably seen Chelsea skip past us and score.
It was frustrating barely getting away from the edge of our own 18 yard line, especially first half, but patience clearly won the day.
Boruc positioning excellent as was his flying save to deny Pedro. He was indebted to the post as well later when another flowing Chelsea move saw the Spaniard's head connect..
Thanks Neil good report. This will have done King’s confidence no end of good. And as for Clyne: from his displays so far we should move heaven and earth to sign him permanently.
I thought that Luiz was astonishingly bad for our second goal. Doesn’t he know that Brooks is left footed?
Absolutely this - hard to describe how brilliant Chelsea were first half. Possibly the best team I’ve seen this season (until HT). We all said if they score one, floodgates will open. I was just hoping we could limit it to 0-2. Hats off to our back four and ‘the big Pole in our goal!’ Great to see Artur interacting with the SS chanting his name second half. He grew a foot taller during the game. Just immense.Brilliant report thanks, if Boruc didn’t make that incredible save in the opening minutes it’s scary to think what the result could have been.
Yes,I grew six inches mate when the fourth went inAbsolutely this - hard to describe how brilliant Chelsea were first half. Possibly the best team I’ve seen this season (until HT). We all said if they score one, floodgates will open. I was just hoping we could limit it to 0-2. Hats off to our back four and ‘the big Pole in our goal!’ Great to see Artur interacting with the SS chanting his name second half. He grew a foot taller during the game. Just immense.
TMI!!Yes,I grew six inches mate when the fourth went in
Absolutely this - hard to describe how brilliant Chelsea were first half. Possibly the best team I’ve seen this season (until HT). We all said if they score one, floodgates will open. I was just hoping we could limit it to 0-2. Hats off to our back four and ‘the big Pole in our goal!’ Great to see Artur interacting with the SS chanting his name second half. He grew a foot taller during the game. Just immense.
Great report, thanks Neil.
One thing I'd like to just point out here is that although, yes, the header did come off the crossbar, it only did that because of an absolutely incredible reaction save from Boruc where he pushed the bullet of a header up just enough to save it going in.
I had no idea he had touched it while watching the stream but the replays showed that that was all Artur. He had an absolutely cracking game.
I thought the same, but what was interesting was the commentary team criticised the midfield for not trying to make a tackle.
One thing that struck me was regards Surman and Gosling. In basically admitting that they can't play as normal midfielders up against that calibre of opposition, they suddenly became very effective shields when they focused purely on that task. Eddie's plan up until this season has been to play toe-to-toe with anyone and everyone, which exposes these two badly as somewhat limited against the top 6, perhaps more than anyone else in the squad. However last night they absolutely nailed the routine of surrendering the usual midfield area, crowing out the final third, sucking Chelsea in.
For all that first half Chelsea dominance, they created only one genuine chance (Boruc tip onto the crossbar). Everything else was pretty meat and drink. Now Chelsea fans will blame their own creative players and their manager's style for that, and no doubt they have a point. But it should be noted that we executed a plan perfectly.